Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 346
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Extra Side Story Episode 10
Once we stepped beyond the garden, the path transformed.
Since the Manor wasn’t particularly large, we arrived at our destination quickly.
‘Certainly, if he were a bear, he’d be a fierce beast destined for success….’
Yet the sight before us was rather humble.
“This is the training grounds.”
An open space came into view.
Dirt floor, the faint scent of sweat drifting through the air.
I turned to look, and my gaze fixed on one spot.
Thud!
A man in the training grounds was sparring with someone.
“Ah, they’re in the middle of a match.”
I immediately identified Brunel’s Father by his hair color.
However, the two people in the training grounds were fighting bare-handed, without weapons.
“Fighting without weapons, and you call it sparring?”
“Yes.”
I found it rather intriguing.
Fighting bare-handed, without any weapons.
Just like our Orca Family Members.
Of course, we have the power of water, so we can’t truly call it bare-handed.
I watched with fascination.
A fist cuts through the air.
A foot pushes off the ground. Then, with the slightest margin, he evaded his opponent’s attack.
Without the power of water, yet movements as fluid as flowing water, and….
Crash!
A devastating punch and an overhead strike.
My mouth fell slightly open.
‘Wow….’
Coming to my senses, my heart was pounding. Until now, I’d learned the sword from Palaya and made progress.
But the thrill and exhilaration I felt watching their fight was something I’d never experienced wielding a blade.
The power difference was clearly evident from the start—the opponent who was thrown down, apparently a Knight of the household, rose and bowed respectfully before disappearing in the opposite direction from where we stood.
Then Brunel’s Father, the Matriarch of the Spectacled Bear household, walked toward us while wiping his face with a towel.
As he drew closer, I could see his lighter brown hair compared to Brunel’s and the glasses perched on his face.
“You’ve arrived, Brunel.”
His voice was gentle, hardly befitting someone who’d just displayed such devastating movements.
For some reason, I flinched.
“My beloved son.”
“My beloved Princess~”
…Was it because of the glasses? Or the similar shade of brown hair?
Or perhaps because of that affectionate face, voice, and manner of speech.
‘…Father.’
In that moment, my adoptive father back in Korea came to mind. Without thinking, I covered my mouth with the back of my hand and pressed down hard.
“Yes, Father.”
“Don’t be so formal. I told you to call me Dad.”
“Right, I brought a guest too.”
“A guest? Besides Luca, you mean….”
The man’s gaze turned toward me.
Then he laughed quietly. Even the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled was similar, and my chest stirred unexpectedly.
“It’s an honor to meet you. Thank you for making the journey here.”
“….”
“I’m Edric, Matriarch of Hardin and Brunel’s father. Noble Lady Orca.”
He bowed his head lightly. Speaking with playful yet respectful formality to someone far younger than him.
Just as I could tell from Brunel’s attitude, there was no trace of contempt directed at me anywhere.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
I bit my lip. For a moment, I couldn’t find words.
“Are you alright?”
A gentle voice settled over me. Only then did I lift my head at the concerned tone.
“Yes.”
Hoping I was smiling well.
“I was just startled because you resemble someone I know. Calypso Aquasiadel.”
The man nodded as if he understood.
“That happens sometimes.”
A gentle smile. As if saying he wouldn’t pry deeper, wouldn’t force anything. The resemblance was even stronger because of that, so I shook my head slightly.
Once I pulled myself from my reverie, my mind filled with images of the man’s combat.
My gaze turned back toward the training grounds.
His movements.
His fists, his feet, his breathing.
I recalled it all. Everything remained vivid in my mind.
He clearly didn’t use a sword.
Yet it was more impressive than what Palaya had shown.
He looked stronger.
“Father, aren’t you training too long?”
“Ha, it’s a habit. I hate when my body gets stiff.”
“Sir! You still look like a knight! You were the commander!”
“Luca’s here too. But not anymore. It’s been quite a while since I retired.”
Hearing the conversation that followed, I felt something was off.
‘He retired?’
Even to my untrained eye, he looked incredibly strong. Besides, his appearance still seemed too young to have a child Brunel’s age.
If that were the case, he should still be an active knight, so why?
Of course, that didn’t really matter.
I lifted my gaze.
“Um, Matriarch Hardin?”
“Ah, you can call me Edric. Since you’re my son’s friend, ‘uncle’ would be fine too?”
The more we spoke, the more I noticed he was similar to Father yet different. Relief and deflation washed over me simultaneously.
But I suppressed it. This wasn’t the time to indulge in sentiment.
“It may be terribly rude for a first meeting, but….”
“Oh, I’m already dreading what might come from such a lovely Noble Lady’s lips.”
“It won’t be a threat to your family.”
Then it shouldn’t pose a problem.
“I have a request. Or rather, I’d be grateful if you’d hear me out. If you do, I could offer compensation.”
“…Hmm? What could it possibly be?”
“Teach me.”
I dropped to one knee right there. It was the most respectful posture an Orca like me could manage.
“Teach me how to fight with my fists!”
His fists are seriously powerful. How does he do that?
“Ah, a slip of the tongue.”
I covered my lips briefly, then pulled my hand away with a grin.
“Could you perhaps take me as your Disciple?”
He seems far superior to the Black Panther master next door.
Naturally, Edric’s face showed bewilderment. Not only that, but Brunel and Luca wore expressions of utter shock.
“…Take you as a Disciple?”
“Yes.”
A moment of silence.
“I apologize.”
Edric slowly shook his head.
“Taking on a Disciple in my current circumstances….”
“Is a burden.”
No matter how I looked at it, his skills were exceptional, but the fact that he’d quit suggested there was a deeper story.
I glanced sideways at Brunel.
‘And that story most likely has something to do with his imperfect Beastkin son.’
“I understand.”
I stood up from my position.
“Then you don’t need to take me as a Disciple. Instead… could you take a look at my condition?”
The eyes behind his glasses narrowed slightly.
“Your condition?”
“If it’s not too presumptuous, could you keep what you’re about to see from this moment on as a secret?”
I understood his confusion.
Truth be told, this was a gamble. Honestly, who would listen to a stranger’s request to this extent?
If he refused, I was prepared to push forward with my next approach.
“Very well. If that’s all you ask for. You want an oath, then?”
“…I thought it would be difficult, didn’t you?”
“Oh, so I can do it too, Calypso?”
“Me too, me too!!”
With Brunel and Luca chiming in as well, the three of them completed the oath to the earth in an instant.
I was taken aback.
‘What is this…. These people could buy fifty jade plaques if they wanted to?’
It was absurd. But that was only for a moment—this situation was actually favorable for me.
“Very well then. Would you mind examining my condition once? You’ll see when you do. I’m in a rather unstable state.”
Edric seemed to consider for a moment before agreeing.
“Fine. Once should be acceptable.”
Five minutes later, I stood facing Edric in a spacious training ground, sword in hand.
Brunel and Luca had gone to send away the Knights stationed nearby.
“What happens in this training ground will likely follow me all the way to my coffin.”
“Mm, understood. But would you mind speaking more casually?”
“As you wish.”
Edric removed his glasses and smiled faintly. His face truly didn’t suit fists.
‘All the bear Beastkin I’ve seen were brutish….’
This one wasn’t small in build, but his face resembled a scholar’s.
“Come at me freely.”
I raised my sword.
“Then I won’t hold back.”
I planted my feet and moved. The first strike appeared at Edric’s right side.
“…!”
His surprised eyes lasted only a moment before Edric caught my blade barehanded and marveled.
“Your speed is… remarkable.”
I gritted my teeth.
‘True to his bear nature, what strength.’
Edric held it lightly and nodded.
“Your power is also considerable.”
I twisted my sword free. It was probably closer to Edric letting go.
From just that single exchange, I could tell.
That everything I learned from Palaya would be useless against this man.
But I hadn’t requested this to learn something obvious.
“Then I’ll go all out.”
Defeat was inevitable anyway, and there was something I wanted to understand.
I stomped my foot.
Rumble—!
The ground trembled as a massive torrent of water erupted from the floor.
“…!!”
As always, it was an enormous thickness that refused to obey my control, something I’d never even intended.
Edric’s startled eyes were plainly visible beneath his glasses. A satisfied smile played across my lips.
“By the way, she doesn’t move of her own accord, so I apologize in advance?”
Since the outcome was predictable anyway, I decided to unleash my full power from the start and try using my ultimate technique as well?
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————