Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 231

231

‘Ugh, that’s unsettling.’

I felt unpleasant the moment I opened my eyes that morning.

‘What kind of dream was that…….’

I’d had a disturbing dream.

A dream from when I was with Ekion in the crack of time.

Dreams from that time always reminded me that the Ekion I knew was no longer here when I woke up.

It just made me feel awful.

In dramas, even if a lover suffers from amnesia, they remain devoted and pursue affection without change.

We weren’t lovers, but the affection I held for him was genuine.

I don’t know why I feel uneasy about him after he lost his memories.

‘But seeing myself protecting him from the Crown Prince and putting him to sleep makes me wonder if I’m still doting on him.’

The problem is that there’s an unsettling feeling beneath the unpleasantness I feel now.

That feeling is connected to the sense that I’ve forgotten something.

I was watching what happened with Ekion in the crack of time, and it seems like I saw something else at the end of the dream.

I can’t remember it at all.

Even though it’s common and natural to not remember dreams when you wake up.

‘Ugh…….’

I ran my hand over my face and started the day.

And this feeling continued until I sat down in my office in the morning.

Dad hasn’t returned yet.

However, a letter arrived saying he would be back within two days.

There was nothing urgent that required Dad’s presence, so I told him to return comfortably.

I don’t know what happened with Mom.

It must have been something that made him believe she was dead, but I doubt it can be resolved in a few days.

Even if it weren’t for the dream, there are plenty of problems to worry about.

I decided to wage war, but I couldn’t just start it recklessly.

Since that Crown Prince bastard threw a trap with the invitation, I had to prepare a sufficient response.

Of course, it will be perfect.

“A trap can be countered with a trap.”

I didn’t know how the day would pass.

‘Hoo, it’s been a while since I felt this.’

I sat in my office, lost in thought.

The Aquasiasdel family head’s office was often reconfigured according to the owner’s preferences.

When Dad became the temporary head, he told me to decorate it as I liked.

In my case, it didn’t change much from the office Dad used.

In the end, it was a space filled with my tastes.

After decorating it enthusiastically, I realized that I had created the same room as in my 3rd playthrough.

It wasn’t strange that I felt confused, wondering if I was really in my 3rd playthrough these days.

It was even more so because Levai, my aide and strategist, was standing tall next to me.

If Whale hadn’t entered after the door opened, this feeling would have continued.

For some reason, Whale was with Hauser. I was surprised by the awkward combination.

When the two first met, I felt that Whale was subtly wary of Hauser.

‘Did they bond while healing him?’

Hauser bowed politely, and Whale also greeted him in the same way.

“Family Head.”

I smiled slightly at Whale.

“It feels awkward to hear such polite words from you.”

“Should I go back to how I was before then?”

“Not bad.”

Whale gave me a similar smile. His build felt even bigger when I looked up at him while sitting down.

Whale was the only Siren with healing abilities, and he couldn’t stand not knowing more about his own abilities, so he was busy researching them.

Moreover, our work kept clashing, so it felt like it had been a long time since I had seen his face.

“When you’re in this position, the number of people you can talk to comfortably tends to decrease.”

“……”

Then Whale slowly blinked his eyes before showing a kind smile.

“I see. But it sounds like you’ve been a Family Head before. Haha.”

“Is that so?”

It was quite a sharp remark for a laugh, so I paused for a moment—only in my mind, though.

I couldn’t help but glance at Levai right next to me.

“Well……. I’ve been wanting it since I was three, so I must have done it many times in my dreams, right?”

“I see.”

Whale continued slowly, as if it was just a joke.

“The things the Narwhals [a type of whale known for their tusk] made are quite good.”

“Really?”

Among the aquatic animal Sirens, there are those who can manipulate space.

And there is a Siren who can temporarily transfer the abilities of others to themselves or a third party.

When combined with the talents of the Narwhals, who have a knack for invention, a rather amazing combination was created.

To put it simply, it was a pouch that allowed Whale to take out the materials he needed for treatment whenever he wanted.

The pouch was connected to Aquasiasdel’s herbal and material warehouse, which contained all sorts of materials.

Whale’s treatment became much easier.

“Thanks to that, the healing speed increased dramatically when I tried it out.”

“Really?”

It was a very good thing when I thought of the people who died countless times in the 3rd playthrough war because they didn’t receive treatment in time.

Whether there is a war or not, it was a useful ability in any world.

“That was possible thanks to your efforts.”

“No, it’s the result of the hermit crab Sirens and Narwhals working together.”

“There’s no need to be humble. My aides can act a little more proud.”

Whale listened to my words quietly and then turned his head slightly to the side.

“Certainly, even though Levai hyung [Korean term for older brother or older male friend], who was a key force, suddenly left, you managed to finish it really well, right?”

Hmm? I told him to brag a little……. But the arrow was aimed in the wrong direction.

Can you snipe at your family like that?

I knew too well that Whale and Levai weren’t biological brothers, but they had a similar relationship, so I was confused.

There was a barb in his words.

“He left knowing that I would do well even without him.”

“Not because he had something more important and didn’t care about us?”

“Now, now, have your brotherly fights outside. Our family has many good training grounds.”

“Hahaha, Calypso. Then hyung wouldn’t last 10 seconds and would be lying down.”

“Giving the dolphin bastard 10 seconds? Healer, you’re being generous.”

“……”

Hauser, who had been silent, added a word.

“Everyone should show more respect to people who fight with their heads. Levai will never go to the front lines, right? Look at those thin wrists.”

“……It seems that the Family Head’s words are the most direct.”

“I’m saying it because I’m worried.”

Perhaps he saw my playful expression.

Levai calmly changed the subject as if he wouldn’t give him any attention.

“Come to think of it, Family Head, I was just about to tell you. A reply has arrived from the sea lions.”

“Ah, already?”

Even though I shouldn’t get involved, the word that came out of him was something I couldn’t ignore.

Sea lions.

Just because they are aquatic animal Sirens doesn’t mean they necessarily live near the land where Aquasiasdel is located.

A prime example is the sea lions.

To explain their territory, we need to briefly go over the empire in our world.

The empire is largely divided into land animal Sirens in the north and aquatic animal Sirens in the south.

The capital, where the imperial family is located, is in the north, but not the northernmost part.

There is a small piece of land between the capital and the sea (North Sea).

This is where the sea lions lived.

“So, what’s their reaction?”

“At first, they were lukewarm…….”

In the 3rd playthrough, I recruited almost all the aquatic animal Sirens, but I failed with the sea lions.

In the first place, it was difficult to get in touch with them because they lived behind the capital, in the northernmost part.

They were so closed off that I only found out they lived there during the war.

But it’s different in this life.

“It seems that they changed their minds after seeing the new letter you sent, Family Head……. What did you write in it?”

“Something that would appeal to them?”

“Come to think of it, the octopus Sirens also contacted us, saying they would like to meet you.”

“Ah, I pushed for that.”

Hauser raised his hand halfway and said slowly.

Octopus—they certainly had a deep connection.

Will I see one by one even those who I didn’t bother to find among the subordinates who were with me in the 3rd playthrough?

While I was caught up in strange emotions, Whale’s voice was heard.

“Then I’ll go back since the report is over. I have something left to check.”

“Ah, okay.”

“Calypso, can you come to my room next time? I have something to show you.”

“Huh? Okay. I’ll go in the afternoon.”

Whale nodded and left the room without hesitation.

Hauser also naturally left with him, as if it had been discussed between the two of them in advance.

What is it? Hauser isn’t the type of person to naturally let someone walk beside him.

“Hauser seems to have gotten a little closer to Whale?”

When I asked this after the door closed, Levai replied calmly.

“Wouldn’t it be because he knows the necessity? Because he’s a healer that no one can replace.”

Well, that’s true.

I stopped talking here.

I put down the documents I was going to look at and slowly turned my head.

……Huh.

Just now, I clearly…

Spoke as if I knew Hauser well?