I Became an Evolving Deep-Sea Creature

Chapter 17. Ancestral Spirit

It had been a month since they headed north. The pod of orcas moved slowly, hunting along the way as they migrated.

Nugh, who was leading the wandering pod, had one thing on his mind.

'Isn't it strange? He's growing way too fast.'

He already knew that the cub’s origins were unusual, but Nugh had come to realize that Yul's growth rate was anything but ordinary.

In just a month, he had already grown to the size of a juvenile. Considering that the infancy of an orca usually lasts about ten years, it was an astonishing rate.

'And he has a massive appetite.'

A normal orca would eat about 200 kilograms of food per day on average, but Yul just kept eating and eating—it seemed endless.

It was as if there was a separate hole in his body just for food. He ate twice as much as the others, and still, there was no telling when he'd stop.

He simply stopped eating when he felt like it.

Nugh remembered what Matriarch Lancia had once said.

'Yul is no ordinary creature. Treat him as one of us for now, but decide for yourself whether he'll bring us harm or not.'

Coming from the outwardly benevolent Lancia, those words might have sounded cold, but that was the way a leader had to be—especially the head of a tribe made up of many families.

'He shows no aggression at all. He plays well with Tuania every day.'

The only difference was that he ate a lot and grew fast. He learned just as quickly, too.

He had quickly grasped how the pod hunted and slipped naturally into their formation without causing any disruption.

So Nugh no longer treated him like a mere child, but rather as a young member of the pod.

'At least until I'm certain.'

To gain that certainty, Nugh was taking Yul to the northern regions.

* * *

-No, not like that. It's supposed to go beeeeeeeeeeeeeep—like that.

-......???

During a short break, Yul was training in ultrasonic under Tuania’s guidance nearby.

There were three types of ultrasonic techniques. The first was the ordinary vocal pattern used for communication among orcas.

The second was ultrasonic waves, a method of perceiving the surroundings in three dimensions.

And lastly, there was a third technique — using ultrasonic waves as a weapon.

-It's different from the sound we use to talk. You have to compress it with all your strength at the front of your head.

-Hmm. Beeep?

What he was learning now was the technique of ultrasonic condensation.

It was a skill that released an intensely condensed ultrasonic wave forward. Once mastered, it could knock out a two-meter-long fish in a single blast.

In human terms, it was like letting out such a powerful roar that it stunned nearby creatures.

'What is this, a battle cry or something?'

Yul suddenly remembered a skill from one of the games he used to play. Mimicking that sensation, he gathered all his strength in his head, focusing it into sound.

'Yeah, just like yelling with all your might!'

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

-That's about right! You really do learn fast, don't you?

Swimming beside him, Tuania gestured that he'd passed. Yul felt a sudden surge of confidence.

-Ultrasonic is a technique unique to us orcas. Most other sea creatures communicate through magical signals.

-What's a magical signal?

-Something like this?

Yul noticed that Tuania's voice suddenly sounded... different.

-That's a magical signal. Any sea creature that's reached a certain level can use it.

-Hmm.

Yul searched his memories. Back when he was a jelly octopus, the Turtle Knight Kagan, who had attacked him, had spoken in a similar way. So that must have been this "magical signal" form of communication.

-Hey, you two at the back, why aren't you keeping up?

-Coming~

They followed the call of the other orca swimming ahead. Nugh looked up at the sky, noted that the sun was setting, and spoke.

-Alright, let's rest lightly as we go. Keep the watch order the same as usual.

-Yes.

As night fell, the orcas began their unique way of half-sleep swimming.

'Sleeping while keeping half the brain awake...'

Yul had never experienced anything like that before, but since living as an orca, he'd grown used to it.

Of course, orcas also had what they called "deep sleep!"

They'd take a deep breath, turn their bodies vertically in the water, and sleep that way.

Sleeping in this upright position allowed for a very deep rest, completely washing away fatigue. Sleeping like this for two to three hours was considered deep sleep.

When there wasn't time for that, they would enter a lighter sleep while still moving—this was called shallow sleep.

Their swimming speed slowed considerably, but it allowed them to recover while staying in motion.

It wasn't as efficient as deep sleep, but it was a sleeping method unique to whale species, which must constantly keep moving.

After several cycles of sleeping and swimming, Yul felt them catch a current. It was a stream flowing steadily northward, toward the Arctic.

Riding the current, Yul continued upward until he spotted a massive underwater volcano.

Across the raised mountain range ran enormous fissures glowing with a hue like the light from daylight bulbs, spreading like spiderwebs across the range—almost like decorations on a Christmas tree.

He could feel the water temperature change drastically. Just from a glance, he could tell this was no ordinary landmark.

-That place is where Parang sleeps.

Nugh swam closer and spoke to Yul.

-What kind of place is it?

-Long ago, an ancestral god named Parang was buried there. He became a spirit, resting in Origin’s embrace, completely severed from the world.

-What's Origin?

-It refers to the land of this world. Origin is the name of the earth god, who has existed since ancient times. According to myth, all things in the world were created by Origin’s hand.

Now, come. Let’s go to the shrine that enshrines Parang.

So, it's like a creation myth, Yul thought.

-Isn't it dangerous?

-It may look that way, but that volcano hasn't erupted in thousands of years.

Yul swam toward the underwater volcano with the orca pod.

Even from afar, it had looked enormous, but from below, its depth seemed endless.

When he used ultrasonic waves, he confirmed that the bottom reached all the way to the deep sea.

'It doesn't go any deeper.'

If even ultrasonic waves couldn't reach beyond that point, it showed just how immense this underwater volcano was.

Near the summit, a massive pile of crudely shaped stones had been stacked together.

The orcas entered the shrine. Inside, a vast passage stretched ahead, and the water was noticeably warm—the heat of the volcano seemed to seep through the stones.

As Yul slowly followed, Tuania swam up beside him, chatting quietly.

-No one really knows why we come here for pilgrimage. It just feels like we're supposed to.

-It's called tradition, Tuania. Come along now, let's offer prayers to Parang and our ancestors.

Nemore, Nugh's mate, nudged Tuania forward as she entered the shrine.

-Alright, alright, I get it.

-Yul, this way.

Nugh guided Yul toward where the male orcas were gathering.

There was a separate area inside the shrine—a peculiar space where several stone cairns were stacked. The other male orcas were taking stones from their mouths and adding them to the piles.

-Now, pick up a stone nearby and place it on the cairn. Then pray. This ritual is to express gratitude and to wish for peace. We pray to the god Parang, to the ancestors he took with him, and to the spirits.

Ah, so it's like a memorial rite.

From a Confucian perspective, Yul realized it was something similar to an ancestral ceremony. He was fascinated that orcas even held rituals like this.

Seeing how they valued customs and traditions, they really did feel like some kind of human clan.

When it was his turn, Yul picked up a stone to place on the cairn—but suddenly, a strange feeling washed over him.

It felt like someone was watching him.

'What is it?'

He turned his gaze slightly, looking around, but it wasn't the orcas' eyes he felt. It was something far greater, a gaze that came from beyond.

As he placed the stone on the cairn and closed his eyes in a gesture of prayer, a voice echoed.

-A strange one I've never seen before has come.

-Who's there?

The voice was clear, but no form could be seen.

When Yul opened his eyes, the other orcas were completely still, frozen in place as if time itself had stopped.

-I thought I'd met a soul strong enough to hear my voice after so long, but... something's off.

-A... a ghost?

-I am an ancestral god. More precisely, a spirit, you rude little orca.

Before him appeared the faint, translucent form of an orca—about fifty percent transparent, yet massive and imposing, its forehead exuding a commanding presence.

-I am Parang, the one who dwells in the northern depths, your ancestor, and the oldest of all orcas.

-What did you do to everyone else?

-I merely accelerated your thoughts so we could speak for a moment. They're all fine.

Yul stared at the semi-transparent orca. He had thought this shrine was just symbolic—a traditional ritual of faith among the orcas—but now realized the entity truly existed.

-You're wondering why I appeared before you, aren't you? Well, I was simply... curious.

-Do you have something you need me to do?

-I did, originally, but I've changed my mind. Among all the orcas I've met, your soul is the strongest, which is why you can see and perceive me. But you weren't born holding the fate of our kind—you were originally something... different, weren't you?

-......

It seemed he had seen right through Yul's true identity.

-Then, please just revert things back to normal.

-Really? You're not curious about anything?

-Uh, no, not really.

-Come now! You've met a rare and mighty spirit like me—shouldn't you be asking for something? Like, "Please grant me your power!" or something!

-And if I did ask, would you give it to me?

-Of course not. Why would I? You're not even a real orca.

-Then fine, just put things back the way they were. I'd like to get going.

-Wha-? Wait, wait! Don't be so cold! It's been ages since I last had a proper conversation!

-......??

A question mark might as well have popped above Yul's head. He had no idea how to deal with this unpredictable spirit. Was he a green frog?

(T/N): In Korean culture, calling someone a “green frog” means they’re disobedient or always do the opposite of what they’re told.

-So, uh, how about we make a contract? yes?

-And what would that do for me?

-You'd be able to talk to me from time to time.

-That sounds like something you'd enjoy more than I would.

For Yul, there didn't seem to be any real benefit.

-No, no. Talking to someone like me, who's lived for thousands of years, might teach you something, don't you think? Besides, I can help ease the suspicions of those other orcas around you.

-What do you mean, "suspicions"?

Yul, who hadn't been particularly interested, suddenly perked up.

-I can tell your origin isn't ordinary. You were something else before becoming an orca, weren't you? The others must have their doubts. Even old Nugh looked uncertain when I saw him. But if I show up and clear their suspicions myself, that works in your favor, doesn't it?

Yul thought for a moment before replying.

-So what kind of contract exactly?

-It's a contract that allows us to talk from afar whenever we wish. Nothing special. If either side refuses, the conversation ends right away.

It didn't sound like the kind of contract that involved granting power or anything dangerous, and Yul figured that chatting once in a while wouldn't hurt.

Still, making a contract with a spirit gave him an odd sense of unease.

-Do we write a contract or something?

-The contract will be engraved on a corner of your soul. You seem capable of using your own soul already—observe it later.

-Hmm. Alright.

-My name is Rukit. What's yours?

-Yul.

Yul accepted the contract. Instantly, he felt a sticky, threadlike bond connecting him to Rukit.

He realized the sensation was functioning like some kind of "magic!"

A system window appeared.

[Contract with the Spirit Rukit has been completed. A new 'Contract' tab has been added to the status window.]

【Contract】

Spirit – Rukit

[Mutual agreement contract. The two parties can communicate with each other anytime, anywhere. Perceived time acceleration applies during conversation.]

[No additional effects detected.]

Yul quickly checked the system and confirmed that Rukit hadn't deceived him in any way.

'At least he doesn't seem to have any bad intentions.'

-Alright then, let's release the acceleration and show myself. Play along a bit.

A strange sensation swept over Yul, as if the world around him were slowing down again. The translucent Rukit before him gradually became more solid, almost lifelike.

-Ooooh?

-It’s the ancestor!

Yul sensed the surprise ripple through the nearby orcas as Rukit began to emit a soft, sacred glow.

-I am Parang of the Northern Depths, your ancestor, and the oldest of all orcas.

- The ancestor has manifested!

-This child has formed a contract with me. My blessing shall be upon him.

-.....!

-Ooooh..!

Leaving those words behind, Rukit slowly faded back into transparency.

Yul could feel it—the looks from the orcas around him had completely changed.