The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 11

The Symbiotic Relationship Between a Rabbit and a Black Panther 11 (11/75)

Today felt different, more special. Despite the bright morning light, Ahin, who usually never left the bedroom, surprisingly took me onto the carriage.

And soon after, Ivelin joined us as well.

With a loud thud, the mansion’s front gate swung open. Since arriving here, this was my first time venturing outside the mansion, so I felt both scared and inexplicably excited.

‘Wow…!’

The scenery outside the window that Ivelin pointed out changed rapidly.

It was a street lined with towering spires and verdant roofs. Just seeing a glimpse of the city, I could easily understand the prestige of the Black Panther territory, which was ahead of other territories in development and influence.

‘Amazing.’

It felt like the small world I knew was expanding. For me, who had only a handful of experiences facing the outside world, it was such a happy and overwhelming moment.

Hesitantly, I reached out a paw towards the window.

Would the day ever come when I could explore the world on my own, not by relying on someone else? The refreshing breeze felt strangely poignant.

“Now, if you don’t catch the doll, you’ll be eaten.”

After enjoying the scenery, a small doll attached to a string floated in front of me.

You rascal. With wide eyes, I swung my paws diligently, pat, pat, pat. But annoyingly, just when I thought I had caught it, the doll would slip away from my paws.

“It’s because your legs are short.”

“……”

“Fat rabbit.”

Ahin’s movements, stirring the string as if teasing me, were so infuriating.

Ivelin, who was watching the scene from across the carriage, let out a soft sigh.

“Ahin, you were putting him on the plate [referring to the saying ‘being served on a silver platter,’ meaning to be easily manipulated or taken advantage of] this morning too. If you keep doing that, the Rabbit might really hate you. He already has a hateful look in his eyes.”

At Ivelin’s words, Ahin stopped shaking the string and looked at my face. Red eyes blinked between the silver hair that fell over my forehead.

Soon, he gave a twisted smile and replied in a satisfied voice.

“It’s quite a nice look.”

“I see. Rabbit, please continue to hate Ahin as much as you want.”

“That’s good too. It’ll be exciting.”

“Well, that’s what he says.”

Even by my standards, having not met many beastkins [humanoids with animal features], their conversation was far outside the realm of normal.

My annoyance flared up, and I gave up trying to catch it and lashed out at the doll with my front paws. Thwack, thwack, in an instant, the doll transformed into a punching bag.

“Invincible rabbit.”

“This, the first rabbit fighter might be born.”

Ivelin, with a very serious expression, brought his face close. Enraged, I pushed his forehead with my hind paw. Those black panthers had a knack for making me angry just by talking.

“Ivelin, it seems he really doesn’t like you.”

“Oh dear. Rabbit, please understand my delicate heart.”

Delicate, my foot. Ahin, pressing down on my puffing cheeks, picked me up and shoved me into his jacket pocket. Ouch! His ruthless touch showed no signs of changing.

“We’ll be arriving at our destination soon.”

The coachman’s announcement came through the small window connected to the driver’s seat. Judging by the gradually slowing speed, we seemed to have reached our destination.

Soon, after getting out of the carriage and facing a large stone building, my face turned pale. I didn’t have many memories of being outside, but it was a type of building that was hard to forget. The place they were headed to was none other than the temple.

‘No way.’

As someone who didn’t have good memories of the temple, it was a place I absolutely didn’t want to set foot in.

‘Why the temple…?’

While struggling in my pocket, a hypothesis flashed through my mind like lightning.

Occasionally, young beastkins who haven’t undergone humanization [the process of transforming into a human form] visit the temple to receive blessings by having holy water poured on them. Of course, I had gone through that process several times as well.

But since humanization didn’t progress until I reached adulthood, I had to visit again to request a diagnosis from the priest.

It was clear that Ahin had come to the temple to figure out my identity, as I possessed pheromones despite seeming like an ordinary rabbit.

Unable to calm down, I started struggling in my pocket.

“Stay still.”

As my kicking grew more violent, Ahin pressed down on my head. This time, I couldn’t help but resist, so I gnawed at the pocket. I don’t need to go out, let’s just go back. I hate the temple.

I looked up desperately, but Ahin and Ivelin entered the temple without hesitation.

After presenting their identification badges and going through several verification procedures, the place we entered was an ivory-colored temple where a priest was seated.

I only slightly revealed my face from the pocket and rolled my eyes. The murals drawn in various places and the flames burning above the beacons created a sacred atmosphere.

“Grace, welcome.”

The priest, with a long beard over his grayish-white priestly robe, bowed politely.

From the moment I faced him in the distance, I couldn’t think straight. My heart started pounding. Bad memories from the past kept rushing through my dizzy head.

‘This is a terrible curse!’

It was a voice so loud it hurt my ears. What if that priest said the same thing? And what if Ahin and Ivelin heard it? The anxiety I had been suppressing came to the surface.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Ahin took me out of his pocket and placed me on the floor, poking my cheek. When I looked up at him with anxious eyes, he demanded in a slow voice.

“Answer.”

Nod, nod. When I reluctantly moved my head, Ahin smiled faintly and stood up, walking towards the priest.

I watched his back with trembling pupils. His back, wearing a charcoal-colored uniform, felt excessively large and distant today.

“It’s been a while. Three years?”

“It’s the first time since the Beast God Festival [a religious festival for beastkins]. I am honored that Grace has personally visited me.”

The longer the time Ahin, Ivelin, and the priest spent exchanging greetings, the more nauseous I felt. Although it was a bit far, I could deduce two words from the carefully observed mouth movements.

Rabbit.

Beastkin.

At the same time as I inhaled, the unpleasant queasiness I had felt before surged up. The priest’s voice echoed in my tangled head again.

‘This is a terrible curse!’

My throat felt choked up. What if I heard those words again from that priest?

‘Alas, a lamb abandoned by the Beast God!’

When I came to my senses, I was running wildly somewhere.

As something rushed under my feet, the startled priests stepped aside, shouting, “Kyaa!”, “What, what is it?” I dodged the frantically shaking legs and put more force into my feet. The blurry vision changed rapidly.

‘Unfortunately, there is no way.’

Ah, the black panther told me to wait patiently. I broke my promise, so I might really get eaten this time. Even with such absurd thoughts, my feet continued to move against my will.

‘There is no precedent for this either.’

Stop. It felt like the anxiety that had been gnawing at me was rising to the surface.

‘The priest determined it was a curse from the Beast God. It’s unsettling.’

After running for a while, I arrived in front of a large stone statue. The towering statue symbolized the Beast God, the god worshiped by the beastkins, with several animal forms intertwined.

As I stared blankly up at him, tears began to fall in drops. Beast God, why can’t I turn into a human? Am I really cursed?

Questions that could not be answered continued to arise. The statue was barely visible due to the blurred vision. My chest felt stuffy and achingly sore.

‘…Why only me.’

Why. Everyone else goes through the process before they even reach the age of recognition, but why doesn’t it apply to me?

My younger brother, who was born three years late, has already been a boy for a long time. The same goes for my other half-siblings.

I felt endlessly resentful, but even the object of resentment was not clear. As I sobbed, I felt the strength draining from my whole body.

Just as I was about to stretch out for a moment, a large hand suddenly reached out and picked me up. A familiar silver hair fell into my view.

“Hey.”

It was an excessively low call. Ahin, who was breathing shallowly, had a somewhat angry face, not his usual smile or indifferent expression.

“I was a little annoyed this time, you know.”

As he roughly swept my hair, the silver strands soared and then fluttered back into place.

Unable to convey anything, I just struggled to get out of Ahin’s hand.

I didn’t run away on my own will. And I still don’t want to go to the priest.

“Why are you crying.”

Wouldn’t you cry in this situation? I really hate it, let go.

In the end, I bared my claws and scratched Ahin’s hand. Despite the red marks rising on the scratched area, the hand holding me showed no signs of loosening.

After a while, Ahin asked in a slightly softened voice.

“Do you hate the temple?”

Without delay, I nodded more eagerly than anyone else.

I hate it so much. I hate the temple, and I hate the priest even more. As I nodded repeatedly, I glared at Ahin with tearful eyes. And I don’t like you much today either.

“Ahin!”

Ivelin’s excited voice echoed from behind. His neat black hair was sticking out in all directions, as if he had been running.

He hurriedly approached and looked relieved when he found me held in Ahin’s hand. Ivelin, who was panting, put his hand on his waist with his usual expressionless face.

“Rabbit, your running skills are extraordinary. I never imagined you would try to run away from the temple.”

Even in this situation, his solemn nonsense was not missing. Because I had run so much and even cried, I didn’t even have the strength to glare, so I drooped in Ahin’s hand. Ahin, who examined me, turned his gaze towards Ivelin.

“He says he loathes the temple.”

I don’t remember using such extreme expressions. Speechless, I glared at Ahin. His exaggeration was top-notch.

“Oh dear, I didn’t know. Rabbit must be an impious atheist.”

“I guess so. Isn’t it strange for a rabbit to have religion in the first place?”

“Don’t rabbits sometimes pray too?”

“Oh. Interesting?”

A conversation that no one would find interesting continued. Hmm, Ivelin, who stroked his chin as if contemplating, suggested.

“Then let’s go back to the mansion.”

Was it that simple? I opened my mouth slightly, dumbfounded. Ahin, who looked down at me looking bewildered, finally gave his usual unfathomable smile.

“Yes, let’s go back now.”

Going back. Compared to desperately running away because I didn’t want to meet the priest, it was too easy and bewildering of an ending.

“Rabbit.”

Ivelin, who was unaware of my bewildered feelings, stood closer to me, who was held by Ahin. And he reached out and carefully arranged my disheveled fur.

“This Ivelin is not a military officer but a civil officer. Therefore, I would like to refrain from sudden runs.”

“Ivelin, don’t chatter so close.”

“I even respect Ahin’s ruthless side.”

“Zip it.”

“Yes.”

Ivelin, who barely zipped his mouth, led the way. As I alternately looked at the two beastkins who were really moving towards the carriage, I suddenly felt sleepy. The word ‘go back’ somehow made my body languid.

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