TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 58

“Yeah.” Albin nodded, looking at him with curiosity. “Uncle Edward knows him too?”

Edward glanced at Zeman’s expression and, worried about a possible name confusion, asked him, “The Jacques you mean—is he the gray-haired man in his twenties?”

Albin nodded again, proudly introducing his new family to them.

“Uncle Jacques said he’s a knight, and maybe even a prince. When I was in Thorn City, he was the one who took care of me and Little Black. He’s super kind! If it weren’t for him, we’d only have lived in the slums. He also said that once he’s done with his work, he can take us back to his country…”

Albin chattered on about how they met and recounted his experiences in Thorn City.

“I don’t even know how they’re doing now. That day I went out to find them, but I couldn’t. Instead, I ran into the forest fire and saw Dad, all wounded. That was back in October, a while ago…”

His eyes shone with anticipation as he looked at Edward.

“Does Uncle Edward know how Uncle Jacques is doing?”

But Edward couldn’t bear it and turned his face away, avoiding Albin’s hopeful, glowing crimson eyes.

Zeman was also silent, his scarlet eyes shadowed with some gloom, revealing a hint of sorrow.

He was grateful that Jacques had taken in the young Albin, allowing the fragile child to survive safely in that chaotic, crime-ridden city. He owed Jacques a tremendous debt.

But Jacques had died that day because of him.

If it weren’t for trying to persuade him, Jacques would never have been targeted by the Sun God, and certainly would not have been killed.

If it weren’t for him—if Jacques had never known him—none of this would have happened.

Jacques could have safely returned to his country with the two children and lived a carefree life.

Compared to himself, Albin, who had been adopted by Jacques, might have had a better life.

He had caused the death of his dearest friend, and also the person Albin cared about most.

Even though Zeman had seen through the Sun God, abandoned that faith, and even personally killed a god, the years of indoctrination in the temple still made him feel guilty.

If the Sun God was wrong, then being chosen by the Sun God meant he was obviously wrong too.

He was not a sacred, radiant child of light—he was a sinner, and everyone around him had died because of him.

Albin sensed that something was off and wondered why Edward wasn’t replying.

A subtle unease rose in his heart, and he didn’t dare to press the question further.

He turned to Zeman: “Dad, I want to go back to Thorn City, to find Little Black and Uncle Jacques first.”

“Alright.” Zeman agreed without hesitation.

Sutanlai, seeing Albin’s need, said, “I’ll arrange a driver familiar with the route. Thorn City isn’t far from here—you can leave first thing tomorrow morning.”

Albin wanted to leave today, but seeing the dimming sky outside and considering the trouble of traveling at night in this era, he agreed.

Sutanlai left the room to make the arrangements.

Albin muttered, “I wish we had telephones.”

If everyone had a wristwatch-phone, it would be so much easier to find people!

He had always thought it was inconvenient that this world didn’t have such things.

Edward, surprised, asked, “What’s a telephone?”

“It’s something that lets two people far apart talk to each other. I saw it in a dream,” Albin explained. “Since there’s magic, isn’t there something like this? If we could communicate from afar, everyone could check in safely without running around.”

Edward understood. “You mean a messaging spell?”

Albin’s eyes lit up. “Really? There is?”

Edward shrugged. “Most magic uses ‘Divine Magic.’ You know the principle—it’s praying to the gods. Most are old spells passed down for centuries, because they have a high success rate and are approved by the gods.”

“Eh, so there’s no innovation?”

“Exactly. To create a new spell, one must first convince a god. As far as I know, no god has agreed to allow a messaging spell yet.”

“But Uncle Edward uses ‘Love Magic,’ right?”

“Yes. Love Magic comes from oneself, so it’s more flexible. I do know someone trying to develop a messaging spell, but he ran into a problem.”

“What problem?” Albin tilted his head, puzzled.

“He couldn’t deliver messages precisely to the recipient. He thought of a solution…” Edward frowned. “He thought he could relay messages through the gods.”

Albin imagined the scene:

Follower 001 dials the god: “Honorable God of Love, I am your follower 001. Please forward this to follower 007. Thank you.”

The God of Love taps follower 007: “You have a call.”

Albin immediately thought of the telephone operators in movies.

Ah, if gods had to deal with this every day, they’d probably be irritated.

“In the end, because Love Magic doesn’t connect everyone like Divine Magic, the God of Love didn’t respond, so he failed.”

“Good thing he failed,” Edward chuckled. “He actually wanted the God of Love to do something like this…”

The normally elegant and refined Edward muttered through gritted teeth, “Even I haven’t heard the God of Love’s voice.”

Albin shivered, as if he could see dark energy rising behind Edward.

Uncle Edward was sly after all.

“But there might be some prototypes on his side. If you like, once you get to the Rose Kingdom, I’ll introduce you to him.”

“Okay!” Albin thought. That could be a scientist! Surely a very impressive person!

Edward ruffled Albin’s head. “Looks like these people have a lot to tell you. I’ll go rest now.”

His gaze swept past Padma.

“Thanks for your hard work, Uncle Edward~” Albin waved goodbye.

Padma looked at him worriedly.

“Is he really okay? Should we let Edward check again?”

“I feel great!” Albin raised his hands to show his vitality. “Not only that, I’ve learned a lot of magic in the past.”

The magical power in his body felt familiar. Excited, he demonstrated his skills. The unruly elements danced obediently in his hands.

Seeing Zeman and Padma’s slightly worn expressions, he gave them a radiant smile. “Sorry to worry you, Dad, Padma brother! I’m back!”

He tried to hug them both, but due to the distance, it didn’t quite work, so he cheerfully hooked their arms to pull them closer.

Padma finally relaxed a little. His furrowed brows eased, and the sense of fragility he carried dissipated.

He transformed into a fox, gracefully leaping onto Albin’s shoulder and nuzzling his cheek.

Seeing the fluffy creature, Albin couldn’t resist petting it, scratching the fox’s chin, and soon became absorbed.

Padma closed his eyes in contentment and shot Zeman a teasing look.

Hmph, so Albin likes dragons, huh? Let’s see if you can transform.

Zeman remained calm. Just as Albin gently stroked the fox, Zeman softly patted Albin’s head.

Then he bent down and gave Albin a firm hug, gently pushing aside the pink-furred fox.

“Welcome back,” Zeman sighed deeply. “I missed you so much.”

Albin’s eyes instantly misted, tears gathering. Sniffling, he inhaled his father’s fresh scent, his voice tinged with sobs: “…I missed you too, Dad.”

Once the sour tears surged, they couldn’t be restrained, dripping relentlessly.

Unlike Zeman, he hadn’t seen his father for over a year, living in unfamiliar places, unable to contact anyone at first.

He had suppressed his longing, fear, unease, and loneliness, harboring both hope for reunion and fear of never meeting again, even prepared for his father’s unfamiliar gaze—until this day.

Thankfully, he was back, and he saw the father he knew.

“Dad…” Albin hugged him tightly.

Padma watched their embrace, his jealousy bubbling uncontrollably.

He was glad that as a fox, his expression wasn’t obvious, saving him from showing his ugly feelings in front of Albin.

When Albin’s crying subsided, his eyelashes glistening with tears, he reached out to Padma.

Padma slowly walked over.

“I missed you too, Padma brother.” Albin buried his face in the fox’s soft belly, like a child snuggling an adult, his childish, muffled voice softening hearts. “Did you miss me?”

Even though he got the affection he wanted, Padma stiffened, unsure how to respond.

Jealousy is when one envies things they cannot have.

But Albin gave him hugs, gave him affection—so did he still need to be jealous of others?

His heavy heart was touched by a soft warmth.

He placed his paw on Albin’s snowy white little head, his rose-colored eyes burning with intensity.

“I missed you so much.”

“That’s great! Our feelings are the same, then!”

Albin fussed affectionately for a while, then lifted his face with a trace of confusion and asked, “I miss Jade too. Where is Jade? I’ve been looking for him for so long and haven’t found him. Didn’t he come back to the past with me?”

Padma lifted his blanket to reveal a coiled green-blue snake.

“He was affected by magic just like you, but it’s already been removed.” Seeing Jade still asleep and unresponsive, Padma hesitated for a moment. “…I think?”

Albin, hearing this, anxiously shook Jade.

“Who’s there…?” Jade flicked his tail impatiently. “Can’t a snake get some sleep?”

Albin froze.

Ah, so he was just simply sleeping.

Padma twitched at the corner of his mouth and tapped him awake with his paw.

Jade rubbed his head with the tip of his tail, waking up dizzily. “That violent one must be Padma,” he muttered.

Jade opened his eyes and saw Albin close by, instantly overjoyed.

“Albin~” he wriggled his body. “I finally found you!”

“I’ve been looking for you too,” Albin said, relieved to see him unharmed.

“I thought you all abandoned me… I opened my eyes and none of you were there.”

“That’s because both of us were under magic and went back to the past,” Albin explained.

Jade blinked in shock. “Back to the past?”

“Eh, Jade, didn’t you notice?” Albin said incredulously. “We’ve both been in the past for over a year.”

“I see now!” Jade’s eyes lit up. “No wonder I couldn’t find you.”

Jade was carefree. Knowing that his friends hadn’t intentionally abandoned him, he immediately dismissed the trivial worry.

He cared far more about food.

“I’m so hungry…” He flicked his snake tongue, pouting. “I wanted Albin’s apple pie, but you made it for that person instead.”

“Eh? Apple pie?” Albin immediately remembered the pie he had prepared for his birthday. “Who are you talking about?”

“There was a nearly-dead guy carrying an apple pie. Almost wasted it, but luckily I, the snake, ate it!”

Nearly-dead guy?

Albin’s heart jolted as he fixed his gaze on him. “Are you talking about Little Black or Uncle Jacques? Adult or child?”

“An adult. He smells like you. I wanted to ask him for directions, but he couldn’t respond, such a bother.” Jade suddenly remembered, “Oh right, I stored him in my stomach.”

“You ate Uncle Jacques?” Albin exclaimed.

Zeman’s gaze darkened as he stared at Jade’s slender body.

“I planned to ask for directions, hadn’t eaten yet. But now I don’t need that… can I eat him?”

“No no no! Absolutely not!” Albin shook his head frantically. “Is Uncle Jacques still in your stomach? Can you get him out? After all this time, he hasn’t been digested, has he?”

“I swallowed him using my [Gluttony] ability. Unless I want to, he won’t be digested.”

Seeing Albin anxious, Jade immediately began digging him out with his mouth.

His tail went in, and he rummaged.

Albin’s heart jumped to his throat. Finally, he saw Jade pull out… a sleeping cap?

Huh?

Jade nonchalantly placed the tiny cap aside and started rummaging again.

Albin, forgetting the earlier oddity, continued to watch nervously.

This time, Jade pulled out a small folding chair.

Albin: …

His tension evaporated completely.

He waited as Jade then pulled out a tiny parasol to match the chair. Unable to hold back, he asked, “Jade, how much stuff do you even have in your stomach?”

“Humans have bags and houses, snakes like me store everything in my belly.”

Albin was puzzled. “If you can store so much, why are you still faint from hunger?”

Jade replied solemnly, “Food must be eaten immediately! How could I resist?”

Unlike other animals, snakes do not store food for winter; they only binge before hibernation. So he had no habit of stockpiling.

Finally, rummaging further, Jade suddenly twisted his body, swelling in size into a giant green python.

He then used his tail to pull a grown man, wrapped in a membrane, from his wide-open mouth and placed him on the floor.

“This one.” He peeled off the membrane, and a strong smell of blood filled the room.

Albin leaned over from the bed, but Zeman immediately covered his eyes to shield him from the gruesome sight, while simultaneously casting healing magic on the man on the floor.

Magic particles flew around, radiating dazzling light.

But Albin had already seen. He froze, trembling.

“How could it be like this…” Albin whispered, his voice quivering.

Zeman lowered his eyes in silence. Only after healing Jacques’ wounds did he remove his hand from Albin’s eyes.

Albin hurried over. Though the wounds were healed, Jacques’ clothes were soaked in blood and torn, still evoking the earlier scene.

“Uncle Jacques…”

Seeing Jacques motionless and missing an arm, Albin’s gaze shook with sorrow, tears flooding. “Who… who hurt Uncle Jacques?”

“Huh? He’s not dead yet,” Jade said casually.

“Eh?” Albin blinked, tears in his eyes. “But he was so badly injured and has been in your stomach for so long…”

“I was afraid he’d die and not be able to respond, so I provided a bit of life force. I can’t heal, only keep him alive.”

Jade had no shortage of life force.

Padma looked at him. With Jade’s [Gluttony] ability to consume magic, mana, and life force, which also allows him to shed skin and be reborn, this little snake had grown into a feared high-level magical creature.

Albin’s eyes lit up.

“So Uncle Jacques isn’t dead?”

Jade nodded.

“Jade is amazing!” He lifted the now-small Jade high, full of admiration. “You’re incredible! Thank you! I’ll make you all the food you want!”

Jade had wanted to complain about losing life force storing him so long, but seeing Albin so happy, he also felt joy.

“Hmph, after all, I’m Lord Jade! Such a small matter is nothing.” He puffed up proudly.

“Long live Lord Jade!” Albin cheered.

Zeman checked Jacques’ condition and relaxed.

“He’s in a sort of death-like state. I don’t know when he’ll awaken.”

Zeman turned to Jade, eyes free of caution, only gratitude. “I owe you one.”

Albin was confused. “Why does Dad owe Jade?”

“He’s my dearest friend,” Zeman said gravely. “If not for me, he wouldn’t have died.”

Albin froze, suddenly thinking: “Eh? So Dad, you’re the clumsy friend Uncle Jacques mentioned… the one willing to be harmed by his foster father without escaping?”

He remembered Jacques had mentioned a friend was coming soon.

No wonder he wondered why Dad appeared nearby!

He really is a fool!

Zeman, about to respond, choked slightly. Suddenly, he didn’t want to admit it.

Jade and Padma also looked at Albin.

Albin was baffled. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”

The three who had been through dreams shared a strange look.

The description of a stubborn fool willing to be harmed… sounded eerily familiar.

This is the real fool.

Albin felt completely confused by their gaze.

As the room fell silent, someone knocked on the door.

Sutanlai entered carrying baked apples. He glanced at the scene—the half-dead Jacques on the floor—but showed no curiosity.

Seeing Sutanlai’s sharp eyes, Albin quickly looked aside. Padma had already transformed back to human form, but Jade remained in his monster form.

Albin panicked, hiding Jade behind him, glancing around for words: “This… is…”

“Your companion?” Sutanlai raised sharp brows but showed no fear or dislike.

Albin nodded carefully.

“Then it’s fine.” Sutanlai approached, speaking earnestly. “But don’t let malicious creatures get close.”

He scanned behind Albin, then drew back his gaze, his usual stern expression returning. Carefully, he asked, “Do you remember me?”

He meant from the past.

This time, Albin nodded.

“Of course!” Albin smiled. “You kept your promise.”

“I’ve completed my revenge and become king of this country…”

Albin nodded. “I know that.”

He wondered why Sutanlai suddenly told him all this.

Sutanelle’s gaze flickered, locking onto Albin. “Then… am I qualified to adopt you now? I’ll raise you well.”

He had thought leaving the child with Edward would be safe, but Albin was attacked, affected by the black-robed man’s time-reversal magic.

“Gah?” Albin was stunned.

As a father, Zeman felt provoked.

His cold, sharp gaze cut toward Sutanlai, the air heavy with unspoken killing intent, like a sword pointing at the offender.

Albin scratched his face. “No way! I already have a dad!”

Sutanlai frowned, about to speak, but his aura suddenly changed—dangerous and fierce, like a living beast appearing impatiently before him.

“Little one, are you sure you want to refuse me?”

The voice was unlike anything Albin remembered, but he immediately thought of the fiery-maned lion.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

“Mr. Lion?”

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