TBODM 14

Chapter 14

Clear pronunciation, and a natural way of speaking that flowed effortlessly.

No one else in this class could imitate it.

“Nice to meet you.”

There was no mistaking what they had heard.

Only then did Charon stop looking down on her and begin examining the little girl from head to toe.

“Woooow, she’s sooo pretty…”

“She looks like a doll. I wanna be friends with her.”

“Think she likes plankton snacks?”

“I like them!”

“No one asked you!”

The younger the children were, the more refined their aesthetic standards were. Or, more precisely, the more brutally honest they were.

To the eyes of children like these, the newly arrived Calypso looked like a tiny doll.

“My name is Calypso Aquasiadel.”

Her loosely tied twin ponytails, round face, long eyelashes that could be seen even from a distance, and the vivid blue eyes that marked her as a member of the direct line all stood out.

“I heard this is the smartest and highest-level class among all the classes in this institution.”

Although she wore a slightly sullen expression, even that seemed to add to her cuteness.

The fact that her features lacked some of the sharpness characteristic of orcas only made her even more adorable.

“I have high expectations for this class. I hope there are many classmates here who can live up to my expectations.”

Her introduction was so ambitious and completely unlike something a child would say that even the teachers were taken aback, exchanging glances.

“W-Wow. Wow! Everyone heard that, right? Please welcome our new classmate with a round of applause!”

“Waaaaah!”

“Welcoome!”

“Come sit with us!”

“She’s so pretty!”

Fortunately, the whale children, who generally loved peace, welcomed Calypso with bright smiles and applause.

Calypso was generally welcomed by the children.

She walked over to where they were sitting…

And instead of sitting among them, she went all the way to the very edge and plopped herself down.

“Now, everyone, return to today’s assignment. Make a sculpture out of the blocks and submit your finished work. Call the teacher over once you’ve completed it.”

“Yeees!”

Once they were given free time, the children didn’t focus on their assignment.

Instead, they began hovering around Calypso, who was sitting by herself.

The orca children were no exception.

Why is someone this tiny in our class?

Is she younger than us, or is she the same age but just hasn’t grown yet? I don’t know!

Such conversations went back and forth.

‘H-Her eyes look so dull…!’

Through this series of events, Charon finally managed to convince himself that Calypso was someone he could look down on.

“Excuuse me.”

Calypso turned her head.

Her expression was sullen.

“Your hair color means you’re from the direct line, right?”

Calypso stared at the child who had strode right up to her.

Good grief, he’s huge.

My neck hurts just looking up at him.

Sitting down, the boy looked enormous.

He was probably the oldest, eight years old, and even considering that, his body was far larger than those of his peers.

Furthermore, the moment he approached, not only the children who had been coming closer but even the curious orca children backed away nervously.

There was no way she couldn’t figure it out now.

So this guy is the boss around here?

Calypso rolled her neck slightly and stared straight at him.

When taking down the leader, establishing dominance first was essential.

“Are you from the direct line?”

Calypso’s eyes glowed blue.

I’m taking over this class now.

“You should be able to tell just by looking at my hair.”

Charon flinched.

Then, seemingly angry that he had flinched, Charon began huffing and puffing.

Calypso saw that and made her judgment.

There are no strong people who get easily worked up.

A truly strong person was someone who could remain calm even while angry.

Like my second brother.

Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any lunatics—no, extraordinary orcas like my brothers in this class.

Then again, comparing those exceptional monsters to this place was hardly fair.

“How old are you?”

“I’m eight. You’re… awfully small for your age, aren’t you, Miss Direct Line?”

Rather than being flustered by the mockery, Calypso tilted her head adorably.

It was an incredibly lovable gesture, though she herself was completely unaware of it.

She calmly replied,

“How incompetent do you have to be to still be in kindergarten—no, this elementary institution at that size instead of going to the middle-level institution?”

“Of course I’m outstanding… Huh?”

“I said incompetent, idiot. Isn’t it strange that you’re still here?”

Calypso answered indifferently, and Charon’s enormous face turned bright red.

“Compulsory education for beastfolk lasts through the intermediate institution. Most children move on to the intermediate institution at eight.”

The abilities evaluated for advancement were physical ability and intelligence.

Orcas, in particular, were expected to possess intelligence in addition to physical strength and stamina.

“No matter how strong you are, if you’re stupid, you can’t advance to the intermediate institution. Why are you proudly bragging about being incompetent?”

With that huge body, the boy was still here.

He was hardly in a position to act proud.

By now, the children had gathered around to watch.

Even the orca children were slowly approaching.

Calypso raised her large eyes and casually glanced around.

Laila… probably won’t stop this.

The teachers were simply watching.

“Y-You little dwarf!”

“Hey, you.”

Calypso called out to one of the children watching.

The child flinched.

Gray hair with dark-blue markings scattered across it.

Calypso mentally ran through the characteristics of various whale species.

“You’re a gray whale, aren’t you?”

“Huh? Y-Yes! Yes…! That’s right!”

“Can you count?”

The child hurriedly nodded.

He looked delighted that she had correctly identified what kind of beastfolk he was.

“Yes! I’m good at counting!”

How adorable.

“Good. Then, that incompetent kid… What’s his name?”

“Charon!”

“Right. And what’s your name?”

“Joseph!”

“Okay, Joseph?”

Calypso confidently held up her fingers toward the gray whale child, Joseph.

“Count these fingers for me.”

“O-One, two, th-three. Three!”

“Good. Now tell that Charon how old I am.”

“Yes! Miss is three years old!”

Charon blinked.

Calypso smiled sweetly.

“Tsk. Did you really want to be in the same class as a three-year-old?”

Charon’s face turned extremely red.

Exactly as intended.

He must have finally realized how pathetic his situation looks, even to himself.

Actually, considering that he was eight, he wasn’t terribly behind.

But that didn’t mean he had any reason to puff out his chest proudly while still being here.

What’s with the level of the boss here?

‘Even the collateral-branch kids in my previous life weren’t this bad.’

These kids are so slow.

I looked over the orca children from the collateral branches.

Since I only needed to look for the ones with plain gray hair and no markings, they were easy to identify.

“W-What! Don’t say ridiculous things! You’re not three! Orcas can’t even speak properly until they’re five years old…!”

Why is he assuming his own intelligence is on the same level as mine?

I stared at him indifferently before turning my head away.

I could almost hear steam coming out of his ears.

That was when it happened.

“Ah! No!!”

Along with the cries of the children around me, a fist came crashing down where I had been standing.

BOOM!

They were still children, but orcas were the strongest aquatic creatures.

The soft floor was dented even by that shallow blow.

If his aim had been even slightly better, I might have ended up looking like that floor.

“Hmph! Even if you’re from the direct line, you’re still just a little runt—”

“You need to learn manners first.”

“What?!”

Hmm. I wasn’t sure how well this would work…

I ran toward him and slammed my head straight into him.

I’ll let you off with a headbutt instead of a punch, you idiot.

…Of course, that was just an excuse.

My head was still larger and had more surface area than these tiny fists of mine, so it was the better weapon!

CLANG!

But perhaps Pierre’s hard training had actually paid off?

I was even more surprised when I saw him go flying.

…What? That training actually worked?

I hadn’t expected it to be useful enough for actual combat.

“Ahh! He f-flew…!”

“Charon flew like thiiis!”

For some reason, during that brief moment when I charged at him, I felt my body become lighter.

It was strangely similar to the sensation I’d experienced when I awakened the power of water in my previous life.

I looked at my hands.

But even when I deliberately exerted force, no water emerged.

Through the faint cloud of dust, I could see Charon lying on the floor.

I almost felt sorry for him, but it wasn’t a big deal.

Something like this wouldn’t kill him.

Of course. I know because I grew up getting hit too. Stop being such a crybaby, idiot.

He was too busy clutching his head and groaning.

The moment our eyes met, I immediately grabbed one of the blocks lying nearby.

Until yesterday, Pierre had been making me clean and organize things until I was exhausted from the labor.

Drawing upon the sensation of crushing stones and wielding a hammer…

I clenched my hand with all my strength.

The block crumbled into pieces in my palm.

The children let out a chorus of astonished cries.

Charon’s face went pale.

“Are you going to challenge me?”

“……”

Among orcas, the outcome of a fight immediately determined the hierarchy.

Charon’s eyes dropped toward the ground.

The way every beast acknowledged defeat was the same.

As if I’d been waiting for it, I blew lightly on my tiny fist.

“My dad told me not to let people hit me.”

I’m taking over this class from today.