Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 157

157

The first thing I did was take Atlan back to the room.

Of course, the Black Panther Knights, including Asel, were still tied up where I’d left them.

They’d probably be fine for a while.

But time was short, so I had to move quickly.

As soon as we entered the room, Levai and Drex rushed in from the next room, the moment they saw us.

Behind them, Whale, Ekion, and the baby squirrel sitting on Ekion’s shoulder were visible through the doorway.

“Princess? You’re back. What on earth happened outside?”

“A lot. The Black Panther guys attacked me.”

“Pardon?”

“They tried to kidnap me and take me away.”

Levai’s eyes widened, but only for a moment. As befitting a strategist, he immediately lowered his gaze coldly beneath his glasses.

“They must have been planning to use you as a hostage against Pierre.”

“That’s right. They must have thought I was a helpless eight-year-old.”

“Helpless…”

Levai, who had been muttering quietly, chuckled in disbelief.

“Complacency is always the quickest path to defeat. Anyway, the fact that you returned safely means they realized your strength, Princess. Did they run away?”

“Nope.”

“…Pardon?”

“I tied them up downstairs.”

“N-Neh?”

“Why are you so surprised? The Second [referring to Atlan, her bodyguard] was with me. It wasn’t difficult.”

“No, I’m not talking about whether it was difficult or not. I’m talking about witnesses!”

Ah, was that the problem?

As expected of my strategist. He doesn’t even bat an eye at the fact that the Black Panther bastards are tied up.

I felt a little proud.

I ignored Atlan, who was muttering very quietly beside me, ‘Why does that guy have no memory but is still the same…?’

“Levai, the situation is in our favor, and I intend to take advantage of it.”

“In what way?”

As expected, he’s not asking *how*, but *in what direction*. It means he can handle anything.

An orca is an orca even when it’s a baby. This guy is the same.

“I’m going to start things right away. There’s no need to be cautious anymore. We’re going to storm the building I told you about.”

“You don’t mean to just barge in, do you? Are you going to deal with the layers of guards?”

“Yep.”

“How?”

“I’m going to make them step aside on their own.”

I grinned.

“You guys just do as I say from now on.”

“Yes.”

“Ah, more than that, Levai, are you good at memorizing roads?”

“Pardon? My memory isn’t bad.”

“Good. Then memorize all the maps of the building I’m going to tell you about. Can you do it in 10 minutes?”

“Pardon? Right now?”

“Yep. Read it and create the shortest route based on the map. Ah, Drex and Atlan will tell you the number of guards in each area.”

“…Princess. Do you think of me as some kind of mythical fish that spits out wisdom when you poke it?”

“Nope? I see you as someone who does whatever I tell you to do.”

“…”

Levai’s expression crumpled.

“I guarantee it. You can do it.”

“You’re making it sound easy to just tell me to figure it out somehow.”

“You’re smart after all.”

“This isn’t a matter of intelligence, it’s a matter of intuition!”

Levai frowned and grabbed his head.

Regardless, I turned my head towards Drex, who had been listening silently.

“Drex, you heard too, right? Assist Levai.”

I explained the plan as easily and concisely as possible.

The expressions of Atlan, Levai, and Drex, who were listening to me, changed from moment to moment.

They frowned, were surprised, and in some parts, even turned pale.

Ah, correction. Only Levai turned pale.

“You want me to step up too? I’m a support-type beastman!”

“There aren’t enough people. Then how are you going to give instructions?”

“…”

With that brief explanation, I turned my head.

Whale, Ekion, and Lily, who was in squirrel form on Ekion’s shoulder.

If there were three people to carry out this plan, there were also three people to guard this place.

“Whale.”

“I’m listening.”

Whale looked like he had guessed what he was about to hear.

He had a stern and steadfast impression, but when you looked closely, he was a quick-witted kid.

“As you know, you’re the oldest of the three of you, Lily, Ekion, and you.”

“That’s not surprising.”

“Right? Well, saying it like this makes me feel like a mom telling her eldest to take good care of the house.”

Actually, it’s not that different.

“Please. You guys just stay quietly in this room until everything is over.”

“That’s it?”

“I’m sorry, but it’s not an easy task.”

I hardened my expression slightly. Whale flinched in response.

“Do you know how to play chess?”

“…I know, my mom liked it.”

“Okay. What’s the most important chess piece on the chessboard?”

“…The king.”

“That’s right. You guys in this room are the kings in this operation.”

No matter how well I bring Tus back, it’s useless if Ekion is captured.

Besides, Whale is a very valuable healer, and he was a precious person whose abilities should never be known.

And Lily, what more is there to say?

She had already become someone I couldn’t return to the Black Panther guys.

“I’m saying it’s really important.”

“…I understand.”

“Okay. So please. Don’t ever leave this room.”

I’m glad that Dad had taken measures in this room with the power of water.

However, there is always a contingency in everything.

Just in case, I told Whale one more thing.

“…I don’t know why you’re saying that. I understand. If that moment comes, I’ll do that.”

Whale nodded obediently. I wanted to smile and pat Whale’s head, but.

‘I can’t reach.’

I naturally moved my hand and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Whale, not to brag, but I don’t say ‘I believe’ often.”

I’m stingy with trust.

In the past, I went through succession battles where I was betrayed almost every day.

There weren’t as many subordinates I deeply trusted as I thought. Only my closest aides received my trust.

“But I trust you.”

Is it because you’re the beastman of the white whale that I liked the most on Earth a long time ago?

Or is it because of the harmlessness of this child’s abilities?

“Please. Ekion is really important to me.”

I trusted him.

“And the people here have bullied that child a lot. If I hadn’t brought him, I don’t know how much he would have suffered.”

“…Okay, stop it.”

Whale covered his mouth with the back of his hand and turned his head.

“I understand what you mean by ‘do as you’re told’.”

“Ah, that’s only for Levai. You’re an exception. Good, right?”

“…Levai hyung [older brother/term of respect] is glaring at me.”

“Ahaha. It’s okay.”

I smiled brightly.

“Are you relieved?”

Whale flinched. He’s still a child, even if he looks like this.

I tapped him on the shoulder once more and tried to go outside.

If it weren’t for the hand that grabbed my hand tightly.

“Ekion?”

The person who grabbed my hand was none other than Ekion.

“Calypso.”

Ekion had a slightly flushed expression for some reason. As if he was happy.

It was amazing to see his usually pure white cheeks turn slightly red.

I almost forgot the situation and stared at him for a moment.

“Help, need?”

So I understood a few seconds late.

“Help? What help?”

Was Ekion thinking of showing it with actions rather than words?

He grabbed my hand tightly. It was that moment. I got goosebumps all over.

‘This feeling is…!!’

The power that flows through my body like blood, and the power that moves naturally like a second pair of hands and feet.

When I came to my senses, a water droplet was floating in the air between me and Ekion.

It was definitely the power of water.

“W-What, what is it…? Hey! You, you could use the power of water?”

Atlan, who couldn’t know this because he wasn’t an orca, was the only one who realized everything and stammered with wide eyes.

Instead of answering Atlan, I calmly stared at Ekion.

This was definitely the power of water.

And it was also what Ekion had given me.

Gulp, I swallowed.

Honestly, I can’t say I’m not tempted.

But didn’t I hear about the price Ekion pays for being able to use the power of water before?

However, before I could say anything, Ekion said quickly.

“I, got taller…!”

Is he talking about the increased eye level compared to me?

Ekion continued.

“So a little, just a little, but like this, can do…”

I stared at Ekion intently and said.

“…Is it hard for you?”

“No.”

“If I use this power as it is, will you die?”

Ekion shook his head violently.

“No.”

“Really? I hate it the most when my people lie.”

The guys who said let’s live all died and became cold corpses.

I didn’t want to go through that again.

Ekion nodded, keeping his gaze steady. He had a determined expression.

“Lie, no. Calypso hates it… I hate it too.”

“…Good.”

I turned my gaze to the water droplet floating in the air.

I gauge the power.

The amount of power I can use isn’t that great. Is it about the level of rookies who have just awakened the power of water?

“I, how much can I use this? Time, I mean.”

Ekion pondered and then spread out five fingers.

I nodded.

“Okay. You mean 5 minutes…”

I fell into a brief thought. Soon I nodded.

“Enough.”

The dragon gave me wings.

Maybe this is a message to punch the only self-righteous guys in that world in the cheek?

“Let’s go.”

We each set off in our designated directions.

I’m heading towards Peseum.