Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 240

It was unavoidable that only the two of them came along.

Everyone else had their own tasks.

‘First, since it involves a dragon, the Dragon Duke is essential. And I need someone besides myself who can use force.’

Levy was naturally excluded in this process, as was someone to contact Aquasialdel, or someone to command in my absence.

After considering various factors, Hauser was chosen.

“It’s favoritism.”

“…Where exactly?”

Well, there were some minor complaints from the strategist.

I scratched my cheek.

“It’s a really complex structure. Easy to get lost.”

“There are many wild animals too.”

“Yeah, I see.”

We hadn’t been walking through the rainforest for long, but the forest was incredibly dense.

The path we came from was complex enough to be forgotten quickly. At the same time, it showed off nature’s grandeur and beauty.

‘If I weren’t in a hurry, I’d want to look around.’

Come to think of it, I dreamed of being an ecologist, and although my favorite animals were marine animals and whales.

I always wanted to visit a lush jungle like this, maybe the Amazon.

I was greatly influenced by a variety show I watched as a child.

‘I’ve forgotten about Earth for quite a while.’

A fresh sensation washed over me. I quickly shook my head before I could feel any bitterness.

“Which way do we go from here?”

The Dragon Duke turned his head in one direction.

“…That way.”

The Dragon Duke guided us without hesitation. It felt like looking at a state-of-the-art navigation system.

He even found paths where there seemed to be none. I wanted to ask if he had ever lived in this forest.

‘Well, I know he hasn’t.’

He said the memories of the first dragon knew the way.

“To think there’s a tomb in a place like this, are there any dragons who like to wander?”

“It depends on the individual.”

“By individual, do you mean each person? Or do you have separate species?”

“Species?”

“For example, when you say whale, it’s divided into orcas or humpback whales here, right?”

“If that’s the case… dragons are also divided.”

“How?”

“By scale color.”

I blinked. Scales? We’ll be born as beastmen in the first place, so what scales are we talking about?

“When we go berserk or get excited, scales appear on our spine or back. I’ve heard that the nature of dragons differs depending on the color of those scales.”

“Oh, really? So, among those dragons, are there any with a wandering personality?”

“Maybe…”

The Dragon Duke wasn’t a good storyteller, but he answered the questions diligently.

Hauser didn’t interject at all in the conversation with the Dragon Duke.

It wasn’t strange since he wasn’t the type to join in conversations with other subordinates in the first place.

‘Come to think of it, I came with quiet guys today.’

Now that I think about it, I didn’t feel the usual discomfort from the Dragon Duke today.

It even felt like I was talking to Ekion…

My pace slowed down for a moment.

“We’ve arrived.”

When I looked up, I saw a huge cave. It was a place that didn’t quite fit in this rainforest.

“I feel a strange power.”

I felt a familiar yet unfamiliar energy from the cave. It was the same feeling I had when I faced the berserk Dragon Duke in the 3rd regression.

Hauser seemed to feel similarly, as his expression wasn’t good.

“Did you feel the power of the berserk dragon?”

“Well, there’s that, but more than that…”

“Huh?”

“Master. Do you perhaps remember the day we raided the monkeys’ laboratory together?”

How could I forget? The monkeys were quite tricky among the lower ranks of the Imperial Family.

Like narwhals for us, they had a specialty focused on invention.

As seen in the development of insects, they were also notorious for conducting human experiments without hesitation.

“There, I destroyed a device with Kaireta and Mamata… The moment that device was destroyed, it felt exactly like this.”

The ones he mentioned were a crayfish and a crab beastman, respectively. They were nostalgic names.

“…It’s been a while since I’ve heard those names.”

“They’re doing well.”

“Really?”

Mamata was a generous and heroic woman. She led the crabs and was a general who wielded great strength when needed.

At the same time as familiar faces came to mind, longing soared.

“When did you see them?”

“I checked on them from time to time.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to let you know if you ever missed them, Master.”

“…”

I paused and looked around.

In the 3rd regression, I had a lot of subordinates. At first, I didn’t have any orca branch families following me, so I dragged them in.

Gradually, the rumor spread that ‘even the weak are accepted,’ and talented subordinates came to find me.

By the time I came to my senses, many people were following me.

‘It’s the same now, but…’

At that time, it was always crowded around me. The lord’s chamber was so busy with subordinates coming and going that it was hard to tell whether it was a waiting room or a training hall.

I complained every time that they were annoying brats, but I think I liked that bustle too.

Strangely, even when I found out that Atlan had memories, or when Velus said he remembered his previous life.

The 3rd regression didn’t particularly come to mind.

But from the moment Hauser appeared and Levy confessed his secret.

Sometimes, all the subordinates of the 3rd regression, alive and bustling, were drawn before my eyes like a fantasy.

The number was quite large.

‘Those kids are all alive now.’

Why do I keep thinking about that time?

“Master…?”

When I turned my head, I saw Hauser staring at me.

Between his curly hair, his sharp eyes held a worry based on obsession.

“No. I just thought of that time for a moment. You’re really devoted. Even though you didn’t have a great relationship with those guys.”

“We didn’t have a great relationship, but I didn’t hate my colleagues. No, I think I liked them in my own way.”

“…”

“Some facts can only be known after death. Unfortunately.”

“Are we going in?”

The Dragon Duke suddenly interjected in the conversation. I quickly nodded.

‘Ah, you startled me.’

Without realizing it, I thought of the 3rd regression again. This time, even more vividly.

My sentimental personality disappeared long ago in the poisonous years of the 3rd regression.

I pride myself on not being a person who falls into emotions even now.

As we entered the cave, it was surprisingly not dark. It was because of the jewel-like things embedded everywhere that emitted light.

‘Is this natural lighting?’

We walked straight and stopped at the end of the cave.

At the end of the cave, there were traces of people living there. However, it was old and worn out like ancient ruins.

I looked at the cloth that was once a carpet but was now decaying, and then turned my gaze to the wall.

Bones were visible.

“…Is it a skeleton?”

It was a human bone. Strangely, there was a particularly large piece of bone on the rib cage.

It was as if a dinosaur bone was mixed between human bones.

Ekion calmly explained that when a dragon dies, a piece of bone like that comes out.

“It would be good to take that bone.”

“Huh? Are you going to bury it somewhere else?”

When I lifted it, it was quite heavy. Saying it was a dinosaur bone was an exaggeration, but it was quite large and heavy.

“No, that. We can extract the dragon’s power from it.”

“Huh? What do you use it for after extracting it?”

“We can use it for the power of time, or it can become an infinite power energy.”

I blinked.

“Really? That’s a complete dream story.”

I became focused on the bone because something came to mind.

‘Then, if I keep collecting these and gathering power, can I stop my regression?’

I looked around the residence, but I only saw old or broken furniture.

First, I buried the remaining bones in the ground, except for one large bone.

Aquatic animals perform water burials by dropping the body into the water.

Wouldn’t this person prefer to be buried where he lived?

Afterwards, we came out of the cave and rested for a while before deciding to go back.

“Are you tired?”

“Huh? No. Not really…”

I was just staring at the bone for a while. I didn’t feel tired.

But a large hand came up on my shoulder.

“You have wrinkles on your forehead.”

“Did I?”

“Shall I give you a massage?”

“…”

When I looked up, I saw Hauser’s face looking down at me.

“It’s been a while.”

When I didn’t answer, Hauser’s hand moved gently as if he was used to it.

“In the previous life, I had to win rock-paper-scissors ten times to make this possible. I realize the emptiness around me in this way.”

“That’s right. I was actually too annoyed with you guys playing rock-paper-scissors. As if a massage was important.”

“We all just wanted to be loved by you, Master.”

“…”

“Do you miss them?”

It was a quiet forest, but it felt like I could hear the boisterous laughter in my ears.

If you ask if I’m not happy now, that’s not true. I am happy.

And I’m sorry for being happy.

To all the 3rd regression subordinates who died for me.

“If you miss them… If I can return that time to you, Master, would you accept it?”

Even the air felt heavy.

At the same time, someone walked over.

“I feel a presence.”

It was the sharp voice of the Dragon Duke.