TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 47

Because the lion had just said it wanted to eat him, Albin hesitated for a moment and didn’t immediately step forward.

The male lion was slightly annoyed by his hesitation. With a swipe of its paw, it swung aside the iron bars, the metal twisting with a sharp screech.

The lion hooked Albin with its claws, lifting him up to face it, its nose twitching slightly as it sniffed.

【A monster? Why does it smell… human?】

“I’m not a monster.” Albin, held up close to the massive lion face, blinked pitifully and said, “I just understand monster language. Sir Lion… will you eat me?”

【I thought it was a high-level monster.】 The male lion let go of him with disappointment, sounding disgusted. 【So thin and small—eating you would be awkward on the teeth.】

It flopped back into its original position, lazily yawning with its huge jaws, its rope-like tail swaying slightly.

【Bring all the meat over. Just a human child, not even fully grown… is the arena really so short on people?】

“I don’t know! It seems like nobody wants to do this job, which is how I managed to get it!” Albin chuckled.

Hearing that the lion didn’t plan to eat him, he perked up again.

The lion glanced at him sideways: 【Foolish little thing.】

Of course, other humans avoided this job because the death rate was high.

“I’m not foolish.”

With the feeding trough damaged, Albin could only carry an iron bucket into the cage and dump the meat inside.

He made several trips, heaving and panting, until he finally gathered the lion’s full meal.

While he was away, the lion didn’t move. It still lay there lazily, and when the food was ready, it buried its head into it.

The male lion tore into the bloody meat, emitting terrifying swallowing sounds from its throat.

Albin sat outside the twisted bars, hugging his knees, curiously peeking in. “Sir Lion, you’re so powerful—why don’t you just escape?”

The lion looked up at him between bites, its teeth still dripping with blood.

It didn’t answer Albin’s question, only growled: 【You’re not running? The last few humans couldn’t wait to drop the bucket and run.】

Albin looked puzzled. “But I don’t have any other work. They said I only needed to feed you once, no other tasks. So I’m just watching you eat.”

This job is so easy!

The lion snorted lightly. Those people clearly didn’t think this little one could survive leaving here alive.

Albin rested his chin in his hands, continuing to watch him eat.

“Sir Lion, why do you look so unhappy while eating?”

The lion said coldly: 【What’s there to be happy about when fed by humans?】

Albin found it even stranger. It seemed Sir Lion wasn’t here voluntarily, but even though it could leave, it didn’t—why?

Watching the lion’s bloody feast, Albin suddenly remembered the pig blood sausages he had eaten a few days ago.

They were a treat from tavern guests. He brought some home to share with Black, but honestly, he didn’t like the taste—strongly metallic, overly bloody, with insufficient spices.

Recalling that rancid smell made Albin wrinkle his nose.

The lion growled roughly: 【Kid, what’s with that face? If you’re scared, get away.】

“Nothing, just reminded me of something that tasted bad.”

The lion stared at the messy pile of raw meat in front of it, silent.

Albin looked away, letting his imagination wander.

Compared to all the strange dishes in this other world, he still preferred crispy roasted ribs, flavorful stir-fried meat, tender ribs in soup, or fragrant braised pork…

Thinking of it made his mouth water.

The lion frowned: 【Kid, that’s the face again?】

“Nothing, just thinking of delicious food.”

The lion went silent again.

【Delicious food?】 Its damn curiosity asked.

“Lots of really tasty meat!” Albin sighed deeply. “But I can’t eat any now.”

Not just braised pork—even eating meat in general was difficult now.

The lion cast him a disdainful look.

【Pathetic little thing. I see you human nobles get to eat plenty of meat.】

Albin whined but had no way to argue.

The lion elegantly skewered a piece of meat with its paw: 【I’m tired of eating this kind of meat. If you can bring me the good human meats, I’ll share some with you.】

Albin’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

【Of course.】

Albin and the lion made a pact. Back home, he and Black whispered and started preparing.

To make meat taste good, you need seasoning—but in this world, spices like black pepper were luxuries, far out of their reach.

Albin wasn’t skilled at cooking, but Black had ideas and could turn Albin’s descriptions into reality.

Black—the all-round domestic genius!

Albin didn’t dare tell Black he was working in the arena feeding monsters, worrying he might get anxious.

The next day, using the iron feeding trough, Albin prepared a sizzling plate of grilled meat for the lion!

Grilled meat was common in this world—not just among nobles, but in some sun-worshiping regions, commoners also enjoyed it.

Some beef and lamb could be eaten plain off the grill, but pork’s gamey taste was better with sauce. They made some substitutes using sauces and jams—less authentic, but still unique.

The smell of heating fat and the sizzle made the lion’s appetite spike immediately.

As soon as Albin set it before him, the lion bit down eagerly… and burned its tongue.

The lion lay on the ground, tongue sticking out, unable to eat the piece.

“Sir Lion doesn’t seem suited to hot food,” Albin said, holding back a laugh.

He had heard before that cats couldn’t eat hot food, but he hadn’t expected that even the big cat, Mr. Lion, couldn’t either.

“Hmph, I’m a monster! Don’t compare me to ordinary beasts.”

These monsters were originally human—why shouldn’t they be able to eat what humans eat?

He wanted to eat it!

Albin had no choice but to help by cutting the meat and letting it cool, then feeding it to him piece by piece.

The lion sprawled lazily on the ground, enjoying the human-fed roast meat with delight.

He thought resolutely: though eating it felt a little strange, having it occasionally wasn’t bad at all.

He generously gave Albin a piece of raw lamb.

“Mr. Lion is so kind!”

“I do honor my contracts.”

The well-fed lion seemed unusually docile. Excitedly, Albin asked if he wanted his fur brushed. The lion glanced at him nonchalantly and casually agreed.

Albin brushed through the thick mane while stroking the big cat, utterly happy.

The lion drooped his eyes, as if about to nap, and slowly asked: “That flame of yours… is it magic?”

“Yes, it is!” Albin said proudly. “I can do other magic too.”

Thinking of the large chunk of meat the lion had given him, Albin decided to offer some other service in thanks.

He conjured a water mirror and, using illusion magic, displayed various images on it.

This was the television magic he had invented!

But he didn’t know what a monster would want to see, so he just displayed some scenic landscapes.

When the lion saw the grasslands, his previously lazy eyes suddenly opened wide, staring intensely at the screen.

Albin suddenly realized: lions should naturally live on the grasslands, not be trapped in a dark underground cage like this.

He waved his hand, overlaying illusion magic on the floor, walls, and ceiling of the cell, making the floor resemble a grassland and the ceiling the sky.

However, his magic wasn’t powerful enough—the area wasn’t large enough, and it wasn’t entirely realistic.

The lion lowered his head, staring at the ground. His starry eyes seemed lost in thought.

After a long while, he spoke: “Winners take all, losers are punished. I was defeated by humans and bound by a bet, which is why I’m imprisoned here, unable to escape this arena.”

He was replying to Albin’s question from yesterday.

Even if he left the cell, he still couldn’t leave the arena.

“A bet?”

“It’s my ability. In battle, the loser must follow the winner’s rules. Only when I die will the bet be lifted.”

His gaze shifted from the grasslands to Albin.

“Little one, your magical talent is strong. Perhaps one day, you could kill me. I want to die in a fair duel.”

Albin was stunned.

He had never imagined this was a monster with a death wish.

Perhaps, for Mr. Lion, only death could bring liberation.

The lion examined his clear red eyes, then suddenly changed his tone:

“Forget it. You’re just a little one—I could blow you away with a single roar.”

“I’ll grow up!” Albin protested.

He bounced on the spot, trying to prove he wasn’t so light.

The lion snorted lightly: “A kid who hasn’t even killed a person… who knows how long it will take for you to grow up. But I have another favor to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“If a monster dies in the arena, I want you to inform me immediately. As a reward, I can give you a piece of meat every day.”

Albin agreed without hesitation, though he was curious why the lion requested such a condition.

The lion didn’t answer, instead bringing up something else.

“Come here.”

This time, Albin obediently went over.

The lion suddenly rubbed him with his thick paw pads, then licked him, like a big cat grooming a kitten.

Albin wiped off the saliva, puzzled: “What are you doing?”

Was the lion grooming a human?

“This is the ferocious beast section. Occasionally a beast escapes. I’m leaving my scent on you, otherwise you might get bitten someday.” He said lightly, “Don’t think you’re safe just because you can communicate with monsters. Low-level monsters don’t care, and beasts won’t bother with you.”

“Since we’ve made a deal, don’t die so easily.”

Albin smiled and rubbed his cheek against the lion: “Thank you, Mr. Lion!”

But when he returned the next day, the lion clawed at him impatiently: “Where’s my scent? Why is my mark gone?”

Only a faint wolf pup smell remained.

He looked disgusted.

Albin realized: “Yesterday, I got a lot of saliva on me. When I got home, Black said the smell was strong, so I took a bath. I didn’t expect all the scent to disappear…”

Under the lion’s glare, he sheepishly whispered: “But I can’t not bathe forever.”

The lion flicked his tail.

“Tch, troublesome kid. Get up here!”

He lay down, signaling Albin to sit on his back.

Though he hadn’t ridden a dragon, Albin had achieved the milestone of riding a lion first.

The lion stood, and Albin stabilized himself on top.

For the first time in days, the lion stepped out of the cage. He walked elegantly through the section housing other beasts and monsters, displaying Albin on his back like a showpiece.

Wherever he passed, beasts and monsters all stepped back.

Albin suddenly thought of the idiom “the fox exploits the tiger’s might.”

After this “parade,” when Albin passed by the other beast cages again, the beasts no longer bared their teeth at him, as they would at humans—they acted as if they didn’t see him.

Days passed. Living a routine of roast meat, stroking the big cat, and watching grassland scenes, Albin heard that a monster had been defeated.

The arena had two lifts powered by rollers: one for gladiators, the other for beasts and monsters.

Similarly, any dead participant was dropped from the lift for disposal by staff.

Albin heard from other staff that a low-level monster had lost, and immediately informed the lion.

The lion stood up and stepped out of the cage again.

This time, it wasn’t a leisurely walk—he ran out like he was hunting.

His aura was intense, and Albin fell far behind.

When the lion reached the lift, he found him tearing into the corpse of the low-level monster.

The lion acted brutally, his gaze cold, growling to drive humans away, with blood dripping from his sharp teeth.

No one could approach him; no one could stop him. They could only watch as he devoured the low-level monster, then silently returned to his cell.

Albin ran after him.

“Why did you eat that low-level monster?” he asked in bewilderment.

Even if forms differ, monsters are still monsters—aren’t they companions?

Even if there’s a food chain, the lion clearly didn’t lack food—so why do this?

Especially since he asked Albin to notify him, as if premeditated.

The lion lay down as usual, yawning and starting his routine nap.

“Humans are weak, so losing to them doesn’t matter. But I can’t let their bodies fall into human hands.”

In the arena, beasts often died, and nobles traditionally ate them. Thus, the corpses of beasts and monsters often ended up on noble dining tables.

“Little one, I have another favor for you.” the lion said.

Albin shivered.

Before he could agree, the lion continued: “If I die in a duel one day, I want you to destroy my body.”

He didn’t want his body to become a noble’s meal either.

Albin didn’t respond. His lashes trembled as he looked at the lion watching the grassland scenes, occasionally pointing out where to add trees or shrubs. He asked in a trembling voice: “If the arena is destroyed, can you leave and return to the grasslands?”

The lion glanced at him.

“I want to risk everything, to die in a thrilling duel.”

He said calmly: “The grasslands are too far. Dying here or elsewhere doesn’t matter; at least here I have a little corpse caretaker.”

He refused Albin’s suggestion.

“Sometimes you run out suddenly, returning covered in blood. You’re helping collect the bodies of the slaves thrown out, right?”

Albin shook his head: “They weren’t fully dead. I revived them and let them leave freely.”

“Busybody little one,” he snorted. “I just need you to deal with my corpse. Use fire—I see you’re pretty skilled with it. I wonder what roasted lion tastes like… if my meat weren’t poisonous, I might have let you try.”

He leisurely arranged his affairs without sadness.

Albin’s eyes welled with tears, lips trembling.

“…I understand.”

The lion looked at his clenched fists, pretending not to notice, and pulled him closer, curling his tail around Albin to watch the grassland scenes together.

“This patch looks too fake, fix it…”

Not long after, it was the lion’s match day.

The lion, a mid-level monster, rarely had gladiators strong enough to beat him. He usually appeared just to thrill the audience—so today, there must be a major noble present.

The lion casually stood on the lift, while Albin, as his caretaker, also stood there, extremely nervous.

“I heard your opponent is the strongest gladiator in the arena, and he specifically requested to challenge you.”

“That’s fine,” the lion said with anticipation. “If he’s weak, I’ll leave him some breathing room. You always run out of magic after saving people and can’t show the grasslands—annoying.”

The combatants appeared on the lift, slowly rising into the arena, greeted by thunderous cheers.

They looked at the opponent.

A tall, muscular man with brown hair, honey-toned skin, and a mysterious golden mask stood upright. He wore armor and wielded a sword and shield.

Albin felt a vague familiarity. The lion’s aura shifted noticeably.

“I like his gaze—so resolute,” the lion said, his eyes deepening. He left Albin with a message:

“Little one, remember our agreement.”

With that, he lunged forward, striking first.

His blazing, fiery form left a deep impression on Albin’s eyes.