TBOBS 13

Chapter: 13

“Ah…”

A flying fish. If it was a flying fish, then that made sense.

Among us aquatic beastfolk, they were especially famous for having loose lips and loving to gossip. Compared to land animals, they were basically chatterbirds.

“Besides, it was shocking enough to leave everyone speechless. Rumors always spread faster the more outrageous they are.”

Was that really something to say so casually?

“It sounds like you’re calling my story a complete mess.”

I frowned, and Laila merely gave a small shrug.

“From someone else’s perspective, perhaps they’d rather believe it was nothing more than an outrageous rumor.”

When I looked up, Laila was holding out her hand.

Without realizing it, we’d reached a staircase.

Instead of taking her hand, I stubbornly huffed and puffed my way up the steps.

I’m only three years old, but I can climb stairs by myself.

Without looking offended, Laila withdrew her hand with a small smile.

“For example, Lord Baiyan, who might feel threatened by the appearance of another genius… And Lord Sorte as well.”

One was my eldest uncle’s son, and the other was my second uncle’s son.

Grandmother’s eldest son’s eldest grandson.

Grandmother’s second son’s eldest grandson.

Dusting off my hands, I spoke as though it were nothing.

“Why leave one out? There’s Belus too.”

Laila froze for just a brief moment.

“Why? Is he just way more of a genius than me?”

Belus.

That was my eldest brother’s name.

When she didn’t answer, I simply shrugged and continued climbing.

Following behind me, Laila spoke again.

“Hmm… It seems Your Young Lady isn’t only gifted with language. Your physical strength and stamina appear remarkable as well.”

“You noticed? You’ve got good eyes.”

“If I couldn’t notice even that, how could I possibly run this educational institution?”

Look at her smoothly changing the subject the moment my eldest brother came up.

I shrugged.

Well, I suppose she’s saying I’m still nowhere near the greatest genius this beginner academy has ever seen.

Belus.

Even in my previous life, he was the brother who gave me the most trouble before I became head of the family.

In the end, we fought, I beat him, and he became one of my subordinates.

Hmph. As if this life will turn out any differently.

Laila couldn’t hide the curiosity in her eyes.

“So… was the rumor that you failed to awaken the Power of Water also false?”

“No, that’s true.”

But for some reason, she didn’t seem convinced.

Well, I couldn’t really blame her.

I was practically scaling the stairs like a rock climber, lifting my own body with my hands, yet I wasn’t even breathing hard.

“No way… Do I really look that amazing?”

“I can’t exactly say you don’t.”

I grinned.

“Then make sure you tell Grandma exactly that.”

Tell her how brilliant and amazing her granddaughter is.

Laila seemed about to ask another question, but I stayed silent.

If I kept my mouth shut here, she’d naturally misunderstand even more.

Besides, what you’ve seen so far isn’t even everything.

This is only the beginning.

When I didn’t answer, Laila gracefully gave up and climbed the rest of the stairs beside me.

Soon we entered a long hallway.

Walking ahead, Laila pointed toward one of the classrooms.

A golden half-circle sign engraved with a whale swayed gently in the breeze.

“From today onward, this will be your class. The academy’s highest-ranked class—Alpha Class.”

Beastfolk naturally inherited the instincts and personalities of the animals they were based on.

Because of that, whale beastfolk generally avoided conflict, loved peace, and maintained close, affectionate relationships with their own kind.

They were also naturally accepting of other races.

Some, like the nearly extinct humpback whale beastfolk, were so peaceful that they even embraced hostile land animals.

Personally, I thought that was probably why they were on the verge of extinction in the first place.

Still…

It told you everything you needed to know about whales as a whole.

“Now that today’s report lesson is over, we’ll spend the rest of class building shapes with blocks.”

“Yeees!”

But among all those whales…

There was one exception.

Need I even say it?

The orcas.

The very race that ruled over all aquatic beastfolk.

“Hmph. Whad kinda childish game is dis?”

“Dat’s right, Big Bro Karon!”

The fact that every other whale loved peace meant absolutely nothing to the orcas.

And all the other whale races lived beneath these gang-like bullies.

“I told ya, ordinary whales are hopeless. Lookin’ all happy over blocks like babies.”

“Exactly, Big Bro Karon!!”

Their overwhelming numbers and thug-like attitude didn’t disappear just because they were children.

If anything, beastfolk children behaved even more like wild animals because their instincts were stronger.

“Hey. Move.”

The academy’s highest-ranked class, Alpha Class, gathered only the most talented and exceptional children from every whale race, including the orcas.

“B-But… that’s mineee…”

“What? You wanna fight?”

“Waaah! Teacher!”

Even here, the orcas were still the school bullies.

And among the orcas, the one at the very top was Karon of the branch family.

“Karon, you mustn’t hit your beluga classmate.”

“When did I hit ‘im? My hand was just there. He ran into it.”

“…”

“What? You got a problem? Say it.”

“Hiiing… Teacher! Karon’s glaring at me!”

Eight-year-old Karon was twice the size of the other children.

“Karon, please participate without disrupting the class.”

“Yeees, okay.”

However, all whale beastfolk shared one trait.

Even at seven or eight years old, they still spoke with childish, clumsy pronunciation.

Even Alpha Class, made up entirely of the best seven- and eight-year-olds, was no exception.

Karon was the same.

“Hmph. None of ya are even worth one of my fins…”

Still, Karon firmly believed he stood above all these foolish whales.

Being accepted into the academy’s highest class was already a source of enormous pride.

Becoming the strongest student there was a glory for his family.

Even if I’m not as talented as the direct heirs… I’m still this good!

He dreamed that one day he would awaken the Power of Water.

Not only his own family, but even neighboring branch families had high expectations for him.

He was larger, stronger, and had greater stamina than ordinary young orcas.

Everyone believed he was special enough to awaken the Power of Water despite being from a branch family.

“There he goes again.”

“Again!”

“Hey! Dolphin twins! Quiet down!”

“…Yes!”

There wasn’t a single child in this class who could surpass Karon.

This academy, established by the orcas, believed that strength ruled above all else.

That was also the guiding principle of the aquatic beastfolk educational system.

As long as Karon didn’t become too disruptive, even the teachers rarely stopped him.

As a result, his tyranny only grew worse with each passing day.

He would remain the leader of this class until graduating from the beginner academy.

The other young orcas had long since gathered beneath him.

“Everyone, today we have a new friend joining us. Her name is Calypso. Let’s all welcome her with applause.”

Normally, a new student being introduced wouldn’t have changed anything.

But…

The moment Karon saw the tiny child toddling behind the teacher, his eyes widened.

A direct heir?

Jet-black hair.

And the white eye-shaped marking above her head.

Those were unmistakable signs of direct bloodline inheritance within the orca family.

A coloring rarely seen.

“Would you like to introduce yourself?”

Standing behind the child was Laila herself.

There wasn’t a student in the beginner academy who didn’t know the institution’s director.

The teachers rarely scolded anyone and often turned a blind eye.

But Laila…

Even Karon instinctively feared her.

“Our academy certainly welcomes strong children. However, Karon… you should learn some restraint.”

She had once warned him after he beat up the dolphin twins.

Even now, his body still remembered the terrifying Power of Water she’d displayed that day.

It wasn’t only Karon.

The other branch-family orca children who behaved just like him also tensed the moment they saw Laila.

And besides…

The newcomer was a girl.

Suddenly, Karon remembered something.

“Did you hear? Lord Pierre’s daughter was born. But apparently she couldn’t even awaken the Power of Water.”
“She’s useless. Our family supports Lord Baiyan, the eldest son of the family head and his line anyway. If a useless child is born, that’s actually good for us. I heard she’ll eventually be sold off as the Dragon’s Bride.”
“How could someone as incredible as Lord Pierre have such a useless daughter…”
“That’s the mystery of genetics, isn’t it?”

It was a conversation between his father and mother, who led one of the branch families.

The word that stuck in Karon’s mind most was…

Useless.

Could… could this be the girl they were talking about?

Unfortunately, Karon’s parents belonged to one of the branch families that hadn’t heard the new rumor spreading through the clan only a day earlier.

“Well then, Miss Calypso? Your introduction…”

“Oh, sorry. I was just looking around for a moment.”

Karon confidently raised his head—

Then his eyes flew wide open.

W-What was that just now?

It wasn’t just Karon.

Every child in the classroom stared in shock.