The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 26

The Symbiotic Relationship Between a Rabbit and a Black Panther 26

Evelyn, waiting a short distance from the shanty, frowned. The scent of blood and the unfamiliar pheromones in the air were unsettling.

Ahin had told her to wait, but she couldn’t shake her worry as his time inside the shanty stretched on.

Despite being her master, Ahin wasn’t someone she completely trusted. She wouldn’t truly relax until she saw the little rabbit was safe with her own eyes.

Mio, one of the escort knights on the right, fidgeted, adding to Evelyn’s anxiety.

Just as their worries deepened, the wooden door creaked open.

“Ahin-nim.”

“Ahin-nim!”

Evelyn and the escort knights rushed forward, but then recoiled.

Ahin emerged with Ash slung over one shoulder and a limp little rabbit in his other hand. His jacket was gone, and his shirt was stained bright red.

The sight was shocking, and the atmosphere turned tense. Evelyn recovered first and hurried to his side.

“Ahin-nim, what happened…”

“He’s just asleep. Don’t fuss. Take Ash,” Ahin said casually, gesturing to the black panther. A snore broke the tension, bringing a wave of relief. “Grrr~ Pshhh~”

“T-This way, please.”

The two escort knights stepped forward to take Ash. The deeply sleeping black panther didn’t stir as they moved him.

Mio, supporting Ash’s heavy lower body, watched Ahin carefully.

‘Just what…’

The mysterious woman who had been in the next head of the family’s arms had vanished. Who was she, and where had she gone?

Mio’s gaze drifted to the limp little rabbit.

The woman was too delicate to be a beast-type beastkin [a human with animal features or the ability to transform], and her features were petite. Her strange attire was hidden under a jacket, and her skin was so pale it seemed untouched by sunlight.

‘Purple eyes…’

Purple eyes were unique to the rabbit and sheep tribes.

‘No way…’ Mio’s eyes widened as an absurd idea took root.

Ahin noticed her gaze and tapped his mouth, signaling her to be silent.

He brushed past Evelyn, who was trying to get close, leaving Mio nodding faintly behind.

“Get out of the way, Evelyn. You’re in the way.”

“Rabbit-nim!”

“Let him sleep. He must have been startled by the wolf beastkin.”

Evelyn’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Wo…!”

“No injuries… I took care of it.”

Technically, Bibi and Ash had done the work. Ahin glossed over the details, cradling Bibi in his arms.

His half-closed red eyes scanned the pure white rabbit, recalling the events of moments ago.

The pheromones that had instantly healed Ash’s wounds when he was near death… Bibi’s healing abilities were far beyond what Ahin had expected.

He had planned to examine Bibi’s pheromones in the Endelus region, but this saved him the trouble.

And, as he had suspected, Bibi’s transformation into a human form was problematic. Keeping him around as a complete human, let alone in rabbit form, would be difficult.

Ahin chuckled humorlessly, remembering the pale-faced woman.

Her every action was guarded. Her appearance was so distinctly Bibi that anyone could recognize him, even without checking his pheromones.

And the fact that he turned into a little rabbit as he fell asleep was ridiculous. Judging by his lack of control, he hadn’t fully humanized.

“Ahin-nim?”

Evelyn looked horrified as Ahin stared blankly at the rabbit, then smiled to himself. Even after years of service, she couldn’t predict what the sly old fox was thinking.

“Excuse me, but you’re being too sinister.”

“What?”

“Your smile, I mean.”

“You’re sinister just by existing.”

“Pardon?”

Evelyn pretended not to hear and stared pointedly into the distance. Ahin smirked and lightly stepped on her foot.

“Report on the situation.”

The pressure on her foot increased. Evelyn, in pain, took two steps back.

“…The wolf beastkin have been dealt with, but the carriage was overturned. Rather than returning to the mansion… it would be better to enter the Endelus region, which is just over the mountain range.”

The sun was beginning to set. Ahin looked up at the sky and nodded.

“That would be best. Request support from the Grace family as soon as we arrive.”

“Understood. Also, we searched the bodies of the wolf beastkin, but we didn’t find the drug that’s been spreading in the Endelus region.”

Evelyn clicked his tongue, thinking of the number of wolf beastkin.

Beastkin generally respected each other’s territories, but interfering in another’s affairs was taboo.

Therefore, there was little recourse for holding the wolf territory accountable for the attack.

“…In addition, may I ask a few questions?”

“No, you may not.”

Why he had told them to block the carriage windows, what had happened to Ash and Bibi after they left the carriage…

Evelyn’s face was full of questions, but Ahin cut him off. Turning away, he stopped walking.

“Evelyn, have any figures from the rabbit territory approached you separately after the ball? Even indirectly.”

“Not at all.”

“Is that so?” Ahin looked at Bibi again. He was breathing heavily, probably from exhaustion. He poked the small nose and turned back to Evelyn.

“Perhaps among the nobles of the rabbit territory, there’s someone with white…”

Ahin stopped.

Bibi’s fur was as white as snow.

White hair wasn’t unheard of, but it wasn’t common. Narrowing down the nobles or merchants with white hair in the rabbit territory would likely reveal his family.

The silence stretched, and Evelyn asked cautiously, “Why do you ask?”

“…No, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”

It might be faster to ask him directly next time. Ahin trailed off and smiled.

* * *

Endelus region.

A neutral zone bordering the black panther, lion, and wolf territories, where various beastkin lived. It was a trade hub, filled with the scent of spices.

I woke up in an inn in Endelus, as a little rabbit, not a human. I wasn’t surprised; I had felt myself changing as I fell asleep.

Ahin and Evelyn were out, so I didn’t have to face Ahin yet. I needed time to think about Ash’s recovery and my own situation.

My mouth was dry with anxiety. Now that he knew I could turn into a human, I couldn’t imagine how Ahin would react.

But a problem had arisen that required him now.

‘Ash, don’t rely on me so much.’

I might get crushed. I scratched Ash’s belly as he lay on his back and glanced sideways.

A strange bedroom with red walls and antique furniture. Two lions with golden eyes sat in the chairs.

One was Rune Manients, whom I had met before, and the other was new to me.

A young gentleman with blond hair tied loosely to one side and a monocle on his left eye. His posture and sharp eyes spoke to his personality.

Judging by how he addressed Rune, he must be his aide.

I had heard them request support from the Grace family, so why were these two lions here instead of a family member? Even the escort knights seemed embarrassed.

What bothered me most was the aide’s gaze, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

‘Stop staring.’

I felt like he was piercing me with his eyes. Unable to scold him, I stretched out my hind paw.

I tried to threaten him, but when the aide’s eyebrows twitched, I pretended to be engrossed in Ash’s cuteness.

‘Oh my, do you like it that much?’

Ash, who had rolled over, looked healthy.

I was relieved. I drooped my eyes and patted his belly. He had been asking me to rub his belly for a while now.

It was the tenth time. As someone who owed him my life, I couldn’t refuse and gently scratched his belly with my forepaw.

He would tap the bed with his tail when I tried to rest. As I scratched his belly until my face was flushed, the aide finally spoke.

“There’s no way a beastkin would be in such a form… Just what is that?”

Rune, who had been lounging in the chair, turned to me.

“Uh…”

He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, making a snapping sound, implying a need for payment to speak.

“Lord Grace’s emergency rations? No, emergency snack.”

“Please explain within the bounds of common sense.”

“…That’s what Evelyn whispered to me.”

Evelyn. That guy was useless. Calling me food… I was shaking with resentment.

“That person is far beyond common sense.”

‘That’s right, that’s right.’

I nodded involuntarily. The aide’s face paled even more. He looked like he had seen some unknown creature.

“Look. What rabbit in the world would use a black panther like a servant?”

I wasn’t using him like a servant, but responding to his cuteness. I was scratching Ash’s belly until my arms were about to fall off. It was a misunderstanding that I felt wronged about.

“He even understands what I’m saying.”

Looking at the aide trembling, I wondered if this was the normal reaction I should be getting.

Beastkin were said to transform into their true form after humanization. I was still a little rabbit, even after turning into a human.

Could it be because I hadn’t fully humanized? This, along with the pheromones, was another question I had to solve.

“Restin, such an attitude in front of someone is rude.”

“B-But…”

“I’m sorry, my aide has a somewhat narrow view. I’ll apologize on his behalf.”

His posture and expression were lazy, not like someone apologizing.

And he hadn’t been very polite to me either. I looked at him distrustfully. Rune pushed the aide’s back.

“Go and introduce yourself. It’s your first time meeting him.”

“No, wait a minute. What do you mean, greet a baby rabbit?”

“Restin.”

Rune’s stern voice made the aide’s shoulders droop.

Soon, he was half-forced to stand before the bed where Ash and I were.

I didn’t particularly want to exchange greetings with a wild beast either. Contrary to my hope that he would turn back, the aide hesitated, placing a hand near his chest.

“I apologize for the late introduction… I am Harrington Restin, the third son of the Restin family, and Rune Maniontz’s right-hand man.”

His polite greeting reminded me of the Ravian surname I had buried at the end. I wouldn’t be attaching that surname to my name anymore.

‘It’s Bibi.’

Lost in thought for a moment, I stretched out my front paw to respond to Restin’s greeting. It was the best reply I could offer in my current form.

He then yelped, “Hick!” and took a small step back. He even hopped around in a frenzy because he had kicked his shin against the desk while stepping back.

‘What a scaredy-cat.’

He was an unusually great coward.

I retracted my front paw and turned my gaze to a strange sound coming from somewhere. Rune, who had been sitting in the back, was collapsed on the table, stifling laughter. He wasn’t crying, so he must have been enjoying the situation.

I really didn’t like it. Annoyed, I frowned and nudged Ash.

‘Ash, are all beasts’ personalities twisted like that?’

Ash snorted as if to claim he wasn’t, and the sound echoed through the bedroom.

* * *

Thud. The closed double doors separated the terrace from the bedroom.

Mio, the guard knight who had encountered my humanized form beyond the glass window, wore a worried expression. I made eye contact and waved my front paw to indicate that I was okay.

And I sent a back kick into the air towards Restin, who still had a terrified look on his face. His shimmering blonde hair looked like a lion’s mane, he was so annoying.

“Well, now that the interlopers are gone, shall we have a conversation?”

Rune, who had drawn the curtains to block the view, called for attention.

“I originally wanted to meet you sooner, but you needed time to adjust.”

‘…Adjust? Adjust to what?’

I grimaced and settled down next to Ash.

In any case, he was the first to witness the scene of a human becoming human, so it was impossible to avoid questioning him altogether.

“Well, it’s impossible to have a conversation in your current form… How about turning back into a human?”

If it were up to me, I wouldn’t be here right now.

Fearing that he might force me, I quickly shook my head from side to side. Then Rune, who had crouched down to meet my eye level, rested his chin on his hand.

“Why, are you hiding the fact that you’re a beastkin?”

I had hidden it at first, but now that Ahin had found out everything, it couldn’t be called a secret. Unable to give a lengthy explanation, I simply remained silent.

“You wanted to hide the fact that you were human so much that you even kicked me in the mouth back then. From what I can see, Ahin Grace doesn’t seem to know you’re a beastkin.”

That’s because he found out everything yesterday.

I grumbled and leaned closer to Ash because of the fangs I saw between Rune’s lips. The area around my neck, where Ahin had bitten me, still tingled even after a day.

“For example, you have a certain purpose and intentionally approached Ahin Grace.”

Far from intentionally approaching him, I was dragged to the black panther’s mansion without any choice. I didn’t know whether to thank Rune for highly valuing my abilities.

“Hiding that you’re a beastkin and stealing secrets. But what are you going to do with such a tiny body?”

‘Calling me tiny is rude!’

Just give me one or the other, praise or insult. Indignant, I tapped the floor with my front paw.

“Come to think of it…”

Rune, not paying attention to my vehement reaction, stretched out.

“Why were you dressed like that at the ball? The more I think about it, the more suspicious it is. Even now, I can smell the black panther all over you. What are you two hiding?”

He muttered and continued to speculate on his own, then looked at his reflection in the glass window and became serious. He certainly looked like someone talking to two animals, Ash and me.

As I turned to look at the glass window as well, Ahin’s actions suddenly flashed before my eyes like a panorama. He had bothered to cover me with his pheromones and told me to hide the fact that I was a beastkin and my pheromones. Could it be that Ahin didn’t want my pheromones to be revealed to others?

‘Why?’

Moreover, he seemed to show actions and words that didn’t particularly welcome humanization. Lost in thought, I carefully pondered.

Looking back, it didn’t seem like I could transform into a human just by being covered in pheromone scent. I must need to be exposed to a certain concentration of pheromones, like when I met the fox beastkin or the wolf.

It felt like a puzzle with unknown shapes was all scattered.

Just as my head was about to become complicated, Rune suddenly lowered his body and put his finger to his lips, “Shh.” His usually bored golden eyes had become quite serious.

‘You’re the only one who needs to be quiet here.’

I pretended to lower my voice, covering my mouth so he wouldn’t be embarrassed if I pointed it out.

Rune, hiding his presence, carefully moved to the terrace railing. Accordingly, I slightly poked my head out through the railing and widened my eyes.

‘…What are they doing?’

Two employees, who I didn’t know when they had appeared, were secretly exchanging something. Even though it was only the second floor, I couldn’t hear any conversation, so it was clear that they were intentionally hiding their presence.

‘The drugs that have spread mainly in the Endelus region are now widely used by civilians. It is clear that they are drugs related to pheromones. Judging from the variety of symptoms, there is a high probability that they are for experimentation or narcotics.’

The moment I recalled the conversation Ahin and Yvelin had in the carriage, Rune clicked his tongue.

The terrace was on the outskirts of the inn, making it the perfect place to meet. It seemed he had come to the same conclusion.

‘Ah!’

My body, which had been mouthing words, floated into the air. Ash, displeased that I had poked my head out over the railing, had bitten my scruff. Fearing that I might make noise, Rune lightly snatched me from Ash.

‘Stop it, you beasts!’

My vision changed several times as I was moved around. Feeling dizzy, I momentarily made eye contact with an employee who had raised his head upwards.

The two employees, who had been blankly looking up, exchanged glances. It was a very suspicious action. At the same time, Rune put one leg on the terrace railing as if he was about to jump down.

“They look suspicious at first glance, so let’s catch them first.”

‘Why are you asking for my permission as if you need it!’

Before I could even struggle, he leaped in an instant. I reflexively closed my eyes tightly, and when I felt a stable landing, I squinted.

Right in front of me, the two employees with pale faces were clutching something.

Close up, they had dark skin, a characteristic of hyena beastkins that Ahin had once described to me.

“What to do….”

“…….”

“Should we knock them out first?”

‘Do whatever you want!’

I wish he would put me down instead of asking me for my opinion every step of the way. Shuddering, I glared at Rune as much as I could.

Even in this situation, he still had sleepy eyes. Beasts were all far beyond common sense.

It would be a real disaster if someone used pheromones here.

Oblivious to my burning insides, Rune reached for his waist as if to draw his sword. Whoosh, his hand cut through the air.

“Ah, the sword.”

Only then did we both remember that he had left his sword in the bedroom. Rune frowned at his failed attempt, and the employees hesitated and stepped back.

“W-What is it?”

“Uh….”

Rune’s golden eyes briefly turned to me and Ash.

“Righteous animal friends?”

“…What?”

“Anyway, hand over what you’re holding.”

The employee instead gave strength to his fist until the veins bulged. His wandering gaze lingered on me, held in one of Rune’s hands.

“You thought I was some weirdo with a strange hobby of raising rabbits?”

“W-What…!”

“That’s exactly what your eyes say. Well, it’s hard to understand with common sense. Don’t you think?”

Rune, agreeing on his own, shook me in front of his eyes. On the other hand, I, who had turned pale, pressed his forehead with my hind legs.

‘Now is not the time to make eye contact with me!’

Look to the side, to the side!

The employee was already running in and attempting to attack.

Unlike when he was chatting, Rune’s atmosphere suddenly sank. He easily dodged the fist and immediately twisted his body to strike the back of his neck.

“Cough!”

The employee’s body, who had let out a scream, collapsed to the floor. Rune, who lightly dusted off his hands, turned his gaze to the remaining one.

“Damn it!”

The employee, realizing the difference in skill from the previous effortless attack, took a stance to run away.

“Where are you trying to run? Looks like you have something to hide?”

Rune’s hand, which had stretched out in an instant, grabbed the back of his neck. Contrary to expectations that he would shake it off, the employee suddenly turned around and showed a strange action of raising his arm.

“Dangerous….”

Rune, who couldn’t finish his sentence, turned his back to the employee to protect me.

Whirr, a noise like scattering something rang out. Gray powder scattered in front of me, who had curled up.

‘Powder?’

Before I could even think, my vision became closer to the floor. As if Rune was about to fall over. Just as I stretched out both feet in panic, the world turned completely black.

Thud, I fell onto a soft place with a slight impact, and pushed away the black cloth that was hindering my movement.

What is this again. Flailing, I checked the object wrapped around my body.

‘···It’s clothing?’

And quite familiar too. It was certainly the black jacket Rune had been wearing.

‘Why is the clothing….’

At the same time as an ominous premonition, a huge presence arose next to me. Where I turned my head while holding onto the clothing, a male lion with a brilliant mane was looking down at me, not Rune.

A truly raw and untamed beast. Exaggeratedly, its front paw was bigger than my body.

‘Oh….’

My frantically trembling pupils passed over the sharp claws and rested on the mane, the symbol of the male lion.

Scattered clothes and the disappeared Rune, and the appeared lion.

‘Hmm….’

Considering the circumstances, this beast must be Rune, but why did he suddenly release his humanization and transform into his true form?

Was he bored? Someone answer me. My heart pounded and various screams echoed.

The slowly moved gaze rested on the eyes and fangs that flashed, and at that moment,

‘Mommy!’

My legs began to move on their own. Only the instinct of the prey filled my head.

* * *