Why Do All the Villains Look at Me Like This? - Chapter 46

Compared to his previous duties of tending to the human livestock used as tribute, Meng Xuexiao found the kitchen work remarkably easier.

Even now, staring at the sliced tomatoes on the cutting board and the juice trickling along the wood grain, Meng Xuexiao couldn’t help but recall the blood that had splattered back then.

It had been just like this, the human livestock’s head pinned to the ground, crimson blood flowing out like tomato juice.

If life at the Alliance Military Academy had been brutal, the Empire was a full-blown horror movie.

“Hey, kid, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly spacing out?”

A rough, beastly paw waved in front of Meng Xuexiao’s eyes, instantly blocking his view of the tomatoes and their winding trails of bright red juice.

It was the Giant Ape wearing a chef’s hat, the same one the Bronze-Skinned Youth had introduced him to, now the kitchen steward.

The Giant Ape’s gaze quickly shifted to the large basket Meng Xuexiao was carrying.

The basket was overflowing with fruits and vegetables, piled so high it resembled a small, unstable mountain. Every so often, one or two pieces would tumble out.

Meng Xuexiao struggled to hold the heavy basket, his energy drained by dodging the giant apes bustling through the kitchen. He could only hunch slightly, pressing his chest against the upper edge of the basket to barely keep the fruits and vegetables from tumbling to the floor.

Compared to the thick, rough basket, the young man’s chest seemed fragile and delicate. A thin layer of sweat glistened on his skin, and his collarbones flushed pink, like damp paper softened by steam.

It looked as if a single swipe of a claw could shatter him…

Why would they choose someone like this as Human Livestock? he wondered. Shouldn’t every job require specialized skills?

Putting the wrong person in the wrong role is a waste of time and effort. Isn’t that just asking for trouble?!

The giant ape’s gaze swept over Meng Xuexiao before settling on the nape of his milky-white neck.

The gentle curve resembled a scoop of milk pudding, smooth and soft, as if it could be molded into any shape.

Human Livestock like this shouldn’t be kept in a crowded, dirty, noisy kitchen, the ape thought. They belong in a more secluded, private place.

The Giant Ape extended an olive branch, “You’ve been here for a while, now. How do you find the work? Is it too hard? Would you be interested in chatting with me privately after we finish today?”

He then gave his private address.

His words were somewhat veiled, but every Giant Ape bustling through the kitchen understood perfectly. You don’t need to see a pig run to know what pork tastes like!

They immediately burst into lewd laughter.

“Steward, so this is your type!”

“I must say, that tender skin has a unique flavor!”

“It’s rare to find such fine goods. Why don’t you head back early today? The sooner you leave, the sooner you can enjoy yourself. I’ll keep an eye on things here, nothing will go wrong!”

The kitchen erupted into louder and louder jeers.

Meng Xuexiao had been bewildered by the Steward’s initial invitation, finding it abrupt and confusing. But the other Giant Apes’ raucous laughter served as a crude explanation. Even if he hadn’t wanted to understand, he couldn’t help but grasp their meaning.

The young man’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment and anger.

Do these creatures even realize they’re Alien Beasts?

Humans and Alien Beasts? How dare they even imagine such a thing!

He finally understood why the Alliance had always despised Alien Beasts. They were nothing more than instinct-driven monsters!

Uglier than animals, more vicious than humans!

Even if high-level Alien Beasts could transform into human form, what difference did it make?

Beasts would always remain beasts!

No, to be precise, calling them beasts was an insult to the very word “beast”!

Trapped among these creatures, Meng Xuexiao couldn’t afford to show his anger if he wanted to stay alive. Forcing down his fury, he replied stiffly, “I’m sorry, I’m quite content with my current work. I’m well-suited to it, so I won’t trouble you.”

The young man pressed his lips together, his rejection practically etched on his face.

His tightly pursed lips only made the seam between them appear more vivid.

The Steward stared for a moment, admiring the sight, before realizing what Meng Xuexiao had just said.

Wait, did this Human Livestock just reject me?

It was genuinely perplexed.

Wouldn’t being a pet be far better than being a slave toiling away at hard labor? The treatment would be a qualitative improvement, and he’d receive so much more attention.

Otherwise, countless humans and livestock wouldn’t have been eagerly watching them for years, all hoping to squeeze into a spot nearby and live more comfortably and freely.

“Are you sure you’ve thought this through?”

The Steward crossed his arms, his expression darkening. “Opportunities to climb the ladder are plentiful. It all depends on whether you can seize them.”

“Even if you’re not thinking of yourself, consider the boy who brought you here. He worked so hard to get you this position, securing you a decent job. Are you really going to throw it all away, now?”

His words carried an implicit threat.

Meng Xuexiao instinctively took a few steps back, eyeing the Steward warily.

In his haste, several fruits and vegetables tumbled from the basket in his arms. Meng Xuexiao accidentally stepped on one.

The produce squashed instantly, its sticky juice oozing out and soaking his pant leg, quickly spreading upward.

The wide pant leg clung to Meng Xuexiao’s calf, clearly revealing the curve of the young man’s lower leg to the Steward.

Fragile humans were fundamentally different from these alien beasts. Their legs were slender and exquisitely beautiful, unlike the thick, sturdy limbs of even the most vulnerable young alien beasts, which looked brutish and utterly lacking in elegance.

The steward glanced at the arms and legs of the other Giant Apes, then quickly averted his gaze with a hint of disdain.

He confirmed one last time, “Are you absolutely certain? Once this opportunity is gone, it won’t come again!”

Meng Xuexiao shook his head vigorously, like a rattling drum, “I’m perfectly fine. Thank you for your concern.”

He didn’t want to enter that “shop” any more than he wanted to stay in this “village”!

“Very well, then.”

The steward seized Meng Xuexiao’s arm, instantly knocking over the basket he was holding. Sharp beast claws nearly pierced his flesh.

Short, stiff hairs pricked Meng Xuexiao’s wrist, leaving it red and irritated.

The other Giant Apes, understanding the situation, rummaged through the kitchen before rolling out a large iron chest. Originally used for storing food supplies, it now contained only a few remaining ingredients, which they promptly dumped out.

The Steward lifted Meng Xuexiao slightly, then thrust the youth into the iron chest.

Caught off guard, Meng Xuexiao’s head slammed against the bottom of the chest, his vision instantly flipping upside down.

Ignoring the dull pain in his nose, Meng Xuexiao struggled to breathe under the Steward’s immense weight. After gasping for a few precious breaths, he inhaled the foul odor of rotting food from the chest.

Meng Xuexiao immediately began thrashing wildly, heedless of what his flailing limbs might strike. His sole focus was escaping the iron chest.

But before he could make any progress, he felt his ankles being seized.

His eyes widened in disbelief.

This was impossible. Even if the Steward was an Alien Beast, he only had two claws. One was pinning his head, the other gripping his arm. There was no way he could have a third or fourth hand!

Meng Xuexiao thrashed even more violently, twisting his neck desperately to see what was happening outside the chest.

Then, he felt his neck being clamped down as well.

Another Giant Ape’s claw.

“Steward, you’re truly blessed! This piece of Human Livestock seems quite lively! If you ever tire of keeping it, let your little brothers have a few days of fun with it, eh?”

The Giant Ape’s teasing voice rang in Meng Xuexiao’s ears.

Meng Xuexiao felt as if he had plunged into an icy abyss.

Now, it wasn’t just the Steward surrounding him, the giants from the entire kitchen had gathered.

He was currently being held by all of them.

In the next moment, he felt the grip on his body tighten again. The force came from the same direction, all aimed at stuffing him into the crate.

Meng Xuexiao finally understood what they intended. They were preparing to pack him up and take him away.

How could they do this?!

The struggling youth froze mid-motion.

But very quickly, he realized that they indeed could.

Human Livestock held no value in this Manor. No one would notice if one or two went missing, let alone bother searching for them. Taking one away would draw less attention than stealing a dish.

Madness! These Giant Apes have truly gone mad!

Meng Xuexiao slammed his fist against the inside of the crate, only to have his back forcefully shoved downward.

Now he was completely inside.

He struggled to turn over, facing the crate’s only opening. Outside, the Steward grinned at him, while the other Giant Apes went to fetch transparent tape to seal the crate shut, planning to poke a few holes for him to breathe.

This feeling… it reminded him of the time he’d watched the cat-catching team from his window, netting a stray cat on the street and dragging it into a filthy cage.

The stray cat had wailed pitifully as it was dragged, its claws leaving deep, heavy marks on the ground.

By the time Meng Xuexiao had rushed over, the cat was gone. All he could find was half a broken claw tip embedded in the dirt.

Back then, he’d wondered how desperate that stray cat must have felt as it was dragged away.

Now, he understood completely.

Just then, the kitchen door burst open with a loud “bang,” the sudden noise igniting a flicker of hope in Meng Xuexiao’s heart.

When Meng Xuexiao saw a smaller Giant Ape burst into the kitchen, his eyes lit up even brighter. He desperately craned his neck outward, like a kitten in a pet store cage trying to get attention.

Could it be they’re short-handed for maintaining the tribute goods?

Meng Xuexiao had previously avoided this task like the plague, but now it seemed like his only chance.

At least someone’s here to get me out of this place!

If the Steward hadn’t been glaring at him so intently, Meng Xuexiao would have eagerly volunteered himself.

Before transmigrating into this book, he had done all sorts of things—maintaining tribute goods, even lifting heavy objects. He could grit his teeth and manage!

As Meng Xuexiao’s hopes soared, a flicker of impatience crossed the Steward’s eyes, “What’s the rush? Can’t you see I’m busy with important work?”

The smaller Giant Ape steadied itself, trembling, its eyes wide with panic, “A noble sent by the King has arrived to collect the tribute goods. The higher-ups ordered us to clean everything thoroughly and put out all the best delicacies first.”

As it spoke, the ape deliberately glanced at Meng Xuexiao.

This was exactly what Meng Xuexiao had hoped for, he had successfully caught the attention of the new Giant Ape. But… why was the ape’s gaze so strange?

The steward immediately understood, “I’ll have this cleaned up right away.”

Human livestock were the lowest of the low in the manor, relegated to behind-the-scenes tasks that were considered too unsightly for public view. Many noble lords preferred not to even acknowledge their existence.

The kitchen lay directly on the path to the reception hall. If a distinguished guest were to glance inside and be offended by the sight, it would be disastrous.

The steward gave a Giant Ape working in the kitchen a pointed look, “Get this human livestock out of here, now!”

Meng Xuexiao’s flickering hope vanished completely.

This wasn’t a savior at all—it was a death warrant, expediting his removal at the steward’s command!

“Understood!” A Giant Ape immediately obeyed.

It shoved Meng Xuexiao’s head deeper into the crate, hastily slammed the lid shut, secured it with a few rough seals, and carried the crate outside.

The ape trotted briskly, oblivious to the violent jostling inside. But for Meng Xuexiao, trapped within, the ride was agony. He slammed against one side, then the other, his body battered by the relentless jolts.

Meng Xuexiao had suffered from motion sickness in his previous life, and after being tossed around like this, a wave of intense dizziness washed over him.

In the past, he would pinch his philtrum and desperately focus on the scenery outside to regain his composure. But now, trapped in the pitch-black crate, he couldn’t even see his own hands and feet. The dizziness grew stronger with each passing moment.

The young man curled himself into a tight ball, pressing against the crate’s edge. Only the solid contact of his back against the wood offered a sliver of security.

Just then, the violent shaking abruptly ceased.

The Giant Ape, which had been jogging with him all this time, seemed to have suddenly stopped.

A voice rang out from outside.

Meng Xuexiao recognized it as a young man’s voice, seemingly standing directly in the Giant Ape’s path. The voice trailed off with a hint of playful hope, “Hello there! It seems one of the tributes for my brother is missing. I’m looking for it now. Have you seen it?”