The Symbiotic Relationship Between The Rabbit And The Black Panther [EN]: Chapter 75

Rabbit and Black Panther’s Symbiotic Relationship

At the rabbit territory market, while trying to buy a doll, Edith finally coaxed Ahin, who was throwing a tantrum on the ground.

“Ahin, get up. You’ll get your clothes dirty.”

Ahin swatted away her hand and said stubbornly, “I’m not going. I’ve decided to become a rabbit and live here.”

His sprawled body expressed a determination to never return to the Black Panther territory.

“Why are you two doing this?” Evelyn, not understanding the situation, looked back and forth between Ahin and Edith, bewildered by their struggle. “Why does Ahin want to become a rabbit? He’s more like a black panther than anyone else.”

“Evelyn, be quiet.”

“Yes.”

Barely understanding the power dynamics, Evelyn, sensing Edith’s authority, grabbed Ahin’s ankle. Preventing a superior’s misbehavior was also the duty of a budding aide.

“Now, Ahin, who wants to be a rabbit? Let’s go back to the Black Panther territory. Why be a rabbit when you have fangs?”

“No need to point that out!”

“Ouch!”

Evelyn, kicked by Ahin, collapsed like a paper doll.

Edith, awkwardly shaking her head, suddenly looked around. Passersby were glancing at and avoiding Edith’s group.

The emotion in their purple eyes was fear towards beast-type demihumans [humans with animal features].

Sensing this, Edith turned towards a toy stall not far away.

“If Ahin doesn’t like it, I can’t force him. I’ll just have to buy the rabbit doll myself. Evelyn, is there any toy you want?”

“Rather than toys, I want to become Chief Valence’s aide. I need to get off to a good start.”

“Quite… an ambitious talent.”

“It’s part of my excellent home education.”

Edith moved towards the stall, dealing with Evelyn, who already had great ambition. Soon, she heard Ahin’s footsteps following her; he had quieted down.

“Welcome.”

Once they arrived at the stall, Ahin and Evelyn were engrossed in choosing toys. Even if they acted mature, they were still just four-year-old children.

Chuckling, Edith’s gaze landed on a black panther doll at the end of the stall.

Instinctively picking up the black panther doll, Edith fell into contemplation. The doll’s arrogant expression, unlike a typical doll, resembled someone she knew.

“Mom doesn’t really like dolls.”

Ahin, who had approached unnoticed, offered advice. “Especially if you give her such an ugly doll, she’ll definitely throw it into the fireplace.”

“You think so too?”

“But she might be happy if it’s a gift from Dad. Mom likes Dad a lot.”

Edith paused for a moment and shook her head. “I don’t think so. I like Valence much more.”

“No. Dad said last time that if you like someone, you naturally smile. Mom tells me to control my expression, but she secretly smiles when she sees Dad, doesn’t she?”

“Did she….”

“Yeah, her shoulders shake.”

*That’s probably ridicule,* Edith vaguely thought, her ears slightly reddening. The fact she learned this thanks to Ahin stirred her heart. Valence was a person who became harder to read the longer they spent together.

Just when she thought she had built some trust over the years, Valence would act like she could abandon Edith at any moment during crucial times. She was truly a leader to the bone.

Pushing aside thoughts of Valence, who occupied her mind at every chance, she turned her attention to the rabbit doll Ahin was holding.

“Is that what you want?”

“This is enough. Let’s go back to the Black Panther territory now. Now that I think about it, I have a promise with the rabbit I met at the mansion.”

“Promise? What promise?”

“To meet again later. He wants to, too.”

Ahin’s attitude, which had been fussy until a while ago, was excessively calm. Feeling strangely uneasy, Edith asked cautiously, “Is there a reason why you absolutely have to meet that rabbit again?”

“Yeah. I’m going to eat… no, take him, to our house.”

“You were about to say eat him just now.”

“No, I wasn’t. He might get hurt because he’s weak, so like this.”

Ahin carefully put the rabbit doll into his vest.

Facing Ahin’s bulging belly, Edith could only move her lips, speechless.

*Shouldn’t the premise of taking him be a problem before worrying about the rabbit getting hurt?* She felt conflicted.

“Ahin, I’m saying it again: you absolutely can’t eat him. Promise me, pinky swear.”

“…….”

“…Don’t raise your toe [a way to cheat on a pinky swear].”

Edith couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going very wrong. She could only hope that the rabbit would avoid the huge trap called Ahin.

Ahin, unaware of her feelings, raised the rabbit doll high.

“If I can’t meet him, I’ll just go find him.”

Long after that, in the forest at the border of the Black Panther territory…

Holding a white cotton ball that wouldn’t even make a mouthful in the basket, Ahin twitched his eyebrows. He couldn’t figure out why he was seeing Edith, who had a stern face and held out her pinky.

*Well, whatever.* Ahin, not taking it seriously, opened his mouth. “Baby rabbit?”