Ahin, who entered the inn’s entrance, took off his pressed silk hat. He tidied up his somewhat disheveled hair and looked up at the sky tinged with the sunset.
He had visited a few merchant guilds in the Endellus region, but none of them dealt with drugs. It was unclear whether they were feigning ignorance or if there was a separate courier.
Although information was scarce, he couldn’t leave the inn unattended for long, so he had returned before nightfall.
“Master Ahin.”
As he crossed the garden lined with red lanterns, he turned his head at Everine’s call. Everine hesitated, opening and closing his mouth.
“…Do you intend to keep staying with Lord Rabbit?”
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“After all, she is a beastfolk, not a mindless pet.”
Ahin, who had turned fully, faced Everine with a serene face. Although his expression was as emotionless as usual, there was a slight concern in his tone.
Everine was not particularly inclined to show affection to others. However, this time, the appearance of a baby rabbit seemed to have loosened his guard.
Ahin, who had been teasing Vivi every evening, could sense what Everine was getting at.
For Vivi, this incident had been a matter of life and death.
Moreover, being chased by a wolf at the mansion had only reaffirmed that there was no truly safe place for a rabbit to live in the black panther’s territory.
Therefore, if she wasn’t a pet, it would be better to send her back to her original territory, where there were relatively fewer power struggles and battles.
“This place has always been a place where the weak die. Have you forgotten?”
Ahin, who started to speak, raised the corner of his mouth. His face, reflected by the red lanterns, exuded a dual feeling of both strangeness and danger.
“And it was you who advised me to make the most of useful things.”
Ahin, who gave a cryptic explanation, pressed the silk hat onto Everine’s head.
With his view blocked, Everine furrowed his brows as he removed the silk hat. It ultimately meant that the rabbit was useful to Ahin, but he wished he would clearly explain in what way.
Ahin, who knowingly ignored that desire, stroked his chin discontentedly.
“Everine, I’ve been with Vivi for several months now…”
“Yes.”
“She seems to be overly afraid of me.”
It was amusing when the rabbit struggled, but seeing that terrified expression in human form gave a rather strange feeling.
“Lord Rabbit…”
Everine reminisced about the past.
Ahin placing the rabbit on the dining table. Ahin handing the rabbit to the chef. Ahin trying to roast the rabbit over ashes, and so on.
“To be precise, I think she dislikes you.”
“Ah.”
Ahin nodded as he reached the correct answer.
‘So, Vivi’s expression was one of disgust.’
The faint smile that Ahin had been wearing completely disappeared.
Thinking that Ahin had agreed too easily, Everine calmly added.
“Since you are so mischievous, she relies on me a lot instead.”
“That’s a misunderstanding.”
“That can’t be true.”
“Even if it’s a misunderstanding.”
In the midst of this strange nerve battle, a man dressed as a waiter ran past them, panting heavily.
Everine, who had placed his hand on his chest after the busy man passed, spoke.
“Lord Rabbit often speaks with her eyes. She shows a strong affection for me. You can tell by the burning look in her eyes.”
“She probably wants to get rid of you strongly.”
Thump, thump, thump, an unusual sound of footsteps was heard. Without having time to check, a small animal ran past them. A large lion followed like the wind, and a black panther was chasing closely behind.
Ahin, who watched the animals recede into the distance, murmured.
“…I think I saw something strange just now.”
“You witnessed a baby rabbit running, followed by a lion, and then a black panther chasing the lion.”
“That rabbit looked like Vivi.”
“And the black panther looked like Ash.”
“Then who’s the lion?”
“Well…”
Maybe someone is operating an animal farm nearby, Everine joked as he watched the animals disappear until they were just dots in the distance.
Despite his relaxed words, Ahin, who faced the stiff Everine, clenched and unclenched his fists. A bad premonition was rising from his toes.
“It’s in that direction!”
“Hurry up! We might lose them!”
Following the shouts, the escort knights and even Restin passed through the inn’s entrance. A heavy silence enveloped Ahin and Everine.
The two beastfolk exchanged a silent glance and then, as if in sync, started running.
* * *
My consciousness, which had been enveloped in fear, gradually returned. As I ran relentlessly, I soon spotted the distant back of a worker. He was the one who had escaped when Rune transformed into a lion.
‘Definitely…’
When that person scattered the ashen powder, Rune transformed into the form of a lion. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have deliberately undone his human form during the battle. The drug related to pheromones crossed my mind.
‘Is it possible to forcibly undo humanization?’
Since Rune inherited the bloodline of the lion territory’s leader, his pheromones would surely be far superior to ordinary beastfolk. It wouldn’t be easy to influence someone like that.
Concluding that this wasn’t something I should handle alone, I hastily turned my head,
‘Ow!’
and mechanically fixed my gaze forward. The lion, which had caught up, was now charging towards me.
Oh, my goodness. Even though I kept reminding myself that the lion was Rune, it was horrifying enough to make me faint. His head was enormous.
Moreover, Ash, who followed behind, had a fierce expression.
Predators must have the scariest faces when they run.
The scenery changed rapidly. The worker’s back, running through the red buildings, became a hazy blur.
My breath quickened, and my feet ached. As I ran, cursing my unyielding legs, I keenly felt the precariousness of my days, different from my time in the Rabian household.
The ever-present fangs and claws that could tear through a body in a single swipe. The numerous bloody scenes I had encountered, the scent of blood, and the decapitated corpses.
‘…Scary.’
Scary, scary. It felt like I was running endlessly through darkness alone. And it seemed as if that hopeless path would shatter like glass.
* * *
It didn’t take long for Ahin and Everine to catch up with the escort knights and Restin who were ahead.
According to their account, Vivi, Rune, and Ash were having a conversation on the terrace when a sudden commotion erupted for unknown reasons. Upon quick investigation, they found Rune transformed into a lion and Vivi bravely chasing after some worker.
‘More likely, it was because she was scared of the lion.’
Ahin, who hadn’t stopped running, let out a small laugh. That cowardly rabbit would never stay calm upon seeing a lion.
“Restin, we definitely requested support from the Grace family.”
Ahin’s low remark, implying why non-family members were present, made Restin’s shoulders tremble slightly.
It wasn’t like Restin came willingly.
When the support request letter came up in the alliance meeting, Rune immediately volunteered. Normally, Rune would have been lazily sleeping, so it was Restin, his aide, who was more bewildered by his odd behavior.
No one objected to the claim that the lion tribe also had the right to be involved in the Endellus drug matter.
So, Restin was here, almost forcibly following Rune.
Ahin, as well as the high-ranking individuals, personally investigating rather than delegating it to subordinates, was a mystery. Were they acting like tanks, barging in as high-ranking predators?
Restin, hiding his frustration, watched for Ahin’s reaction.
“The drug issue is something we need to cooperate on…”
“So, why did Lord Manionts personally come?”
“Yes…”
“That Lord Manionts?”
“Y-yes…”
Restin swallowed his resentment, not adding that he was also curious why that lazybones was acting this way.
Upon arriving in Endellus, Rune, instead of focusing on the drugs, showed interest in a peculiar rabbit. The fact that the rabbit was Ahin Grace’s pet only heightened Restin’s anxiety.
“By the way, why did Lord Rune undo his humanization? What about the worker?”
Everine’s subsequent question made the escort knights and Restin exchange glances. They were also just chasing without knowing the details.
“Ash.”
Ahin, spotting Ash looking around near an alley, came to a stop. It seemed they had lost track of Vivi and Rune.
Ash, although sniffing the air, found it difficult to follow the trail due to the distinct scent of spices unique to Endellus.
The worker who hurried past the entrance, and Rune who unexpectedly transformed into a lion.
Piecing together the information, Ahin ran his fingers through his hair and muttered.
“Lord Manionts must have had a reason to transform, unless he was just bored. Maybe he came into contact with a pheromone-related drug.”
“Do you mean drugs?”
“…Or he could just be bored.”
“Someone as bored as that… No, it’s quite possible.”
Restin, who had caught his breath, didn’t bother defending Rune. After all, he wasn’t the next head of the Manionts family; just thinking of Rune’s slack demeanor always made him furious.
Leaving behind Restin, whose expressions were changing rapidly, Ahin gave short orders. The escort knights and Ash were to go to the right, Everine to the left, and Restin to the opposite alley.
“Where will you go, Lord Ahin?”
Without even waiting for an answer, Ahin immediately headed forward.
Restin, watching his urgent back, opened his mouth in surprise. The always composed Ahin seemed unusually anxious today.
* * *
The surroundings of the street I had passed through were quite different from the cityscape where the Grace family was located.
Red lanterns hung from every crooked building, and the air was filled with the pungent scent of spices I had smelled at the inn.
I had been running so blindly that I didn’t notice I had entered a deserted alley until I came to a sudden stop.
As I caught my breath, I looked around, realizing the worker I had been following was nowhere to be seen. A wave of self-loathing and dizzying regret washed over me.
I had run to an unknown place, unable to overcome my fear.
I knew all too well that I couldn’t survive without Ahin’s help.
Resolving to return to the inn, I heard a growl from behind, freezing my spine.
‘…Stay calm.’
Who was I? I was the brave rabbit who had faced off against Ash multiple times, building immunity to predators.
‘That’s Rune.’
If he had chased me all the way here, it was actually a relief. Reassuring myself, I turned sharply with my eyes wide open.
The lion, with the sunset behind it, seemed to have a mane that blazed like fire.
Just standing there, its imposing presence made my legs give out, and I collapsed. My scant courage turned to ash and vanished.
As I lay flat in a nearly submissive position, Rune approached slowly.
He then lay down in the same manner, snorting in what seemed to be a gesture of acknowledging his own effort in following me.
‘Whose fault do you think this is?’
The arrogant beast, I gritted my teeth. When a shadow fell over Rune, I widened my eyes.
‘Ahin!’
Unaware of when he had caught up, Ahin was breathing lightly. His silver hair stood up messily as he irritably loosened his cravat.
Looking up at him blankly, I felt a pang in my chest.
In the temple, at the ball, during the wolf beast’s attack. And now.
Even though his presence was infuriating, it provided an inexplicable sense of relief.
“Finally caught you.”
Ahin’s expression hardened as he picked me up from the ground.
Before I could comprehend it, my body flipped in the air. A sharp pain flared when his outstretched hand touched my front paw.
“You’re injured.”
Only then did I recall scraping against the stone earlier. Both my front paws were scraped and bleeding.
My precious front paws…
As I alternated between my paws in dismay, I sneaked a glance at Ahin’s expression. The face that often smiled was now frighteningly stern.
“Why did you keep running until you got in this state?”
Glancing at Ahin, who was scolding me, I suddenly remembered the scene of Ash’s wounds healing instantly.
Wasn’t that Ahin’s ability? Hesitating, I extended my injured paw.
‘Heal me.’
Like before. Waiting shamelessly, Ahin blinked as if trying to understand the meaning. After a moment of silence, he relaxed his expression and smiled.
“I’ll treat you when we get back. And,”
‘And?’
“If you keep doing this, I’ll lock you in my pocket forever.”
Why was he suddenly saying something like that? Though it was a joke, a chill ran down my spine.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you in your true form, Lord Manionts.”
Holding me in one hand, Ahin crouched and grabbed Rune’s mane.
“I didn’t expect you to have a hobby of playing tag with a rabbit.”
His tone was calm, but his voice was rather cold.
Rune gave an aggrieved look. It wasn’t by his will; he had been hit with the ashen powder, undoing his human form.
Seemingly trying to explain, Rune desperately waved his front paws. Watching the strange movement, Ahin half-closed his eyes and murmured.
“So you’ve gone mad.”
Treated as a madman, Rune growled and rolled on the ground. He beat his chest with his front paws in frustration, and the sight of the distressed lion evoked both fear and pity.
‘I know that feeling well…’
Was it sympathy or a sense of kinship? As I watched in pity, I felt an inexplicable unease.
I quickly turned my gaze from the lion to Ahin and was taken aback.
His eyes, usually red, were now a deep blue. The street had darkened as the sun set, but it wasn’t so dark that I couldn’t tell the difference.
‘Are Ahin’s eyes… different?’
I wondered if my vision was failing me. Before I could process it, Ahin suddenly shoved me into his pocket.
I struggled to breathe, pushing my head out to catch some air.
In my regained sight, I saw several beastfolk wielding weapons surrounding us.
There were at least a dozen of them. Seeing the weapons in their hands, I instinctively lowered my head, only peeking out with my eyes.
Who were these people? As I scanned the area, I spotted the worker among them.
‘That guy…!’
My eyes met Rune’s in the air. It was clear that this man had brought his comrades here.
The worker, looking around nervously, whispered something to a burly man next to him.
The man, bending down to listen, looked puzzled.
“…So just inhaling it undid his human form?”
The attention of the other beastfolk shifted to the lion. It seemed Rune’s case was unusual.
“Hey.”
A finely sharpened sword was pointed at Ahin’s neck.
“You’re coming with us.”
Of all times, he had to step forward and threaten the mad black panther. Feeling the impending violence, I glanced anxiously at Ahin.
Watching him with an unreadable expression, I had an epiphany.
If a fight broke out here and they encountered pheromones…
‘The jacket pocket will burst open.’
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry as sand. The man, seeing no reaction from Ahin, pressed the sword closer.
“Judging by your eyes, you’re either a raccoon or a cat. It’d be wise not to resist.”
Thinking Ahin wasn’t a powerful beastfolk, the man’s expression grew more smug. It made sense; the surrounding beastfolk all looked like predators. They had a significant numerical advantage.
After a brief silence, Ahin wiped the corner of his eye with his index finger and raised both hands, as if in surrender.
“Please, spare me.”
“…….”
“Please.”
His words sounded like a wooden actor’s line, completely unconvincing. Yet, his eyes had an impressively pitiful glow.
“For now…”
The man, still skeptical, bound Ahin’s wrists with a rope.
“We’re returning to the guild. Bind the lion as well.”
Rune also complied as beastfolk tied him up with ropes.
Watching the bizarre situation unfold, I quickly understood their plan.
They had come to Endellus to investigate the drugs, and these people were likely related to that. Following them could lead us to their base—an excellent opportunity.
‘Vivi, if you go around the corner a bit more, Everine will be waiting.’
Ahin’s whispered words reached my ears from deep within the pocket.
‘In such situations, the first thing to do is to find a safe place to hide.’
It was a reasonable statement.
At that moment, Rune began to growl and resist dramatically, drawing everyone’s attention. Seizing the moment, Ahin used his bound hands to pull me out and set me on the ground.
I looked up at him with a determined expression as he gently nudged me with his foot. I didn’t forget to encourage him with my front paw.
‘Good luck.’
I didn’t want to take the risk of following.
With Ahin, who claimed to finish a battle with just a “bang, swoosh, thud,” and Rune by his side, there was no need to worry much.
Leaving Ahin, who burst into a small laugh, behind, I immediately put force on my feet.
As I shook my legs, I frowned with an uneasy feeling.
Despite running so hard, why couldn’t I move forward? Come to think of it, it felt like someone was holding me back.
When I looked up, a man who looked rougher than a gorilla had picked me up.
“Even the rabbit will come along.”
Ah.
Panicking, I instantly used my wits and kicked the man’s fingers hard.
His face twisted in pain, but unfortunately, he didn’t let go of my collar.
“Not an ordinary rabbit, I see. Lil, tie up the rabbit too.”
The man’s companion, who was watching, clicked his tongue.
“No, I’ll take care of it myself.”
Fortunately, I didn’t end up being tied up with ropes.
The man carrying me turned out to have a surprisingly delicate nature. He patted my head with his large hands, blushed shyly when no one was looking, and seemed more upset about the blood on his hands.
While it was a relief to be treated with care, it felt quite ambiguous. Judging by his appearance alone, it wouldn’t be strange to call him a gorilla beastfolk.
Avoiding the man’s gaze, I met eyes with Ahin, who was watching us intently. He seemed to have forgotten his role as the one being kidnapped, making an uncertain expression.
His mouth seemed to twitch. Eventually, Ahin turned his head quickly when the man whispered in a lisping voice,
“Baby, look here.”
His shoulders shook slightly, indicating he was undoubtedly laughing.
‘I knew it.’
He finds it funniest when I’m suffering. The beastfolk carrying Ahin, who kept giggling, shook their heads.
They must have thought something was wrong with him. I, too, wondered how long he planned to stay crazy. Fully empathizing with their feelings, my view was soon obstructed by the man’s hand.
These people meticulously blindfolded Ahin, Rune, and even me as they led us into an unknown building.
“Where is the guild leader?”
“He’s not here. For now, just lock them up.”
“That lion… Being a lion, he must have a strong grip.”
“He ended up like that with just one dose of the drug. Not all lions are strong.”
Rune, who was treated as weak, snorted loudly. After a brief conversation, they pushed us into a musty-smelling place.
The man who put me down on the worn floor hesitated repeatedly.
“Here, eat this.”
He bent down and handed me a whole large carrot. Then, his companion urged him with an irritated voice.
“Geez, you’re still weak against small animals. Lil, hurry up and close the door.”
Eventually, he sighed worriedly and turned to grab the doorknob. The eyes that glanced back at me through the closing door looked pitifully anxious.
* * *
Bang, as the door closed, the outside noise was completely cut off. Despite the shabby interior, the door was made of sturdy iron. It seemed like a warehouse.
‘…I can’t eat this yet.’
The orange carrot the man handed me caught my eye. As I absentmindedly rolled it, I lost my balance and fell over.
At the same time, there was a hissing sound from the corner of the warehouse. It was the sound of Ahin and Rune, whose limbs were bound, giggling.
Feeling embarrassed, I got up and settled in a corner of the warehouse. Half-hidden behind a box, I watched the two beastfolk.
When in human form, Rune’s eyes could convey a story even with dead fish eyes. But in his true form, he looked incredibly fierce. The term “head like a bucket” was an understatement.
‘I guess I won’t be getting close to him.’
Ahin, who smirked at my wariness, soon turned his gaze to Rune. His blue eyes, reliant on the lamplight, turned a strange color.
“Lord Manionts, can’t you return to human form?”
Rune, whose four limbs were bound with ropes, only nodded. It seemed he couldn’t control his transformation due to the gray powder.
“Useless brat.”
Rune, who heard Ahin’s low murmur, whimpered and twisted his body with all his might.
“Stupid lion.”
Seizing the moment, Ahin hurled all sorts of insults with a mischievous grin. Bound by his legs, Rune ground his teeth and writhed.
To think he was treated like this despite being the child of the lion clan’s chief. His disheveled mane looked pitiful.
After mocking to his heart’s content, Ahin started to twist his bound wrists. Before long, he freed his wrists and moved his hands to his ankles.
“Such poor security.”
After freeing himself from all the ropes that hindered his movement, Rune snorted loudly. Ignoring Rune’s unspoken request to be freed, Ahin came over and grabbed me by the scruff.
His face drew close, as if to check the wound on my foreleg. His expression was so dry it was impossible to read his thoughts.
With his elegant face so close, I averted my gaze, then turned to face him again. Unlike his occasionally sharp red eyes, Ahin’s blue eyes exuded a much calmer atmosphere.
I wondered what was up with his eye color. Noticing my deep curiosity, Ahin tapped the corner of his eye.
“A medicine made by the raccoon clan. It should return to normal in a few hours.”
According to a passage from “Pheromone Theory,” the raccoon clan mainly possessed pheromones that could transform appearances. They used this to develop unique tools and new medicines.
It was so rare that it couldn’t be bought with a few gold coins, but to think I’d see something that changed eye color firsthand. Ahin, who gently scratched my bewildered chin, added,
“The black panther clan with strong pheromones is highly guarded.”
It seemed he was using deception to investigate Endellus, which was mixed with various clans.
After briefly explaining, Ahin continued to tend to the wound on my foreleg. Feeling awkward, I slowly pulled my foreleg away from his hand.
What on earth was he thinking behind that harmless face? Even after seeing me transform into a human, Ahin’s attitude hadn’t changed much.
Due to the series of events, we hadn’t even talked about the situation back then. Sensing my unease, his eyes deepened momentarily.
“Vi.”
Just as his lips parted, Rune let out a deafening howl. He hadn’t given up on his demand to be freed from the ropes.
“So annoying.”
Finally, Ahin set me down and approached Rune, tapping his cheek. Dodging the snapping jaws, he began to untie the ropes.
Startled by the lion’s fangs suddenly in front of me, I felt a sting on my nose. As I flipped my foreleg to ward off the uncomfortable feeling, I saw gray powder on the floor.
It was the same color as the powder carried by the attendant. The moment I realized this, my nose began to itch.
“Vivi. Everine’s side must have followed, so before it gets dangerous, we should reunite—”
Ahin’s words were cut off by my sneeze. He turned to look at me. Although I quickly moved my foreleg away from my nose, I kept coughing.
‘It won’t stop.’
If the substance was related to pheromones, it likely had a negative effect on me as well. It had reverted Rune to his true form in an instant. A chilling sensation swept over my entire body.
* * *