Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 136

136

Agener wore a sulky expression, and doubt clouded Lilibel’s face.

Adding to the strangeness, Atlante’s clothes were disheveled, making me wonder what had transpired.

‘Why is it only Atlante whose clothes are in such a state?’ I thought.

If he’d been fighting with Lilibel, shouldn’t he be more roughed up? It was all rather puzzling. Besides, Lilibel looked perfectly fine.

I felt a surge of curiosity and questioned Atlante directly.

“…Did you two have a fight or something?”

Atlante reacted with unexpected agitation.

I braced myself, thinking he’d snap at me for the false accusation, but he stopped short, staring at me before abruptly turning his head away.

He seemed to be holding back a torrent of words.

“Ha, no. Never mind. I’ll talk about it later.”

Atlante’s dismissive wave only deepened my curiosity.

‘What’s gotten into him?’

For now, I nodded, deciding to address the more pressing matter. But when I turned to Levai and Whale to speak…

I found them acting strangely as well. Whale was staring at me with an almost desperate intensity.

‘What’s wrong with him now?’

His usually sturdy face was etched with anxiety. Seeing his precarious state, I couldn’t help but worry.

‘It took a very long time to diagnose Dad earlier, didn’t it?’

He’d also been sweating profusely.

Besides, he’d even fainted as soon as it was over…

Before I could offer any words of comfort, Whale suddenly blurted out, “Um, Calypso. Are you not in pain?”

“Huh? From what?”

Whale, struggling to articulate his concern, pushed himself out of Levai’s arms and hurried toward me.

He seemed incredibly urgent.

As Whale reached out, I instinctively flinched back.

But then I remembered I was in Dad’s arms and forced myself to stop. It was an ingrained habit, my body’s automatic response to danger.

“Hand.”

“Ah.”

My gaze followed his to my hand, and I was surprised to see it wrapped in a handkerchief.

‘When did this happen? Ah, did Dad do it?’

Does Dad even carry a handkerchief?

It wouldn’t be entirely surprising, given his penchant for neatness.

On the other hand, the image of Dad with a handkerchief felt a bit…unfamiliar.

As I examined the fabric, a realization struck me.

‘Isn’t this Mom’s handkerchief?’

The distinctive pattern startled me, but I decided to shelve the thought for the moment.

Too many ears were listening to discuss it here, and besides, it didn’t seem like Dad would offer any explanations anyway.

First, I needed to reassure Whale.

“I’m okay. This will get better if I just spit on it.”

It was just a bit of knocking against the wall. It’s not like my fingernails broke or fell off, or my bones shattered.

It’ll heal quickly.

“Excuse me, Princess, but siren saliva doesn’t possess such restorative properties.”

“Levai, you have no sense of humor. You need to work on that.”

“…What exactly am I supposed to improve?”

“I have a fondness for witty strategists.”

“Who is *your* strategist?”

Thanks to Levai’s bluntness, the tense atmosphere eased slightly.

“Okay, okay, we can discuss your qualifications later.”

I shrugged and stepped out of Dad’s embrace.

“Levai, Whale. First of all, I apologize for startling you by showing up here.”

When I offered my sincere apology, Levai and Whale exchanged glances before answering in unison.

“…No, it’s okay.”

“It’s okay.”

I patted Whale on the shoulder and turned to Levai.

“Thinking about it, I overlooked something earlier. Instead of getting angry after hearing the ingredients, I should have asked some questions first.”

I really should have. Being the first time I’d seen Whale in this life, I’d momentarily forgotten something crucial.

“I have a question.”

Instead of reacting emotionally to my painful past, I should have approached this calmly and rationally.

What exactly *was* Whale’s ability?

I narrowed my eyes, focusing intently as I asked,

“The ingredients that Whale mentions, does he ever name things that can’t be found in this world?”

After a moment of silence, Levai slowly shook his head.

“No. Everything exists in this world.”

“…”

“Because it’s equivalent exchange.”

Equivalent exchange.

He doesn’t ask for things that are impossible to obtain. Because an exchange would be impossible.

“Whale’s special ability is truly remarkable. He always mentions ingredients that the person being treated is capable of finding.”

“…Is that so?”

I managed a bitter smile.

Yes, I should have considered this from the phrase ‘equivalent exchange’.

‘Ingredients that *can* be found.’

Well, it’s good that I remembered it now.

‘Okay. Good, it’s not impossible, is it?’

My smile soon transformed into one of confidence.

I glanced at the sofa where Whale had been conducting his diagnosis. A few pieces of paper lay scattered on the floor below.

As soon as Whale began reciting the ingredients, Levai had grabbed a pen and started writing, as if he’d been anticipating it.

I remember how quickly his hand had moved.

“I saw you writing down the ingredients Whale mentioned earlier. Did you get them all?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then how long do you think it will take to gather all those ingredients?”

Levai started to answer reflexively, but then stopped, his mouth snapping shut.

Suspicion flickered across his face.

“…Why are you asking me that?”

I paused, considering how to answer.

But as expected, what’s important now is…

Levai’s active cooperation was essential.

Not because he was forced, but because he genuinely wanted to help.

‘To achieve that, I’ll need a heart-to-heart conversation.’

I glanced at the others in the room.

“Everyone, please step outside for a moment.”

“Oh my, am I just an errand boy, summoned and dismissed at will…?”

“Yes, Sister!”

“Hmph, you should quietly obey when the lord speaks. Why are you complaining so much?”

“…”

Lilibel’s words were clearly directed at Atlante.

‘Lilibel… you’re not exactly the most obedient either, are you?’

I cut off my own thoughts and successfully ushered the three of them out of the room.

Ilia hesitated for a moment, a slightly troubled expression on her face.

“Um, Calypso. After this is all over, I think it would be good to go outside the basement.”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

She wasn’t one to speak without reason, so I simply nodded.

With that, I sent everyone except Levai and Whale out the door for a while.

The moment the door clicked shut, I turned back to Levai.

“Now, shall we have a little heart-to-heart?”

Levai didn’t attempt to hide his wariness, his expression conveying his unease.

“What exactly are you talking about?”

Levai subtly positioned himself in front of Whale, shielding him, unable to mask his anxiety with only me and Dad remaining.

I shrugged.

“Well, we have many stories we could share.”

“…”

“For example, the reason why you’re protecting the only remaining white whale siren in this world?”

Levai’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. As expected, it wasn’t a gaze that suited his age. That’s why I liked it even more.

“You’re implying something. How do you know that?”

“Are you underestimating my intelligence? I already know the white whale’s ability, so wouldn’t I know that too?”

“…”

The reason why Levai had dedicated himself to protecting the last white whale in the world.

That reason is…

“That child’s mother, another white whale siren, was your teacher, wasn’t she?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Why? You dreamed of becoming a pharmacist.”

“…”

“I don’t really want to argue with you. But I’m not going to broadcast your secrets either.”

It would have been nice to take my time, but time was of the essence.

“Everything said here will remain a secret until the day I die, if that’s what you want.”

It’s not like I was planning to leak information like this, but I couldn’t help it.

Speed is crucial now.

Because I have to find those ingredients as quickly as possible.

“I will, of course, have both me and Dad here make a vow of the sea [a magical oath bound by the ocean itself].”

“…Really?”

Knowing that the only way to get through to this distrustful strategist was through a vow, I quickly made a vow of the sea.

Dad followed suit.

Only then did Levai finally speak.

“Haa. I feel like I’m being haunted by a ghost…”

Levai’s expression seemed to say, ‘Just what kind of person *is* she?’

“Just how much do you know?”

“More than you expect?”

I erased my smile, signaling that I wasn’t joking.

“And I’m more serious about saving my dad than you can imagine. To achieve that, your secret, the one that even the dolphins of your own family don’t know? I can keep it safe for as long as you need.”

“…”

“You don’t really hate saving people either, do you? That’s why you were helping people, and that’s how the sharks discovered your ability, wasn’t it?”

This was a guess.

Why was the white whale’s ability only known to the sharks?

Maybe it was discovered while he was helping someone?

“Why do you… speak as if you know everything?”

He sounded annoyed, but I knew. This was Levai’s signal of surrender.

“Besides, why is everything you say true? I don’t even know why I want to believe you, even just once.”

Levai, who had been staring at me silently, soon sighed softly.

“…It will take 10 years.”

Ha, 10 years?

Did he really think I’d let it take that long?