I folded the clothes and put them in the wardrobe, and the large tools and equipment in the big box. I had received various instructions, but I had never heard of handling things like this.
But I can’t just throw them away as I please, can I?
When Pierre turned his head and stared at the handkerchief, I saw a subtle grimace on his face for the first time.
“Throw it away.”
A firm tone.
But ironically, there were more complicated emotions in his voice than any other time I had heard.
‘I’m staking my fourth life on this, it’s an item that will fly away if I throw it away!’
I’m a clever whale who can catch on quickly.
It’s all thanks to the time I spent eating eye-catching meals.
“Okay, I’ll throw it away.”
But with Pierre’s firm gaze, it feels like the item will fly away even if I don’t throw it away right now!
So I casually pretended to approach the trash can and throw it away… and took the opportunity to quickly put it in my pocket.
When I turned around, Pierre had already averted his gaze from me.
I casually continued organizing the items and casually asked.
“What was that handkerchief just now? It’s not your item, Master, is it?”
“…Yeah.”
I thought he would either respond with unnecessary words or give a sarcastic remark, but surprisingly, a straightforward answer came back.
I was about to raise a massive hammer for no reason other than to raise it, but stopped myself.
“Oh, it’s a surprise. I almost dropped this. I could have injured my foot.”
I blinked my eyes playfully while holding the hammer.
“Then whose is it?”
“It belongs to my wife.”
This time, I really almost dropped the hammer…!
“Oh, surprise. Even without turning on the light, you can enter.”
It was my mom’s item.
It was an unexpected revelation.
I don’t know why he answered obediently, but I realized it was a good thing that he didn’t throw it away.
‘I wonder what kind of story there is behind why he told me to throw it away in that tone… but anyway.’
Although I live a repetitive life, it’s natural that I know about the mom who gave birth to me, but that’s about it.
That she was a person with a good personality.
Those were the only two facts.
‘No one ever told me.’
I didn’t even hear it when the brothers came under my command in the previous cycle.
Was it because I was lost in thought and too absent-minded?
“It seems like the job was too easy.”
“Huh? What?”
I had to pay the price for that.
I soon watched the water appearing in the air, floating the tool box up and down.
“It must be part of the master’s duty to assess the disciple’s level.”
And then everything inside spilled out!
“Clean it up.”
…Damn it, damn it, Dad!
I forgot about my mother’s handkerchief and continued to organize the tools while cursing internally.
‘Why are there so many giant hammers in this room?’
Still, maybe they can be somewhat helpful.
As I worked, I started to develop techniques for lifting heavy objects.
“It seems true that you become more skilled in using the power of water in various ways.”
I felt that I became stronger and more agile when I exerted more force and agility rather than just running, sitting, and repeating.
However, thanks to that damn father who overturned everything for various reasons, I had to spend most of that day busy in Pierre’s room.
Because of that, I didn’t notice.
That Pierre was looking at me instead of the window,
That he had a faint smile on his face, as if visible but uncertain.
* * *
“Ugh, new shoes…”
The next morning.
I rode the carriage with attendant again and went to the educational institution.
And as usual, I reported my situation before going to school.
“You’re going to the 8th class… and even the Alpha class?”
“Yeah.”
Attendant, who was my grandmother’s closest confidant, knew about it too.
This news would undoubtedly reach my grandmother’s ears.
‘Well, maybe they already received the report yesterday?’
It was the highest class right away, not even the regular monthly class.
And it was possible because the head of the elementary education institution, Laila, allowed it.
In other words, it meant that I gained Laila’s approval.
Those who knew how strict she was wouldn’t miss this news.
My grandmother would be the same.
“I told you to watch me, Halmeongu.”
But this was just the beginning.
I smiled happily and faced attendant.
“And I have one request…”
Attendant, who couldn’t help but be amazed by my fluent speech, quickly nodded.
Attendant listened to my request and nodded his head.
“…You won’t move your place of residence. I understand. I will report this to the superiors first.”
Normally, I would have thought about moving at this time of the year, but if I did, it would be difficult or impossible to visit Pierre.
I didn’t like my current shabby room, but there was no choice.
“And it seems like Misa, who just joined, is good at cleaning.”
Since she was good at cleaning…
“Maybe I should ask Misa for some cleaning tips.”
Yesterday, I didn’t just clean Pierre’s room.
After tidying up several times, I finally finished organizing the items, and then, to my surprise, she took me to another room and asked me to dust there!
“Next is laundry.”
When I heard that while parting ways, I almost fainted.
“I actually considered not going today.”
Thanks to that, I experienced fatigue from labor faster than I thought.
“Come to think of it, it’s because I’m doing everything well according to what he tells me…”
Should I have been more cunning? But if I did, wouldn’t I be driven away?
I approached the truth and then erased my thoughts when I met someone in front of me.
“Hello, Princess.”
“Laila.”
Laila elegantly lowered her head.
She still looked strict with her glasses.
“I’m here to guide you to the class you will enter today, just like yesterday.”
She was strangely more polite than yesterday.
Maybe the story about Pierre had a deep impression on her?
Because anyone would admire my father and his powerful strength if they were a whale.
“You became very famous in just one day.”
“Huh? Me?”
As I parted ways with attendant and walked, Laila said this.
It was a remark that made my head tilt involuntarily.
“All I did yesterday was tidy up tools, dust, and dust again… Well, it seems like it’s just labor…”
Tears blurred my vision due to the dense labor.
As I erased my memories yesterday, I looked at Laila.
I could guess the reason why she was speaking like this.
‘Because I talked about my father in front of Laila yesterday.’
I showcased my language abilities yesterday and didn’t stop there. I brought up my father and initiated the lullaby operation.
If the rumors spread, someday it will become the truth…
‘Anyway, since she took me as her disciple, it’s not incorrect to say that we’ve become closer.’
If I delve into my memories, there was never anyone as close to Pierre until his death.
So even though I can’t understand English, I should consider it remarkable that I’m in the position of a disciple.
Moreover, it wasn’t just Laila who was present in the place I was yesterday.
There were also the nursery school teachers who murmured silently.
I didn’t think their expressions or murmurs were ordinary.
Perhaps the rumors have spread quite a bit?
“It seems that word has spread to at least 16 whale families.”
“Cough, cough…!!”
I couldn’t hide my fake cough in response to her continued words.
‘Well, what’s this?’
Whale sharks are not animals known for forming large groups.
To be precise, they form groups mainly based on families, and the strongest grandmother whale shark usually leads the group.
Even among the same species, groups weren’t particularly close to each other.
We humanoid killer whales inherited this characteristic as well.
The head of the whale shark.
In other words, our grandmother became the representative family and direct lineage.
Another group of killer whales claimed to be collateral or independent vassal families.
Accordingly, these collateral or vassal families used to have a separate leader of the group.
‘As far as I know, there are about 32 families including vassals…?’
I didn’t casually mention our family and the gang as a joke.
Even as individuals, we were already strong, but as a group, we became a tougher group, the whale shark humanoids.
‘But wait, more than half of them already know about me? And specifically about yesterday’s incident?’
At this point, it was a level of security that made one wonder how the confidentiality of the elementary education institution was maintained.
Perhaps because my astonishment was so blatantly evident on my face, Laila let out a small cough.
“The teachers who were with you yesterday… some of them can’t keep their mouths shut.”
“Well, how loose-lipped are they to spread it like this?”
“They say that one of the fathers on one side is a stingray humanoid.”
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Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
Next chapter will be released on July, 13. To read chapters in advance support us on Patreon!!
