The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 58

The Grayce family’s banquet, noticeably missing its key figures, drew to a close.

Having accomplished her mission of exposing the cheating rabbit’s true nature, Evelyn was escorted back to the bedroom with Ash and Bara.

Thud, thud. Ahin, in his nightgown, moved across the bedroom. Evelyn, whose reflection he caught in the mirror, seemed to radiate perfect beauty as always.

“Good night, Bara.”

Bara, lounging on his cushion, followed Ahin’s gaze as it lingered on the rabbit’s ‘slave’.

Evelyn settled at Ahin’s desk and opened his diary, a part of his daily routine. Starting from his birthday, Ahin had apparently fallen completely under the rabbit’s control, according to his secret entries. He then turned his head towards the terrace.

At the end of his gaze, Ash, unusually agitated, was scratching at the closed terrace door.

“Ash, what’s wrong?”

Bara snorted at the polite question.

To think that Ash, who had gained the rabbit’s trust, was being addressed with the honorific ‘-nim’ [a polite suffix in Korean]. He was like a bat, thoroughly embracing the principle of survival of the fittest.

Soon, Bara sauntered towards the terrace and tried to guide Ash, who was being stubborn. This wasn’t surprising, as he often did this when Ahin wanted to visit the rabbit.

However, Ash remained rooted to the spot, persistently waving his front paws at the terrace door.

“Ash.”

Evelyn, having closed the diary, knelt down beside Ash.

“There are still many guests in the mansion, so night walks aren’t allowed… Ugh!”

Smack. Evelyn groaned as he was struck in the face by a tail. But Ash paid no attention, continuing to knock on the glass as if demanding the door be opened immediately.

“You can’t be so stubborn.”

Ash didn’t even acknowledge Evelyn’s words, instead, he grew even more agitated.

He was strangely anxious.

Was it because the rabbit had encountered so many potential predators today? Or was it primarily due to the nightmare he’d had during his nap?

Normally, even if Bibi ‘died’ [referring to Bibi’s ability to revive], Ash would lick her, and she would quickly come back to life, surprising him. Even during his naps, a nudge would rouse her, and she would groggily stroke Ash’s black fur.

But Bibi hadn’t woken up in his dream. It was a heartbreaking dream where he licked a baby rabbit bleeding profusely, but she didn’t even stir.

Evelyn frowned as he watched Ash scratching the glass so intensely that it was becoming marred. He noticed the fur beneath Ash’s eyes was wet with tears.

Bara, who had just noticed the tears, was shocked and shoved Evelyn away with a thud.

“He’s telling you to open the door!” Bara, enraged, began to ram the terrace door as if he would break it down.

‘…Strange.’

A sudden, inexplicable sense of foreboding washed over Evelyn, prompting him to dust off his gown and rise.

The idea that animals possess much stronger primal instincts than beastmen flashed through his mind, like birds and mice predicting natural disasters and fleeing.

“Wait, let’s go together after I get dressed.”

As he turned towards the dressing room, Ash and Bara, misinterpreting his actions as an attempt to escape, growled and tugged at his gown. As a result, Evelyn tripped and fell, further entangling himself in his gown.

“Just a moment, I really don’t like being stripped naked.”

And please let go of this gown, as it’s my favorite. He struggled desperately, but the gown, torn by the fangs of the two black panthers, was rapidly deteriorating into rags.

* * *

Having returned to the bedroom from the indoor greenhouse, I glanced at Ahin, who was standing beside me.

He was wearing two flowers stuck firmly in his ear, with a single-minded determination to salvage even the remnants of the ruined bouquet.

Seeing that he was completely crazy, it meant he was no different from usual… Nevertheless, a sense of incongruity of unknown origin kept washing over me.

Was it because of the regret over the subtle atmosphere that had suddenly been cut off in the indoor greenhouse?

I, who had been secretly observing him, lowered my gaze in embarrassment. It was because of Ahin’s upper body, which was vaguely revealed through the three or four unbuttoned buttons.

‘This…!’

Even if he overlooked the danger of me turning into a human, there was a limit. He was a ferocious beast who could shake the country with his defenselessness alone.

Barely suppressing the heat rising to my face, I fiddled with my chapped lips.

It was because Ahin wouldn’t leave my lips alone, so I hadn’t been able to tell him yet that a cold sore mark had appeared.

How can I convey it in a way that will shatter Ahin’s relaxed expression? Because my mouth kept itching, my heels were naturally bouncing up and down.

“Bibi, I’m dizzy.”

Only then did I realize that I had been circling around him, and I took a step back.

As expected, beating around the bush didn’t suit me. Just as I was about to tell him about the cold sore mark with a determined expression, Ahin opened his mouth first.

“I’ll go to the office for a bit, there are things I need to take care of.”

“What is it?”

“Confidential documents. Yuan doesn’t know the location, so I think I’ll have to go myself.”

He subtly took off the flower crown on my head and placed it on the table before turning his back.

“Go to sleep first.”

Step, step. Two footsteps echoed in the bedroom. Ahin, who had stopped in front of the door, turned around and furrowed his brow.

“-Why are you following me?”

“Let’s go together.”

“I’ll be back soon?”

“Evelyn and Yuan aren’t here either, so it’ll be boring to walk in the hallway alone.”

“You’ll catch a cold if you wander around at night for no reason.”

If that’s the case. I kicked my feet as if bouncing and went into the dressing room, which had become exclusively mine.

It didn’t even take thirty seconds to grab a white cloak and stand next to Ahin.

“You won’t catch a cold if you wear this.”

I approached him stealthily and stood side by side with him.

Ahin, who glanced at the cloak in my arms, gave me a crooked smile as if he could see right through me. Nevertheless, as if he was going to abandon me, he coldly snatched the cloak away.

“I told you to just stay in the bedroom.”

“You used to always put me in your pocket and take me with you…”

If you know I’m doing this because I don’t want to be apart from you, please pretend you don’t know. I, with a fierce look, roughly hugged Ahin from behind.

“…I’ll bite you if you don’t let go.”

Ahin said harshly, but he couldn’t shake off the arms around his waist. A low sigh was heard from the front.

‘What’s so wrong with going together?’

Puffing out air, I rubbed my forehead against his broad back. The night breeze and his unique fragrance lingered on the tailcoat where I buried my nose.

Could it be that Ahin is as nervous as I am? I could hear his heart beating wildly.

“Bibi.”

“…Why?”

“Just because.”

How bland. With my face flushed, I stopped fidgeting and carefully buried my cheek on his back.

Ticking, ticking, the sound of the clock’s second hand filled the silence.

It feels like today has been a very long day. Thinking that, my body relaxed. Ahin seemed to be the same, as his voice sounded more languid than usual.

“Bibi.”

“Why?”

“Are you still afraid of black panthers?”

“No, I’m not scared anymore.”

“Are you betting the rabbit’s liver on it?” [A playful expression, like ‘are you serious?’]

“…Uh-huh.”

A strange answer that was neither affirmative nor negative came out.

Just as I was feeling a bit of self-reproach, Ahin placed his hand over mine, which was wrapped around him. I was forced to maintain the embrace from behind as he strengthened the hand covering my hand. I glared fiercely.

“Let go of this!”

“I’m glad I was the first to find the basket.”

“What…”

“I’m glad I could pick up Bibi.”

Words I didn’t expect flew like arrows and pierced my heart. How can you do this without warning? Thinking that he was acting like a black panther who lives according to the flow of consciousness, I bit my lip tightly.

“Would you still pick me up if we went back to that time?”

“I’d have to put you in my mouth and bring you back.”

“I really hate it.”

“That word is more exciting than I thought.”

Ahin, who laughed lowly, continued.

“Anyway, don’t think too hastily about humanization. I’m okay with you being any form.”

“Even a baby rabbit…?”

“Yeah.”

“Even a human?”

“Sure.”

“…Even if I go back and forth as I please?”

“You’re already doing that as you please anyway, Bibi.”

Could there be anyone else in the world besides Ahin who would accept my imperfect self completely? With a choked throat, I buried my forehead deeply on his solid back.

“Ahin.”

Perhaps now is the best time to tell him about the signs of humanization.

“Actually, behind my neck-…,”

It was a moment. I was suddenly pushed away by his arm and staggered backward.

Losing my balance, I plopped down on the carpet. But I had no time or mind to feel the pain.

Surely just now, the dominant pheromones were fluctuating from Ahin’s body that was touching me.

‘Pheromone surge.’

Without delay, I got up and approached him.

“Ahin!”

Pak. Ahin, who covered my mouth, strongly pushed away my hand trying to grab his arm. I, who faltered for a moment, clutched my tingling hand.

“…Don’t come.”

He coughed, moving backward as if trying to distance himself.

The moment Ahin’s mouth and hands were stained with red blood, my thoughts were paralyzed as if hit in the head with a hammer.

* * *

The night after the bustling banquet was rather quiet compared to other times. Perhaps it was like the calm before the storm.

A foggy, chilly night. Evelyn, barely dressed in a shirt and pants, had no time to feel the cold.

“Please calm down. I’m a civil official, so my stamina is weak.”

He said in a pleading tone, holding onto the tails of Ash and Bara, who were dashing through the mansion’s garden.

That’s because the place these two were heading to was none other than the direction of Ahin’s bedroom terrace. He was almost being dragged along, but he couldn’t let go of their tails.

“We must go to the entrance and get Ahin’s permission. This kind of visit may not let us see the sun tomorrow.”

To Ash and Bara, who were advancing, Evelyn was just an unnecessary burden.

Should we abandon him?

Let’s do it.

The two black panthers, who exchanged glances, cornered him.

“…Why are you two driving me into the corner more and more?”

Soon, a one-sided beating using their front paws and tails began. Evelyn, who defended his head with his arms,

“Unlike Ahin, I don’t like being beaten, ugh, just not the face.”

He tried hard to argue, but there was no way it would work.

While his glossy black hair was turning into a mess, a feather fluttered and fell to the ground.

“Queen!”

Queen, who had just returned from the bear territory, was sitting on a tree right next to him.

“Please stop these two.”

‘Why should I?’

Queen, who chose to stand by, sang a song of joy, beeping. Even the passing guard knights pretended not to see and quickened their pace.

“It seems these two are planning to break into Ahin’s bedroom. Even for Queen, who has to report if the lord’s mood worsens, it wouldn’t be good.”

Evelyn, who was about to have his clothes torn soon, coaxed him gently, and only then did Queen, who had become quite serious, stop singing.

‘That’s absolutely not allowed.’

How long has it been since the strawberry ban was lifted?

Queen, who was contemplating whether to offer a helping beak to Evelyn, suddenly recalled an unwelcome voice.

‘Watch me, not Bibi.’

The piercing eyes of the hawk reached Ash, who was particularly agitated. There was no way a black panther, who was busy performing tricks in front of the damn rabbit, would act like this for no reason. Queen, who had a serious expression, spread his wings and flew high.

“…Queen?”

Not only Ash but even Queen was showing a strange reaction. With a sense of unease wrapping around his legs, Evelyn, who was staring blankly at the sky, ended up losing Ash and Bara.

* * *

He should have left the bedroom even if it meant shaking off Bibi, who was making a fuss with the cloak. Ahin regretted the mistake of judging that there was still some time left before the seizure.

In a hurry, he threw open the bathroom’s middle door and rushed in, locking the doorknob. Each time he repeated coughing, bright red blood stained his palm.

He had to go to the inner door where the internal situation was not visible, but his legs gave way and he slid down, leaning against the glass door. His throat was filled with the stench of blood.

‘…I’m coughing up blood for the first time.’

In his fading vision, a younger version of himself was depicted, throwing open the heavy door.

‘Father…?’

Edith, collapsed in a room no one used.

The blood flowing from her mouth smeared her chin.

Get out, an unfamiliar hand that pushed away the young Ahin while panting.

Edith’s beautiful blonde hair, soaked in the blood he spat out, and the dropped rabbit doll.

Although the scenes were fragmented, the memories that had never faded made Ahin’s hands and feet cold.

Facing the blood visible to the naked eye, the shadow of death, which had not been particularly felt, was clearly cast.

Nevertheless, Ahin stared at the blood that soaked his hands with indifferent eyes.

It was something he had half given up on for over ten years anyway. Whether it was death or whatever, it didn’t matter much even if it became clear.

He was just annoyed that he had to endure this excruciating moment of pain, as if his blood vessels were burning.

Thud. Ahin’s body vibrated along with the impact of the glass shaking strongly for a moment.

As he tilted his body sideways, he saw Bibi sitting down and knocking on the glass door. Her white face was already covered in tears as if someone had died.

* * *