Something soft that touched my cheek made me feel light. Nice. Rubbing my face as I grumbled in my sleep, I belatedly sat up abruptly.
‘When did I fall asleep?’
The soft sensation was none other than Jane’s torso. Judging by her steady rise and fall, she seemed to be sleeping.
As I rubbed my blurry eyes, I also saw Lil sleeping like a fugitive on the run. Thanks to that, I unintentionally woke up and looked around.
‘Ash?’
Earlier, the beast that jumped out of the haystack was Ash, who had found me after all.
Contrary to my worries that Jane would go wild, perhaps due to their connection through Ahin, the two just snorted at each other, which was a relief. But now, Ash had disappeared without a trace.
She usually doesn’t leave without saying anything.
Feeling uneasy, I brushed the hay off my pants and stood up.
“…Ash?”
As I opened the door, which came up to my waist, a chilly wind blew in. My hair scattered horizontally in the wind.
‘Did she return to the mansion?’
By now, dusk had fallen, and the sounds of dinner preparation could be heard from the mansion.
It was about time for Ahin to return as well, so I should probably wake Lil. Rubbing my arms against the cool air, I squinted my eyes.
“Ash, what are you doing there?”
Among the thick bushes, only Ash’s tail was visible, swaying gently. Her black rump soon wiggled along with it.
Is this some kind of hide-and-seek? She often played this trick even in the bedroom, so with a chuckle, I decided to play along and crouched low.
Step by step. Approaching like a predator stalking its prey, I swiftly parted the bushes.
“Found you!”
Woof! With both hands shaped like claws, I suddenly jumped up. Sure enough, a startled Ash raised her head with a blank expression.
“…….”
“Who….”
Facing Ash blankly, a thin question arose in my mind. Did Ash have a scar on her left eye? Upon closer inspection, she looked even more muscular than usual.
“…Who are you?”
Who are you to be in a place like this? I asked earnestly, but of course, there was no response.
It was either a beast in its true form or a black panther raised by someone in the mansion. But it didn’t seem to be either.
The panther’s yellow eyes had the wild, raw look of a creature that roamed the wilderness. And as if to prove it, his body was covered with large and small scars.
Grrr-
The ground vibrated. The rumble from the bushes carried a thick sense of hostility. My legs, frozen in fear, trembled as I forced myself to stand.
If I turn my back, I’ll die. Instinctively sensing this, I faced the stables, standing awkwardly.
Even if I succeeded in fleeing to the stables, there was only Lil and Jane there. Maybe one of us could escape, but it seemed nearly impossible in front of such a large panther.
‘We could all die.’
A cold chill seeped into the tips of my toes. Unable to hide my fear, tears welled up in my eyes.
There was only one chance. I had to use pheromones to either subdue or sedate the panther.
If I used it clumsily and turned into a rabbit…. Horrifying thoughts scrambled through my mind.
Unable to make a sound or retreat a step further, I bit my lip hard.
‘I can do this.’
At least I hadn’t fainted. I had to strike when the panther lowered its body to pounce.
Sweat gathered between my clenched fists due to the tension. Soon, the eyes of the predator, hunting its prey, gleamed, looking up from below.
‘It’s coming.’
The yellow eyes were aimed precisely at my throat. As the panther lowered its body, a long sword cut through the air and flew towards it.
Thud, the sword barely missed, embedding itself into the ground. Had the panther leapt, it would have been pierced by the blade.
“Bara.”
A voice I knew well struck my ears.
Thud, my legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the bushes.
“I told you not to get too close.”
The black panther, pressured by Ahin’s presence, curled its tail towards its belly.
In the meantime, Ash, who had jumped out from behind Ahin, charged straight at the panther. As I watched them roll and be rolled in one-sided combat, my body suddenly floated into the air.
Ahin, who had lifted me, scanned my loose shirt and suspenders.
“Have you been hired as a stable hand?”
As soon as I heard his leisurely teasing, the tension drained from me like a lie. I almost burst into tears, but I buried my face into his shoulder to hide my expression.
“Rubbing your face?”
“…I’m not crying.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
Ahin, who responded teasingly, adjusted his grip to hold me with one arm.
“Look at me.”
He lightly held my arm with his free hand. I, gathering the last of my strength, stubbornly hid my face.
Ahin chuckled softly and patted my back. His touch on my back oddly calmed my startled heart.
“Rubbing your nose won’t stop your tears.”
Did Ahin have eyes on the side of his head or something? I reluctantly removed my hand from my nose and bit my lip hard.
“Don’t bite your lip either. It’ll get chapped.”
“…I’m not biting it.”
“Then show me your face.”
Finally, unable to resist his request, I slowly lifted my head. His red eyes, meeting mine in midair, curved into a crescent moon shape.
“Crying more?”
This damned beast! Knowing exactly what he was about to say next, I pinched Ahin’s lips with both hands.
“Put me down!”
Contrary to my demand to be put down, his arms tightened around me. Ahin made a humming sound, as if he still had more to say.
“…You’re not going to say anything weird again, right?”
His red eyes were filled with trust, asking me to believe him. Of course, I couldn’t trust those eyes at all, so after a suspicious glance, I released his lips.
“You want me to put you down when Bara’s still here?”
“Bara?”
My gaze automatically turned to the black panther, who was currently being punched by Ash’s front paw. Though calling it a front paw punch didn’t quite capture the hammer-like force behind it.
Without needing to ask, I instinctively knew that the panther being pummeled was Bara. I stammered a reply.
“Well, now that I think about it, my legs do feel a bit sore.”
“In that case, I guess I have no choice but to keep holding you.”
I felt somewhat teased, but the thought of setting foot on the ground terrified me, so I clung to Ahin as if he were my lifeline.
“But Vivi, why did you leave out the chimpanzee picture?”
Why did he suddenly bring up chimpanzees? As I blinked in confusion, a clue I had left behind in the library popped into my head, worried that Ahin might have noticed.
“If it were with a gorilla, you should’ve left a gorilla picture instead.”
“…I didn’t have time to find a gorilla.”
I had to escape the library in the brief moment when no staff was around, so I grabbed the first book of pictures I could and left it open.
Though I felt a little guilty towards Lil, it had been the most certain clue. As I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck, I realized that Ahin must have visited the library.
‘What kind of strange creature did you bring along…!’
‘I plan to take this rabbit to the temple.’
How was I going to explain what happened with that Grandfather? As I opened my mouth to speak, a rough howl interrupted.
The one who let out the cry was none other than Bara, who was still being relentlessly beaten by Ash. Ahin’s attention naturally shifted to the two panthers.
“He’s Ash’s childhood friend.”
“…Ash’s?”
Ash seemed ready to eliminate Bara, far from treating him like an old playmate.
“Since Ash has been following Vivi around recently, Bara probably got jealous and thought he’d mess with her. Bara’s liked Ash ever since they were young.”
So the growling wasn’t a predatory threat but born of jealousy?
As I stared in shock, I glanced down at Ahin, who was holding me. His face, devoid of any trace of a smile, suddenly seemed cold enough to send a shiver down my spine.
I had a vague idea of what that expression meant, and I grabbed Ahin’s shoulder.
“Bara…”
“Yes?”
“He didn’t mean to harm me, right? …Don’t kill him.”
Ahin looked up at me calmly and asked plainly,
“Why do you think that?”
“Because you’ve already decided. Just now.”
Surprise flickered across his red eyes before quickly vanishing.
“He’s out of control. I must have told you before, any servant who disobeys a command here can be executed.”
Again.
Facing Ahin’s ruthless side stirred an uncomfortable feeling in my chest.
Was it because I feared that one day this mercilessness might be directed at me? The scent of blood I sometimes noticed when he returned home replayed in my mind.
“So, if I ever get out of control, will you kill me too?”
No answer came from him.
After a heavy silence, I realized just how absurd and daring my question had been. I opened my eyes wide in shock, frozen with my hand still over my mouth, unable to speak.
The mansion’s lights, now seeping through the darkening sky, illuminated the area. On Ahin’s face, veiled by the shadows, a distant smile appeared.
“…Asking me that makes it hard to kill Bara.”
A cold night breeze passed by. Before I could digest the meaning of his words, Ahin asked softly.
“Would you like me to spare Bara?”
What kind of person would wish for death? I rebuked him silently, but nodded cautiously.
“Then you’ll have to take responsibility for Bara.”
“…What?”
“You saved his life, so now he’s yours to take care of.”
Wait. My gaze, trembling like an earthquake, landed on Bara. How could I possibly take care of this hulking black panther, even larger than Ash, with all those menacing scars?
“Don’t worry. Vivi may be a coward, but you’re bold.”
“That’s true. …Wait, what does that have to do with anything?”
“I’m looking forward to the day when you’ll command Bara with that boldness.”
I’d probably meet my end before I could command anything. I shook my head, and just then, Lil, having woken up from his nap, ran toward us.
“I greet the future leader.”
Seeing Lil bowing deeply, my lingering questions surged back.
Considering Ahin had noticed the chimpanzee picture, he must have already figured out the situation in the library before coming here.
But a few things didn’t add up. It was unusual for him to return home earlier than expected, and his outfit was different from the uniform he wore that morning.
“Ahin, how did you find this place?”
“I had some help.”
“From whom?”
“The hawk I had following you,”
With a loud screech, the hawk soared through the sky, flaunting its presence.
“And the rest… well, you’re better off not knowing.”
“…Then I won’t ask.”
If not knowing would make me happier, I didn’t need to know.
Thud, a strange noise suddenly came from nearby, followed by grass scattering. Turning my head, I saw Lil, having fainted in an awkward position.
Instinctively sensing danger, I felt the fine hairs on my body stand on end.
As my vision adjusted to the darkness, pairs of glowing eyes emerged, hidden deep within the bushes. Soon, a pack of black panthers, who had been concealed, began to slowly reveal themselves.
One, two, three… Counting them became a futile task as their numbers grew.
Afraid that if I looked away for even a second, I’d have my throat ripped out, I kept my eyes fixed on them, barely moving my lips.
“…What is that?”
“The black panthers from the Boundary Forest.”
I had heard plenty of stories about the black panthers that lived in the Boundary Forest. Whenever someone trespassed from the Rabbit Territory, these panthers would appear like guard dogs to deal with the intruder.
This meant that if I ever wanted to return to the Rabbit Territory, I would have to pass through them.
“Right, the black panthers from the forest….”
“I called them here to help find you faster.”
“Right, you called them to find… me….”
“…Isn’t your response a little off?”
Glancing at the fainted Lil, I let out a small chuckle. He was an herbivore beastman, after all. It made sense that seeing so many predators at once would shock him.
I, too, found myself closing my eyes, believing that this was the natural outcome. Surviving Bara’s encounter was already a significant achievement. It took only a few seconds before I drifted off.
* * *
An unnatural stillness hung over the garden, where preparations for the night were underway. The servants, frozen in place, hurriedly bowed their heads only after Ahin had passed by.
Even after his footsteps faded, two maids remained bowing, their eyes fixed on the ground as they whispered.
“…Did you see that?”
“I saw it.”
“I saw it indeed.”
“They were wearing the stable workers’ uniform, but… what on earth…?”
“He’s never brought someone back alive before, has he? Unless it was a corpse… But come to think of it, was that person even breathing?”
“Don’t worry; they were definitely breathing. To witness such a spectacle right after his return… what a day.”
The two maids, who had been gossiping like songbirds, suddenly realized there was a third person listening in on their conversation. They stiffened, nearly fainting in shock.
‘T-The Lord…!’
Valence had approached without a sound and was now standing behind them. One of the maids, her face drained of color, quickly cried out.
“Please punish us! We spoke recklessly without knowing our place…!”
“That’s enough. Now tell me, what did you think the future lord was carrying?”
The two maids exchanged panicked glances, unsure of what exactly they had seen.
“I would guess… a stable hand, my lord.”
“Yes, it seemed that way to me as well.”
Valence offered a cryptic smile and walked in the opposite direction.
The two maids, relieved to have escaped punishment, returned to their duties with renewed focus.
Whether a stable hand or not, it wasn’t unusual for the future lord to carry something as strange as a rabbit. They had no desire to lose their heads over gossip that would die down in a few days.
Meanwhile, as Ahin arrived at the mansion entrance, carrying the stable hand in his arms, Everine followed behind. His gaze settled on Vivi, who had buried her head deeply into Ahin’s shoulder.
“…By tomorrow morning, rumors will be flying that Lord Ahin kidnapped a stable hand.”
“I don’t think my reputation is quite that vile.”
“That would be a grave misjudgment.”
“Are you hinting that I should cut out your tongue?”
“I apologize.”
Everine walked alongside Ahin, his eyes on Vivi, whose expression was a mix of worry and discomfort, suggesting she was either deeply asleep or unconscious. Everine’s brows furrowed as he watched.
“Everine, you’ll lose your eye if you keep staring.”
“Please allow me a moment to process my surprise. Still, it seems even as a human, Lord Rabbit remains a rabbit.”
“Stop deflecting and walk beside me.”
Not worn out yet. Everine, dragging his feet, reluctantly fell in step next to Ahin.
Ahin was unconsciously patting Vivi’s back. Everine, watching the hand moving at a steady rhythm, spoke quietly.
“You handed the mop to me and made me the substitute because of the rabbit, didn’t you?”
“I heard she ran into my grandfather while reading a book.”
Upon hearing the full story, Everine sighed. It was hard to even imagine what kind of biting sarcasm Lilion, who spewed outdated criticisms every time he saw him, might have hurled at Vivi.
“Eek!”
“Ah.”
Smooch. Two passing attendants, who were side-eyeing Ahin, accidentally bumped their lips together.
From earlier on, the employees had been making mistakes, swallowing their breaths with every step or not getting up after bowing.
Even though it was uncertain if Vivi was of the same bloodline, just the fact that Ahin was carrying her around was enough to cause surprise. Feeling the multiple gazes piercing into his back, Everine asked softly.
“Is it still impossible to control the switch between the true form and human?”
“Probably. If she could, she wouldn’t have been hiding in the stables.”
“Then it will be hard to keep it hidden from the employees any longer. If something like today happens again while you’re away….”
“It’s tricky because she turns back into a rabbit so quickly, there’s no time to inform anyone.”
“That’s true as well.”
Everine suddenly noticed that Ahin was subtly releasing pheromones. He was likely smothering the rabbit with his scent.
Not realizing that it was to mask Vivi’s pheromones, he silently cursed at himself for being so dense.
“Are you planning to assign Bara to the rabbit as well?”
“For the time being.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to assign a guard instead?”
“Well, I’m considering that too….”
With Meimi, who could communicate, and the hawk and two black panthers already assigned to Vivi, adding another black panther beastfolk seemed likely to make Vivi protest by flipping over on her back.
“Well, first, she’ll need to get used to Bara’s face, don’t you think? To live properly here.”
“That’s a fair point.”
Everine, recalling the rabbit that ran around every day, deeply agreed.
Bara had a particularly fierce appearance, even among the black panthers living in the forest of vigilance. Once she got used to it, the rabbit would stop flinching at the sight of fangs.
Everine, feeling both content and a bit disappointed, folded his hands behind his back.
“But, if the rabbit becomes human, I doubt she will stay here.”
“…she hasn’t undergone humanization yet.”
“What if she does?”
A subtle silence followed. Ahin, who had stopped walking, gently shook Vivi in his arms.
“Vivi, you’re going to live here, right?”
Unfortunately, there was no response.
“Vivi.”
As he continued to shake her, urging a response, Vivi, half-asleep, swung her arm and smacked Ahin on the head. Receiving a response via head slap, Ahin smiled faintly.
“She said yes.”
“That’s absurd.”
“In rabbit beastfolk culture, hitting the head is a sign of agreement.”
“I’ve never heard of that before.”
While they bantered, Meimi, who had been waiting in front of the bedroom, bowed respectfully.
“You’ve arrived.”
Unlike the guards, who nearly dropped their spears due to Vivi, Meimi stood with her hands neatly clasped, showing remarkable composure.
“Meimi, take care of her when she wakes up.”
“Understood.”
Her reaction was so calm that Ahin briefly suspected she might have seen Vivi in her human form before.
But that suspicion quickly turned to nothing. Thud! Meimi had just run straight into the bedroom door without even opening it.
Having made a mistake she would never normally make, she quickly sought forgiveness.
“My apologies.”
“Meimi, you have a nosebleed.”
“…My apologies.”
* * *
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