Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 252

252

“Ah, sorry, sorry. But I do have this little trick.”

Camilla said, raising both hands as if surrendering.

She explained that she had wandered around as a mercenary quite a bit, gaining the ability to roughly guess conversations by reading people’s lip movements.

It was different from the previous life. She came directly to Aquasialdel.

‘Ah, damn variable.’

I pressed my temples once again.

“I apologize for eavesdropping without saying anything beforehand. But these are people I’m seeing for the first time, shouldn’t I be a little cautious?”

“……It’s harsh for fellow aquatic beastmen to be so wary.”

“Sorry, but that’s not a reason to trust. There are even aquatic beastmen who sell their own families here, you know.”

I sighed softly.

“What are you hiding, you guys?”

I knew her personality well enough to tell.

‘At this rate, she won’t even get proper treatment.’

She might even tell Lorel that we’re hiding something.

I had no intention of suppressing or threatening her.

“It’s not hard to tell you. But you have to swear you won’t breathe a word of it to anyone.”

“What? What are you plotting…….”

“It’s bound to sound absurd, like crazy talk. But, if you think it’s a plot, you can tell Lorel we’re hiding something. Say we’re suspicious.”

Camilla narrowed her eyes.

“Okay, I swear.”

Wow, look at that face. She’s so determined to find a loophole in the oath and tell Lorel, isn’t she?

Knowing the other party too well isn’t always a good thing.

I shrugged.

“Camilla, then let me ask you.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you believe in reincarnation?”

Camilla’s expression, which had been so solemn, turned bizarre. It was the look of someone seeing a cult follower.

“I hope you don’t make Lorel think she’s brought in some weirdos…….”

“Yeah, yeah, you haven’t answered yet. What do you think about reincarnation?”

“Ugh, don’t tell me you guys are really weirdos?”

“I warned you. I told you you’d hear something that would definitely sound crazy to you.”

“…….”

Camilla’s expression became subtle at my nonchalant reaction.

It reminded me of the old days, which was a little amusing.

“I met you in a past life. And I remember that life.”

Camilla was silent for a moment, then wrinkled her nose.

“Wow, that’s really crazy talk.”

“Right? But it’s not over yet. This curly-haired friend with me here, he remembers his past life too, just like me.”

“…….”

Camilla’s expression was understandable.

‘She’s got the face of someone who wants to go back and report to Lorel that we’re crazy.’

It was obvious that she trusted and followed someone other than me here. It would be greedy to feel a little disappointed about that.

‘Well, a past life is a past life.’

I didn’t think Camilla would ever accept Hauser’s offer.

“We want you to know how to use ‘Suppression,’ and we want you to use it to help with this operation.”

“I understand. But what does that have to do with talking about past lives?”

“We can’t teach you that skill, but you knew how to use it in your past life. My subordinate here thinks that if we can help you recall your memories, you’ll be able to use it.”

Camilla’s eyes widened, and then she said cheerfully.

“What, that’s it? Then do it.”

“……What?”

I quickly reached out my hand before Camilla could say more.

What is she saying right now?

“Wait, wait a minute. I think you’re taking this too lightly; this is something you need to be careful about.”

“Hmm?”

“Reviving memories means remembering a life you’re not even living, from your perspective. Even a terrible death!”

“……Hmm, hearing you say that, I must have died terribly or something?”

“…….”

“It’s okay. I’ve already seen everything I need to see at that research facility.”

“…….”

Camilla said with the nostalgic smile she had shown me once before.

“And just because I remember that doesn’t mean my current life loses its meaning, right? I want to do anything that will help my kids, my comrades.”

Camilla tapped her uncomfortable leg.

“These are the people who helped me despite this body.”

I tried to persuade her several more times after that, but Camilla remained unmoved.

I ran a hand over my face and eventually nodded to Hauser, signaling my permission.

I quickly turned my head away. I didn’t particularly want to see his face.

I bet he had a look on his face that said, ‘See? Didn’t I tell you to ask?’

‘……Well, let’s just see.’

I wondered how he was going to revive a perfectly normal person’s past life.

Hauser approached Camilla.

I kept my distance and stepped back slightly. I could feel the warmth of someone’s body on my shoulder.

“……Calypso, are you okay?”

It was Ekion.

Perhaps because I had asked him to stay still no matter what happened when he entered this room.

It was Ekion who hadn’t said a word until now. I gave a bitter smile.

Soon, Hauser’s voice was heard.

“What I’m about to do is similar to hypnosis.”

“What? This really feels like a cult. It’s not dangerous, is it……?”

“If it looks like it, you can punch me. Your fists look fine. Or are you scared because of your size?”

“……Sorry, but is your usual way of talking always so rude?”

They seemed to bicker for a moment, but soon Camilla took Hauser’s hands.

She had a suspicious look on her face, but she was ready to give it a try.

“Close your eyes.”

Soon, Camilla closed her eyes.

The method Hauser used was similar to the ‘hypnosis’ he had predicted.

First, he makes them think of war. He gives them keywords to imagine what they are doing there.

He revives them one by one like that.

The scene he was reviving was none other than…… the final battle.

‘This is just great, these aren’t the words I want to hear.’

It didn’t cause me any mental damage to recall it again, but it was a bitter memory.

It was then. The moment she entered the final battle in Hauser’s story, Camilla showed a strange reaction.

“Ah, ah……!”

My eyes widened. Tears were streaming down Camilla’s cheeks.

What is this?

“I’ve caught a clue. I’m going to say just one word to you now. Think carefully about it. Who said these words.”

“…….”

“‘Listen up. This is the last of my boring speeches.’”

Without realizing it, I grabbed something fluttering in front of me. It was only later that I realized it was Ekion’s sleeve.

“‘Thanks for putting up with my nagging all this time. Our enemy is wounded and close at hand.’”

A familiar tone, intonation.

“‘I’ll say just one thing. Don’t die. We’re going to live and enjoy all the glory.’”

“…….”

“‘If you die, I’ll chase you to hell, so let’s all live and see each other again.’”

Those were my words.

“‘I’ll say it again. Don’t die. If you think you’re going to die, call me instead. I’ll die in your place.’”

“…….”

“‘So, if you don’t want to see me die, live, even if it’s dirty and cheap.’”

That’s how I told them not to die. I took a deep breath.

‘No, it doesn’t make sense. There’s no way hearing this would revive their memories, right?’

It was too absurd.

“‘Don’t die. Live.’”

But even so, if you guys were to remember again with just these words.

“Ah ah…….”

Just how unfairly did you guys die?

I bit my lip.

Slowly, Camilla opened her eyes. Her dark eyes seemed to have an even darker light.

When her eyes rolled and met mine. Camilla smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Thick tears dripped down.

“……Captain.”

I always liked that title you called me, but that’s not what I wanted to hear right now.

“It’s been a while.”

“…….”

“I didn’t recognize you. Our captain’s handsome face, I mean.”

I ran a hand over my face.

Really, if you guys are remembering your past lives just by saying what I said without missing a single word.

What am I supposed to do?

“……Yeah. It’s been a while. Camilla.”

But right now, I couldn’t help but smile with joy.

“We’ll have a lot to talk about.”