TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 19

The next day, Albin joined the hunting party’s departure.

The Earl’s attendants had scouted the area days earlier, discovering a fox-shaped magical creature near the Earl’s woodland. Judging by their observations, it was likely a low-level magical beast. Its pelt was unique, and the Earl planned to skin it for a shawl or collar for his lover.

Low-level magical beasts had strength comparable to ordinary wild animals. Given the fox’s small and weak form, the Earl’s attendants, who had basic magical abilities, were more than capable of handling it.

However, if it were a mid-level magical beast, priests and warriors would need to step in, as such creatures were rarely considered targets for noble hunting expeditions.

Once the fox’s range of activity was confirmed, the attendants and servants had various preparations to complete before the Earl and his guests arrived to hunt.

They needed to set traps, track the prey, and herd it into a designated area, ensuring that the nobles could easily spot it.

Until then, the Earl and his guests would chat and socialize. After all, hunting was more of a social and recreational activity for the nobles.

However, heavy rain the previous night had left the air frigid. Riding in the cold wind felt torturous, with the chill cutting into their faces. The rain-soaked ground was slippery, and leading horses on foot wasn’t enjoyable either. Some guests chose to remain in their carriages, while others lingered in sunny spots, occasionally participating in the hunt to socialize.

The attendants had no such luxury, muttering complaints as they dispersed to carry out their duties.

Albin observed the party and asked curiously, “Is Mr. Padma not coming along?”

“Who?” asked one attendant nearby.

Another chimed in, “The new steward. I heard he stayed behind at the villa to prepare a secret sauce for the Earl. Probably slacking off.”

Once the topic arose, more people joined the conversation.

“The Earl really values that new steward, but Mr. Padma is always so polite, much friendlier than the old steward.”

Apparently, Padma was well-liked, with many speaking in his defense.

“It’s normal for a steward not to join the hunt.”

“I heard he’s excellent at cooking magical creatures and used to serve other nobles. He even came with a letter of recommendation.”

The attendants and servants gossiped incessantly, but Albin wasn’t paying much attention.

He felt unwell—lightheaded, unusually heavy, and unable to focus. Perhaps it was the cold weather; despite his thick clothing, he shivered uncontrollably.

Summoning his resolve, he waited for an opportune moment when no one was paying attention to him. Quietly, he slipped away into the forest.

Albin found one of the traps the attendants had set—a small cave designed as a one-way entry. Inside was the baby, left as bait.

Foxes were highly vigilant creatures. If other traps failed or the fox couldn’t be shot during the chase, they would drive it to this area, where the baby’s cries would lure it into the cave, leaving it no escape.

To avoid alarming the fox, no one was stationed nearby.

Taking advantage of this, Albin picked up the baby and examined it. Thankfully, the child was unharmed, still sleeping soundly.

As he prepared to leave, he turned and saw an elegant, slender fox.

This fox had an extraordinary appearance—a pale pink and white coat, its limbs resembling white gloves. A large tail tipped with white fur curled gracefully behind it.

Its crystalline pink eyes focused on Albin, but the black cross-shaped pattern in its pupils betrayed its nature as a magical beast.

Albin froze, locking eyes with the fox.

Staring—

A magical beast, a fox… Was this the Earl’s prey?

A pink fox… Was it a unique species? Albin vaguely recalled seeing such a fox in the memories of the slum boy at the Bloodwine Pool.

Remembering Padma’s warning that magical beasts would kill baited infants, Albin shielded the baby and hurriedly spoke, “I’m not here to catch you! I’m just taking him away…”

His breath came out in puffs of white mist as he spoke, cautious and sincere. His demeanor made the fox hesitate, surprise flickering in its eyes.

This child had followed them here just to save the infant?

No, impossible.

Humans, even their young, were deceitful by nature. This had to be another trap.

The fox’s mind flashed back to distant memories.

When it was a young fox, its unique coat had caught a noble’s eye. It was captured and placed in a hunting ground, where it was relentlessly pursued until exhaustion.

At that time, a boy appeared to help it escape.

But the boy deceived it, captured it, and killed it, intending to present its pelt to his noble stepmother.

In the end, that boy became prey himself, sacrificed by others.

Humans were inherently treacherous.

The fox gazed at the white-haired child before him with disdain.

Very well, let this child test his intentions.

Feigning a gentle tone, the fox asked, “Where do you plan to take the infant?”

Albin froze, stunned.

“A talking fox? A fox spirit?”

The fox snorted inwardly. This human had already communicated with Jade but still feigned ignorance.

Nonetheless, it cooperated. “I’m speaking in the language of magical beasts. You can understand me?”

“I thought I could only understand serpents, but it seems I can understand magical beasts too…” Albin murmured.

No, that wasn’t right. Jade was a magical beast too. Did that mean he wasn’t a serpent-speaker but a magical beast-speaker?

His initial excitement faded into disappointment.

Still, he answered the fox’s question. “I’m taking the baby to the Temple of Love. I heard they take in abandoned children. If he stays here, he’ll surely die. His father is a slave and can’t protect him, and the nobles don’t see him as human.”

The fox coldly reminded him, “Even if you save this one, others will be abandoned and sacrificed in his place. Such tragedies happen all the time.”

Albin’s grip on the child tightened as his gaze fell.

“I know…” This world was full of injustices he couldn’t understand.

He recalled what Latu had told him: if he became the Holy Son, he could command the entire kingdom.

“If only I could become the Holy Son of Bacchus,” he murmured.

The fox was startled.

The last boy who attempted this had been terrified, desperately trying to escape his fate as a sacrificial offering. Yet this boy seemed willing—even eager—to face it.

“Becoming a sacrifice is extremely painful and carries a high risk of death,” the fox remarked with disdain.

Albin nodded, his expression solemn. “I’ve experienced it before—it was painful. But if I succeed, I can stop the nobles from doing such things.”

The fox glanced at him.

“You’re so naive. The nobles might stop openly, but in secret, they’ll still hunt magical creatures and claim it was ‘accidental.’ The death of one child to a magical creature’s bite will be the same as before.”

Albin furrowed his brows, his expression troubled.

“They’re truly awful,” he muttered. “How can they be like this?”

“Humans have always been like this.”

Albin thought for a moment before his face lit up with an idea. “Then I’ll prohibit priests from providing antidotes! If they can’t neutralize the toxins, they won’t eat magical creatures like you, and they won’t sacrifice children.”

While it couldn’t stop them entirely, it would certainly be a deterrent.

His crimson eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought of his idea.

His face was flushed, and his demeanor seemed off. The fox immediately noticed that he might be falling ill.

“Thank you, Mr. Fox! You’re so smart! Talking to you has helped me realize so much, and I feel even more motivated!” Albin gave him a weak yet spirited smile. “I will do my best to become the Holy Son!”

The fox gazed into Albin’s radiant, pure eyes. Even though he was accustomed to the treachery of humans, he couldn’t detect the slightest hint of deceit in them.

He suddenly recalled the dream Jasper had told him about—this child was willing to sacrifice every drop of his blood and even kill a god to save all magical creatures.

As a magical being consumed by humans, the fox loathed the humans who sought to devour him. He despised how humans treated transformation and magic as mere novelties or amusing anecdotes.

Why hadn’t the curse been cast upon these humans? How could such treacherous creatures even be called human?

Filled with malice, he thought bitterly: If humans love eating the flesh of magical beings so much, they should consume his flesh—and perish!

He hunted these greedy humans relentlessly.

He was both prey and predator.

Thus, he couldn’t comprehend why Albin, a human who had been preyed upon by magical creatures, could hold such kindhearted intentions.

In his heart, Jasper’s dream seemed absurd—a child like this would surely harbor hatred for magical beings, just as he himself loathed humans.

But when he looked into this child’s clear eyes, he began to wonder if it wasn’t all false.

On one hand, he found himself subtly believing Jasper’s words. On the other, he simply couldn’t trust humans.

As Albin bent down to leave the small cavern, the fox blocked his way.

“Do you want to take me with you? I’m very weak right now. You’d be better off handing me over to that noble. That way, the baby could survive, and the noble would reward you.” The fox feigned a limp, lying down to show that he was injured and posed no threat.

“Or you could hand me over to the priest. My fur would fetch a high price, ensuring you a lifetime of comfort. Maybe you’d even get to taste my meat. The priest could purify the poison for you. It’s a delicacy only nobles enjoy. If I were to be eaten, I’d rather it be by you than those detestable nobles.”

He kept trying to provoke Albin’s hatred toward magical beings.

Albin gently set the baby down and leaned in toward him.

The fox sneered inwardly.

As expected, humans are all the same.

“Are you hurt?” Albin frantically examined his leg. “Where?”

He looked at the fox’s supposedly injured leg but saw no obvious wounds.

“Is it broken?” When the fox nodded, Albin used what little first-aid knowledge he had from elementary school. Ignoring the cold, he untied the red scarf around his neck and wrapped it around the fox’s leg as a splint.

The scarf was far too long and thick, and the fox’s front right leg ended up bundled like a giant rice dumpling—bigger than the fox’s head.

Albin was quite satisfied, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He earnestly advised, “You’re so clever; you probably won’t get caught, right? Take good care of your injury! The elders say it takes a hundred days to heal bones and tendons. Don’t be so pessimistic—your fur is beautiful because you’re alive!”

The fox, now immobilized and unexpectedly lectured: …

Did he not hear a word I said? Not even a little?

I’m a magical creature—who binds up the wounds of magical creatures?!

Although the fox still didn’t want to trust humans, a thought faintly arose from deep within.

—If only he had met this child back then.

Perhaps he wouldn’t have been deceived.

Just as this thought emerged, an image suddenly flashed in his mind.

He saw, from a first-person perspective, Albin nervously clutching his clothes, yet with a resolute expression, as if determined to do something.

The fox was perplexed. Had he met this child before?

Was it the past? The future? Or perhaps, like Jasper, just a dream?

While he was lost in thought, Albin picked up the baby again.

“By the way, Mr. Fox,” Albin asked as if remembering something, “since you live in this forest, have you seen a long-haired man with white hair and red eyes? That’s my father. He went into the forest last night, but it started pouring rain not long after. I don’t know what’s happened to him.”

The fox looked up and replied, “I haven’t seen him.”

Albin nodded, disappointed.

“Goodbye then, Mr. Fox.” Holding the baby in both hands, Albin couldn’t wave, so he tilted his head and winked at the fox.

Albin began walking in the opposite direction of the hunting party, planning to secretly take the baby away.

The fox watched him leave, scanning the area for any sign of other humans but sensing none.

He stared at the red scarf on his front leg, feeling strangely unsettled—as if disappointed by the lack of deception.

Was the boy truly here just to save the baby?

Gritting his teeth, the fox quietly followed him.

This has to be a trap!

The ambush must be up ahead!

Albin clearly didn’t know the way, wandering aimlessly deeper into the forest, far from human paths.

His steps grew unsteady, his breathing increasingly labored.

He recalled a crude map in his mind and struggled to move forward based on memory.

He had already arranged for a coachman to meet him. He just needed to leave the forest.

Just a little farther…

When the trees ahead thinned, Albin quickened his pace in excitement. But as he stepped out of the forest, he tripped on a stone and nearly fell.

The stone was kicked aside as he steadied himself and surveyed his surroundings.

The clearing was not the rendezvous point he had expected but a massive cavern.

Focusing his gaze, he looked ahead.

And he saw a dragon.

A magical dragon—silver-white with blood-red, starry eyes.

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