The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 25

The symbiotic relationship between the rabbit and the black panther 25 (25/75)

The day I first met Bibi was, inevitably, the day that the idiotic wolf clan, who were always after Ahin’s life, followed him again. No matter how barren their territory was and how anxious they were, their recent behavior was too much.

As he entered the forest bordering the rabbit territory to make it easier to deal with them, sure enough, a dozen wolf beastmen rushed at him from behind.

Turning them into corpses in a few moves wasn’t that difficult. Ahin, standing in the center of the pile of corpses, rotated his stiff shoulders.

‘Ivelin is…’

A blatant sneer hung on his lips. Ivelin, who consistently called himself a civil official, greatly disliked fighting, as he claimed. Therefore, as soon as the wolf clan appeared, the last thing Ahin saw was his imposing figure climbing into the carriage.

‘My esteemed Ahin, I wish you a safe return.’

A subordinate who even greeted his master before running away. Sometimes, Ahin wondered if Ivelin had hundreds of necks. Thinking of him, Ahin decided to throw Ivelin into the middle of the wolf clan next time.

“Anyway…. The higher-ups have no compassion.”

“Isn’t that nothing new to be surprised about.”

While sheathing his sword, he heard whispering voices. Their presence was noisy and not quiet.

At their presence, Ash and the black panthers, who were circling around, reflexively bared their fangs. Ahin, holding out his hand to stop them, followed them leisurely, keeping a certain distance.

“Hey, aren’t we too far from the territory border?”

As he approached, the conversation became clearer.

“We need to put it deep enough to avoid any trouble later. They ordered us to make sure they die at the hands of the black panthers.”

They trespassed the border and wanted to die at the hands of the black panthers. He wouldn’t have to show mercy as they wished. Ahin chuckled and drew the sword from his waist. Clang, the noise of metal friction echoed.

“What’s that sound?”

The beastman who recognized him turned his head, and the blade reflected in the light flashed.

“Aaaaaaack!”

“Cough!”

The necks of the two rabbit beastmen, who couldn’t even resist, flew away. Ahin, flicking the blood off his sword, turned his red eyes to the basket they had put down.

It was too small for a living thing to fit in. Not even a baby black panther could fit.

Ahin kicked it with his foot and raised his eyebrows when he smelled a strange scent.

‘What is it?’

When Ahin lifted the basket with the tip of his sword, there was a rabbit inside, crouching with its front paws on its head.

‘A baby rabbit?’

Too small to even be a snack for the black panthers living in the forest. Moreover, the rabbit was exuding a subtle pheromone that he had never smelled before.

“Ash, go away.”

Ahin shooed away Ash, who had looked inside with interest.

His empty red eyes, looking down at the rabbit, turned to the heads of the dead beastmen. He had killed them too hastily to ask what they were trying to throw away. Ahin clicked his tongue briefly in belated regret.

When he picked it up with the hand opposite to the one holding the sword, it waved its ridiculous front paws diligently. Unlike the paws that were shaking so bravely, it looked very scared.

‘Should I kill it,’

‘Or not.’

Ahin, who had been observing it silently, put on his characteristic dry smile. It seemed to have quite the temper. It was also funny to see the rabbit struggling desperately to escape.

“Are you crying?”

Perhaps sensing a threat to its life, tears soaked its white fur. Ahin, who felt an urge to swallow it, slowly licked his lower lip. Every time it cried, it smelled delicious. The pheromone, which had been subtle, was also becoming stronger as its emotions heightened.

“Cry more.”

Contrary to his request, the rabbit’s movements stopped abruptly. It opened and closed its mouth, and soon went limp, pretending to be dead. It felt like watching a one-person circus.

‘Should I spare it for now.’

Since it was abandoned in the Grace family’s forest anyway, it’s mine. Ahin’s steps, stuffing the rabbit into his pocket, were somehow satisfied.

* * *

A pungent smell of blood covered the forest. The number of wolf clan members piled up was slowly starting to dwindle. Ivelin’s shout suddenly reached Ahin’s ears as he gracefully wielded his sword.

“Ash-nim!”

It was Ivelin’s scream after a long time. Reflexively turning his gaze, the carriage door burst open and a black creature jumped out. It was Ash. The knights who followed got out after him, and Ivelin, who had drawn his sword, approached Ahin.

“Ivelin?”

Ahin looked blank for a moment at the sudden situation. Red eyes followed Ash’s receding figure persistently. Taking advantage of the gap, one of the wolf beastmen raised his sword.

“Cough!”

Ahin twisted his body and lightly cut off the wolf beastman’s neck.

“It’s a disaster. Ash-nim suddenly bit the rabbit-nim and jumped out of the carriage.”

Ivelin, who approached, explained with a troubled expression. Before they knew it, the wolf clan, with the two of them in the center, formed a circular formation. Ahin, aiming his sword at them, asked back.

“Why did Ash do that?”

“There’s no way to know the reason. An arrow flew in and broke the window, and I don’t know if he was surprised by that…. I’ll chase after him right away.”

The window broke? The smile disappeared from Ahin’s face as he repeated Ivelin’s explanation. Kicking away the wolf beastman who rushed at him, he turned his body in the direction Ash had disappeared.

“Ivelin, you take care of the rest. I’ll chase Ash.”

“Just me alone? That’s absolutely impossible.”

“No, you can do it enough.”

“…Will you come to save me if I’m in danger?”

“Well, we’ll see how you do.”

Ahin, who let out a laugh, held his sword askew. As he sprinted to clear the way, his silver hair soared haphazardly.

How long had he run? He saw the backs of the escort knights chasing Ash. Finding Ahin, who appeared from behind, they widened their eyes.

“Ahin-nim!”

“Go help Ivelin.”

At his glance, the escort knights, understanding the meaning, turned their steps in the direction of Ivelin. After all, less than a third of the wolf clan remained, so they would be able to wipe them out soon.

Ahin, who moved again, lightly crossed the rock blocking the front. The distance traveled was longer than expected.

Looking around, Ahin perked up his sense of smell. A subtle scent was carried on the wind. The pheromone he had left on Bibi continued deep into the bushes.

As he ran towards the side where the pheromone was felt, he gnawed at his lips. The voice of the rabbit beastman he had killed in the forest of the border echoed in his ears.

‘That rabbit is a beastman.’

Bibi at the time of their first meeting had a faint pheromone that could only be felt with attention. To the point where it would sometimes be scattered or disappear.

‘Already eighteen years old.’

However, as time passed, Bibi’s scent gradually became stronger and more prominent. Too much for a beastman who hadn’t even gone through humanization [the process of fully transforming into a human].

‘Four times in total.’

That was the number of bizarre behaviors Bibi had committed so far.

The first was the day he came back with Rune’s pheromones on him.

Dissatisfied with the strong smell of lion, he deeply infused his pheromones. Afterwards, Bibi, who had become strangely listless, fell asleep at the same time as he did.

The second was the ball [a formal dance or party].

Bibi, who had come into contact with the fox beastman’s blatant pheromones, suddenly left the ballroom and disappeared. It was a contrasting reaction to his usual docile behavior.

Moreover, Bibi, who would flatten himself at the sight of predators, waved his feet and resisted every time Rune opened his mouth that day. It was as if he was desperately trying to hide something. In fact, it could not be denied that it was a situation that fueled Ahin’s suspicion.

The third was when he bit Bibi’s neck, whose pheromones had recently become unusually strong.

He somehow felt that he was overly avoiding his pheromones. To find out the reason, Ahin went to sleep with all his pheromones collected, and thanks to that, it was the day he was completely taken over by Bibi’s pheromones.

And the strange situation when he woke up. Bibi, who would struggle even at the sight of his fangs, was sleeping in Ash’s arms. To make matters worse, he even had someone’s hair in his hand.

‘A freak who hasn’t gone through humanization even after the coming-of-age ceremony.’

Ahin, who stopped for a moment when the road no longer continued, licked his lower lip. As expected, Ash was heading to a deserted place.

“…Annoying.”

The fourth is right now. He moved his feet, tearing through the lush greenery with his sword.

Ash’s actions of biting Bibi and running away at the same time as the window broke. The outside air was mixed with the pheromones of him and the wolf beastmen who were in battle.

All of the series of events were related to pheromones. To be exact, when Bibi drank other people’s pheromones.

Ahin’s brow furrowed slightly as he passed a huge tree. A dilapidated shack the size of a warehouse stood alone.

‘The smell of blood.’

Moreover, in addition to his pheromones that were left on Bibi, he felt unfamiliar pheromones. Setting up a bad hypothesis, he accelerated.

As soon as he opened the old door, the sound of squishing, and the blood soaked the bottom of his shoes.

Two corpses that had been bitten to death instantly came into view. The bitten areas were in tatters, as if done by a beast.

Ahin’s red eyes, which were slowly moved, reached the center of the shack. He stopped breathing for a moment and put more strength into the hand holding the sword.

‘A woman?’

A woman in a strange appearance was sitting down, hugging Ash. Her white hair, dragging on the ground, barely covered her body, which was hard to describe.

Ahin’s gaze, which started from her exposed white feet, stopped at the woman’s face. Her light purple eyes were shaking visibly.

Ahin, who sheathed his sword, checked the outside. The bushes swayed in the chilly wind. He couldn’t feel the presence of the wolf beastmen, Ivelin, or the knights.

Closing the door, he tilted his head slightly and faced the woman again. His silent red eyes went back and forth between her pale face, white hair, and watery eyes.

Even among the tangled pheromones inside the shack, there was a clear scent. The pheromones that he had left on Bibi were felt from the woman.

Ahin, who did not take his eyes off her, slowly closed and opened his eyes.

“…Bibi.”

There was no way he wouldn’t know.

* * *

A heavy silence fell. As if it wasn’t a call that wanted an answer, Ahin stared at me with motionless eyes.

Unable to even breathe, I reflexively touched my body. The splitting hair and the soft skin texture at my fingertips felt unfamiliar.

Hankered white hair came into my shaking view. A clear human form. Suspicion settled in my eyes as I realized that I was not in rabbit form.

‘How?’

In that short moment, from the fact that he recognized my identity to his indifferent attitude. All sorts of questions rushed in.

“How did you….”

As I moved my lips, I felt a rough breath and hurriedly looked down at Ash. Hissing breaths flowed from Ash, who had buried his head in my arms.

“Ash!”

What to do, please. His labored breathing seemed like he would pass out any moment.

‘Please!’

Even if I covered the wound with both hands, the bleeding showed no signs of stopping. Blood flowed over between my fingers.

“Move.”

At the same time as I felt Ahin’s presence from behind, a large jacket was covered over my back. His scent rippled along with the warm warmth.

Ahin, who knelt down, stroked Ash’s body. Following his touch, the black fur with blood stuck to it was scattered in a mess.

Red blood stained Ahin’s sleeves as he stroked the fur. His slow touch went back and forth between the sword wound on his leg and the wound that pierced his waist.

“The sword wounds are deep. Even if we move him, he’ll die before we can meet a doctor.”

“That….”

Making even faint hope disappear. That calm voice was rather unrealistic. Heat rose to my eyes along with the pain of my throbbing heart.

No, Ash, Ash. Unable to continue speaking, I kept stroking Ash’s cheeks.

Death had settled heavily on Ash’s half-open eyes.

There was no vitality to be found in his slowly rising and falling eyelids. Facing him, I was speechless and even my vision turned blurry.

“Huu…. Ash….”

I had never lost anyone by my side, not even once. My futile touch passed Ash’s eyes and stroked his cheeks.

I was not ready to send off someone who had given me unconditional affection and risked his life for me, even if it wasn’t for a long time. It was painful and aching as if a lead weight had fallen into my chest.

Eventually, Ash’s head collapsed in my arms.

“No!”

I let out a scream mixed with sobs and buried my face in Ash’s cheeks. The warmth was still there, but no response came back from Ash, who had closed his eyes.

“Please, Ash, Ash-….”

As my emotions became more intense, my breathing began to quicken. Perhaps because I had shed too many tears, my head was so dizzy that it turned white.

“Wait a minute.”

Ahin, who grabbed my wrist, stopped me from being too excited.

As if trying to separate me from Ash, I shook my head, hugging his head even tighter in resistance. Only moaning sounds came out because my throat was choked up.

“Bibi.”

Again, Ahin grabbed my shoulder as if to stop me. When I turned back with a tearful face, I met his abyss-like red eyes.

After staring silently, he reached out his hand and my body flinched on its own. Soon, his approaching hand brushed away the white hair that was messily stuck to my face.

“Take a closer look.”

This. After explaining briefly, Ahin touched Ash’s wound casually as if it were nothing.

Surprised, I grabbed his wrist and stopped him. The thought that I had to preserve even the corpse properly came to my mind, and my vision blurred again.

“The sword wound is gone.”

“…What?”

For the wound to disappear, wasn’t that too much of a joke? I hated Ahin, who was telling lies even in this tragic situation, even more. An undisguised light of contempt flashed in my eyes.

“Don’t say nonsense,”

“Check it yourself.”

He grabbed my chin and forced me to look at Ash. I widened my eyes for a moment as I looked down at the wound that Ahin pointed to.

“…Huh?”

The bloodstains were still vivid, but the terrifyingly split wound had vanished without a trace.

“Th-This…”

Startled, I reached out and ruffled Ash’s fur. Not only the fatal wound that had pierced his waist, but even the sword wound on his leg was gone.

“How could this…”

My gaze, which had been blankly examining him, shifted back and forth between Ahin and Ash. He raised an eyebrow, offering no further explanation.

I tentatively reached out past his torso and towards Ash’s nose, feeling for his breath. He was definitely breathing.

‘Lies.’

Faced with this unbelievable situation, I lowered myself and brought my ear close to Ash’s heart. Faintly, but surely, I could feel his heartbeat.

‘He’s alive…?’

I was so surprised that even my tears stopped flowing. It was definitely a wound that was on the verge of death.

“Ash.”

I sat up straight and grabbed Ash’s head. The rumbling snore that followed made it clear that he was sound asleep.

“Ash, are you sleeping?”

Just a moment ago, he was limp as if he were dead.

Dazed, I lightly tapped Ash’s cheek. As if responding, his tongue flicked out of his mouth.

Hello, are you really sleeping?

No matter how much I shook him, saying, “Ash, Ash,” Ash only started snoring louder, fully committing to his nap.

‘Is he really sleeping?’

Tension melted away, and my energy drained. As I stared blankly at the snoring Ash, I suddenly turned my gaze to my hands.

Perhaps because I had transformed into a human, the pheromones throughout my body were fluctuating wildly.

Could it be that Ash had fallen asleep because he had unknowingly inhaled the pheromones I had been releasing?

‘Then what about the wound?’

If it weren’t for the pool of blood, it would be hard to believe there had ever been a sword wound.

‘Is this… is this even possible?’

I lifted his front paws and hind legs, touching Ash here and there before turning to look at Ahin. My bewildered expression was reflected in his red eyes.

Could it be Ahin’s ability? Hesitating to ask, I spoke softly.

“…Ahin.”

At my quiet call, Ahin’s pupils dilated before returning to normal.

The emotion that had been on his face vanished, replaced by a serene stillness. He stared at me blankly before slowly opening his lips.

“Who are you?”

His tone was as if he were addressing a complete stranger. His unfamiliar attitude filled me with bewilderment. It was too cold to be a joke.

“I’m asking, who are you?”

His voice deepened even further. ‘You clearly called me Vivi earlier.’ Feeling wronged, I parted my lips.

“Vi-”

I cautiously retreated, testing the waters.

“It’s Vivi…”

In response, he abruptly turned his head in the opposite direction. Soon, his turned back shoulders began to tremble like aspen leaves.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

I stared blankly at his strange reaction before slowly hardening my expression.

He must be teasing me. This black panther seemed to think that if he didn’t tease me, his tongue would grow thorns.

“You…!”

You nasty beast!

I was about to burst out in anger when Ahin suddenly reached out and snatched the jacket I had haphazardly thrown on. In an instant, I was pulled towards him.

Because the distance had closed so suddenly, I automatically gasped.

“We,”

A smile spread across his face as he fastened my navy jacket. It was a kind smile, the kind that wouldn’t hurt a fly.

“Have quite a lot to talk about, don’t we?”

In contrast to my complicated feelings, Ahin’s voice was utterly relaxed.

As I met his beautifully curving red eyes, a warning signal went off in my head. He was clearly planning to grill me about something.

‘First… let’s run away.’

I need to get away from him; it’ll be better for my well-being. Besides, my appearance, not even properly dressed, was also a problem.

Just as I was about to escape his grasp, I felt a dizzying sensation. The pheromones in my body were surging as if exploding.

“Vivi!”

Ahin pulled me, who was tilting towards the floor. He frowned as he held me in his arms.

Immediately grabbing my chin, Ahin forcibly opened my tightly closed lips.

“Breathe, don’t stop.”

I exhaled the breath I had been holding, feeling as if my body was burning.

Cold sweat beaded on my temples. Unable to even express the pain, I could only pant, and a low voice reached my ear.

“You released untrained pheromones, and your body can’t handle it.”

Through my blurring vision, I could see his red eyes flickering.

“Try to control them slowly.”

‘Pheromones…’

Clinging to my fading consciousness, I focused on the energy within my body. The surging pheromones coursed through my veins, stirring everywhere. Even when I tried to condense them, they slipped away as if I were trying to grasp water.

As I failed to show any improvement, Ahin, who had been quietly watching, spoke.

“Shall I help you?”

‘…It would be nice if you helped me.’

I feel like I’m going to die. In my hazy consciousness, I blinked, and for some reason, the hairs on my body, no, my hair stood on end. It was an animalistic warning.

With difficulty, I opened my mouth and muttered.

“No, you don’t have to… help.”

Don’t help, I have a bad feeling. Barely lifting my unmoving arm, I pushed Ahin’s chin away with both hands. His head was suddenly thrown back, and he let out a breathy laugh.

“It would be much less painful if I helped you. You might die if you don’t.”

Ahin’s offer to help was not at all trustworthy. As I tried to push him away again, his silver hair brushed against the tip of my nose.

In an instant, his fangs were sunk into my neck.

“Ah!”

A chilling sensation dug into my neck. At the same time, his pheromones, not mine, flowed deeply into me.

The two pheromones mixed together, and my body felt as if it had been soaked in alcohol.

“Huu…”

“Breathe, I told you to breathe.”

Ahin took his lips off my neck for a moment and patted my back soothingly. No sooner had I exhaled than I felt his warm breath on my neck again.

I couldn’t shake the anxiety of having my neck torn apart by a beast. I struggled to twist my body, but his fangs relentlessly followed.

After a while in that state, the pheromones gradually stabilized, making it easier to control them. The urge to vomit disappeared, and the pain also subsided.

It felt as if Ahin’s pheromones, which had permeated my body, were forcibly suppressing my own.

“Haa…”

A faint breath escaped my lips. Feeling much more comfortable, I relaxed my body and regained my steady breathing.

Only then did Ahin take his lips off my neck, his slow gaze turning towards the door. An unwelcome light flashed in his half-open eyes.

‘…Why?’

Barely moving my eyes, I looked in the same direction. Soon, someone pounded on the door as if to break it down.

“Ahin-nim [term of respect], Rabbit-nim!”

The figure who had rushed to open the door stopped abruptly.

It was definitely one of the escort knights who had ridden in the carriage with us. Passing Ahin, her pupils shook noticeably as her eyes met mine.

“Wh-Who…?”

“Mio, close the door and wait outside.”

Despite Ahin’s calm instructions, the escort knight remained rooted to the spot. It wasn’t hard to guess that the reason was my presence.

“…….”

When no answer came, Ahin frowned slightly and gestured towards the outside.

“Mio.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

The escort knight, who had barely regained her senses, hurriedly closed the door. She must have been quite flustered, as her movements were loud and bustling.

With the uninvited guest gone and the interior quiet again, Ahin lightly stroked the wound near my neck. Feeling a stinging pain, I flinched.

Then, “Does it hurt?” a question close to a whisper, was heard. Following that, he muttered nonchalantly, “It might sting,” and lowered his head slightly to examine the wound.

There was no time to complain about the pain. I was unnecessarily burdened by his approaching face, so I fixed my gaze on the empty air.

“…Mio?”

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from outside.

Ivelin. Narrowing my eyes, I recognized the owner of that voice.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

“What are you doing?”

“W-Well, Ahin-nim… told me to wait here.”

Now that I had shown my human form to Ahin and the escort knight, it was only a matter of time before Ivelin found out. I was in a state close to resignation.

As expected, Ivelin, who wouldn’t back down so easily, knocked on the door.

“Ahin-nim, it’s Ivelin. Are you safe?”

“I’m fine.”

“No, I mean, is Rabbit-nim safe?”

“Ah, Rabbit.”

Following the added remark, Ahin looked down at me and relayed, ‘Rabbit-nim, she’s asking if you’re okay?’

I almost passed out from the pheromones just a moment ago, does this look okay to you?

Without the strength to argue, I expressed my intention with fierce eyes. Then, he let out a faint laugh and answered Ivelin.

“So-so?”

“So-so? Please, I would like a more detailed explanation.”

“Her eyes look like they’re about to tear me apart.”

“I see you’re safe, I was worried.”

“So don’t put your ear to the door. Wait twenty steps away.”

“Understood.”

She must have really been putting her ear to the door, as the sound of her footsteps moving away was quite quick.

She’s really amazing. While slandering her in my mind, I felt a sense of relief at being alive when I heard Ivelin’s refined voice.

‘There are times when I’m happy to hear that voice too.’

It’s a long life as a rabbit, and you see all sorts of things.

Relaxing my waist, I took a shallow breath. As the pheromones almost completely subsided, drowsiness washed over me like a tidal wave.

Could this also be an aftereffect of the pheromones? Blinking slowly, I remembered Ahin’s presence and stiffened again.

Mysteriously quiet, he was staring at my hand on the floor.

‘…Why my hand?’

Could it be that he’s going to bite my hand like my neck? It was a plausible hypothesis, and I felt the blood drain from my face.

Turning pale, I struggled to escape his embrace.

“Where are you going?”

However, he didn’t allow it, lightly grabbing one of my wrists. Then, he slowly stroked my wrist with his thumb.

My own hand, lifted into the air, was still unfamiliar. I shook my head to cling to the consciousness that was beginning to be consumed by drowsiness. Ahin’s gaze was still fixed on my hand.

“It’s not a paw.”

His voice was devoid of any surprise or admiration. I couldn’t predict the meaning of his touch, which was stroking my wrist at a steady pace. However, I felt a vague fear that my wrist would break if Ahin applied even a little force.

“You.”

The red eyes that had been on my hand turned to me. Lifting my eyelids, which felt as heavy as iron, I mumbled.

“…Yeah.”

“Turning into a human, this isn’t your first time, is it?”

Was it a guess, a conviction, or a test? Vague questions swirled in my throat.

With a final effort, I reached out and grabbed Ahin’s shirt collar.

“How much do you…”

Know? After opening and closing my mouth several times, I finally fell into a deep sleep.

* * *