Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 67

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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 67
I was confident I wouldn’t die.
Throughout my previous cycles, I had lived through various trials and overcome countless crises.
In earlier cycles, I had faced situations far more dire than this.
After all, a young child fleeing home and surviving alone was no simple feat.
Though admittedly, I had been older than Three-Year-Old back then.
‘The best outcome would be if those bastards gave up and left while I waited here.’
Unfortunately, that was wishful thinking. This place wouldn’t serve as a suitable hiding spot for long.
“Search faster! I sense something ominous coming from that direction!”
“My… comrade… died…”
“Damn it, what’s one Jellyfish death? My comrade just died too!”
Fortunately, the assassins seemed to be dispersing and moving away to search elsewhere.
I waited until their presence completely vanished before lifting my head.
‘Walking shouldn’t be a problem for now, but combat will be difficult.’
Brief skirmishes might be manageable, though…
‘Prolonged fighting is impossible.’
Naturally, walking for extended periods would be equally taxing.
‘I need to avoid confrontation.’
I should find a place to hide.
First, I need to move locations. Staying here too long would make discovery inevitable.
I shifted my position while remaining acutely aware of my surroundings.
I was moving in the opposite direction from where the assassins had vanished, so I likely had some time.
A place where I could burrow deep would be ideal.
A suitable hollow tree or cave would work… but not somewhere too obviously exposed.
I was walking while mentally cataloging options when it happened.
Squelch.
I stepped on something and quickly adjusted my stance.
What was that just now?
Piiik—!
Simultaneously, an odd sound emerged—whether a whistle or a baby bird’s cry, I couldn’t tell.
‘A sound!’
I frantically seized whatever it was and covered its mouth.
“…What is this? A Snake?”
It was a Snake. Though calling it that felt imprecise…
“A Worm, perhaps?”
Pibik!
I quickly stifled the sound threatening to burst forth again.
“Alright, I won’t call you a Worm, so stay quiet. There are Beastkin Pursuers in this Forest right now who kill indiscriminately. If you stay with me, you’ll die too.”
I suddenly realized something. This creature was a Beastkin or at least possessed intelligence.
Because it fell silent as if on cue.
“Yes, it’s good that you listen so well.”
I quickly surveyed the area and tilted my head in confusion.
“But what kind of Snake are you with horns?”
Were there even horned Snakes?
Since I’d become a beastkin of an aquatic creature, I was naturally only well-versed in water animals.
‘And the scales are blue too….’
With no beastkin coming to mind, I grew curious about its identity.
But this wasn’t the time for such thoughts.
My nose was three feet long, after all. I figured I could just think of it as a Snake.
“We don’t have time, so I’ll speak quickly. You seem quite intelligent—you understand everything I’m saying, don’t you? I’ll let you go, so stay quiet and leave this place quickly. There will be combat here.”
I set the Snake down and moved away.
Soon after, I discovered a suitable spot.
It was a small cave that even my tiny frame could barely squeeze into.
Moreover, if I covered the entrance with branches, it would be perfectly concealed.
‘This brings back memories. In my third run, right after I ran away and lived in the Forest, I collected things like this.’
Ugh, I never thought I’d be doing the same thing at three years old.
I hurriedly gathered fallen branches from nearby and placed them at the entrance, then crawled into the cave.
After settling into position, I gazed at the faint light filtering through, sighed softly, and turned my head.
“What? Why did you follow me?”
The tiny Worm-like Snake had chased after me.
It wasn’t making noise, and hiding myself took priority, so I’d left it alone.
Squeak!
“Be quiet. I can sense their presence.”
Shhhhh.
Ha, look at this. I tell it to be quiet and it just breathes heavily with little hisses.
I let out a quiet chuckle and gazed silently outside.
Sure enough, I heard footsteps drawing near.
“I’m telling you, I definitely heard a strange cry.”
“That princess must have encountered a wild beast.”
“But seriously, how does a little Young Boy leave no traces or footprints? It’s like they’ve lived in the Forest before….”
Well, I’ve lived here quite a long time. So what.
‘But I can’t keep hiding like this forever.’
The time they spent searching for me, and the time I spent moving and finding a new hiding spot. If I calculated it all….
Quite a bit of time had passed.
It should be about the time it takes to travel from where I saw the carriage to here.
‘Will he actually be able to come?’
The situation wasn’t in my favor.
And as if that weren’t enough, I soon discovered something.
This cave already had an original owner.
Thump-thump, thump-thump-thump!
Behind me, what I had thought was a clump of dirt suddenly began moving frantically.
‘What? It’s a Rabbit?!’
The wild Rabbit, startled by my presence, frantically clawed at the earth before bolting outside like an arrow.
“Worm, if you want to live, either run away or stay quietly in my pocket!”
I quickly grabbed the Snake and chased after the Rabbit, rushing outside.
‘If I’m discovered while inside the cave, there’s nowhere to escape.’
Sure enough, the moment the Beastkin Pursuers spotted the Rabbit, commotion erupted among them, and I felt them rushing toward me.
“There! Over there!”
“It’s the Young Lady! Run!”
I ran fast. But a footrace wouldn’t settle this.
Even with good endurance, it made no difference.
Our body lengths were simply too different.
Before long, I found myself at a dead end in a small clearing surrounded by dense forest.
A massive tree loomed before me.
“Finally found her.”
“No time—finish her quickly.”
…No time?
“I saw her entering the forest just now!”
I took a fighting stance. Immediately, my ankle throbbed, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through.
If I just make it through this safely, I’ll meet the Dragon Duke.
Please, from now on I’ll be careful and live cautiously.
Just this once—let fortune smile on me!
Whoosh!
I dodged left and right, moving swiftly, but I couldn’t evade every dagger thrust coming at me.
Fighting against skilled children was indeed different from fighting adults.
If not for the countless experiences I’d accumulated, this life might have ended here.
‘Damn it, why isn’t anyone coming?!’
During a brief lull in the fighting, I pulled the small Snake from my pocket and secretly threw it behind me.
I should have left it in the cave if I knew this would happen.
“Run.”
I brought it along for nothing, and now it looks like it’ll die too.
‘Sigh, there’s no helping it. If I can’t see him again….’
I felt a slight regret.
Since I’ve learned the method this time, I can meet the Dragon Duke again by repeating it.
But I’ll have to reestablish our connection, and face someone without memories once more.
That’s one thing.
“You’re a branch following that Baian, right? There should be a Catfish and Jellyfish with you too. Do you have a Flounder as well?”
“H-how do you….”
The Flounder’s concealment ability stands out even among Beastkin who specialize in hiding.
“What are you doing—kill her already! We’re running out of time!”
“Yeah, I’m already sick of this brat!”
I tried to buy time through conversation, but it was futile—the blade came flying forward.
I wasn’t tired, but my throbbing legs held me back.
Damn. I’ll have to risk getting hurt…
As I leaned my body halfway back with that thought, the sword bounced off something as if it had struck an obstacle.
“Gasp… H-he’s here. The Young Master.”
“Damn it…!”
Everyone turned to see Bellus standing there with a serene expression.
He gazed calmly at my appearance, covered in dirt and leaves, then swept his hand through the air.
Not quite like Father, but a torrent of water surged forth.
“Damn it, the plan’s failed. Everyone, retreat.”
“But…!”
“None of us can break through that power!”
The assassins tried to flee, but I moved quickly and kicked the back of the one at the very end with all my strength.
No way—I need to keep one as a witness!
“…”
When I turned my head, I saw all the ones who had tried to escape collapsed on the ground, twitching.
Red liquid stained the verdant grass below.
I exhaled heavily and sank down where I stood.
Good grief, I’m exhausted.
As I sat there, a shadow soon fell across me.
“…”
Bellus was looking down at me with an unreadable expression.
A creeping sense of killing intent accompanied it.
I lifted my head.
“…Why? Are you going to kill me?”
“Who knows.”
Certainly, there would never be a better opportunity than this to kill me.
If I died here, how would anyone know whether the assassins killed me or someone else?
“Bellus, if you kill me here, you’ll regret it. Want to know why?”
“…”
“Father will absolutely know that you killed me. And then you’ll die too.”
“…”
Hisssssss—!!!
Reacting to my killing intent, the Snake that had suddenly leaped into my chest began to cry out wildly.

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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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