TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 18

After breakfast, the carriage set off again.

Albin seemed to have a premonition and tightly clutched Zeman’s sleeve, like a startled bird, becoming particularly clingy.

Seeing him so anxious, if Zeman truly said nothing and just left him behind, the child might not be able to accept it at once, and it could cause some problems.

Zeman, deep in thought, said to him, “I have some things to do, but I won’t be going far.”

Albin keenly sensed what he meant.

“Are you still going, Papa?” he pouted, immediately accusing, “You promised to take me to the Rose Kingdom!”

Zeman lowered his gaze and said, “You can continue heading towards the Rose Kingdom, and I will catch up with you once I’ve finished my business.”

Albin still looked doubtful.

In the wilderness, in the pitch-black night, what could there possibly be to do? It sounded like an excuse!

But just as he was about to refute him, Albin suddenly realized that he didn’t even know what Zeman’s occupation was. He had no grounds for his rebuttal.

All he knew was that his father had a lot of money, knew people from the Gold and Silver Flower Guild, was acquainted with Prince Edward from the Rose Kingdom, knew a bit of magic, but had poor health and never used magic.

As for who his father was and what his status was, Albin had no clue.

This world had all sorts of strange professions, like priests. Maybe there really was a job that required going to the wilderness?

“What does Papa do?” Albin asked.

Zeman was silent, as if it was an answer that couldn’t be said.

“Can’t I go with you to handle your business? I’ll be good and won’t cause you trouble,” Albin insisted.

This time, Zeman didn’t hesitate in his response. “No.”

Albin’s head drooped.

He didn’t understand his father at all. Maybe his father always thought of him as a burden. It seemed like his father had been avoiding him a lot lately.

“I understand…” Albin’s eyes glistened, and he bit his lip, trying to hold back his emotions. “Then… is what you’re doing dangerous? Will you really come back after you leave?”

If they went past the three-month limit for father and son time, would Papa never come to see him again?

Zeman rubbed his head, took off a necklace from his neck, and put it around Albin’s.

It was a golden necklace shaped like a sunbeam, with an exceptionally pure ruby in the center, resembling the “Eye of the Sun.”

Albin recognized the necklace. The sunbeam shape seemed to represent Zeman’s faith. Over the past few days, he had often seen Zeman staring at the necklace, clearly something he valued.

Zeman adjusted the pendant and said, “This necklace has a locator spell. No matter where you go, as long as I’m alive, I can find you.”

Albin stopped his tears and looked closely at the necklace, its unique glow seeming to reassure him. His worried expression gradually softened.

“Mm!” he nodded vigorously. “I’ll wait for you to come find me, Papa!”

The carriage continued westward, leaving the Ryegrass Kingdom behind.

Zeman would sometimes suddenly leave at night. At first, it made Albin anxious, but Zeman always kept his promise. No matter whether they had already left or not, Zeman would come back for him.

Albin gradually got used to it and was no longer as anxious as before.

One day, as the sky darkened, Zeman left again.

It was too late to travel, and there was no inn nearby. Two drivers from the Gold and Silver Flower Guild decided to set up camp for the night and do some wild camping.

They had already received the commission to take this father and son to the Gold and Silver Flower Guild’s outpost in the neighboring country. They were close to the border, and it wouldn’t be long before they arrived.

Unfortunately, it started to rain lightly, and the firewood became damp, making it impossible to start a fire.

The carriage was spacious enough, with rain covers on both the front and back, and plenty of food. But without a fire, they would freeze to death.

As the rain grew heavier and the temperature dropped, it was impossible to stay in the carriage for the night.

One of the drivers climbed a high place to scout the surroundings and returned with news.

“There’s a villa nearby with lights on. We can stay there for the night.”

As the employer, Albin nodded in agreement. The three of them hurried to the villa.

This place was far from the city. Villas like this were usually hunting lodges or vacation homes of local noble lords.

After the driver explained their purpose and identity to the guards, they were allowed in. The villa had a roaring fire in the hearth, and the warmth greeted them as they entered. They also met the villa’s owner.

The owner was a wealthy earl, of average size for a noble. He was currently complaining angrily to his butler, who was dressed in a tailcoat and white gloves.

“This damn weather ruined my schedule! I’ve already sent out invitations for tomorrow’s banquet. If I don’t catch good prey tomorrow, I’ll become the laughingstock of the social circle!”

His butler, a man with pink hair tied in a ponytail, looked young and handsome, with eyes squinted so that his pupil color was untraceable. He wore a pleasant smile, and the curve of his lips seemed practiced.

He leaned down and confidently said, “Don’t worry, you’ll catch the prey you want. I will make sure to cook it into a dish that will leave everyone praising it.”

Hearing footsteps, the earl and his butler turned to look.

The earl leaned on his cane and said with interest, “I heard you’re from the Gold and Silver Flower Guild, just came from the Ryegrass Kingdom? Merchants from over there have come earlier than usual this year. And there’s a child too?”

Albin, looking obedient, glanced at the pink-haired butler, feeling like he had seen him somewhere before but couldn’t remember where.

One of the drivers understood his unspoken hint, took off his hat, and respectfully said, “Indeed, Your Excellency. To avoid making you wait, we set out early, bringing the finest wine and special products from the Kingdom…”

He listed several items and added, “We hope that our goods will meet your approval, so we can stay here tonight. As for the child, I’m delivering him to his relatives on the way.”

These goods were not only their lodging fee but also the taxes they had to pay whenever they passed through different territories. Greedy nobles never hesitated to take them.

The earl beamed with joy. “Excellent! I have a grand banquet tomorrow and need the best wine. Padma, go and arrange accommodation for our guests.”

The pink-haired butler, Padma, nodded and led them to the guest rooms on the first floor.

Albin, curious, asked, “It’s so cold, and it seems like all the animals are sleeping. Does the earl still plan to hunt? We haven’t seen any prey along the way.”

Both drivers were also puzzled.

It was already winter, and many animals had just begun hibernating. The weather was terrible, and prey was scarce. It was rare for nobles to hunt in such conditions, especially when they hadn’t even caught any prey yet and were already sending out invitations.

Padma smiled and explained, “Because the earl’s prey isn’t ordinary wild animals, but monsters.”

“Monsters?” Albin became even more curious. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Yes, monsters are dangerous. All monster meat is poisonous to humans. If a human eats monster blood or flesh, they’ll develop deformities and lose their sanity, eventually going mad and dying.” He smiled kindly, continuing, “The only way to detoxify is through purification by priests.”

Albin gasped in shock.

“How terrifying… But as long as we don’t eat them, we shouldn’t be poisoned, right?”

“Exactly… as long as you don’t eat them, you’ll be fine.” Padma’s smile deepened, though it lacked warmth. “But for ordinary people, these ingredients are inedible, and nobles are eager to consume them.”

“Why’s that? Won’t they get poisoned?”

Albin widened his eyes, unable to understand.

“Because it’s something ordinary people can’t hunt or enjoy, those who can hunt monsters, consume them, and hire priests for purification are seen as powerful and of high status.”

It wasn’t about the taste. Some nobles believed that only by doing so could they show their superiority, their exceptional abilities, and refined tastes.

Hunting monsters also ensured the safety of the territory’s inhabitants, showing the lord’s sense of responsibility and bravery. For nobles, it had deep significance.

Albin suddenly remembered a young boy he saw in the blood-wine pool.

The boy had been tricked by a noble couple from the slums to replace their own child. He had also participated in a monster-hunting activity meant to show off the nobles’ status, only to find out that the so-called guests were actually priests who were there to take him away for sacrifice.

Padma continued, “Also, the monster brought to the table must still be alive to showcase the master’s strength.”

According to tradition, the monster had to be hunted the day before the banquet, killed, and cooked that day. If it was stored too long or purchased, it would be questioned.

“Seems like a death wish,” Albin muttered.

Padma gave no comment, only smiling as he remarked, “Nobles do enjoy their thrills.”

As they continued walking, a baby’s wailing broke the silence.

Albin craned his neck to look. Padma maintained his usual polite smile, explaining, “This is bait for tomorrow’s magical creature hunt. Don’t worry, it won’t disturb your rest tonight.”

“A baby… as bait?” Albin was stunned, unable to connect the two words.

“Magical creatures are highly intelligent and difficult to hunt. When they detect groups of humans, they hide. In such cases, nobles use the cries of a human infant to lure them out.” Padma’s gaze lingered meaningfully on the wooden door. “It’s said that a magical creature’s cry is identical to a human infant’s, fooling them into responding.”

He turned back with a knowing smile. “Of course, once they realize they’ve been tricked, magical creatures usually kill the bait in a fit of rage.”

Albin froze, staring at the door to the infant’s room, his expression contorted with distress.

Even the coachmen looked uneasy.

“It’s the child of a slave,” Padma explained. “A slave’s possessions, including their offspring, belong to their master. This child is at the count’s disposal.”

Albin, growing increasingly bewildered, muttered, “Why would nobles do such things…”

Padma’s perpetual smile dimmed slightly as his fox-like eyes opened a fraction, revealing a trace of coldness. “Because they’re human.”

Still reeling from the shock, Albin followed Padma to their room assignments.

The coachmen shared a room, while Albin, considering that Zeman might visit, requested one for himself.

Before entering, Albin hesitated and called out softly, “Brother Padma… may I join you for tomorrow’s hunt? I’m curious about what you told me and would like to see it with my own eyes.”

“I’m sure the count wouldn’t mind an audience to witness his moment of glory,” Padma replied with a warm smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

Once Albin had gone inside, Padma’s smile vanished, replaced by a cold, piercing gaze.

Late that night, when everyone had fallen into a deep sleep, a small green snake slithered into Padma’s room through the window.

“Padma! I finally found you!” the emerald snake exclaimed excitedly, wriggling toward him. “You’re always so hard to track down. I asked so many magical creatures before an eagle agreed to bring me here. Why’d you suddenly leave the Creeping Thistle Kingdom? Weren’t you staying there long-term?”

Padma glanced at the creature—an old acquaintance—and pressed a hand to his temple. “I don’t know. When I woke up, a long time had already passed.”

“Your condition’s acting up again?” The snake looked concerned. “I heard humans can develop dementia as they age. Could you be getting senile?”

This odd quirk of Padma’s, where he occasionally woke up in unfamiliar places with gaps in his memory, was something he’d long since accepted. Yet, at the snake’s comment, his smile froze, and he flicked its head with a sharp tap.

“Care to repeat that?” he asked with a dangerous grin.

The snake winced, rubbing its head with the tip of its tail. “For a fox, twenty-something is definitely old.”

“Don’t forget, our lifespans are tied to humans,” Padma reminded him.

The snake glanced around the human-styled room. “Is this another target? When do you plan to act?”

Padma cast a sidelong glance toward the master bedroom. “Tomorrow night.”

“Need my help?” the snake offered.

“Unnecessary.”

The snake, unimpressed, retorted, “You could kill all these annoying humans in one go, but you always insist on getting yourself carved up and served as a dish. You’re a total masochist.”

Padma didn’t respond to this jab. Instead, he asked, “Why are you here?”

The snake, momentarily distracted, launched into an excited recount of events—mentioning Albin, their strange connection, and the peculiar, dreamlike visions that seemed to mirror another world.

“Oh, and call me Jade from now on—that’s the name Albin gave me.”

Padma’s polite smile turned mocking. “Idiot.”

The snake blinked. “Huh? Who are you calling an idiot?”

“You.” Padma sneered. “Trusting a human’s words makes you a fool.”

“I’m not an idiot! Besides, Albin might not even be human.”

Padma recalled the boy’s interest in the magical hunt.

“Still a fool.”

He would never trust humans, especially a human child.

Feel free to donate for earlier/bonus chapter releases! Thanks for supporting me and enjoy reading 😀