Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 58

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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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Chapter 58
If you’re going to throw it, at least throw it gently.
No, that’s not it. Right, I recognized her from the very first meeting when she was just lifting me up like that.
“It seems it was because that day she was conducting things while standing on the desk.”
I should hold back for now. I’m not strong enough to win even if I fought back.
Besides, with the Dragon’s Festival hanging over me like a hostage situation, I decided to become an obedient baby orca instead.
‘But why did she call me in the first place?’
Just as curiosity began to stir, the Orca Family Matriarch crossed her legs.
“Yes. I called you because I found something interesting.”
She spoke while stroking her chin with her wrinkled hand.
“Ever since before the Family Meeting, you’ve shown quite an amusing track record.”
Soon the Orca Family Matriarch tossed what she’d been holding in one hand onto the table.
What scattered slightly was nothing other than documents.
“Yes, you said you wanted to report the Maid who tormented you?”
The distance between the sofa and table wasn’t far, so I could make out the letters roughly.
Moreover, a portrait jutting out from between the documents. It was a face I couldn’t possibly not recognize.
The nanny and Maid who had been in charge of my residence before being replaced by Misa.
‘I don’t particularly want to call her a nanny or acknowledge her as one.’
I grimaced inwardly.
“I will conduct a deeper investigation into the previous predecessor.”
“Ah, I see. But… an investigation requires witnesses too, right? As it happens, only I can do that. I’ve been the only one using this building for quite a long time.”
Certainly, when the herring Maid sisters came to my residence, I had demanded an investigation and punishment of the predecessor before Misa.
At that time, I had said I would participate as a witness without hesitation.
‘But there was no word back after that.’
I was quite taken aback inwardly. Wondering if it would just slip by like this.
To be honest, even with no such measures taken, I didn’t have the strength to do anything about it immediately, so I had put it aside for now.
‘How long ago did I mention this, and now it’s finally being brought up?’
This must have moved forward precisely because I ultimately gained recognition at the Family Meeting.
The situation’s trajectory was obvious.
‘It seems the Home Territory hurriedly reported to the Matriarch. Or perhaps it was already reported but proceeded sluggishly.’
In any case, since it was true that I had requested an investigation, I nodded obediently.
“Yes, that’s right. I told him directly when the Matriarch’s direct Retainer came to find me.”
I recounted the circumstances of that time precisely.
Of course, I told the story without omission, just as I had spoken before the Retainer.
“I almost never had a proper meal when the predecessor was there, and I hardly ever saw the sun. Even when I did eat, it was food that reeked of rags, and enduring stomach troubles without medicine was daily life.”
Because thick curtains were always drawn, the room was gloomy even in broad daylight.
The previous predecessor, Lumi, would smile with satisfaction whenever she entered that room.
“When I was there, there was almost only me among the children.”
There was one more, but their parents secretly took them away almost immediately after arrival, so it was as good as being alone.
‘The rest all died before I arrived, they said.’
However, I deliberately withheld the most severe incident from my report, just to be safe.
A strange premonition had come over me.
When all my accounts had finished, the Orca Family Matriarch spoke.
“So you’re saying that despite all this, you still managed to survive?”
As expected.
I paused very briefly before answering.
Indifferent, disinterested—that was her tone.
‘I anticipated this.’
I deliberately maintained my silence until she was on the verge of losing her temper, then finally spoke.
“No, I survived because it was me.”
Not with the bright cheerfulness I’d shown at the Family Meeting, but with appropriate gravity.
“Fortunately, there were no other children while I was there, but….”
“….”
“If there had been, could they have survived? Grandmother.”
I spoke carefully, gauging her reaction, since I didn’t want the Orca Family Matriarch to become truly offended or angry.
“I’m not trying to criticize the tradition of culling weak individuals and keeping only the strong children.”
“…Then?”
“Since I too survived in that manner, I’m delighted to prove my excellence to you in this way. However, before the competition, you ensured that eating, sleeping, bathing, and clothing were distributed equally. There must have been a reason for that.”
Give everyone the same conditions and let only the survivors remain.
That was the condition given to the children in the Nursery Building where I was. Most Orcas struggle to survive past three years old, after all.
“But if those things were withheld, stolen, and the child was tormented until they died—that’s murder, Grandmother.”
Yes, this wasn’t merely a matter of bullying. It was infanticide.
I slowly turned my gaze toward her face.
“That maid worked there long before I was born. So then… is it possible she killed children among those who came before me?”
The Matriarch’s face was utterly expressionless.
“Among them, there might have been collateral branch children or Orca children who could have become far more remarkable talents if they’d only survived. Or perhaps direct-line Orcas.”
I don’t know if there were other direct-line members before me, but the situation wouldn’t have been easy to endure.
“Still, the weak are always culled. Little one, I understand what you’re trying to say, but….”
As expected. Hearing her indifferent response come back exactly as I’d anticipated, I swallowed a bitter laugh internally.
Yes, I knew she wouldn’t care. Old woman.
“Grandmother… that doesn’t make sense.”
I stared at her while feigning an innocent expression.
“What baby could endure having boiling water poured on them and then being thrown away?”
Of course, this statement was exaggerated. But it wasn’t entirely fabricated either.
“So is enduring a scalding bath with boiling water, eating food that reeks of rags and enduring it, and bearing an upset stomach without medicine all supposed to be ordained trials?”
These were things I’d clearly communicated to the Retainer as well.
Only then did a crack appear in the Matriarch’s expression.
“There’s a Graveyard not far from the building where I lived. Dead children are buried there, aren’t they? In truth, if we report children who died for these reasons the same way as other children who died ordinarily from illness—’they died because they were weak’—how would anyone distinguish? It’s a place no one pays attention to.”
Perhaps nothing would change even if I said this.
In my first life, my second life, and my third life—those sorrowful times.
I’d always wondered how wonderful it would be if someone acknowledged me, if someone helped me.
‘But in the end, no one came to my aid.’
So I decided that I would save a child like myself, a child I might have become.
Appeals to emotion and morality won’t work on her.
I need to approach this Orca Family Matriarch differently.
“Grandmother… this is a serious matter. Every talent in this Noble House is your subject and as good as your property. That maid dared to lay hands on the Matriarch’s possessions.”
I finished speaking and fell silent.
A quiet moment stretched between us.
Not only did her blank expression crack, but her face contorted with displeasure.
Watching that scowl, I celebrated inwardly.
She’s displeased, isn’t she? Perfect, just perfect.
‘One more word.’
I was about to open my mouth to drive the final wedge home.
The door burst open.
When I turned my head, I saw a sight that made my jaw drop.
“Forgive the intrusion, Mother.”
Father had strode in.
I could only blink.
‘…Father, why are you coming from there?’
Wait, haven’t I been thinking this a lot lately?
Since the Family Meeting, my daily life with Father hadn’t really changed.
Of course, countless gifts had piled up in front of my Residence.
And an incomparable number of gifts had accumulated before Father’s quarters as well.
But aside from that, nothing had changed significantly.
If anything, the only notable difference was that strangers occasionally visited Father’s quarters.
I’d expected them to be turned away by Father like those who brought gifts, but surprisingly they had a brief conversation before leaving.
‘Rayla hasn’t visited, though.’
I’d thought she might come at least once, given that she said she would follow Father.
I hadn’t seen her since that brief glimpse at the Educational Institution the day after the Family Meeting.
“You barge in while claiming to know it’s an intrusion—where did you learn such manners?”

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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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