Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 172

Chapter 172

Watching the castle crumble reminded me of something.

Rumble! The sound was still coming from behind.

“Dad, now that I think about it, didn’t you say something like this five years ago?”

Five years ago, the day I rescued Ekion with Dad, and Toos stayed behind in his place.

Dad left Ekion and me in the residence and went out again, saying this:

“I have something to take care of, so I’ll be back for a while.”

He didn’t return until much later. No matter how much I asked what he had done, he wouldn’t tell me.

“Well… if things go as expected, it’ll be two weeks, or a week at the earliest, but it doesn’t seem like things will be quick.”

That incident suddenly came to mind.

“Dad, you definitely went out alone five years ago and said that when you came back, right? Don’t you remember?”

“I don’t recall.”

I frowned slightly and stared at him.

Now I could distinguish between Dad’s joking face and his serious face.

“You’re lying. You have a remembering face.”

I could tell that he was pretending not to remember even though he did.

“Can you read minds now?”

Dad chuckled.

“Alright, I remember.”

Rumble, crash! Another huge sound, and another part of the castle collapsed.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to see the castle crumble?”

“……Huh?”

I turned my head at the sudden remark.

“What I did five years ago was that kind of thing.”

“What are you talking about?”

Dad said in a nonchalant tone.

He had loosened some of the pillars with the power of water five years ago.

He had planned to knock them down one by one back then, but suddenly changed his mind.

“Why did you change your mind?”

“Because it seemed like you would visit this place again. I just wanted to keep it intact until then.”

“……”

“Didn’t you want to escape from Aquasidel? Then I should have just left it alone.”

“……”

“It’s the castle of the city where you and I will live.”

Fortunately, the traces of the power he left behind were still there, and it seemed to collapse more easily due to the turtles’ attacks, he said.

I didn’t know whether to be surprised that Dad’s power was still working even after five years.

Or to be surprised that he had noticed all my feelings even though I hadn’t said anything at the time. I couldn’t figure it out.

I just laughed.

“Geez. I’ll have to keep living as Dad’s daughter.”

Dad seemed to stare at me at my passing remark.

I couldn’t see his face, but I could tell.

“……That’s a happy thing to hear.”

I felt that even our manner of speaking had become similar, and we spent some time laughing.

‘But I didn’t expect the turtles to do this much.’

I stared at the castle anew.

In the previous timeline, the dragon city beastmen did not participate when the war broke out.

So I didn’t know their potential very well.

“Thanks to them drawing attention, it’s become easier to escape.”

Thanks to everyone rushing out, the outskirts of the city were empty. We were running to take advantage of this gap to return.

Atlan, who was looking out of the running carriage, exclaimed.

“Hey, this is really easy?”

“Don’t let your guard down. It’s not over until we completely leave the castle gates.”

We were all in the carriage together.

“Tch, I know.”

Even though the city was empty, we decided that it was better to ride in one carriage than to drive two.

‘I already smuggled out the herring maids and Misa in the early morning.’

It was our turn.

Once we got past that huge castle gate, there would be no problem running to Aquasidel.

In other words, it was the last obstacle.

“Tsk. The knights are divided, so if someone catches us here, we’ll get caught right away.”

As if his words became a reality.

The carriage we were riding in soon stopped at the castle gate.

Slightly lifting the curtain, I could see the knights at the castle gate talking to the orca knight.

Most of the dragon city knights had rushed to the dragon city, but some seemed to have remained at this gate.

The dragon city knight tilted his head and gestured as if to tell them to go.

Perhaps he agreed with the words that the dragon bride would now remain here, so unnecessary personnel were returning.

It was the moment when the orca knight was about to turn back.

“Wait, stop right there!”

With a commotion, I could hear a buzzing sound outside the window.

‘Beasts.’

Did they have the manpower to spare even to the castle gate?

Black panther family knights and knights from an unknown family. The number wasn’t that large.

Looking back, Drex’s face was strained.

‘We can’t fight.’

We had to disappear without a trace.

The orca knight gave the same explanation, but it seemed that it didn’t work, and the black panther knight approached this way.

“Please stop for a moment and come down.”

I glanced at Dad at the voice coming from outside.

There was no choice. If it came to this, it was either a battle or fainting.

“Dad, Second. Wait a moment.”

I stopped the two who looked like they were about to draw water [prepare for a fight] at any moment.

In that tense moment, a familiar voice was heard.

“What’s going on?”

Lili, who was quietly held in Leavi’s arms, poked her head out.

Lili’s ears on her head twitched.

“Ah, Second Young Master……!”

“I asked what’s going on.”

“That is, we were checking because the dragon bride’s party was said to be leaving. The Duke instructed us to thoroughly check the castle gates just in case.”

“Is that so? I’ll do it.”

“Yes? But how could Young Master do such a thing……”

“It’s okay. I’m trying to score some points with my father too. I can’t just keep chasing after pretty young ladies, can I? Huh? Oh, right.”

Palaya’s voice was languid and relaxed.

“I heard that some suspicious guys were trying to escape near the north gate earlier…… I heard that the center is busy blocking those insignificant guys right now, right?”

“We’ll go take a look.”

Soon after, I could see the knights who had gathered leaving.

After a while, the door opened.

Palaya paused when he met my eyes, and then his expression changed when he saw Lili.

‘Huh, look at this guy?’

It was a face that melted like whipped cream.

Lili also looked happy and was about to make a sound, but Leavi stopped her.

“……No problem. Let them depart.”

“Yes.”

“But I can’t rest assured until the fish guys are gone. I’ll watch until they’re outside the castle walls.”

Soon the door closed and the carriage we were riding in passed through the castle gate.

Palaya was riding a horse alongside us.

How long had we moved?

Knock, knock. The door reopened with a note.

“Please get off? It’s time to change cars [carriages].”

When we went outside, two decent carriages were standing there.

And the herring maids and Misa, who had been pacing back and forth in front of them, ran to us with happy faces.

I waved to them and looked at Palaya.

“You really did as you said?”

“I even swore, so what else could I do?”

It was definitely polite speech, but somehow it was a carefree tone. I just chuckled.

“As promised, will you give me time to say goodbye?”

“Go. I can’t give you much time.”

Because his tone was carefree, but his face was very anxious.

I watched Palaya and Lili reunite from afar.

Ekion and Toos were still floating in the air without their feet touching the ground thanks to Dad’s power.

With their robes pulled down deeply.

“Dad, can you keep them floating in the air like this for about three days until we get there?”

“I can even go to Aquasidel.”

I smiled softly.

‘Ah, I found out this time.’

How nice would it be if I could use the power of water too.

After experiencing it once in Peseum, I felt even more regret.

I should find out how to do it when I get back.

It would be good to find the teacher who taught me the power of water in the previous timeline.

While I was thinking this, the short farewell of the black panther and the squirrel ended.

“……I will definitely come to pick you up within three months.”

Palaya, who came back to me, had red eyes as if he had cried.

“Do as you please.”

I turned away with an indifferent reply.

“Ah, please take care of her safely. Well, for food, if she can’t eat it, make sure to give her cake! Give her cake with it!”

“……”

“She likes cotton blankets. If possible, a goose down blanket, no, I’ll go to my mother’s house and send it!”

“……”

“If, if she cries, she’ll like it if you hug her just once……”

I turned slightly.

“If you’re so affectionate, come sooner than three months.”

At my cold words, Palaya bit his lip tightly and slowly nodded.

I turned away as I was.

‘I don’t know what’s going on…… but it seems like Palaya is Lili’s only family in this timeline.’

We got into the carriage and departed.

A sound of something falling came from that city.

We left the fierce struggle behind and set off again for Aquasidel.

To our hometown.

The blue flag fluttered like a wave of victory.

No, it was a signal announcing our victory.

* * *

The way back was smooth.

“We’ll tell the black panther side that there’s no reason for us to be there since the Dragon Duke has disappeared anyway, and we’ll return.”

“I see.”

“If we add that the dragon bride is sick and returning, there will be no problem on the surface.”

Dad chuckled softly.

“I’m worried about where my daughter is sick.”

“……Whatever.”

Crackling. We were in front of a burning bonfire.

It was evening and we were camping in a suitable place.

I was sitting quietly on a log, and on my thighs, two boys were sleeping side by side.

One was Toos and the other was Ekion. I smiled softly as I looked at the boys who looked the same but were subtly different in size.

‘They’re like dolls, really.’

They were like brothers.

While I was stroking Ekion’s soft hair, Dad looked down with a displeased expression.

“Can I throw them in the lake?”

“……No.”

Soon after, the orca knight found Dad, and Dad left, looking coldly at Ekion.

It was a peaceful time.

I was quietly looking at the bonfire when I felt a small movement.

When I turned my head, there was a small squirrel. It was time to return.

With a pop, she became a small child in front of my eyes.

Lili somehow couldn’t make eye contact with me, then she raised her head slightly.

She seemed to be looking at me.

Instead of asking why, I stared at her quietly and opened my mouth.

“It’s good that you came, Lili.”

Lili had been acting like this since she met Palaya.

“I had something to ask you.”

I just couldn’t find the right timing to ask.

I had been wondering since the castle.

Why is Lili following me?