Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 214

214. Wasteland

Wasteland.

A word that seems out of place near the sea. But the land here was barren, and the sea breeze relentless.

It was a space that could only be described as such.

‘I’ve been here so many times.’

I sighed, surveying the parched landscape.

After wiping out all the shark beastmen’s bases, my plan was to relocate the people living here to Aquasieldel Territory.

I’d done it in the third playthrough [referring to a previous iteration or timeline in the story], so repeating it wasn’t a challenge.

The reason I hadn’t done it sooner was the knowledge that relocating them would inevitably lead to unrest within the territory, instigated by the sharks mixed among them.

‘It all worked out in the end.’

Dealing with this swiftly was crucial for the sake of those struggling to survive.

Why does Agenor, as the head of the family, insist on wandering around alone?

Actually, after roaming this place, I find it far more comfortable.

Against those who employ guerrilla tactics, dragging an army along only increases the number of people I need to protect.

‘Besides, now that I can’t use the power of water, there’s a physical limit to how many I can effectively protect.’

I clenched and unclenched my fist.

I hope I can take down the leader who supposedly possesses that Lineage [a special inherited power or ability] at the base I’m targeting this time.

“Hey, Family Head.”

Turning, I saw Atlan leaning casually. He was dressed in comfortable travel clothes, just like me.

“I understand taking that weak dolphin, but…”

“Who’s weak?”

Atlan ignored Levi’s grumbling and continued.

“Why did you bring that guy?”

Our team was supposed to consist of three: me, Atlan, and Levi.

That was the plan… but standing quietly beside me was the Dragon Duke, also in travel attire.

“Then should I just leave him in an empty house?”

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

I shrugged.

Atlan circled the Dragon Duke, his expression suspicious.

“Is this guy really amnesiac? Or is he just pretending?”

“What are you talking about? Instead of spouting nonsense, focus on the map.”

However, I couldn’t ignore Atlan’s persistent gaze, even after my words, and I lowered the map I was holding.

“This guy… except for a few things, he seems the same as before.”

What was he getting at?

I tried to ignore him, but I raised my head and said indifferently.

“The reason I kept Ekion’s existence a secret for so long was for several reasons. But the biggest reason was that Ekion himself lacked the ability to protect himself.”

No matter how strong his guards were, there would always be vulnerabilities.

Ekion claimed it would be different when he matured, and I agreed.

“Now he’s grown and can use his power, even if it’s unstable.”

Actually, it’s difficult to leave him precisely because he’s unstable.

“Above all, he says he can’t be separated from me.”

The fragment of the first dragon [a piece of a powerful, ancient being] that currently resides within Ekion’s body urges him to go to the city of dragons whenever possible.

“He says he can’t hear those ghostly voices when I’m near him, so what choice do I have?”

“…”

“I even swore [likely referring to a binding oath or promise].”

Atlan took a step back when I challenged him to voice his complaint. He seemed to be avoiding me because I looked ready to punch him.

“Are you sure you’re okay with walking for so long? Tell me if you feel even slightly unwell.”

The Dragon Duke nodded slowly.

Then he hesitated for a moment and asked.

“Are you going to keep calling me that?”

“What.”

I pretended not to understand.

Just then, a low voice interrupted us.

“Can we proceed with the briefing again?”

“…Alright.”

Atlan gritted his teeth and manipulated the power of water, causing the huge map to float in the air.

“The city we’re heading to is about three days away. Everyone knows the name well, but…”

Levi pointed to various locations on the map, highlighting shortcuts and planned rest stops.

After Levi’s briefing, we packed our bags and resumed our journey.

About a day passed.

While I was checking the location of the village where we planned to stop, Atlan called me over.

“Someone collapsed?”

“Yeah.”

When we approached, we found a figure collapsed on the ground, looking like a tattered rag.

He was covered in dirt and dust, suggesting he’d been wandering this wasteland for quite some time.

“Isn’t he just a pauper?”

“He might be a nomad who settled in the wasteland.”

“Are there nomads in this land? They’re just humans running away from sharks.”

As they debated, the collapsed person twitched.

Then he slowly opened his eyes.

In that instant, I froze.

‘Golden eyes?’

But when he blinked again, his eyes were ordinary green, not golden.

Why did I have such a strong impression of vivid golden eyes that made me uneasy?

My senses as an adult are highly refined; I wouldn’t make such a mistake unless it was extremely unlikely.

But I didn’t sense anything ominous from the man who had just opened his eyes.

“W-Who are you…?”

I glanced at Atlan and chuckled.

“Wow, Atlan. It’s been a while since someone looked at you or my hair and asked that, hasn’t it?”

“What….”

Even the weakest beastmen living in the wasteland recognize the characteristics of orcas at a glance.

We have particularly distinctive hair.

Perhaps it took him a moment to regain his senses, but the man abruptly stood up.

“O-Orca…”

But someone stomped on the man as he tried to rise. It was Levi, unexpectedly.

“Master, this guy is one of them.”

Levi tapped the man’s neck. I frowned slightly.

“Why are you calling me that?”

“Then what should I call you?”

I can’t call you Family Head, and I’m reluctant to reveal your name. But still, Master is a bit….

“Oh, is that your preference?”

“Why, if it’s your preference, should I call you that for the rest of my life?”

“…”

I smiled and looked at the guy being pinned down by Levi’s foot.

Sure enough, near the neck of the man trembling under our weak (?) strategist’s foot, three tattoo-like lines were visible.

It was a characteristic of all shark beastmen.

“I’m seeing a shark bastard wandering around alone?”

“Kill him?”

“W-Wait, wait a minute!”

I raised my hand to stop Atlan. Then, after signaling the Dragon Duke to step back, I stood in front of the shark beastman again.

“What are your last words before you die?”

“W-Wait, wait. I have something to say.”

“Okay, okay. I can give you about three minutes to explain your mistakes.”

The sharks wandering around this place are invariably those who harass weaker beastmen.

“I, I was on my way to surrender…!”

“Hmm?”

“I, I really am.”

The shark beastman’s story was this: he had witnessed something truly terrible at his base, couldn’t bear it any longer, and ran away, only to be caught, beaten severely, and abandoned.

He was indeed covered in wounds.

‘Why don’t I trust him at all?’

“I, I can even make an oath of the sea!”

However, when the shark beastman said this, Atlan’s fierce expression softened slightly.

That was how absolute the oath was to aquatic animal beastmen.

No one would willingly break the oath and forfeit their life.

After the shark beastman completed the oath, he began to recount the circumstances.

“T-The sharks are crazy. No, everyone in my faction is crazy…!”

“What is it? Just get to the main point.”

“The sharks… have joined forces with land animal beastmen!”

The moment we heard those words, we exchanged glances.

‘Huh?’

Did something like this happen in the last playthrough…? No, it didn’t.

I don’t know if this is another changed future because I’ve altered so much.

It was much better to know this before going in.

‘It’s definitely useful information…’

Why do I feel uneasy? I have to believe him since he risked his life with the oath of the sea.

When I gestured, Levi removed his foot.

Atlan quickly grabbed the shark beastman by the scruff of the neck and lifted him up.

“Hiiiik…!”

“Okay, if what you said is true, you can guide us, right?”

“Y-Yes?”

“Do it. Guide us.”

To your residence.

The shark beastman’s face paled at my words, but he couldn’t refuse in the end.

It was as if he thought this was better than dying.

After leaving the shark beastman with Atlan for the moment, I turned and walked away.

The Dragon Duke quietly approached me. I raised my head and paused.

His eyes were filled with a strange longing.

The Dragon Duke stared at me intently before lowering his head and whispering in my ear.

“…Don’t believe him.”

Does he mean that the shark beastman is suspicious? That’s what I’m feeling the most.

“I know. But he risked his life with the oath. I’ll watch him for now.”

“No, I’m saying don’t even believe that.”

“What are you trying to say?”

The oath of the sea is absolute to aquatic animal beastmen.

But the Dragon Duke frowned, as if struggling to explain something unexplainable.

Looking at the Dragon Duke like this, I remembered something.

The ‘golden eyes’ I saw when the shark beastman opened his eyes.

“Did you… did you see it too? When that man opened his eyes, he had golden eyes.”

There are different types of gold.

And the deep, murky gold that I saw, which made me uneasy, and the gold with a slight orange tint, I’ve only seen in one species so far.

That is, the lions.

The imperial family.