Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 119

Black Orca Baby (119)

“Hic, no, no… How can you say that? Atlan…!”

A genius from the Narwhal family?

Interestingly, Levin was startled but didn’t correct Atlan’s words.

“…I don’t understand what you’re talking about, so why don’t you explain it properly?”

“Ah. The narwhals are loyal to me. So, if I join, that’s twice as many underlings as you have.”

“…Yeah, great calculation.”

“Right?”

Yes, our second child, I see your brain is still a flower garden except when it comes to battle!

‘By the way, a genius.’

Atlan’s explanation was as follows:

The Narwhal family originally had a tradition of the firstborn inheriting everything.

In this family where the firstborn, whether son or daughter, inherits, a genius with talents that outshone everyone else was born.

The family members unanimously chose Levin as the next successor.

However, there was a condition for inheriting…

Graduating from an intermediate institution one year earlier than his age.

‘There was a reason he was so desperate to advance.’

It seemed he was greedy himself.

‘So, when I met him last time, he mentioned recognition from his family. I thought he was being ostracized within the family.’

Such things are so common in orca society that I naturally thought in terms of violence.

“He already invented something when he was young that was recognized as the best. Isn’t that a useful brain?”

“Yeah, yeah. It might seem sudden to ask, but what did he invent?”

“An improved ballista.”

“Hmm, a war tool. In this peaceful time…”

“Hey, what was that thing called? Umba?”

“T-Toowoomba!”

I was startled by the absurd name.

Wait a minute, what?

The weapon with the same name as my favorite pasta on Earth, which always made me smile.

It was the very weapon that contributed significantly to our victory in the war against the land animals in the previous timeline.

It wasn’t just a simple ballista.

“I’m hazy about it, but you’re not, right?”

As if he knew I would react like this, Atlan smiled, showing his fangs.

Indeed, I was surprised enough for Atlan to be so confident…

“He really made that?”

“Do I have a reason to lie? I’d get caught anyway.”

I encountered that weapon when the war was just declared.

Come to think of it, Ledaas, the subordinate who brought the weapon, said this:

“This… is a weapon that someone in our family made a long time ago. At the time, we never thought there would be a war.”

“It made a brilliant contribution.”

“Yes, so it’s a little regrettable and unfortunate. If the genius who made this had lived just a little longer… There would have been more weapons that I couldn’t make myself.”

“……Really? How did he die?”

“He was murdered. By a successor from a now-disappeared branch family of orcas.”

The face that muttered bitterly.

…That was because he was thinking of his dead brother.

Ledaas clearly had great talents but was always a little too humble.

Saying he wasn’t a genius.

‘That was because he had a real genius as his younger brother.’

I blinked.

If this was true, that narwhal who was busy rolling his eyes in front of me was an indispensable talent that had to be recruited.

And also an ‘S-class talent’ who must be kept alive.

‘Heh.’

“…Okay, go back for now.”

“What? Is that all you have to say?”

“I’ll accept you. Actually, I was already thinking of accepting you that day.”

“Huh?”

“I told you, I needed time.”

“……”

A look of joy spread across Atlan’s face. At the same time, he glanced at me slightly. As if he had just realized his mistake.

“…Are you angry?”

“No, I’m not. So, don’t pretend to shrug your shoulders. It’s obvious.”

“…I, I didn’t do that.”

I turned my gaze from Atlan to Levin.

“Levin, have you thought enough about what Atlan is saying and agreed to it?”

“Well… it’s not a matter of agreeing or not, um, as Atlan said, our family has decided to follow Atlan, so, um, I don’t have a choice…”

“What if I give you a choice?”

“……”

“If you were forcibly dragged here by Atlan, if you’re being forced to go along with the family’s will, tell me.”

I made a serious expression.

I don’t know how much of a genius Levin is, but if it doesn’t work out, I can recruit Ledaas, who was a subordinate.

Ledaas was a great talent in his own right.

“I’m sorry for making you decide so suddenly, but I don’t need someone who follows me against their will. I will definitely become the Clan Leader, and I only want people who are sure of their lives to accompany me on that path.”

Levin’s expression became strange.

I told Levin that I would give him a chance to choose until the next time we met and asked him to tell me his answer then.

A hasty decision can lead to regrets, so I meant for him to think carefully.

And after Atlan and Levin left, I let out a small breath.

I sat on the sofa and leaned my head back, and I felt something wriggling next to me, so I looked and it was Ekion.

Ekion was diligently massaging my hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Saw, book.”

“Huh?”

“Massage.”

I chuckled.

“You even learned that? You’re amazing.”

“Don’t be fooled.”

“Huh? What do you mean, don’t be fooled, Dad?”

“Do you know what the title of the book that guy saw about massage is?”

“What is it?”

“50 Charms of a Beloved Husband.”

“……”

My expression became strange.

“…Why is that kind of book in Dad’s study?”

“…Someone forced it on me.”

All the books Ekion is currently reading come from Dad’s study.

Then why didn’t Dad throw that book away? He was the type of person who would throw away anything unnecessary without hesitation.

Dad seemed to sense my question and remained silent for a moment before finally letting out a sigh.

“Your mother gave me that book.”

“Huh…?”

I was taken aback by the unexpected words, but I chose to remain silent after seeing Dad’s expression.

‘He looks like I shouldn’t touch him.’

Instead, I stroked Ekion’s head. He applied what he saw in that book to help me?

That adorable little dragon.

‘I need to find out more about Ekion’s abilities.’

I put these thoughts aside for a moment and shifted my gaze to the door.

‘It feels like a storm has passed.’

Anyway, Atlan always acts before thinking, which is the problem.

He’s still the same.

I stared intently at the door Atlan had left through, and then I heard a quiet voice next to me.

In my view was Dad’s face, which had lost the agitation from a moment ago and now had a calm expression.

“Why do you have that expression?”

Come to think of it, it passed by so quickly that I had forgotten.

‘That Atlan didn’t say a single word to Dad, did he?’

He didn’t even greet him.

It was almost like he was treating him like an invisible man. As if he was someone who didn’t matter to him at all.

Well, considering he has memories of the previous timeline, it seems like Dad doesn’t bother him at all.

The funny thing is that Dad doesn’t seem to care about it at all either, so looking at it from this perspective….

‘They’re like two peas in a pod.’

I blinked.

“Why my expression?”

“If you don’t know, you can look in the mirror.”

Dad waved his hand, and the water formed a round shape, then turned smooth and transparent in front of me, reflecting my appearance like a mirror.

“Ah……”

I met my expression in the mirror that Dad made and touched my cheek.

‘I had this kind of expression.’

Soon I smiled awkwardly.

I felt weight on one hand, so I turned my head and saw Ekion, who had been gently pressing my hand, now crossing his arms and staring at me.

I tapped Ekion with my remaining hand and slowly opened my mouth.

“I have a terrible memory.”

Actually, I didn’t think I could overcome it, so I was just going to leave it in a corner of my head like a rag.

It seemed too much to even sort it out.

Atlan, who suddenly opened the drawing room door a moment ago, looked similar to the guy who was at the forefront in the final battle.

“I’ll buy time. You get out of here.”

“Don’t talk crazy!”

“No, Clan Leader. You have to live. I’ll try to buy time well.”

I shouldn’t have nodded there.

Buying time meant facing death in the most miserable way.

I pressed down on my eyelids.

“Then, what can I do to make sure that memory never comes true again?”

I opened my eyes and lifted my head.

“Would it make you feel better if I helped you?”

My protector, who has great power and seems capable of anything, said this.

For the first time, I felt like a helpless child and smiled bitterly.

But it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

Tears didn’t come out, but moist words flowed from my lips.

“…It would have been nice if someone had said that back then.”

But the memories that have already passed are just memories. I am living today.

What proves this every day is Dad, who is alive and breathing in front of me.

And Ekion, who is now sharing his body heat with me.

“I’m okay.”