Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 189

189

In retrospect, my excuses sound a bit naive.

I genuinely thought everything would be fine.

Of course, I knew Dad wouldn’t be thrilled.

But still, I figured, what could possibly go wrong?

The price for that naivete was steep.

“…What?”

“Ah, that didn’t come out right. To be exact, I’ve become betrothed.”

I already sensed something was off from the tone of Dad’s voice.

The air grew so taut, it felt like it was pulling my hair straight. No.

It felt like my hair was standing on end. Slowly, I raised my gaze.

“Say it again.”

…And I discovered the expression Dad makes when he’s truly, deeply angry.

“Wait, wait a minute, Dad! Dad, stop! If you unleash your water powers like that…”

Despite my frantic shouting, Dad didn’t relent.

“I want to hear it again.”

A chill shot down my spine. The room filled with the oppressive power of water.

‘I really didn’t want to see Dad’s full power unleashed like this!’

It was truly immense.

I could also sense how much his illness had been suppressing him.

But I really didn’t want to find out this way!

“I don’t think I’ve been asleep for 20 years or so.”

…Well. Has it only been about three days since I fell asleep?

“Th, that’s right? No, Dad. Master. No, Dad! First, please lower your power and let’s talk. What if you get sick again!”

“It’s the first time in my life that my body has felt so light, so it’s perfectly fine to talk comfortably.”

…I was wrong. He wasn’t listening.

I made countless other attempts to calm Dad down.

In the end, I surrendered to Dad in just 10 minutes.

Next, I made eye contact with Ekion, who was stirring groggily, and for some reason, I felt even more cold sweat trickling down my back.

* * *

A long time ago, back on Earth, when the topic of boyfriends came up, Dad had declared:

“My Sieun’s boyfriend has to pass about a hundred of Dad’s tests. Got it?”

At the time, I’d just laughed it off, and since then, I hadn’t been involved with anyone romantically, so it passed without much trouble.

‘Is this how all dads change when faced with their daughter’s romantic relationships?’

No. That’s a hasty generalization.

So, um, the fact that my dad from Earth and my dad from this world look the same…

It was actually a bit of a strange feeling.

Of course, that’s separate from the situation where I’m sitting obediently on my knees in front of Dad right now.

‘It’s the first time I’ve been in this position since I was training as a disciple.’

I sat quietly on the soft carpet, perched on a very fluffy cushion, and subtly raised my gaze.

Dad was looking down with an unusual expression.

Actually, this carpet and cushion were all prepared by Dad… but Dad’s eyes were cold.

Dad wasn’t glaring at me.

It was Whale, who ended up sitting next to me as soon as he opened his eyes.

And next to Dad, Levi stood politely with a cold but meaningful expression.

‘Is this, perhaps, the feeling of going to greet the other person’s family?’

…I don’t think so.

There’s no way the atmosphere would be this grim.

‘Well, marriage is generally supposed to be for happiness, so shouldn’t this kind of meeting be a bit more cheerful?’

Well, arranged marriages are rampant in this world, so it’s not necessarily the case.

I wanted to ask Whale if he was okay, but he didn’t give me a chance.

Without a choice, I raised my hand slightly and said.

“Levi, is it okay for Whale to sit on the cold floor? Is he alright?”

“Whale’s body is very healthy. The body of a Humpback Whale is much stronger than you think, Princess. He is so strong and healthy, so don’t worry. Rather, I think you should be worried about something else.”

“……”

Um, he’s okay. That’s a relief.

Still, with some consideration, he laid a cushion on the side where Whale was sitting.

It seems thinner than mine, though.

“Hoo, I don’t know where to start, but first of all, that relationship that Whale and the Princess have formed…”

“You mean husband and wife?”

“…Yes. To be exact, it’s a bit different from marriage or a husband-wife relationship, but anyway, yes.”

“How do you undo that?”

“Undo, yes?”

Just as Levi was about to explain, Dad suddenly intervened.

Levi pushed up his glasses.

“…As far as I know, there is no way to undo it.”

Dad’s face hardened even more.

“I’d rather be sick again.”

“Don’t say that, Dad.”

I raised my head and glared, biting my teeth.

“If you say that one more time, I won’t forgive you, even if you’re my dad.”

“……”

Dad sighed slightly.

I quickly lowered my head again. Um, it reminds me of when I lived as a disciple, good.

Thinking overly positively, I subtly opened my mouth.

“Um, it may seem like a careless method, but there was no other way at the time. There was no other option.”

“……”

“Conversely, if I had collapsed, Dad wouldn’t have hesitated to use any means, right?”

Since we both love each other the same way, is there any need to be self-conscious?

The thought that I wasn’t wrong filled my head in an instant.

I confidently puffed out my chest.

“So you devoured the family I had been cherishing?”

“Huh, devoured… that’s a bit vulgar, Levi?”

I flinched but responded to Levi.

“It’s true that it’s hard to say we agreed, so I guess you have a point. Minors need parental consent for some things, after all.”

“Haa… It’s a problem that someone who knows so well did that. The problem is, even if I had known in the middle, I wouldn’t have been able to break Whale’s stubbornness.”

“That’s right. Hyung [older brother/term of respect]. I’m going to live happily.”

Whale added a word without any tact. He should have just stayed still.

Levi ran a hand over his face. He had a complicated expression.

Um, it’s a very excellent Orca family drama.

In land animal terms, you could say it’s a ‘mess’.

“Calypso, either way, I owe you my life, so I have nothing to say, but. I just want to tell you one thing.”

Dad, who had been fierce for a while, suddenly softened his expression and asked gently.

For some reason, I felt like I was looking at an Orca pretending to be calm while preparing to open its mouth in front of me.

I obediently answered Dad.

“What is it?”

“I only want to ask you one thing. Then I won’t say anything more about this relationship.”

“What is it?”

“If you listen, I want to talk.”

“What if I don’t listen and don’t grant it?”

“Leave it to your imagination.”

Um, there’s no way Dad would torment me, and it looks like Whale will be tormented.

I didn’t want to make Dad take on that role, and I didn’t want Whale to be tormented like that.

I didn’t think Dad would make me promise something that would harm me, so I slowly nodded. However, adding a condition.

“I don’t know what you want to say, but if it doesn’t harm Whale’s body or make him sick.”

“I promise it will never be.”

I finally accepted Dad’s story, and Dad finally brought up the story he wanted to tell.

In a way, it was an expected story, and on the other hand, it was a bit unexpected.

“I will find a way to undo the covenant or power that binds the two of you, no matter what it takes. If I find it, will you promise to use it?”

“That’s……”

“You said you didn’t want to get married.”

“Th, that’s right?”

“Then shouldn’t you deal with it like this even more?”

That’s true……

“You can become the head of the family yourself without having to borrow the power of an arranged marriage. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right.”

“If you have a choice, I wouldn’t particularly recommend a marriage where you don’t love each other.”

After hearing this, I couldn’t refute it anymore.

Somehow, it was a word that contained his own experience. No, it’s 100% experience.

‘Didn’t Mom love Dad?’

I’ve been watching from the side all along, and I felt that at least Dad was interested in Mom.

It seems like Dad doesn’t realize it, but when he talks about Mom, there’s an affection that he doesn’t even know about.

I don’t know if this is affection, but I only realized it recently.

“……Pier-nim [term of endearment/respect]!”

Whale, who had been silent until now, raised his head and tried to say something.

I grabbed Whale’s hand to stop him and said.

“I agree too.”

In fact, meeting someone and living together is not something to be dealt with so carelessly.

I gained the benefit of saving my family, but what did Whale gain?

“But, Dad. Then, if Dad really finds a way to undo the power that binds us. And after that, Whale still likes me.”

“……”

“Then you’ll leave it to our decision, right?”