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Chapter 5
Fwoosh!
The curtain was pulled away, rippling like waves.
Beyond it was something very, very large…
A glass tank.
Dahlia lowered its head the moment it saw it.
Haah… of course.
Another round of wild gambling madness was about to begin.
White Shark beastmen were incredibly fast.
Dahlia rarely lasted even 60 seconds, and each time its tail or fins would end up torn and ragged.
How long could it possibly survive against orcas?
Still, there was one small relief.
Its tail, previously torn off by the White Sharks, had almost fully healed.
“Get in.”
Dahlia curled up and glanced up at Harold.
“Do you not like it?”
The deep crease between his brows and his tightly shut lips.
Facing that stern expression, Dahlia couldn’t bring itself to say no.
“…Pi, piip… (N-no… it’s fine…)”
Reluctantly, Dahlia climbed the steep rocky steps leading into the tank.
Taking a deep breath, it glanced back once more.
Smiling orca beastmen.
Among them, Sandio waved both arms wildly, shouting something.
Dahlia had thought Sandio might at least try to stop it… or not be happy about this.
For some reason, that made its chest hurt more.
Maybe I didn’t stretch properly…
Dahlia discreetly loosened its front and back paws.
It even rolled its waist a little.
And then…
SPLASH!
Dahlia jumped into the transparent glass tank, eyes widening.
Bloop, bloop.
Bubbles escaped from its mouth in surprise.
The water is sweet!
Not only that—the temperature was perfect, almost luxurious.
It felt fresh, like pure deep-sea spring water drawn from the ocean floor.
Blubblub!
For a moment, Dahlia forgot its situation and floated around, even swimming underwater happily.
“Heavens, what is that? It’s adorable.”
“Hehe. It reminds me of our youngest when he was little.”
“Look at those tiny paws paddling around.”
Outside the tank, the orca clan watched in admiration.
When Dahlia blew bubbles and popped them with its fluffy paws, a few even chuckled.
Ah.
Dahlia accidentally looked straight ahead—and met the gazes of the laughing orcas.
…They think I’m amusing.
It had only been a moment of absentminded swimming.
Snapping back to reality, Dahlia poked its head above the water.
Then it met Harold’s eyes.
The orca lord had clearly also been smiling—but suddenly his expression hardened.
“What are you doing?”
“…Piip? (Huh?)”
“Reach into the rocks.”
Dahlia obeyed, diving down toward the rocky bottom of the tank.
Looking closely, something shimmered inside a narrow crevice.
A lobster? Or a crayfish?
White Shark beastmen loved cruel games.
They usually held hunting contests, but sometimes they placed poisonous fish or crustaceans just to torment Dahlia.
They would laugh as its tail got pinched or turned bluish from poison.
There’s definitely something dangerous inside.
Dahlia bristled its fur to minimize damage and carefully reached in.
And then…
Hm?
Something hard touched its fingertips.
But it didn’t bite or sting.
Huh?
Confused, Dahlia looked toward Harold through the glass.
He gave a small nod.
It seemed like: “Pull it out.”
Dahlia carefully grabbed it.
Why is it so heavy?
It was too heavy to pull out with one hand.
After steadying its breathing…
It shoved both paws into the crevice and even braced its tiny legs.
Heave-ho! Heave-ho!
And then—
Fwoosh!
Something suddenly shot out from its grip.
Dahlia spun three full times underwater from the recoil.
Clap clap!
Clap clap clap!
Applause erupted beyond the glass.
“Well done!”
“Impressive technique!”
“9 out of 10!”
“Why not 10?”
“Landing was a bit sloppy. Still, considering the age, this seal has great potential.”
“Everyone, you saw that right? Its name is Pippi!!”
The orca clan, including Sandio, chattered excitedly.
But Dahlia, submerged, couldn’t hear clearly.
This is…?
What it had pulled from the rock crevice was a giant clam.
So large it was almost the size of Dahlia’s body.
Its shell shimmered beautifully, unlike anything Dahlia had ever seen.
Then Harold’s earlier words flashed in its mind.
“If what you say is true… I will grant you a great reward.”
A reward!
Yes—this must be Harold’s reward.
I guess I didn’t get to choose it.
Originally, Dahlia had planned to ask to stay longer.
But at least it wouldn’t be kicked out immediately.
And this radiant giant clam…
It looks… extremely delicious!!
Gulp.
Dahlia swallowed.
It hadn’t had a proper meal since arriving here.
The orcas had offered food, but none of it suited Dahlia’s taste.
No matter what anyone said, sea otters’ favorite food was clams.
A giant clam!!
It looked like the freshest, most delicious clam it had ever seen—even across its past life.
But could it really just accept something this big?
Dahlia turned its head slightly.
Harold was talking with Sandio.
“Grandpa, what is that clam?”
“It’s not just a clam.”
“Then what is it?”
“One of the top five most expensive ornaments in the Emerald Coast.”
“Wow! So that’s why it’s so shiny?”
“Right. It has 200 diamonds embedded in it. It’s a treasure you can’t even buy with money. It was given to our clan by the Porse royal family about 100 years ago.”
“Ehh?! You’re giving something that valuable to Pippi?! Grandpa, you’re such a miser!!”
Normally, he would have scolded that instantly.
But today, Harold was unusually calm.
“The Orcadan clan does not live in debt. This level of reward is appropriate.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t care at all—but compared to the damage dealt to the White Sharks, it was worth it.
And if this small creature returned to its family, it would live comfortably for life.
“Pippi seems to like it too!”
As Sandio said, Dahlia was gently wagging its tail while hugging the clam.
It glanced up at Harold again, uncertain.
A look that asked: May I really take this?
“Tch. So timid.”
Unlike greedy Sandio and Ennio, who would’ve demanded more.
Harold simply gestured: It’s yours.
Dahlia smiled brightly.
Seeing the tiny bubbles rising from its mouth, Harold’s expression softened without him realizing.
“Haah, Grandpa, did you just smile?”
“Hmph! I didn’t smile.”
“You totally smiled just now!”
“You brat! Go back to your seat!”
Sandio fled shouting, “Ahh—run away!”
Meanwhile, Dahlia climbed onto a rock with the giant clam.
All the orcas watched closely.
Dahlia stood before the crowd.
Alright. This might be another chance.
White Shark beastmen had called it useless trash.
But Dahlia had one special ability.
It intended to show it here.
So they wouldn’t throw it out immediately.
Dahlia lifted the giant clam above its head.
The orcas murmured.
“What is it doing?”
“Don’t know. Maybe showing off?”
“Is it just happy?”
“Oh my, what a beautiful ornament.”
They thought it was simply proud and showing it off.
And then—
WHACK!!
“H-huh?!”
SMASH!
“Aah!!”
CRACK.
“W-what in the world?!”
Before their eyes, one of the clan’s treasured ornaments was being destroyed.
Dahlia looked at their shocked faces and grinned.
Hehe. I’m really good at smashing clams, aren’t I?
