The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 62

I blinked awake, gazing up at an unfamiliar ceiling made of logs. My vision, which had been hazy, gradually cleared.

It was as if the fever I had suffered was a lie; my body felt so light.

For some reason, I felt no pain from my injuries, and the sensation of pheromones flowing through my veins was even more vivid.

Could I have been asleep long enough for my wounds to heal completely?

Musing idly, I reached out a paw to stretch my stiff body.

With a soft rustle, a white arm emerged from the blanket, reaching towards the ceiling. Not a clumsy ball of fluff, but slender fingers through which the lamplight split.

Reality began to sink in, and the voices of Queen and Professor Jin Lana echoed in my ears.

‘So, this rabbit is undergoing humanization right now?’

‘All the symptoms Bibi is showing are consistent with humanization fever. It’s different from the fever caused by injuries.’

‘…After nearly twenty years without any signs? How?’

‘How would I know about such a special case? We can hear the whole story when Bibi wakes up. For now, we can only take measures to reduce the pain of humanization fever.’

Could this unbelievable reality be true? I abruptly sat up, hastily pulling up the slipping blanket.

‘What on earth….’

How did I end up experiencing humanization fever in a log cabin? My bewildered gaze settled on Professor Jin Lana, who was asleep at her desk.

‘Calm down.’

I needed to regain my scattered reason and act smartly.

I’m Bibi, a rabbit who’s nothing if not brave now. There was no reason to be afraid.

‘First, let’s get up.’

My resolve was shattered as soon as I felt the sensation of fur against my bare skin. Horrified, I wrapped myself in the blanket and rolled away at the speed of light. Tumbling off the bed with a thud, I immediately looked up to identify the fur.

‘A capybara…?’

Could it be Russell? I vaguely remembered meeting Russell when I was delirious with fever. It seemed he had returned to his true form to warm me up because I was cold.

Sending him a heartfelt gaze, I then reached behind my neck with trembling hands. I felt an unfamiliar curve, not just a faint one, with my fingertips.

‘The heat rash scar has deepened.’

I tentatively tried to use healing pheromones in the air.

Without Perenium [a magical artifact that controls pheromones], using pheromones would naturally turn me back into a baby rabbit. But even after a long wait, I remained in human form.

‘…No way.’

Humanization, humanization…!

Even after experimenting, it was hard to believe. After all, how could I immediately accept a lifelong wish being granted in an instant?

I stretched my cheeks, buried myself in the blanket again, and looked around aimlessly, repeating actions that a nervous person would do, before finally coming up with an idea.

Doesn’t a humanized beast turn into an adult beast? If I didn’t turn back into a baby rabbit in my true form, there would be no doubt about my humanization.

‘…How do I transform back into my true form?’

Until now, I had automatically transformed back when I used pheromones. Feeling lost, I just stared down at my hands when I met the capybara’s gaze, who was staring intently at me.

“…Russell?”

As soon as I called his name to confirm, the capybara came bounding over and hugged me.

The largest of the rodents, they say. Crushed by the unexpected weight, I staggered as I hugged Russell.

After rubbing my cheek against his fur and exchanging greetings, I quietly whispered so as not to wake Professor Jin Lana.

“Hey, can you tell me how to transform back into my true form?”

Like you became a capybara.

Russell, carrying all my expectations, suddenly started wagging his butt vigorously.

‘What is that.’

Wrapped in the blanket, I stood up awkwardly, wondering if I should ask.

“Are you saying… to use pheromones… while doing that…?”

The capybara nodded vigorously as if no further explanation was needed. His typically indifferent face was filled with trust and conviction.

‘I’m confident in wagging my butt too, but….’

Is this the time to feel embarrassed?

The flow of pheromones did change with body movements, and for now, there was no other way than to follow Russell’s teachings.

Determined, I performed the traditional dance of the rabbit tribe, which involved wiggling my butt. At the same time, I carefully manipulated my pheromones, and my body was enveloped in light, and my vision began to lower.

Finally, when I stretched out my arm, a familiar paw appeared instead of a hand.

‘I’m back!’

A mirror, a mirror.

Turning my head quickly, I immediately scurried towards the full-length mirror in the corner. I could hear Russell following behind me.

I soon arrived in front of the mirror, swallowing nervously, and stood on two feet.

‘It must… be an adult beast.’

A fluffy white ball and a capybara were reflected in the shiny mirror.

As soon as I saw the mirror, I couldn’t speak and covered my mouth.

‘No way.’

A brown capybara, wobbling like a tumbler, was reflected behind my serious self. His drowsy eyes looked like they would close at any moment.

‘……?’

Then, the sound of Professor Jin Lana snoring at her desk pierced my ears.

‘Ah!’

Only then did I realize that I was haphazardly emitting healing pheromones and tried to calm them down. Immediately, the pheromones subsided easily.

Until now, I had to hold my breath to calm my pheromones. Unable to adapt to the sudden change, I stared blankly at my paws alternately.

Humanization is like a process for beasts to adapt to pheromones, they say. Even though I was experiencing it firsthand, it was a series of surprises.

‘Why so suddenly…?’

I certainly hadn’t mastered pheromones enough to undergo humanization.

Not only that, but my body was so light that doing handstands was like eating hay while lying down, and my head, which had been throbbing with pain, felt refreshed.

Rummaging through my fur and checking my pheromones, I felt a strange sense of incongruity. The pheromones, which had been overflowing and difficult to handle, were now flowing just right, as if they had been perfectly adjusted.

Something’s strange. Pondering deeply, I suddenly came up with a hypothesis.

‘Each time, I felt like I was absorbing healing pheromones.’

…In fact, I felt like Ahin was taking my pheromones, not me giving them to him. That’s why I felt even more threatened.

If my guess was correct, it was highly likely that I had reached humanization by having half of my overwhelming healing pheromones taken away.

For a moment, I closed my eyes tightly, recalling the moment my neck was bitten.

I was trying not to think about it. My heart was racing, and I felt like I was breaking out in a cold sweat with chills all over my body.

While swimming in a panic, I suddenly felt something hit me.

‘What!’

When I opened my eyes, I saw the capybara, who had already escaped from his slumber. He looked worried about me, who was standing motionless.

‘Russell, look at this.’

Forcing a smile, I confidently pointed to the mirror with my paw.

In the mirror was a rabbit that had transformed from a fist-sized baby rabbit to a size of two fists put together. Although it wasn’t the handsome adult beast I had imagined.

‘Well, at least my face looks a little smarter….’

Anyway, this Bibi has undergone humanization, I tell you.

Feeling triumphant, I puffed out my chest towards the capybara, showing off my achievement. I was itching to brag to anyone right away.

Perhaps because of the similar pain of delayed humanization, Russell rejoiced as if it were his own accomplishment and applauded enthusiastically.

‘Russell…!’

Touched by his enthusiastic reaction, I reached out my paw, meaning to clap hands. Then, the excited capybara rushed towards me.

‘Wait, Russell, too fast.’

Something felt ominous.

‘Ack!’

Thud, before I could block it, I collided with the capybara’s head and was thrown backward.

He had rushed in and hugged me when I first woke up too. It seemed that Russell, not long after undergoing humanization, still thought his tens of kilograms of true form was a baby capybara.

Yes, my path couldn’t be smooth. Rolling across the wooden floor, I crashed into the log wall and dramatically closed my eyes. It was my first fainting spell since undergoing humanization.

* * *

When I woke up, it was night again, and I had naturally returned to my human form.

To think I would experience not being able to stay in my true form for more than half a day. Shedding tears of emotion, I finally pulled myself together and put on the thick clothes and silver cloak that Professor Jin Lana had given me.

“What did you just say? You have to wag your butt to return to your true form?”

After hearing the general story, she clutched her stomach and burst into laughter as if it were hilarious.

Russell’s method was unique, but in reality, you just needed to manipulate your pheromones as if you were shaking them up, without needing to shake your body. She explained that she initially wondered what Russell was doing when he was wiggling in human form.

‘I knew it.’

I thought something was very strange. As I sat by the fireplace, narrowing my eyes, Russell popped out of my cloak. He had been clinging to me since returning to human form and wouldn’t let go.

“Russell, you-….”

As I opened my mouth to scold him, I couldn’t say anything because he suddenly asked why I hadn’t written a letter. It was too much to write a letter in rabbit form….

“Bad bird.”

At that moment, Russell jumped up and ran to the window. At the same time, Professor Jin Lana pushed back her chair and pressed down on my shoulder.

“Bibi, just a moment.”

She closed the curtains and peeked out the window, only sticking her head out.

Even without confirming, I could tell it was Queen from the glimpse of blue hair through the gap and the clue of the bad bird.

Professor Jin Lana must have stopped me because she was worried about the fear I felt towards beast-type beasts. As I fidgeted with my hands due to an inexplicable sense of unease, Russell noticed and made a determined face.

“I’ll punish him.”

“Russell, no!”

How nasty is that hawk’s personality? Sure enough, Russell, who had burrowed through the curtains, soon came back and hugged me.

“The bird sees a devil in my eyes, I guess.”

Russell whispered, sweating profusely.

As I deeply sympathized with that assessment, Professor Jin Lana said in a cautious voice.

“Bibi. Queen says he has something he wants to tell you, is that possible?”

It’s okay, it’s just Queen, who I’ve always seen.

Contrary to those thoughts, the answer didn’t come out easily. My fingertips trembled, and I even felt a chill.

Wiping my sweaty hands on my cloak, Russell held my hand tightly. Leaning on that small warmth, I came up with one possible solution after a long hesitation.

“Okay, Russell. Let’s go for a night stroll.”

“Professor Jin Lana, I’ll stay here.”

“…Then this mother will be too lonely.”

About five minutes later. Professor Jin Lana, holding Russell, left the room.

Left alone, I quietly settled down under the window. Leaning against the wall and sitting with my knees together, I heard Queen also sit down on the floor. Ignoring the muttering of ‘damn rabbit,’ I opened my lips.

“…I heard roughly from Professor Jin Lana.”

That this place was pig territory, and that Queen had moved me here under Valence’s orders, who was worried that I would get agitated seeing a beast.

“Thank… Ack!”

Thud, before I could even say thank you, a hard letter fell on my head.

‘Would it kill you to give it to me nicely?’

I grumbled inwardly and unfolded the letter. The sender was Valence.

[I wish I could tell you in person, but it’s a shame I can only convey it by letter.

First, please forgive me for sending you away in such a critical condition. I was ashamed to admit that I was afraid that you would encounter another beast-type beast and your injuries would worsen, so I only thought about removing that danger first.

And I heard through Queen that you underwent humanization in pig territory. It must have been very scary and difficult, but I want to start by congratulating you.]

The contents of the letter were unusually long-winded for her and showed signs of hesitation.

I picked up the flower made of lilac-colored jewels that was inserted between the pages.

I wondered why the paper was so heavy. According to the letter, it was customary in black panther territory to give flowers to beasts who had just undergone humanization.

[…Moreover, I have incurred a debt that I can never repay in my lifetime. But it’s bitter that the only valuable things I can give you are choice and freedom.]

After that, I silently read the long letter.

[But that’s what you need as a baby rabbit. I know you constantly look out the window when you ride in the carriage and that you yearn for learning.]

The only sounds that filled the silence were the occasional sniffles from me and the chirping of insects seeping in through the open window.

[Finally, my dear, it was a blessing and a gift that the frail baby rabbit came to Grace. I respect the path you will take and will wait forever. Your Valence.]

Thud, thud. Tears welled up in my eyes and soaked the letter. I pressed my eyes with my cloak and read the letter again from the beginning.

Valence was speaking indirectly.

That a fear once planted cannot be resolved in an instant, and that I need to find stability in a place where there is no threat to my life.

She also let me know that she respects my choices related to that and will spare no support.

My head went blank, and I just stared at the distant fire. It was time to face reality.

‘I don’t know….’

I missed Ahin, and my heart wanted to return to Grace Manor right away.

Waking up to the bickering of Ahin and Yvelin, being forced to get ready by Mayme’s flashy hands.

After teatime with Valence, I would go for a walk with Ash and Bara and finish the morning.

Then, after attending a harsh class with Grandfather, I would return to my bedroom exhausted and kick away the clingy Ahin.

How long had it been since I missed the daily life at Grace Manor so much.

But when I closed my eyes, instead of daily life, a terrible sensation was drawn in the darkness, and even when I opened my eyes, the illusion remained.

The fear of death I felt when my neck was torn. The sight of me begging for my life without realizing it. The fangs that could take my life at any time. And the moisture in Ahin’s eyes as he watched me run away.

It was easy to predict what would happen if I returned in this situation. I would show everyone a face filled with fear and disgust.

‘Usually, herbivore-type beasts only feel that beast-type beasts are just uncomfortable people.’

Professor Jin Lana said that the fear I felt towards beast-type beasts was much more severe than that of ordinary herbivore-type beasts.

Perhaps it was because I had lived as a baby rabbit my whole life and was more instinctive, and because I hadn’t learned what I should have learned at the right time.

“Ahin Grace,”

As I was lost in thought, I heard Queen’s prickly voice from outside the window.

“-No more pheromone outbursts are appearing. The doctor in charge seems sure, and in fact, it hasn’t appeared once since that incident. You can think of it as that guy lived instead of you almost dying.”

“……”

“So don’t worry about useless things and take care of yourself. You’re not in a position to worry about the next leader right now.”

It was the news I had been waiting for the most, but did he have to offer comfort and encouragement like that? True to his personality, he was even calling Ahin by his name. Moreover, Queen didn’t forget to add the words ‘annoying rabbit.’

‘That rude bird.’

As I glared sharply, a small piece of paper fell on my head.

“This is…,”

“The black panther leader told me to give it to you. It’s a letter that Ahin Grace sent to you when you were in rabbit territory.”

If it was when I was in rabbit territory, it must be a letter that Ahin sent to Grace Manor without knowing that I had followed him.

Come to think of it, he seemed to have said something silly about writing a letter before abandoning me and leaving.

Not expecting it to be anything substantial, I unfolded the neatly folded piece of paper.

[I’ll be there soon]

What is this. Overwhelmed with emotion, I bit my lip.

I pressed my eyes with the back of my hand, but the tears that flowed out like a burst only made my clothes wet.

In the end, unable to control my tears, I cried out loud like a child. It was the beginning of a lonely and harsh winter.

* * *

The morning of Grace Manor dawned.

Step by step, Yvelin stopped in front of Valence’s bedroom and let out a shallow sigh.

Since getting up from the sickbed, Ahin’s sleeping place had been in front of Bibi’s bedroom.

“I see Yvelin….”

Yu-an, who had been waiting next to her, glanced around and slipped away. It was because he had a feeling that Yvelin was going to do something strange.

Sure enough.

Yvelin leaned against the door and approached Ahin, who was asleep. Before anyone could stop her, the rabbit ear accessory in his hand was gently placed on Ahin’s head.

Valence’s exclusive knights, with pale faces, stepped back three steps.

‘Let’s get away.’

‘He has a serious face and does this without warning…. It’s driving me crazy.’

There was nothing good about being involved with Yvelin, who was by far the best among the many crazy people in Grace Manor.

“Ahin, please wake up.”

“-Why put trash on my head.”

“It’s rabbit ears. I thought that if you changed your race, the rabbit might look back at you at least once.”

“Then I’ll wear it, I guess.”

Ahin, with a clear face even when he had just woken up, straightened the ear accessory. Then, dusting off his uniform, he looked around one side of the hallway.

For some reason, Queen, who had voluntarily turned into human form, was standing there. That meant there was something to convey that needed to be told in words.

Turning his body completely to face him, Ahin slowly scanned Queen.

Queen always stuck to simple shirts and light pants even when he returned to human form. But today, he was wearing a vest and tie, and his blue hair, which he used to tie up roughly, was loosely let down.

As Ahin waited quietly, Queen, who glared at the ear accessory on his head as if it were dirty, opened his mouth.

“This flight seems like it will be a bit long.”

Queen, a new beast, didn’t just stay at Grace Manor. He always lived outside, and sometimes he would say that and not show his face for three months.

Still, he always returned to the nest, so Ahin, who didn’t pay much attention, asked a beat late.

“-Where are you going?”

“When have you ever asked me that.”

Queen replied curtly and suddenly threw a small piece of paper in his hand. Ahin, who caught it lightly, raised his eyebrows.

“What is it?”

Queen, who had already said everything he wanted to say, leaned against the window frame and climbed up. Ahin’s low voice pierced behind him as he manipulated his pheromones to return to hawk form.

“Don’t die.”

“…Okay.”

“And don’t get caught stealing strawberries.”

Always an unlucky bastard, who do you think I’m leaving for right now. Queen, who replaced his answer by glaring, turned into a hawk in an instant.

Screech-

Queen, who circled high above the mansion, flapped his wings towards pig territory.

Ahin, who had been watching until the hawk’s back disappeared into the clouds, fiddled with the shabby piece of paper.

Out of character, did he even leave a message? Ting, the flicked piece of paper floated high and landed in his hand.

“……”

Repeating the meaningless hand movements, Ahin suddenly frowned.

After all, unless his personality had completely changed, it was very suspicious that even Queen would leave far away at a time like this.

Only then did his stiff head start to turn, and he scanned the two of Valence’s exclusive knights who were standing far away. The captain of the knights, who received his cloudy gaze, tensed up.

“…Attaching the captain of the knights to the baby rabbit’s escort is a bit excessive for a mother.”

He had missed it because that excessiveness had been happening frequently these days.

Also, the squirrel physician who always opened the door and came out only at the time when Ahin appeared, as if he was proving that he was treating Bibi.

‘And….’

Belatedly recalling the existence he had forgotten for the past few days, he turned to Yvelin.

“-Where’s Ash?”

“Yes?”

“I haven’t seen him lately.”

“He is repeating his regular life as usual. …Regular, why regular?”

“You said it, why are you asking me.”

Yvelin, who had been so out of it, felt a sense of incongruity and stroked his chin.

Wasn’t it strange? Ash was being too quiet for Bibi being in bed. He should have been wandering in front of the bedroom like Ahin.

It was as if nothing had happened, Ash was getting up and going out on time, and returning to Yvelin’s bedroom on time when it was bedtime. Even Bara, who always followed him, was showing an unusually docile attitude.

“Su,”

Just as he was about to argue that it was extremely suspicious, Ahin jumped out the window without hesitation and disappeared.

“Ahin, where are you going?”

Yvelin, who had been looking out the window, turned to the knights who were standing like statues, realizing something was wrong.

“…Did Ahin take off the rabbit ear accessory?”

“No, he wore it.”

“He might get his head cut off later. Why do you make me do such pranks when I don’t want to? Take responsibility.”

“Sorry…, huh?!”

Leaving the flustered knights behind, he ran in the direction Ahin had disappeared.

* * *