The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 37

Ahin barely made it out of the bedroom and leaned against the door.

‘Had Bibi ever needed him this much?’

Ahin, suppressing the upward curve of his lips, fiddled with his ear. The temperature of his earlobe was noticeably different from that of his hand.

‘I’m going crazy.’

Sliding down, he sat and propped his chin up with a displeased expression.

If he had known this would happen, he would have made it a point to leave for a few days. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed that Bibi’s relentless pursuit of him was just a one-time thing this morning.

Ahin, who had been covering his face with both hands, narrowed his eyes between his fingers. He had been feeling subtle glances from both sides for a while now.

“What are you looking at?”

The two guard knights, who were standing watch with him at the center, quickly lowered their gaze.

“N-Nothing like that, sir.”

“So, you stand guard while looking sideways, do you?”

Who was the one who popped out of nowhere and smirked? The knights, unfairly taking the blame, swallowed their tears in silence.

* * *

Border Forest North Gate, Linderol.

Dense fog covered the greenery. Ivelin, who had been looking out the carriage window, narrowed her eyes.

“Ahin, you can’t seem to control the corners of your lips.”

Even if he ignored her, she followed. Even if he pushed her away, she still followed. Ever since Bibi’s antics, Ahin’s lips had been constantly twitching upwards.

“If you were going to be so desperate, you might as well have brought him along.”

“Who’s being desperate?”

“Of course, you wouldn’t be.”

Ahin, propping his chin up, smiled meaningfully.

“Ivelin, you seem to have a lot of complaints today.”

Ivelin, who usually sought contentment, was uncharacteristically rebellious. Of course, after Ahin had moved the darkness far away.

“Tell me, what are your complaints?”

“…Was it really necessary to leave Rabbit behind? It’s not as dangerous as the Endelus schedule, so please, let’s go back and bring him.”

“I don’t see any need to bring him.”

“Is it because of the other nobles’ opinions? You’ve never cared about your reputation even a little bit.”

“Why are you so eager to bring Bibi more than I am?”

Ivelin’s shoulders momentarily stiffened.

“That’s…”

It was a huge mistake for Ivelin to step up and forcibly separate Bibi, following Ahin’s orders. As a result, Bibi had begun to completely ignore Ivelin.

Even right before leaving the mansion, she only saw his round backside. More than he thought, Bibi was a cold and aloof rabbit.

A slightly dejected Ivelin buried her face in her hands.

“The intimacy I painstakingly built with Rabbit has been completely ruined because of you, Ahin.”

“You did try hard, though?”

“If not for that, why would I bother to greet you every evening?”

“This is almost insubordination.”

“…You shouldn’t have left Rabbit behind.”

Ahin, ignoring Ivelin, who was conspicuously shaking her shoulders, opened the window connected to the driver’s seat. Rill, who had been appointed as the dedicated driver for this trip, gave a short bow.

“Gorilla.”

“At your service.”

Recently, Bibi had been regularly meeting with Rill to build a friendship. Ahin, giving the gorilla a disapproving look, opened his lips.

“It seems Bibi knows that this schedule is related to the Rabbit territory.”

A sharp energy was added to his leisurely voice.

“Was it you?”

Rill, paling, shook his head and denied it.

“N-No way. You ordered me not to tell Bibi… I mean, Rabbit, about the schedule.”

“Well, it’s not unreasonable for Bibi to notice. There’s a festival in the Rabbit territory around this time.”

“Then, assuming he knows…”

Rill, rolling his eyes, added.

“Why was he so desperate to follow?”

“He might have missed his territory, or there might be another reason.”

Ahin, unable to find a specific answer, rested his arm on the windowsill.

“It’s hard to read Bibi’s mind. He doesn’t show his expressions.”

…I don’t even know why he was crying. He muttered quietly, resting his chin on his arm. An indefinable frustration wrapped around his toes.

Someone was trying to figure out why he was crying under the bed, keeping an eye on the rabbit who was not in his destiny.

He wondered why he did that, so he observed him closely, but the prickly fluffball just kicked his hind legs in the air and responded, ‘What are you looking at?’

Not only that, but he was always sprawled out on the cushion as if he was sick, so when he called the doctor, he refused treatment and struggled.

He even staged a protest by crawling under the sofa because he didn’t want to take medicine. Fortunately, the doctor diagnosed him as being in very good health.

Ahin, lost in thought, swept his hair back haphazardly. He had been grumpy for days, but before leaving the mansion, he waved his front paws affectionately.

‘…Even domestic rabbits are mostly picky.’

Does that affect the nature of rabbit Suin [animal-human hybrid]? Ahin, feeling the wall of the species in a strange place, muttered.

“Ivelin, I didn’t know there was something more difficult than your mind.”

Ivelin, noticing Ahin’s deeply furrowed brow, thought that his pocket looked quite empty today.

“It may be a rude remark…”

Bending down, Ivelin took something out from under the chair. A small rabbit doll that he used to tease Bibi with. She put it in Ahin’s chest pocket, filling the empty space.

“I don’t want to hear those words from you, Ahin.”

“That’s rude enough.”

Ahin, shoving Ivelin into the window connected to the driver’s seat, rested his arm on the windowsill again.

Feeling the cold wind, he slowly stretched out his hand. The hazy fog brushing between his knuckles reminded him of Bibi’s hair.

‘…I left it to Mother, so Grandfather is fine.’

It was the right choice not to bring Bibi on this trip.

He had to consider Bibi’s unstable condition, where his body changed when exposed to pheromones, and external dangers such as assassin attacks.

Ahin slowly clenched his outstretched hand. The crushed wind escaped his fist without a trace. Veins popped out on the back of his hand.

In the first place, all these trivial reasons were just excuses.

In fact, he didn’t want to see Bibi’s reaction when he went to the Rabbit territory. Just in case he showed a look of longing for his territory.

Also, like the several incidents that occurred in the Black Leopard territory, he was afraid that Bibi would disappear without a trace in the Rabbit territory.

Ahin, staring blankly outside, unconsciously licked his lips.

A red, selfish desire that could not be defined, directed at an irrational being who was neither human nor animal, grew larger day by day. To a size that would swallow up what little reason he had left.

* * *

Two carriages carrying Ahin, Ivelin, and a few employees left the Grace mansion. Of course, excluding me.

‘In the end, he left me behind.’

I should have secretly hidden in the luggage after all. But I would have been caught soon anyway. All that was left was deep regret, a tattered heart, and a backpack.

Sabsak, sabsak, Mayme, holding me in her arms, crossed the garden. Ahin told me to stay with Valence during his absence, so she seemed to be heading to her office.

‘Baby, let’s find a dress shop if possible. It’s getting chilly, so we need to get a cloak.’

‘It would be nice to attend the meeting with the leader of the Lion territory together. I’ll prepare your seat.’

The image of Valence, who was subtly looking forward to spending time with me, flickered before my eyes. At this rate, I was likely to be caught.

You shouldn’t underestimate the tenacity of a rabbit.

I swallowed hard and pretended to look around the garden, crawling up to Mayme’s shoulder. The touch supporting my butt was soft.

As I stood on my shoulder, I saw Ash and Bara following behind.

‘Now’s the only chance.’

The last chance to follow Ahin. Determined, I gave Ash a front paw signal.

Ash’s ears perked up sharply at the secret signal. I could tell he was focusing on me, even if he didn’t know what it meant.

I relaxed with diaphragmatic breathing and widened my eyes. It was now.

‘Ashiiii!’

With a jump, I kicked Mayme’s shoulder with my hind legs and flew into the air. Ash, startled, immediately leaped and grabbed my backpack.

‘Ash, run!’

Quick-witted Ash immediately began to run towards the main gate.

“Oh my, Rabbit!”

Mayme, who had already taken out a dagger, quickly chased after me. Moreover, even the guard knights who had noticed the situation began to block me one by one.

“Come now, Ash. Put Rabbit down obediently.”

A tense situation. When the knight pointed a spear at Ash, Bara, reacting quickly, rushed in to help with all his might.

“Kuk, Bara!”

However, as elite knights, there were no gaps in their defense.

Just when I thought it would be nice if everyone was a little less competent, something approaching from the sky snatched me like lightning.

My hind legs moved away from the ground at a terrifying speed. Looking up at Quinn, who was holding my backpack, I was quite disappointed.

Wasn’t the guardian of the sky being too unfair? Ahin’s sinister smile, who had even kept Quinn on standby in preparation for this situation, was embroidered in the sky.

‘Anyway, a meticulous beast.’

“Quinn, this way.”

Mayme, who let out a sigh of relief, stretched out her arm. While I was half-resigned and drooping, my vision was shaken by a certain friction sound.

‘Quinn?’

Quinn’s flapping became as slow as water-soaked cotton. I had a bad feeling. Just as I predicted, Quinn began to fall downwards.

‘Aaaagh!’

I flailed my legs, but the ground was only getting closer.

Boom, my body was soon wrapped in a somewhat rough embrace. Shaking my head and checking the person who had caught me, I froze.

‘…Grandfather.’

Was it only two weeks since our first meeting? Hic. Even a hiccup popped out in surprise.

“Still in an extraordinary state.”

Grandfather handed the drooping Quinn over to the knight. His dignified red eyes scanned me, Ash, Bara, and the backpack on my back.

“Greetings, Lilian.”

“Open the way, I have no intention of harming you.”

Mayme and the knights, defying the order, formed a circular formation. A tense atmosphere lingered.

“Huh, disrespectful. I clearly told you to step back.”

“I apologize, Lilian.”

“Was it Ahin’s instruction?”

Eing, tsk. Grandfather, clicking his tongue, put me in one hand and lightly loosened the other.

“I appreciate the loyalty of following only the master’s orders, so I’ll let you off a little.”

It was a moment. The knights began to fall whenever Grandfather’s index and thumb rubbed together.

“Keuk!”

“Ugh.”

Noticing that he had used pheromones, I hurriedly checked my body. How accurate was his aim that I didn’t even feel the pheromones flowing out? As evidence, my body, which is sensitive to pheromones, had no abnormalities at all.

“Not bad.”

Grandfather’s eyes flashed as he discovered Mayme, who was the only one who had endured. She gasped for breath, holding her solar plexus.

“My grandson has put quite a useful escort.”

‘Could it be,’

My complexion changed as I discovered his twitching fingers.

“You.”

‘No.’

Holding Grandfather’s thumb with my front paw, I shook my head. The stern red eyes wavered slightly. Mayme, who had been struggling until then, finally collapsed to the ground.

‘Mayme!’

Escaping from Grandfather’s hand, I ran towards her. Holding her apron, I looked at Mayme worriedly.

“I’m fine, I’ve only used up a little energy.”

“I wish you had just fainted comfortably.”

Jeobeok, I felt Grandfather’s presence and hurriedly spread my front paws to block him. Ash and Bara, who were fully alert, also took their places on either side, surrounding Mayme.

“Your courage is commendable. Are you going to compete with this old man and pheromones again?”

That’s not what I meant. Flustered, I shook my head several times.

“He understands words, uses pheromones.”

Jeobeok, jeobeok, Grandfather’s shoe tip was already right in front of me. When I looked up, the white hair neatly braided down to his chest came into view first.

“According to the mansion’s employees, he also knows some etiquette.”

Grandfather picked me up by the scruff of my neck and brought me to his face. The wrinkled face that was facing me was gradually collapsing. It seemed difficult to accept the reality of having a serious conversation with a rabbit.

“…Are you a rabbit clan?”

Hesitating, I slowly nodded.

“Yes, you can’t have such pheromones unless you’re a Suin [animal-human hybrid]. Thanks to you, I took a long nap for the first time in a while.”

The vivid red eyes sharply scanned me.

“But it wasn’t just a simple nap. …You know better what I’m talking about. You must have survived here with that one pheromone.”

Did he vaguely feel the healing pheromones? It was a meaningful statement. After a brief lip movement, he kindly put me into Ash’s backpack.

“Go.”

Before I could understand the meaning, I felt a soft breath above my head.

“With the black leopard’s speed, you’ll be able to catch up with my grandson before crossing the territory border.”

Pang, Ash, surprised by being hit on the butt, began to run. The vision shook dizzyingly.

Resisting the strong wind, I turned around. Grandfather, standing in his place, gradually moved away.

‘My grandson will probably need you every moment.’

The low whisper I heard right before Ash’s butt was hit made it hard to understand the meaning.

‘Does Ahin need me?’

The small question was buried and disappeared in the sound of the wind rushing past my ears.

* * *

Valens, sitting at the tea table in the indoor greenhouse, felt a rare pang of embarrassment.

It wasn’t just because the rabbit he was waiting for hadn’t arrived, and Lilian walked in with her hands behind her back… More precisely, it was because of the birdcage Meimei was holding.

“Father, why is Ahin’s messenger bird…?”

“If I left it alone, it would catch the rabbit, so I locked it up temporarily.”

Clang, clang. Queen, trapped in the small birdcage, squawked and thrashed wildly.

“Tsk, just like its owner, noisy as can be. Hang the birdcage as far away as possible.”

“…Father, don’t tell me.”

Valens, noticing Bibi, Ash, and Bara’s absence, hardened his expression.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t touch a single hair on the rabbit’s head, as you wished.”

Lilian, glancing nervously at the chirping Queen, sat across from Valens. Valens’ personal maid poured matcha [a type of green tea] into the empty teacup and stepped back.

Lilian, after moistening her throat with matcha, confidently stated, “You told me to respect the rabbit. It looked like it wanted to follow your grandson, so I granted its wish.”

“…You must have felt guilty for treating the rabbit harshly. Well, looking at its adorable appearance, even you, Father, must feel guilty.”

“I just wanted to turn Ahin inside out!”

Lilian, her neck flushed red, denied that was the reason. Valens, ignoring her with a gentle smile, gestured for Meimei, who was standing far away, to come closer.

“Anyway, what should I do? There must be a reason why Ahin left the rabbit behind. I’m worried about Ahin’s reaction, even if it catches up safely.”

“Hmph. It’s the price for spouting nonsense in front of his grandfather, who is like the sky [an idiom meaning someone of great importance or authority].”

“How heartless. Just in case, I should send a letter after a while. Meimei, do you have anything to write a letter with?”

Meimei took out a small bundle of paper that Bibi used when writing books from her apron.

“This is all I have for now. I’ll go to the inner quarters and bring the exclusive parchment.”

“No, this is enough.”

Valens, rummaging through the palm-sized bundle of paper, slightly covered her mouth. He found a phrase that Bibi had scribbled in a fit of anger while transcribing a book. She smiled meaningfully and carefully folded the paper.

“If I send this letter with it, my son will be happy.”

Lilian, subtly curious, glanced sideways.

“…What is it?”

“Oh my, you said you weren’t paying attention to the rabbit.”

Valens, hiding the letter as if not to show it, wrote a short sentence on a blank piece of paper. It asked whether he had safely met Bibi, who had followed behind.

“Hilla.”

As she rubbed her thumb and forefinger above her head, a huge bird cast a shadow over the greenhouse. The eagle owl, which flew in with fierce momentum, closed its eyes as soon as it landed on the tea table. Then, it began to purr and doze off.

“Oh dear. It’s still vulnerable to sunlight today.”

“I’ve always wanted to ask, do we have to have this quack as a messenger bird?”

A hawk or a pigeon would be fine, Lilian added sullenly.

“Even so, it has never made a mistake.”

Valens put two letters in the pouch hanging from the eagle owl’s leg.

“Hilla, you can deliver it leisurely.”

Valens, who gave the order, sent the eagle owl flying.

The eagle owl, passing over the juniper sapling and past the shrubs, encountered an obstacle. Queen, who had jumped out of the birdcage, bit off the letter pouch with her beak.

Flap, flap. Queen, restricted by the iron bars, quickly fell off after a few flaps of her wings.

The eagle owl, leaving a letter in the flower bed, flew high.

* * *

They say leopards are one of the best runners. As he said, Ash ran at a speed that left no afterimages. Moreover, even Bara, who was following behind, wasn’t even an inch behind.

Tension and anxiety tightened my toes. We can’t cross the territory border without permission, so we had to catch up with Ahin before that.

Come to think of it, this is the first time I’m going to find him on my own. Was Ahin feeling this restless when he chased me?

‘…What.’

I shrugged and shook my head. There’s no way that relaxed beast, who always acts leisurely, would. As I was vaguely denying it,

‘Bibi, is escaping your hobby?’

Every time he found me, his silver hair and disheveled breathing flickered before my eyes. And the smile that seemed to suppress his anger.

I bit my lip for no reason and frowned. The south gate of the Forest of Boundary, Pentriol. A stone slab began to appear in the distance.

I realized that I had reached the border between the rabbit territory and the black leopard territory, that is, the Forest of Boundary, and I became very nervous.

Fortunately, the guards guarding the entrance easily let Ash and Bara pass.

Had we entered the middle of the forest? Ash, who had braked his feet, sniffed. Only then was I able to look around the forest properly, and I stretched my head out of the backpack.

‘This is….’

The second place I’ve been to since I was picked up by Ahin. The pervasive fog added to the forest’s gloom.

Ash turned around repeatedly, perhaps to track the carriage. In the meantime, I stepped on the ground and pointed to the wheel tracks on the dirt floor.

We made eye contact and were about to start again when Bara blocked our way.

Bara, blinking his one good eye, scratched the floor with a low growl.

‘Bara, why are you really doing this?’

I don’t have time to accept your grumbling right now, so get out of the way. As I waved my paws, I suddenly felt a chilling sensation.

The birds chirping in the trees flew into the sky. At the same time, Ash’s cry behind me changed.

Soon, several black leopards emerged from the sparse bushes. They were the watchdogs that lived in the Forest of Boundary.

They lounged around and took their places behind Bara as if to defend him.

‘They’re,’

…targeting me. Feeling a sense of crisis, I rolled under Ash like lightning.

Ahin, Meimei, Valens, and even the employees were not here. It seemed they thought now was the perfect opportunity to get rid of me, their rival.

‘Bara, you bastard!’

As I sternly raised my paws, I was flipped over by Bara’s breath!

If that happens, I’ll end up hating Ash forever, let alone having unrequited love… This rebuke was scattered into the air without being conveyed.

‘They’re coming!’

With one leap as a signal, several black leopards rushed in at the same time. Ash, who blocked them with his body, immediately bit their necks.

Keang!

The black leopards, groaning, hurriedly returned to the group.

They shrank back in an instant and hesitated, distancing themselves from Bara. It was a movement that seemed to express neutrality even belatedly.

‘Black leopards live alone, but Ash is like the head of the forest.’

When Yveline explained it, I just brushed it off, but when I actually saw it, there really was an implicit hierarchy.

Ash, showing off his majesty, rubbed his body against me, asking me to praise him.

‘Y, yeah, okay.’

I awkwardly rubbed my cheek against him and turned my gaze forward again.

The confrontation with Bara, who was still blocking the road, continued. As if not to miss a single moment, Bara’s gaze never left me.

The sound of insects and the breathing of beasts were mixed together.

Krrr-

Bara, who finally moved, leaped high into the air.

‘Augh!’

Ash pushed me under him and did his best to defend. I rolled on the floor without stopping in the midst of the battle.

‘I have to stop them.’

At this rate, they might both get seriously injured. Remembering Ash at the shack, I fidgeted.

‘I, what should I do,’

The beast repellent is in Ash’s backpack. My eyes moved busily, following the two beasts rolling back and forth.

Just as I was about to use the pheromones hidden in my dantian [an energy center in the body, according to traditional Chinese medicine], I suddenly felt someone next to me.

“Aim at the one who will shed pheromones. Think of shooting an arrow at the target.”

Rune, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, bent down and sat down. Whether he had just woken up or not, a strand of his curly hair was sticking out.

‘Why is this man here….’

My surprised gaze was fixed on Rune’s face. His left cheek was particularly swollen, as if he had the mumps. Noticing my bewildered feelings, he nonchalantly touched his cheek.

“Ah, this. I have to go to the rabbit territory as the chief’s representative, but I was dawdling and got hit by my sister. More than that, look ahead.”

‘Ash!’

Before I could even think, Ash was pushed back by Bara’s grip.

“Watch carefully, it’s easier with gestures. Like this.”

Rune lightly clenched the hand he was holding out. At the same time, one of the black leopards in the distance fell to the floor.

‘D, did he faint?’

My trembling gaze went back and forth between the fallen black leopard and his sleepy face.

“There’s no need to use pheromones in a wide area. Show me your skills.”

You probably don’t know, but I don’t have any skills. I waved my paws.

“Your black leopard is superior, but it won’t end well without injuries.”

Reacting to that one word, I immediately stared ahead. Two black fur balls were still rolling on the dirt floor.

There was no time to delay. First, I carefully used pheromones, and then,

‘Later….’

As I carefully looked around, Rune advised, ‘Like shooting an arrow,’ with his mouth.

I supported my body with my hind legs and stretched out my front paws as if pulling a bowstring. As I squinted one eye and focused, the wildly running Bara came into range.

For a moment, I heard a cough next to me, as if someone was stifling a laugh.

“I meant to make a plausible gesture, not to actually pull the bowstring.”

You should have told me in detail sooner. I secretly glared at Rune, who had become disillusioned. Noticing my cold gaze, Rune belatedly shook both fists.

“When I look closely, it’s cool, fighting.”

“…….”

“Aja aja [a Korean phrase of encouragement, like “fighting!” or “go for it!”].”

Isn’t that support taking away even the motivation I had? As I closed my mouth in a straight line and stared at him, he awkwardly touched the back of his neck. His shy face was unlike a beast and was innocent.

Bang, this time Bara, pushed by Ash, fell out into the bushes.

This is not the time to do this. In my haste, while gathering pheromones with my front paws, I suddenly remembered the scene where Grandpa rubbed his thumb and forefinger together.

‘That’s… how he shot the pheromones.’

Perhaps sensing the operation of the pheromones, Rune’s golden eyes calmly sank.

“Now.”

A short instruction was given. I focused all my attention on Bara and clapped! I solemnly clapped my front paws together.

And nothing happened. Clap, even if I clapped again, the situation was the same.

“Ehh.”

Rune, pouting his lips, openly expressed his disappointment.

“…You didn’t do it as dramatically as I expected? And why are you clapping? You’re attracting the beasts instead.”

‘You told me to use gestures. With these paws, that was the best I could do!’

“Look ahead, they’re coming.”

I, who was protesting, turned pale. Bara, who had overtaken Ash in an instant, was running towards us.

He opened his mouth so fiercely that I could see his uvula. Startled, I stepped back and clapped my front paws together.

‘D, don’t come-!’

The closer the sound of clap, clap, the closer the distance to Bara became.

It seems like I’m really attracting him. Before I knew it, Bara’s ferocious fangs were right in front of my nose.

In a panic, I unknowingly stretched out my front paws and took a defensive stance. For a moment, I felt a sensation as if pheromones were condensing at the tips of my paws.

“Oh.”

It was then that Bara’s body tilted to the side. Thud, his huge body plunged and dust rose. Then, the sound of snoring began to echo.

‘Did he fall asleep…?’

As I looked back and forth at my front paws in a daze, a hollow laugh came from Rune.

“You did it in two tries.”

There was no time to enjoy the joy of success. Was it like this? Like that? I repeated the act of shaking my front paws like waves to not forget the previous sensation.

“Good job.”

As he ruffled my head with his finger, Ash, who flew in like lightning, immediately flicked his finger away. Rune stretched out his finger again, but was blocked by Ash’s iron defense without fail.

‘Ash, that’s enough.’

Even though he looks lacking, he’s a dangerous beast. I moved my trembling legs and stopped Ash.

Belatedly, worries about meeting Rune in this situation flooded in.

Fortunately, he didn’t use his healing abilities this time, but he might have already noticed that I erased the wound on his lip last time.

The biggest problem is that I can’t read anything from that lazy face.

“But where were you going? And what about the one-eyed black leopard you knocked down?”

His questioning golden eyes stayed on me and the backpack on Ash’s back. His pupils seemed to shake for a moment, then Rune scratched his head as if he was in trouble. Thanks to that, his soaring curly hair was rather neatened.

“Don’t tell me you’re chasing Ahin Grace?”

‘…So what?’

I took a step back and sharpened my claws. I had a rough idea why this lion was here.

The Amon Chief’s birthday party. An invitation must have been sent to the Manients family, so there was a high probability that he was passing through the Forest of Boundary, which is a shortcut to the rabbit territory.

“…Oh no, that guy detoured to Lindorl, the north gate, earlier. He hates running into us.”

I think I misheard something.

“Ah, for your information, this is the south gate.”

“…….”

“Pentriol.”

I scratched my ear, not wanting to believe it.

“We have the same destination, do you want a ride?”

* * *