Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 349

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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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Extra Side Story Episode 13
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One month later.
‘Ugh, I’m dying.’
My breathing came in ragged gasps. I lay flat on the ground, chest heaving.
My entire body felt heavy.
I meant it when I said I was dying.
Yet the corners of my mouth lifted ever so slightly.
‘It… actually worked?’
A brilliant smile bloomed across my face unbidden.
I finally did it.
After a grueling month, I finally…
‘…figured out how to use those damned cascading water streams!’
Why had that cursed pattern eluded me for so long? Those frustrating days of wanting to tear my hair out were finally behind me!
“Excellent.”
A voice came from near my feet, and soon a figure leaned into my field of vision.
It was Edric, without his glasses.
At some point, he’d stopped bringing them to our sparring sessions.
It was a satisfying development.
“That will suffice.”
I forgot my exhaustion and quickly pushed myself up.
“…Really?!”
“Yes.”
He clenched his fist, then opened it and pointed toward one spot.
Then he nodded.
“The Noble Lady should now be difficult to defeat under ordinary circumstances.”
Following his gaze, I saw an enormous crater gouged into the earth. I laughed breathlessly.
“Whimper, I’m scared… I’m scared of Calypso now…!”
“Hey, Luca. Tuck your tail in. What’s there to be scared of? You’re amazing, seriously!”
Not far away, Luca trembled with his ears stretched out and his tail tucked between his legs, while Serin scolded him for his cowardice.
“Whine, but if you told me to fight Calypso, I’d run away…! You wouldn’t want to fight her either, Serin!”
“Why are you saying obvious things so loudly? Lower your voice.”
With the bickering of a puppy and kitten as background noise, Edric extended his hand.
I grasped it and stood up.
“I mean it sincerely. No one will be able to match you. For someone your age to achieve this is far from an easy feat.”
“Easy? Father… isn’t this practically impossible?”
Brunel handed me a towel. I wiped myself down and grinned widely. Brunel’s ears perked up.
He’d been like that ever since we sparred recently. He’d frozen up then.
‘I barely did anything.’
Just a little gentle touch. Among the Orca Family Members, this level of teasing is what close companions do.
Are bears different?
“He fights evenly with my father, who was called a genius in his own right.”
“Ha… I suppose I wasn’t the genius after all?”
“What are you saying? If your father, who became a commander at that age, isn’t a genius, then who is?”
Brunel spoke matter-of-factly.
“Hmm, it’s sincere, but certainly there’s no one I can truly compare myself to.”
Edric’s gaze landed on me.
“…Certainly, talent confined to such a narrow space….”
He murmured softly, but I couldn’t hear what he said because he’d steadied his breath.
“Noble Lady.”
The praise was over, and now came the time for instruction. My heart was still racing even at that.
Growing one step at a time, or ten steps at once—it was truly exhilarating!
“Until now, it has been one-on-one combat.”
“Yes?”
He glanced toward the hole once more, then smiled lightly with what seemed like satisfaction, or perhaps an inscrutable expression.
Then he gazed at me again.
“Now, let’s learn how to face multiple opponents.”
My feelings became complicated at those words.
‘…Learning to face multiple opponents.’
Edric, that is…
I swallowed hard. It was an indescribable feeling.
As if such a moment would come to me.
…It sounded like he was saying he’d help me prepare for that time.
My lips trembled.
The one I’d observed beside me for over two months was a beastkin with surprisingly sharp intuition for a bear.
And my thoughts became the sincere feelings I couldn’t bring myself to speak aloud.
Because he winked at me.
As if to say he understood everything.
…My chest felt warm and full.
* * *
“Sigh…”
On days when I visited the “Weakling Club,” ostensibly a social gathering but actually for training, my entire body felt heavy and sleep came easily.
The handmaidens often tampered with my bedding, so during the first and second visits I suffered from insomnia and chaos.
But now even wet sheets felt comfortable as I slept soundly.
‘The positive effects of training.’
I didn’t forget a single thing Edric taught me and kept it all in my memory.
‘When I eventually have subordinates of my own, I’ll have to use this!’
The more I cherish them, the more thoroughly I’ll teach them!
…And so I made a resolution that would later cause my subordinates to cry out behind me.
Anyway, tonight was just as drowsy. I yawned and tried to head to bed when—
Thud, thud.
A knock at the door.
Moments later, I found myself receiving an unexpected visitor in the dead of night.
As the person entered my room, I slowly lowered my head.
My expression shifted.
From one of cold indifference to something far more docile and obedient.
Submissive.
Soon after, I saw the feet that had arrived before me. They were Assel’s shoes.
“You’ve returned.”
I glanced briefly toward the window.
‘If it’s night now, why would he sleep there instead of coming back?’
In the first place, I had returned from the social club well before six in the evening.
It was a statement that made no sense given the circumstances, but as if he would concern himself with such details.
Ever since Assel sent me to the Weakling Club, I had deliberately acted more dejected and obedient.
So that he and the others would believe I had been cowed.
“…Should I stop training?”
“Yes.”
I had already informed Palaya, who now knew my true nature, that I would be stopping.
“…For how long?”
Strangely, Palaya had pressed me persistently for reasons, and he was determined to hear exactly how long.
When I mentioned that his older brother had sent me to the Weakling Club and training had become difficult, his eyes had furrowed deeply.
It was rather annoying.
‘Why does he act as though I’m harboring some secret scheme?’
Whatever he suspected didn’t concern me. No matter what he guessed, he couldn’t expose it immediately anyway.
“Yes.”
In any case, as I grew stronger each day under Edric’s training, lowering myself before Assel didn’t prick my pride in the slightest.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
“….”
When would this bastard leave? I was getting sleepy.
How long had I been staring at his feet?
“Lift your head.”
I slowly raised my gaze. In the blue night, I could see his jet-black hair bathed in moonlight.
“You’ve become quite docile lately.”
“…Is that so?”
I focused on maintaining my expression.
“Much more than before.”
Rather than respond to his words, I simply stood there obediently.
“…So you’ve finally grasped your place, then?”
When he sneered, I could only appear flustered, my eyes darting about.
Then the eyes that should have been triumphant suddenly furrowed slightly. What was that about?
Ugh. I’m so tired I could die—hurry up and leave.
Lately, what frightens me is that without realizing it, I might punch that bastard in the face, or a sudden torrent of water might appear and strike him down.
Especially since the power of water remained an uncharted territory for me.
“…There’s an Imperial Palace banquet.”
But the words that followed in the next moment chased away my drowsiness.
What?
I opened my mouth while hiding my bewilderment.
“…Yes.”
“We’ll go together.”
Damn it, I hate this. I hate it!
“Understood.”
Regardless of what I truly felt, I answered obediently on the surface.
‘Did I go to the Imperial Palace at this time before? It doesn’t seem like it. Or did I? My head hurts trying to remember suddenly.’
That was when Assel’s eyes moved ever so subtly.
His gaze fixed upon me.
The hostility remained unchanged.
“…Is that all.”
“…?”
“Answer.”
I blinked, not understanding.
What does he want?
“Is there anything else you need?”
What now. Whatever, I’ll just appease him—this stinking bastard.
I’m going mad because of the bomb you brought. Let me get some sleep.
“….”
Assel’s expression hardened briefly.
“No, never mind.”
He said this and turned away.
Or rather, he tried to turn away. He stopped mid-motion.
His gaze turned back toward me. It was somewhere between a glare and a fixed stare.
And then.
“This is better.”
He tossed out the words curtly, his brow furrowed with irritation.
“Don’t bother… acting weary for no reason.”
I said nothing at first.
I simply lowered my head.
“Yes.”
He didn’t look back.
Strangely, I could only tilt my head at that peculiar attitude I glimpsed at the end—as if he felt a hint of regret.
Though it was surely a misunderstanding on my part.
I quietly raised my middle finger from behind my back, where my hands were clasped.
Yeah, get lost already.
Damn bastard.

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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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