Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 211

Chapter 211

The golden eyes that met my question held a peculiar look as they gazed at me.

“What’s with that look?”

“I was wondering if it was because of that you decided to treat me carelessly. It seems something changed from the moment you threw that punch.”

“Something like that.”

If I had truly thought of this kid as Ekion, I wouldn’t have thrown a punch.

The man was unusually calm for someone who had lost his memory. Moreover, even while fighting, he showed a desire to go to the Dragon City.

Perhaps something had possessed the body of the grown-up Ekion.

There are reincarnators and regressors, so why not a possessor?

Even though he was pinned beneath me, Ekion remained composed and spoke quietly.

“Unfortunately, I believe I am the being you know.”

“Really? How adorable of you to ask me to cherish you, grown-up Dragon.”

“……”

Ekion seemed momentarily taken aback before continuing.

I didn’t like how the man’s expression never changed.

The man also seemed to realize that I didn’t believe a word he was saying.

For a moment, I considered grabbing his collar, jumping down to the ground, and finding a quiet place.

‘No, there are guards everywhere.’

As it was a day when many guests gathered, it was to prevent a repeat of Grandma’s tragedy.

They had deployed a large number of knights.

This was to prevent the open oppression of weaker beastkin [humanoids with animal features] families under the guise of the law of the jungle, as had happened in the past.

There had also been stern warnings from Dad and me that we wouldn’t stand for such things.

So, ironically, the quietest place to talk would be—

Unless we went to Dad’s mansion far away from here, this terrace was the better option.

‘I’ll be able to sense anyone coming.’

I had already heightened my senses, ready to detect any presence immediately.

The battle had made me even more alert.

The man seemed to realize early on that I wouldn’t move any further.

He’s quick on the uptake.

Moreover, considering the 30-minute fight, he’s skilled in combat despite not having formally learned it.

What do I mean? I don’t really know, but that’s my honest impression.

It’s like seeing a swordsman who wields a sword well, even though his hands aren’t calloused…

My eyes sharpened.

The more I thought about it, the more wary I became of the man.

The man, having given up, parted his lips.

“I wanted to ask if you have any intention of moving……”

“No. Just talk.”

“Aren’t we close?”

“Oh dear, what to do? Dragon always liked being close to me the most.”

“……”

At first, he had a distinctly dry face, and even now, his expressions didn’t change much, but his bewilderment was clear.

Soon, a look of resignation appeared, and he began to explain.

“……All dragons carry the experiences and knowledge of their ancestors within their souls.”

“Like an encyclopedia?”

“I don’t know what that is…… but when a dragon’s body or mind has problems, it sometimes takes over their consciousness.”

“So, to sum it up, since you lost your memory, that ‘encyclopedia’ is helping you out in an emergency?”

Ekion nodded.

“That’s right.”

More detailed explanations followed, and to understand it, it’s like this.

That encyclopedia-like thing he just described is like a fragment of the first dragon’s soul.

Ekion’s memories apparently vanished as he grew up.

It judged that the dragon’s life was in danger if left as is, so the fragment awakened and is providing knowledge?

“The first dragon’s knowledge wanted me to go to the Dragon City.”

“Why?”

“Because the dragon’s assets are sleeping there. Even if my memories don’t return to normal, it seems they judged it would at least be stable.”

“……”

“Because it’s home.”

I realized that Ekion truly had no memories.

If he knew what had happened in the Dragon City, or what almost happened, he wouldn’t be able to say that.

‘Moreover, going to the current Dragon City could mean death.’

That place had long become a massive trap to capture Ekion.

“You shouldn’t go there.”

“Why?”

“The Imperial Family is dissecting dragons, swallowing them whole, or enslaving them. They’re waiting with great and vicious poison.”

For nine years, the head of the land turtle, who had been appointed as the new acting lord of the Dragon City, had been sending reports every year.

“The Imperial Family is even sending spies to this distant land to find you.”

Each time, about ten letters were enclosed, asking about Ekion’s well-being, along with the message that it wasn’t the right time yet.

‘Hmph. So, it’s not just an encyclopedia, but a dragon who lived a long time ago is helping him out, huh?’

……No wonder his *mal-tu* [speech pattern] was so old-fashioned. I wondered where our Dragon’s cute *mal-tu* had gone.

I clicked my tongue.

“You’re just giving me a long-winded way of saying you’re not Ekion.”

“I’ll say it again, I am the being you know.”

“What’s my name?”

“……”

I smirked as I watched the man, who showed a slight bewilderment but ultimately couldn’t answer.

My hand, cold from being outside for so long, grabbed his chin, which formed a perfectly drawn line, and lifted it.

The man allowed me to hold his chin and quietly stared at me.

“Fake Dragon. I believe that memories are the soul.”

The evidence that a person can only be that person, only I, a regressor, can say for sure.

“Threatening me.”

A person without memories is not the person I know.

“Attacking me.”

I endured my past life, this life, from the moment I was born.

“A man who doesn’t even know my name is not the kid I know.”

I stared coldly, then released his face and stood up.

In fact, even if I didn’t take this posture, I could easily catch him if he tried to run away.

‘Hmm, how do I handle this?’

I thought of Dad and my three older brothers. And Levi. Whale, Lilibel…… I recalled one by one those with whom I would share the truth.

Have I been away for too long?

The music from the banquet hall was gradually fading.

It seemed to be either the turn for a slow dance or the time when the dancing would end.

I looked up at the sky.

‘There must be a servant nearby, right? I need to bring the second one here…….’

As I thought this and turned around, I flinched.

“……What. You.”

I couldn’t help but frown.

“Why…… are you crying?”

The man was silently crying, tears streaming down his utterly expressionless face.

He was crying, yet his expression didn’t change at all, making it a bizarre sight.

The man seemed like someone who didn’t even know how to wipe away tears. Just like Ekion, who didn’t know how to wipe his tears even while crying when he was young.

“Huh.”

Right. If this was really a side effect, then I couldn’t get any angrier.

Still, I didn’t feel like this man was Ekion.

This was an instinct close to my gut feeling.

The moment I grabbed the curtain to open the door, a low voice was heard.

“……I told you one lie.”

“Why don’t you stop crying first and then talk, huh?”

“It’s not my will.”

“……The dragon can’t even control his tear ducts? Okay. What lie did you tell?”

“As soon as I opened my eyes, the fragment of the first dragon warned me that I had to go to the Dragon City. But I…… I thought I had to find someone. Someone whose name and appearance were vague, but when I felt that I had to find them, the person I found was……”

“……”

“It was you.”

At those words, I couldn’t help but look at the man with a strange expression.

“What is your name?”

The man, who had approached me, carefully reached out his hand to me.

That hand grabbed my wrist.

Punishing those who touched me without permission was easier than breathing, so it was closer to me allowing it.

“Try to remember it yourself.”

His voice had softened, but my gaze was still as cold as frost.

The man lowered his gaze.

At the same time, the ground shook.

‘Wait. Wait, just wait a minute…….’

At the familiar shaking, I quickly grabbed the man.

The man was slightly surprised, and at the same time, the earthquake stopped.

“……You, you really are a dragon.”

The shaking just now. That was the dragon’s power.

“……”

After stopping the earthquake, I felt even more indescribable.

Even now, I still don’t feel like this man is Ekion.

Yet the gaze that stares at me, still unable to wipe away his tears.

It reminded me of that kid I remember.

It was a headache.

* * *

There was a bigger problem.

Tuus was nowhere to be seen.

The subordinate who should have been stuck to Ekion like glue was nowhere to be found.

This made the man seem even less like Ekion.

I pressed my lips together like a clam.

“He lost his memory.”

After the party, what was supposed to be a small celebration with family, friends, and close subordinates to celebrate my birthday.

This place naturally became a meeting.

“Wow, he’s huge. ……Was he always this big?”

“Watch your mouth. This is a meeting.”

Atlan muttered to himself without realizing it, then closed his mouth and shrugged.

Familiar faces were gathered here and there in the large room, and Ekion was sitting quietly next to me.

“With all due respect, whether the noble is with or without memories, isn’t this irrelevant to our plans?”

“Discard him.”

“Either way, Duke Dragon has taken on the role of waiting until everything is resolved……”

“Don’t discard him.”

“……”

“……”

I turned my head.

The person who said to discard him was none other than Dad, who was crossing his legs and looking as confident as ever.

I wasn’t flustered.

‘He told me to discard Whale a few months ago…….’

“Dad, you’re going to cry at my wedding if you keep this up.”