Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 74

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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 74
It seemed he couldn’t admit it himself.
Or more precisely, he couldn’t seem to recognize it.
‘Wow, that guy has become attached to me?’
Once I realized it, I was shocked and flustered.
But why, exactly?
When and where did such a reason arise?
‘Agenor, you must have experienced a humiliating defeat in battle.’
Fundamentally, the emotions of orcas develop in relation to combat.
Joy and happiness from enjoying battle.
Anger and resentment from defeat.
Despair and sorrow when facing an opponent they cannot overcome….
And respect, loyalty, and reverence for the strong are also derived from here.
The problem is that nothing between that guy and me fits any of these categories.
“Don’t take an interest in me.”
I spoke firmly.
“No, you can even turn off your interest. When the time comes, I’ll disappear.”
I had my doubts, but if it were Agenor, that would be different. Bellus’s interest was dangerous.
Especially if I planned to stay here immediately.
That guy was normally calm and rational, but when he felt interest, he became obsessive beyond necessity.
In this life, what this Eldest Brother should be obsessed with is the position of Matriarch itself.
Not me, his family.
“I know you doubt my loyalty. You think it’s suspicious, don’t you?”
“If you know so well, why don’t you become more respectful? Brother.”
In the previous cycle, when Bellus suddenly declared his surrender to me after a series of defeats, I doubted him countless times afterward.
It was natural. That guy, who had been acting like he’d rather die, suddenly changed.
And Bellus proved his loyalty through a dangerous mission that risked his own life.
“Don’t worry. I am genuinely following the Matriarch.”
I have no intention of becoming the Matriarch in this life.
So unlike the previous cycle, I have no intention of engaging in a life-or-death battle with my Eldest Brother, nor of sharing anything special between us.
That we were sovereign and subject, and family, was enough in the cycles that have passed.
“…What are you saying?”
“Exactly what I said. I’ll disappear.”
It was a plan I had kept hidden all this time, but I spoke honestly only to Bellus.
Considering the magnitude of the risk, it was right to sever Bellus’s interest now.
“I promise. After this Dragon’s Festival ends, on the way back, I won’t be here.”
Come to think of it, it seemed fine even if things didn’t go well with the Dragon Duke this time.
I would have Tus, the retainer, in my hands.
‘Yes, I could reveal that I’m the Dragon’s Bride early and stay until I’m ten years old.’
Well, the people living here will probably cause trouble, but.
This problem will be resolved as the water’s power gradually strengthens.
“What are you going to do about the Matriarch?”
I was momentarily taken aback.
What? Even so, I’m only three years old?
‘Normally, with such an age difference between us, wouldn’t it be laughable to even consider it?’
Even if I stood out at the Family Meeting, they would think I couldn’t overcome the age gap.
I was flustered, but only briefly.
“I’m not going to be the Matriarch?”
“What?”
“You do it.”
“…You?”
“That’s right.”
…Look at those eyes.
Sensing a competitive spirit ready to pounce at any moment, I stepped backward into a combat stance.
‘Hmm, so he’s angry because I spoke so carelessly about the Matriarch position he’s staking his life on?’
If I let him hit me just to end this, I felt like I might actually die.
‘Though honestly, the difference in physique makes it impossible to even let him hit me.’
However, our fight never began.
Because Father opened the door and entered right away.
“Teacher, welcome.”
The moment Father entered, Bellus strode past me and walked away.
‘He’s annoyed because he couldn’t do as he pleased.’
I hope Agenor becomes the Matriarch, but that fellow is far too strong a candidate.
When I return, I wonder if it will be difficult to ask him to look after Agenor and the Beluga Children?
“There’s one piece of bad news.”
“What is it?”
And my mind, which had been filled with thoughts of Bellus, was completely emptied by one devastating piece of news Father brought.
“It seems the Dragon’s Festival might not be held.”
* * *
Tus, a retainer of the Dragon Duke, was actually a being not long born.
In terms of consciousness and thought, he was close to a young boy if compared to humans.
In Tus’s eyes, the beastman family that had brought him in was quite peculiar.
‘The books said that beastman families are generally harmonious.’
He had seen it in a children’s dictionary.
Beneath the word card labeled ‘family’ was a picture of a family embracing one another.
From Tus’s perspective, this orca family that had picked him up seemed very strange.
But that wasn’t the problem.
‘I need to return to the Duke soon…!’
Surely the Duke wasn’t eating properly without him.
The Dragon’s retainer was certain of this.
I had left the Dragon Duke’s Castle for reasons beyond my control.
It was a necessity, and it was something only I could do.
‘But I failed, and I nearly died….’
Now that I had failed, I needed to return to the Dragon Duke as quickly as possible, even if just by a day.
The problem was that Tus alone could not reach the Dragon Duke’s dwelling.
It was clear that I needed someone’s help.
That someone would most likely be Calypso, who had picked me up.
‘But can I really ask Calypso for help?’
I was uncertain whether I should tell Calypso about my situation.
To reach the Dragon Duke’s ‘dwelling,’ one had to be exceptionally strong.
At least….
“Your expression doesn’t look good.”
Yes, like that great orca over there—Pierre.
I was ignorant about the growth process and development of beastfolk.
Because of this, after seeing Calypso flee from the assassins and witnessing only a single battle, I had unconsciously deemed her strength insufficient.
‘What should I do? I need to return as quickly as possible….’
But I didn’t want to ask for help from a beastfolk who couldn’t understand my words.
Meanwhile, while Tus was deep in thought, Calypso couldn’t hide her sullen expression.
Rather, she was seething with grievance and anger.
“Teacher, how could I be in a good mood? I came all this way… and now the Dragon’s Festival might not even be held!”
That’s right. Shocking news had struck Calypso like a bolt from the blue!
Calypso recalled the memory from thirty minutes ago.
“The Dragon’s Festival might not be held, you say.”
Calypso had assumed Pierre was going to discipline the land animal beastfolk here, and her assumption was correct.
Pierre, who had gone to find the land animal beastfolk—more precisely, the retainers—had encountered a rumor spreading among the distinguished guests who had arrived earlier.
“You did say it was merely a rumor, didn’t you?”
“Still, for such a rumor to spread, there must be some hint or basis behind it.”
Of course, in this world, there’s smoke even without fire, and baseless rumors do exist.
But for it to spread so suddenly at this particular time was worth suspicion.
‘I came all this way for nothing!’
Of course, frustration was building up!
“Why won’t it be held? Didn’t you hear the reason?”
“As I mentioned earlier, the rumors varied. ‘The Dragon Duke is ill.’ ‘The Dragon Duke doesn’t want the festival.’ Then there’s ‘The Imperial Family won’t participate, so it won’t be held.’ Or even ‘The Pantherion Duchy opposed this festival.'”
The lack of a clear reason made it all the more frustrating.
As for whether there had been years in the past when the Dragon’s Festival wasn’t held—I have no idea because I wasn’t interested!
“I’m curious about that rumor.”
“Let’s go hear it directly.”
Currently, in the Dragon Duke’s Castle where Calypso and Pierre were, there were many distinguished guests who had arrived earlier.
Depending on their choice, they could either eat in their rooms or dine at the First Floor Dining Hall below.
The dining hall was a place prepared for those who desired socializing.
Thus, Pierre acquiesced to Calypso’s wishes and accompanied her to that place.
Bellus had locked himself in his room before Pierre’s arrival, and Calypso made no particular effort to invite him along.
“Tus, you really don’t know? Why is this rumor spreading?”
Calypso asked Tus, who had long served as the Dragon Duke’s retainer, but the young snake shook his head with a bewildered expression.
-Tus doesn’t know. What is a festival?
…So we’re starting from there?
From this exchange alone, Calypso learned that Tus was a retainer born not long ago.
In truth, Calypso had initially intended to leave Tus behind, fearing someone at the dining hall they were visiting might recognize him.
But Tus insisted so strongly on coming along that they ultimately agreed he would travel in her pocket.
‘It would be nice if Tus suggested we infiltrate together like this.’
The Dragon Duke had already asked where she was going, but she refused to tell him.
He simply stared at her intently—it felt more like he was observing her….
What was bothering him about this?
‘Besides, the fact that he’s not leaving alone suggests he might be in a place where going alone would be difficult.’
And there was something I had wondered about since arriving here.
…Doesn’t the Dragon Duke realize his retainer has returned?
Tus had said the Dragon Duke would surely know he’d left the castle.
‘Wouldn’t a master who cherishes his retainer normally be searching frantically by now?’
Though we had only just arrived, I sensed no sign of the retainers searching for anything.
The situation was peculiar in many ways.
I hoped to glean some information at the dining hall we were heading to.
But it would likely be difficult to obtain easily, judging by what I anticipated would unfold when we arrived.
‘Ah, I can see exactly what will happen.’
And twenty minutes later, Calypso’s prediction became reality.
Half of the humanoids in the dining hall lay collapsed on the floor, groaning.

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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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