The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 17

Rabbit and Black Panther Symbiosis 17

“I will prepare some refreshments. Please, rest.”

The subtle scent of aged wood tickled my nose. As Mayme, who had been securing the books with marble bookends, stepped back, I, who had been reading on the floor, looked up to survey the vast study.

As befitting a grand mansion, the study was impressively majestic. An uncountable number of books lined the shelves, row upon row.

‘He’s late again today.’

It had been long past dusk already. On days when Ahin’s return was delayed, my day naturally grew longer as well.

He was late yesterday too; is he busy these days? Blankly staring into space, I refocused my gaze on the book.

「Pheromone Theory」

The book Valence had given me was already worn to tatters. My eyes, which had been scanning the pages, paused at one spot.

「Some argue that if the inherent pheromone ability is too strong, humanization [the ability to take human form] is delayed. As a real-life example, a fox beastkin with difficult-to-handle pheromones achieved humanization at the age of five-」

Flap, flap, flap. The speed of flipping through the pages with my front paws increased. However, contrary to my expectations, there was no further mention of that sentence. Only those two lines.

‘…If pheromones are strong, humanization is delayed?’

This was the first time I had encountered this information, even among all the pheromone books I had read so far. Just in case, I squeezed my eyes shut and focused my mind on the energy swirling within me.

‘Hmm.’

Unfortunately, far from being strong, only fluffy, cotton-candy-like energy floated around.

The fox beastkin in the book achieved humanization by the age of five at the latest, so my case must be different. From the start, it might be a unique phenomenon only appearing in the fox clan.

Frowning, I turned my gaze towards a strange presence I had been feeling for a while.

‘A servant…?’

Recently, the mansion had seen a noticeable increase in unfamiliar employees. They mainly hired many employees temporarily for family events, but this servant kept rearranging the vases or wiping the bookshelves, repeating meaningless cleaning.

When our eyes met, he subtly reached out, slightly distorting his eyes.

“Come here-”

I recoiled, unmistakably suspicious of his clucking tongue.

‘Don’t underestimate a rabbit’s wariness.’

Until now, the mansion’s employees had not approached in this manner, due to Ahin’s position as their food—a high status. Also, Mayme firmly stood guard most of the time.

Moreover, the servant before me had the most cunning impression of any black panther I had ever met. As I tensed up, sure enough, his amiable gaze changed.

‘Ack!’

I quickly backed away, horrified by his sudden attempt to cover me with the rag he was holding. The servant, his expression hardened, blocked my retreat, turning his back to the distant guard knights. It was clear he intended to capture me.

‘No one’s here.’

Mayme hadn’t returned yet either. It was late, and apart from the guard knights at the entrance, only the servant and I were in the vast study.

I waved my front paws to signal the danger, but it wasn’t close enough for those guarding outside to notice. As his hand flew towards me again, I hurriedly dodged and ran towards the back.

‘Why are you chasing me!’

Running deeper into the study, I swallowed hard as I checked behind me.

Fortunately, the servant’s speed was slow because he couldn’t make a scene openly, mindful of the guard knights. Furthermore, I could use my small size to my advantage, thanks to the rows of bookshelves.

I should be able to run around the bookshelf and head towards the entrance. Just as I was feeling relieved, my face turned pale.

‘Wh-what is that.’

A faint light emanated from the servant’s body, and his size began to decrease. Soon, a dark brown wolf, which should never be here, appeared.

My heart sank, and my vision went dark. Saliva dripped from the slightly parted jaws of the wolf.

‘Why, why…!’

Why is there a wolf here? His eyes were definitely red too.

I shouted into the air desperately, but it was a question that couldn’t be answered. Moreover, perhaps because he had released his human form, the wolf’s mobility increased, and he quickly closed the distance.

‘Is this the work of a wolf beastkin.’

‘There have always been frequent disputes between the black panther territory and the wolf territory.’

‘Wolves have always coveted other territories.’

Fearful voices consumed my mind. My feet, which had been running madly, screeched to a halt. The cold night air made my sweat-soaked body feel chilly.

‘No way.’

The terrace. The front was a dead end, with no further way to go. The wolf also seemed to realize this, as he leisurely approached like a well-fed beast, surveying the surroundings.

The soft, suppressed footsteps couldn’t have been more terrifying. My hind legs, faltering as I backed away, dangled precariously in the air.

Ah…. Trapped between the terrace railings, I faced the wolf with trembling eyes. An overwhelming terror washed over me like a wave.

“…Bibi?”

Flinch. The low voice from below caused both my and the wolf’s eyes to tremble simultaneously.

It was a relaxed, languid call, completely unaware of the urgent situation. Who knew the day would come when I would welcome that lazy voice.

‘Ahin!’

Emotions welled up inside me. Peeking my head over the railing, I saw two figures illuminated by the lamp light. Even though it was only three stories high, it felt incredibly distant.

Besides Ahin, a lion beastkin, who seemed to have a bad relationship with him, was also there below. It was definitely the person Mayme had described as Rune Manients of the lion clan.

‘That lion is still here?’

This isn’t the time to be thinking this. Quickly checking behind me, I saw the wolf hesitating, pausing. I peeked my head out again and frantically waved my front paws, requesting rescue.

‘There’s a wolf here!’

A real wolf drooling all over the place. Contrary to my desperate cries, Ahin lightly waved his hand as if to greet me.

“Lord Manients, you should wave back.”

“……?”

“Isn’t responding to a greeting basic etiquette?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

That’s not it! Frustrated, I slightly raised my body and flailed my legs around. However, Ahin and Rune, who didn’t understand the meaning at all, frowned simultaneously.

“What could it mean?”

“……? How would I know.”

“This is why lions are useless.”

“What did you say?”

Furthermore, a pointless argument broke out. Hearing the voices, the wolf, who had been hesitating, flashed his eyes. Licking his lips around his mouth with his tongue, the wolf attempted to approach with suppressed steps.

‘…C-c-coming.’

Even if I faltered and moved my body back, there was no more way to go. Unfortunately, they couldn’t see the situation here at all and were still arguing about what my gestures meant.

‘You beasts, this isn’t the time for that!’

The sound of the wolf’s footsteps grew closer. It was a dizzying height, but there was no time to hesitate. Barely dodging the sharp claws, my body eventually fell out into the air.

“How does a rabbit even greet someone.”

“That kid’s a genius rabbit, so… Bibi!”

In an instant, not only Ahin but also Rune’s pupils widened greatly. They reflexively reached out their arms upwards.

‘Aaaack!’

The closer the ground got, the faster the falling speed became. Feeling an intense fear, my body flailed its four paws, and soon I was wrapped in something.

Nevertheless, unable to find stability, I continued to flail and cling.

“Bibi, wait,”

As a familiar voice was heard nearby, the reason that had been consumed by fear gradually became clearer.

‘…Hair?’

The moment silver hair was draped over my regained vision, I felt my blood run cold. Stopping my movements, I seriously contemplated the current situation.

Stuck to Ahin’s forehead, messing up his face and hair. I might die at the hands of the black panther, let alone the wolf.

“Bibi.”

Ahin, who barely managed to detach the frozen me from his face, frowned.

“Why did you suddenly jump? Did you have a hobby of enjoying thrills?”

Are you the one whose hobby is talking nonsense? Dangling in the air, I wanted to kick him in the back legs if I could. As if I wasn’t the only one thinking that, Rune, who accidentally made eye contact with me, had a dumbfounded expression.

“Lord Grace, don’t you smell something strange?”

Rune, who had been standing blankly, suddenly looked up at the terrace. Following his gaze, Ahin’s crimson eyes darkened.

“…Wolf.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a painful-sounding wolf’s cry was heard from above.

Soon, Mayme appeared at the terrace railing with hurried footsteps. Her expression was uncharacteristically discomposed.

“Lord Rabbit!”

Mayme’s wandering gaze soon rested on me, held in Ahin’s hand. Haa, the breath of relief she exhaled scattered into the air.

‘Mayme…!’

Seeing Mayme, I finally felt like I had escaped the shadow of death. As my tense body relaxed, tears seemed to pour out. At that moment, Ahin’s warning whisper was heard in my ear.

“Don’t cry now.”

When was it that he was singing for me to cry more? Annoyed, I glared at him, and he responded by curving his eyes roundly. His narrowly folded crimson eyes were so vivid as if they really contained a warning, so I bit my lip tightly and swallowed my tears.

* * *

According to Ivelin’s explanation, the wolf that appeared in the study was a hybrid beastkin of the black panther and wolf clans.

No wonder his eyes were red; it seemed he had black panther clan blood mixed in. Moreover, that wolf chose suicide immediately after being attacked by Mayme.

He was confirmed to have infiltrated through a simple temporary employee recruitment process, and late at night, all employees turned back into their true forms to prove they were black panther clan, causing a commotion.

The relationship between the black panther clan and the wolf clan is precarious. Using a hybrid beastkin to attempt infiltration is something unimaginable in the rabbit territory.

Why did he attack me specifically? Was he overly hungry, or was he curious because I was Ahin’s food?

Moreover, such an extreme choice like suicide was so different from the world I had lived in, a distant story like someone else’s affair.

Various questions flooded in, but I was forcibly awakened from my reverie by a hand that stretched out.

‘Get lost.’

Slapping his hand away, the large hand retreated. This was already the tenth time this situation had repeated.

With Ahin and Ivelin out investigating, Mayme and I were waiting in his office. However, the problem was the lion beastkin named Rune, who kept reaching out to me, sitting on the sofa.

‘Why is this beast here anyway.’

Again, ssuk, as the unyielding hand approached, Ahin’s voice echoed in my head.

‘Bibi, if you come back with that smell on you one more time, then….’

‘If you come back with that smell on you one more time, then…!’

Then…! Shivering, I roughly slapped Rune’s hand away.

“It hurts.”

‘I hit you to make it hurt.’

Glaring, I avoided eye contact with the lion clan’s unique golden eyes. His hand, reddened from the repeated squabbles, looked back at Mayme, who was waiting.

“Excuse me. Is this person a beastkin who has released humanization?”

“She is an ordinary Lord Rabbit.”

Mayme denied it in one stroke. However, I was startled because it was half correct that she was a beastkin, not a human, and retreated warily.

Did he perhaps feel my pheromones like Lord Valence? However, I had definitely managed them properly.

“That can’t be.”

Rune, who didn’t give up the pursuit, opened his lips again. It was an overly confident voice.

“I am sorry, but she is an ordinary Lord Rabbit.”

“Ordinary, my foot. There are rumors that she is a rabbit who understands words.”

“She is a somewhat special Lord Rabbit.”

Can’t you answer without the Lord Rabbit part? Sometimes, Mayme is really firm.

“Is he really raising her as a pet? That black panther?”

Rune, who scanned me thoroughly with his golden eyes, snorted. Seen up close, Rune had a listless yet sharp impression, in contrast to Ahin’s playful impression. Faintly, the laziness unique to lions seemed to be visible.

“Well. How would I read the thoughts of a black panther who isn’t in his right mind.”

Last time, he said Ahin was crazy. It’s true, but what status does he have to be able to make such unreserved remarks about him? Rune, who met my questioning eyes, muttered.

“Why would the wolf target that side?”

“……”

“Well, she does look delicious.”

Surely, beasts’ heads must be full of appetite. Otherwise, how could they utter such cruel nonsense?

As if he didn’t care about my shocked feelings, Rune nonchalantly checked his pocket watch.

“With this commotion, the ball might be postponed.”

“Since the invitations have already been sent, it will proceed as planned unless there is a major incident.”

“…Ah, annoying. Can’t I just go back to the territory?”

As Mayme answered, he made an annoyed expression and buried his body in the sofa backrest. If he went back like this, he would be killed by his sister, and Rune’s meaningless lament continued to mumble.

‘Ball?’

Looking at Rune’s curly hair, which was disheveled by the recoil, I could finally understand why the number of employees had increased.

The Rabian family also used to recruit temporary employees when holding balls. Although I wasn’t given the opportunity to participate, if it’s a mansion like this, wouldn’t the scale be twice the size of the Rabian family’s?

Moreover, if other clans are attending, it was impossible to even estimate. Blankly thinking, I glanced at Rune.

“Were you very surprised? It’s not exactly uncommon for other races to infiltrate the head’s mansion.”

A smile spread over Rune’s listless expression, who had misunderstood my gaze. It felt sarcastic, and it also sounded like he was saying something that wasn’t a big deal.

“It’s not exactly a place where herbivores can live.”

“Lord Manients.”

Perhaps worried about my condition after being chased by the wolf, Mayme immediately stepped in to stop Rune’s words. Although the fear of that time hadn’t completely disappeared, I was currently trembling in a different sense.

‘Head…. What?’

Ah. Not wanting to face reality, I covered my head with my front paws and cowered.

Grace Family. Valence Grace. Ahin Grace.

Faintly, the conversations of the Rabian family maids flashed through my mind.

‘The territory is noisy these days.’

‘A delegation from the hyena clan passed through the city. If you cross the Forest of Boundaries, it’s the Grace Family. They suddenly appeared in the village, saying they took a shortcut to get there.’

‘Ugh, they just had to border the black panther territory. The family right there is the head’s family.’

They sometimes gossiped about beasts, and most of the conversations were about the black panther and lion clans bordering the territory. I finally realized the identity of the déjà vu I felt when I heard Lord Valence’s full name.

‘It was the head’s family…!’

In a territory where there is no royalty, the head was practically the leader encompassing all black panthers. Naturally, the grand mansion with several detached buildings and the splendid interior came to mind like a panorama.

Then the head of the family, Lord Valence, means he is the head of the black panther territory, and the next head of the family, Ahin, is….

‘The next head of the black panther territory.’

Let’s calm down, calm down. However, unable to calm down easily, I couldn’t stop the action of turning around and around on the sofa.

“What’s wrong?”

“Lord Rabbit?”

Questioning voices were heard, but they only passed by one ear. Now I could understand Ahin’s selfish nature and his arrogance as if he had the whole world.

‘I heard that beastkins die every time in the Grace Family?’

‘They say the forest is full of corpses. How would we know the world of beasts.’

Turning in place, I eventually collapsed and sat down.

‘He wasn’t just a noble young master, he was the leader?’

Somehow, my vision felt as dark as a black panther’s fur.

* * *