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Chapter 5
“More importantly… is there really nothing I can do about this body? It’s way too weak…”
Every time I regressed, my frail body was the thing I hated most.
“Those three brothers of mine were all born with incredible strength and powerful physiques, so why am I the only one…?!”
Her older brothers had inherited only their father’s immense power.
She, however, had inherited only his sickly body.
“Ugh… this cursed genetic lottery…”
She grumbled under her breath while hurrying back toward the building where her room was located.
The rundown building housed the infant orca beastkin. Hardly anyone maintained it, but since she had caught her grandmother’s attention today, it wouldn’t be wise to stay away for too long in case someone came looking for her.
This place is so far away.
Calypso let out a deep sigh.
If only I still had the Power of Water…
The Power of Water wasn’t just the ability to control water.
It was the very foundation that allowed aquatic beastkin to survive.
With enough mastery, even a child like her could temporarily possess strength comparable to that of a fully grown adult beastkin.
One of her older brothers had been exceptionally talented at using the power that way.
I wonder if the second brother is still alive…
In her previous life, after defeating all of her brothers, they had accepted their loss without complaint and served beneath her.
They had been selfish, arrogant men…
Yet in the end, they had died protecting her.
Typical orcas.
They stayed stubborn until the very end.
For a moment, she found herself missing them.
But now wasn’t the time.
They were probably either in the main mansion or already attending the training academy.
To the current Calypso, they were complete strangers.
Well… they’re breathing, so they must be doing fine.
Even so, she wasn’t particularly sentimental.
She had long since adapted to the instincts of an orca beastkin.
Most whale beastkin shared deep bonds with members of their own race.
Orcas, however, were different.
They viewed one another as comrades to fight alongside—not beloved family like humpback whales or dolphins.
If she had to compare them to something…
They were more like members of one enormous gang.
I awakened the Power of Water in my last life…
I wonder if I can do it again this time?
Unlike her brothers, Calypso had been the only one of Pierre’s children born without the Power of Water.
Because of that, every lifetime her grandmother mocked her as a useless, defective fish.
And every lifetime she had been sold off.
That was why, during her third life, she had fled and obtained the treasure mentioned in the original novel—
Linias.
Originally, it was the gift the male lead obtained after an epic adventure before presenting it to the heroine as proof of his devotion and love.
It was said to be a tear shed by the Water Dragon in ancient times.
Thanks to that treasure, Calypso had finally awakened the Power of Water.
Should I go after it again this time?
In the original story, it was supposed to symbolize the male lead’s love.
No way.
I’m not letting that bastard use it to strengthen his romance.
I’ll use it for myself again.
Still…
If she could awaken her power without relying on the treasure, that would be ideal.
She clasped her fingers together and strained with all her might.
Nothing happened.
“Hmm… what a shame.”
Fine.
I’ll focus on winning Father over first.
Just as she gave up and prepared to continue walking—
“Hey, is this really the place? I think we came to the wrong building.”
“No, this is definitely it!”
She turned her head.
Not far away stood several children.
They looked around nine to twelve years old.
Judging from their hair… they’re branch-family orcas.
Her building was only a short distance away.
She intended to ignore them and continue walking.
Then—
“No, seriously! They said the newly born direct-line girl lives here! We’ve got to make sure she’s useless!”
Calypso froze.
A direct-line girl?
That’s obviously me.
“I get that, but why? Doesn’t she have no Power of Water? Isn’t she just some defective kid who’s going to become the Dragon’s Bride?”
“No! Things changed! Haven’t you heard? The Matriarch acknowledged her today! She’s moving into the main mansion!”
“Huh?!”
“If we leave her alone, she’ll become a threat to Lord Baiyan! If something happens to him, we’re all finished!”
The instant she heard the name Baiyan, Calypso immediately understood.
Baiyan…
My eldest uncle’s eldest son.
Her grandmother’s first son—her eldest uncle.
And Baiyan, his eldest child.
The very first person Calypso had defeated in her previous life.
He was endlessly greedy and ambitious.
Most members of the branch family chose one promising heir early in life and pledged themselves as that heir’s retainers.
Without exceptional talent, it was the only way for them to survive.
These boys clearly belonged to Baiyan.
One of them looks familiar…
The problem was…
Retainers serving powerful heirs usually possessed influence far beyond their age.
Enough influence to look down on a direct-line child like Calypso, who currently had neither allies nor protectors.
“The Matriarch isn’t someone who praises people for no reason. If we let her live, she’ll definitely get in Lord Baiyan’s way.”
“…Did Lord Baiyan personally tell you that?”
“He did!”
Calypso sighed inwardly.
Looks like word spread fast.
Considering how difficult it was to earn even a single compliment from that grandmother, it wasn’t surprising.
At a time when all the grandchildren were fiercely competing to become the next heir…
The sudden appearance of another direct-line child acknowledged by the Matriarch was hardly welcome news.
“She still lives in that old building. If we kill her now, nobody will ever know. Everyone will just assume she died before turning three, like so many weak children do.”
“Oh… I see.”
They were actually planning to kill her.
Damn it.
If only I had the Power of Water, I’d send these cocky brats flying with one hand.
Orcas were called the outlaws of the sea.
The bullies of the ocean.
That violent nature remained even after taking human form.
Even children casually talked about murder as though it meant nothing.
It’s frustrating, but I can’t fight them right now.
I’d better hide—
Just then…
As if fate were mocking her, one of the boys looked straight at her.
His black eyes immediately swept over her head.
My hair!
The direct line and the branch family had different hair colors.
“Hey! T-That’s her!”
There was no point hiding anymore.
Calypso spun around and ran.
Damn it! I’m still terrible at running!
Whales were mammals.
Mammals developed much more slowly than creatures born from eggs.
Her body was already slower than other whale beastkin because of her species.
Combined with her weak constitution…
Getting caught was inevitable.
The only problem was that she tripped the moment one of the boys overtook her.
How humiliating…
She quickly raised her head.
“Look at her. She’s covered in soot. Gross.”
“So filthy. Is this really someone from the direct line? She looks pathetic.”
“They say she can’t even use the Power of Water.”
The two boys surrounded her.
“So that means we can kill her.”
Calypso glanced around.
There wasn’t a single adult nearby who would help.
“But if she has no Power of Water, how did she catch the Matriarch’s attention?”
“Well…”
One of the boys smirked while poking her head.
“She must have something special up here.”
His sharp fangs gleamed.
Malice filled his eyes.
“Yeah… if we leave this one alive, she’ll become nothing but a pest to Lord Baiyan.”
“A pest?”
Calypso’s eyes narrowed.
“Did you just call me a pest?”
She grabbed the finger poking her head—
And bit down as hard as she could.
“AAAAAGH!! You crazy brat! Let go!!”
“Ugh!”
The boy shoved her away with all his strength, sending her sprawling onto the ground.
Still, she wasn’t finished.
“A pest? That’s what land animals are, you uncivilized fish! How dare you compare me to some land insect, you plankton-brained idiot whose skull would echo if someone tapped it with a stick!”
“…”
“…”
“What… is she even talking about?”
“Maybe she’s gone insane. You know, those geniuses who become so smart they lose their minds?”
“That actually makes sense.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“We were planning to make it painless…”
“But now… we can’t leave her alive.”
Despite the murderous looks directed at her, Calypso didn’t flinch.
“You’re going to kill me?”
“Do you even know where I’ve just been?”
“Tch. You’re awfully talkative for such a tiny brat.”
“You can scream all you want after I beat you for biting my finger.”
The boy lifted his foot to kick her.
Compared to everything I suffered in my last life… this is nothing.
Calypso shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Hey!!”
“I just came from meeting my father!!”
The raised foot stopped in midair.
