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Chapter 19
Money is power, and power is money.
Only then could they offer tributes to the Royal House of Pose, raise their standing, and secure positions of authority.
In reality, the great white shark beastmen delivered enormous amounts of tribute and bribes to the royal family every year.
And of course, all of it had been extracted by exploiting powerless beastmen like the sea otter tribe.
The more miserable the lives of those beneath the shark beastmen became, the more prosperous they grew.
The total land and resources of the Emerald Coast were finite.
So as the great white shark clan expanded their territory, the equally powerful orca beastmen clan found their influence shrinking instead.
At this rate, history would only repeat the same ruthless decade Dahlia had already endured.
Shark beastmen would exploit. Sea otter beastmen would be exploited.
And the end would be war and slaughter.
……If that was the case, there was only one way to change it.
“Just let her in. My head’s going to split from all that noise.”
At Harold Orcadan’s words, Daxston stepped aside from the doorway.
Dahlia seized the opening and hurried inside.
“Grampa…!”
Reaching the bedside, Dahlia’s eyes quickly welled up with tears.
Even with a face that looked like she might burst into tears if touched, Harold remained cold.
“Stop being troublesome and say what you came to say.”
His tone was colder than blunt—it was outright sharp.
“Th-thank you for savin’ me, Clan Head… and… I’m sorry… I’m sorry I got you hurt. Because of me… you got really hurt… I’m really sorry…”
Dahlia kept her hands tightly clasped as she repeated her apologies over and over.
Harold Orcadan truly looked like a man who had been broken all over.
“Enough. I didn’t save you—I only saved my grandson.”
“B-but still… if not for you…”
“I said enough. Spare me the pointless politeness. You came at a good time. I had matters to discuss with you as well.”
Harold suddenly turned his gaze toward her, and Dahlia flinched.
Even in his battered state, the Clan Head’s sharp eyes were still as intense as ever.
“Tell me. What happened that day?”
“…Huh?”
“The day you went to Ennio’s study room. What happened there?”
Dahlia visibly panicked.
“Ah, um, that day… well…”
How was she supposed to explain it?
She had gone to the study to attend lessons, overheard a conversation between the teacher and Ennio, and then…
“Speak properly.”
“I, I really…”
“You’re hiding something. I knew it.”
“No!”
“That day, only you and Ennio failed to respond to the alarm. The teacher who was with you made it to the tower.”
“……”
Dahlia realized there was deep suspicion in Harold’s gaze.
He was doubting her as the one responsible for putting Ennio’s life in danger.
“I almost lost my own grandson. Yet he refuses to speak, for reasons unknown. The teacher is the same.”
Dahlia’s mouth stayed frozen.
Would anyone even believe her if she said she had argued with the teacher and then… her memory had simply cut off?
Even to her, it sounded like an excuse.
But piecing together her fragmented memories…
“I think… I tried to bring Ennio when he collapsed, and because of that, we both failed to evacuate.”
That was the only conclusion she could reach.
In the end, it meant Dahlia had nearly gotten both Ennio and Harold killed.
“How long do you intend to stay silent? Speak!”
Harold’s shout struck like lightning, and Dahlia began trembling.
“I-I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I did wrong… Clan Head…”
She was afraid she would be sent away again.
If she left, she would surely be handed back to the great white shark beastmen.
And then she would relive those ten horrific years all over again, alone…
“After pulling you out of the brink of death and feeding you, this is how you repay that kindness—”
“Grandpa! Please stop!”
A voice burst in from the entrance.
Ennio rushed inside.
His wrist was also bandaged, though he didn’t appear seriously injured.
“I already told you! Dahlia did nothing wrong! She doesn’t know anything!”
“Ennio, how dare you interrupt when adults are speaking? Is this how I raised you?”
“I… I’m sorry for interrupting without permission. But she really did nothing wrong!”
“That brat—!”
Ennio stepped in front of Dahlia, shielding her from Harold’s piercing gaze.
“I’ll explain. I’ll tell you everything.”
He steadied his breath.
“That day, I was the one who called Dahlia to the study room. I was late, so she fell asleep while waiting. I was talking with the teacher about the exam when the alarm sounded. I only realized Dahlia was still there afterward and went back to get her—that’s why we were late.”
“Ennio…”
Dahlia clutched his clothes with trembling hands.
Harold narrowed his eyes.
“You and the teacher are giving different accounts, Ennio. So one of you is lying. Who is it? The teacher? Or you?”
“W-what did he say…”
Harold Orcadan had firm principles.
He rewarded and punished clearly—and above all, he despised lies.
“When I asked him about that day, he spoke nonsense. He claimed that sea otter brat tried to kill him, and that you were dragged into danger because of it. He even said he nearly lost his life. Now tell me.”
Harold’s sharp gaze shifted toward Dahlia hiding behind Ennio.
A cold silence filled the room.
“Grandpa, I’m telling you again…”
“Ennio, it’s okay. I’ll talk.”
Dahlia stepped forward, though her body trembled.
She could not let Ennio become a liar because of her.
The fear in her eyes had already begun to fade.
“Ennio teacher… is a bad person.”
“Why?”
“He hit Ennio.”
Harold immediately frowned.
“What? That bastard laid hands on my grandson?”
“It wasn’t hitting… but he said if not perfect, it’s useless. He compared him and tore him down. He… tore Ennio’s precious memories right in front of him.”
Dahlia swallowed nervously.
Harold glanced briefly at Ennio.
Then he spoke with a twisted smile.
“Not wrong. The Orcadan family has always produced only outstanding talent. Those who cannot perform have no place here. Especially in times like these, only capable individuals are needed.”
As soon as he finished, Ennio lowered his head as if he had expected it.
His gaze wavered unsteadily.
Dahlia tried to protest immediately.
“But Ennio—!”
“There is no ‘but.’ Memories are a luxury only those who can protect others are allowed to keep. I’m sure Ennio thinks the same.”
“……”
Ennio remained silent.
“Ennio…”
Dahlia realized it then.
The harsh teacher Ennio endured… had been appointed by Harold Orcadan himself.
That was why Ennio had endured all the emotional abuse without ever breaking.
The burden placed on the boy was so heavy he could not even admit it was too much.
“Ennio is still young. He should be allowed to find what he wants to do.”
Harold suddenly burst into laughter.
Dahlia looked up at him in confusion.
“For a four-year-old brat to say something like that—it’s almost amusing.”
“……”
Yes.
No matter how old Dahlia had been in her previous life, she was now nothing more than a four-year-old baby sea otter.
