TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 72

Upon hearing that his father wanted to be killed before losing control, Albin was terrified.

“No! You can’t!” he blurted out, stomping his foot in panic.

Even if that was his father’s wish…

Albin suddenly froze.

Remembering what Zeman had said before, he suddenly realized—

Dad was in pain.

If he ever did something irreversible, Dad would see himself as deeply sinful, unable to forgive himself, and would suffer endlessly. Afterward, he would only choose suicide.

That was why Dad hoped someone would stop him the moment he lost control—by killing him.

Albin couldn’t imagine that kind of despair. He never dared picture his loved ones dying. Yet the moment he thought about it, his chest tightened so much he couldn’t breathe, as though he were being swallowed by the deep ocean—unable even to make a sound.

If… if things really came to that point, what should he do?

Should he stop Dad?

Should he let Dad die?

Either way, his father would end up in pain.

Albin walked heavily into the room.

Zeman and Edward had been talking, but they stopped when he entered.

Albin looked at his father. The setting sun’s golden light enveloped Zeman, as if wrapped in something invisible and unbearably heavy.

He bit his lip and said in frustration, “Dad’s leaving, isn’t he?”

“Yes.” Zeman didn’t hide it this time. He patted Albin’s hair and said gently, “You already know I’m a monster doomed to lose control. You should also understand why I have to go.”

“If you can accept it, Edward will take good care of you in my place.” His eyes swept across the others in the room. “Moon and Padma too—they’ll all look after you.”

【And me!】 came an indignant voice from the chair—Jade’s.

Zeman’s gaze passed over him, settling on Albin again.

“I’m sorry. I broke my promise.”

Albin’s body trembled. He grabbed his father’s hand on his head, eyes burning. “Dad… are you going to die somewhere I can’t see?”

Zeman avoided his intense gaze.

“If everything goes well, we’ll meet again.”

Albin tightened his grip.

Didn’t that mean his father really might die?

No—knowing how tormented Dad was, maybe before he even lost control, he would choose death himself.

“…I don’t want that,” Albin said in a trembling voice.

“I don’t want that!” he shouted louder, eyes full of accusation. “You made me a promise—you can’t break it!”

He lifted his head, eyes filled with desperate hope. “That thing—whatever it was, prophecy or not—said you’d lose control when I turn sixteen, right? That’s eight years away! Why are you leaving now?”

“I can’t guarantee that,” Zeman said quietly.

The time of losing control was unpredictable and uncontrollable. And the Rat clearly possessed the power to trigger a monster’s frenzy. Since the Rat had already targeted Albin, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t use Zeman’s madness for something.

He couldn’t bear the thought of killing Albin again.

Though he was strong and alert enough not to be easily caught off guard, when it came to Albin, he couldn’t afford any carelessness.

Albin bit his lip again, unwilling to give up. “Then… how long does losing control usually last? Isn’t there any other way besides killing you?”

Edward was the one who answered.

“It’s impossible to predict. Sometimes a few days, sometimes a month or two. Weaker monsters may not harm humans when they lose control, but strong ones—no matter how far away—inevitably cause destruction…”

Especially monsters like Zeman.

Edward sighed.

That was exactly why humans had feared monsters for millennia.

Albin’s eyelashes trembled as he thought.

He looked up at Zeman with determined, glimmering eyes. “Then… what if we tied you up, so you couldn’t hurt anyone? We could face it together—and live through it together. Would that work?”

Zeman replied, “Defeating me is harder than killing me.”

Albin didn’t really know how strong his father was, but remembering the dragon’s form and seeing everyone’s expressions, he could tell—his father’s power after losing control must be terrifying.

“Even if it’s hard, I’ll try my best! But… if I can’t, if I can’t stop you…”

He choked up, red eyes welling with tears as he looked at the white-haired man, trembling yet resolute.

“Can I be the one to kill you?”

He whispered, “I don’t want you to die alone. I don’t want you to suffer and die in despair. I want to help you…”

Zeman’s body trembled. He stared at this child who could never have the heart to kill.

This child only wanted to do something for him—but if Albin really killed him, he’d never recover from it.

“There’s no need…” Zeman couldn’t agree to something so cruel. He leaned down, wiping Albin’s tears. “My existence is meaningless. Death is my only destination. I’m not worth your pain.”

“That’s not true!” Albin cried, shaking his head. “If it weren’t for you, I’d have been in danger long ago! I want you to live! If you just go and die, then I—”

“I couldn’t forgive myself either! If I couldn’t save you, I’d feel awful—so guilty and miserable!” He threw Zeman’s own words back at him, one after another. “So you can’t die!”

Zeman frowned. “You promised me you wouldn’t say things like that again.”

“This time it’s not just talk,” Albin said firmly. “I mean it.”

“You told me to treasure life—but you don’t even treasure yours! Adults are supposed to set an example!”

He turned around, looking at the others for backup. “Right?”

Padma—who also had little regard for his own life—froze, then under Albin’s sharp stare, turned to Zeman with mock reproach and said cheerfully, “Of course. Adults should lead by example. People who don’t value life are the worst.”

【Huh? But Padma, didn’t you—mmpf!】

Padma quickly clamped Jade’s mouth shut.

Albin nodded in satisfaction and looked back.

“If you want to teach me properly, then you can’t just go off and die! If you do, I’ll take it as proof that everything you taught me was fake. I’ll do whatever I want, since you won’t be around to know. Hmph!”

Moon immediately shot Zeman a warning glare, clearly telling him not to let Albin fall back into that mindset.

Faced with Albin’s emotional stubbornness, a mix of anger and helplessness filled Zeman’s heart. It was absurd—but somehow, a faint will to live stirred inside him.

As Albin’s father, for this child—he couldn’t die so easily.

“Don’t go, please,” Albin said, hugging him tightly so he couldn’t move. “Without you, how will I know if I’m training right? I haven’t even ridden Mr. Dragon yet! I haven’t grown up yet! I still have so many things I want to tell you…”

With every word Albin spoke, countless thoughts flooded Zeman’s mind.

He hadn’t celebrated Albin’s birthday yet—their promise before the time rewind.

He hadn’t seen what Albin would look like grown up…

A father’s emotions tore at him.

Zeman slowly lifted his gaze toward Moon, then over to Padma and Jade.

He couldn’t let Albin be stained by his blood. If he lost control early, someone had to be ready to end him.

Of all of them, Moon was the one most likely to be able to do it.

And Jade and Padma could survive his attacks—and, like they once protected Jacques, could forcibly take Albin away.

As he worked through the possibilities in his mind, Zeman finally exhaled.

“…Alright.”

“You haven’t—huh?” Albin blinked mid-sentence, confused. “What did you say? You’re not leaving?!”

Zeman slowly nodded.

“That’s great!” Albin beamed, burying his face into his father’s chest. “Dad, what color of chains do you like? I’ll start practicing right now!”

Zeman: …That won’t be necessary.

But he didn’t have the heart to discourage him. Watching Albin’s enthusiasm, he even felt, for a fleeting moment, that maybe he could endure the frenzy period restrained and sealed away.

He sighed helplessly. “Red.”

Like Albin’s eyes—bright red.

That child truly was the one keeping him anchored.

Edward couldn’t help turning away—but still let out a laugh.

Before dinner, Edward sought Zeman out again for a private talk.

Albin didn’t know what they discussed, but when Edward came out, he gave Moon a long, meaningful look, then patted Albin’s shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up.

“Well done, little Albin. That idea of locking him up is brilliant. Make sure you pull it off!”

“I will!” Albin puffed his chest proudly, showing off the red chains he had conjured.

Since they were made from light magic, changing the color was easy.

He really did start working on strengthening the control spells.

“With Brother teaching me, I’m learning fast! I reinforced the chains again, but Brother says they’re still not nearly enough to restrain Dad.”

Edward nodded and glanced meaningfully at Moon again.

He didn’t know who Moon really was, but Zeman clearly trusted his strength.

Edward trusted his friend’s judgment—and believed Zeman would never risk Albin’s safety.

Sensing his gaze, Moon looked back and noticed the rose and heart emblems on Edward’s body.

The heart-shaped sigil, like a cross-section of an apple—

the mark of the Temple of Love.

“Temple of Love, huh?” Moon said, rare curiosity in his tone. “How’s she doing?”

“Who?” Edward blinked in confusion.

“Laph,” Moon replied.

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