The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 60

The Symbiotic Relationship Between a Rabbit and a Black Panther 7 (60/75)

Valens gave up his most comfortable bedroom for Bibi’s recovery.

Despite this, Bibi would become hysterical at the sight of any Carnivore-type Other [a being with animalistic traits and abilities categorized by diet] and would hide in a corner.

Therefore, the only ones who could freely enter and leave the bedroom were Lil and the Herbivore-type Other physician who had been urgently summoned.

Ash hadn’t eaten properly for the past few days and only guarded Valens’ bedroom. As the days passed, his body became emaciated and his nerves were on edge.

However, compared to Bibi, who was suffering from a high fever and repeatedly losing consciousness, it was nothing.

Ash, who had been dozing off while leaning on Bara, slowly opened his eyes. The clear emotion revealed in his bright yellow eyes was anger and murderous intent.

Ash looked up and alternately glanced at Mayme, who was standing in the hallway, and Evelyn, who was kneeling and asleep.

Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway. As the footsteps heard from afar grew closer, Ash lowered his body.

Grrr- As soon as Ahin appeared, Ash kicked off the ground and leaped. He twisted his body to avoid the sudden attack of the beast.

Thanks to this, Ash, who attacked the empty air, tumbled across the floor with his whole body. It was because he had no will or strength left to land.

Ash blinked slowly, lying limp.

He hated Ahin for hurting Bibi. He wished he had just died while lying down.

But he knew that Bibi would be sad if that happened, so he was upset and frustrated with his own situation, having to guard the hallway endlessly.

“Greetings, Ahin-nim. …I’m glad you’re safe.”

Mayme, who bowed deeply, forcibly pulled up Ash, who was sobbing quietly. If left alone, Ash would surely rush at Ahin again. It was best to avoid the situation.

After she led Ash and Bara away, only the sound of rain fell in the quiet hallway.

Drip, drip, water droplets falling from Ahin’s rain-soaked shirt stained the floor.

Unable to enter Valens’ bedroom rashly, he hid his trembling hands. His lowered gaze lingered on Evelyn, who was curled up and lost in slumber.

“…Your pretty face has become haggard.”

Chuck, Evelyn touched her cheek with her eyes closed. Indeed. Perhaps because she had stayed up for several nights, her smooth skin texture was somewhat dry.

“I was talking about *my* face, not yours.”

“…….”

“It’s no use pretending to sleep now.”

Ahin, who didn’t even have the strength to argue, collapsed next to Evelyn as if breaking down.

Even though he had fully absorbed Healing-type pheromones, the internal injuries caused by the seizure still remained.

Ahin, who speculated that the Healing-type pheromones had done their part in suppressing the Dominance-type pheromones, forcibly swallowed the blood rising to his throat. He stretched out his long legs and leaned against the wall.

“-Bibi.”

“You are not qualified to ask, Ahin-nim.”

Evelyn, who had half-opened his eyes, sat in the same crooked posture as Ahin. It was a rebellious attitude and posture that showed his displeasure to the fullest.

“I am sorry that I could not protect Ahin-nim’s bedroom. Even if I write in my diary that I wish you would disappear sometimes, you always appear without fail. I thought you would do the same this time, so I guarded Rabbit-nim’s bedroom.”

“You must be very angry with me if you’re telling me what’s in your diary.”

Evelyn, who glanced sideways at Ahin, who was sweating coldly, moved his lips.

“…Fortunately, Rabbit-nim passed the crisis as of yesterday. However, she is extremely wary of Carnivore-type Others, so no one in Grace’s residence can cross that door. For now, Lil-nim and a squirrel Other who was called from a private clinic are nursing her.”

“…….”

“Ahin-nim, you are absolutely not allowed to enter without permission.”

As much as he prided himself on being competent, he only spat out the information that Ahin wanted. Nevertheless, he did not mention Bibi’s neck wound. It was more accurate to say that he couldn’t.

‘She is extremely wary of Carnivore-type Others, huh.’

Ahin blinked his half-open eyes and repeated Evelyn’s words.

A heavy silence passed.

Evelyn, who thought Ahin, who was breathing intermittently, looked precarious, spoke first.

“Your eyes are red.”

“Yours too.”

“It’s because I feel like crying.”

“Bibi isn’t satisfied with just playing around with the wind, now she’s making beasts cry.”

Evelyn, who didn’t bother to answer the joke, changed the subject.

“…Since Ahin-nim is not well yet either, I will escort you to your bedroom…”

“You’re not asking anything.”

“To be exact, I can’t ask anything. Ahin-nim always saves his words when it comes to what’s really important, doesn’t he?”

“So you’re upset?”

Evelyn turned his head away from Ahin with a pout.

“Of course. I have dedicated my body and mind to Ahin-nim, but Ahin-nim doesn’t look back at me.”

“-Do you have to say things so terribly?”

“Yes.”

It was the same banter as usual, but both of their nerves were focused on the bedroom where Bibi was.

Silence fell again between Ahin and Evelyn, each with heavy grudges.

Thump, at that moment, a somewhat unrefined presence arose from the bedroom door.

Soon, a ferocious man wearing a white gown and a larger build than Lil walked out. The man who came out of the bedroom was a stranger.

Ahin, who stood up, looked at the great buttons that were holding the gown in shape. His gaze, which had risen from the gown that was about to burst, rested on the rugged face.

“…A bandit?”

“He is a physician called from a private clinic.”

Evelyn corrected Ahin’s misunderstanding in a calm voice.

The physician, who recognized that Ahin was a high-ranking beast, reflexively hid half of his body behind the opened door. The squirrel clan’s unique bronze-colored eyes trembled as if an earthquake had occurred.

Since the territory was what it was, finding a completely Herbivore-type Other physician such as a sheep or goat in a short period of time was like picking stars from the sky. In such circumstances, it seemed that they had brought in a squirrel Other as a temporary measure….

Ahin’s eyes were filled with disbelief as he discovered the doorknob that had been crushed in the frightened physician’s hand.

“Not a Carnivore-type?”

“I told you he was a squirrel Other.”

Soon, the physician, who came out from behind the door with hurried steps, briefly explained Bibi’s condition. Under the premise of taking rest, she would not become critical, and it would be better to be in her true form for a quick recovery.

He was quite curious as to why Bibi did not return to human form, but excessive curiosity would only shorten his life.

The physician, who swallowed hard, said that Bibi had been given a sedative and was fast asleep, so visits were possible.

However, Ahin could not easily enter the bedroom and fiddled with the jewelery decorating the door. He couldn’t even feel the pain in his body, as if his insides were twisted due to tension.

The fangs that pierced her slender neck. The blood and Healing-type pheromones that entered his mouth. Bibi, who was struggling at the threshold of death, sequentially flashed before his eyes.

“Ugh, what’s wrong all of a sudden?”

Thud, thud, thud, eventually, the gown button, which could not withstand the physician’s magnificent frame, bounced off and struck Evelyn.

“I’m sorry. Th-there were no gowns that fit…!”

“I’ve never seen such rude buttons in my life.”

“P-please forgive my rudeness.”

The physician, who was bowing his head, looked like an angry bull trying to gain momentum for a charge, judging by his appearance alone.

Ahin, who faced the sight, found it even more difficult to enter the bedroom.

Appearance was not a problem in the face of instinct.

It was the difference in species and pheromones, the presence or absence of fangs, and the position in the food pyramid that determined Bibi’s attitude.

And he had become Bibi’s new trauma.

Evelyn, who was receiving the physician’s apology, noticed Ahin’s back, who was standing still. The bones of his back stood out over his thin shirt because he was soaked in the rain.

He had come all the way here as soon as he woke up in that state, and he was about to hesitate for hours.

Shouldn’t he at least kneel down and come out now that Bibi is asleep?

Evelyn, who frowned, soon returned to his usual expressionless face. The past three days of sorrow had melted away slightly, just because Ahin had woken up and the rabbit had overcome the crisis.

Reminding himself of his role as a competent aide, he whispered to the physician.

“Threatening the body of a noble with buttons is a very serious crime.”

“…….”

“I will bury your sin if you lead that tragic protagonist to the bedroom.”

“Th-that… he seems like a high-ranking person….”

“Don’t worry, he is the exclusive attendant of the rabbit-nim who is being treated. Now, hurry.”

The physician, unable to resist the encouragement, hesitated and approached the bedroom.

Ahin, who was immersed in deep thoughts, was still with his forehead buried in the doorway.

Swoosh, after taking a look, he carefully pushed the door that Ahin was leaning on inward. Ahin, who was caught off guard and leaning his tired body, staggered for a moment and collapsed onto the bedroom floor.

“Visiting hours are limited to thirty minutes a day.”

The physician closed the door with a polite notice. He wore a kind smile in his own way, but in reality, a vicious face disappeared through the crack in the door.

Ahin, who had been frozen blankly, hurriedly turned his head.

He saw a fluffy cushion placed not far away, and a round hill rising above it. The moment he found his cotton ball, his heart began to race so much that it hurt.

She’s sleeping, it’s okay. Ahin, suppressing the fear that Bibi might wake up, approached with bated breath.

As he quietly sat in front of her, a shadow fell over the cushion. Bibi, who was not even big enough to wrap bandages around, was captured in his red eyes.

Traces of all kinds of treatments were clearly visible on the small, white rabbit’s body. Her breathing was rough, as if she was not comfortable even after receiving a sedative.

He hadn’t felt anything when he was sewing up his torn flesh. The thought that a coward who was disgusted even by a single fork had felt that pain made Ahin feel like his insides were rotting.

‘You son of a bitch, worse than a dog.’

What is this mess because he couldn’t even push Bibi away?

He slowly clenched and unclenched his fist as he looked down with darkened eyes. The control of Dominance-type pheromones was excessively easy compared to his abnormal physical condition.

The feeling of absorbing Healing-type pheromones, which he had felt before, was not a delusion.

Perhaps it was like a survival instinct. The Dominance-type pheromones that rampaged during the seizure suppressed and plundered the still immature Healing-type pheromones. Healing-type pheromones are the only ones that can stabilize Dominance-type pheromones.

And by absorbing up to the limit this time, a new change occurred in his body.

The Dominance-type pheromones, which had always felt blocked somewhere, showed signs of moving smoothly. Also, he felt lighter, except for the fact that it was difficult to move due to internal injuries.

As feared, the key to solving the pheromone seizure seemed to be Healing-type pheromones. It was only a matter of time before he was sure of the answer, as long as he checked whether there were any signs of a pheromone seizure a few days later.

‘But….’

The life he had gained in the worst way did not bring him any joy.

Ahin, who had lost strength in his body, lay down diagonally with his arm bent. The smell of medicine that stung his nose came from the nearby baby rabbit.

If it weren’t for his greed, there would be no reason for the timid Bibi to stay in the black panther’s territory. But even though this had happened, he couldn’t let Bibi go.

‘Bibi won’t abandon me either.’

So, he should increase the number of guards, keep her by his side at all times, and if necessary, hide her so that no one can see her.

The problem of pheromone seizures, which made him live looking at death, is also likely to be resolved, so the chances of Bibi being in danger will be significantly reduced. In fact, the need to go to the bear territory has also disappeared.

Ahin, who was plotting to tie her feet here, raised the corners of his lips crookedly.

He threatened Bibi’s life. He was disgusted with himself for only repeating ugly self-rationalizations, fearing that Bibi might abandon him.

His index finger, which had been carefully extended, touched her white forepaw. His stiff fingertips trembled slightly.

‘I like you.’

Me too. Maybe unlike your clear emotions, it might be dark and twisted.

He was touching her forepaw at a distance that was ambiguous to even call it a touch, when he suddenly stiffened.

Her pink nose twitched, and Bibi’s eyes slowly opened.

I had thought about it once or twice.

Why a baby rabbit of all things? If I were the offspring of a predator, I wouldn’t have to cling to survival so desperately, even if I couldn’t undergo humanization.

Why so timid? If I had a mind as resilient to death as Ahin, I wouldn’t burst into tears at every scary thing that happened.

It was laughable how I patted my chest, saying everything would be alright and to just trust me, only to crumble so easily in the face of death’s terror.

Far from helping Ahin, who had lost his reason, I just begged for my life, and succumbing to instinct, I only pushed away those who offered to heal me.

I opened my eyes from a recurring nightmare of that day, and,

‘Ahin.’

A pale face was right in front of me.

As soon as our eyes met, Ahin sat up abruptly, as if trying to run away.

‘Don’t go.’

Growing anxious, I struggled to extend my forepaw, but it couldn’t reach. He remained frozen as he was, like a sculpture, just looking down at me.

Was it a dream?

However, considering the pain of having my throat cut with a knife, it was more likely to be reality.

I dropped my forepaw, which couldn’t reach, and quietly looked at Ahin. His complexion wasn’t good, but seeing him here, he seemed to be able to move around.

That day, Ahin had looked like he was really going to die.

His eyes had lost their light, blood was pouring from his mouth. The sight of him sweating like rain had blanked my mind.

Watching his jewel-like red eyes blink, I realized that even if I went back, I would repeat the same actions.

Wouldn’t I recklessly rush in, knowing the danger? It was better than not being able to see those beautiful eyes again.

‘Are you still in pain?’

Grateful that Ahin was alive, I struggled to extend my forepaw again. Only then did Ahin’s extended index finger carefully support my forepaw.

Eventually, lips that had been closed for a long time opened like flower petals.

‘…Don’t move forcibly.’

At the same time, the scene of fangs appearing between his lips filled my vision.

‘Are you afraid of me?’

Again. The distinct pain of my throat being pierced and sharp fangs intersected before my eyes.

‘Because I have fangs?’

Again. The instinct that a herbivore beastman couldn’t help but have whispered to run away in my ear.

‘You’re so afraid of me that you forget to breathe.’

I thought it might be okay if it was Ahin, not another predator, but that was just terrible arrogance.

Forgetting the pain, I rolled over and got up, running madly towards under the desk. The smell of blood brushed my nose along with a stinging pain as if the wound had burst.

‘Bibi!’

Startled, I trembled at the familiar voice calling my name.

Barely stopping my feet, I turned around cautiously. Ahin, unable to follow, was kneeling on one knee.

‘Don’t run any further, your wound has burst. It could be dangerous.’

Covering his mouth with his hand as if he realized his mistake, Ahin spoke gently. It seemed to calm me down, but even at the end of his voice, a tremor was prominent.

‘I’ll call the physician right away, so stay still. I’ll leave.’

Tears vaguely welled up in Ahin’s eyes from afar. As soon as I saw those tears, tears streamed down my own eyes.

Knowing that all these actions hurt him, my butt continued to move backward. I hated myself for acting against my will.

‘Bibi, ah, please….’

I don’t want to be like this either. Ahin, who unintentionally bit my neck, was as broken as I was, maybe even more so.

‘I’m sorry.’

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, because I’m a rabbit, my earnest heart wasn’t conveyed.

Drops of blood from the burst wound soaked the carpet. Ahin’s pupils trembled uncontrollably as he discovered it.

* * *

‘…After that, the two of you fainted together. Currently, the rabbit… no, Rabbit-nim [a respectful suffix] is being treated for the burst wound, and the next leader has been moved to the bedroom. The next leader is said to be in need of rest due to his poor health and having been rained on,’

‘Yes, I’ve already seen both of them. It’s a terrible thing.’

Valence rubbed her temples, feeling distressed after hearing Lily’s report.

At that moment, Valence’s owl flew into the office, crashing into the wall with a bang and staggering to the ground.

‘Oh my, Owl…!’

Lily, horrified, knelt down and picked up the owl.

‘Hilla often makes such mistakes because she lacks motivation during the day. Give me the letter.’

The owl fluttered its wings weakly and handed the letter to Valence. It was a letter from Amon, the leader of the rabbit territory, saying that the situation within the rabbit territory was still chaotic.

‘…This side won’t work.’

Flap, the second messenger bird that flew to the window was Queen.

Normally, she wouldn’t listen to anyone’s orders except Ahin’s. Valence offered a plate of strawberries as a reward.

Queen, somewhat lost in thought, pecked at the strawberries.

Valence, leaving behind the hawk crushing the strawberries with a sigh, unfolded the letter she received. It was a letter from Professor Jinna, who was currently staying in the pig territory.

Tucking the letter into her arms, she looked back at her aides.

‘Everyone, please leave for a moment? Only the bird who likes strawberries should stay.’

As the aides, Lily, and the owl retreated, only Valence and Queen remained in the office.

Valence, seated at her desk, looked at Queen, who was nonchalantly showing off her feathers in front of the mirror. Perhaps because she was a bird beastman relatively free from status restrictions, she didn’t seem intimidated at all, even in front of her, the leader of the black panther territory.

‘She’s very presumptuous, just like her master.’

Valence, thinking of what Queen would be horrified to hear, belatedly began to read the letter.

Early this morning, she sent an urgent letter to Professor Jinna through Queen, asking if she could come to the black panther territory. The reply was that it would take at least three days, even if she hurried.

‘Three days… or more.’

Valence closed her eyes and recalled the morning’s events.

‘The wound has been stitched up, and we’ve passed the critical point. However, if something like this happens again, it could be really dangerous.’

‘The biggest problem is that she’s emotionally very unstable.’

The squirrel physician complained with dark circles under his eyes.

‘Although we’ve implemented isolation measures… the beastman predator right outside the door is stimulating her trauma, so we can’t take our eyes off her for a moment. In fact, resolving this issue is as urgent as treating the neck wound.’

‘Because I’m worried about him, I’m short-handed. It’s impossible to utilize manpower here, where all the beastmen are black panthers… and Lily-nim isn’t a professional medical person, so there’s a limit to me leaving my post.’

Valence sighed in frustration.

In reality, even if Professor Jinna came, the fundamental problem that this was a predator beastman territory would not be resolved. Furthermore, it was uncertain when Bibi’s psychological shock from crossing the boundary between life and death would recover.

Valence’s movement stopped as she opened the drawer to take out stationery.

Before she knew it, one of her drawers was filled with rabbit items. From a specially made ballet tutu to a carrot-shaped backpack she hadn’t given as a gift yet.

Valence took out the backpack, smaller than her palm, and fiddled with it.

‘Has it only been a few days….’

She already missed the peaceful days with the rabbit.

Including the greetings she gave whenever possible and enjoying tea time together. She initially tore up the portrait in anger, but when Valence was upset, she growled but entrusted herself to the painter, showing her kind-hearted side. Each one was a source of vitality in her daily life.

She, who had been unable to make a decision for a long time, soon hardened her expression.

The path that thoroughly favored only the rabbit was already decided. She had simply wanted to ignore it.

‘-Come here.’

Queen, noticing the gesture, landed on the desk.

‘You must be very worried about the rabbit too.’

Worry about that damn rabbit? No way. Queen shrugged her wings and denied it.

‘With your speed, it would take at least six hours to get from here to the pig territory, right? But you came back in almost twelve hours, which means you flew without resting… It’s amazing that someone who doesn’t worry about the rabbit delivered the letter without even closing their eyes.’

Queen, embarrassed by the sharp remark, avoided her gaze. Valence, bending down, lifted a basket prepared at her feet onto the desk.

‘…You would be able to move the rabbit more quickly and safely than anyone else. It’s something only a bird beastman can do.’

She didn’t add any special explanation, but Queen could vaguely guess her intentions.

The hawk’s pupils trembled as she faced the basket woven with dense straw.

* * *

Inside the basket, Bibi, who had been given a sedative, was fast asleep on a soft cloth. The bulging hill rose and fell regularly.

Meanwhile, the squirrel physician, who had returned to his original form, scurried around, packing medical tools and sedatives just in case.

After tidying up the cloth in the basket, he signaled that he was ready.

‘Please take good care of the rabbit on the way.’

Valence said, looking into the basket, and the squirrel replaced his answer by prostrating himself flat.

In some ways, it was like an business trip. For him, who had earned an amount he couldn’t collect even if he worked his whole life as compensation, it was a gracious request.

Valence put a carrot backpack with a piece of paper and a pocket watch that Bibi cherished into the basket.

Twitch, the cotton ball convulsed for a moment, and she stepped back, holding her breath. Fortunately, she didn’t wake up.

‘…I have to send her away without even seeing her open her eyes once.’

The tear marks on Bibi’s face, which were clearly visible, made Valence’s heart ache. Whether this would be a short separation or a long separation depended solely on Bibi’s decision.

‘My dear, I hope you overcome it and come back.’

She whispered in a voice too small for anyone to hear and closed the lid with holes for breathing.

‘Queen, the preparation is complete.’

Queen, who had been dozing off for a moment, flew over and stood next to the basket.

‘I’ve told the doctor to make Ahin rest deeply, so he won’t wake up for two days. You can come back before then, right?’

It was no different from saying that she would hide the fact that the rabbit had left far away and where it was from Ahin for the time being.

Valence smiled weakly at Queen’s questioning gaze.

‘It’s obvious that if Ahin finds out, he’ll go looking for her in his poor health.’

‘…….’

‘It’s better not to tell Father for now either.’

Lillian was not good at hiding her inner thoughts. Just looking at the increasingly relaxed corners of her mouth and the fact that she bought a portrait of a rabbit reading a book that was secretly traded within the mansion… The probability that he would skillfully pretend not to know anything in front of Ahin was close to zero.

‘You are the only beastman in this mansion who is free from Ahin’s power. You must be staying by my side out of a sense of obligation for owing your life rather than loyalty, so I hope you will follow my will this time.’

She stroked the basket gently and added.

‘When the rabbit first came to the Grace family, it was not of her own free will… so that she can choose for herself when she comes for the second time.’

Queen, who didn’t show any particular reaction, grabbed the handle of the basket with her feet. Valence wove the handle and the hawk’s legs together with tough cloth in preparation for the worst.

‘-I don’t think a bird beastman whose belief is freedom will take away the rabbit’s freedom.’

Valence, who had already returned to the face of a leader governing a territory, smiled.

Queen, who couldn’t delay any longer, turned her back. She had to arrive at Professor Jinna’s residence before the squirrel turned back into a human.

Flap, the hawk, dropping a feather, flew high.

Valence stared out the window until the hawk’s figure disappeared into a dot.

The pig territory, where there are many herbivore beastmen, would be safer than here. It was the best way to take right now when time was running out. If she faced a predator and her wound burst again, it would be too late. From the beginning, Ash hovering around was a crisis and a threat to the rabbit’s life.

Valence, who didn’t even feel the cold wind freezing her skin, looked up at the blue sky. She braced herself, but it was already a lonely noon.

* * *