The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 63

The Symbiotic Relationship Between a Rabbit and a Black Panther (10)

Ash, Ash, Ash.

To Ahin’s every question, the employees unanimously answered that Ash was at the main gate. The gardener even testified that Ash had been guarding the main gate for days.

As Ahin sped along, the magnificent golden iron gate came into view.

Meimi, noticing his approach from behind, turned her head. The hazy breath escaping her lips clearly indicated the cold.

“Greetings, Lord Ahin.”

Meimi straightened her black cloak and bowed politely, as always.

Ahin’s gaze shifted to her neatly folded hands. The backs of her hands were red, proving that she had been standing in the cold for a long time.

Ash, knowing full well the presence of the old master he longed for, steadfastly stared straight ahead, pretending not to notice.

He couldn’t miss a single moment, in case Bibi might appear from the sky, wave his front paws from the carriage window, or even come running.

Also, for Bibi’s sake, who would be upset if he was sick, he had to take good care of his own health. Returning to Evelyn’s bedroom every night to warm up was solely for that reason.

‘…Ha.’

Thus, Ahin, having confirmed that Bibi was not in Valens’s bedroom, let out a hollow laugh.

He had been smuggled out in the meantime.

If Valens had deliberately hidden him, wouldn’t it be difficult for even Ahin to find him quickly?

Ahin, feeling a sense of despair, suddenly unfolded his tightly clenched fist. The bothersome object was a small piece of paper Queen had handed him.

As if possessed, he unfolded the note with hasty movements.

[I’ll be there soon]

The letter, written with paw prints, didn’t even require guessing the sender.

‘How soon is soon?’

While the red eyes staring down at the paper turned coldly, his insides seethed with a mixture of emotions, like lava on the verge of eruption.

Something fell on Ahin’s shoulder, frozen in place. Thud, another fell, soaking the piece of paper.

Slowly raising his head, Ahin looked up. A cotton ball resembling Bibi fell from the sky and landed on his nose. It was snow.

Ahin had never thought of the first snow as romantic. But because it resembled a romantic rabbit, he found himself pointlessly assigning meaning to it.

“Evelyn.”

“Yes.”

Evelyn, who had been waiting behind him, stepped forward.

“Find him.”

The object was omitted, but there was no need to ask who it was.

And that winter, the full-scale invasion of the Wolf Clan triggered a conflict that escalated to the point where even the Lion Clan became involved.

Bibi’s ‘soon’ was not soon enough for Ahin.

* * *

Belhelm Academy.

Belhelm Academy, with Lilian Payant as its 82nd Headmaster, boasted a scale that occupied half of Belhelm City.

Moreover, it was renowned not only for allowing admission from noble families to ordinary territorial citizens but also as the only academic space where herbivore and carnivore beastkins [humanoids with animal features] studied together.

Among the freshmen of this prestigious institution was Alan Fredian, who held the honor of ranking second overall.

With his exceptionally high self-esteem, he had been quite displeased recently.

Who was he?

The second son of the Fredian family, a historic family of the Black Panther Clan, and an outstanding talent who dreamed of becoming the direct aide to Ahin Grace, the future leader of the Black Panther territory.

If he caught the eye of Lilian, the headmaster, and secured a position, he might be able to change his father’s perception, who didn’t even consider him, the second son, important.

Thus, he had been maintaining the top rank in overall evaluations since entering the academy, walking a path of success.

However, a rabbit with no roots, who had enrolled half a year ago, completely shook Alan Fredian’s goals.

The rabbit, who appeared like a comet, not only snatched the top spot in overall evaluations in an instant but also monopolized Headmaster Lilian’s favor.

Headmaster Lilian seemed to be trying not to show it, but the wide grin that spread across her face whenever she looked at the rabbit proved the above fact.

Not even a clever chimpanzee could garner such favor. Moreover, he didn’t have a clear identity. All he had was an unusually handsome face and a backpack he carried around religiously, but for some reason, he was so annoying.

‘He looks insignificant at first glance….’

However, as a result of observing the rabbit to find out the secret to his top rank, several suspicious points were discovered.

The first was that he strangely didn’t seem to emit pheromones.

Generally, beastkins would subtly release pheromones, but not the rabbit.

When he returned to his true form, it was difficult to read his pheromones to the point where one might mistake him for an animal rather than a beastkin. Rumor had it that it was a sleep pheromone, so perhaps it wasn’t a very powerful pheromone and couldn’t be felt.

The second was that he frequented the academy library every day, and when he found out what books he borrowed from the librarian, they were all related to beasts.

Some of them were picture books with only illustrations and no text.

Was the cunning rabbit plotting something against the beasts? A shallow suspicion arose.

Lastly, despite not having a plausible identity, his attire was unusually luxurious.

Even though the academy uniform was already expensive, the rabbit’s custom-made uniform was made of materials that even nobles would have to carefully consider.

Moreover, the ornaments he occasionally wore were expensive jewels that seemed to come from auction houses. Thanks to this, some students firmly believed the rumor that he was a noble hiding his identity while attending the academy.

No matter how he tried to approach and extract information, Professor Jinna’s son followed him around like a shadow. The ability to read auras was a disturbing pheromone that was perfect for fending off those who approached with ill intentions.

“That rabbit, isn’t there a rumor that the headmaster has marked him as a potential match for her grandson?”

One of the two tiger beastkins standing next to Alan Fredian flicked a biscuit into the air and caught it in his mouth.

“Stop spouting nonsense. What, is the rabbit the Black Panther’s next leader’s partner or something?”

“Well, there was gossip before that Lord Ahin Grace was completely smitten with a rabbit beastkin.”

“Your reasoning is only at that level because you believe such street gossip.”

The two tiger beastkins, who were having a frivolous conversation, looked up at the sky. Alan Fredian, who had been giving them a sidelong glance with a look of disdain, naturally raised his gaze as well.

Beeep-

The hawk that always hovered around the rabbit was freely soaring in the air. That meant….

“Alan, there he is. The rabbit.”

The tiger beastkin’s finger pointed to the middle of the bushes.

Rustle, rustle, and soon the calm bushes shook, and a white head popped out. It was a rabbit beastkin with sparkling purple eyes.

Swish, swish, the rabbit surveyed the surroundings, confirmed that there was no one around, and slowly took a step forward. After struggling with the bushes, his hair and uniform were covered in leaves.

It was then. The rabbit happened to spot a cheetah beastkin walking from the opposite side. He stepped back and plunged back into the bushes as if diving.

“Is that a person or a rabbit? Why does he always do that instead of using the sidewalk?”

“Didn’t he foam at the mouth when he saw a bear beastkin in the grand auditorium last time?”

The two tiger beastkins, who had been watching the series of events, muttered with a sullen expression. On the other hand, Alan Fredian, with his eyes gleaming sharply, raised a plausible suspicion.

“You never know. Maybe he’s acting weak to hide his dirty intentions.”

The rabbit beastkin occasionally showed very impure eyes despite his gentle face. As if expressing an ambition to put the beasts under his feet.

“He’s definitely no ordinary rabbit….”

Alan Fredian gnashed his teeth audibly.

“I heard he even gets the Black Panther territory’s daily newspaper every day, even though he’s just a rabbit.”

Come to think of it, the backpack he carries around like a treasure is also suspicious, Alan Fredian muttered quietly with a fierce look in his eyes.

Moreover, now that the conflict between the Black Panther Clan and the Wolf Clan had just ended, taking advantage of the chaotic territorial situation, there was a possibility that he was a spy from another clan, looking for weaknesses.

That sinister smile and those purple eyes full of ulterior motives. Books related to the weaknesses of beasts. Even Lilian, who had the nickname of a maverick, seemed to be dazed as if she had been brainwashed.

“…I can’t just keep watching.”

The two tiger beastkins who were with him exchanged glances, turning their backs on Alan Fredian, who was burning with fighting spirit.

‘Is he stupid…?’

‘He’s writing a novel.’

The timid rabbit seemed to be at most a child of a lower-class noble.

Rumors were rampant, but they were just empty words circulating among the students anyway. No matter how much Alan Fredian claimed he was suspicious, the rabbit’s pheromones were actually closer to the lower class, with no scent at all.

That meant he was neither a noble with good blood nor a beastkin with outstanding abilities.

How could someone who only sees one thing when he’s focused on it be ranked second overall? The tiger beastkins clicked their tongues and went their separate ways.

Alan Fredian, who was still in that spot, stared at the bushes where the rabbit had disappeared for a long time.

* * *

“The conflict between the Black Panther Clan and the Wolf Clan, which broke out a year and a half ago, was concluded with the victory of the Black Panther Clan in the shortest period in the continent’s history….”

Only the professor’s voice and the sound of pens echoed in the quiet classroom.

“-This is also recorded as one of Valens Grace’s achievements.”

The increasingly warm wind blew in through the open window. I, who was resting my chin on my hand and enjoying the wind, felt a stinging gaze on the back of my head and turned my head.

In a distant seat diagonally across from me, Alan was glaring at me with fiery eyes again today. Sparks flew above his red eyes under his brown hair.

‘Why is he really like that?’

Stop it already. When I subtly frowned as a warning, his eyebrows shot up.

I was so surprised that I almost hiccuped, so I hurriedly turned my head back.

“Bibi…? You don’t look well.”

Hendry, a lower-class noble of the Pig Clan and a classmate sitting next to me, whispered.

“Is it Alan Fredian again?”

“Yeah, well.”

“Are you going to the rabbit enclosure after class? Go back the back way. There’s a rumor that he’s been sharpening his knives at you today.”

“You said he was sharpening his knives at me yesterday too….”

“He must be upset that you took the top spot. He was strutting around as the top student until you transferred, so it’s become unsightly.”

Hendry didn’t hide her sarcasm, as if she was gloating. I, who was watching her carefully, cautiously reached out and covered the back of her hand.

“Hendry. Then, let’s go to the rabbit enclosure together today-”

“Why would a pig take care of a rabbit? And don’t include me in your hobbies, I’m a busy person.”

She changed her attitude as quickly as flipping her palm and immediately pushed my hand away.

‘That ruthless pig.’

She was singing about being free just a few days ago. I, with my beady eyes, subtly asked, caressing my rejected hand.

“Boyfriend?”

“That’s right, the young master of the Black Panther Clan who danced with me at the ball a while ago. He feels pretty good, so I’m thinking of continuing to see him.”

“I told you that all the Black Panther Clan are frivolous.”

“Do you think your words, who freezes when she sees a beast, are credible?”

“…It’s a personal experience, so you can believe it.”

I added that she wasn’t in her right mind and sparkled my eyes. Hendry, who met those serious eyes, muttered.

“I thought you were just a serious coward, but lately, you seem to be exaggerating a lot. I think I underestimated you too much.”

“Are you saying that for me to hear?”

“Of course. Next, you’re going to make a strange claim that beasts like to have their butts slapped. Again, again. Your nose twitches every time you lie.”

“That’s not an exaggeration, it’s···!”

We, who were getting louder and louder, realized that a shadow was cast in front of us and closed our lips tightly. The owner of the shadow was the professor.

The professor’s firm pen, pointing alternately at me and Hendry, headed towards the back door of the classroom like flowing water.

“Leave.”

* * *

After parting ways with Hendry, I trudged towards the rabbit enclosure.

Of course, I didn’t forget to use the deserted back road. I didn’t want to run into Alan.

Alan was truly uncomfortable, as if he was a Black Panther Clan himself.

The first meeting was when he suddenly asked what the secret to taking the top spot was. So when I answered that I read a lot of books, he showed hostility, saying that the cunning rabbit was also good at lying.

In fact, I did well on the exam because most of it was what I learned from my grandfather at Grace Manor, but I couldn’t tell the truth.

One day, I was reading a book in the library, and when I came to my senses, Alan, who was sitting diagonally across from me, was glaring at me again.

Soon, he saw the book I was reading, 「How to Tame Beasts」, and his face turned black.

‘Ah, this is nothing…!’

When I tried to smile to clear up the misunderstanding, it was only a moment before he screamed and jumped up from his seat.

Starting with him, he seemed to have misunderstood something firmly, so he was always sending me suspicious glances.

‘What should I do?’

I was afraid of running into a black panther, and Alan’s status as a middle-class noble was also a problem. Moreover, after consulting with my grandfather, I was hiding my healing pheromones at the academy, so a head-on confrontation was difficult.

I, who was walking with a dejected look, suddenly stopped in front of a glass window.

A rabbit beastkin wearing a black uniform was reflected in the glass window. I swept back my white hair, which was disheveled by the wind, and then straightened my tie.

‘…The uniform fits perfectly now.’

I turned twenty this year. Since I don’t remember my exact birth date, I’ve been counting based on my coming-of-age ceremony.

And I, at twenty, looked much better than I did last year.

The gaunt face had filled out, and the dead complexion had regained a rosy glow. Thanks to a slight growth spurt, the oversized uniform now fit nicely.

I had also mastered noble etiquette and greatly reduced rabbit-like behaviors, such as stomping my feet when angry.

Most of all, I became so skilled at handling pheromones that it was hard to believe my humanization had been delayed because I couldn’t control them.

I could completely conceal the scent that stimulated even high-ranking predators, and I could easily heal small scratches on my body.

Would I be a little more suitable for Ahin now?

I seemed to have grown both internally and externally, but I still couldn’t be sure. From the outside world’s perspective, Ahin and the rest of the Grace family were more distant than I imagined.

There was no one who didn’t know the name Grace, and even Ivelin was an object of admiration for the black panther beastkin [human-animal hybrid] students.

‘I wonder how everyone is doing.’

Ahin, Ash, and Mayme.

I stared blankly at the glass window, then looked up at the sun, which was intensely heating the top of my head. It was warm weather, in contrast to the two winters that had chilled me to the bone.

One winter day, a year and a half ago.

Ahin survived because of me, and I fulfilled my lifelong wish because of Ahin.

All that remained was one step for me to take towards Ahin. But that one step was wider and deeper than a lake.

Suppressing a revived instinct and fear took more time than I thought.

Moreover, towards the end of winter, a conflict even arose between the black panther clan and the wolf clan. Forced to be unable to return, I could only endlessly search through newspapers.

In the face of that great historical current, there was nothing a rabbit, who couldn’t even handle one predator, could do.

‘…I miss them.’

As I reflected on the past, I rubbed my reddened eyes with the back of my hand.

After more than a year of arduous training, I no longer fainted even when seeing predator-type beastkins, and I could easily converse with my grandfather.

I was in the middle of discussing going to Grace Manor with my grandfather during the mid-semester break.

However, whenever I had time, absurd worries crept up my toes.

What if everyone hated me because it had taken too long, not just a short while? Even though I was supposedly better now, what if I hurt someone at Grace Manor again?

At first, I was upset with Valence for constantly hiding me in distant territories, but as time passed, I understood his intentions. Returning impulsively without overcoming my psychological fears and hurting each other again would only be a shortcut to greater suffering.

Just imagining Ash’s fearful reaction was enough to send shivers down my spine.

Lost in thought with my hand on the glass window, I slowly shifted my gaze to the side. Alan’s figure was reflected behind the glass. His brown hair was sticking up as if he had been running.

‘…That annoying predator.’

He keeps following me around and bothering me, but I decided that today I would teach him a lesson and turned around sharply.

“Let me see your backpack.”

Contrary to that resolve, I shrank back endlessly in front of Alan, who suddenly held out his hand.

“Why…, why…?”

“…….”

“…Will you let me see it?”

“Stop talking and hand it over. Today, I’m going to uncover your dirty tricks.”

What dirty intentions again? Instinctively clutching the backpack straps, I shook my head.

‘Why is he doing this to me?’

This backpack was a precious gift from Valence, with a carrot pattern embroidered on it. Moreover, it only contained Perenium [a fictional substance] and an unfinished letter to Ahin, so I couldn’t understand why Alan suddenly coveted it.

“…Even more suspicious.”

Perhaps because of my anxious attitude, the suspicion in Alan’s eyes only deepened.

Thinking I should clear up the deepening misunderstanding, I glared at him. At that moment, Hendry’s advice echoed in my ears.

‘That guy is eyeing Bibi….’

‘Eyeing Bibi….’

Tears welled up, and with my instincts awakened, I looked around, sweating. There was no one to lend a helping hand on this deserted path.

My feet, out of control, began to inch sideways for escape.

“Where are you going… Stop right there!”

Thus began the chase for the backpack.

* * *

The Belhelm Academy strictly prohibited riding carriages within the campus.

Because nothing revealed wealth and power as much as a carriage, it was a long-standing school rule to prevent the meaning of the academic space from being diminished.

Thanks to this, Ahin, who was walking across the campus, frowned. He was already tired from lack of sleep, and the sun piercing the top of his head was excessively hot.

“Good morning.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Rudd Ivelin.”

He irritably turned to look at Ivelin, who kept greeting the air next to him.

“Who have you been greeting since earlier?”

“The academy students. They are looking at me with admiring eyes. Look, aren’t they all happy with the greetings?”

Far from being happy, the students were scattering away, having been caught secretly glancing at him.

Ahin, leaving behind Ivelin, who was thirsty for attention, strode ahead. Only then did Ivelin stop greeting and quickly catch up.

“The list of current and transfer students at the academy, which I secretly collected, did not have any trace of Rabbit-nim. Since the leader is determined to hide him, I think he might be in a herbivore territory located at the end of the continent. Wasn’t the last place we found a trace of Rabbit-nim also in those territories?”

“My grandfather might know the location of that territory. Isn’t it quite suspicious that he’s ignoring the letters?”

In the winter before last, Lillian returned to Belhelm just before the conflict with the wolf clan broke out.

It couldn’t be helped during the year the conflict was raging, but even now that most of the problems had been resolved, the quiet Lillian was caught in Ahin’s trap.

Given Lillian’s personality, there was a high probability that she had pestered Valence to find out at least the location of the rabbit.

“But the leader said that he had taken measures so that Rabbit-nim could return whenever he wanted to. Perhaps Rabbit-nim is not yet ready to return…,”

Ivelin, who had been chattering, quickly changed his words when he felt Ahin’s silent gaze.

“…Since you came without notice, you might not be able to meet Lillian-nim even if you go to the dean’s office.”

“That’s why you have to do the legwork.”

“Yes?”

Ahin pressed down hard on Ivelin’s shoulder, who was asking back even though he knew. As the pressure increased, Ivelin’s height gradually decreased.

“Send me a letter after you find my grandfather.”

“Where are you going to be, Ahin-nim?”

Ivelin asked, bending his legs in dissatisfaction.

“I need to rest a bit.”

“I want to rest too. Stabilizing the territory’s situation, following Ahin-nim, and chasing after Rabbit-nim’s traces, I don’t even have time to breathe…,”

“Shut up.”

“Yes.”

Ahin, shaking off Ivelin, who was constantly moving his mouth, walked to the opposite side.

The gazes of the students followed each slow step.

Ahin Grace. Tall height, clear appearance, and the face that recently decorated the continental newspaper as a contributor to resolving the territorial dispute. There was no way they wouldn’t recognize Lillian’s relative, the dean.

Annoyed by the commotion, Ahin moved to an increasingly secluded place.

His large strides stopped in front of several signs. Signs indicating the direction of the rabbit, deer, pig, cow, etc., farms.

As if possessed, his steps headed towards the rabbit farm at ten o’clock.

The pouring sunlight was getting hotter and hotter.

Ahin took off his jacket with its dangling epaulettes and lightly loosened his arms.

Feeling lighter, he walked slowly along the deserted path where no one was around.

Large, beautiful trees continued at regular intervals, as if leading to the rabbit farm. Ahin, thinking that it had been a long time since he had smelled the peaceful scent of grass rather than the overflowing pheromone scent and the smell of blood, suddenly raised his head.

A white clock tower, which didn’t quite fit this path, stood tall. Looking up at the clock tower, he fiddled with the pocket watch he had taken out of his pocket.

The time he shared with Bibi was engraved so deeply that it couldn’t be erased. The only object containing memories was just a pocket watch.

Click, click.

Ahin repeatedly opened and closed the pocket watch, facing the blowing wind as it was.

A year and a half had passed since he had gained life from Bibi.

And it had been a year and a half since he had seen Bibi.

The hands of the pocket watch moved tirelessly, and the seasons continued to change, but Ahin’s time still remained on that day when he was with Bibi.

When he woke up in the morning, he would habitually grope the bed, and he hated the chilly bedroom, so it became a daily routine to stay up all night in his office. Perhaps Bibi would never return, and the dark fear was leading him to a dead end.

Ivelin, unable to watch Ahin like that, quietly started sewing at night.

‘Bara, how do you tie the sewing knots?’

‘Don’t bite it, you can’t do this. It’s Rabbit-nim’s alter ego [a second self].’

After much suffering, the rabbit doll born from Ivelin’s hands occupied one side of Ahin’s bed.

Ahin, facing the ragged rabbit doll, only stared at Ivelin without reacting. It was too similar to the rabbit doll he had carried around as a child.

Anyway, fortunately or not, he started going back to the bedroom to sleep every night, so the rabbit doll had done its job.

The conflict with the wolf clan that broke out immediately afterward made Ahin make a plausible rationalization. Bibi wasn’t not returning to the black panther territory, but rather, she couldn’t because of the danger of the conflict.

Ahin continued to make such selfish rationalizations and did not stop looking for Bibi. He couldn’t stop.

But Valence, as if mocking him, hid Bibi even deeper.

Herbivore territory, deer territory, horse territory, goat territory.

Every time he found a trace, Bibi disappeared from that place as if she had evaporated. The situation of missing her by a hair’s breadth continued until the conflict with the wolf clan broke out and ended.

A year passed, and around the time the black panther territory, where the conflict had ended, regained stability. Even then, Bibi had not returned.

Only then did Ahin have to admit the fact he had been denying. Bibi’s not returning was not because of Valence’s machinations or because of the conflict. It was Bibi herself who had made that decision.

Bibi seemed timid and helpless at first glance, but she always tried to overcome her problems on her own.

That’s why he knew that Bibi wouldn’t resent Ahin, who had tried to take her life, and he also knew that she would try to shake off the trauma she had gained from Ahin.

However, Ahin could not stop looking for Bibi. Because of the anxiety that she might be forgotten forever if he continued like this.

The connection between the baby rabbit and the black panther beastkin who picked him up was a weak relationship that could be easily broken at any time.

Isn’t a year and a half of waiting enough?

Now he had to find her. He had to find her and resolve this anxiety, whether it was with love or pity, or by groveling at her feet, so that he could live a complete life. Only then could Ahin’s broken clock start ticking again.

Ding—

The clock tower bell announced three in the afternoon.

Only then did Ahin, realizing that he had been lost in thought for quite some time, put the pocket watch in his pocket.

At the same time, he heard light footsteps, tap tap.

Soon, the person who arrived under the clock tower froze like a stone statue as soon as he found Ahin. The sound of tree branches swaying in the wind filled the silence.

The person who had stopped stared blankly at Ahin’s face, which he had only dreamed of.

Including the fine silver hair that lingered in his ears and the unusually clear red eyes. The large physique among the predator-type beastkins and the Grace family crest engraved on the long sword at his waist proved Ahin’s identity.

The person, as if seeing a ghost, slowly blocked his mouth. However, he couldn’t stop the loud scream that burst out.

“Ahin Grace—…!”

“Why.”

Ahin scanned the man who had suddenly shouted his name up and down.

Red eyes meant he was from the black panther clan. Judging by the pheromones he felt, which weren’t bad, there was a high probability he was a noble, but he didn’t recognize his face in his memory.

One thing was certain: his flushed cheeks and wavering eyes clearly contained goodwill.

Thinking it was a good thing, Ahin approached the man.

“What’s your name?”

“A, Al…, Alang…!”

“Alang? That’s a funny name.”

Alan, who had answered awkwardly, wore a flustered expression. He had missed the opportunity to introduce himself to the person he had admired all along. Black storm clouds loomed over his eyes.

Ahin, not caring about Alan’s feelings, patted him on the shoulder.

“Alang, if you go to the place where they service the carriages, there will be a gorilla beastkin waiting.”

Kya, Ahin ignored the eerie exclamation that seemed to come from Alan and continued.

“Go to him and tell him to reserve a guest room for me in the academy. I don’t think my grandfather will give me one.”

“…….”

“Answer.”

“Yes…, yes!”

Alan hurriedly ran towards the place where the carriages were serviced.

Turning to look at him stumbling and falling, Ahin thought he would be of no use at all.

* * *