The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 42

The moment I saw the smile on his pale face, I felt my reason slipping away.

‘They say the eyes of the black panther clan are as beautiful as rubies. But why are predators beautiful? The moment you’re captivated by their alluring eyes and approach, they’ll snap your neck with their sharp teeth…!’

The horror story a maid told me in my childhood was becoming a reality. As I stared into his clouded eyes, I felt like Ahin would take my neck in the blink of an eye.

I covered Ahin’s half-opened eyes with my palm. He didn’t resist much, as if he liked the cool sensation on his skin.

His fluttering eyelashes repeatedly brushed against my palm. It was ticklish and soft.

‘Does he mean he won’t abandon me, or that he can’t?’

Enduring that subtle silence, I suddenly sensed a faint pheromone from Ahin.

After Ahin learned that I was sensitive to pheromones, he had been thoroughly concealing his own. This was strange.

Was Ahin a little more relaxed because of the pain? As I was reasoning according to the flow of my consciousness, my fine hairs stood on end.

‘Could it be.’

The current phenomenon might be related to Ahin turning into a black panther before.

If the reason he returned to his true form was to make it easier to control his pheromones.

As far as I knew, there was only one situation where someone like Ahin would have difficulty controlling their pheromones.

A pheromone surge.

Having personally experienced that terrible pain, I removed my hand covering Ahin’s eyes. With his eyes closed, he was panting irregularly and enduring.

“…Was it a pheromone surge?”

“……”

“Turn back into your true form like before. Wouldn’t that be less painful?”

Unlike me, Ahin should be free to switch between his true form and human form.

Without a word, Ahin tossed and turned, lying diagonally with his back to me. It was an act filled with blatant disregard.

Why is he doing this? I glared at his stubborn, broad back and pulled his shoulder with all my might.

Unexpectedly, Ahin obediently turned his body in the right direction. However, his red eyes showed no sign of easy submission.

‘That grandson of mine will probably need you every moment.’

Did Grandfather’s meaningful words refer to a pheromone surge?

I couldn’t fully understand, but I was certain that Ahin desperately needed healing pheromones right now. There was no need to worry about any more adverse reactions.

As I subtly raised my pheromones, Ahin instantly grabbed my arm. Sitting on the edge of the sofa, I staggered and steadied myself on his shoulder.

I blinked in embarrassment as I looked down at Ahin from our close proximity.

“What are you,”

“Don’t use it.”

“Why? My pheromones might calm the surge.”

“If you use pheromones, you’ll turn into a rabbit.”

My mouth, which was about to snap back, hardened into a straight line.

As expected. The quick-witted Ahin seemed to have noticed the fact with just the one time he returned to his true form.

‘I think I want you to be human.’

One moment he says it’s good to be a rabbit, and now he says it’s better to be human. It was a contradictory feeling, displeased with the change yet making my heart race.

“Ahin, is this the time to be picky about that?”

“It is the time.”

“……”

“Glaring won’t do you any good.”

Perhaps because he was feverish, he was acting like a child throwing a tantrum.

“Seriously…, Ahin!”

I felt Ahin’s body, which I was supporting, heave momentarily. A groan escaped from him as he swallowed his breath.

He didn’t look well on the outside, so I couldn’t even imagine how twisted he must feel inside.

Even so, as if Ahin had read my thoughts, he was still holding onto my wrist.

‘He’s probably trying to stop me as soon as I try to use pheromones.’

What kind of stubbornness is this? As I was looking for a compromise, I remembered the situation where I was confronting the escort knights in the garden.

“Ahin, listen.”

I thought the method I tried to use back then wasn’t too bad, so I persuaded Ahin.

“Turning into a rabbit when I use pheromones is probably a kind of defense mechanism. Because I’m not good at handling pheromones yet.”

Sweat was beading on his temple, and his head was drooping.

“So, if you control my pheromones with your dominant pheromones while I use them, I might not turn into a rabbit.”

“……”

“There’s Perenium too, but wouldn’t it be more accurate for you to control it directly? Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Ahin, who was half-fainted, had reached a point where he couldn’t even answer. Even so, I had to admire his determination to not let go of my wrist.

“Ahin?”

Even after patting his cheek, there was no response. For a moment, I felt a chill and hurriedly went down to the floor.

When I put my ear to his chest, I could feel a faint heartbeat through my cheek.

‘You scared me….’

After washing my face, I examined the motionless Ahin.

‘Please.’

I was already using healing pheromones, but his condition showed no improvement. I only learned how to shoot pheromones, not how to steadily infuse them.

‘It would be much less painful if I helped him. He might die if I’m not careful.’

Kneeling on the floor, I looked down at Ahin. A smooth neckline came into my wandering view.

‘Of course, it’s safer to infuse pheromones inside rather than outside….’

There weren’t many options.

‘It might be possible.’

After making up my mind, I lowered my head and bit the area where Ahin’s neck and shoulder line connected.

While I was gently gnawing, I realized that I had overlooked the most important fact. That I didn’t have fangs sharp enough to pierce the skin in one bite.

“What are you doing.”

I heard Ahin’s intermittent voice above my neck. I stopped biting and hurriedly raised my upper body.

‘I can’t make a hole in his neck….’

When I made a troubled expression instead of a doctor, Ahin’s eyes momentarily darkened like those of a ferocious beast. It seemed like suppressed desire. He pulled the wrist he was holding onto as if craving something.

“Ah!”

In the blink of an eye, his bloodless face was right in front of me. Our eyes met at a distance where our hot breaths mingled.

‘His lips….’

I wanted to avoid it if possible. Recalling what happened in Endelus made my toes curl up involuntarily.

I could feel the absurdly scattered pheromones with the hand that steadied Ahin’s body as he was pulled. Recognizing him, I lowered my lips after a brief hesitation.

Ahin’s slightly familiar pheromones flowed in between our overlapping lips. Feeling the sensation spreading throughout my body, I raised my healing pheromones a little more strongly.

It wasn’t a deep kiss involving tongues, but a joining of lips solely to convey each other’s pheromones.

“…Ha.”

A short breath escaped from him as he slightly parted his lips. Subsequently, Ahin pressed the back of my head as if he was suffering from an unquenched thirst. His fingers dug through my hair.

The sound of mingling breaths in the quiet air made my senses sharpen. While Ahin’s breathing gradually found a regular rhythm, I exhaled short breaths between my lips.

Time passed to the point where my knees, which were on the floor, felt numb.

Finding it too much to bear any longer, I slowly straightened my head. The sound of our soft lips parting after being together for a long time echoed.

I saw languidly relaxed red eyes. Perhaps because I had pushed in a vast amount of healing pheromones, it seemed to have brought the effects of anesthesia or sleep as well.

Unable to gauge my own expression, I touched my cheek with the back of my hand. Expecting it to be reddish from the heat, I moved my lips.

“…Are you feeling a little better?”

Ahin, who answered with a defenseless smile, moved the hand that was pressing the back of my head to my cheek. His thumb lightly rubbed across my moist lower lip.

Soon, his eyelids slowly closed as he dropped his arm onto the sofa.

Ahin fell into a slumber with a disheveled appearance that I had never seen before. Still holding my wrist in his hand.

* * *

Most territory leaders generally pass the throne to the next leader after middle age.

However, the Rabbit Territory had a long-standing custom that deviated slightly from universality. The throne would only pass to the next leader when the current leader passed away.

The leader of the Rabbit Territory, Heber Amon, had passed all power to his children and was spending a relatively prosperous and leisurely old age with only honor remaining. Except when his aide interfered with his cocoa drinking.

“Your Excellency, this is your last cup for today.”

Amon, the leader, who was putting sugar cubes in his warm cocoa, glared with her thinly slit eyes.

“You didn’t say anything when I enjoyed several cups with Grace yesterday. I’m seeing things; there are times when you yield. Is that young black panther scarier than me?”

The aide, for whom ignoring was a daily routine thanks to years of experience, drew the curtains in the reception room.

“The servants are being noisy.”

It was a bustling morning. Because flames soared in the back garden of the banquet hall last night, the atmosphere of the mansion was still uneasy even after daybreak.

“They made such a grand candle for this old man’s birthday. It brings tears to my eyes.”

“It’s fortunate that there were no casualties.”

In the end, Leader Amon’s birthday banquet had to end early. The nobles of the Rabbit Territory left the mansion after going through a simple procedure, and the only ones left were nobles from other territories.

“Excuse me.”

The conversation between the two was interrupted by the presence of an employee. Aven, who had braved the discourtesy from early morning, was guided into the reception room. She bowed deeply to Leader Amon, who was sitting in the seat of honor.

“I greet the esteemed leader.”

“Sit down. So, what important business brings you here so early in the morning?”

Leader Amon, who had his hands on his plump belly, wore a good-natured smile. After exchanging simple greetings, Aven immediately got to the point.

“Have you completed the investigation into the fire in the back garden last night?”

“This old man is just sitting in his seat as a figurehead, so the investigation is being done by members of the family. They will be considering the possibility of spontaneous combustion since the weather is dry.”

Leader Amon, who was putting sugar cubes in her second cup of cocoa, squinted.

The aide, who was waiting far away, shook his head. It meant absolutely not.

Ignoring the signal, Leader Amon downed the cocoa, saying that it would be a big problem if her sugar levels dropped.

“It would be nice if it was a little sweeter.”

Aven, who was facing an unassuming elderly woman, was inwardly bitter. It was her first personal meeting with Leader Amon, but she didn’t seem like a very trustworthy person compared to her old reputation. The sight of her watching the aide’s every move and pouring cocoa into her mouth further fueled Aven’s distrust.

Should she have looked for the next leader instead of Leader Amon? She felt a brief moment of regret, but she steeled her heart.

Even though she looked like that, she was the target that the next leader was fawning over, and since the purpose was just to tie up Ahin Grace’s feet and buy time, it didn’t matter who she met.

To be precise, it was Vivi’s feet that had to be tied up. So that she couldn’t leave for the Black Panther Territory.

“Actually, I came to talk about the fire. As someone who was in the back garden at the time, I would like to give my testimony.”

She smiled softly as she handed Leader Amon her share of sugar cubes, avoiding the aide’s gaze.

* * *

The conversation didn’t last long.

Leader Amon, who was watching Aven’s back as she left the reception room, picked up her third cup. A sweet scent spread from the cocoa, which had Aven’s share of sugar cubes added.

“Not only was an uninvited guest at the banquet hall, but it felt like someone artificially caused the explosion. The prestige of the Amon family is not good.”

The aide, who naturally took the cocoa cup and put it down, nodded.

“If it wasn’t spontaneous combustion as Mrs. Rabian testified, the problem will get bigger. Hmm, how does Mrs. Rabian know that the rabbit beastman who was at the fire scene is an uninvited guest?”

“Wasn’t the testimony given on the condition that she wouldn’t be questioned? Instead of sending apology gifts to the invited guests who attended the banquet, we should be asking for cooperation in the investigation.”

“Don’t talk like it’s someone else’s business. Ahin Grace was mentioned, of all people.”

“What’s with you being so proactive? You seem to have a particularly hard time with Grace?”

The aide, who had gone through all sorts of hardships, was someone who didn’t even raise an eyebrow at most things.

“To be exact, it’s uncomfortable. In the first place, this fire,”

“Hush, watch your mouth. Who knows? There might be a beastman who has turned into a mouse or a bird listening.”

The reception room of an aristocratic family was built in a structure that small animals could not enter. Knowing that, the aide frowned, unnecessarily looking around once.

“Anyway, I’ve been uncomfortable with that person since before. It feels like I’m being played in the palm of their hand.”

“I understand what you mean, so stop emphasizing it. Anyway, please convey this matter well to the members of the family. This old man doesn’t think he can attend the meeting. My hands are shaking because my sugar levels are dropping.”

Leader Amon, who spoke cheerfully compared to the importance of the matter, crossed the reception room with hurried steps.

The aide, who watched her leave while rubbing her bulging belly, sighed deeply. The three teacups containing cocoa were empty.

* * *

The warm sunlight tickled my face.

“Ugh-….”

A groan that never came out came out. I frowned in my sleep and opened my eyes, avoiding the sunlight.

Whether it was because I was still in human form, my bad sleeping habits hadn’t changed, and the unfamiliar ceiling was the first thing I saw because I was lying sprawled out.

‘A bed…?’

I seemed to have fallen asleep leaning against the sofa while putting a cold towel on Ahin. As I pondered the events of the past dawn, I lay on my side, resting my arm.

Compared to me, who seemed to be taking up the entire bed, Ahin, the patient, was lying diagonally, taking up only the minimum amount of space.

Did he wake up in the middle and move me to the bed?

Carefully reaching out, I touched Ahin’s forehead. His fever had gone down, and his skin had regained its color, perhaps because he was feeling a little better.

Lying in the same position and looking at him, I inadvertently caught sight of his plump lips.

I couldn’t take my eyes off his closed, red lips, and I rubbed my own. My chest ached rather than fluttered.

I could no longer deny the feelings that grew stronger with each passing moment. Having vaguely recognized them, the acceptance was calm.

The meticulously built sandcastle in my heart was collapsing because of Ahin, who surged in like a wave.

Since when had it started? Perhaps the sandcastle had been gradually eroding since the day he called my name.

Still, I tried so hard not to become a shameless rabbit. I never forgot my place.

Different clans, a gap in status as a bonus, and a position that was neither food nor pet. Moreover, the most ambiguous thing was that I wasn’t human.

I kept reminding myself that I couldn’t stay by Ahin’s side in this form, in this relationship, forever.

Even the frog prince in the fairy tale could only achieve love when he became a complete human. The wall of reality, not a fairy tale, was bound to be excessively high.

Ahin’s attitude had become noticeably softer compared to the beginning… Was it affection as a pet, or did it stem from a superficial possessiveness that included my abilities?

‘But I’m not curious about what’s in his head.’

If I carelessly peeked into his messed-up mind, wouldn’t my own spirit become devastated?

As I was lost in thought, staring blankly, I finally realized that both of us were a mess.

Needless to say, I, who had been rolling around in the garden in a dress, was a sight, and Ahin was also wearing a shirt with the buttons haphazardly undone.

He usually dresses neatly with a cravat [a type of necktie] and handkerchief when wearing light armor. The problem was that he was strangely sloppy only when he slept.

A conversation was possible, and it was necessary to thoroughly warn him about the dangers of this Bibi today.

‘The blanket, the blanket…’

As I stealthily pulled up the blanket, I narrowed my eyes at Ahin’s neck, which was revealed through the collar of his shirt.

Soon, realizing what it was, I was seized with horror.

‘What, what is that!’

The bite marks on the area I had bitten in the early morning remained as somewhat suggestive traces.

It was clearly different from the fang marks Ahin had left on my neck as scars. My pupils trembled madly as I stared at the red, sunken bite marks.

‘…I have to treat it.’

Definitely, under any circumstances. Even if it meant turning back into a baby rabbit.

If the doctor or someone else saw those marks, I wouldn’t have enough holes to hide in. Moreover, I couldn’t even allow Ahin to check it in the mirror.

‘I’m glad I found it first.’

It would be a little easier if I were a rabbit, but I, who was skilled in stealthy movements, reached out my arm while holding my breath.

Thump, my hand, which touched the collar of Ahin’s shirt, trembled like a spasm. Unable to bring myself to touch the bite marks, I carefully pulled down the collar of his shirt.

The moment I raised my pheromones with my trembling hand, I met Ahin’s eyes, who had opened them without me knowing when.

A profound silence passed. His blatant gaze went back and forth between my flushed face, outstretched arm, and the hand pulling on his collar. His red eyes turned coldly.

“…You promised last time that you wouldn’t touch me, even by accident, when I’m sleeping.”

It didn’t take long for Ahin’s face to be stained with contempt and scorn. Shaken, I shook my head so hard that my cheeks jiggled.

“No, it’s not like that. I-… I was going to erase the wound on your neck….”

“……”

“I bit you… in the early morning….”

It was a stammering excuse that even I didn’t know what I wanted to say. My eyes and earlobes were burning. My face was flushed as if it would explode, and I must have looked like someone caught trying to do something suspicious.

“It’s okay.”

When Ahin calmly buttoned up his shirt and turned his back on me, I almost burst into tears. His broad back was swept by a cold wind as if expressing disconnection.

“Ahin, please listen to me.”

I hurriedly got off the bed and ran in the direction he was looking.

Looking closely, Ahin was biting his lip so hard that it was red with blood, covering his eyes as if trying to hold back laughter.

Clenching my fist tightly, I picked up a pillow. Regardless of my wavering heart, I hated Ahin today, separately from such feelings. I wanted to destroy him.

* * *

After a war-like morning, I finished getting ready with the help of a maid.

The maid with purple eyes fixed a red ribbon on my half-tied hair, saying it was popular among noble young ladies these days.

Meanwhile, Ahin had breakfast waiting on the table in the guest room. I could tell that the menu, such as potato stew that could be easily eaten with a spoon and sandwiches that could be picked up by hand, was tailored to me.

Just as I was about to have breakfast, I felt a heavy weight on my thigh. I, who was about to spread cream on a croissant, lowered my gaze.

Ash, whom Evelyn had brought, was blinking with his head resting on my lap. His eyes, looking at the croissant, were pitiful, like a black panther caught in the rain.

The red collar around Ash’s neck made me feel uneasy.

Even though I couldn’t leave him alone recklessly because he had caused a commotion yesterday… Feeling sorry, I ended up secretly offering him the croissant in my hand. Ash ate it in one bite.

“Ash has already eaten enough, so take care of yourself first.”

Ahin, who was sitting across from me, advised. Dressed in black light armor, he had been smiling brightly since earlier, as if he was so happy about something.

Seeing him like that, it seemed like he had fully recovered. I, who was planning to be cold today because of the morning incident, silently picked up a new croissant.

‘What to do.’

Let alone sharing the unsaid stories, it seemed like the pheromone outburst yesterday wasn’t a one-time thing.

As I was pondering, various dishes were pushed in front of me. Ahin left only cocoa in front of him and pushed almost all the dishes towards me.

“That’s strange.”

I glanced at Ahin, who was talking to himself, while biting into a croissant.

“When you were a rabbit, I inflated you like a ball, but does that not apply when you turn into a human?”

“Who’s a ball,”

I almost got caught up in it, but I shut my mouth.

“There’s less to eat than I thought.”

The soft croissant I was holding was crushed like paper. It was a barbaric remark that was hard to tell whether it was a joke or not, no matter how many times I heard it.

I glared and trembled my lips. The danger of the fangs, which I realized this dawn, contributed to the fear.

“Bibi,”

“A damn beast?”

“……”

“I was thinking about it yesterday too, but that word sounds a little exciting.”

Ahin smiled brightly with his chin resting on his hand.

“Say it again.”

He was hopeless. He had been on the verge of life and death all morning, and it seemed like his soul had left and only his body had survived. I gave up on a normal reaction and continued eating while ignoring him.

Ahin, who had been watching me eat for a while, said.

“Tell me the route you took to get here. The Amon leader will ask about Ash causing a commotion.”

Here it comes. I put down my spoon and chose my words.

“It’s nothing much, Rune….”

Ahin’s brow furrowed slightly at the word Rune. I quickly corrected the title faster than light.

“-I was a little indebted to the lion.”

“I figured.”

He dropped a sugar cube into the cocoa and stirred it.

Compared to me speaking carefully considering my relationship with Rune, Ahin didn’t particularly show any displeasure. Gaining courage from that, I easily opened my mouth.

“I received a little help from the south gate of the Boundary Forest. When passing through the mansion….”

“Talk while eating.”

Ahin kindly offered me a croissant with cream. Under the unspoken pressure, I took a bite and continued.

“Ash came in as Rune, no, the lion’s pet, and I was hiding separately.”

“Where?”

“…In his inner pocket.”

Ahin, who had asked, was busy melting sugar in his cocoa. He stirred the teaspoon and asked a beat later.

“Yeah, and.”

“When I arrived, it was too late at night, so I was going to stay for one day and go to you the next day.”

“In the lion’s bedroom?”

I nodded in agreement, and somehow the wording felt strange. I felt Ahin’s blatant gaze. Feeling quite embarrassed, I quickly added.

“I was a rabbit then.”

“Continue.”

He answered in the same low voice as usual and continued to stir the cocoa.

“Then I smelled the lion’s pheromones, but I didn’t understand his gestures that he was about to turn into a human and fell asleep….”

“Gestures?”

“Just. …He shook his paws.”

I couldn’t say that I danced because I was embarrassed. I shook my hands back and forth as if shaking my paws and immediately continued.

“When I woke up in my current form, I was in a room that wasn’t being used, whether Ash had moved me or not. Then I met Professor Jinan.”

“Professor Jinan is,”

“A medical officer from Endelus. She said she came because she had a connection with the leader of the rabbit territory,”

I stopped talking for a moment and asked sharply.

“You knew each other, right?”

Ahin tapped the table with his fingers and nodded.

“Only by face.”

“…Anyway. Thanks to that, I was able to pass through the entrance of the banquet hall with the help of Professor Jinan and Rune, no, the lion. Ash couldn’t enter the banquet hall, so I left him in Restin’s guest room for a while.”

“You really never know where you’re going to bounce.”

As Ahin said, I had done more than I thought. I mumbled, feeling embarrassed that I had claimed it wasn’t a big deal.

“From then on, it’s as Ahin saw it.”

“There’s nothing more?”

Ahin, with his chin propped up, wore an innocent smile.

“More like···?”

It was a very meaningful smile. Was he asking for more details about my mother? I rolled my eyes, not sure what answer he wanted.

“I smelled a dirty lion smell when I ran into you in the garden.”

‘Rune’s smell?’

“It’s still a little bit on you.”

From what I’ve seen so far, imprinting a scent requires contact. Even then, I was on full alert, so there’s no way I wouldn’t have known if he had released pheromones to imprint the scent.

‘Wait a minute.’

I opened and closed my mouth, and then I remembered when Rune grabbed my wrist right before we parted.

‘That’s when it was.’

When I was nervous because I might meet someone from the Rabian family. When I think about it, I felt subtly less nervous after that.

‘Is it related to his pheromones?’

I inadvertently looked down at my wrist and realized. The wrist that Ahin had been obsessively grabbing all morning was the part that Rune had held.

“……”

Just as I thought the atmosphere was getting strange, Evelyn, who had received permission to enter, came in.

“Ahin, it seems you need to attend a meeting urgently.”

“I’m busy, you attend as a substitute.”

“It’s impossible because it’s a meeting only high-ranking people attend.”

“Then I’ll be absent. I have something to argue with Bibi about right now.”

What do you have to argue about? An ominous feeling enveloped my whole body.

‘Bibi, if you come back with that smell one more time, then…’

No…! For the first time in a long time, my terrible memory reminded me of Ahin’s warning.

“Is it a more important matter than the meeting?”

“…Bibi is having an affair with a lion again.”

Ahin, who had already teared up, collapsed on the table. He meant that he had gained Evelyn as an ally.

“Rabbit.”

Evelyn’s disappointed gaze turned to me. I shook my head, pale.

“Evelyn, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“See, even her lines are suspicious.”

A tearful voice flowed from the prostrate Ahin.

“Certainly… Drooping eyes symbolize promiscuity.”

Are you crazy? My eyes have always been like this. Suppressing my anger, I glared to raise my lowered eyes even a little.

“She’s glaring again. She only shows such brazen attitude every time.”

“It’s a characteristic of those who are naturally promiscuous. It’s not a brazenness that Ahin can handle, so steel yourself for the future.”

Who’s brazen? She was slandering me as if it were true.

Let alone Ahin, Evelyn was a more consistent person than I thought.

I thought that if I turned into a human, she might be a little shaken and find it difficult to deal with me. She was taking the same attitude, shattering my hopes.

But there was something the two of them overlooked. This Bibi was no longer the baby rabbit who couldn’t say anything and only kicked her hind legs.

I stood up from my seat, determined not to endure it today. It was time to show them a taste of their own medicine.

* * *