The Crazy Killer Whale’s Favourite Penguin

Episode 68: Death Mark (XI)

For reasons I could never have imagined.

Gulp.

I swallowed dry saliva and looked at Iprus.

She was also looking at me with an astounded face, as if this was the first time she had heard of it.

Could it be that Theodore got sick because the imprint he was trying to do on me failed?

Uaware of my complex state of mind, Jack immediately continued his explanation.

“After Sir Theodore passed out, the Wulf family made an official announcement that it was an illness caused by incomplete imprinting.”

“…What is incomplete imprinting?”

“The words are incompletely imprinted, it’s easier to think that the imprinting failed. So it appears that the Wulf family is desperately looking for the woman Sir Theodore tried to imprint on.”

“Th-Theodore, wasn’t he fine at the Igle’s banquet?”

“It must have happened after the banquet.”

Jack shrugged lightly, and as if trying to prove that it wasn’t a rumor, he added,

“Before officially announcing that there was an incomplete imprint, Wulf also came to our information guild to find the imprint partner. That doesn’t sound like a lie.”

I secretly exchanged glances with Iprus.

‘I guess I’ll have to check if the rumors are true when I go back to the center.’

Just like that, I arrived at the place where I always met Jerome and greeted him warmly.

“It’s like a mosquito that sucks a lot of blood in the middle of summer! How can you be late when it’s so hot?”

I must have been a little late because I was talking to Jack. But I shamelessly lifted my chin.

“So do you want to hit me?”

“No.”

“…Eh. Why?”

If it were me, I think I would have hit him all over with my magic wand.

“I want to hit multiple times.”

“Aha.”

Only then did I understand the true meaning of his earlier refusal. Nodding my head, I made a rather serious face.

“Jerome.”

“What.”

“I found a raccoon demibeast.”

The face of Jerome, who should be more than happy to be free, hardened quickly.

“…Huh? R-Really?”

“Mhm.”

“Then, now, with me…”

“I think today will be the last because I have to go up to the center soon.”

I grinned and thanked Jerome for his hard work.

“Thank you for all this time, Jerome. You didn’t help at all, but still.”

“…Do you have to point it out in front of the person who tried so hard?”

“But it’s true.”

I hit Jerome’s back, who didn’t erase the sullen look on his face.

“I have to come to the Weil family estate every month because of the animalization, so don’t be too sad.”

‘Of course, after I reveal my identity to Bella, I don’t think I need to come back.’

‘But I don’t have to tell him this.’

Jerome lashed out at me, looking both incredulous and angry at the same time.

“Ha, who said I was disappointed? I feel relieved to think that I don’t have to look for a demibeast who has nothing to do with me under the hot sun!”

“Oh yes? I’m a bit sad to part.”

“…Huh? Uh… huh?”

Looking at Jerome’s bewildered face, I smiled bashfully.

“We’re friends. Actually, it’s my first time making friends too.”

Both in the previous life and in this life.

Except for Iprus and Hanu, whom I met through a master-servant relationship, he was really the first friend I had ever made.

I took out a blue jewel from the purse that Jerome had stolen days before.

It was the jewel that Suradel had thrown into the flower bed last time.

“Here. This.”

To be honest, I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a waste, but it would definitely be far more valuable to him than to me.

“Why are you giving this to me…”

“As a reward for searching for the raccoon demibeast with me.”

“W-Why should I take this from you?”

I firmly put the jewel in his hand.

“Take it. This is a fair reward for your work.”

Jerome blankly stared at the jewel I handed him. Even though he looked like that, he must be happy on the inside.

“How does it feel to be paid for doing the right thing for the first time, Jerome?”

“…Not bad.”

“Right?”

While I was laughing, Jerome pursed his lips; he had something to say.

“Lia, if it’s okay with you, can I write to you?”

“Of course. Why is a shark so scared of a bird?”

When I readily agreed, his face straightened.

“Even if your mouth is crooked, say it right. The bird is you.”

“Haha, you don’t lose a word. You little fish.”

Seeing Jerome holding the jewel dearly, a question suddenly came to my mind.

‘Does he, who was born as shark demibeast and lived with his freedom suppressed, have a dream?’

Such a simple curiosity.

“Jerome. What is your dream?”

“…All of a sudden. Why do you suddenly ask about my dream?”

“If you don’t want to answer, don’t. I didn’t ask because I had a specific purpose.”

“Opening a flower shop.”

It was a very unexpected dream.

He scratched his cheek with an embarrassed expression, perhaps he was a little shy.

“I like flowers. I really want to go ashore and see the flowers that don’t grow on the seashore.”

It was a very wholesome hobby.

On the other hand, it was regrettable that he was born a shark demibeast and could not leave the sea comfortably.

“Jerome. Later, when I settle down, I will invite you to the center. If you come by the transfer gate, you will have plenty of time to look around.”

“…You promise?”

“Of course.”

I smiled brightly and placed my little finger on his hand.

After parting with Jerome early, I headed back to Weil Castle.

Halfway, Hanu asked softly.

“Lady Lia, what is your dream?”

“Me? My…”

The first thing that came to mind was my father not dying from the plague.

But I couldn’t tell Hanu, who didn’t know the details…

Instead, I spoke of a dream I had longed for in my past life.

“To be loved.”

“Ah. Then, Lady Lia, your dream has come true.”

“…Huh?”

I didn’t know what it meant, so I stared at him and realized something.

Iprus and Hanu are looking at me with infinitely friendly eyes.

How could I say that I was not loved?

I let out a bashful laugh.

“Yes.”

⋆﹥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━﹤⋆

I took one big deep breath.

Today, I was thinking of going to the Weil family library that Nikita had mentioned.

A long time ago, Bella and Suradel had told the servants that I could go anywhere in the Weil Castle, so no one stopped me.

I went inside alone and started looking through the library, leaving Hanu and Iprus at the entrance.

However, the chronology or history of the Weil family, which Nikita had mentioned, was nowhere to be seen.

How many books had I searched?

In a corner of the library, I found a door that seemed to connect to another room.

As soon as I applied strength to the handle, the door opened easily enough to overshadow my nervousness.

“This place…”

Another library inside the library.

It smelled like something might be there.

But considering how I could easily open the door and come in, it didn’t seem like a big deal.

In the room I entered, there were numerous books filling one wall.

Books in separate places.

‘What are the contents of these books?’

I observed the books that filled that one wall.

About every three to ten books, the cover of the book was different. It seemed that it was a long record or story.

While looking around the whole thing, I found an empty part in the middle of the bookshelf.

“…Why is it only empty here?”

After touching the empty spot for no reason, I picked up the book right on its left.

My heart pounded as I opened the book.

‘What is this?’

The sentences that made up the book were written in a language I had never seen before.

It didn’t seem to be the common continental language.

Could it be the old language that was now gone that Nikita spoke of?

But I immediately shook my head. The book was in good condition, like it was new. It didn’t seem ancient.

It was then.

“How did you get in here, Lia?”

I was startled by the sudden voice, and when I turned around, Suradel was staring at me from afar.

If anyone saw this, they would think I had snuck into a place I shouldn’t have entered.

I tried to hide my surprise and calmly replied.

“…How did I get in? I just came in because I saw it?”

“Ah. The magic circle must have recognized you as me because of the mana in your body.”

‘What do you mean by that?’

Suradel shrugged lightly as if he didn’t mind.

“Well, now that you’re here, go look around to your heart’s content.”

Judging by his attitude, it seemed that these were not important books.

I tilted my head and asked.

“By the way, why are you here? You’re supposed to be working.”

“I heard you didn’t go out today, so I came to see what you were doing.”

Suradel blushed and pursed his lips shyly.

“It’s my first time going on a house date with Lia, so I’m a little excited.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“…Okay. Actually, I am very excited.”

Ame: Lia’s dream physically hurt me ;-; and how suspicious of Suradel…