Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 224

224

I couldn’t help but be bewildered by his sudden words. This guy is going to give me something?

Knowing Hauser’s history, I figured it wouldn’t be anything ordinary.

“Is it okay to hand it over here?”

I can’t use the power of water right now.

Therefore, I can’t create a barrier to block sound.

Hauser glanced around.

“Let’s move somewhere more private.”

“Okay.”

We found a small, secluded forest near the city. It was more of a shabby grove, really, but it was isolated, and there were hardly any people around.

‘Okay, I don’t sense anyone nearby.’

I straightened up.

Hauser looked nervous for a moment, then knelt on one knee.

“Subordinate, since when have you been so quick to kneel?”

I looked down at him, a bit annoyed.

“I think you misunderstand. I’ve always been good at kneeling.”

“You’re funny. You and Levai [another subordinate] were always the first to kneel when you messed up. Are you proud of it?”

“…….”

A strange, subtle expression crossed Hauser’s face.

“I have something urgent to tell you about that dolphin bastard you mentioned… but I’ll put it off because my current business is more important.”

What was with that unsettling, meaningful tone?

“Will you accept this?”

I was about to say something, but I stopped when he held out a closed fist. Up until that moment, I was just wondering what kind of amazing secret he was about to reveal.

But the moment his fist opened, I gaped.

What is this…….

“……Linnaeus, by any chance?”

If Hauser hadn’t nodded, I would have thought I was dreaming.

……Why is this coming from him?

‘The report clearly stated that the leader of our friendly base had it?’

The base was destroyed. Besides, those guys were already involved with the Imperial Family.

Buried in that pile of ruins.

Or passed into the hands of the Imperial Family.

Being in the hands of the Imperial Family would be the worst-case scenario. I had considered all of this…

“Why is this in your hands?”

“Because I took care of it.”

Every subordinate knew about Linnaeus. I’d drunkenly babbled about the opportunity to awaken the power of water often enough.

‘I wonder how many times the first and second guys asked about Linnaeus after confessing they also had memories.’

Hauser began to explain.

The story went like this: After leaving the capital, he didn’t go straight to the wasteland. He went to the dolphin territory.

He realized that the Crown Prince was trying to get Linnaeus by any means.

‘If he has memories, he would have tried to get this.’

Besides, it was originally a treasure that ended up in the Crown Prince’s hands in the original story.

“So you’ve been keeping it all this time?”

“Yes.”

“How? You’ve been tied up all this time?”

As soon as I said it, I regretted it. This guy…….

Hauser grinned.

“Time has passed, Master. Are you really asking that……?”

“……No, it’s okay. I don’t want to hear it.”

The omitted method couldn’t have been good.

I took Linnaeus and slowly lifted it. The jewel shone brilliantly in the light.

However, despite its power, the treasure itself didn’t look particularly impressive.

‘This is finally in my hands.’

I thought I would naturally be able to use the power of water over time, but so what? If that doesn’t work, I can borrow the power of the treasure like in the 3rd round [referring to a previous timeline or attempt].

I quietly recalled the moment when I awakened the power of water in the 3rd round and squeezed the jewel tightly.

The sharp edge of the jewel cut me, and blood flowed. The blood beaded on the surface.

I waited for something to happen.

“…….”

A long silence.

“……Master?”

“…….”

I quickly opened my hand and lifted the jewel again.

After staring at it for a while, bewilderment and futility washed over me.

“Hey, Hauser.”

“……Yes?”

“Is this a fake?”

“Ah, no. That can’t be!”

It’s a genuine product brought from the dolphin territory. Besides, it has never been in anyone’s hands.

I stared at the jewel again, my face a mask of complicated emotions, and finally admitted it.

“……This, it doesn’t work?”

* * *

That night.

I sat on the bed, feeling a complex mix of emotions.

The room Velus had arranged was large, and the bed was huge.

The bed, which seemed to have enough space for three Atlans or Whales [referring to large subordinates], was satisfactory, but I didn’t have time to enjoy it.

In my hand was a jewel tied with string.

‘……Why doesn’t it work?’

I already know how to use this jewel.

I even awakened through this.

Surely the method hasn’t changed from the last round. Is there some condition I haven’t met?

“Does Linnaeus have eyes? Are you shy?”

I muttered, dumbfounded, but then I sensed a presence.

Someone was quietly approaching.

“Did you come?”

I greeted him calmly, but for a moment, I forgot about the jewel.

‘What, why are you dressed like that?’

The Dragon Duke was wearing only a gown.

I tilted my head in astonishment.

“Hey, why are you dressed like that?”

“Clothes?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t understand. I’m talking about that gown.”

The gown worn by the Dragon Duke was slightly open, revealing the curves of his chest and skin in the soft candlelight.

“The person who shares the room, what? Dragon Duke?”

The first guy’s embarrassed expression flashed through my mind. He was horrified at the fact that I would be sharing a room with the Dragon Duke.

I explained the situation, but his expression didn’t change.

‘Now that I know that the Imperial Family’s only goal is the Dragon Duke, how can I leave him alone?’

Even if that wasn’t the case, he said he couldn’t even sleep unless I was there.

I’ve never heard of a dragon going on a rampage due to insomnia.

You never know.

‘Of course, it’s a bit strange that you can only sleep if you take off your top.’

I naturally turned my eyes and tapped the bed.

It’s not like I’ve never seen my subordinates shirtless before.

It was a little difficult because the Dragon Duke subtly caught people’s attention.

In fact, I can bet my hair that I’m not the only one who feels this way.

When I saw it at the meeting today, there were more than one or two female beastmen who couldn’t take their eyes off the Dragon Duke.

“If you’ve come, lie down first. I have something to think about, so I’ll sleep a little later.”

The Dragon Duke seemed to agree, or maybe he didn’t care as long as he could be with me.

He lay quietly on the bed.

No, he sat and leaned his upper body against the back of the bed.

“…….”

“……What, aren’t you sleeping?”

“Just.”

I was about to look at Linnaeus again, but I sighed and lowered the jewel.

“Don’t tell me, do I have to pat you like a baby to make you fall asleep?”

“I don’t know because I’ve never experienced it, but I wouldn’t refuse if you did.”

“Why are you saying it so confidently?”

“Then how did the young me say it?”

“I’m not going to tell you.”

I smiled brightly. Perhaps sensing the line I had subtly drawn, the Dragon Duke didn’t say anything more.

“Don’t think about anything and sleep well. The end is approaching now.”

The Dragon Duke stared at me with deep and radiant golden eyes.

“Are you happy now?”

“Huh?”

Suddenly?

“It’s nothing. It’s just that the Dragon’s fragment whispered something annoying.”

“What…….”

How anticlimactic.

I turned my back as I watched the big man wriggling and lying down.

My back straightened.

Soon after, I sighed softly at the sound of him falling asleep.

I got out of bed.

* * *

“It seems like Dad will be a little late?”

“It seems so.”

The next day, as we had discussed in advance at the meeting last night, we decided to go to the stockade right away.

First, divide the troops into two, one to attract attention.

The other one is…….

To execute the peacocks [a derogatory term for the enemy] and take the leader’s head directly.

The latter was decided to be a small elite group that would move secretly according to their assigned roles.

‘If I had known there would be a need to infiltrate, I would have brought Agenor.’

Velus also knew how to break through the peacock’s illusion, but at least one more person who had directly experienced it was needed.

Until now, we would have been helpless.

“Then please take good care of the command over there.”

“As you command.”

I patted Velus on the shoulder and pulled down the hood of my cloak.

The second one [another subordinate] is currently staying at the main base with the Dragon Duke.

He was furious at the fact that he was being left out, but what could I do?

“You’re the only one I can trust, Second.”

He gnashed his teeth at this, but he stayed.

Hauser filled the combat personnel in place of Atlan.

I carefully examined the faces of the selected personnel and smiled slightly.

Perhaps because I met Hauser, I was reminded of the faces of my missed subordinates.

“Everyone, let’s go!”

* * *

And exactly 30 minutes later.

I smiled awkwardly as I watched the collapsing ceiling.

“Wow……. I got hit hard?”

Stone debris fell. A cracked ceiling was visible.

‘Is it 8 seconds at the earliest, or 10 seconds at the longest?’

It will probably collapse within 10 seconds.

It would be nice if I could move, but the floor is also barely maintaining its weight and balance.

If I move, it will collapse as it is.

The next step is to be trapped in a huge pile of buildings.

‘Is it fortunate that I’m the only one here.’

I sighed softly.

I never thought the end would be like this, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do anything.

“Okay, are you watching? You damn jewel?”

I grabbed Linnaeus, which I was wearing around my neck, and lifted it.

“If you don’t activate, I’ll die.”

I squeezed the jewel so hard that it bled.

“And I can never die here.”

It’s funny to threaten a jewel, but…

“If you don’t activate here, know that it’s the day you, who are a thousand years old, will turn to dust.”

I put so much strength into it that the jewel would crumble. It was the moment when Linnaeus cracked, unable to overcome my strength.

Bright blue light leaked through the cracked gap. Seeing the welcome light, I smiled with a bloodied face.

“You should have done this sooner.”

Crackle. The jewel crumbles in my hand.

At the same time, the flowing power entered my whole body.