The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 24

Ahin has been taking me around more frequently lately.

Originally, he spent most of his time with Mayme, except for mornings and evenings, but these days he comes to find me whenever he has free time. It was truly a suspicious move.

‘Ash, wake up. Ahin might come soon.’

I shook Ash, watching Mayme at the edge of the training ground. I nudged him diligently with my front paws, but Ash made a pleasant purring sound.

‘This isn’t the time to roll around leisurely, Ash!’

I felt sorry, but I was occasionally using Ash for pheromone practice.

Ash, the test subject, would either stagger like a drunkard or sprawl out and fall asleep when affected by the pheromones. Right now, he was in the latter situation, lying sprawled out on the training ground, fast asleep.

Eventually, I gave up trying to wake him and slumped down with a sigh. Perhaps because ordinary beasts don’t have a defense mechanism against pheromones, he showed no signs of waking up.

‘Maybe pheromones work more easily on animals than on beastmen…’

It was quite a difficult process, but through recent events, I was able to draw two conclusions.

That I might turn into a human if I come into contact with a beast’s or someone else’s pheromones at close range, and that I possess a sleep-related ability.

I hadn’t properly attempted the first hypothesis, but the second one was certain. As proof, Ash, who was fast asleep, was rolling around in front of me. I stood up again and shook Ash.

‘Ash, you need to wake up.’

From the beginning, Ahin showed a strange obsession with sleeping with me. He had already found out that I was a beastman, and he might have vaguely guessed about my pheromones.

In any case, it wouldn’t be good to show him the practice situation. It’s already hard enough to read his mind. Instinctively, I felt that I shouldn’t reveal my cards to him.

“Is he dead?”

‘Why would Ash be dead?!’

I flared up at the outrageous question, then widened my eyes. He appeared. Ahin, who I didn’t even notice approaching, was looking down at me with a bent posture.

“You seem to be getting along with Ash better than I thought.”

His fine silver hair sparkled in the sunlight. I spread my front paws to protect Ash and glared at him with a resentful look. The nasty beast who took me from the bed and banished the real Ash to Ivelyn’s bedroom.

“Try protecting me like that too.”

His whining voice was quite pitiful. I snorted at Ahin, who was pretending to be weak and hugging himself. He should get rid of the muscles on his arms before saying such things.

“Ash.”

Ash, who woke up just in time, greeted Ahin and nudged his head against him. I was secretly jealous, so I narrowed my eyes.

‘Ash, whose side are you on anyway?’

Since Ash was originally Ahin’s black panther, he was naturally on his side. As proof, Ash was excitedly circling around Ahin.

‘How friendly.’ As I grumbled to myself, my body suddenly floated into the air without warning.

“Let’s go, Vivi.”

‘Where to?’

It wasn’t even past lunchtime yet. Moreover, Ahin was wearing a jacket over his shirt and vest, which seemed to indicate that he was planning to go outside. Remembering that the last outing was to the temple, I felt an inexplicable anxiety rising.

“Don’t worry, it’s not the temple.”

Ahin, who had somehow read my thoughts, gently stroked my back.

“Who knows? Vivi might be helpful.”

What does that mean? When I looked up at him with a questioning gaze, Ahin curved his slightly red eyes.

There was no further kind explanation. He snapped his fingers to call Ash and moved towards the main gate.

* * *

I sat on the carriage cushion, turning my head this way and that. The carriage I was in this time was in stark contrast to the fancy one from last time, with rusty interior walls.

“Rabbit-nim.”

As I looked around the old interior, I met Ivelyn’s eyes and made a face as if I had bitten into a bitter persimmon. For some reason, even the fact that his name was Ivelyn annoyed me. He, oblivious to what I was thinking, reached out his hands.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been out. Come here, I’ll hold you comfortably.”

Unfortunately, Ivelyn’s hand was swatted away by Ash, who was sitting on the floor. Ivelyn, rubbing his hand where it was struck, muttered resentfully.

“Ash-nim, you’re really too much.”

Too much? Ash and I glared at him at the same time. The honorifics used for an animal felt unnecessarily unpleasant.

“Don’t I even bring you midnight snacks every night? You can’t do this.”

He wasn’t even upset, but he even made a ‘hmph’ sound as if he was upset. Ash lightly ignored him and nudged his head against me with a ‘Did I do well?’ look. If he weren’t such a huge beast, I could really adore him. As I gently stroked him with my front paws, he made a purring sound.

“By the way, Ahin-nim. Isn’t this outing a bit dangerous? It’s the Endelus region, and it’s practically a stealth mission.”

‘Endelus region? Stealth?’

I didn’t know the details, but the words alone were terrifying enough to make my fur stand on end. Ahin, who flicked me on the head as I tensed up, rolled me around on the cushion.

‘Stop it!’

My vision blurred as the carriage rattled, and I bit his finger.

“It’s better not to be away from Vivi for too long these days. There are lions swarming around the mansion.”

It was a vague answer. Ahin, feigning hurt from the finger bite, gave a smooth smile.

“…My Lord.”

Unlike me, who interpreted it in a strange way, disgust flashed across Ivelyn’s eyes for a moment.

“You were following Rabbit-nim around all day yesterday too. You’re a severe case.”

Certainly, Ahin had been persistently following me around lately. During walks, he would peek out from his office, greeting me with, “Vivi, hello.” Or he would invariably join Valence and me for tea time, saying, “Vivi, I want to go too.”

He even followed me to the study, making comments like, “Vivi, try signing this,” while handling his work.

He might have truly seemed like a beast obsessed with a rabbit. Sometimes, even I felt that way, so it was a plausible assessment from an outsider’s perspective.

“Indeed.”

“It might be rabbit fever.”

“Stop talking nonsense and give me the report.”

“Yes.”

Ivelyn, barely managing to close her mouth, picked up the documents beside her. The sound of thin paper flipping echoed.

“The drug currently spreading around the Endelus region shows various symptoms, suggesting it’s likely for experimentation or a narcotic. Obtaining the drug for accurate analysis would be the quickest approach.”

“Is there any evidence that the source is from the wolf territory?”

“It’s still just a hypothesis; there’s no clear evidence yet. Capturing the initial distributors or smugglers of the drug would make the pursuit easier, wouldn’t it?”

“Since we’re going there anyway, we might as well catch one.”

Drug? Narcotic? I blankly listened to the conversation, alternating my gaze between Ahin and Ivelyn. Ahin, Ivelyn, Ash, and myself—only four of us on such a dangerous mission. And the only escorts were two knights driving the carriage.

“It’s clear that the drug is related to pheromones. Since it has led to the death of beast-kin [people with animalistic features or abilities], it’s highly likely to have stimulated their pheromones.”

“Probably. Especially since the Endelus region experienced an epidemic the year before last, making it easier to smuggle drugs in.”

The more I heard, the less it seemed like something I should be involved in. Feeling like it was a story from a faraway land, I suddenly remembered Ahin’s remark.

‘Who knows? Vivi might be helpful.’

What help could a baby rabbit be in a perilous drug-related case? Mulling it over, I looked up at Ahin, who was pursing his lips. His eyes, turned towards the window, seemed somehow cold.

“Quite a few.”

As Ahin’s atmosphere turned somber, Ivelyn also stopped talking and looked in the same direction.

“They don’t seem to tire. Or perhaps they are the masterminds who released the drugs, now that we’re getting closer to the Endelus region?”

Before I could even grasp the meaning of her words, the carriage screeched to a halt. In an instant, Ahin reached out and caught me as I was about to be thrown forward.

It was an impact I wasn’t prepared for, and if Ahin hadn’t held me, I would have certainly fallen to the floor. What, what is it? Startled, I clutched my chest and looked around.

“Ahin-nim!”

As the outside grew noisy, the carriage door burst open. One of the knights driving the carriage wore a troubled expression.

“We’re under attack by wolf beast-kin.”

“I know. What’s the headcount?”

Ahin nonchalantly handed me over to Ivelyn and picked up his sword.

“I apologize, but it’s difficult to accurately assess the number since many are concealing their presence.”

An attack by wolf beast-kin. Compared to my pale face, everyone else seemed perfectly calm, as if this kind of urgent situation was a common occurrence.

The two knights even climbed onto the carriage as if they were going to watch. In contrast to them, Ahin, who got out of the carriage, turned to Ivelyn.

“Ivelyn.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

An arrow landed with a thud at Ahin’s feet as he stepped outside. Easily dodging it, he grabbed the door handle and slowly parted his lips.

“Don’t open the carriage door until I’ve dealt with them all. And don’t open the windows either.”

“Yes…?”

It was a strange order. Ivelyn, looking momentarily puzzled, bowed.

“I will obey your command.”

Again, sharp arrows flew, thud, thud, several of them.

Suddenly, I remembered when Ahin had been wounded by wolf beast-kin. As I anxiously watched Ahin deflect the arrows with his sword, he smiled faintly.

“Vivi, don’t argue with Ivelyn and stay put.”

This isn’t the time for jokes. Before I could even open my mouth, the carriage door slammed shut.

Ivelyn, reaching out, held me in her arms as I fidgeted.

“Rabbit-nim. This happens often, so there’s no need to worry. Thud, whoosh, bang, and it’s over.”

What’s with the thud, whoosh, and bang? The explanation was entirely devoid of context. Moreover, the onomatopoeia she made only complicated my feelings.

“Um…”

Just then, one of the knights sitting across from me cautiously opened his mouth.

“Attacks from the wolf clan or assassins are common for Ahin-nim. He can easily handle them using his pheromones, so he tends to avoid bringing escorts like us. His pheromones are so strong that it would be troublesome if we were affected instead.”

Is that why they’re waiting in the carriage? The other knight nodded in agreement with the first knight’s explanation and began to speak.

“He even worries about the lives of mere escort knights. Ahin-nim is a person with great generosity.”

The more I heard, the more I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were excessively glorifying Ahin.

Is it not just because he finds escorts bothersome? As I looked at her suspiciously, Ivelyn added an explanation.

“Rabbit-nim, therefore, you can relax until the battle is over.”

Relax in a place where a bloody battle is taking place? As soon as I focused my hearing, a window shattered as an arrow flew in. It was because the old carriage didn’t have iron bars installed on the windows.

“Aaaagh!”

Along with an unknown scream, the distinct sound of metal clashing against metal rang out. It was a chilling noise. Startled, I raised my head, and at the same time, I sensed a subtle pheromone.

“…Pheromones?”

Turning, I blocked my nose as soon as I smelled the scent wafting in from the window. I couldn’t afford to worry about the battle outside.

What if I react to the faint pheromones? If I inhaled any more, I might transform into a human here.

My face paled at the thought.

‘No, absolutely not.’

Not only Ahin but also Ivelyn and the knights would see. If my appearance changes, I’ll be naked, and it’s highly likely that Ivelyn and the knights don’t even know I’m a beastkin. Besides, Ahin once told me to hide the fact that I’m a beastkin as much as possible.

“Rabbit-nim, what’s wrong?”

Ivelyn looked puzzled as I suddenly held my breath.

“Ah, you must have been surprised by the broken window. Don’t worry, the situation will be over soon.”

“The window breaking is unavoidable… Ivelyn-nim, didn’t Ahin-nim order you not to open the window?”

The knights, who were temporarily covering the window with cloth, looked puzzled.

Ivelyn frowned as if recalling the order.

“First, block the outside thoroughly with that cloth.”

“Yes. But… even if you’re worried about the impact of pheromones, this level shouldn’t be harmful to the body.”

That’s true for you guys. My expression darkened as I felt the pheromones already filling the carriage.

Why did Ahin tell them to block the carriage entrance and windows?

Thump, thump, my heart started beating rapidly.

‘Suffocating.’

Shaking my head while blocking my nose, I finally burst out with a gasp. I felt like I was going to suffocate.

“Rabbit-nim?”

As I gasped for breath, I felt a strangely nauseating sensation. It was a pain I was quite used to now.

‘No, no!’

Sensing an ominous sign, I quickly raised my head. My eyes met Ash’s, who was looking at me with concern right in front of me.

A few seconds of trembling gazes passed. It was a fleeting moment.

“Ash-nim!”

Ivelyn let out a rare scream of surprise. Ash, who snatched me from his hand, kicked open the carriage door and jumped out.

The scenery changed rapidly. It was so shaky that I could only see dirt and green trees, and a faint, fishy smell of blood brushed past my nose.

Covering my mouth, I forcibly suppressed my stomach, fearing that my appearance might change at any moment.

‘I… I feel like I’m going to throw up.’

Moreover, I felt like my insides were shaking up and down because of Ash running with me in his mouth.

Before long, the sunlight disappeared, and I felt a cool air. When something hard touched my body, I realized it was the ground and rubbed my eyes.

My vision was blurry due to the throbbing headache. It was definitely the aftermath of being exposed to pheromones.

Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it doesn’t. This time it hurts again. The cycle was as unstable as my unique constitution.

As I crouched down and groaned, Ash, who was circling around me, licked my body lightly.

‘…Where is this?’

It might be dangerous to get too far from the carriage. But it might be better than turning into a human there.

Even in the midst of pain, I raised my head and looked around. Faint light was seeping through the roof of a shabby shack piled with straw.

Is it an abandoned house? I dropped my head back to the floor and gasped for breath.

“Damn it, what kind of monster is that… Huh? What are these guys?”

A strange voice echoed through the shack for a moment.

“A beastkin?”

“I can sense pheromones, though it’s faint.”

Two figures with their backs to the light entered, casting shadows.

Ash, who had his hackles raised, made a threatening growl that I had never heard before. Barely standing on my trembling legs, I looked up at the two men.

‘Light brown eyes…’

The eye color that wolfkin generally have. They must be part of the wolf beastkin group that attacked the carriage.

It seemed they had run away to escape Ahin. Judging that I needed to get out of here, I reached out my paw towards Ash.

“That rabbit can’t even support itself?”

One of the wolfkin, who was observing me and Ash, frowned.

“Just kill them both. It’ll be troublesome if they make a fuss.”

“Ha, yeah. That crazy bastard… he was smiling as he sliced off arms.”

“Wait, what about Damian?”

“He’s already dead, what else.”

The man spat out blood-mixed saliva and reached for his sword. The sound of the sword being drawn echoed in the narrow space.

Panting, I looked up at Ash with concern, who looked like he was about to pounce at any moment. If they were wolfkin who skillfully handled pheromones, and predators at that, there was no way a mere black panther could handle them.

‘Ash!’

As the wolfkin moved his foot, Ash leaped and threw himself forward.

“Kugh.”

The wolfkin, about to have his arm torn off, struck Ash’s neck with the flat of his sword. Following that motion, an unknown pheromone spread out. It seemed the wolfkin had released the pheromone, targeting Ash.

“Everything is annoying.”

As predicted, Ash staggered, unable to properly control his body. In an instant, the sword cut through the air, slashing near Ash’s leg. “Keng,” with a painful scream, blood splattered from the cut.

‘No!’

To be so weak that I can’t even move properly in this situation. I hated myself for being forced to only watch the scene while lying down.

‘Ash!’

Even wounded, Ash stood firmly, blocking my path. As I smelled the pheromones and blood, I even tasted bitterness in my mouth.

‘Please…!’

Swallowing the pain, I focused my mind on the pheromones surging within me. It was uncertain whether it would work like during practice with Ash.

‘Please, please.’

Please. In the meantime, the sword pierced Ash’s waist again. *Thwack*, with a terrible sound, blood splattered on my face.

“His lifeline is quite… Ugh, what is this?”

In an instant, the two wolfkin staggered.

“What…”

The color drained from their faces as they grabbed their heads.

Could it be that my pheromones worked? As soon as I tried to draw up the pheromones again, a black shadow flashed before my eyes.

“Aaaaaaack!”

Ash, who had not missed the opening, bit the neck of one of the wolfkin. Twice, three times, his fangs dug into his neck.

Soon, the wolfkin’s eyes rolled back as he fell backward.

Ash, who had agilely twisted his body, rushed towards the man on the opposite side. He, who still couldn’t control his body, was also pinned to the ground as Ash bit his neck.

“Heu, keuk!”

A groan mixed with a scream echoed. Ash, who did not stop attacking, opened and closed his mouth as if tearing him apart. Accordingly, his trembling hands and feet soon went limp.

Ash, who examined the two dead wolfkin, turned his gaze to me. Traces of blood from the battle dripped from his teeth.

Staggering unsteadily, Ash came to me and collapsed with a thud.

‘Ash-!’

Forcibly moving my body, consumed by pain, I crawled on the floor. I barely managed to move, dragging myself to reach Ash.

The blood flowing from his wounds soaked the floor.

My vision, which had been frantically watching the unbelievable scene, gradually began to rise [referring to the narrator’s consciousness fading].

The moment I looked down at Ash, strands of pure white hair flowed down. Warm, damp blood stained my hand that was touching the wound.

‘Why.’

…Why now? What good does it do to transform into a human now? Ash, who fought by throwing himself [selflessly], looked like he would stop breathing at any moment.

Swallowing the moan, I stroked Ash with trembling hands. Soon, my palm was soaked with bright red blood.

“Ah…”

A cracked voice flowed out.

Hugging Ash and bowing my head, I felt a warm sensation on my cheek. It was the sensation of his tongue licking the tears that wet my cheek.

Who is worrying about whom when you are on the verge of life and death?

“Ash, Ash-…”

The tears I had barely been holding back burst out like a flood. As I groped around for Ash in a daze, I hurriedly shook my head.

Instead of doing this, I had to ask Ahin or Iblin for help right away. At the same time as I came to that thought, I heard the sound of the door opening.

‘Could it be.’

A bright light seeped in from behind, casting a dark shadow.

Hugging Ash as if to protect him, I turned my head. It was highly likely that it was another wolfkin who had come after hearing the man’s scream.

Tense, I widened my eyes slightly. It was because the silver hair reflected in the dim light came into view.

‘Ahin.’

Our eyes met in the air.

Tick, tock, tock, I felt as if even time had stopped. Ahin’s red eyes, which had been staring at me without moving, gradually faded [lost their intensity].

He, who often made me feel uneasy, wore his unique, indifferent expression and closed the open door.

As the flowing air was cut off, the mixed scent of pheromones and the fishy smell of blood stirred my nose.

Ahin, who turned around while holding the doorknob, turned his gaze back to me. A suffocating silence followed.

Finally, a voice that was even more subdued than usual rang out.

“…Vivi.”

* * *