ORCA 14

No matter how much a fin smaller than my fingernail flutters, the currents of the ocean do not change. It was an existence that made no difference whether it was there or not. Small, trivial, even weak—it was worthless. It was a body so insignificant that it couldn’t even go against the current, let alone change it. That is why it is so easily crushed even by a servant who shamelessly prides himself on his strength.

Suddenly, it crossed my mind that it would grovel before me just the same as it was doing before that servant. If nothing else, that part bothered me. Only then did a ripple form on the sea. Even so, it was a faint change.

The goldfish, caught by the middle-aged servant, thrashed as if it were about to die. Its curly hair was being crushed into the ground. I had gone to the trouble of saving it, so the thought of it dying at someone else’s hand was not at all to my liking.

However, Orca did not show his displeasure on the surface and only watched Niah. For some reason, he didn’t feel like helping him out immediately. Even though he knew he could save him with a single word, the order to stop only rolled around inside his mouth. He pondered the reason internally. His expression was calm and composed.

Is it because I find the goldfish that crumbles before anyone pathetic?

Is it because it only drags out tears without being able to resist even once against a man like that?

Is it because I want to punish it for the stupidity of completely forgetting what happened just yesterday?

No, that’s not it. I should be the one to give that punishment. Not that guy. But who is that jerk to interfere in this, anyway? So insolent.

His mood soured belatedly. It was the first time in his life that someone else had snatched away something he was holding in his own grasp. To think he had just stood there blankly watching while his property was being snatched away, without taking any action—he felt so pathetic he could have mocked himself. The one who was foolish wasn’t the goldfish, but him. It was to the point of being laughable. Orca’s eyes narrowed for an instant.

“Niah, what are you doing? Hurry!”

Pepe, knowing nothing, yanked Niah’s upper body up with violent force. The pain, as if all his hair were being pulled out, made Niah hurriedly grab Pepe’s hand. Instead of easing the pain, the pulling only became more intense. His whole body let out groans.

Now, he didn’t know what was what. Why he was here and why he was suffering like this were pushed to the back of his mind. Only a desperate desire to escape whirled violently within him. His head spun. Niah blurted out whatever came to mind. The sorrow piled up in layers burst forth.

“Wrong, wrong, huff… I don’t want this. Ugh, please let me go, it hurts… I don’t want this anymore, everything hurts… huff…”

Orca, having suddenly stood up, closed the distance with Niah. The gap of half a step suddenly vanished. Even in his delirious state, Niah instantly recognized that the person who had entered his swaying field of vision was the Young Master. He reached out the arms he had been flailing to escape Pepe.

His slow-moving hands fumbled for Orca’s shoes and then gripped his pant leg tightly. This was the best Niah could do. No matter how out of his mind he was, he could not dare to grab onto him recklessly and ask for help.

Pepe cheered inwardly and made Niah lift his head even higher. His heart raced, wondering if the Young Master would slap Niah’s cheek. He bit his tongue to stop himself from giggling at the expectation that he might be able to use that as an excuse to get rid of this thing from the mansion.

Orca’s gaze remained fixed on Niah the entire time. ‘Young Master… Young Master…’ The small, tearful voice cut through the air. He felt a weak force against his pant hem. It was so frail that it felt like it could be crushed at any moment.

Though it was hard to see through the hair, everything beneath the blood-stained forehead was a mess. The fact that he was not the one who caused that wound, and that half of the tears spilled were not meant for him, came across as deeply unpleasant. Orca watched Pepe with eyes glinting behind lowered lids.

Should I kill him?

He felt inclined to do so, even if it meant going to the trouble. Unfortunately, he wasn’t given the chance to put it into action. It was because he heard sobbing making unreasonable, nonsensical pleas. The goldfish had pulled him forward first.

“Ugh… you said… you would protect me… the secret, I, I, huff… you said you wouldn’t chase me out… that the Young Master would protect me… The Young Master, the Young Master really said that… It’s true, huff… Young Master, please…”

If one were to analyze it, he could have done so all he wanted. It was true that he had stepped in to keep it a secret to coax the goldfish, but everything else was a lie. He had never promised not to chase him out, nor had he ever said he would protect him.

He didn’t know why the goldfish interpreted his words about keeping a secret as a promise to protect him, but all the sentences he blurted out were nonsense. The tone of his confident belief was amusing. The goldfish, as if it had decided to tease him, scratched at his ears. He begged him to protect him, putting his whole heart into it.

This idiot, really…

Orca watched Niah’s tantrum for a moment, enjoying it, and then opened his mouth calmly.

“Niah. You have to speak clearly.”

Pepe stared up at Orca with wide eyes. The other servants, who had been listening from afar, were the same. It was surprising enough that the Young Master knew the name of a mere mansion servant, but to hear him say it out loud—he couldn’t help but be shocked. A feeling that something had gone wrong now seized his mind. The hand that had been gripping the hair lost half its strength.

Niah gripped the pant leg he was holding so tightly his hands ached. His eyes darted back and forth. He had to do as he was told—he wanted to—but he couldn’t think of how to answer. Niah let out a pained sound and parted his lips. For him, he couldn’t even guess the answer the Young Master wanted. His head only hurt more.

“Huff… I’m, sorry…”

He had apologized over and over, begging for forgiveness, but the Young Master only stood stock-still. He needed to say something else—any words, anything—but only tears continued to stream down. Niah clung even tighter to Orca, who was already standing close, as if hanging onto him. The fingers that had been on the pant leg stealthily moved up to his calf.

“Please… Young Master, huff, I, I beg of you… Save me. I, huff, it hurts so much… Please save me, Young Master… Young Maaaaster…”

A storm broke out in Orca’s sea. The only thing swimming in it was a single goldfish.

Looking down at the goldfish clinging to him, Orca said only this: Yes. It was a word that was extremely simple, yet precise and solid. Yes. It was a straightforward answer that contained both permission and acceptance. Yes. These two letters were more than enough to achieve the salvation Niah so desperately craved. Because the words flowed from Orca’s mouth, it was possible for them to hold all that meaning.

“Yes.”

Pepe stepped back, unable to hide his bewildered expression. In doing so, all the strength in the hand holding Niah drained away. Niah’s head, which had been forcibly held up, fell as if it had been waiting for that moment. It landed on Orca’s thigh.

Niah, leaning his forehead against the solid thigh, twisted his head slightly at the pain welling up from his wound. He turned his cheek instead of his forehead and slumped down. His hand, which had been near the calf, slid down and feebly gripped the pant hem. Then, his shoulders heaved as he let out short breaths.

The scenery visible through his lids, which were open only a crack, was blurry. He felt like he had lost consciousness in the forest in this way, too. This time, he tried to pull his body away to prevent that from happening, but it didn’t go as he wished. His limbs, heavy as waterlogged cotton, would not move according to his will.

Niah only let out soft, wheezing breaths. Even his sobbing had quieted. It was a miracle that he was alive and not dead. The Young Master had saved him.

Orca left him be, allowing it to happen. As he stood there without a word, Pepe could hide his embarrassment even less. No matter how much he thought to try and understand, there was no answer. He had never even imagined a Young Master who would just stand there and let a servant cling to his person.

Pepe opened his eyes and mouth wide, as if he had seen a ghost. Even though he was seeing this situation clearly with his own two eyes, he simply couldn’t believe it. Of course, the other servants were the same.

“Get up now.”