The slumbering Bara was carried by the black panthers that inhabited the forest at the border.
I promised to return and severely punish them. With no other choice, Ash and I had to rely on the carriage of the Manionts family, promising to meet again in the future.
Clatter, clatter. The carriage, having crossed the border, was now passing through the capital of the rabbit territory.
Even now, Ahin’s carriage had not appeared. It was an arduous journey, unintentionally turning into a game of hide and seek.
Sitting quietly on the cushion of the carriage, I secretly glanced outside.
The flat roofs characteristic of the rabbit territory. I couldn’t see outside clearly, but I could glimpse the landscape lined with occasional crimson roofs.
“Do you want to see outside?”
Rune, who was purchasing jerky from a peddler through the window, suddenly asked. I quickly lowered my gaze and shook my head. I was well aware that the golden eyes had been following me the entire time.
“Here you go.”
In an instant, a large hand lifted me towards the window. Unintentionally landing in the palm, I looked outside.
There, the entire view of the rabbit territory was spread out. Rabbits with purple eyes, the sprawling fruit and vegetable stalls. Colors were layered over a scene I had only seen in black and white.
“Is it true that rabbit people enjoy carrot dishes?”
I gave Rune a dumbfounded look as I stared outside. Lions don’t just eat meat, do they?
“I actually quite like meat.”
He immediately responded, having somehow understood my thoughts. I shouldn’t have asked. Trying to avoid the jerky between Rune’s lips, I rested my chin on the windowsill.
“Herbivore territories do seem peaceful. Didn’t you originally live here? According to Chief Valence, Grace picked you up from that side.”
His sleepy voice, mixed with a long yawn, followed.
“You weren’t kidnapped, were you? Humans are capable of anything. If you’ve been silenced, wag your tail.”
‘How about asking with a little more sincerity?’
I looked at Rune with a weary heart.
He was a funny man. Listless for hours, but his eyes sparkled when buying jerky. His quick and curious questions remained the same.
Being with someone so nonchalant made me feel foolish for being tense.
“Master Rune… Stop talking to yourself and pay some attention over here.”
While we were watching the scenery together, Restin’s tearful voice echoed from behind.
“No matter how you dress it up, it doesn’t look like a pet at all.”
“Just handle it, what’s the problem?”
“No, look at the appearance of this black panther. It’s clearly a wild predator, isn’t it? There’s no way it can pass through the mansion, this is hopeless.”
Restin protested, his left cheek swollen like Rune’s.
I wondered what kind of person Rune’s sister was to make both of their cheeks like that.
Deep in thought, I naturally looked down at Ash, who was in the midst of wrestling with Restin.
Ash, with a red cloth wrapped around her head, certainly looked more like a blood-soaked wild beast than a pet.
I gritted my teeth as I gently patted Ash, who tilted her head innocently.
‘No matter what, saying that she’s hopeless to a child…’
I was slightly offended, but I suppressed my anger since we were in a position where we needed to rely on them.
Despite having a face that seemed like it wouldn’t flinch even if pricked by a needle, Restin was behaving like a highly sensitive young deer.
“First, you jump out of the carriage in the middle of your nap, and now you’re asking me to make this huge black panther look like a kitten. Why are you putting me through this trial?”
“There’s no choice. If we want to get into the chief’s mansion, we have to insist he’s a pet.”
Because of my sharp hearing, Restin’s high-pitched complaints sounded like thunder. As I folded my ears in half, Rune, who was chewing on jerky, covered my ears with another piece of jerky.
Of course, it did nothing to block out the noise, and the discussion on how to get Ash and me into the chief’s mansion continued.
“Didn’t Lord Raymond bring a carnivorous animal last time?”
“It was a carnivorous animal, but it was a cute weasel. Let’s just leave it on the side of the road. Bringing such a wild beast will scare the other guests.”
As Restin’s words became increasingly heated, Rune, noticing my trembling, made a statement.
“…This black panther can be cute sometimes.”
“Weren’t you the one shivering in fear of the black panther before? Are you blind? How can you say that after seeing its build?”
This lion is hopeless. Ash, show him just how strong you are.
Following my command, Ash threw off the cloth and immediately swatted Restin with her tail. A shrill scream echoed outside the carriage.
* * *
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