Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 69

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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 69
“Whenever you’re ready, you need only answer three questions of mine. However, I ask that you swear by the name of the sea that you will answer only with the truth. In exchange, I will provide you with evidence.”
As Bellus opened his other hand, a tiny badge rested in his palm.
The badge, adorned with waves, was clearly no ordinary object at first glance.
“One foolish assassin actually kept my family’s seal despite participating in this operation. This is something only heirs can possess, so it should prove useful. Even if you were to kill him and dispose of him, the head of that branch family wouldn’t dare lodge a single protest.”
“….”
Water droplets rose near the badge, merged together, and soon the badge floated upward.
Bellus watched silently.
“The deal is made.”
The badge passed into Pierre’s hand and disappeared from his palm.
Pierre, keeping the badge concealed within his fist, asked Bellus a question.
“When will you ask your questions?”
Bellus wore a contemplative expression for a moment before opening his mouth with measured composure.
“I will ask the first question now.”
Not far away, I could hear Calypso’s laughter.
What could be so amusing?
Pierre thought, briefly, that it had been worth embarking on this journey despite the inconvenience.
After all, our relationship had started on the wrong foot from the very beginning, but if we could work through the issues one by one, perhaps someday…
“I will listen, so don’t you forget either.”
“When the four of you are freed and I receive your acknowledgment. That form of address will have to be discarded.”
Couldn’t we become the kind of relationship we both desired?
Right on cue, Bellus’s voice reached my ears.
“It’s not a difficult question.”
Pierre acknowledged this much.
Thanks to meeting Calypso, he could now see his sons’ faces so clearly.
The Eldest Brother, seen after the Third Brother, resembled me just as much.
“Pierre.”
Bellus’s blue eyes gleamed beneath the shadows.
“Have you ever had a strange dream?”
“A dream?”
The unexpected question caused Pierre to furrow his brow.
It was a broad question.
However, having sworn an oath, Pierre responded slowly and deliberately.
“I’m not sure what dream you’re referring to, but I haven’t dreamed in over ten years.”
It was the truth.
Bellus nodded.
The young boy lowered his head with a subtle expression—whether it was disappointment, relief, or something else entirely, I couldn’t tell.
“Yes, I understand.”
At that same moment, Calypso held a snake in her hand and was utterly serious.
No, she was truly serious.
* * *
“Hey, over there. Snake?”
With Bellus and my Father stepping in during the day, I’d managed to overcome the crisis safely.
‘I thought I might regress again for a moment.’
It was good that I’d crossed over the threshold between life and death.
But a problem had emerged.
The schedule had been disrupted, forcing us to camp out tonight.
‘I suppose I should be grateful we had spare carriages at least?’
Until now, I’d slept in villages we passed through, so this was my first time camping.
In truth, I’d slept outdoors countless times before, so I felt no romance about it—only longing for a proper bed.
But that wasn’t the only problem.
‘Why on earth is this thing following me?’
The small snake I’d seen in the forest had been pursuing me relentlessly.
I’d tried to shake it off, but it kept coiling around my wrist, so I’d simply brought it along.
I figured that since we’d be traveling through terrestrial animal territory the entire way to the Dragon’s Festival, I could release it anywhere.
Besides, when Bellus had turned fierce, the tiny creature blocking my path had been rather endearing.
‘It wasn’t much help, but it did try to assist.’
Moreover, it seemed intelligent.
It understood and comprehended my words.
The journey wouldn’t be boring, and after I’d lit the fire, I’d actually been enjoying myself… but then.
“Hey, you there. Snake? Hey.”
Soon I became serious as I looked at the snake.
This horned blue serpent that had been coiling around my wrist and playfully crawling across my hand just minutes ago had suddenly become listless, like a plant deprived of water.
What’s this? Could it really wilt so suddenly?
‘Small creatures like hamsters or whatever do sometimes just go like that suddenly.’
I poked it out of concern and even touched its hard horns, but it wouldn’t snap out of it.
“…Could it be hungry?”
Naturally, my companions didn’t know much about terrestrial animals.
Because terrestrial creatures discriminated so much, it had made aquatic animals even more closed off.
Not knowing much about terrestrial animal-humans, understanding an actual animal was even more difficult.
After deliberation, I concluded it must be hungry.
‘It needs food.’
Therefore, I was the only one here who could figure out what the snake ate.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah, Teacher…!”
I jumped up to move, but my path was blocked.
Father, I’ve caught you at just the right moment.
I quickly grabbed the hem of my Father’s garment.
“Teacher, could you possibly catch some mice for me? Field mice, or… are there even field mice in a place like this? Anyway, any small animals would do—mice or whatever!”
“Suddenly looking for animals?”
“I was going to feed it to her. Something seems off. She’s been drooping.”
“…I thought you were meeting this creature for the first time today. Have you two become that close already?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“The child is languishing—why does that matter? Besides, she tried to help me, and I don’t want to turn away from her. If my Teacher is suffering, I should go, oh no!”
My vision spun, and suddenly I found myself dangling from a stream of water.
“Where exactly were you planning to go with that leg?”
“Huh? You knew?”
I wore a bewildered expression. It hurt a little, but how did he know?
Father clicked his tongue softly.
“I told you to win without getting hurt.”
“Well, about that…”
“I wasn’t trying to blame you.”
“Huh?”
“Yes, I should say it this way.”
Father nodded and placed his large hand gently on top of my head.
“I was worried. Calypso.”
…He’s a quick learner. I pressed my lips together firmly.
“What do you need? Will a mouse like you mentioned work?”
Since what was needed was already determined, I nodded quickly.
It was the moment Father turned his back and began to move.
-It’s not… hunger….
Huh?
“It’s not hunger?”
I looked at empty air. No, I quickly looked at Father.
“Didn’t my Teacher just say that?”
“What are you talking about? I haven’t said anything.”
“What? Then whose voice is this…?”
Looking around, the Knights were very far away, and Bellus was nowhere to be seen.
That meant the only one left was….
“Could it be you?”
-Yeah. I’m not hungry.
The drooping snake swayed its tail gently.
I stared at the snake with complicated feelings.
‘Living in a world of beast-folk, I’m seeing talking creatures now….’
“Did you hear that, my Teacher?”
“What have you been saying since earlier?”
“What do you mean—her voice…. Wait, you can’t hear it?”
Father nodded.
“I haven’t heard anything except your voice.”
Well, a talking snake, and her voice only reaches my ears?
—A power related to time, if you have it, you can hear me. My voice.
I flinched.
“Why are you like that?”
“Oh, no… um. It seems only I heard it.”
“A half-human then.”
“I suppose…”
Half-human referred to all beastfolk who did not possess a completely human form.
This included those with animal appearances yet possessing human-level cognition and intelligence, and sometimes even the ability to speak.
—Water… water… I need so much. Save me. Please save me.
Water? I wasn’t sure why the voice only reached my ears, but the snake had become even more withered than before.
It looked as though it might truly die at this rate.
‘Perhaps it’s because I’ve been at the Junior Institution. The children say they can’t just pass by things like this.’
I placed the snake in both my palms and thrust it toward my father without hesitation.
“Teacher, can you make water? Soak this one thoroughly.”
“How much is needed?”
“Um, a lot. A very large amount.”
Soon my palms filled with water.
However, remarkably, the water vanished in an instant as it filled.
‘What is this? Did the snake absorb all the water?’
I could see it clearly with my own eyes.
The water seeping into the snake’s scales the moment it filled.
—More… I need more…
“More? How much?”
—A lot. Very much.
“Teacher, it says it needs more water.”
Father frowned but complied.
The problem was that no matter how much water he created, this snake showed no signs of recovering.
To the point where Father eventually spoke with composure.
“That one will die soon.”
“…”
Hmm, I gazed at the blue snake with half-sympathetic eyes.
—More… I need more…
“Look, if you don’t tell me how much you need, I can’t help you.”
Now even the voice had grown so faint that I had to listen carefully to hear it.
I caught the fading voice and my eyes widened.
“…What?!”
What did it say? If I hadn’t misheard…
“A lake?!”

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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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