The Crazy Killer Whale’s Favourite Penguin

Episode 18: The Best Incentive (I)

Soon after, I had no choice but to touch my throbbing forehead, having confirmed that my guess had become real.

Iprus came out of the bag and glared at Hanu with bloodshot eyes.

“Iprus!”

As I tried to approach her, Hanu stood in front of me, blocking me.

“It’s dangerous, Lady Lia!”

“Damn it, you damn bastard!”

As soon as the words were finished, Iprus’ fist flew into Hanu’s face with a bang.

But perhaps he expected it, for he lightly dodged her fist and grabbed her wrist.

Calming down, I looked at Iprus.

Certainly, the aura surrounding her seemed much more dangerous than usual.

Bloodshot eyes, sparse hair.

She was always serious about taking good care of her appearance, so her current state was quite unfamiliar.

Besides, she had a creepy expression that was as if she could tear anything to death once it was caught.

I decided to start by apologizing to Iprus, who was dragged in without knowing why.

“I’m sorry, Iprus, it’s because of me that you were brought here in such a drastic way. I didn’t know Sir Hanu would be so extreme.”

I should have wholeheartedly dissuaded him when he said that he would grab her hair and drag her here.

‘Hanu, how are you going to deal with this later…’

Iprus stared at me, not hiding her agitated expression.

“I heard about it roughly in the sack. I want to bury that bastard right now and get out of here, but since I’ve come this far, I’ll ask.”

The voice and atmosphere were like a completely different person from the Iprus I knew.

A glint flashed in her eyes.

“Why did you look for me as if you knew me, who you haven’t met before?”

“Ah, that…”

“If the business is unimportant, I won’t let you off, whether you’re an endangered killer whale or not.”

Hanu held onto Iprus’ shoulders.

“Just calm down and listen.”

“Calm? I always knew you’re stupid, but did you get mad cow disease? Are you telling me to calm down now?”

“…Mad cow disease? There are things to say and things not to say, you idiot!”

As Hanu’s voice grew, Iprus gradually raised her voice as well, like she became more and more enraged.

“You say that even though you know my situation? Why do I have to waste my time because of you in this urgent situation! Why!”

At last, when Iprus grabbed Hanu by the collar, I intervened between the two, thinking that I should separate them.

“Sir Hanu! Could you please step aside for a moment?”

Hanu was grabbed by the collar and harshly shaken by Iprus, but he spoke like he was only worried about me.

“Um… Even though she is my sister, if I leave you here, your life will be in danger.”

“I told you we knew each other. It’s only like that now because Iprus doesn’t recognize me yet.”

“Lady Lia…”

“Really. I can calm Iprus’ anger.”

In response to my seriousness, Hanu contemplated, his face contorted. Then slowly, he nodded.

“All right. Instead, scream as soon as that rascal even pretends to raise her hand.”

He wrestled with Iprus for a while, then barely pulled her off him when he reached the door.

Before leaving the room, he looked at Iprus and said pointedly, telling her to keep it in mind.

“Hey. I know you’re upset, but remember that Sir Suradel is also trying to find Lord Reynos’ penguin.”

“That’s funny. What does that have to do with this situation?”

“If it’s the mage, Suradel, he’s sure to be of great help. Much more than you.”

“Are you saying I won’t be able to find Lia with my current abilities?”

“Why do you interpret my words that way again?”

“Isn’t that it? I know I’m right.”

“I just wanted to tell you that Lady Lia here is the killer whale demibeast the Weil family has been looking for for decades, the family you’re currently getting help from.”

When Hanu closed the door and went out, Iprus raised her middle finger towards the empty door.

The finger was pointed enthusiastically, but when Hanu disappeared from her field of vision, the bloody atmosphere seemed to have softened considerably.

Most of the reason for her agitation must have been because of Hanu…?

I stared at her for a moment and then asked.

“Iprus, can’t you recognize me?”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you. I have never seen anyone who looks like you.”

“Who do you think of when you see me?”

“If you’re talking about Madam Bella, you don’t resemble her at all, except for the hair.”

“No, not the hair, but the personality and mood!”

“Hey, how can I forget someone as pretty as you, isn’t it common sense? Don’t keep trying to bring up non-existent memories.”

“Really, doesn’t anyone come to mind when you hear my name that Sir Hanu called earlier?”

“…Name?”

Iprus frowned, seemingly unable to remember what Hanu had called me.

“It’s me, Adelia.”

When my full name came out, Iprus’ visage immediately sank. It was an expression trying to hide her anger.

“If you’re going to say something weird, I’m leaving. I don’t want to see you again.”

I hurriedly grabbed her sleeve as she turned her back without hesitation and calmly recited.

“Once… Iprus once told me.”

As soon as I uttered vague words in a faint tone, Iprus’ brows narrowed.

“What did I…”

“What does that tower lord bastard eat to make him so mean? If he hadn’t offered me a lot of money, I would’ve gone off long ago.”

Dun.

Her movement stopped, as though she was about to shake my hand off her sleeve and leave the room at any moment.

“Yes. This is just after you were hired, so even if I skip it…”

I laughed leisurely and forced her not to think of anything else.

“Aside from that, you accidentally broke an expensive potion in my dad’s lab. And destroyed the magic circle my father carved for me. There’s more.”

The eyes looking at me shook as if an earthquake had occurred.

“You don’t remember?”

“How could you…”

“I made everything look like I did it to keep you from getting fired. Since then, you have completely opened up to me.”

I decided to pull out my special move to convince the still dubious Iprus.

Ha, I didn’t want to bring this up.

“Because I’m a penguin, you told me a lot of secrets that you couldn’t bear to tell anyone else.”

“F-For example…?”

“For example, the tattoo on your back is not the name of a deceased pet, but the name of an ex-boyfriend engraved with the spirit of youth?”

“Gaaaaaaah!!!”

She pulled her hair as if she had been told something she shouldn’t have heard.

“Aside from that, when you were young, you said that you should marry a man like Brother Hanu when you grow up.”

“Stop, stop…!!”

“I know that the lace parasol you carry with you every day is actually a weapon made of solid iron. I can still remember you boasting about using it to get rid of your ex-boyfriend.”

Iprus stared at me in disbelief. It seemed like she was half out of her mind.

“Lie… It’s a lie.”

“Why? Still can’t believe it? Can I say more?”

She slowly lifted both of her hands and placed them on my cheeks. I was trembling, my emotions running high.

“You’re really…”

I smiled and firmly held her hands.

“Let go of my face while I’m still speaking nicely.”

“Definitely, this filthy personality must be…!”

‘Hey. Why are you so sure of that?’

Taking a few steps back, Iprus shook her head in astonishment.

“Our Adelia has become such a gentle and pretty girl? That’s outrageous! How come!”

“What, are you dissatisfied with my face?”

“No! …Yes. Oh, no? Yes!”

She repeated a few actions, shaking her head from side to side or nodding, flustered and confused as she spoke.

“Iprus. I understand your confusion, but can you please answer either yes or no?”

At my urging, she opened her mouth and replied, maintaining a grotesque expression that wasn’t sure whether to cry or rejoice.

“It’s pretty, it’s pretty…”

“Am I pretty?”

“It’s lovely to hear Lady Adelia, I might go crazy…”

“Won’t you still be the same?”

Gradually, she muttered like she was complaining while weeping.

“I thought if my lady becomes a human, you will be a little more solemn! Strong looking! Like you can easily kill at least one person with just a glance! I thought it would be such a nasty impression…!”

“Right? I was also surprised.”

“How come all the majesty of being a penguin disappeared and only cuteness remained? I can’t understand this abnormal evolution against nature!”

I let out a small sigh and tapped the shoulder of Iprus, who was unable to erase the betrayal on her expression.

“Ha… I think so too. But what can I do if I look like this? I have to adapt and live.”

“Ah, seeing how shameless and confident you are, I’m pretty sure you’re our Lady Adelia!”

“Now you believe me, Iprus.”