The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 36

Rabbit and Black Leopard Symbiosis Chapter 8 (36/75)

Beyond the corner, a long, empty hallway stretched out. Ahin, releasing his hand from his sword, slowly scanned the surroundings.

“Is it just my imagination?”

In this place, on the third basement floor, disappearing as if evaporating was nearly impossible. Ivelin, looking left and right, added,

“It might have been the presence of a prisoner.”

The two, moving forward, stood in front of a prison cell in the middle of the hallway. The prisoner inside the iron bars was a murderer who had recently been captured, causing a stir in the world.

The prisoner’s wandering, unfocused eyes fixed on Ahin. The man twisted the corners of his mouth into a grotesquely wide grin.

“You seem to have something you’re curious about. Shall I tell you?”

“Just shut your mouth, you stink.”

Ahin, standing casually, smiled brightly. Following his curving eyes, the man also burst into laughter.

“I’ve killed a lot, so I know a pretty boy like you is destined for a short life. Come to think of it, didn’t your father also die young?”

Valence Grace’s husband, the man added, wiggling his legs. Ahin showed not a hint of agitation. Meeting the unwavering smile, different from what he expected, the man clicked his tongue as if it was no fun.

“I’ve also killed a lot, so I know,”

Ahin, slowly approaching, ran his index finger along the iron bars. Old dust clung to his fingertip.

“Your loose tongue will hasten your execution.”

Just as he rubbed his index finger and thumb together, the Dominance pheromone permeated the man’s body.

“It’s going to be painful for quite a while.”

The man trembled at the extreme pain engulfing his entire body. It was a torment where every blood vessel felt like it was breaking, a punishment that made torture seem preferable.

Heuk-geuk— Ahin, turning his back on the man who was emitting strange screams, clenched and unclenched his fist.

It was a novel sensation.

Even though it was a pheromone that easily broke down prisoners with strong bodies, it had to go through blood vessels or the respiratory system to suppress Bibi’s pheromones.

That was like a testament to how much more superior Bibi’s pheromones were.

“Since it’s late, shall we go straight to the bedroom?”

Ivelin, leaving the underground prison, took out his pocket watch. Before long, the clock hands were approaching midnight.

“That,”

Ahin, trailing off, suddenly brought his wrist to his nose. He could smell the musty odor and the scent of blood unique to the prison.

Following that, he fiddled with the uniform decorated with epaulettes [ornamental shoulder pieces]. As he checked the jacket stained with the smell of blood, Bibi, who occasionally ran away from him with all her might, came to mind.

Will she try to avoid me again today? The image of a terrified cotton ball desperately rolling around flickered before his eyes.

“Ahin-nim, aren’t you going?”

At the question mixed with doubt, Ahin abruptly held out his wrist.

“It seems like the smell of blood is too strong.”

“It happens every time, though.”

Ivelin shrugged his shoulders matter-of-factly.

Ahin, glancing at the direction of the bedroom for a moment, took off his jacket and even loosened his cravat [a type of necktie] and cuff sleeves. His disheveled appearance under the moonlight was quite sensual.

Ivelin, taking a step back from him as he suddenly began to undress, opened his mouth.

“…Why are you suddenly taking off your clothes?”

“Ivelin, let’s go to your bedroom.”

Ivelin, hearing the words with the beginning and end omitted, dropped the documents in his arms with a crash. He shook his head calmly, wrapping his arms around his body.

“I refuse.”

A resolute will permeated his neat face. It was an unusual reaction compared to his usual flattering demeanor.

“Why?”

“I don’t like the bedroom.”

Just in time, the guard knight who had climbed onto the spire rang the bell announcing midnight.

Dong— Dong— A pink current overflowed between the two, with the clear bell sound behind them.

Belatedly realizing that his explanation was insufficient, Ahin shuddered and put on his jacket. It was a terrible atmosphere that he never wanted to experience again.

* * *

In the end, Ahin went through the trouble of taking a bath in another bedroom and changing his clothes.

Standing in front of the bedroom in a shirt, he stared intently at the two guard knights.

The two knights, having finished their salute, kept their backs straight and stared only at the front. They had barely succeeded in maintaining a poker face, but sweat was streaming down their backs hidden under their armor.

‘Ahin-nim’s gaze is….’

‘No way, no way, no way.’

All sorts of screams echoed in their heads.

Not long ago, Ahin, who had brought in a stableman, signaled the knights to zip their lips [to be quiet].

Guessing that the stableman’s purple eyes were the same person as the rabbit, they became noticeably nervous whenever they encountered Ahin.

They might have learned something they shouldn’t have. From ancient times, the necks of those who learned the secrets of their superiors were not safe.

“You there.”

“Yes!”

The knight, who had blurted out in a booming voice, wore a look of dismay. Ahin, not particularly caring, held out his wrist.

“How is it?”

Following the loose movement, the guard knight’s gaze moved.

“Yes, …yes?”

“What kind of smell do you smell?”

“Yes?”

Ahin, still holding out his wrist, frowned.

“Is ‘yes’ the only thing you know how to say?”

“I, I apologize.”

A smell. The guard knight, looking around, sniffed.

“If I may dare to say, it smells like fragrance….”

“Then that’s fine.”

Only then did Ahin’s eyes curve into a round crescent moon in satisfaction.

He leisurely entered the bedroom and then suddenly slammed the door shut at a rapid pace. It was because Bibi’s pheromones were filling the interior. It was at a level that would only come out when emotions were excessively heightened.

“…Bibi?”

Resisting the pheromones permeating his body, he looked around the empty bedroom. Bibi, who should have been on the cushion, was nowhere to be seen.

As he stepped out onto the terrace, Queen, sprawled out in a large pose, intoxicated by Bibi’s pheromones, came into view.

“Where are you?”

Bibi was not behind the terrace curtains, where she often hid.

Ahin, looking under the desk, began searching based on the places where Bibi had once hidden.

The bathroom was also empty. Entering the dressing room, he slid the hangers to one side with a rustling sound. Even after pushing all the hangers, he couldn’t find Bibi under the table or in the bottom shelf of the bookcase.

‘Did she go outside?’

Ahin, whose thoughts were momentarily paralyzed, stopped as he was about to turn the doorknob.

Seeing that the pheromones were still overflowing without being dispersed, there was no way she wouldn’t be in the bedroom. Looking around the spacious bedroom, he walked to the only place Bibi had never hidden.

Ahin, lying down with his ear almost touching the floor, looked under the bed. Following his tilted head, his silver hair was slightly disheveled.

“-Found you.”

His red eyes curved beautifully like the night sky.

“This hide-and-seek was a bit difficult; you even know how to suppress your presence.”

Bibi, who had been crouching, slowly raised her head. The smile disappeared from Ahin’s face as he faced her face covered in tears.

“Are you crying?”

Bibi, hastily hiding her face, kept rubbing her eyes. But the tears, welling up like raindrops, showed no signs of stopping.

“Come out.”

Ahin’s arm, stretched out through the narrow gap, couldn’t reach Bibi. On the contrary, Bibi, shrinking back, moved away from his fingertips. An awkward distance was created.

“What’s wrong?”

Ahin, who had been looking under the bed, raised his eyebrows slightly. It was because the pheromones were spreading out like a whirlwind whenever Bibi’s emotions fluctuated.

There was a risk that their pheromones might collide.

As soon as Ahin locked his own pheromones deep within his core, Bibi’s pheromones pounced on his body like a hyena hunting for prey.

He, who had become defenseless, parted his lips softly.

“Bibi-.”

Ahin, calling her name gently as if coaxing her, put his arm under the bed again. However, Bibi, startled, hid further into the darkness.

Ahin, swallowing the urge to overturn the bed, washed his face roughly.

When he came into contact with the pheromones that flowed out when Bibi showed tears, he used to feel lightheaded. But now, the sight of Bibi moving away from his fingertips was strangely unsettling.

The sight of her wiping her eyes with her small paws and holding back her sobs strangely tightened his heart.

Originally, she would have run out and stood at attention as soon as she saw his fangs, even while crying. Bibi’s unfamiliar reaction proved that her emotions were different from usual.

“…What’s wrong?”

Of course, Bibi couldn’t say anything.

Ahin was uncontrollably frustrated that he couldn’t read Bibi’s emotions, thoughts, or even her expression.

He, who was anxious, wiggled his fingers, still stretched out under the bed.

“Can’t you come out?”

Bibi’s body trembled slightly due to the unintentionally pleading tone.

Bibi, covering her eyes with her paws, shook her head, unable to stop crying. She went even deeper to hide her messy face and overwhelmed emotions.

‘Is it too much?’

Ahin, who had been watching every small gesture, took a shallow breath.

Would it be right to force her to come out, or would it be better to leave her as she is?

Reason argued that the former was correct, but his hand, which had become stiff, refused the command of reason. He continued to hesitate, unlike himself, and blinked his eyes.

‘The rabbit will rely on you but not trust you.’

He vaguely understood. The reason Bibi hid under the bed was that she didn’t want to show Ahin her weak side.

When he thought about it, Bibi, despite having a body that seemed like it would roll away if he blew on it, always tried not to show her weaknesses.

It must be because she grew up in an environment where she had to stand alone without anyone to accept her whining. Ahin, finding a somewhat similar aspect to himself, felt strange.

The sight of the small baby rabbit’s back, enduring with her small body, didn’t feel weak even though it looked weak.

He, who had been silently watching, lay down diagonally, using his arm as a pillow. Following that, Ahin, putting his free arm under the bed, spread out his palm.

Tok tok, the sound of tapping the floor twice with the back of his hand echoed.

“Come up here when you want to come out.”

Bibi’s ears twitched and roamed in the air at the quiet suggestion.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Ahin, muttering, felt his eyelids heavy. Because he had suppressed his own pheromones, he was helplessly soaked in Bibi’s pheromones.

He was dumbfounded and yet refreshed by the fact that he had been intoxicated by someone else’s pheromones, even a rabbit’s, twice. He smiled foolishly and opened his eyes languidly.

“Lying on the floor isn’t as bad as I thought.”

Ahin’s eyes, resisting the onrushing sleepiness, were faintly bloodshot.

A quiet dawn arrived. As he struggled to stay awake, Bibi’s pheromones began to fade little by little, as if her overwhelmed emotions had subsided.

Bibi, who had been hiding in the darkness for a long time, timidly raised her head. Ahin, pretending not to notice, closed his eyes slightly.

The rustling movements made his nerves sensitive.

Soon, the sensation of soft paws touching the tip of Ahin’s index finger reached him. It was a small and round cotton ball, as insignificant as it could be.

Ahin, having missed the timing to get up, focused on the warmth that touched his fingertips. His paws were also wet, as if he had cried a lot.

At that moment, his chest ached as if something was stuck in it, but he just continued to pretend to be asleep.

Why did she cry? Could she have been treated unfairly in a situation where she couldn’t speak? Or did she have a nightmare? All sorts of questions tangled in his head.

Ahin, enduring the unbearable questions and suppressing the urge to jump up, took a breath.

The sensation of paws rubbing his fingertips fueled his patience. He had barely come out, would she run away again? The question that lingered on the tip of his tongue disappeared beyond his throat.

When he thought about it, wasn’t it always like that? Because her body was as small as a crumb, he was always afraid that she would really crumble, so he couldn’t ask any questions and just glossed over it appropriately.

Feeling the warmth that touched him, Ahin finally felt a sense of relief.

It was a situation that had been repeated several times already. He found Bibi, who kept disappearing, annoying, but he still went out to find her.

Like some fairy tale where a girl chasing a suspicious clock rabbit jumps into a hole from which she cannot return. When he came to his senses, Ahin’s feet were following the rabbit’s tracks.

Even though he had been spouting nonsense about this place being a place where the weak die. The reality was that he was worried sick just because the rabbit had hidden under the bed.

Ahin’s reason was gradually breaking down. He had managed to drive out Bibi’s pheromones to some extent, but his head was still heavy as if he had a fever.

Soon, a black shadow fell over his face. Bibi, who had calmed her troubled heart, pressed Ahin’s forehead with her paw.

‘Is he asleep?’

Ahin, who was deeply asleep, stirred languidly and rubbed his cheek against the arm supporting his head.

Bibi, looking at his disheveled silver hair, felt a strange heaviness in one side of her chest.

Until right before she was abandoned, there was never anyone who came to find her even once. Why do you always find where I am so casually?

‘…Why.’

Then I keep wanting to rely on you. As the tears that she had suppressed threatened to burst out again, she forcibly swallowed the lump in her throat.

Before long, rain began to fall from the cloudy sky. The humid air led Bibi into her thoughts.

‘Bibi’s parents might be worse people than I thought.’

Bibi shook her head to shake off her 잡념 [japnyum – idle thoughts] and looked back at the terrace.

Shuddeuk, the sound of rain grew louder.

Ahin, who had been continuing to pretend to sleep, opened his eyes slightly as Bibi moved somewhere.

Bibi, moving quickly, dashed to the terrace and smacked Queen, who was sound asleep. Lost in slumber, Queen smacked her lips and tossed and turned.

‘Queen, wake up!’

You’ll catch a cold if you get rained on. Bibi sternly commanded, hitting Queen again. Queen, struck by a sudden thunderbolt, groggily rose.

‘Though she can be annoying….’

Bibi gave her a lingering look, thinking that if it weren’t for Queen, she wouldn’t have faced such truths or escaped the prison so flawlessly.

Fully awake, Queen returned the look with her usual arrogant gaze.

Ahin, watching the baby rabbit and the hawk displaying a subtle sense of camaraderie, as if facing a comrade and a nemesis, quickly closed his eyes. It was because Bibi had diligently moved away from the terrace.

The second place she arrived was in front of the blanket draped over the sofa. Bibi, staring blankly up at it, soon grabbed the blanket and began to pull with all her might.

Ugh, her whiskers trembled. Far from pulling the blanket down, it wrapped around her like candy wrappers, causing Ahin to bite down hard, barely suppressing a laugh.

The struggle continued for quite some time. Eventually, failing to retrieve the blanket, Bibi stood before Ahin once more.

‘He must be cold.’

Should I wake him or not….

Since it was due to her pheromones, she would have to hit him relentlessly like Queen to wake him, but she feared the aftermath. Marring his sculpted face would be close to a sin.

Prowling around, Bibi suddenly carefully parted Ahin’s lips with her front paw. As soon as she saw his fangs, she closed his lips and touched her forehead as if she had a headache.

‘Again.’

Taking a deep breath, Bibi glared and parted his lips once more.

While these inexplicable antics continued, Ahin was going crazy because of the tickling sensation on his lips.

‘Bibi…. Please….’

To think I’d be getting this kind of examination from a rabbit. A shallow wrinkle formed above his brow.

Bibi, completely unaware of his inner turmoil, stared intently at the fangs before her.

I want to faint for a moment, but it’s not as scary as it used to be.

Which is his true self, the cruel figure she saw in the underground prison, or this relaxed figure lying on the floor waiting for her?

After neatly closing his lips, Bibi draped herself around Ahin’s neck, which was exposed between his collar.

As time passed, the air grew languid.

They say keeping your neck warm prevents colds. Bibi, dozing off, stretched out a little more to protect Ahin’s neck.

Always fearful, difficult, and suspicious….

The mere fact that Ahin was the only one who came looking for her when she disappeared shattered the solid wall of cowardice.

A strange emotion was added on top of her fear. A kindness as thin and fragile as glass. Instinctively thinking it wouldn’t be beneficial, Bibi forcibly suppressed the budding emotion.

It was a dawn when the weight of emotions felt particularly heavy.

* * *

After hiding under the bed, I was treated almost like a patient for several days.

It was impossible to explain why I had cried that day…. The doctor came and went frequently, and Ahin occasionally glared at me intently.

When I shrugged my front paws asking why, he would answer like a parrot that it was nothing.

I can’t figure him out. Grumbling, I looked around the bustling bedroom from morning. The bedroom, which had seemed empty because it was so large, was filled with servants attending to him.

Guessing that today was the day he would depart for the rabbit territory, I narrowed my eyes.

‘He’s going to hide it from me, is he.’

Judging by the fact that he had excused it as family business, he clearly had no intention of taking me to the rabbit territory.

‘What to do….’

It would be awkward to take a baby rabbit on a trip to another territory. However, Ahin’s attitude of deliberately trying to hide it was also highly suspicious.

As I stroked my chin, Ash, ignoring Bara’s affections, came to my side and rubbed against me.

I stroked the gentle giant with a ferocious appearance and checked the brown backpack Ash was carrying on his back. It contained Perenium, beast repellent, and extra clothes for emergencies.

A similar backpack that Mayme had packed for me was also on my back. The contents were just emergency hay, though.

After carefully checking the essentials, I approached the makeshift hanger. A frock coat that Ahin was scheduled to wear was hanging on the hanger.

‘Mayme, please.’

With Mayme’s help, I settled into the pocket, which was now quite comfortable.

I closed my eyes gently.

The past ten days had been a repetition of avoidance, confrontation, and resentment.

I avoided Ahin’s hypothesis that I had overheard in the underground prison, then pondered it over and over again. Then, I didn’t want to do anything and just sprawled out. Whenever that happened, the doctor would rush over and turn me over to examine me.

I also went through countless worries. The family must think I’m dead, so wouldn’t it be easier to just let it go like this….

The conclusion I came to after aimlessly worrying was that I couldn’t solve anything, whether it was humanization or anything else, without knowing the truth.

‘To meet my mother or father….’

I’m going to check. To face the real truth and do what I can from there.

If I continued to indulge in the pleasures and luxuries that Ahin gave me, I would only become a bloated beast.

Therefore, the birth banquet of the rabbit territory’s leader was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a member of the Rabian family with Ahin as my shield.

Anyway, it was only a matter of time before Ahin found out that my family was the Rabian family [the Rabian clan], and

‘He might already know about the family.’

Judging by his attitude of trying to leave me behind, I couldn’t figure out what his dark intentions were.

I was determined to use the black panther this time, so I fastened my backpack tightly. Since this was a sudden event, I didn’t have any detailed plans, so my heart started pounding with tension.

“Hey, doesn’t the pocket area look strangely bulging…?”

“It does? Did he put a handkerchief in there in advance?”

Just then, I heard the servants whispering nearby.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, Ahin-nim.”

I could feel Ahin approaching. Determined to stick with him no matter what, I suddenly poked my head out of the pocket.

‘Take me with you.’

Showing him the backpack on my back, I expressed that I had finished preparing for the journey. Ahin, who had been staring at me, silently took me out of the pocket and put me down.

‘I said take me with you.’

He usually took me wherever he wanted. I grabbed his pants leg, but he ignored me and shook his foot slightly to shake me off.

“We’re leaving soon.”

He seemed determined not to take me with him, ignoring me persistently. The servants also glanced at me and turned away.

‘Look at this.’

To attract attention, I even did a handstand,

‘Ugh.’

I pretended to be dead and collapsed,

‘Get out of the way!’

I rushed to get into the bag, but thanks to a maid blocking me with a cushion, I was bounced off instead.

Everyone treated me like I was less than air.

Growing impatient, I ran to Eveline, my last resort.

‘Eveline, persuade Ahin.’

I climbed onto the toe of her shoe and sent her a desperate signal. Eveline, looking embarrassed, conveyed her intentions with her lips.

“Rabbit-nim, later, secretly in my pocket,”

“Eveline.”

Ahin, muttering, sent her a gaze that dripped with coldness.

“It’s no use being clingy, Rabbit-nim. Please let go of this.”

Eveline, who had succumbed instantly, ignored me as if nothing had happened.

‘Everyone is so mean…!’

I protested by pounding my chest, but no one even glanced at me. The spacious bedroom fell silent.

“Let’s go.”

Soon, Ahin’s low voice broke the silence.

Sensing that there would be no more opportunities, I hurriedly blocked the bedroom entrance. Ahin, who stopped abruptly, warned me coldly.

“Move.”

Spreading my legs, I shook my head. Ahin, bending down, coldly pushed me away with his finger.

“I said move.”

‘No.’

Not giving in this time, I stood my ground firmly.

A battle of nerves close to a power struggle reached its peak. Gulp, the sound of swallowing echoed among the servants standing behind.

I wondered if I would be kicked. Cautiously, I placed my butt on Ahin’s palm.

‘Ahin, we….’

Soon, completely settled in his palm, I looked up at him with desperate eyes.

‘Let’s go together.’

However, Ahin, who never made eye contact, pushed me away mercilessly. Thud, I rolled exaggeratedly on the floor after being thrown off with a single flick of his finger.

“Open the door.”

Callously, he didn’t even pay attention and gestured to two servants.

‘Wait a minute!’

Overcoming the shock, I got up and pushed against the door to prevent it from opening. It was a struggle that risked being bounced off if the door opened.

“Rabbit-nim, you have to, please move aside….”

The servants holding the doorknob could only tremble their pupils without knowing what to do. They endured silently, swallowing their fear, but

“Ah, seriously-….”

A groan was heard from behind. Turning my head cautiously, Ahin, who showed a look of not knowing what to do for a moment, covered his eyes with his hand.

“Do it in moderation.”

Unlike his annoyed tone, his low voice was unusually gentle.

As if he himself was embarrassed by the voice he had made, Ahin quickly turned his back and hid his expression. For a moment, the bedroom was enveloped in a chilling silence.

‘…Ahin?’

Caught between shock and amazement, I ran in the direction where Ahin’s face could be seen, equally flustered.

But Ahin didn’t even allow that and turned his body to the opposite side.

I followed, he turned, and turned again. We spun around like a waterwheel.

After persistently chasing him, I finally succeeded in pushing Ahin against the wall. Cornered, he finally turned his back and buried his forehead against the wall.

‘Look at me.’

I slipped between his legs and stretched my neck out.

Exactly—just in time, my eyes met Ahin’s, who was looking down. Would it be a mistake to think that his eyes, which were always sharp, felt clumsy?

‘Maybe….’

Even a sturdy warship is bound to be shaken by the waves. In any case, noticing that Ahin’s solidity had been shaken even a little, I stood up on two feet.

‘Here!’

I’ll give you a chance to take this Bibi-nim with you.

Soon, a burst of laughter erupted from Ahin, who was staring down in amazement. After wiping his face dry, he carefully picked me up with both hands.

“Why are you so clingy?”

The clumsy look had already disappeared, hidden behind a mask-like smile.

“You’ve never been interested in my outings before.”

That’s not true, my hobby has always been going out with you. I powerfully clenched my front paws with sincerity.

Hmm, Ahin made a suspiciously nasal sound and lifted me high.

“I can’t even interrogate you.”

Unable to answer or even speak, I fastened my backpack and expressed my will. He stared at me until it became burdensome, then folded his eyes into crescents.

“Bibi.”

A languid call that seemed to soothe tickled my ears.

“Should I not go?”

Thump, my plummeting heart began to beat irregularly.

Who said not to go, I meant let’s go together…. In an instant, all the boldness I had shown so far disappeared, and only shyness remained, and I wiggled my feet.

“You don’t want me to go?”

For no reason, I rolled my eyes around, and I had no choice but to give Ahin the affirmative answer he seemed to want. Drawing a circle with my front paw.

At the same time, a harmless smile spread across Ahin’s lips. It was a bright smile that made his long eyelashes fold into his eyes.

“Eveline, hold on to her.”

And before I could even realize it, I was moved into Eveline’s arms. Eveline, who hugged me with both arms, followed Ahin with her eyes.

“No, Ahin-nim. If you’re going by carriage, I’ll assist you,”

Ahin, who opened the door, left the bedroom faster than I had ever seen him before. He didn’t forget to close the door again so that I couldn’t follow him. It was a meticulous movement.

‘What….’

The firmly closed door flickered before my eyes.

‘We weren’t going together?’

He smiled as if he was going to take me with him, and then he ran away like this? I, who hadn’t grasped the reality, opened my mouth blankly.

After a while, Eveline cleared her throat and explained calmly.

“Unfortunately, Ahin-nim never intended to take Rabbit-nim with him in the first place. Not since Rabbit-nim started packing her backpack last night.”

What, really…. What’s the reason why he has to leave me behind? My whiskers trembled with betrayal and disappointment.

* * *