Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 77

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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 77
Beyond the door, I could see Father sitting comfortably in a robe.
“Teacher, you changed clothes?”
“Formal wear is rather uncomfortable.”
“That’s fair.”
Before heading to the Restaurant, we all changed into fresh clothes.
But in my case, moving around at the Restaurant had left mine in disarray, and I hadn’t changed yet.
“I should have changed too if I’d known.”
It was a bit sudden, but I was slightly self-conscious, so I brushed at my clothes, and my body drifted upward.
I didn’t need to walk—I simply let the current carry me and flew directly to the seat beside Teacher.
“It’s not bad, so you needn’t change.”
“Really? Thanks, Teacher. I suppose I am rather cute and pretty.”
“….”
Father’s silence was something I’d grown so accustomed to that I simply accepted it as his nature.
Besides, I hadn’t come here to discuss such things—I should get to the main point soon enough.
“That much is true.”
“Hm?”
“After attending the Family Meeting again after so long, I realized it myself. You are the most beautiful.”
It was strange—hearing such words from someone who seemed like they would never say them, even if the world split in two.
“…I do know I’m pretty and cute.”
“Then why does your expression look like that?”
“Because I never thought I’d hear it from Teacher for the rest of my life?”
At that, Father smiled faintly, barely perceptibly.
“A father is said to dote on his daughter. Then there’s nothing strange about it.”
“….”
“Do you have business in my room?”
“The way you say that makes it sound like I only ever visit when I have something to discuss.”
“That’s not entirely wrong.”
“….”
I brushed it off playfully, but the strange feeling persisted.
Especially when I thought about what I’d actually come here to discuss.
“…Teacher, you’re quite sincere. Honestly, I was surprised you’d go this far in fulfilling the role of a father. Is it because a promise is a promise?”
“That may be part of it. But truthfully, I’m not entirely sure.”
“What do you mean you’re not sure?”
“I mean I did it because I wanted to.”
Father answered matter-of-factly.
“Though I’ve known you only briefly, you are someone who refuses to do what you dislike, even if someone were to force you. Isn’t that so?”
“…That’s true.”
“I am the same. Throughout my life, I have never forced myself to do something I didn’t wish to do.”
Who could have compelled someone as strong as the Matriarch?
Even the Orca Family Matriarch finds me too valuable to kill, so she overlooks my arrogance and rudeness.
“Well, if I had to put it into words, I’m somewhat enjoying myself.”
“….”
“I am delighted, Calypso.”
A large hand descended onto my head with a soft thud.
As I felt the hand stroking me slowly, the peculiar emotion I was swallowing grew even stronger.
I wish you wouldn’t make me feel these emotions toward you, and that you wouldn’t grow attached to me.
Because that’s not what I came here to discuss.
“…Couldn’t you feel that same joy with Agenor?”
“Only if Third Brother were as strong as you, had the same personality as you, and possessed the same soul as you.”
“…What, are you really going to drag out that ‘it has to be you’ speech? Besides, if we’re talking about strength, Bellus is stronger than me.”
“That one won’t do.”
Father spoke leisurely, his legs crossed, resting his temple against his hand.
“He’s too much like me.”
“Really?”
I glanced cautiously at Father’s expression before speaking carefully.
“There are cases where similar people get along well, aren’t there?”
“There certainly are such cases, but with that one and me, it seems highly likely we’d end up in mutual hatred.”
It was a rather sharp observation.
Indeed, Bellus seemed to regard Father as someone he needed to defeat.
The more I watched from the sidelines, the more it seemed Father was pretending not to notice while actually perceiving or knowing many things.
“Um, you know. Teacher, you must have traveled to various places when you were younger than you are now, right?”
“I’ve traveled before, but mostly within the domains of aquatic creatures, and I’ve rarely ventured beyond that.”
Attending the Dragon’s Festival was even a first for him.
That’s probably why none of the land animals in the restaurant recognized Father.
If they had encountered him even once before, they would never have said such things to Pierre Aquasiadel.
“When I first entered this city, I was startled by how different it was from the Orca Family Estate. There’s no building as tall as our Manor anywhere else, you know. And even our Manor isn’t quite this tall.”
“That’s true. By the way, did you like high places?”
I nodded while glancing sideways.
“Yes. Though all the land creatures were quite disappointing.”
“So you’re experiencing hatred and discrimination from them for the first time.”
Well, not exactly. I’ve heard such things ad nauseam.
But since I couldn’t reveal that openly, I’d officially make this my first time in this life.
“Which one’s words bothered you the most?”
“Huh?”
“Generally, the more certain the example, the less need for further words.”
“No, the black bear from earlier is enough. I even stepped in myself.”
I tugged at Father’s sleeve.
It was strange. I should be getting to the main point soon, yet here I was, dancing around the subject. My behavior felt oddly unfamiliar to me.
But I had to stop at merely unfamiliar.
‘I’m going back anyway.’
I finished deliberating and lifted my head.
“Teacher, I think this city is absolutely magnificent. So… what if I returned alone when the time comes?”
“What?”
I expected him to either stare at me in silence as if I’d said something absurd, or respond casually with something like, “If that’s what you want, then so be it.”
As he always did. No different from usual.
“…Are you saying you want to live here with me?”
“Huh? W-what?”
Not only did an answer come immediately, but it was completely unexpected.
“I only just learned today that you like high places, but I didn’t know you liked them this much. If you were to live here, is there something else you’d want to do?”
“No, that’s not…”
“Usually, a city like this needs plenty of beastfolk with strength. Since the city is large, there would be a need for escorts between villages, and private security or mercenary work wouldn’t be bad either.”
Wait, where is this going?
More than that—you, who possess power approaching the Orca Family Matriarch’s level, would merely take up escort work or mercenary jobs here?
I forgot what I was about to say and blinked.
“Um, Teacher. You’re not saying I should work, right? You’re saying you would?”
“I don’t intend to underestimate your abilities, but I doubt there’s any noble house or merchant guild in this city that would entrust escort or mercenary work to a three-year-old.”
“…I appreciate you suddenly being mindful of my age, but that’s not really the point, is it?”
I gripped Father’s clothes so tightly they wrinkled.
“You’re saying you’ll live here with me?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to live here?”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“If not, surely you’re not saying I should leave you here and return alone.”
“…”
I couldn’t give any answer.
In that instant, I was struck speechless by the explosive surge of fighting spirit and murderous intent that erupted from him.
“Just moments ago, that restaurant was crawling with those who disrespected both you and me, and now you’re telling me to leave you behind? What do you think they’d do?”
“Teacher.”
It wasn’t directed at me.
Yet I couldn’t move an inch.
‘…This is Father’s true power, approaching the Orca Family Matriarch’s level.’
My trembling wasn’t born from fear alone.
The bewilderment that I didn’t sense the competitive spirit from Father that I’d felt from the Matriarch.
Relief that Father wouldn’t easily abandon me… relief?
Confusion surged like waves.
“You seem to take my words far too lightly.”
“…”
“You asked me to be your father.”
“Teacher, I—”
“So where am I supposed to go, leaving you behind? You may have found me easily and spoken lightly of it.”
“….”
“I’ve said it repeatedly—I don’t force myself to do things I don’t want to do. So I have no intention of returning alone.”
Staring into those brilliantly blue eyes only deepened my confusion.
I held my breath for a moment.
“From now on, your only task is to receive my protection, undergo my training, and become the adult you wish to be. I have no intention of forcing anything else upon you, but for all of this to happen, we must necessarily remain together.”
“….”
Bewilderment washed over me first.
The problem was that this bewilderment didn’t feel entirely unwelcome.
In the end, the promise Father made would never be kept.
I had no intention of reaching adulthood in this place.
‘Somehow, I’ll find a way to speak with the Dragon Duke and discover a method to return.’
Now, I don’t resent or dislike your kindness toward me—in fact, I’m grateful for it.
But still.
I miss my world far too much.
It feels far too late now to hope and wait for anything.
‘Those sixty years were unbearably painful for me.’
The words I wanted to say remained trapped behind my lips, unspoken.

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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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