As night fell, Meimi took me to Ahin’s bedroom.
Seated among the cushions around the sofa, I was quite exhausted from the day but couldn’t let go of my tension. The black panther would enter through that door shortly.
However, contrary to my expectation of his imminent arrival, the wait grew longer.
Eventually, the door burst open, and Ahin appeared, looking somewhat fatigued.
I peeped out, my body stiffening at the acrid smell that assaulted my nose.
‘The smell of blood.’
Upon closer inspection, Ahin’s black uniform was smeared with unidentifiable fresh blood.
‘What…’
Unlike me, frozen in shock, he nonchalantly took off his blood-stained jacket. Stains of blood had also spread over his dark shirt.
Soon after, a beastman in a white gown and Everine entered the bedroom. The beastman, holding a medicine jar, seemed to be a physician.
“The wounds are not deep but require stitching.”
With permission, the physician skillfully tore open Ahin’s shirt. I, rigid all over, could only watch the process blankly.
This was my first time seeing such wounds and their treatment, a completely foreign scene to me.
“Please take care not to press on the wounds. I will visit again in the morning.”
After finishing the bandaging, the physician left the bedroom with a bow.
Despite having wounds on his back, Ahin, the physician, and even Everine acted as if it were a common occurrence.
“Was it the deed of the wolf beastmen?”
Everine, picking up the bloodied clothes from the floor, asked in a low voice.
“Those bastards even used a scent that paralyzes the body.”
A cold laugh escaped Ahin, along with some harsh words. I belatedly noticed that his silver hair was also splattered with bright red blood.
“I will dispose of the corpses and deliver them to the wolf territory’s leader. They will deny any involvement, of course.”
“Send about thirty of ours too. It wouldn’t hurt to decapitate a high-ranking official while we’re at it.”
“Understood.”
As Ahin, seated on the sofa and massaging his shoulder, turned his gaze to me,
“Ah, there was this one.”
His red eyes seemed even more menacing today, making me involuntarily shiver. Ahin quietly observed me and then lazily crossed his legs.
“It’s been very quiet all along. Fitting for someone brought by Master Ahin himself. It’s quite clever.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Ahin, puzzled by Everine’s nonsense, tilted his head sideways.
Eventually, he stood up and approached me with a leisurely stride, then crouched down.
“Come here.”
As his large hand reached out, I hesitated for a moment before climbing onto his palm. In the current atmosphere, I didn’t dare to resist.
“Too clever for a rabbit. It even understand speech.”
“But there are many parts that are difficult to explain if it’s a beastman.”
“What about the ones who were decapitated in the forest? The place where this rabbit was found.”
“I ordered the retrieval of the bodies today, but the black panthers of the forest had already torn them apart.”
Tsking, Ahin stared at me, stiff with my head held high, as if considering what to do with me.
Avoiding his penetrating gaze, I quickly brought my front paws together and lay flat. It shouldn’t be that hard to spare my life.
Perhaps pleased by my submissive posture, Ahin rounded his eyes and pressed down on my head.
“And quick-witted, too.”
So, please, spare me from ending up on the dining table. Biting my lip, I secretly glared at him.
* * *
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