The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 40

The court physician’s doubts about my humanization began with a plausible cause-and-effect relationship.

First, a herbivore beastkin possessing pheromones potent enough to induce pheromone fever, and second, my awkward behavior.

Once suspicion took root, my actions seemed like mimicking someone else’s movements.

She had been investigating Russell’s delayed humanization and wondered if it might be a similar case. While delayed humanization was rare, it wasn’t unheard of.

However, records were scarce or nonexistent, as such cases mainly occurred in noble families, especially those of clan leaders, and were kept secret for generations. She explained that Russell, inheriting the blood of a lower noble, was a very special case among special cases.

“Later, upon hearing rumors that Grace was raising a baby rabbit, I thought, could it be Vivi…?”

The court physician set down her teacup and turned her gaze to my hair.

“Especially hair of that length, it seems more like it hasn’t been cut in a long time rather than intentionally grown out, doesn’t it?”

She was perceptive. What should I say? Sitting at the table, fidgeting with my hands, I looked back at the terrace.

Ash and Russell, who had gone out to sightsee—or rather, had been politely asked to leave—were having a reasonably good time.

When a butterfly landed on Ash’s nose, Russell, who had been squatting, smiled brightly. Ash didn’t seem bothered by the docile Russell and readily allowed his touch.

“I had my suspicions even in Endelus, but he’s a well-tamed beast. Still, one must always be careful, as a beast can turn at any moment.”

“…I agree.”

Humans could lose their lives the moment they were bitten by a beast, especially herbivores.

‘I hope.’

Perhaps I, who had lived as a baby rabbit, knew this best.

Maybe the day I fully understood beasts would never come. But, if Ash were ever to bite me, I would gladly,

‘Be, be eaten….’

Ah, I wasn’t quite ready to be food yet, and I buried my face in my hands. At the same time, the pocket watch on my wrist struck my cheek.

Only then did I realize how much time had passed, and I opened the pocket watch. Until the ball….

‘Only about four hours left.’

I looked out the window at the shifted sun and bit my lip.

Nobles from other territories would have already arrived, and soon the rabbit territory nobles attending the ball would be coming to the mansion.

Today might be the first and last chance for me to face my parents on my own two feet.

I looked back and forth between the pocket watch and Ash, and then sharply opened my eyes.

I could pass as a rabbit, but there was no way I could go outside like this. Roaming the mansion with unkempt, disheveled hair and a beast would surely invite unwanted attention.

‘But I can’t go back to Rune either.’

He wasn’t untrustworthy, but considering his status and relationship with Ahin, I couldn’t fully trust him either.

Tapping my gathered knees, I glanced sideways at the court physician. Meeting my gaze, she smiled softly.

‘At least her status is guaranteed….’

Even in Endelus, she had worried about my well-being with the black panther clan and given me advice.

My hand subtly crossed the table and covered the back of the court physician’s hand. As if sensing my intention to ask for something, she pulled her hand away with uncanny speed.

That was the fastest I’ve ever seen her move. Startled, my pupils widened as I faced her still-smiling face.

“Last time, Professor,”

“Don’t say it, Vivi. And don’t give me those pleading eyes either. I feel like my resolve will weaken.”

“…My eyes are naturally droopy.”

“They drooped even more just now.”

In a moment of silence, I, with eyes gleaming like a black panther hunting its prey, reached out my hand.

‘Here goes.’

Swish, bang, swish, bang. The cheerful, offbeat rhythm of someone trying to grab a hand and someone trying to avoid it echoed.

* * *

Passing through the garden connected to the banquet hall, I looked up at the massive domed building.

‘Goodness.’

It was no exaggeration to say that a separate mansion had been prepared for the ball. The rabbit territory leader’s nickname as a “banquet enthusiast” was certainly well-earned. It seemed he had even invited beastkin nobles from territories with infrequent exchanges.

‘At this rate, I wouldn’t even need to avoid Ahin.’

Even if the Rabian family was likely to attend, it was doubtful whether I could secretly move and find my parents.

Gazing at the building with my mouth open, I looked down at the dress covering my instep. It was an expensive fabric that seemed to ripple with silver light with every step.

The dress and hair ornaments for entering the ball were obtained by explaining the general situation—though not everything—to the court physician and offering a bribe.

‘Beast repellent? This is a patented product from the Nelson family of the raccoon territory. It’s harder to get than most jewels!’

I felt sorry for Evelyn who gifted it to me, but it was the first time he had ever been helpful in my life.

Tidying up the hem of my dress, I touched my hair. I had wanted something as inconspicuous as possible, but,

‘Being too plain would also draw attention.’

The court physician and her maids had flatly refused the idea.

‘Awkward….’

Especially my hair, which had been cut to my waist. I remembered the maid who had shown off her brilliant scissor skills, boasting that it was a masterpiece.

Carefully taking a step, I looked into the small pond on the right. My reflection rippled on the water’s surface along with the moon.

The strange person who couldn’t even afford a proper set of clothes and had hair long enough to touch her feet, to exaggerate, was no longer in the pond.

‘At this rate, I might look a little more human.’

With my hair half-tied up and decorated, I looked quite adorned. Covering my pale skin with clothes also seemed to bring back some life.

Satisfied, I moved towards the secluded back garden.

Fortunately, pheromones weren’t as prevalent at herbivore territory balls as they were in beastkin territories. Also, I had heard that there was a side door that opened to allow nobles who had caught each other’s eyes to slip away through the back garden.

…From Rune.

“How long are you going to follow me?”

The footsteps that had been trailing behind me stopped. Rune feigned ignorance and stared into the distance. Unlike Ahin, who always dressed neatly, Rune’s tailcoat was unbuttoned haphazardly.

“I was worried that the rabbit might disappear like dawn again.”

“That won’t happen, so you don’t have to follow me. …No, don’t follow me.”

“What is it? You told me not to follow you in Endelus too. Can’t I follow you?”

Of course not. I stamped the ground firmly with my heel and quickly waved my hand. Old habits die hard.

“Ah, so this is why they say it’s useless to live virtuously.”

“What?”

“You disappear without a word, making people worry. Lestin is taking care of Ash the black panther, and I proved your identity so you could enter here, but now you’re saying you don’t need me.”

Is it a lion clan trait to be so argumentative? But Rune’s claims were mostly true. I put my hands on my hips, trying not to be intimidated, and retorted.

“I, I didn’t say anything as harsh as ‘I don’t need you’….”

“It’s the same thing.”

I can’t meet my parents with you. Moreover, if I’m with Rune in this place full of herbivore beastkins, too much attention will be focused on us. In fact, passing employees and security guards were subtly glancing this way.

“Anyway, don’t follow me.”

“Wow. So I’m a discarded pawn once you’ve achieved your goal.”

“…….”

“You’re a really bad rabbit.”

When I glared at him slightly, Rune flicked his bow tie with a sulky face.

‘Sigh.’

Picking up the dress that was tangling around my legs, I approached Rune. He had been sulking, but when I turned serious, he took a step back.

‘……?’

It wasn’t the usual blank face I saw, but an unfamiliar expression, so I got scared and stepped back as well. A suitable distance of about three steps was created.

Facing Rune’s delicate face, I lowered my gaze. Why are all the beasts so beautiful that it’s hard to even look at them?

“…But I healed the wound on your cheek.”

Barely raising my head, I pointed to my own cheek.

Rune’s left cheek, which had been swollen, was back to normal in just one day. Perhaps my pheromones reacted to Rune’s pheromones, naturally reducing the swelling.

Then, touching my lips, I continued.

“And that wound Ahin made back then. You know now, don’t you?”

His wound had been healed twice, so there was no way he wouldn’t know. Was this beast also coveting healing pheromones? Ready to run at any moment, I tightly gripped the hem of my dress.

“Also, you overheard all the conversations with Professor Jinan, so let’s call it even.”

Rune lightly shook the hair covering his forehead. His well-groomed curly hair became disheveled again.

“How can you be sure I overheard?”

Around the time I was sharing the matter about Russell and confessing to the court physician that I hadn’t completed my humanization yet. I turned around, wondering why the terrace was strangely noisy, and witnessed Rune getting his clothes torn by Ash.

“Russell told me. He said you struggled with Ash for ten minutes on the terrace, blocking his mouth.”

“Ah, what. The kid was a sleeper agent. He didn’t even scream back then.”

“…And you didn’t ask me any questions until you came here because you heard everything, right?”

You know now, at least that I’m not fully human. It stung a little to think that I had been caught by the only one who had treated me as a complete beastkin.

Ding—

Just then, a knight standing on the clock tower rang the bell announcing the start of the banquet.

After bowing, I turned around and walked ahead, then suddenly turned back. Rune’s eyes, which had always been unfocused, were shining clearly today.

“What is it, Rabbit?”

“I’m grateful that you didn’t retaliate against Ash.”

I was referring to the fact that he hadn’t used his hands, even though he could have knocked Ash out or gagged him on the terrace, and had let his clothes be torn to shreds.

“Ah, now that I think about it, I think I got hurt back then.”

Rune, clutching his arm, staggered awkwardly. It was obviously a blatant lie.

“Your head?”

“You’re really scared, but you still say everything you want to say.”

Not knowing how scary your fangs are at night. I subtly hid my trembling fingertips and parted my lips.

“Um,”

“Rune.”

“…Thank you. For treating me like a person.”

Whether it was out of curiosity about me or to provoke Ahin, he had helped me in various ways. Swallowing the rest of my words, I quickly turned around.

“Wait a minute.”

Rune, who had approached me, grabbed my wrist. Light pink hair fluttered right in front of my nose.

“…No, go. You said it was an important matter that you couldn’t even tell Grace.”

Rune quickly let go of my wrist and lightly pushed my back. The hardship started from there. Not only was I in unfamiliar clothes, but I was so nervous that I tripped and fell onto the lawn.

“Rabbit, are you doing this on purpose to make me laugh?”

Rune, crouching next to me, asked with an innocent voice.

“Don’t laugh.”

“Hahahaha.”

“…Rude beast.”

“I can hear everything, you know. Are you making mistakes on purpose too?”

He plucked a blade of grass and tickled my ear mockingly. His slow actions, as if he had seen everything in the world, made me feel even more resentful.

“At this rate, when will we ever arrive at the banquet hall? Tomorrow?”

“Don’t tickle my ear.”

It was the start of a lonely battle without even Ash.

* * *

‘It’s my job.’

Rune, who remained until Bibi’s back disappeared from sight, rubbed the back of his neck. Her precarious yet diligent demeanor made it strangely difficult to look away.

Was it to survive, or to live? Whatever it was, it was a trait rarely found in beast-type suins [human-animal hybrids].

‘Thank you. For treating me like a person.’

Her attempt to draw a line lingered particularly in Rune’s mind. It meant that he had shown her unprovoked kindness to the extent that the rabbit felt the need to set boundaries.

She was initially just a matter of interest to provoke Ahin Grace.

Perhaps from the moment he met those frightened purple eyes under the desk, it became difficult to dismiss her as mere amusement.

‘…To think she was a suin who hadn’t properly undergone humanization.’

It was as absurd as a lion eating grass.

‘Then being picked up must be true too.’

It made sense that she was taken in by Ahin Grace as a rabbit, and later her suin identity was discovered.

If the guess was correct, the first humanization would have occurred when she was found around the ballroom. Only then were her uneasy gaze, behavior, and ill-fitting attire explained.

Rune stroked his cheek, which had returned to its original state.

‘Healing pheromones….’

And their correlation with Ahin Grace. He, who was usually immune to deep thought, roughly shook his head.

“Ah, whatever, whatever.”

Tweet-

A bird’s song. Rune, who had his hands in his pockets and was turning away, looked up at the sky. The temperature in his empty golden eyes dropped slightly.

‘Grace’s hawk.’

Queen, who had flapped her wings diagonally, soared high above the dome.

* * *

Gradually, numerous guests filled the space beneath the chandeliers. The soft murmur of conversations grew into a noise, echoing through the wide hall.

Aven distanced herself from the Lavian family head, who was busy socializing with prominent figures.

She, having taken a seat by the window, slowly walked on the purple carpet. At the end of her gaze was Ahin, offering congratulations to the head of the rabbit territory.

As the head and Ahin moved, Aven also adjusted her pace to match.

Ahin Grace. As expected of a beast-type suin, he stood a head taller than others, and his striking appearance alone drew attention.

He seemed to exude a cold atmosphere at first glance, but his appearance didn’t warrant the rumors of insanity. Rather, he looked like someone who couldn’t even kill an ant.

‘That kind of person keeps a baby rabbit around… huh.’

Ahin Grace was not as insensible as the rampant rumors suggested. Rather, Aven saw him as an extremely aristocratic person. Picky and fastidious.

It would have been more credible if he kept a suin in their true form, rather than a real baby rabbit. And considering the timing and probability, there was definitely a possibility that the rabbit was Bibi.

However, she would be no more than a trivial animal. Even Aven herself found it absurd to even form such a hypothesis.

It was solely for the sake of a one-in-a-million chance. Considering the worst-case scenario where the family’s disgrace was running rampant in the territory of another family head.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Ahin Grace had not brought the rabbit, given the occasion. Aven’s steps stopped abruptly as she passed the carpet.

‘Is it my imagination?’

Even with dozens of people between them, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that their eyes had met. Ahin was definitely looking at her.

Aven, who covered her mouth with a tightly woven fan, narrowed her eyes. His red lips were saying something.

[Stop staring.]

[Your filthy gaze is going to pierce through my face.]

In an instant, Aven’s face turned as red as the evening glow.

‘Vulgar…!’

For the next head to use such base language. Before she could even hide her embarrassment, Ahin began to approach.

One step, one step.

Even though they were far apart enough that she couldn’t even see his features clearly, Aven felt a sense of pressure as if he were right in front of her, and she involuntarily stepped back.

With each step he took forward, the crowd in the ballroom parted in half. As he got closer, Aven couldn’t even hear the noisy sounds of the banquet hall.

Just as the distance had been halved, Ivelyn approached Ahin and whispered an urgent matter. After exchanging glances, the two quickly left the hall.

“…Haa.”

Only after his gaze was gone did Aven release the breath she had been holding in. Her fingertips trembled with humiliation.

Contempt. Disdain. …Murderous intent.

Raw contempt was evident in his ruby-like red eyes. She forced herself to erase the lingering image of the beast’s eyes and composed herself.

She could instinctively tell. The subordinates she had sent to the Forest of Boundaries so far had not disappeared or been attacked by black panthers. They must have been executed by Ahin Grace.

The handle of her fan was already soaked with sweat.

* * *

As Ahin came out to the entrance, Queen, who had cut through the night air, landed on his arm. It was an urgent message sent by Lil, whom he had sent back to Grace Manor just in case.

The whole story was this.

When Valence, who received Ahin’s reply brought by the owl, realized that Bibi and Ahin had crossed paths. Lil, who had arrived just in time, told the whole story, and Grace Manor was completely turned upside down. Bara was found in the Forest of Boundaries, and Bibi and Ash were still being searched for.

“It’s dangerous if she left the mansion with Bara.”

The letter was crushed miserably in Ahin’s hand.

“Bara is a guy who submits to the hierarchy of power. And he probably doesn’t recognize Bibi as above him yet.”

“Excuse me? Hasn’t he been obedient all along?”

“I don’t know what’s inside. Since Bibi hasn’t actually shown her strength.”

“Then, you’re saying there’s a possibility that he threatened the rabbit as soon as she left the mansion.”

Worry was evident in Ivelyn’s dry tone.

“I’m going back to the territory.”

A faint light emanated from Ahin, who was standing at the entrance of the banquet hall. It was the moment right before he returned to his true form.

“Ahin, please wait a moment.”

Ivelyn, who grabbed Ahin’s sleeve, hurriedly let go with a hands-up gesture. If she were to come into contact with his currently swirling pheromones, she might faint.

Ivelyn, who didn’t want to end up on the floor, calmly added.

“Only Bara was found in the Forest of Boundaries. Moreover, since she didn’t return to the mansion, she must have gone somewhere else.”

“Then where should I go?”

“We have to find her from now on. First of all, Ash will be with her, and the rabbit isn’t an ordinary rabbit, so she’ll definitely be safe.”

“…She’s a rabbit.”

“Excuse me?”

Hiding his agitated emotions, Ahin replied in a suppressed voice.

“Even if she’s not ordinary, she’s still a rabbit in the end.”

Ahin, who covered his eyes with his large hands, took a short breath. His fingertips turned cold.

He knew. That she was a weak being who could be easily broken.

Ahin, who scoffed at his own complacency, was overcome with a different kind of anxiety than before.

Now that he was in a position to wish for Bibi’s safety, he finally realized her weakness in his skin. He couldn’t laugh leisurely, saying that she would be safe as usual.

Bibi was different from them, who had grown up as beasts from birth. No matter how excellent her pheromones were, and even if she had the sense to know how to survive, she was still just a baby rabbit.

A body that might be seriously injured just by being stepped on by Ash, let alone asking for help.

Bibi’s actions of desperately running away even when a servant dropped something were not simply because she was timid. It was just that all of that was directly related to survival.

The image of a cotton ball running busily flashed through Ahin’s mind.

He was uneasy and ominous. If she encountered a strong beast-type suin. Or if she became prey to a carnivorous animal. There were countless situations where Bibi could be in danger.

“Are you crying?”

At the sudden question, Ahin removed the hand covering his eyes. A boy was staring blankly at him at his feet. He was one of the children who had argued that the black panther clan was frivolous.

“That’s a relief. I thought you were crying.”

The gatekeepers at the entrance rolled their eyes, not knowing what to do. It wasn’t just the boy who was the problem. Below the stairs, Russell’s hair was sticking out from behind the bushes.

The gatekeepers looked for a guardian with their eyes, but the nobles presumed to be the parents were chatting in the distant garden.

“Young Master, that person is….”

“Wait.”

Ahin, who stopped the hesitant gatekeepers, bent down to match his eye level. He felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘The Hero-nim [term of endearment] said that the black panthers are all frivolous!’

The boy trembled, but didn’t run away. Ahin released pheromones through his hand, which was holding the boy’s shoulder.

“Who is the Hero-nim?”

“Hero-nim…?”

Even though it was a weak pheromone that flowed out only when he breathed, the boy’s eyes quickly became dazed.

“Black panther….”

“Black panther?”

“Yes…. A rabbit who uses black panthers, ugh!”

Russell, who instantly gagged the boy and dragged him to the back, was filled with reproach in his black eyes, asking why he had said that.

“…Ah?”

Only then did the boy’s face turn pale as he woke up from the ruling pheromones. Why did he confess about the Hero-nim? What to do….

“I’ll keep it a secret.”

The boy and Russell, who were hugging each other, looked up at Ahin, who was giving them an angelic smile. Ahin, who ruffled the hair of the two children, immediately jumped over the railing.

“Ahin, where are you going?”

“To the lion.”

The lion? Ivelyn, who was following behind, made an ‘ah’ expression.

If Bibi, who left the mansion, went straight on the shortest route, she would come to the south gate of the Forest of Boundaries.

If she crossed paths with Ahin, who detoured to the north gate at that time, there was a possibility that she would run into the Maniantz family’s carriage passing through the south gate.

And this morning. The children who suddenly appeared and argued that the black panthers were frivolous, and Rune who followed those children.

Tap, tap, Ivelyn, who was running behind Ahin, muttered.

“Even if I don’t know the whole story, there’s a high probability that the Hero is the rabbit.”

“Just a rising star, probably.”

Ahin, who answered insincerely, approached the tallest tree around the banquet hall. Given Rune’s personality, there was a high probability that he had quickly left the banquet hall and was lounging around.

“Rabbit, tell me where you are.”

It was a low, growling voice as if he were spitting it out. Rune, who was lounging on the tree, took his head out of the branches.

“Are you not even going to use honorifics in private anymore?”

“Just answer the question.”

Rune, who was feigning ignorance, lay down diagonally. Just as Ahin, who had sharpened his eyes coldly, was about to use force, a commotion began to rise beyond the outer wall of the banquet hall.

“Wh, what is it! Why is there a beast here!”

“Bring the archers right now!”

“J, just a moment. You mustn’t attack. I’ll calm him down, so please wait a moment…!”

It was Restin’s voice. Following that, a roar that couldn’t be heard in the rabbit territory shook the air.

In that instant, Rune’s pupils trembled slightly. Ahin, who found him, immediately leaped, grabbed the wall, and climbed up. His red eyes, which checked beyond the outer wall, flashed with a different light.

“How can a beast jump over the terrace? Please just stay still until the banquet is over, and then I’ll send you to your owner. No, more than that, why am I doing this!”

“Hee, eek!”

Restin, who was holding onto Ash’s tail, rolled around on the floor. Perhaps because he resembled his owner, he was as nimble as a rabbit, making it difficult to control him.

“Gu, guards!”

The knights, who had their swords drawn, narrowed the distance as if to surround him. Restin, who was sweating profusely and clinging to his hind legs, spoke kindly.

“I’m fine, so please put down your weapons. Come on, boy, go back to your room… Ack!”

Ash, who was not at all intimidated even in the midst of the strict security, jumped onto the statue. Keoheong- The beast’s roar completely covered the area.

* * *