Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 344

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Additional Side Story: Act 8
I let out another chuckle before stepping through the main gate.
The front of the Manor was quieter than I expected.
‘But where am I supposed to go?’
Normally, those Knights should have escorted me or someone should have come to greet me, but the Knights didn’t enter past the entrance, and I couldn’t spot anyone else either.
And after walking only a short distance.
I heard an unfamiliar voice.
“Wow… that’s impressive.”
I turned my head. There stood a young boy with thick, curly brown hair.
I couldn’t tell his exact age, but he had quite a large build while his face looked young, and his expression was leisurely.
‘Is he the owner of this place?’
This Manor belonged to a Bear Beastkin. If I recalled correctly, they called him the “Spectacled Bear.”
“You’re really impressive. I saw everything.”
I stopped in place and furrowed my brow. What should I do? Formal speech or casual?
My deliberation was brief.
“What is it.”
The Black Panther and Lion bastards were the worst, but I had no prior dealings with the Spectacled Bear.
Even so, was there a single land animal Beastkin who didn’t discriminate? My expectations were low.
“You kicked him with a whoosh and made him kneel with a crash!”
So he witnessed everything?
Thinking how embarrassed that Knight would be if he found out, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Right. It’s different from what you expected, isn’t it?”
The young boy who appeared to be the owner wasn’t alone. The one who just spoke was another boy.
He had bright beige-colored hair and drooping eyes.
“So what. Why are you asking me? Get lost.”
The one who answered curtly was a young girl standing beside the other boy. Unlike the boy, her eyes were sharp.
“If it were me, I think I’d cry! Waaah, like that!”
“You’re stupid and dull, so of course you would.”
“That’s too much! You need to watch your tone!”
“You’re the one with that cloying way of speaking~”
I quietly observed the three children.
‘…Something’s odd.’
I examined their bodies and hair once more. These three people shared something I couldn’t quite voice aloud.
“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself.”
The Spectacled Bear Beastkin boy approached with a stride and extended his hand.
“I’m Brunel, Brunel Hardin.”
“….”
“You’re the Noble Lady of the Orca Family, right? Oh, I’ve already switched to casual speech….”
His manner of speaking felt somewhat dull and gentle.
Hardin—the name of the Spectacled Bear family.
I froze in place.
‘What is this?’
I couldn’t decide whether to be shocked that he extended his hand without discrimination, or astonished by the respect in his words.
…There exists a beastkin like this?
For the first time, I experienced a gaze free of prejudice—the boy with beige hair beside him and the short-haired girl, though somewhat prickly, shared that same quality.
I could make an educated guess.
Their hair….
“I’m the owner’s son here. Also the founder of the Weakling Club.”
Having decided to speak casually, atop Brunel’s head as he grinned brightly.
Twitch.
Bear ears wiggled with every smile.
“Me! I’m Luca! I’m a puppy! And this is a Persian cat! Serin!”
“Why are you introducing us on your own? I didn’t agree to this.”
And the boy and girl beside them bore animal ears, or perhaps.
Swish swish!
Fluffy-looking tails were swishing back and forth in real time.
“Well then, shall we head inside? A distinguished guest came all this way in person.”
“….”
Lost in thought, I missed the handshake, but Brunel paid no mind and simply extended his hand further, as if guiding me.
“This way. Let’s go.”
The strange sense of incongruity I felt upon seeing the three young people became certain only when I stepped into the garden.
‘…What is this.’
It was a sunny day. Though not large and not filled with anything particularly impressive, it was a neat garden.
The few children’s tables were full except for one spot.
About ten people.
And.
None of them met the ‘normal’ standards this Empire spoke of.
Some bore animal ears on their heads like Brunel, others had tails.
Some children had fur so fluffy you could hardly call them human.
Notably, one had scales on their cheeks.
Perhaps conscious of this, some wore gloves, others covered their necks completely.
…Imperfect beastkin.
In this world, there existed mutants who could not achieve a perfect human form, whose animal base forms were visibly apparent.
They were called ‘imperfect beastkin.’
Even among aquatic beastkin, such individuals were rare but existed.
Usually, children born from marriages between different animal beastkin had a higher probability of this, though it wasn’t always the case.
Only then did I realize why I had never heard the name ‘Weakling Club’ in my first and second playthroughs.
‘As a hostage but representative of aquatic beastkin, they would never reveal their shame to me.’
Imperfect beastkin faced discrimination just as much as aquatic beastkin.
“This place gathers only those kinds of children.”
Perhaps because I’d been staring so intently, a voice came from beside me.
“An incomplete Beastkin.”
It was Brunel. His tone was matter-of-fact.
“That’s right! It’s a bit inconvenient outside, so!”
Luca, the dog Beastkin, laughed brightly. His fluffy tail swayed back and forth like a helicopter.
“Inconvenient is nonsense—you just hate how it looks.”
Serin, the cat Beastkin, added with a scoff.
Instead of responding, I quietly observed my surroundings. Most of the children were unnaturally quiet for their age. Rather than precocious, they seemed anxious about something or constantly gauging the atmosphere.
Of course, thanks to a few notably spirited children, not all of them were like this, but the majority were.
Suddenly, Assel’s words came to mind.
“It’s exactly your level.”
I stopped mid-blink and let out a quiet laugh.
Ah, so that’s how it is?
I felt an irrepressible sense of exhilaration.
‘Damn bastard. You’re going to regret this.’
Did he think I’d be intimidated coming here?
No?
I’m far better at connecting with children who know despair than with arrogant, self-centered fools like him.
I could communicate better with them.
Somehow, I felt I could achieve my goals far more effectively here.
“Why that expression? Is it… because our club isn’t that great?”
“No, it’s not that.”
I spoke more freely.
“Rather, I just want to ask one thing. The Weakling Club—who came up with that name?”
Brunel scratched his cheek then. His somewhat naive face wore an awkward expression.
“Well, it originally had a different name… but the Imperial Palace—His Highness the Crown Prince ordered us to change it to this.”
I couldn’t help but scoff. The Crown Prince?
‘That’s just like him.’
The mystery was solved. I nodded.
“I like it here.”
At least this is the first time I haven’t heard someone tell me I stink to my face.
I extended my hand.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
Even if Assel was the one who pushed me into this, what does it matter?
Brunel’s expression softened. Then, without hesitation, he grasped my hand.
This too was a strange feeling.
There was truly no trace of discrimination in his eyes. Not toward Luca beside him, nor toward Serin.
Perhaps.
If I had known there were children like this in the first and second rounds, could I have thought differently?
But it was a meaningless hypothetical.
I let out a smirk and gave Brunel’s hand a light tug. He stumbled toward me, his eyes widening in bewilderment.
“Wh-what? Your strength….”
“By the way, would it be alright if I suggested one activity change?”
“Huh?”
“What if we changed the name too?”
“Wh-what?”
I gazed at the adorable children, my eyes gleaming with mischief.
“The Vengeance Club, perhaps.”
Or a Retribution Club?
And while we’re at it, you’ll help me out too, won’t you?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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