TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 71

Albin was like a little lamb, full of energy, cheerfully running and jumping as he dashed straight into Zeman’s arms with a bright smile.

He wrapped his arms tightly around Zeman, as if afraid he might slip away again, and tilted his face up from the embrace, those clever red eyes watching Zeman’s every move—

as though at the slightest sign of something wrong, he’d once again stubbornly bind Zeman with chains.

Zeman watched Albin running toward him, saw that pure, untainted face—and in his mind, another image flickered: the same child, drenched in blood.

That wasn’t a dream. That wasn’t someone else.

That was his Albin, truly and painfully real.

His heart gave a violent twist, a sharp ache spreading through him. He drifted for a second before the warmth of that solid hug pulled him back to reality.

That vivid, living breath felt like a bonfire suddenly flaring before his frozen body—burning, unreal, and irresistibly inviting.

Zeman slowly reached out, carefully returning the embrace. He cast a spell of silence and a barrier around them, wanting to savor this moment alone.

No stench of blood.

No gaping wounds.

“Albin…” he murmured softly.

He still remembered—in that dream, after he had desperately used magic to patch up Albin’s wounds, no matter how he called out, the boy never responded.

The warm blood that should have been flowing inside Albin had fused into him instead, leaving the child’s body cold and still.

“Dad?” Albin’s voice pulled him back.

Zeman’s heart stopped for a beat—then began to race violently.

He shouldn’t respond to that word. He had no right to be called a father by this child.

But as his fingers brushed the boy’s soft white hair, his lips trembled, and greedily—he answered anyway.

“…Mm.”

Albin beamed. “Brother already told me everything! And I know now that Daddy is Mr. Dragon!”

Zeman lowered his gaze, his calm breath faltering—like a man awaiting his final judgment.

“Ugh! You should’ve told me sooner!” Albin puffed out his cheeks, lifting his chin to scold him with mock anger. “Daddy’s so mean! I liked Mr. Dragon so much, and you hid it from me!”

He sounded like a child accusing someone of keeping a fun toy to themselves.

A flicker of surprise passed through Zeman’s crimson eyes.

In a hoarse, brittle voice, he said, “I killed you.”

“I know.” Albin tilted his head, confused why he was repeating it. “But that was because Daddy fell into a trap and lost control.”

Zeman rasped, “You don’t hate me? You’re not afraid of me? Even if I was out of control—I killed so many people.”

“I can’t speak for those people,” Albin said seriously, “but to me, I don’t hate you at all. I’m not scared either. If I became a monster and lost control and killed Daddy, would you hate me?”

“Of course not,” Zeman said without hesitation. His voice grew solemn. “I would never let you become that.”

Albin smiled. “Me too! No matter if what Brother said was prophecy or whatever, I’ll never hate Daddy for it. I’ll just work hard with you to stop it.”

Zeman stared at him silently.

It was precisely to stop him that the boy had…

“Even if helping me means you might die because—”

“I’d still be happy to help you!” Albin cut him off without hesitation.

Zeman’s expression suddenly turned cold. Anger rose in him.

He knew this was Albin’s nature—but he couldn’t help being angry. Angry that Albin valued his own life so little.

“No,” he said sharply. “That would not make me happy.”

“Do you know what happened after you died?”

Albin shook his head. “Brother didn’t tell me—he said he didn’t know.”

“Then I’ll tell you,” Zeman said coldly. “You did help me. I truly stopped losing control. But I still died.”

Albin froze. His voice trembled. “Why?”

He hurriedly guessed, “Was it because of something wrong with your body?”

“No,” Zeman said. “I killed myself.”

Albin was completely stunned.

The word suicide was too foreign, too far from his understanding. His mind went blank.

“H-how could that be?”

He couldn’t link that word with anyone he knew. He looked up, eyes wide and wet with confusion and fear. “Why would Daddy do that? Was it because of the people you hurt when you lost control?”

“That was part of it,” Zeman admitted quietly. “I had to atone for what I’d done.”

He knelt slightly, lifting Albin’s tearful face and gently wiping the corners of his eyes with his thumb.

“But another reason is—because I killed you.”

“I…” Albin faltered, panic rising. “Then—then didn’t I forgive Daddy?”

“No, you never hated me.” Zeman lowered his eyes, staring at his right middle finger. The slender, pale hand was bare—but in the dream, the Godslaying Spear had become a ring that encircled that finger, the one that had taken the boy’s life.

He knew very well that the white-haired boy in that dream had never hated him. Even dying, Albin had offered him his blood and the spear—to let him live.

But…

“From the day I became a monster, my death was already sealed. I did things that can never be forgiven. I hurt you. I killed you. I lost you. Even if you can forgive me—I can’t forgive myself.”

He would live for Albin’s wish, carry out what Albin hoped for—but he would never escape that shadow. Sooner or later, he would choose death and meet his destined end.

Zeman gazed at the small boy before him and said softly,

“Albin, remember this: if you are ever hurt or killed because of me—I will die in agony.”

Albin was frightened. His whole body trembled as tears streamed down his face.

“It shouldn’t be like that… I saved Daddy because I wanted you to live! If you died, that’d just make it meaningless!”

Zeman knew his words were cruel to a child—but he had to correct that self-sacrificing mindset.

“Yes. So don’t waste your life on someone like me—it’s not worth it. Protect yourself. Never hurt yourself for anyone. Only if you live can you save more people.”

“If you can stay safe—then whether I live or die, I’ll be at peace.”

He sighed and added, “And don’t ever say things that put yourself in danger. If you’re hurt because of me, I’ll only feel guilt and pain.”

Albin hurriedly nodded through tears. “I won’t say that again!”

Just then, the barrier around them shattered with a thunderous crack—Moon burst in, seeing his younger brother’s tear-streaked face, and turned to Zeman with a glare full of killing intent.

“What did you do?!”

Albin quickly wiped his tears and grabbed Moon’s arm. “Brother, I’m okay! Daddy didn’t bully me!”

Seeing Moon’s expression darken, he hurried to pull him outside, separating the two of them.

In the corridor, Moon caught his brother’s arm, its skin rubbed red, and used a gentle flow of water to clean away the tear marks on Albin’s face.

“What did he say to you?”

Still caught up in Zeman’s words, Albin sniffled and tugged at Moon’s clothes, mumbling, “Brother… what did you think when I died?”

He’d always believed that saving everyone was good—even if it meant dying himself. But Zeman’s words had shaken that belief.

Moon froze, then said slowly, “I wondered why it wasn’t me who died that day. Why did I take you out that day? Why didn’t I protect you? …I was afraid you’d be cold in the afterlife. I wanted to find you.”

Albin clutched his clothes tighter, voice trembling. “That’s just dying! Why? You were still young—you didn’t get hurt like Dad did—you could’ve lived a good life! There are still so many people who care about you!”

This wasn’t what he expected to hear at all.

Moon’s amethyst eyes locked onto him, his tone deep.

“Because you are my everything. You mean more to me than life itself. Losing you meant losing everything—including my will to live.”

Albin’s tears fell harder. He was touched—but also terrified.

If his brother weren’t a god here, then after he died, wouldn’t Moon have killed himself? He wouldn’t have known—would’ve foolishly believed Moon was still alive and well.

“No…” he sobbed, burying his face in Moon’s shoulder. “Brother, you’re important to me too. I don’t want you to die. I don’t want Daddy to die. I’ll protect myself and won’t get hurt.”

Moon’s heart ached, but he felt relieved. He patted his brother’s back gently. “Good. As long as you’re here, I’ll live.”

Albin clung tighter. “Even if I’m not, you still have to live, okay?”

Moon murmured a faint “mm” in reply.

Albin finally relaxed a little. As Moon helped him calm down, his face clouded again in worry.

Moon asked what was troubling him.

Albin frowned. “After hearing what Daddy said, I feel like he won’t stay with me anymore. Brother… is there any way to stop Daddy from losing control? Whether he hurts me or someone else, it’ll make him suffer.”

Thinking of how Zeman called himself a monster made Albin’s heart ache.

“The curse-breaking method—he’s still working on it,” Moon said after a pause. “But until then… the only way to stop him from hurting anyone is to kill him first. And that’s what he wants.”

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