The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 46

The carriage, moving at a steady pace, had entered the forest bordering the Rabbit Territory, the gateway to the Black Leopard Territory.

With my hands neatly folded in my lap, I subtly signaled to Queen using my eyebrows. I needed to keep Queen quiet, as he had witnessed my conversation with Rune.

‘Is a simple chat with Rune really such a big deal?’ Even as I felt a surge of annoyance, I worried whether Ahin would hear about it.

When I raised my right eyebrow in a warning, Queen scoffed. Whether in animal or human form, he was always blunt and irritating.

‘Figures.’

It seemed too easy for him to enter the underground prison, even if he was Ahin’s messenger bird. As Ahin’s closest confidant, possessing reason, he bypassed all formalities at the entrance.

“Rabbit, your cheek is pressed against the wall. The carriage wall is thick, but you’ll catch a cold if you stay like that,” Ivelin said calmly, his eyes still fixed on the documents. I realized I had unknowingly retreated into the corner during my intense staring contest with Queen. Straightening up, I cleared my throat.

“Queen, how did he become Ahin’s vassal?”

“Um, am I allowed to say?”

At Ivelin’s question, Queen stomped his foot once. Ivelin, seemingly accustomed to this, deftly moved his leg to avoid the kick.

“He doesn’t say anything unnecessary. I’ll speak for him instead.”

So, did that mean that damned rabbit was considered necessary? Queen had an uncanny ability to make the corners of that damned rabbit’s eyes twitch in annoyance.

“Rabbit, have you ever looked closely at the scar on Bara’s eye?”

“Bara’s eye, you mean…”

Naturally, the scar that ran across one of Bara’s eyes came to mind. It looked like an old mark, but I hadn’t exactly had a close look at the Black Leopard’s face. When I shook my head, Ivelin tapped his own eye.

“Queen made that scar several years ago.”

“That scar?”

“Queen, after inflicting the injury, was left half-dead in a blaze of glory.”

“…Don’t tell me you attacked the Black Leopard in hawk form?”

“Yes. Isn’t he foolish?”

We, having exchanged questions, made an effort to avoid Queen’s increasingly fierce gaze.

“He didn’t even have the strength to return to human form, so Ahin picked him up when he would have died if left alone.”

Ahin really picks up all sorts of strays. I couldn’t bring myself to say it aloud, so I simply nodded.

“Since then, Queen has been going back and forth to Grace Manor of his own accord. He doesn’t even listen to the Valence family head’s orders, only Ahin’s.”

Ivelin, who had explained in a monotonous voice, held out a fruit basket. He watched me choose a piece of fruit with indifferent eyes.

“So, I was a little surprised when Ahin picked you up, Rabbit. He threw Queen away as soon as he brought him in, but he always kept you in his pocket. Right?”

Queen, who had been staring blankly at the fruit basket, nodded vaguely. Having received his confirmation, Ivelin suddenly said ominously.

“You’ve gotten caught up in something bad.”

“Oh, really. …What?”

Why was he suddenly saying something so terrible when things seemed to be going well?

“You should have run away as soon as you were saved, the moment you were picked up.”

“Why, why?”

Even though I didn’t know the details, I felt a chill and dropped the apple I had picked up. The apple rolled away and disappeared into Ash’s mouth, who was rolling around on the floor.

“I’ve never seen Ahin apologize before today. A man who would never bend his stiff neck in his entire life.”

“……”

“That’s when I realized. If you try to run away now, you’ll end up as a salad with chicory. Poor Rabbit.”

Ivelin pretended to cry, even though he didn’t look particularly sad. I tried to ignore him, but even Queen, who had been listening idly, nodded seriously this time.

‘What….’

Even if it was a joke, everything mentioned so far had been cooked dishes like rabbit stew or steak.

But wasn’t salad raw? Realizing that the menu selection had become even more brutal, I hugged the innocent fruit basket.

“That’s too cruel, ack!”

Krrr-

With Ash’s throat rumbling as he jumped up, the carriage suddenly stopped abruptly. Ivelin and Queen moved to shield me as I staggered from the impact.

The stopped carriage was enveloped in a chilling silence. It was the calm before the storm. An excited Ash spun around in circles, bristling.

The moment I exhaled the breath I had been holding, a metallic scraping sound rang out from outside. It was a sound that froze me to the bone.

“Don’t tell me it’s wolves like last time…!”

“Rabbit, calm down.”

Ivelin calmly restrained me as I panicked. At the same time, the coachman’s voice was heard from outside.

“Bandits are blocking the way. It seems like it will be taken care of soon, so please wait a moment.”

The coachman’s voice was calm, as if he were saying something trivial, much like Ivelin. Queen was also on alert, but it seemed he was only preparing for the worst, not intending to join the battle.

“Isn’t the Forest of Boundaries a known bandit camp? It seems we became a target because we were moving in small numbers. But the situation will be over soon, as it’s a group composed of the coachman and elite knights.”

Ivelin, who had seated me back in my place, reassured me in his usual voice. Rolling my eyes, I asked cautiously.

“Even if they’re just ordinary bandits… isn’t it dangerous?”

As soon as the question was finished, Ivelin’s eyes flashed sharply. He quickly grabbed the silk hat hanging on the carriage wall.

“Rabbit, you can take refuge inside this silk hat. There’s no time, hurry.”

“Ah, I underst… Don’t talk nonsense!”

Realizing belatedly that he was talking about my animal form, I shouted and then clapped my hand over my mouth.

Clang, clang, heuk, numerous footsteps and battle sounds were mixed together, but it felt like I was in another world because of the enclosed carriage.

Looking around the interior without any windows, I then turned to the right window. Click, at the same time, there was a sound of a hook being fastened from outside the window. It was a subtle sound that you wouldn’t notice if you didn’t concentrate.

‘…Why are they locking the window?’

Puzzled, I frowned. Who, and why, would lock the hook from the outside? It would make more sense to lock it from the inside. There’s no intention other than to prevent the window from being opened.

“Agh!”

Just in time, a scream rang out from outside, further confusing my already complicated mind. Gripping the Perenium [A magical bracelet] wrapped around my wrist tightly, I took a breath.

‘…It’s strange.’

The more I thought about it, the stranger everything was. Especially Ivelin, Queen, and the coachman’s attitudes, which didn’t match the current urgent situation. It was as if they had expected the attack, without even a hint of surprise.

‘…Don’t panic.’

Closing my eyes tightly, I was lost in thought.

What on earth is happening outside?

Usually, bandits would forcibly open the window, not secretly lock the latch. It didn’t make sense for it to be the work of bandits whose goal was money. In the first place, locking the hook from the outside could only be thought of as an intention to trap me.

‘It might be because they don’t want me to see outside.’

While I was making various assumptions, my mother’s anxious expression suddenly came to mind.

‘I can’t part with you like this. Follow your mother.’

If, just if, the purpose of this attack wasn’t money or anything else, but me. Wouldn’t the only person who would do such a thing be my mother? The fact that the attack happened just before leaving the Rabbit Territory lent credence to my guess.

As my thoughts reached this point, Ahin’s face flashed through my mind, and a new question arose.

Could Ahin, who is so quick-witted, not have foreseen this attack? And why did Ahin insist on staying alone in the Rabbit Territory?

‘What? You want me to go back first?’

‘Yeah, I have something to take care of.’

Mother, Ahin, attack. Mother, Ahin, attack….

‘Could it be… Ahin is trying to deal with Mother….’

Pounding my trembling thighs, I tried to judge calmly.

Actually, I had been wondering since Ahin, who had been clinging to me, tried to send me away first. The person who wouldn’t even let me wander around alone even at the head of Amon’s mansion.

Biting my lip until the blood rushed to it, I took out the letter Russell had given me from my pocket. Hiding the stiff paper well behind my back, I waited for the right moment.

As I quietly held my breath, I felt that Ivelin and Queen, who had been reassuring me that nothing would happen, were particularly on edge. The fact that Ivelin’s mouth was tightly shut was proof of that.

Thump, something collided with the carriage for a moment, and it vibrated so much that my body shook. In that instant, Ivelin and Queen’s guard was broken.

‘Now!’

Taking a deep breath, I shouted.

“Ash, salute!”

Semi-automatically, Ash sat down and brought his front paw to his forehead.

“Salute, what is this?”

While the two men’s attention was focused on Ash, I jumped up and inserted the letter through the gap in the window. As I lifted it up, there was a clicking sound as the latch opened.

“Rabbit, what are you doing…!”

At the same time as I threw open the window, the pheromones in my body writhed as if reacting. It was impossible to feel it in detail with my five senses, but it was a pheromone that I couldn’t mistake now that it was stimulating my own.

‘Dominant pheromones….’

This couldn’t have happened unless Ahin was here.

‘Why is Ahin, who should be at the mansion, here?’

Staring blankly out the window, I quickly turned around.

Queen and Ivelin were not scolding me for opening the window, but were secretly closing the distance. Rather than questioning my actions, they seemed intent on preventing me from doing anything rash.

“D-don’t come closer.”

With the letter pointed like a sword, I glared with bloodshot eyes. The shadows created by the two tall men were quite threatening.

“I said don’t come any closer, both of you. Or else.” I tried to speak fiercely, but a soft voice came out. Swallowing the frustration that washed over me, I straightened the letter.

“Rabbit, why are you suddenly doing this?”

“…Ivelin, why are you acting like this? Tell me, Ahin is here, isn’t he?”

“Yes? Why would Ahin, who stayed at the mansion, be here?”

Ivelin answered without wavering and held out his hand.

“First, come over here, it’s dangerous.”

“If you don’t answer properly, I’ll have to check myself. I’m going to jump out the window.”

“…So this is the Rabbit’s impulsiveness that Ahin mentioned.”

Ivelin, with a rare look of embarrassment, stroked the back of his neck.

“Tell me what’s going on outside and what you’re trying to hide from me. Ahin is here, isn’t he?”

“If you come over here, I’ll explain everything. You’re trembling like an aspen.”

“…Rabbits always tremble. So don’t change the subject.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve been ordered to keep silent. I’m in a position where I can’t tell you anything, so I’d appreciate it if you would direct your criticism to Ahin.”

While parrying smoothly, the two men steadily closed the distance. Perhaps they were planning to knock me out if necessary. Rolling my eyes, I alternated between looking at them and played my trump card.

“Ivelin, if you lay a finger on me, I swear I won’t say a word to you for the rest of my life.”

“Yes? How can there be such a thing in the world?”

“You know how scary I am when I’m angry.”

Once, I was so angry at Ivelin’s taunts that I was furious. I immediately went into Ahin’s spare shoes [refused to acknowledge him] and ignored Ivelin all day.

Perhaps recalling that he had begged for forgiveness at the time, his complexion noticeably worsened.

“Queen, I don’t think it’s necessary to corner Rabbit like a villain.”

Without answering, Queen clicked his tongue and drew the dagger from his waist. Then Ivelin, with wide eyes, hurriedly grabbed his shoulder.

“We just need to safely cross over to the Black Leopard Territory, why are you drawing your sword?”

“Considering the possibility of her getting out of the carriage, it’s better to knock her out. That damned rabbit knows how to use her head more than you think.”

“Well, just looking at the speed at which she opened the window….”

Queen’s voice, which I heard for the second time, still had the damned rabbit mixed in.

Anyway, judging from the conversation between the two, there must be a secret outside the carriage. Hesitating, I deliberately made an unfair voice.

“K, knocking me out is too much, isn’t it?”

“…Yes, knocking her out is too much.”

Ivelin, who seemed to have softened, repeatedly dissuaded Queen.

“Even if we use the flat of the sword, you know how painful it is. And if Rabbit’s body is injured, our future will be injured as well.”

“Move.”

“Although it’s true that Rabbit is hiding insidious intentions, I can’t tolerate the sword. You might as well stab me and go.”

“……”

“No, why are you really pointing your sword at my neck? It’s dangerous, please put it away.”

I could vaguely guess why Ahin had put Queen by my side in human form. Compared to Ivelin, who would waver in this situation, Queen had no mercy.

But what they overlooked was,

‘Aim at the one who will release the pheromones, and think of shooting an arrow at the target.’

I had learned a kind of attack method.

‘…Can I do it?’

Gripping the Perennium [a device that helps control pheromones], I rummaged through the fruit basket with my other hand, the one Queen’s subtle gaze had been lingering on just moments ago.

“Queen.”

Tossing a strawberry, I momentarily diverted his attention. Simultaneously activating the Perennium, I rubbed my index finger and thumb together.

Snap!

The pheromone shot out, and Queen’s massive body collapsed. Just as I was about to revel in the joy of success, Ivelin, who was beside him, also fell, creating an unexpected variable.

‘…Why Ivelin too?’

I had clearly aimed at Queen. My eyes, which had been looking down in bewilderment, narrowed like a crow-tit’s [a small bird] as time passed.

‘He’s devilishly quick-witted.’

To decide to feign unconsciousness in that short moment. He hadn’t become an aide by chance.

Approaching Ivelin’s feet, I quietly murmured,

“Ivelin, this attack is only meant to target one object.”

No response came from him, his long eyelashes drooping.

“For the record, I aimed at Queen.”

“…Where did you learn such a techni—”

Snap. Without mercy, I rubbed my fingers together, and Ivelin’s head, which had been subtly moving, drooped.

Crouching down, I brought his head, which had turned to the side, back into place. The sight of him sleeping peacefully, without his usual dry expression, finally made Ivelin look his age.

“Ivelin?”

I pinched his nose and waited for a long time, but his lips didn’t open. He seemed completely lost in slumber.

‘This is too scary….’

I gasped intermittently, rubbing my chest. I was afraid of my own abilities, and my heart ached because I couldn’t even handle them.

Ivelin falling asleep meant that the healing pheromones were far superior to his neutralizing pheromones.

It wasn’t just that. The sensation passing through my blood vessels was much clearer than when I had first started learning pheromones.

Even though I used Perennium, I felt like Ahin’s dominant pheromones were still lingering on my fingertips.

I felt like I could use pheromones a few more times without turning back into a rabbit.

“…Sorry.”

I straightened the sleeping Ivelin’s position and took the dagger from Queen’s hand. The dagger, the length of my forearm, was small in size but had a sharp, gleaming blade.

Swallowing hard, I put the dagger in its sheath and tucked it into my arms. I had no intention of wielding it, but it was better than being empty-handed.

“Ash, come behind me.”

Creak, I carefully opened the carriage door and peeked out first. Ash bit and pulled on my clothes from behind to keep me from falling forward.

The forest’s unique pungent scent and the smell of the wind stimulated the tip of my nose. Ignoring the fear that was gnawing at my stomach, I loosened my wrist muscles.

The carriage was parked in the middle of the Boundary Forest. My mouth was dry, and I took a big look around.

I couldn’t see Ahin’s figure that I was looking for. Most of the Suin [beast-people] had fallen without injury, probably affected by his pheromones.

I was slightly relieved that there were no visible traces of blood, and I narrowed my eyes.

All that remained were the Suin of unknown origin who were facing off with swords, the coachman, and the two Grace family knights who had been escorting the carriage.

Wouldn’t it be better to fall asleep than to see blood?

“Wait.”

Stopping Ash, who was about to run out, I gathered pheromones at my fingertips.

Snap, snap, snap.

Each time my fingers rubbed together, the targeted Suin collapsed like paper dolls.

It was a sight that I still couldn’t believe was my own ability. I seriously considered whether to faint and wake up, but I diligently rubbed my fingers together.

Soon, all the Suin had fallen. Ash and I exchanged glances as if we had made a promise and slowly set foot on the ground.

“…Ahin, where are you?”

The only sound around the now-quiet carriage was the chirping of insects.

The darkening sky had already begun to turn to dusk.

I silenced my footsteps and stood in front of a Suin in black attire. His face was completely covered with a mask, making him look suspicious even with his eyes closed. After removing the black cloth and turning back his eyelids, pale purple eyes were revealed.

‘Rabbit Suin.’

What if they were really just ordinary bandits? For a moment, I was overcome with anxiety that I might have made a mistake, but that couldn’t be.

If that were the case, Queen and Ivelin wouldn’t have stopped me, and I wouldn’t have felt Ahin’s pheromones outside the window.

‘He’s definitely nearby.’

Sweat soaked into my clenched fist. The more I thought about it, the more muddled my head became, so wouldn’t I be able to find out everything once I found Ahin?

“Ash, you wait in the carriage.”

I rubbed my damp hands on my clothes and realized belatedly that Ash had disappeared.

“…Ash?”

Startled, I turned my head and saw a black tail wagging in the bushes in the distance.

“What’s wrong?”

Had he found something? Following him, I crawled and pushed through the dense bushes.

Pushing aside the last bush, I saw a tree of moderate size. At the end of a short rope connected to the tree, a familiar horse was tied.

‘A black horse?’

My approaching steps gradually turned into a run. The jewel on the black horse’s chest clearly proved that it was Jane, even from a distance. This confirmed that Ahin had come to this place and was still nearby.

“…Jane!”

As I ran towards Jane, I was startled by a rustling sound and stepped back.

“Eek!”

A white rabbit that jumped out of the bushes ran away like crazy as soon as it saw Ash. I watched its busy back with mixed feelings and narrowed my eyes.

‘That is….’

The bushes along the path where the rabbit ran away were clean, as if they had been cut with a sword. The marks on top of it, folded and crumpled as if someone had passed through, were connected to the depths of the forest.

* * *

Rabbit Territory Boundary Forest, not far from where Bibi’s carriage was, Aven sat in a car used for secret movement and straightened his back.

‘…It smells musty.’

The damp wood smell of the old car did not fit his class, but he did not feel bad.

Aven smiled contentedly, waiting only for Bibi to return to his arms.

His plan was flowing smoothly without any more issues.

‘I came to tell you about the sponsorship fire [a scandal].’

The testimony to the head of Amon was all about vague circumstances, but even that was bound to be suspected by Bibi. Since there was no confirmed identity, it was natural to be regarded as a suspicious person in the mansion.

Ahin Grace, who only felt annoying at first, was also a pretty good card.

As long as he was cheap, even if Bibi was suspicious, he didn’t have to keep in mind the possibility of being driven into treason.

If you drive someone related to Ahin Grace into treason, it was no different from making an enemy of the Black Panther Territory. On the side of the Rabbit Territory, which wants to maintain friendship, there was a high possibility that the fire itself would be quietly covered up rather than being pursued without confirmation.

In fact, the maximum he hoped for was to tie Bibi’s feet to the mansion, and I heard a report from Sejak that he was treated almost like a VIP. The ridiculous rumors about dancers and lions were likely to be deliberately inflated.

And even Ahin Grace, who did not like that, forcibly departed Bibi to the Black Panther Territory today.

It is the rule of the continent that once the territory boundary is crossed, it cannot be interfered with regardless of the tribe. It was clear that the purpose was to hide it before it was talked about any more.

According to the report, Bibi had to move quietly, so he moved with a small number of people, and Ahin Grace, who had to at least pay respects to the head of Amon, was said to have remained in the mansion.

Each of his moves created the best conditions for Aven.

Ahin Grace’s car could not be dared to be coveted, but the car he vacated had at least a chance of success. From the beginning, it felt reckless to attack the Grace family’s car itself, but if Bibi crossed over to the Black Panther Territory, it would be impossible to reverse it forever.

Therefore, now that Ahin Grace is missing, it is the first and last chance. Didn’t he hire people by bringing in a year’s worth of promissory notes paid by the family for him?

‘The remaining problem is….’

How much reaction Ahin Grace will show after losing Bibi. In other words, what kind of relationship were the two people?

‘Hmm.’

Even if he turned into a beast, it was impossible to regard him as a pet….

Aven, who was lying on the chair, recalled Bibi. It was a mysterious appearance that gave even a transparent feeling, including a fairly handsome appearance.

How likely is it to fall in love if a picked-up baby rabbit turns into a person with such an appearance?

It was a sweet story like a fairy tale, but the fact that the other person was Ahin Grace was a variable.

He was a man who had no affair to the point where rumors circulated that he could not be a pretext. However, nobles say this and that, but behind the scenes, they are sending marriage proposals every day. It was no wonder that news of the marriage would be heard soon.

Moreover, the Grace family has only had one partner since ancient times, although it is not a rule. Valence Grace, who lost her husband early, was not particularly taking in another husband.

Will such a family accept Bibi, who has no status or anything?

The part that immediately read the pheromones despite being a herbivorous beast is great, but it is only a trivial ability in the Grace family’s standards.

‘…I didn’t look like a playmate.’

The chilling murder that Ahin showed at the ballroom flashed through Aven’s mind. She shook her head as she recalled her vivid red eyes.

Even if it is love, isn’t it a heart that will soon fade? In the end, it was only a relationship that would be broken.

The wall of the tribe, even the instinctive aversion between herbivores and carnivores, was too great a gap in status.

Even if he chases Bibi right now, it was only a matter of putting him on the Lavian family’s register. No matter how much he wants to, he can’t arbitrarily take away a noble young lady from another territory.

“Aven!”

Aven’s eyebrows were displeasedly wrinkled due to the subordinate who opened the door without permission.

“How dare you, what are you doing?”

“You have to avoid the seat right now… Cough!”

The subordinate, who rolled his eyes and foamed at the mouth, collapsed to the floor. Aven, who looked down at him with astonishment, raised his head.

A tall man stood outside the car door. Aven, who felt like he had seen a hallucination that he would see when he was about to die, pointed to his eyes.

‘Oh, how….’

The person seen in the regained vision was Ahin Grace, who had brilliant silver hair and should never be encountered in this place.

“Come out.”

Ahin’s eyes, who found the person he was aiming for, were clearly bent.

“If you don’t like it, should I go in?”

Being alone in the car was something I absolutely wanted to avoid. Aven, whose back was chilly, grabbed her skirt and got off.

Standing at a distance, she recited as if warning in a trimmed voice.

“…No matter how much influence the Grace family has, threatening a nobleman from another territory cannot be taken lightly.”

Aven’s gaze hurriedly went around the surroundings, speaking with the minimum courtesy.

All the subordinates who had been placed were in a fallen state, and the boundary forest was sparsely populated. Moreover, it was a place far from the territory guard. It was a dilemma with no escape.

“Are you okay with instigating an attack on the Grace family’s carriage?”

“An attack? I don’t know anything about it.”

“Then I’ll pretend I don’t know that I attacked your carriage.”

“…Can’t you see the fallen coachman and subordinates? Stop playing with words.”

“The more you get rid of the wordplay, the less time you have to live.”

It was no different from meaning that he would deal with Aven in this place. She took a step back as she trimmed her breath.

“Do you think you can lightly get away with killing… harming a noble lady?”

“She won’t be a noble lady soon. Because the Lavian family will be destroyed.”

“…What?”

“I’m going to have them destroyed. Most of the children who are worthy of taking over the position of head of household and the next head of household have committed crimes.”

“What…! Nonsense,”

Rustle. At that time, the conversation was cut off by a rabbit that suddenly popped out of the bushes.

As it was Rabbit Territory, rabbits were released even in the Boundary Forest, but Ahin, who was strangely about to burst into laughter, tilted his body. Recently, his laughter has become extravagant, and his lips were cramping just by looking at the rabbit’s unique stupid expression.

Aven looked at Ahin, who was suddenly trembling, strangely. It was not easy to tell whether it was a tremor caused by anger or whether it was mocking her situation.

“Go.”

“…….”

“Aren’t you going?”

Ahin said coldly to the white rabbit that was looking around.

“I told you to go.”

Unfortunately, rabbits other than Bibi do not understand the meaning, so Ahin’s words were not even heard.

Even the rabbit, who was strolling around, sat down with his butt on the front of Ahin’s shoe. It seemed that his butt was cold because of the chilly weather.

He couldn’t dare to shake off the cotton wool that resembled Bibi with his feet. Ahin, who was staring silently at the rabbit yawning and nodding, faced Aven.

“Let’s continue.”

She was at a loss for words, but Ahin, who should have been embarrassed, was calm.

Aven, who kept muttering that he was a madman, suppressed the boiling inside. His tall height and the sword at his waist were oppressive, but the appearance that had become somewhat insignificant by putting a rabbit on his shoe was rather better.

* * *