Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 117

I reached out, a little dazed.

The huge guy was practically tying himself in knots trying to hug me. I stumbled back, patting his back awkwardly.

Even as I watched his back shaking, I was still bewildered.

Is he crying?

This was the same guy who, even when his arm was about to be torn off, didn’t shed a tear but instead cackled, saying he would destroy the Imperial Family himself.

People often find that being patted when they’re feeling down only makes them more upset, and Atlan seemed to be experiencing exactly that. The more I patted him, the more his shaking intensified.

Was it that hard on him?

He must have been suffering a lot.

“You, you can’t do this to me…”

Even in this situation, he didn’t forget to assert himself, his voice thick with sobs, making me smile wryly.

“…Okay.”

You’ve surprised me the most since my regression, you jerk.

If I remembered the previous timelines, I wouldn’t have been able to remain calm. I’ve repeated this three times already, but there are memories that are hard to get used to even after repeating them. How would it be for this guy who’s experiencing it for the first time?

“Stop crying.”

I tugged on the second kid’s hair.

“Your eyes will get swollen, you idiot.”

He didn’t even lift his head, as if it didn’t hurt.

“Look up.”

My shoulder was completely soaked, but I didn’t care.

I can change my clothes, but…

I can’t change my heart.

As they say, one who tied the knot should untie it.

The person who made my heart wet should dry it. I felt a sense of responsibility.

Let’s try to soothe him and talk it out nicely.

“I said, look up.”

But sadly, just as he had forgotten how to be loved, I had forgotten how to comfort, so my patting didn’t last long.

No, more than that, it was because I realized we were in the middle of the hallway.

Even though students didn’t frequent this place, there was no guarantee that no one would pass by.

‘Can’t you see I’m considering your social standing right now?’

I pressed down on the second kid’s head, who still wouldn’t look up, as if telling him to come to his senses.

“…No.”

After a long while, a weak voice came out.

But the weak voice was only temporary, followed by an angry voice, as if he were grinding his teeth.

“Do, do you think I’d show you this face?”

“Why are you getting angry?”

“The face I wanted to show you… it’s not this unsightly mess.”

“Okay, I’m curious about your grand plan too, but if you keep crying like this, even I’ll feel a little heartbroken.”

“…”

“I cherish you too. Second.”

That’s why I, who regressed three times, couldn’t overcome your death.

However, even if there was affection between us, it was more of a bond built up in calmness rather than sentimentality.

This situation and posture felt awkward.

“I overlooked the fact that you’re the type to hide the things you really need to say.”

Even if I went back to a few days ago, I would have made the same choice, not knowing that he had his memories.

But now, I couldn’t pretend not to know anymore.

I whispered softly, just loud enough for him to hear, patting his shoulder.

“Have I only seen you acting weird once or twice?”

I continued, speaking to the motionless guy.

“Unless you’re never going to show your face again, stop crying and look up.”

Instead of listening, he just pressed his huge body against me.

Looking at the big second brother, I thought affectionately and wistfully.

‘…This little punk, he still doesn’t think about his size and just throws himself at me.’

Fortunately, he’s not an adult yet, so he’s smaller than I remember.

It’s just that my body is too small compared to the previous timelines, so I can’t handle it.

He’s going to have a growth spurt, isn’t he? It felt new to realize that he would grow even bigger to the size I remember.

‘But how long do I have to stay like this?’

…I feel sorry for him, but it’s getting unbearably awkward.

‘Should I hit him? Kick him?’

No, there’s no need for me to do something so trashy…

Half of me wanted to end this embarrassing performance, and half of me felt a comradely affection that made me want to kick him away.

Just as the conflict grew so much that I was really thinking of pulling him off, Atlan finally raised his head.

I was startled.

‘That’s intense.’

I told him to look up, but… his face was blotchy red and a mess of tears.

His red eyes held fierce sorrow and resentment. Unhidden longing hung like fruit.

I realized.

Now that I’ve seen these eyes, I can’t turn away anymore.

“…Are you done crying?”

I twisted his cheek slightly with a crooked smile, and Atlan clenched his teeth.

His handsome face contorted.

“Damn it, how unsightly.”

“You’re just realizing that now?”

“Don’t tease me. It’s your fault.”

“Right. It’s my fault.”

“Why are you admitting it!”

“Oh my, you scared me. Why are you yelling? Do you want to die?”

“…”

Then he bit his lip and started to look around, with a sorrowful and wronged face, like a frightened beast afraid of being kicked out again.

He started to ramble in a fierce voice.

“No, Master, it’s you, so. How could it be your fault? There must have been a reason! Abandoning a killer whale like me is wrong, but there must have been a reason!”

“…I appreciate you making excuses for me, but you don’t have to.”

Ageno and Bellus at least showed different sides from the previous timelines, but this guy is exactly the same as before.

It felt like I was back when I was the head of the family, with his childish face.

Atlan rubbed his eyes roughly. The fierce and handsome boy, now with red under his eyes, suddenly asked me.

“So, you’re accepting me now, right?”

With a confident voice, I smiled brightly.

“No? Didn’t you say you wanted to live a normal life in the next life?”

“…”

Atlan flinched.

He hesitated for a moment, then turned his head away. Fierce emotions still clung to his face.

“…I don’t remember. There’s no way I would have said that, right? Don’t you know me?”

“Yeah, don’t I know you?”

Atlan flinched again.

‘He looks guilty?’

His face was still a blank canvas, a canvas that revealed emotions without embellishment.

After a moment, Atlan contorted his face and raised his voice.

“I said I want to follow you! Why won’t you accept me!”

“…Hey, don’t do that, just think about it until you’re an adult. I’m still thinking about you…”

“Don’t!”

“…Don’t think about you?”

“Do, do it! Were you not even going to think about me? I’ll make sure to imprint it on you, even if I have to pester you every day. Got it?”

“What do you want me to know? I don’t know what you want me to do.”

Then, for a moment, Atlan also looked confused.

…What are you going to do if you’re confused, you idiot.

“Think about me a lot! Who said not to? But think about using me as a weapon! If a guy like me offers you the handle, you should take it!”

“Ugh. My ears hurt, you idiot.”

I said this while still smiling brightly.

Then he paused.

“Second, you’re really fun to tease, aren’t you?”

In the last timeline, where the only fun in life was aiming to be the head of the family, this guy’s reaction, who would get excited and hot-tempered with a single touch, was definitely one of the few joys.

“…You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”

I rested my chin on my hand and curved my eyes.

“Oh, you’ve finally caught on?”

I thought Atlan would get angrier if I said this, but he pondered for a moment and then arrogantly raised his chin.

Of course, it didn’t suit him very well because he still had tears dangling from his eyes.

“Yeah, I know. I’ve gotten a little smarter. It’s all because of you. You’re going to accept me in the end, right?”

He revealed his confidence as if he were talented enough to do so.

The sight of him grinning, revealing his fangs, was refreshing.

I smiled along with him.

“No?”

“Why!!”

“Sorry, the requirements for recruiting talent in this life have become a bit stricter.”

“Is there anyone stronger than me?”

…Well, that’s not true. Maybe similar to Riribelle now, except for me and Dad?

I tried to hide the playful face and the playfulness that was about to leak out, and made a serious face.

“What, what do you need?”

“A wise head?”

“…”

Atlan paused for a moment, then his face turned red.

“I don’t have that!”

I whistled.

“Oh, you know that? You’ve improved?”

I got up and dusted off my clothes.

The guy who was still sitting down looked up at me with fiery eyes.

“Go back for now.”

“You’re going to abandon me.”

“I’ll call you again. That’s why I’m telling you to go back.”

“…”

He’s really still fun to tease. Actually, I also wanted him to forget his sadness, even if it was just a little.

Only then did I calm down the smile that I had been playfully holding onto.

“Give me some time to sort things out too. It seems like you’ve remembered for a long time. Didn’t you need time to accept it too?”

“…”

“Me too.”

Atlan had an uneasy look because I didn’t give him certainty in the end, but he soon got up from his seat.

“I’ll keep chasing you even if you don’t accept me.”

“…Okay, I’ll keep that in mind, so don’t bother innocent kids.”

“Why would I bother someone weaker than me? It’s not fun.”

He replied bluntly. He was definitely handsome as a strong killer whale, but the underlying ferocity overwhelmed his handsomeness.

“Get used to the fact that your existence itself is a threat.”

“I don’t know. Teach me, then.”

I chuckled, then turned my head because there was a thought that had been occupying a corner of my mind all along.

‘We weren’t the only ones here, were we?’

A little further away, behind a pillar, Levin was peeking out with only his head showing, and our eyes met.