TSROTRATBP Chapter 18

"I see. ...What did you just say?"

Devour her? Iverin's shoulders sagged limply, strength draining. Contrary to expectation, far too absurd a claim.

"I nearly actually bit her, you know."

"Ah, y-yes... Truly astonishing."

Ahin's vague explanation recalled the pheromones he could sense at night. When the rabbit slept deeply, she emanated pheromones far more intense than when awake.

That scent—impossible to possess unless one was a beastman. The instinct to devour her had surfaced more than once or twice.

Moreover, if his guess proved correct, the rabbit's pheromone ability was the sort that could be usefully exploited for many years. Possessing utilization value he absolutely couldn't let slip away.

'She's already eighteen.'

'A freak who couldn't undergo humanization even after her coming-of-age ceremony.'

Eighteen proved unexpected, but regardless, these facts amounted to killing two birds with one stone. If she remained a rabbit rather than human—with limited range of action—she'd be convenient to keep in sight.

Many puzzling aspects remained, but those were matters to investigate gradually. Iverin urged on Ahin, who'd unconsciously pursed his lips.

"Master Ahin, please provide detailed explanation."

"Too bothersome."

"You truly are pettiness incarnate."

Normally Iverin would have responded with flattery like "If that is My Lord's will"—but this time, genuinely curious, a rather irreverent answer emerged. Ahin released a faint laugh and rubbed his fingers together with a snap.

"You seem to want a run after so long?"

Simultaneously the black panthers under his command reappeared through the brush. The sight of multiple black beasts gathering made the air instinctively chilling.

"Dessert."

At the command, the black panthers showed fierce intent toward Iverin. Blood not yet dried dripped between their revealed fangs. Sensing the threat, Iverin extended both arms and responded calmly.

"Black panther friends, please compose yourselves. We've shared considerable years together—how can you disregard our relationship so?"

"Preferably tear off that noisy mouth."

"That which is my very lifeblood—truly excessive, My Lord."

Accustomed to such situations, Iverin fled at maximum possible speed. Quick reflexes for someone who disliked disheveling his tidy black hair. Ahin waved lightly, seeing off Iverin and the black panthers beginning their game of tag.

"I'll prepare refreshments. Please rest."

The faint scent of aged wood tickled my nose. As Meimi—who'd anchored the book with marble weights—withdrew, I lifted my head from the floor and surveyed the vast library.

Befitting a great estate, the library was nothing short of magnificent. Books beyond counting stretched upward to dizzying heights, shelf upon shelf arranged in orderly rows.

'Late again today.'

Twilight had fallen ages ago. On days when Ahin returned late, my daily routine naturally extended as well.

He was late yesterday too—perhaps his schedule has been busy lately. I gazed absently into space before refocusing on the book.

「Pheromone Theory」

The book Lady Valens had given me had worn ragged from repeated reading. My eyes, which had been scanning the pages steadily, stopped at one particular passage.

「Some argue that when innate pheromone ability is excessively powerful, humanization may be delayed. As actual evidence, a fox beastman with pheromones difficult to handle achieved humanization at age five—」

Flap, flap. The speed at which I wielded my front paws to turn pages accelerated. However, contrary to my expectations, no further mention of that statement existed. Just two lines—that was all.

'...Powerful pheromones delay humanization?'

This was the first time I'd encountered such information across all the pheromone texts I'd read. Just in case, I squeezed my eyes shut and concentrated on the energy circulating inside my body.

'Mm.'

Unfortunately, rather than anything powerful, only fluffy cotton-candy-like energy drifted about.

The fox beastman in the book had achieved humanization by age five at the latest, so perhaps my case was different. It might be a peculiar phenomenon appearing only in the fox clan to begin with.

As I frowned, I turned my gaze toward an odd presence I'd been sensing for some time.

'A servant...?'

Recently, the estate had been employing noticeably more unfamiliar staff. They typically hired many temporary workers for family events, but this servant kept repeating meaningless cleaning tasks—fiddling with vases, wiping bookshelves.

When our eyes met, he reached out slyly, his expression twisting around the eyes.

"Come here—"

Finding his clicking tongue unmistakably suspicious, I pulled back.

'Don't underestimate a rabbit's wariness.'

Until now, the estate staff had refrained from approaching me this way, given my position as Ahin's food—a high status. Meimi also stood guard most of the time.

Moreover, the servant before me had the most devious expression of any black panther I'd met. When I bristled sharply, sure enough, his previously ingratiating gaze transformed.

'Ah!'

Startled when he suddenly tried to cover me with the rag he was holding, I quickly retreated. The servant, expression hardening, blocked my escape route with his back to the distant guard knights. His intent to capture me was obvious from every angle.

'No one's here.'

Meimi hadn't returned yet. With the late hour, aside from the guards at the entrance, only the servant and I occupied the vast library.

I waved my front paws to signal danger, but the guards stationed outside weren't close enough to notice. When his hand flew at me again, I hastily dodged and bolted backward.

'Why is he chasing me!'

As I ran deeper and deeper into the library, I checked behind me and swallowed hard.

Fortunately—if it could be called fortunate—the servant's speed was slow since he was being careful not to cause an outright disturbance and alert the guard knights. Moreover, thanks to the shelves arranged in rows, I could use my small size to advantage.

If I just circled the shelves and ran toward the entrance, it should work. Just as I felt secretly relieved, my complexion turned deathly pale.

'Wh-what is that.'

A faint light emanated from the servant's body as his size began to shrink. Soon, something that absolutely should not exist here revealed itself—a dark brown wolf.

My heart plummeted. My vision went dark of its own accord. Saliva dripped between the wolf's slightly parted teeth.

'Why, why...!'

Why is there a wolf here? His eyes had definitely been red.

I cried out desperately into the air, but it was a question that would receive no answer. What's more, perhaps thanks to releasing his humanization, the wolf's mobility improved and he closed the distance in an instant.

'A wolf beastman's doing.'

'Black panther and wolf territories have clashed since ancient times.'

'Wolves have always coveted other territories since the beginning.'

Frightened voices invaded my mind. My frantically running feet screeched to a halt. The cold night air chilled my sweat-soaked body.

'No.'

The terrace. Ahead was a dead end—no way forward. The wolf, apparently realizing this as well, approached leisurely like a well-fed beast while surveying the surroundings.

Thud, thud. The stealthy footsteps were unbearably terrifying. My hind paws, which had stepped back hesitantly, dangled dizzyingly over empty air.

Ah.... Trapped between the terrace railings, I met the wolf's gaze with trembling eyes. Overwhelming terror washed over me like waves.

"...Vivi?"

Flinch. A low voice from below made both the wolf's and my pupils tremble simultaneously.

It was a relaxed, languid call—completely unaware of the urgent situation. I never thought I'd be glad to hear that indolent voice.

'Ahin!'

Emotion welled up overwhelmingly. When I peeked my head out from the railing, lamplight illuminated two figures. Though only three stories high, it felt dizzyingly far.

Below the terrace stood not only Ahin but also the lion beastman with whom he seemed to have a terrible relationship. He was definitely the person Meimi had explained was Rune Maniuntz of the lion clan.

'That lion is still here?'

Not the time to be thinking this. When I hastily checked behind me, the wolf hesitated and stepped back. I stuck my face out again and waved my front paws frantically to request rescue.

'There's a wolf here!'

A real wolf, drooling! Contrary to my desperate cry, Ahin waved his hand lightly as if greeting.

"Lord Maniuntz, you should wave back."

"......?"

"Isn't responding to greetings basic etiquette?"

"Stop talking nonsense."

That's not it! Frustrated, I lifted my body slightly and flailed both front paws every which way. However, Ahin and Rune's eyebrows furrowed simultaneously, completely failing to grasp the meaning.

"What could it mean?"

"......? How should I know?"

"This is why lions are useless."

"What did you say?"

They even launched into a pointless argument. Hearing the conversation, the hesitant wolf's eyes flashed. The wolf licked around its mouth with its tongue and attempted to approach with stealthy steps.

'...I-it's, it's coming.'

Even backing away hesitantly, there was nowhere left to go. Unfortunately, unable to see this side's situation at all, they were still arguing about what my gestures meant.

'You predators, this isn't the time for that!'

The sound of the wolf's footsteps grew closer. Though the height was dizzying, there was no time to hesitate. My body, barely dodging the sharp claws, finally plunged into empty air.

"How does a rabbit greet anyone?"

"She's a genius rabbit... Vivi!"

In an instant, not only Ahin's but even Rune's pupils dilated enormously. They reflexively stretched their arms upward.

'Ahhhhh!'

The closer the ground came, the faster I fell. Feeling sharp terror as I flailed my four paws, my body was soon enveloped by something. Even so, unable to find stability, I kept struggling and clinging desperately.

"Vivi, wait—"

When the familiar voice sounded nearby, my reason, which had been consumed by fear, gradually became clearer.

'...Hair?'

The moment silver hair entered my restored vision, I felt my blood run cold. Stopping my movements, I seriously contemplated the current situation.

Clinging flat against Ahin's forehead, making a mess of his face and hair. I might die not at the wolf's hands but at the black panther's.

"Vivi."

Ahin, barely peeling my frozen self from his face, furrowed his brow.

"Why jump suddenly? Do you have a hobby of enjoying thrills?"

Aren't you the one whose hobby is talking nonsense? Dangling in midair, if only I could, I wanted to kick him with my hind paws. Perhaps not only I thought so—Rune, whose eyes happened to meet mine, wore a dumbfounded expression.

"Lord Grace, don't you smell something strange?"

Rune, who'd been standing blankly, suddenly looked up at the terrace. Following his gaze, Ahin's red eyes clouded.

"...Wolf."