TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 59

Albin, who had spoken impulsively, immediately fell into confusion again.

Why did he feel like the person in front of him was Mr. Lion? Clearly, he had personally burned Mr. Lion’s body…

He grabbed the blanket, his expression tense. “Are you… Mr. Lion?”

Probably quite pleased that Albin recognized him instantly, the lion revealed a flamboyant smile and hoarsely spoke:

“Not bad. This time, you didn’t forget me.”

Albin’s eyes sparkled with delight, his mouth involuntarily curling into a smile. Even his messy, upturned hair seemed to carry his joy, becoming lighter, making the whole world feel brighter.

He murmured, “It really is Mr. Lion!”

His confusion followed: “But… didn’t Mr. Lion already—”

At the mention of his own death, the lion looked disgusted and casually placed a baked apple on the side of the bed.

“Tch, I didn’t expect to wake up again either.”

He held no resentment toward his death, but rather some dissatisfaction at being alive again.

Albin happily hugged his waist. “But for me, being able to see Mr. Lion again is just wonderful.”

Thinking of how Sutanlai had told him how heartbroken Albin had been after his death, the lion’s expression softened slightly. He ruffled Albin’s hair and chuckled, “Always such a crybaby, this little one.”

Albin grumbled in dissatisfaction at this evaluation.

“What about Sutanlai now?” He still couldn’t quite figure out the situation between the two, but with so many people around, Mr. Lion might not want to say.

“Don’t worry. That guy’s fine,” the lion said, pointing at Sutanlai’s body.

The lion hadn’t expected their original wager to play out in this way.

Back then, they had staked everything, but the duel ended in a draw. Since the lion’s body was gone, the wager decreed that Sutanlai would offer his body to the lion, and the lion would transfer all his power to Sutanlai.

This result ensured that both their consciousnesses had to be preserved, so now they shared the same body and the same power.

Albin finally calmed down.

The lion steered the topic back.

“Little one, from now on, we’ll take care of you. Want to be a little prince? I guarantee you’ll have meat at every meal.”

He glanced at Padma and Zeman in the room, his eyes filled with deep distrust.

“Oh, right,” he remembered something and added, “Sutanlai even wants to build a temple just for you.”

“A temple?” Albin was dumbfounded. “But I’m not a god.”

The lion crossed his arms indifferently. “Anyway, most of those messy gods aren’t much. If they can have temples, why can’t you?”

He looked completely self-righteous. What others had, his little one could certainly have too. He wasn’t incapable of providing.

Albin shook his head repeatedly. “No way.”

Facing the lion’s deathly gaze, Albin grabbed Zeman’s hand and enthusiastically introduced, “This is my dad, Zeman.”

“I already have a dad!” he said proudly, lifting his chin with a happy smile.

Zeman stood silently in front of Albin, meeting the lion’s scrutinizing gaze.

He had just placed Jacques on the bed next door, and some blood still clung to him, making him appear even colder and more resolute.

“This guy?” The lion’s aura immediately became dangerous, his gaze full of murderous intent directed at Zeman.

His intent nearly became tangible, the air turning heavy, making it hard to breathe, the throat itching. The small room seemed ready to host a fierce storm.

“This guy tricked you all around, and even if he wanted to hurt you, you wouldn’t notice, just foolishly rushing forward?”

Albin looked confused. “No! Dad is very good to me. How could he hurt me? Besides, I’m not a fool!”

He thought to himself—the fool Mr. Lion described is clearly Dad!

But his words poured fuel on the fire, making the lion’s gaze even colder.

“Foolish deer.”

He was already measuring Zeman’s strength, planning to forcibly take Albin away.

During the time waiting for Albin’s return, the lion and Sutanlai had shared a strange dream.

The dream was vivid, showing their encounter with Albin.

In the dream, after Sutanlai became king, he never found Albin in Thorns City until Albin was about fourteen.

By then, the [white-haired boy] had been abused by his so-called foster father, left weak and covered in wounds, his gaze toward them filled with unfamiliarity.

Whether in the dream or reality, seeing that frail appearance enraged the lion.

How dare anyone raise his little one like that!

Even worse, the [white-haired boy] in the dream rejected [Sutanlai]’s help, with an excuse much like what he says now.

The lion, even in the dream, was furious, flapping his paws. He didn’t expect his little one in reality to trust that “dad” so much!

Foolish deer! Foolish deer! Foolish deer!

He ground his teeth in anger.

Hearing the lion, Zeman and Padma realized that this person had clearly had a dream similar to theirs and had taken Zeman as that “mouse.”

Zeman’s expression changed, and he suggested going outside to talk.

The lion sneered. “Fine.”

He had been worried about acting in front of the little one.

Seeing their tense atmosphere, Albin quickly spoke up. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing, just something I need to talk to him about,” Zeman said softly, noticing Albin’s suspicion. “It’s something I, as your father, should say to him.”

Albin remained anxious and tried to stop them, glancing at the imposing lion. He repeatedly reminded, “My dad is very gentle. Mr. Lion, you can’t bully him.”

The lion sneered coldly.

If he’s a weak little one, he’s even less fit to raise the little one—maybe he can’t even afford to feed him meat.

After Zeman and the lion left the room, Padma followed closely.

Albin tried to sneak after them, but as soon as he opened the door, Padma, already prepared, caught him immediately.

“Be good, rest well,” Padma coaxed softly.

Albin was persuaded back but worried: “Padma, you have to watch over them for me, okay?”

Padma’s eyes flickered, hesitated briefly, and then agreed.

Albin had no choice but to stay in the room. He took care of Jacques, cleaning the blood off him.

“…I wonder when Uncle Jacques will wake up. Little Black, what do you think—”

Albin instinctively called out that name, but when he turned his head, he only saw Emerald swallowing back the sleeping cap, the reclining chair, and all the household items.

Other than that, the room was empty, with none of the familiar, reassuring sounds he knew.

He wanted to hear the sound of breathing, but there was only silence.

His words faltered.

Little Black…

Both he and Uncle Jacques were gone—Little Black must be very worried.

Tomorrow! Tomorrow they would set off and reach Thorns City, and he would finally get to see Little Black!

Albin thought excitedly.

When that time came, he would introduce Little Black to his dad!

He hadn’t even celebrated Little Black’s birthday yet—once everyone was together, he would definitely throw a new birthday party!

Albin was just daydreaming when he suddenly heard a loud roar outside the window.

Curious, he leaned against the window and looked out. In the distance, he saw some flashing lights and huge clouds of dust rising, though he couldn’t tell what it was.

Hmm? Fireworks?

Albin observed for a while. Seeing no sign of commotion, he didn’t pay it much mind.

After some time, the sun sank below the horizon, and the three adults finally returned.

Albin quickly looked them over.

Good—everyone was unharmed. Only the lion had changed clothes; it seemed he had worried unnecessarily before.

He spread his arms wide, happily welcoming them, but the lion scowled slightly, giving him a subtle, scrutinizing look.

“Foolish deer,” he said, his voice firm and deliberate.

Albin protested indignantly, “I’m not foolish! Take that back, take it back!”

“No take-backs.”

Mistaking a big gray wolf for a little white rabbit—no wonder he had been tricked in the dream.

The lion tugged at the still-sore muscles of his face and glanced at Zeman, his expression darkening further.

He had just advanced from a mid-level magical beast to a high-level one, yet he still lost to Zeman.

Though this wasn’t the first time he had lost to a human, thinking that he had lost to the little one’s father made him especially irritable.

However, after their fight, the lion was certain that what they had said was true: Zeman was not the foster father of the white-haired boy from the dream.

The lion believed a person’s character was revealed in combat, and Zeman’s moves were all fair and straightforward—not the tricks of a sly opponent.

As for the one beside him…

He glanced at Padma, who was cheerfully discussing dinner plans with Albin.

The lion snorted coldly through his nose.

This one is sneaky.

After the fight, seeing that he was injured, this one even had Zeman heal him—just so he wouldn’t play the victim in front of Albin—and made him change clothes.

Tch! He hadn’t expected such a devious trick. Clearly, it was this one’s idea.

He had no patience for dealing with someone like that.

Having failed to claim custody, the lion turned to leave, but he had no intention of giving up.

Losing to someone else simply meant he wasn’t skilled enough. Naturally, he would continue to train and challenge again.

He even thought that having a monster like Zeman as a target in the future stirred his fighting spirit, easing his resentment over having been resurrected.

If you’re alive, you should aim to get stronger. The outside world was far wider than the small arena of the coliseum—there were many more powerful beings!

He would eventually defeat him and become the little one’s undisputed father!

As he turned to leave, Albin grabbed the hem of his clothes.

“Mr. Lion, let’s go eat together!”

Having just lost a fight, the lion wasn’t in the mood, but seeing the two other unpleasant-looking ones nearby, he sneered.

What good is your dissatisfaction? The little one just clings to me.

Suddenly his appetite returned. He grabbed Albin, hoisted him onto his shoulder, and strode outside.

“Let’s go eat!”

Taking the initiative first!

This wasn’t a sneaky move.

Albin struggled like a sack, squealing.

He muttered, “Mr. Lion, carrying me like this is uncomfortable…”

“Troublesome little brat,” the lion said, pausing to adjust him so that Albin could sit securely on his broad shoulders.

“Whoa!!! So high!”

Albin shouted in amazement, his view soaring. Being short, he usually had to tilt his head to see others—but now he could see the tops of every passerby’s heads!

An unprecedented perspective!

He immediately grew excited. The lion, affected by Albin’s cheerful delight, complied with his directions, strolling around the streets together.

And behind them were the two scowling fellows.

The lion suddenly felt that the outcome of the duel wasn’t everything after all.

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