Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 353

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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 17
My mind raced with calculations.
Route. Time. Location.
And….
The Orca Family Estate.
‘I will return no matter what.’
Of course, I knew it wouldn’t be as simple as saying it. But then again, life was never simple to begin with.
Hadn’t I already experienced twice what happens when you merely accept and go along with things?
‘I will never return empty-handed.’
Returning with the Dragon Duke’s egg in hand? This was perfect.
To the Orcas who abandoned me—wasn’t this like dragging them all down with me?
A radiant smile bloomed across my face.
I felt utterly delighted and happy.
“Yes, let’s all go down together, my kinfolk.”
* * *
‘Oh, that’s right.’
Two days later, at Brunel’s Manor.
Today was another day for the social club. As usual, I pretended to attend the gathering while receiving training instead, but today I joined them in the garden.
“Let’s take a break today, Calypso. Beastkin… if we only train, we end up hating training.”
“…Brunel, isn’t that just you talking about yourself?”
“Ah, Brunel’s been exposed!”
Brunel had said that.
“Right, let’s just have fun today, Calypso!”
“Have fun doing what? Sitting around chatting? Hmph, though it might be fun if Calypso’s here.”
“The garden… is fine, I suppose…”
Luca, Serin, and Rian had coaxed me in that order.
And so I came to the garden after a long time. There were about ten children here, similar to when I first visited.
Before, I hadn’t paid much attention to tables other than where Brunel, Luca, and Serin were, so I hadn’t noticed.
But the moment I saw a certain young girl, something came to mind.
‘Ah.’
The brown-haired Beastkin who were being tormented like me at the banquet—I finally remembered who they were.
“My, these days even aquatic beasts wear clothes?”
“They seem to mind their manners. Like that little Orca over there.”
Looking at the lustrous hair that gleamed even now, I thought it was a characteristic of aquatic animal Beastkin.
Then I realized her identity.
“An Otter.”
“Huh?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
The Otter family. Yes, there was such a family in this capital.
A young girl with the same color and texture of hair was sitting with her head bowed, her bonnet pulled down low.
What kind of animal was an otter? By appearance alone, she looked adorable, yet she never once lifted her head.
“Calypso! How was the reception?”
If Luca hadn’t suddenly poked his head in, I would have continued staring.
Only then did I tear my gaze away.
“Nothing unusual happened?”
Luca’s expression filled with concern.
“Hey, why are you asking that? Of course it was miserable.”
Even Serin’s words, spoken with a sharp tongue but tinged with worry.
I tilted my head slightly and smiled.
At that, Serin’s ears perked up and her eyes narrowed. Her ears had become triangular.
“Tch, what about your fiancé? He didn’t do anything strange again?”
Perhaps because we’d spent over a month together constantly. Or because I had no intention of hiding anything.
These children knew exactly what kind of treatment I received. That it was worse than the rumors suggested.
Well, it was something one could deduce just by observing the Black Panther Knights’ attitude whenever they came to pick me up.
Besides, even though I didn’t attend receptions or various external events, I must have heard things through my parents.
Especially Serin’s parents seemed to be that type, and the way she looked at me now was burning with intensity.
I naturally knew it wasn’t anger directed at me, so I shrugged my shoulders.
As for the things that bastard Assel had done at the reception, there were quite a few to list, but I didn’t want to taint the ears of these cute baby animals.
“Well, nothing happened after I returned from the reception. Oh, now that I think about it…”
“Now that you think about it?”
Luca’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
Brunel and Serin noticed I’d changed the subject but only frowned.
“…He asked me to have a meal with him.”
“What?”
“What, the audacity! Did you agree? Please tell me you didn’t just go along with it! What could you possibly be lacking!”
“It would be ‘lacking something,’ Serin. But I agree with you.”
I scratched my cheek.
Truth be told, I was surprised too.
“So what happened with the meal?”
The meal?
I quietly recalled that moment.
That bastard Assel had been fastidiously averse to any contact with me during the first and second visits.
Not only that, but the moment I drew even slightly closer or faced him, insults and mockery were routine.
He’d hated even being looked at, as though it were contaminating.
Yet sitting at a table with him only happened when the Black Panther Duke very rarely called everyone for a meal.
Even that had been a burden for me back then.
“Well, he called me over but didn’t say anything.”
“…”
“When I tried to speak, he told me to shut up.”
That was it. I thought the Duke had called me again when he said it was a meal, but it wasn’t.
Just the two of us alone.
Yet for some reason, whenever our eyes met, he’d stare at me coldly. I wondered if I was imagining it, but it was clear he kept watching me.
Then if I dared to speak—
He’d tell me in an icy tone to keep my mouth shut.
‘This madman, how am I supposed to eat with my mouth closed? Does he think I’m a fish?’
I silently apologized to the fish. That was far too insulting to you.
“What? He’s insane. Did his head get scrambled? Why would he even suggest eating together in the first place?”
“Right. Is he some kind of pervert?”
I agreed with Serin as she twirled her finger beside her head.
But for some reason, Luca and Brunel exchanged glances with each other.
Brunel especially looked like he had plenty to say.
“…Luca?”
“Mm-hmm.”
They both nodded simultaneously.
“That’s… you like him, don’t you?”
Silence fell in an instant.
“Are you crazy? Are you actually crazy? What are you talking about?”
Serin grabbed Brunel by the collar and shook him vigorously, then threw a punch at him.
“Ugh, ow, Serin it hurts…. You got way too strong after training….”
“That’s weird! If I can’t stand the sight of someone, I can’t even eat with them!!”
Luca raised his hand instead to answer.
But his tail, which usually swayed gently, remained still.
“But that fiancé of his is a terrible person!! I hate him!”
I blinked, then smiled softly and reached out my hand.
Luca hesitated at the hand that came to rest on his head, then broke into a bright smile as if the petting felt good.
Swish, swish. His tail wagged again—it was adorable.
“Calypso, do it more! More!”
“Sure, sure. Well… and about that. You saying you like me.”
A sinister smile crossed my face.
Enough to make Luca freeze.
“Locking me away.
Imprisoning me.
“Calling me dirty every day, saying I stink, mocking me to go back to my homeland while dangling filth before me.”
Looking at me with nothing but contempt and disdain.
“If that’s what you call love—”
I clenched my fist, then opened it.
“I never want to receive such love for the rest of my life.”
Of course, I know love is nothing like that. Things that fade bit by bit yet still remain stubbornly in place.
“Our beautiful daughter!”
Love resembles a beautiful fluffy cloud.
Just seeing them brightened my mood, and whenever I beheld the faces of my Mother and Father who loved me, I became as happy as spring itself.
Now I fear that if I reach out, they’ll vanish, so even in dreams I cannot extend my hand.
“In any case, that’s how it is.”
Sensing the heaviness that had settled over the atmosphere, I smiled brightly and cheerfully. I realized my mistake too late, but there was nothing I could do about it.
‘I suppose I can’t help but develop anger management issues when it comes to those bastards.’
“You’re right, it doesn’t seem to be the case.”
Brunel nodded his head. Soon, looking flustered, he apologized.
“…I’m sorry, that must have upset you.”
“It’s fine.”
“Tch! That guy is completely insane! A madman!!”
Luca shouted with bared teeth, and following suit with an apology, I accepted it without concern.
Then, to change the subject, I tilted my head.
“But on a different note, there’s something I’m curious about—does everyone happen to know about the ‘Cursed Manor’ in the capital?”

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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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