Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 263

263

“Even if it weren’t, I have a plan.”

I erased my smile and looked at everyone with a serious face. Then, I looked at Ekion last.

Strangely, I felt my expression softening without me realizing it.

“Even if all the Beastmen gather, would there be any Beastmen with deeper grudges than us?”

I recalled the overwhelming number of aquatic Beastmen among the test subjects.

“We need to show them that no matter how many times they fight, it will be the same.”

I muttered quietly with a firm face, barely containing my anger.

“Let’s show them directly that a pup who has once lost is nothing but a loser no matter what they do.”

Some declarations, even if not spoken forcefully, elicit greater empathy than grand orations.

I sensed hostility in the suffocating silence. Even though no one answered, it felt like I had already received an answer.

* * *

“Haaam.”

In Aquasieldel’s mansion, some rooms have a view of the sea when you open your eyes, depending on the location of the room.

If you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of the waves.

Of course, this only applies to those with exceptional physical abilities who have awakened the power of water, like me.

I loved waking up to the sound of waves.

I regretted not being able to hear that sound for a while because I had left Aquasieldel.

As if to replace it, I could hear faint birdsong here. It was strange.

Madrum was a huge research city built on desolate land, so it shouldn’t be a place where birds could live.

Where is this sound coming from?

‘Ah, right.’

Only then did I remember that this was Madrum, no, the land that *used* to be Madrum.

I remembered that our group had set off for the Imperial Palace a few days ago.

I recalled unpacking in a village that appeared while we were moving.

‘Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve slept this deeply.’

I had slept so deeply that I forgot where I was for a moment.

The reason I can sleep so peacefully is probably because Dad is with the group now.

Atlando and Bellus are also trustworthy, but if I were to become incapacitated in battle, the only person I can truly rely on and completely entrust my back to is Dad.

Perhaps my subconscious proved this.

‘I’m such a believer in ability.’

I shook my head and turned over while lying down. I was thinking of rolling around just a little since I had slept so deeply.

But then……

“……”

I opened my eyes wide while still lying down.

“You surprised me.”

I was so surprised that I hurriedly suppressed the power of water that was about to burst out unconsciously.

“Ekion? Why are you… doing that?”

It was because I found Ekion squatting in front of the bed.

It felt like seeing a short-legged puppy unable to climb onto the bed, with only its front paws on it.

That was exactly how Ekion looked, carefully placing only his hands on the bed and looking at me.

The moment Ekion saw me looking at him, he rolled his eyes around and then lowered his gaze gloomily.

He clearly looked like he was trying to read my mood.

‘What, I didn’t sense his presence?’

I blinked while lying down.

In the meantime, Ekion carefully opened his mouth, still trying to gauge my reaction.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh? About what?”

“I tried to suppress my presence… but I thought you would wake up.”

His voice was dejected, and he looked like he didn’t know what to do. I soon smiled and reached out my hand while lying down.

I stroked Ekion’s head.

“No. I was just surprised.”

I found this situation very refreshing.

“You suppressed your presence?”

I soon realized why I hadn’t sensed Ekion’s presence.

Ekion was good at suppressing his presence, but in the first place, the ability to keenly sense presence comes from instinct.

What if the other person is someone you trust and have no doubt won’t harm you?

In other words, it meant that my body didn’t react because I deeply trusted Ekion.

“……That’s amazing.”

It was something I hadn’t experienced even in my third life, so I was just amazed. It wasn’t bad.

Rather, it was good.

“Your bangs have grown a lot.”

Ekion’s hair was very soft for an adult man’s hair.

He doesn’t even take care of it separately, but I don’t know how it can be so smooth.

“Aquatic Beastmen generally have good hair, but you’re not even an aquatic animal, and you seem to have better hair than us.”

“……If Calypso wants, I’ll try to take care of it more diligently in the future.”

I chuckled softly.

“That’s not what I meant.”

I liked the feeling of the blue hair rustling against my fingers.

If I closed my eyes, it felt like I was touching the waves.

“I love the sea so much.”

“Yeah.”

“I like your hair because it’s the color of the sea.”

“……Yeah.”

I made eye contact with Ekion while lying down. I could hear faint birdsong.

The blanket smelled of well-dried sunlight, and a refreshing scent wafted from Ekion.

“If I marry you, will every morning be like this?”

“……H, huh?”

Ekion, who had become a little more talkative than when he was a child after becoming an adult.

As soon as I finished speaking, Ekion’s ears and cheeks turned red, and he couldn’t finish his sentence.

His lips, forming a pretty shape, moved silently for a while.

I looked at Ekion like that, raised my upper body, and leaned towards Ekion as it is.

Kiss. I thought it was a cute sound.

I saw Ekion looking at me with a dazed expression as my lips parted.

“You don’t have to be so cautious.”

Since Dad joined, the time I spent alone with Ekion had decreased.

I couldn’t even share a room with him like before. In fact, I don’t even know how he got in here now.

Ekion seemed to have accepted this.

He had been consistent ever since he made a desperate confession that he would give up his obsession with me.

“I read in a book that dragons are stubborn.”

Ekion is like that too.

He tries to stick to whatever he insists on.

“You’re the same.”

When I tilted my head and smiled, my hair scattered over my shoulders.

Ekion bit his lip slightly and then spread his arms.

“……Can I hug you?”

“Yeah. You don’t need permission.”

Soon, long, firm arms wrapped around my waist.

Because Ekion hugged me while sitting under the bed, Ekion’s head naturally rested on my waist.

Thump, Ekion leaned his head against me. I could feel warm breath on my stomach.

“Then…… am I your first husband?”

“……Are you still talking about that?”

As I looked down with a dumbfounded feeling, I could feel stubbornness from the crown of his head, which was even pretty.

This, it looks like he’s determined to get an answer.

“……Yes, you’re the first. I don’t know if there will be a second or third.”

Then, the arms that were hugging me tightened. I could hear a pleasant humming from my waist.

Is he that happy?

No, even while assuming a second or third, he seemed genuinely satisfied with the word ‘first,’ so I was a little embarrassed.

“There will be.”

“…….”

“It’s okay even if there is.”

Ekion said with his eyes closed peacefully.

“Because Calypso said I’m the first.”

I couldn’t say anything for a while because I could feel sincerity in his face and words.

He was speaking so firmly as if he had seen the future…… I couldn’t overcome his stubbornness and raised both hands in surrender.

I just raised my hand and gently stroked Ekion’s head.

Certainly, I was thinking that it would be nice if only this kind of peace came after everything was over.

* * *

“What?! You don’t have any clothes?!!”

Not everyone who came with Dad was a person for combat.

Originally, war requires personnel in various fields such as support, supply, and medical care, in addition to combat.

Moreover, the ability to find water sources was essential when fighting inland.

Aquatic Beastmen can use their special skills better when water is nearby.

Misa participated as a support personnel with the special skill of finding water sources.

She is said to be the most skilled among those with similar skills.

I was happy to see her after a long time, but nagging started less than a minute after we met.

The beginning was shock.

“I heard from Levi that you are going to the Imperial Palace? I heard that you are going to the banquet held at the Imperial Palace.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“But, you’re going in combat clothes?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Of course, something is wrong!”

Misa was excited, saying that Eiya and the maids would have been shocked.

“Formal wear is like the face of the family! But to wear combat clothes to a place where all the Beastmen gather! No, absolutely not.”

“Um, Misa. It’s not a place where we need to look good to the Imperial Family anyway.”

It’s not a place to go for fun. There’s no need to dress up like I did for my family head succession ceremony.

Misa shook her head as if to say no.

“……Did you say this to Levi too, by any chance?”

“Yeah, so?”

“……So that’s why he came to me.”

“Huh?”

Misa looked around and then asked that the sound not be heard outside.