Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 64

Black Orca Baby (64)

Chapter 64

Instinctively, I braced myself, but then a large hand came to my cheek….

And gently pinched it.

“Whatcha doin’? Why pinch?”

My pronunciation was off because my cheek was grabbed.

“So, you also mispronounce when I do this.”

“Seriously, why are you experimenting with such nonsense?”

I swatted away Dad’s hand, and he let go easily, as if he hadn’t intended to hold on for long.

“Are you abusing a small child?”

It was at that moment.

Startled by the voice I had never heard before, I turned my head.

There, Velos had put down the book he was reading and was staring at us.

‘What nonsense is that guy spouting?’

I was dumbfounded. What is he even saying?

“I didn’t know that Pierre, who is strong enough to rival the head of the family and uninterested in anything, had a hobby of tormenting children who don’t even reach his knees.”

I realized.

‘That bastard is picking a fight.’

It was a natural provocation, as if he had been waiting for it.

They say children are a mirror of their parents.

My brothers don’t even have mirrors, so where did they learn such excellent character skills?

Is it because he’s just growing up?

“I’m hearing all sorts of nonsense.”

Fortunately, Dad was an adult.

“If you don’t want to run to catch up, don’t bother talking to me unnecessarily.”

…I didn’t say he was a mature adult.

It was truly a frosty father-son relationship.

“I don’t have a dad.”

I couldn’t help but recall Velos’s firm words.

Agenus seemed to get along well enough with his dad.

Is it a problem with Velos’s personality?

But it felt wrong to blame only Velos.

In the end, the cause was the father.

‘Hmm, why am I thinking about such complicated things? It’s not my business.’

But I had to stop that young orca and his father from fighting here.

What if the carriage breaks down, or someone gets seriously hurt, causing problems with going to the Dragon Festival?

“It’s fine to fight, but you have to fight outside. And if someone is going to die, make sure to bury them in the ground, so it doesn’t show for a while.”

“…….”

“I really want to go to the Dragon Festival. What will Grandma say if someone gets hurt and we have to turn back?”

I, who have the best personality here, neatly settled things.

Yeah, if you’re going to fight, just go all out. Of course, Velos would lose.

“But you know, if someone really dies and causes problems, I won’t be able to go to the Dragon Festival, right?”

I looked at each of them with eyes blazing.

“Then I’ll show you what lifelong resentment is, so go ahead and try it.”

Even as I said this, I didn’t think these people would listen to me.

I’d just be thankful if they quieted down even a little. If they do fight…….

‘I need to quickly get to Misa’s carriage.’

Thinking this, I glanced over, and what do you know.

The carriage had become quiet.

What, why did it get so quiet?

Moreover, the tension that had been so high it felt like they would fight any second was long gone.

Even if I concede that Dad is like that, why did Velos withdraw?

‘Did he lose his will because he was dumbfounded?’

Well, I guess that’s possible.

From his perspective, I, being only three years old, probably look like a hatchling just out of its egg.

He must have felt it was laughable.

That’s good.

‘Well, if I can’t leave here, you guys better be quiet.’

However, I overlooked one thing.

Even though the eldest brother and Dad here might be used to silence and quietness.

I don’t like that.

No, I don’t really like this kind of atmosphere.

“Is that the woman who came from the West Sea?”

“Ugh, she smells fishy.”

“Hehe, don’t say that. She’ll hear you.”

In quiet places, even things you don’t want to hear are heard clearly.

Things you don’t particularly want to remember also get stuck in your head, tormenting and dominating you.

Ugh, I feel unpleasant.

‘Is it because we’re going to their land?’

The Dragon City was quite far from the capital, but it was still inside the Empire.

Unlike the location of the Orca family, which straddled the border.

“Teacher, what kind of place is the Dragon Festival?”

“Weren’t you already expecting it, knowing full well?”

Reluctantly, I spoke to Dad.

Of course, I already knew, but I asked on purpose.

“I know, but hearing the story from someone who has actually attended or experienced it is different.”

It was a judgment that useless conversation was better than silence.

“Teacher, have you been there?”

“I haven’t been to the Dragon Festival, but I have attended festivals and banquets hosted by the Imperial Palace.”

“Really? When did you go?”

“I remember going quite often when I was young. Maybe twice after I became an adult.”

That was more than I thought.

“You’ve been there a lot? What’s the festival like?”

“It’s not different from the festivals held by the Orca family. It’s probably similar to the Water Festival.”

The Water Festival was the biggest festival for aquatic animal shapeshifters.

You could say it was a gathering of all aquatic animal shapeshifters.

The land-dwelling folks have a similar event called the ‘Land Festival,’ and together with the Dragon Festival, they are known as the Empire’s three major festivals.

Of course, the land-dwelling folks often mocked our festival as a fishy party.

“So many people gather that it’s annoying, there are so many fights, and it seems like countless people die.”

“……Are you talking about our festival?”

Why is there so much bloodshed in the description of a festival that should be joyful and happy?

“Well, I only remember fighting.”

“Teacher, were you picking fights?”

“If I had to say, I think I was more on the receiving end.”

Dad briefly recounted what he had experienced at the Dragon Festival.

He fought a polar bear. He won.

He fought a 50-year-old lynx. He won.

A fox used poison. But he won.

What is this?

“Is his very existence specialized for provoking fights? Why is the festival story all about fighting?”

“The important thing is that I won.”

“Of course you have to win. It’s a disgrace if you lose to the land-dwelling folks, you know?”

I answered sullenly.

“Teacher is the pride of the Orca family, after all.”

“…….”

Not being the head of the family but being as strong as the head of the family means he’s a really special person.

It hurts to say, but if my dad hadn’t gotten sick, there wouldn’t be a need to choose a successor among the grandchildren now.

That strength-obsessed Grandma would have chosen Dad without hesitation.

‘No wonder even after I became the head of the family in the previous timeline, my subordinates kept talking about Dad.’

I saw somewhere that a superstar is someone who has the quality to drive both haters and fans crazy.

In that sense, Dad, who was talked about for better or worse, was the superstar born from the Orca family.

“I admit he’s cool. Being strong is a very cool thing.”

By the way, it was too quiet, so I looked up and met Dad’s eyes.

It was good that we made eye contact, but for a brief moment, a subtle expression seemed to cross Dad’s face.

What is it? It’s an expression I’ve never seen before. He seems somewhat embarrassed…….

“What, Teacher, are you perhaps…… blushing?”

“I’ve never felt such an emotion, so I don’t know. I am flustered, though. It’s been a long time since I’ve even been flustered…….”

“Normal people call that shyness. No, you must be tired of hearing that, so why now?”

Dad tilted his head slightly, following me.

He seemed to not know why himself.

‘Wait, is this the timing to subtly tease this dad?’

Can I slightly repay the days I groaned under his training?

My lips were twitching.

My heart was pounding with anticipation.

I was about to say something more.

“Duels are allowed at the Dragon Festival.”

A low voice cut in, blocking my words.

Turning my gaze, I saw Velos smiling faintly.

“So, the way ordinary shapeshifters and beasts enjoy the festival is bound to be different.”

“……Is that so?”

I was reluctant, but I couldn’t ignore it because it was interesting content.

In the previous timeline, I had only heard countless things about the Dragon Festival, but I had never actually participated.

That’s because after I became the head of the family, relations with the land-dwelling folks deteriorated terribly.

‘Well, I did get to vent my grudges from the previous timeline.’

But what’s wrong with getting revenge on the guys who tormented me when I finally gained power?

Those guys were as nasty as ever even after the timeline passed, so I didn’t feel guilty.

“If you want to enjoy only the festival, there’s a good way.”

“……What is it?”

“Mimic a prey.”

“…….”

“If it’s you, maybe a piranha, or a turtle. Jure or Philber would be good too.”

This bastard, his skill in picking fights is truly outstanding.

Jure and Philber are creatures called sea bunnies [a type of sea slug].

‘Are you telling me to shut up in this way, Brother XX [a common placeholder for an unknown name or insult].’

However, for some reason, Velos continued to provide various information related to the Dragon Festival.

Even though I tried to ignore him because I was annoyed, he only told interesting stories, so I couldn’t help but focus on him.

‘This guy should have been a teacher instead of a gangster. Or a storyteller.’

He seems like the type who would have been a top instructor if he had started an online 강의 [gang-ui, Korean for “lecture” or “course”].