Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 219

219

Calypso had been feeling lately as if she were living her third life.

Meeting Hauser only intensified that feeling.

Atlan’s gaze followed the tip of Calypso’s round nose.

“Whether it’s with you, or with Levi. Oh, and recently there’s that Velus guy too, I guess.”

*Someone who remembers a previous life, or resembles someone from a previous life.*

It was unavoidable.

“Atlan.”

His younger sister and esteemed head of the family rarely called him by his name.

But it was alright.

Her calling him ‘Second Son’ felt much warmer than the name given by his neglectful parents.

“I know that Dad and you, and the first and third siblings, don’t really like Whale and Ekion being around.”

Orcas are known to be exclusive towards other species. At the same time, their possessiveness and attachment to their own kind, to their companions, is extraordinary.

It might seem similar to the families in childcare novels who are just sulking because they’re sad about their daughter or younger sister getting married, but there’s a fundamental difference.

…In that these humans could really kill that young man if things went wrong?

“But you know what? Those kids are the ones who tell me that this life is different from the last.”

Calypso slowly raised her head.

Atlan flinched.

Her face held a confusion he had never imagined.

It was unlike the head of the family, who was always confident and sure of herself.

“You wouldn’t know what kind of role those kids are playing.”

“…….”

“Atlan, you know… I was the last one to die.”

It was a suffocatingly uncomfortable topic, but Atlan didn’t stop her.

The last one to survive in a war carries the deaths of all those who died before them on their shoulders.

It’s also why the suicide rate is high among soldiers who survive battles alone.

“I thought I wasn’t like that… but living, I realized. I especially…”

As much as it is her third life.

“I’m overflowing with regrets.”

In the Korea Calypso lived in, the spirits left behind by those who died with resentment were called ghosts. [These ghosts are believed to linger, driven by unfinished business or unfulfilled desires.]

Beings who try to achieve goals they couldn’t in life, even in death.

Calypso felt like a living, breathing ghost whenever the memories of her third life surfaced with vivid clarity.

But she dismissed it as lingering regrets from her past life.

She didn’t show it.

She had been unconsciously deceiving herself.

That’s why the time she spent with Ekion was so comfortable.

A being who wasn’t with her in her previous life.

Whale was also the same, as he was a person who had died in the previous iteration, so they hadn’t been together.

“You’ve changed, but me, I haven’t changed from the me of the previous life or the me of now.”

“…….”

Velus had softened, and Atlan had made a friend.

Yet Calypso herself was the same as in her third life.

*I mustn’t forget those deaths.*

*It’s regrettable, unfair, and dear.*

Hauser, who suddenly appeared before her eyes, became the representative figure of all of this bundled together.

“Shall I tell you a funny story?”

Calypso had only recently realized.

“You’re not allowed to laugh?”

That she felt a sense of stability from those who weren’t in her previous life.

“Through the romantic feelings those kids have for me, I distinguish between my previous life and this life.”

Was it because the only thing she hadn’t done in her past life was interacting with the opposite sex, or dating, or marriage?

Because her surroundings were full of people who respected her or almost deified and worshiped her.

She had no choice but to distance herself even more.

Calypso thought it was ridiculous, but it was the truth.

“Ah, of course, Dad changing is a big part too, but.”

Calypso finished the conversation as if it were nothing.

But Atlan couldn’t just brush it off.

“You’re just saying you need both of those guys, why are you making it so difficult?”

“Oh, so your head’s gotten a little better in this life? You’ve got some sense now.”

“…….”

Calypso turned her head.

Certainly, she had never been in a relationship. She had never had a partner.

She had never been attracted to the opposite sex.

Even in her first life, when she wanted to get involved with the male lead out of survival instinct.

She had never been attracted to him.

But Calypso had received love and confessions from men.

“Realizing that not confessing is, in fact, confessing to the head of the family.”

“…….”

“Because it’s the last time.”

“…….”

“May I say I love you?”

Calypso’s expression twisted as she stared at Hauser.

Calypso hadn’t started this conversation with Atlan for no reason.

“Atlan, that’s why.”

Certainly, the love that Ekion and Whale had poured out on her without expecting anything in return had helped Calypso take root in this life.

But if the unrequited love she had received in her past life could also be called love.

“I think something will change depending on what Hauser says when that kid opens his eyes. So…….”

Atlan looked at Calypso with a very confused expression.

* * *

Whale’s treatment was over, but Hauser didn’t open his eyes.

Calypso stayed in the room with Hauser, never leaving his side.

She even handled her work there, looking at documents.

As a result, rumors quickly spread throughout the mansion.

“……Did you hear? The head of the family is dating.”

“Hmm? Pierre? Calypso?”

“Who else would I be talking about!”

“Eek, Calypso?!”

The rumor that Calypso had a lover spread among her followers.

“Huk, I heard it was, like, unrequited love……?”

“What! What does our Calypso lack!”

The content of the rumors was neat and tidy without any frills.

Calypso, who had gone out for external affairs, brought back a man. And that man was Calypso’s ideal type.

“……It’s really fortunate that Pierre is away.”

Pierre, along with Velus, Lilibel, and others who had gone to strike other shark bases, were still away.

It was just a rumor that had spread quickly throughout the mansion for three days.

Anyway, it was a widespread rumor.

“What are you guys doing there?”

“Ack! You scared me. Dede, what are you doing!”

“Phew, what a surprise.”

The herring maids, who had been huddling together, rubbed their arms.

“How is it? Isn’t it perfect?”

Dede, who had been imitating Calypso’s voice and manner of speaking, smiled brightly.

“Be careful. I heard Calypso is coming this way.”

“Ugh…….”

In fact, wasn’t their head of the family at the height of her youth?

That’s why the subordinates were rather welcoming, but they were concerned about the identity of the man she had brought.

Even this was resolved when they heard that he was an orca and a friendly humpback whale beastman, and that he was a beastman who had helped a weak beastman in the wasteland.

That night.

Calypso was turning her stiff shoulders as she returned to her room.

She was planning to wash up and change clothes before going back to Hauser’s room.

But Calypso stopped before she could enter her room.

Because someone was standing in front of the door.

“Dragon Duke?”

It was Ekion. The man who had lost his name to Calypso after losing his memories.

The man stared at Calypso with a blank face. Only his gaze was burning hot.

“What are you doing here? Ah, is the room you’re staying in uncomfortable?”

“…….”

After showing the Dragon Duke’s appearance to Crown Prince Cale, the Dragon Duke’s residence was moved to the main mansion.

Because there was no longer a need to hide his existence.

“Since the room you used to use was at the far west end, I moved it. If it’s uncomfortable, you can move back there…….”

“No.”

The man took a step closer.

“A room closer to you is much better. Even though you don’t come back to the room.”

“Haha……. Is that so? You said you can’t hear the voice of the first dragon’s fragment when you’re with me, right? I’m sorry. I’ve been busy these past few days.”

“Is going to that man’s room a busy matter?”

Calypso raised her head.

The man was much taller, so she had to raise her head quite a bit.

The Dragon Duke of the third life was always floating in the air, so it was difficult to gauge his size.

Calypso had expected that if Ekion grew, he wouldn’t be that big to match his elegant lines.

Her expectations were completely wrong.

“Calypso.”

Calypso’s shoulders stiffened at the man’s call.

“Um, sorry, but it’s still better not to call me by my name.”

“Are you avoiding me?”

“Why would I? There’s no reason for me to avoid you, is there?”

“…….”

The man lowered his head.

Calypso scratched her cheek, wondering if she had gone too far.

She didn’t know what was too much, but perhaps it was because he looked the same as Ekion.

Even though she thought of him as a different person, her heart easily crumbled and weakened.

Anyway, she had to soothe him and find out why he had come. Thinking that, she raised her eyes again.

Calypso met a man who was drooping and silently shedding tears.

“…….”

……This has become even more difficult.