The Crazy Killer Whale’s Favourite Penguin - Chapter 9

I replied with an awkward smile.

“But the Suradel I saw was always smiling. Doesn’t he usually laugh?”

“It’s true that he smiles and laughs a lot, but a real smile only es out in certain situations.”

“What’s really shocking is that he kept talking to the lady, and that crazy… Yes, he was really smiling.”

I got goosebumps.

Quite disturbed by their words, I asked carefully.

“That real laugh that usually es out at some point…?”

Noticing my question, the knights looked at each other nervously and uttered one word at a time.

“When he enjoys giving a beating under the guise of sparing…?”

“Sometimes when he makes us go around the gym endlessly, saying we lack training.”

“He smiles like that when he finds something interesting.”

“Ah. He seems to smile well especially when he turns people’s clothes inside out.”

The more I listened, the more my expression hardened.

‘Then the reason he has been smiling at me is all…?’

It was a time when I couldn’t e to my senses in the face of the shocking truth.

The knights looked at me with dazed eyes and continued talking.

“You don’t know how much Madam Bella has been wanting to find her kind. You’re a very precious guest.”

“So I was very worried when Sir Suradel smiled like that, but I’m glad that nothing happened.”

“Since it’s the same killer whale, it’s natural to be attracted. However, it’s not Madam Bella, but Sir Suradel, who expresses such fondness…”

“Did he fall in love with the lady at first sight?”

No way.

I know best whether he likes me or not.

‘First of all, I’m sure he has a thing for me.’

But if it’s love, I could firmly say ‘no’.

It’s a feeling similar to when I was a penguin.

‘Like… the inevitable liking that es when you see a cute dog or cat.’

“Oh right, Lady. Have you heard Sir Suradel’s nickname? I don’t know much, but I think you should know this.”

What’s else?

I shook my head, suppressing my desire to cry. Then, as if telling a secret, the knight whispered in a remarkably low voice.

“He’s a laughter therapist.”

“What?”

When I was living in Korea, I think I heard of such a license.

‘Is there something similar here…?’

“Is there such a thing as using laughter as treatment?”

“No. He is a laughing therapist who smacks people with a smile.”

I narrowed my brows.

“That’s not a laughing therapist, that’s just a thug.”

“Yes. If he just does this, he wouldn’t have been nicknamed that.”

“Then…?”

“Sir Suradel repeatedly beats and heals, beats and heals. And he never loses his smile in the process.”

“Is that the real smile you mentioned earlier?”

“Yes. So he’s a laughter therapist.”

(TL/N: just for knowledge, REAL laughter therapy uses humor to help relieve pain and stress and improve a person’s sense of well-being.)

“Ah…”

If that’s true, shouldn’t I be running away right now…?

Right when I was in the midst of making a plan to get away from the Weils in my head…

Having finished talking to the knight mander, Suradel approached me, waving his hand from afar.

“It seems that you have already bee friends with the knights. What were you guys talking about?”

“It’s nothing, but you…”

I pretended to be hesitant and glanced at the knights. Their eyes were wide, sending out hopeful glances.

They didn’t expect I might tell Suradel right away like this.

As if Suradel had read the atmosphere of the knights and me, he urged me to continue speaking with a look of interest.

“I?”

He nodded as if to ask me to continue.

But I had no intention of betraying the knights who cared for me. I thought of joking around a bit.

I twisted my lips into a playful smile.

“The knights say that you’re very good with swords, can you show me how you fight?”

When I finished speaking, sighs of relief were let out from all over the place.

‘These innocent people.’

‘If you’re so relieved, it’s obvious that you’re talking behind his back.’

Fortunately, Suradel fixed his gaze on me as if he didn’t care what else the knights told me.

Then, with a grin, he gladly accepted the request.

“It’s not difficult. Then, will Lia choose one opponent for the match?”

“Sure.”

As I lightly nodded and scanned the knights, their plexions turned bluish as if they realized something.

If Suradel was to show how he fights, of course, he would do it with one of the knights here…

Each knight belatedly realized that his opponent could be him.

I snapped my fingers and pretended to pick a matchup opponent.

Every time my finger glided across the knights, joys and sorrows were mixed.

How long have I been playing like that?

When their expressions shifted from fear to liberation, I decided to end the joke and changed the subject.

“By the way, Suradel. What were you talking about with the knight mander?”

“You’re curious?”

“Well, you don’t have to tell me if it’s troublesome.”

“It’s not a big deal, I just said I’m taking a few knights.”

“Where are you going?”

“No, they’re to be your escorts.”

Seeing him speak as if it was natural, my eyebrows twitched in dissatisfaction.

“Why do I need an escort?”

“Because I can’t be with Lia 24 hours a day?”

“I’m not a noblewoman, why do I need an escort?”

“We, the House of Weil, have a duty to protect the killer whales that are on the verge of extinction. And you’re a child who has just been humanized?”

“I am pletely an adult. How can a child be this big in the first place?”

Then Suradel shifted his gaze to the front, made a shade by placing his hand on his forehead, and began to exaggeratedly look around. 

It was an act of deception that only a person taller than the target of teasing could do.

“Huh. Where did Lia go? She was just here.”

“…You’re clenching your teeth and pretending you can’t see me.”

I sighed a little.

I thought I could do anything because I became a human being, but my movements were constantly restrained as I was relying on House Weil.

Even yesterday, I had a hard time getting the maid, who had been assigned to me by the Weils, out of my room.

If I have some escorts, it would be even harder to move around freely.

And it would be only a matter of time before my identity was discovered.

“I don’t need an escort.”

“Lia.”

Suradel called my name as if to appease me. But I had no intention of making concessions for this.

“Now that you mention it, I want you to take back the maid too.”

“The maid as well?”

Suuradel tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you refusing? It looks like you’re used to being served.”

“…Not really? How am I used to being served?”

He was right on point.

Because even when I was a penguin, I had a dedicated maid.

Although I couldn’t municate, the maid understood my intentions so accurately that she was able to solve almost anything just by my facial expressions and hand gestures.

Suradel opened his mouth as he gently organized my fine hair that had been blown forward by the wind.

“Don’t think plicatedly. It’s okay to enjoy it all. Besides, I thought you like that kind of thing, hmm?”

“What?”

“Money and jewelry. Oh, and power?”

“…Does anyone hate that?”

“I knew you would say that.”

Suradel’s eyes became crescents as he burst into laughter.

“The maid can be changed at any time once you find someone else you like in the mansion.”

“I don’t need one, haven’t you been listening?”

“I don’t know about anyone else, but you need one.”

“Again, I am already an adult.”

“Yes, you’re an adult. But you, who have just humanized, don’t know much about the world.”

“Ha, in terms of life experience, are you not like an uncle or a father to me? Can I call you ‘uncle’?”

“What?”

Suradel’s eyes narrowed, the conclusion he had e to in his head transferred into his eyes.

“…It isn’t bad?”

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

‘Shit. Why is he so positive and upbeat about this?’

He came to me with a face flushed with anticipation and made eye contact.

“If Lia wants, I’ll be your stepfather…”

“It’s never going to happen, so can you take away the twinkling eyes?”

“If you choose your escorts.”

“I hate them all.”

“Okay. Originally, I was going to hire three people, but I will make a special concession and reduce it to one.”

I snorted and retorted.

“Three or one.”

“You should learn how to promise in moderation, Lia. You can’t just do what you want to do.”

“Stop being like a mother.”

“Aha. Why didn’t you tell me sooner that you need a mom? Then I will bee a stepmother…”

Suradel spoke happily, then suddenly made a serious face, as if realizing his limitations.

“Is the male mother okay?”

It was a flow of thought that I dared not even dream of.

“…I really hate you.”

“Lia, are you going to do this? You confessed earlier that you like me.”

“I didn’t say that I like you, I just said you’re my taste! It’s only your shell!”

Suradel shuddered with a slightly shocked expression at my remarks.

“…Are you only approaching me for my body?”

“Why is that happening again! Besides, when did I approach you!”

“Lia was on my bed this morning… umph!”

“Please shut your mouth.”

The whispers of the knights about the childish quarrel between the two of us could be heard.

“Didn’t they meet for the first time yesterday?”

“From my point of view, they must have met since they’re at least ten years old.”

“I’ve never seen anyone other than Madam Bella treat Sir Suradel so fortably.”

“Quiet. I can hear you.”