Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 104

104

“So, you didn’t go anywhere and stayed in the mansion? Then why didn’t you come out?”

I tilted my head, talking to Dad.

Since this entire mansion is within Dad’s perception range, he must have noticed I arrived.

‘He always popped up out of nowhere, right?’

Usually, Dad was in the drawing-room or by the old fountain in front of the building even before I arrived.

I even rushed home from school faster on days when I liked the feeling of him waiting for me.

Dad ran a hand over his face, looking annoyed.

I could see the bother flashing across his expression.

“I was just cleaning up a mess.”

“A mess?”

“The troublemaker you brought.”

I naturally looked at Ekion, then chuckled awkwardly.

I somehow had an idea of what happened.

‘Hmm, did another servant who came in here recognize Ekion again?’

In fact, for the past five years, Dad and I had done our best, but we could never avoid small mistakes or incidents.

It was impossible from the start.

When was that? About three years ago.

By chance, a servant became suspicious of Ekion’s identity.

‘There were only servants who brought Dad’s meals or ingredients here.’

We had been careful to avoid Ekion running into them, but coincidences overlapped, and there was a slight mistake.

In the end, Layla stepped in at Dad’s command, and it was resolved well.

‘A friend of mine is an anglerfish siren.’

Anglerfish sirens had the special ability of ‘hypnosis.’

They usually belonged to very closed-off families and didn’t interact with anyone.

I thought Layla was lucky to have connections.

‘Does Dad only take those with abilities like his as subordinates?’

After that, we decided that hiding wasn’t the only solution.

Ekion created a new identity and became a child staying at the mansion.

Layla was his legal guardian.

“I heard you met Ilia Belluga.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I smiled, raising my lips.

“It’s time to start moving. Dad knows it too, right? We have to go to the funeral soon.”

“I know. You mean Baiyan Aquasiadel’s story.”

“Yeah.”

I tapped Dad’s shoulder playfully.

The more I thought about it, the better it was that he died.

“I can say for sure, he’ll never be comfortable even in hell. The people who died unfairly because of him won’t let him be.”

“……”

The funeral hall.

There must be a reason why Riribel is holding such a grand funeral for Baiyan, whom she killed.

I quietly guessed the reason.

“First, I’m going to the funeral and then I’m going to meet Ilia again. I’ll be able to hear a very interesting story then.”

A mischievous smile crossed my face.

Riribel, I’m sorry, but.

Can I break just one of your wings before they even spread?

Oh, of course, I don’t need permission.

* * *

The day of the funeral dawned.

No, saying it dawned was a bit awkward. The funeral had already been going on since yesterday.

It was just the day we were visiting.

Me, Dad, and Agenor.

Dressed in matching black clothes, we entered the large building.

It was a building that wasn’t usually used, but it was used like a cathedral when a direct family member’s funeral was held.

A faint floral scent wafted out as we entered the door.

I saw purple flowers in people’s hands.

‘I heard that mullein plays the same role here as white chrysanthemums in Korea [representing mourning and respect].’

Purple mullein.

Fitting for the funeral of an aquatic animal siren, even the flowers are aquatic plants.

I glanced at the purple flowers already piled up near the coffin.

The funeral here is simple and not too heavy.

Because orcas were warriors.

Unless it was an accident or murder, if it was a death in a fair battle, everyone accepted it.

‘But today is a bit different.’

The atmosphere was somehow gloomy.

It was obvious.

‘It’s because Baiyan’s death left them high and dry.’

How important is tightrope walking to the collateral branches [less powerful family members]?

It’s a matter of life and death.

But they’ve been relying on Rodesen and Baiyan for at least 20 years.

Even though he’s become terrible, the successor they were still trusting suddenly died?

“Wow. Dad, they look like they’re about to die from anxiety.”

“……”

“They must be scared now that their lifeline is cut off, right? It’s quite a sight.”

I didn’t feel any guilt.

Why? Those guys gleefully defended Baiyan when he used violence against the weak.

“It seems so.”

Dad looked at me with a questioning gaze.

“At this volume, they’ll be able to hear us.”

“Let them hear.”

“I don’t mind, but weren’t you hiding it?”

‘Hiding my strength,’ Agenor told me, and now Dad is constantly singing that word.

I made a subtle expression.

Wow, it really doesn’t suit him.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s revealed.”

I don’t intend to hide it anymore.

As expected, some of the collateral branches who heard my blatant words were glaring at me.

I grinned and glared back.

“What are you looking at?”

They flinched for a moment at my confident attitude, but then they even started showing hostility, so I subtly tugged on Dad’s clothes.

“Dad, if I ever need to warm up, can you hold my coat? Dede and Misa worked hard to make it.”

“I will. Do you need any help?”

“Help? Would I need it?”

“……”

“Whose disciple am I?”

Dad smiled slightly and then picked me up. A stream of water rippled beside him.

“Next time, I want to hear ‘whose daughter’ instead of that.”

“Haven’t you said that a lot in the past five years?”

“It’s a word I want to hear again and again.”

“……Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Why should I be embarrassed to say something obvious?”

“……”

To be able to say these things.

I wondered why he had been silent in the past.

And I wondered how he had been with Mom.

I was suddenly curious, but the important thing wasn’t this.

“Let’s go get flowers.”

Dad put me down and even went to get the flowers himself.

I saw the surrounding vassals [subordinates] looking surprised, but it was nothing new now.

‘He’s only shown himself at intermediate institutions and family meetings for the past five years.’

It wouldn’t be strange if there were still people who felt awkward.

I also sometimes think of when I first met Dad, and it feels strange.

“Sister, do people change?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Oh, Dad?”

“What……”

It seemed like he was thinking something similar to me.

A chuckle escaped me.

“Well, I’m also curious. But wouldn’t people change?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. If there’s a very big shock to them, something that changes their life, they might change.”

I said, thinking about the regressions I had experienced.

I said it without much thought, but unexpectedly, Agenor had a serious expression.

“What’s wrong?”

I tilted my head at the expression I rarely saw because his eyes were always filled with longing and obsession for me.

“No, it’s just… Thinking about change, there are some guys that come to mind?”

“Guys that come to mind?”

“Hey, Sister, do you remember what I asked you for five years ago?”

“What, to let me hit you ten times?”

“I still want that!! No, not that……”

Agenor seemed to hesitate, then opened his mouth seriously.

“Atlant, you know.”

It was the moment Agenor said this.

Someone grabbed my hand tightly from behind.

As soon as I felt the body temperature, I shook it off.

At the same time, I turned around, grabbed the back of the person’s neck, and kicked their leg.

Thud. A low vibration echoed.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch…… Princess, it hurts…… Hmph.”

I was immediately surprised by the pure white hair I saw and quickly let go of the hand that was grabbing the back of his neck.

It was instinct.

“Hey, are you okay? Why did you approach from behind? I told you not to do that.”

“It’s because he’s a stupid brother. Smart Luga doesn’t do that.”

“Who are you calling brother? I’m the older one? Ouch, ouch……”

Besides the boy groaning under me, a boy with the same white hair appeared right next to him.

“Luga, Luba.”

It was the Luga Luba twin brothers.

It wasn’t just Agenor who had grown up over the past five years. They were twins who had already turned twelve.

But due to the characteristics of the Belluga [whale species], their growth rate wasn’t as fast as the Orcas [another whale species].

They still had a very baby-like appearance.

“Hehe, Princess!”

Luba stood up cheerfully as if he hadn’t just been knocked down by my hand.

“Aren’t you hurt?”

“I’m strong!”

“You haven’t even hardened your forehead yet, and you say that.”

“Hmph, it’s true.”

“You guys came too.”

“Yes, Mom and Dad went to get flowers!”

“Hey, Dubi Duba.”

I frowned slightly.

“Don’t get too close.”

“I’m not Dubi Duba!”

“Should we change it if the Princess wants us to?”

“Don’t change anything. Don’t say weird things.”

“But Mom and Dad will change our names too.”

“That’s right, she likes the Princess a lot.”

“……It seems like you’re really going to do it. Please don’t do that?”

Luga glanced at me and smiled shyly.

“The Princess didn’t meet us for five years, but she still likes us.”

“Even though we visited the mansion a few days ago, she didn’t even see us!”

“……”

……They were already smart kids, but they’ve become even more cunning over the past five years.

Aren’t they subtly asking me to favor their family more?

I sighed slightly and raised my hand.

“I’m already planning to meet Ilia this week.”

“Wow, come visit my room.”

“It’s not your room, it’s our room!”

While Luga Luba were chattering excitedly, attention naturally turned to us.

“Hello, Agenor!”

“You look cool today too!”

“What did I tell you to call me?”

“Princess’s subordinate number 1!”

“Number 1!”

“Smart. I like it. You’ll forever be my junior number 1.”

“Wow!”

Agenor answered while diligently looking around like a vigilant seal.

No, well. Rather than looking around…… it seems like he’s glaring and chasing them away.

‘Haa, I told him not to do that even at the educational institution. He’s doing it again.’

That guy even came into my class and did that. What is he, a gangster?

‘I admit that orcas are gangsters, but I want to be a gangster with a conscience?’

Somehow, it feels like I’ve left kindergarten, but when I’m with these kids, it feels like I’ve become the top dog in kindergarten again, even after five years.

‘When is Grandma coming?’

Today is the day of the formal funeral, so when the head of the family comes in and performs the ritual to send Baiyan off,

the coffin will be buried.

Thinking that, I turned my head, and a long shadow fell over me.

“……”

Tilting my head at the approaching shadow, I looked up.

A familiar face was in front of me.

Short, choppy hair, hair that symbolizes the direct line of Orcas.

The only brother with bright red eyes.

“Move.”

A fierce, grinding voice.

It was the second Atlant.