Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 187

187

Whale and I locked eyes.

I thought he would avoid my gaze, but… even with his face flushed crimson, he didn’t look away.

“I’m sorry. But… like I said, no matter how much I thought about it, this was the only way for us to become family.”

I finally calmed down.

“First of all, you don’t need to apologize. There’s no need to be sorry.”

How many precious things is he betting for me? No, how many precious things is *he* betting?

‘I know white whales are kind to other creatures, but I’ve never heard they were pushovers.’

I was so flustered that my thoughts went astray.

Get a grip.

Well, since the rule only applies to family, this was the only way for perfect strangers to become family.

“But does proposing like this really make us family?”

“If you accept, the power will bind us together.”

“I see.”

I was able to look at the situation more calmly than I thought.

…No.

Come to think of it, is marriage really the only option?

A way for strangers to be bound as family.

“Um, Whale, if we have to be bound as family, isn’t there another way besides marriage? Like… what about adoption?”

“I’ve never thought about that.”

Whale pondered seriously for a moment, then shook his head slightly.

Apparently, there have been no cases of adoption proceeding at all.

We can’t be the only ones who have thought of this method over the long years, so it seems impossible.

“Oh.”

“More than that, Calypso. Even if we were to adopt, the person in question would have to wake up and approve it, but she can’t open her eyes.”

I conceded and nodded at his calm rebuttal.

I had to admit it.

“Whale, to be honest, I don’t mind.”

“……”

“I mean, I don’t really care whether I marry you or become your partner. But… is divorce possible?”

“……”

Whale hesitated before speaking.

“We only look at one mate for our entire lives…”

“Is that so? We’re different.”

In fact, I could just close my eyes and accept Whale’s kindness, regardless of what happens to his life.

But how could I do that to someone who has already offered to sacrifice a precious part of himself for me?

“I really appreciate you stepping up for me. And for proposing. But Whale, our killer whales don’t really look for morality in rational matters. Do you know that?”

In nature, killer whales weren’t exactly monogamous. This was reflected in our Suin [animal-human hybrid] as well.

“I’m going to be the head of the family, and our family doesn’t care how many husbands the head has. My grandmother had many husbands.”

“……”

“But your white whale Suin culture is very different from ours.”

It’s not like I’m saying I’m going to have a bunch of husbands in a promiscuous way.

Still, he could feel bad just knowing this fact.

Whale was silently listening to me calmly.

“And no matter how urgent it is, it’s not worth mortgaging someone’s entire life. I don’t think you should be tied to someone you don’t like in this way. I’d rather…”

“It’s not that I don’t like you.”

“Huh?”

“Why do you think I don’t like you?”

“……”

It was my turn to be speechless.

“You’re the one who saved me and Leviathan.”

I blinked.

“…It’s possible to like someone who saved your life, isn’t it?”

Something I couldn’t guess was swirling in his gray eyes.

“Why, do you think it’s not…?”

I was a little flustered by his quiet voice and, conversely, his blurring face.

What, is he going to cry? No way. No way!

Leviathan’s words, ‘Whale is just big, but he’s younger than he looks,’ came to mind.

I don’t want to make a kid cry!

“Calypso, I always thought I was going to die. The sharks chased us so relentlessly.”

I felt strange.

Whale spoke as if he was sure of his death, which actually led to his death in the previous turn.

So I’m talking to a kid who would have died at this point.

“That’s such a useless thing to say. There’s no such thing as a spare life.”

“Yeah. I thought you’d say that.”

A gentle smile bloomed on Whale’s face.

“You’re not good, but you don’t seem to abandon anyone.”

Like a small flower blooming on a calm face. It was fresh and youthful.

“So, the life you saved… can you take me with you?”

“…He’s saying something that’ll make Leviathan grab the back of his neck.”

I saw Leviathan taking care of Whale as if he were raising a younger brother, exaggeratingly like raising a child.

But I’m suddenly getting married?

‘No, if I say I’ll take him, won’t he try to kill me?’

But as expected, there was no clear answer.

After a period of silence, I sighed.

“You might regret your decision someday.”

Whale said he liked me. Yeah, that could be true.

‘But he’s too young.’

I thought this feeling was not far from just a good friend.

“……”

Is this how it feels to work as a kindergarten teacher and be told to marry by a little kid and persuade them?

“I’m sorry, Whale. I’ve never loved anyone romantically in my life.”

Not once in over 60 years.

“It’s okay. You’re my first too.”

“I’m not yours.”

I grabbed Whale by the collar and pulled him in.

Our faces got closer, and I stared at Whale intently.

“Don’t expect love from me, Whale.”

This was for Whale’s sake.

I didn’t think I’d suddenly realize the feelings I hadn’t realized in over 60 years.

“Instead, I’ll make sure you’re happy with me, I’ll make you happy.”

I reached out and stroked Whale’s head. It was soft hair.

“I’ll ask you one last time. Are you really okay with me?”

Whale nodded slowly in front of my approaching face.

“…Yeah, I’m okay.”

…Eyes shining with determination.

I don’t like these eyes, whether they’re adults or not.

Because those who died for me had these eyes until the end.

Having these eyes also meant that I couldn’t persuade them anymore.

…I didn’t expect to get married so haphazardly. And to welcome the groom.

I wonder if I can cancel this later when I regain the power of water.

“…Okay. Please take care of me. What should I do now?”

“I’ll choose you, and the power will bind us together.”

“Okay.”

Soon, a soft light resembling Whale flowed out of him and wrapped around my arm.

The shape that wrapped around my fingers felt like a ring, and the light that wrapped around my fingertips, the back of my hand, and my arm disappeared.

“Is it done?”

“Uh…”

There were no traces left on my hand. No, weren’t there? I tried to look at it because it seemed like something was faintly engraved on my hand.

Since it was late, I postponed it for later.

“Calypso, let’s go. There’s no time.”

“Oh… okay. But wait a minute.”

I reached out and untied the ribbon that was holding my hair.

“At least wear this in the meantime.”

I tied the blue ribbon around Whale’s hand. The jewel dangling from the ribbon fluttered.

Whale tilted his head with a hesitant look.

“What is this?”

“A wedding gift.”

“……Huh?”

“The guy who marries me is unconditionally going to be a son-in-law.”

“……”

“Well, half of it is a joke, but I thought I should give you something since you made a big decision.”

I smiled brightly.

“Sorry, we don’t have the same feelings.”

“……”

“I’ll give you something better next time.”

Saying this, I got up from my seat. Whale was carefully touching the ribbon I gave him.

“Leviathan… said this once.”

“Yeah?”

“Th, this is guilty…”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Are you saying I’m a criminal?”

I tilted my head, but still grabbed Whale’s hand and quickly returned to the room where Dad was.

“I solved the problem. I’ll start the treatment right away.”

Leviathan had a very suspicious expression after hearing my words that I had solved all the problems.

“Where did the ingredients come from…?”

But because of the situation, he couldn’t ask rashly.

He seemed to be taking Whale away to ask something.

I turned my head after seeing Leviathan put his arm around Whale’s shoulder.

I asked the second child who came closer in the meantime.

“Where did the head of the family go?”

“I threw him in the next room.”

“I can’t see the third child, did you put him on surveillance by any chance?”

“Yeah.”

“Did he go willingly?”

“No, I threw him away.”

I stopped talking for a moment.

“You’ll have nothing to say even if the third child stabs you later.”

“Like it’s something new.”

I briefly mourned for the third child who was forced to be a surveillance officer again and approached the sofa.

Leviathan and Whale also seemed to have finished their short conversation. Leviathan had a very strange expression.

What did Whale say?

“I’ll start.”

Soon, Whale put his hands together as if praying. It was a movement he had never done before.

Immediately after, an explosive light poured out from Whale. This was also a sight I had never seen before.

A huge ocean, as if the entire seabed had been moved, spread throughout the room.

I couldn’t watch it leisurely like when I was treating Tus. Even though there was a huge white whale floating in the sea that I liked so much.

I only stared at Dad.

‘…I won’t let you off if you open your eyes.’

I was staring intently while thinking this, and I felt a faint warmth on my wrist.

It was a slightly cool body temperature.

When I turned around, it was Echion. His golden eyes were staring at me.

“Calypso.”

“Yeah?”

Even in the midst of the chaos, I listened to Echion’s words. I myself felt strange.

“Where did the hair tie go?”

A cool hand gently brushed my wrist and then gently grabbed it.

Why?

It was a momentary feeling, but it felt like my wrist was tightly tied with a rope.

No, it felt like a foot with huge claws was grabbing me.

“Your hair is loose.”

Echion, saying this, was not looking at me.

He was facing Whale, who was praying with his eyes closed.

“……Why?”