TSROTRATBP Chapter 25

If she caught wind of my pheromone, it could turn into trouble. Kicking off, I put enough distance between us that Meimi looked small.

Just then, the sky held no hawks that might threaten me, and no one was passing through nearby, either. Even so, Meimi didn't drop her guard—she drew a single dagger from beneath her apron.

R-reassuring.

I left her bristling with that fearsome presence at my back and gathered my focus.

Pheromone carried, beyond simple scent, an ability unique to each individual. Though not every beastman had one.

Power varied noticeably by bloodline, and plenty of beastmen had no ability at all. Which was exactly why the well-bred beastmen occupied the seats of power—forming the pyramid structure that made up the continent as it stood now.

Which meant, given that I carried the blood of the noble House Raebien, however thinly, there was a decent chance I had some kind of ability myself.

...If I could just find it.

Maybe I could stop being an on-and-off human and turn into a beastman who'd properly gone through humanization. I had plenty to worry about, but it wasn't too late to worry after I'd gone through a proper humanization first.

Thinking back, whenever I'd breathed in Ahin's or the fox beastman's pheromone, the pheromone throughout my whole body had gone wild, beyond my control, right before the pain set in.

Half-rising onto my hind legs, I stretched both forepaws out into the empty air. Loosening the pheromone I'd kept gathered inside, I focused, imagining I was drawing that energy together into my paws.

Then, something vast that I hadn't been able to feel at all until just before coming to black panther territory—it moved.

Having finished their outing, Ahin and Iverin climbed down from the carriage. Stretching, Ahin's thoughts turned at once to last night.

He'd deliberately taken the rabbit to a ball packed with prying eyes, so rumors would soon be spreading, carried mouth to mouth.

Whether or not she'd caught on to his intentions, Valens had made a point of speaking as though she found the rabbit endearing, so the story would inevitably pick up exaggeration along the way.

If it did, there'd be no need to sit around waiting for every rabbit beastman crossing the border one by one—there was a good chance Vivi's family would try to make contact once they caught wind of it.

It would be a shame if Vivi's family turned out to be some minor noble house, or a reclusive one with its ears closed, and the rumor never reached them at all.

"My lord, I've been feeling lately that you keep more and more secrets from me. It's terribly upsetting."

Watching the corner of Ahin's mouth lift, Iverin opened his mouth.

"Especially where Miss Rabbit's concerned—you never tell me a thing. My heart aches, it truly does."

In fact, of all things, Ahin never once let slip even the smallest detail about the rabbit. Even now that he knew she was an eighteen-year-old beastman who'd never completed humanization, his manner hadn't changed at all.

"Iverin, does it really ache that much?"

Ahin turned, and found Iverin with a hand pressed to his own chest, apparently in genuine pain. Standing there with his composed, expressionless face, he cut the very picture of a loyal subordinate. In truth, a great many of House Grace's staff were taken in by that same face.

"Of course it's an exaggeration."

"Figured as much."

Feeling a fresh urge to slice the man's mouth clean off, Ahin let his hand drift to his sword hilt.

"Mouth."

"Yes."

Peace had finally returned. Ahin raised an eyebrow at Iverin and started walking again.

They'd gone maybe ten minutes when Meimi came into view in the distance, her hands folded politely.

She should have been with Vivi right now. Ahin's gaze naturally went searching along the ground for the little ball of fluff that ought to be there.

"Meimi?"

"Lord Ahin, welcome back."

As Ahin approached and made his presence known, she bowed deeply. Looking around, Ahin spotted a small white ball of fluff bustling about right in the middle of the training yard.

Ahin and Iverin both narrowed their eyes at Vivi, their expressions turning puzzled.

"Meimi, I told you to keep her from going outside while the lion's in and out of the estate."

"My apologies. ...She insisted, very much, on stopping by the training yard."

A rabbit? In the training yard? 

Why on earth would a rabbit want the training yard. The three beastmen's eyes turned back toward Vivi in unison. She had her back to them, absorbed in something, her posture serious.

Watching a little longer, they saw her half-rise and thrust both forepaws forward through the air—shk, shk.

"What's she doing?"

At Ahin's question, Meimi's mouth opened and closed hesitantly. In truth, she'd been watching for well over an hour now and still had no idea what it was.

"I believe I understand. She's training, without question."

"Training?"

At Iverin's sudden claim, Ahin and Meimi both blinked at him blankly.

"I happened to be slapped by Miss Rabbit, and the accuracy, speed, and even the angle were all precise."

Recalling the previous evening, he touched his own cheek.

"And Lord Maniuntz too, if you recall, couldn't get a word out after taking one to the mouth. A single hind leg, and she disciplined a man who's reached no small level of mastery himself."

She really had kicked Rune's lips hard enough to make a sound. Ahin and Meimi, knowing full well it was elaborate nonsense, nonetheless found themselves oddly nodding along as they turned back to the training yard. Fwip, fsst—now she was launching a back kick up into the air, as if truly in the middle of training.

"So what's that motion, then, Iverin?"

"An aerial somersault."

Still watching skeptically, Meimi's attention dropped to a presence she suddenly felt below. There sat a familiar black shape.

"Ash?"

The most intelligent and steadfast of Ahin's black panthers. Ash's sudden appearance sent a flicker of confusion across Meimi's face.

She was supposed to be kept in the forest along the border with rabbit territory—why was she here at the estate. Sensing that unspoken question, Ahin crouched and stroked Ash's head.

"Vivi's hard to catch once she really commits to running."

Recalling the way the rabbit had crossed the ballroom in an instant, he curved his lips into a faint smirk. Vivi's footwork in particular was unusually quick, which had made her a real handful to chase down while they were in human form.

But shedding their humanized state was a fairly troublesome business for a beastman. That was exactly why he'd brought Ash along—as a watchdog, and as an escort.

"Ash."

At the call, the black panther let out a purr of submission. Stroking her neck, Ahin pointed toward Vivi in the center of the training yard.

"From now on, that rabbit is your owner."

Owner. Well versed in the meaning of the word, Ash's gaze settled on Vivi, who at that moment was solemnly rolling on the ground. Her black tail swayed lazily through the air, signaling goodwill.

"Don't you dare let her get hurt."

Giving the order in his slow, unhurried voice, Ahin released a faint trace of pheromone. Ash, drinking it in, rose to her feet as if in answer. Tap-tap, tap-tap—her light footsteps carried her straight toward Vivi.

Deep in my pheromone experiment in the training yard, I steadied my breathing. A strange energy spread through my body, taking hold of me completely. It was already, unmistakably, far more than what I'd managed the first time I'd trained with Lady Valens.

Hm?

Right in the middle of my quiet celebration, a huge shadow suddenly fell over me from above. The feeling was ominous enough that the instant I turned my head, my blood ran cold.

Why...?

Why was there a black panther at the estate? I was chasing after some vague question when I remembered—this was black panther territory. Which meant it wasn't the least bit strange for people here to keep black panthers, tamed and trained.

Apparently already considering me caught prey, the black panther didn't so much as lower her body—just parted her jaws slightly. The fangs on display were nothing short of savage.

...I have to run.

My legs are frozen, they won't move. On top of that, the massive creature blocked my line of sight, so I couldn't see where Meimi was.

For a moment I wondered if this might just be a beastman in true form, but it made no sense for one to stay in such an inconvenient shape at the estate for no reason.

Trembling, I thought back to the pheromone I'd just been practicing with. Trained pheromone could apparently knock down several grown men at once.

M-move.

Extending a forepaw, I summoned everything I had. The black panther went suddenly slack, as if her strength had drained out of her, and dropped where she stood—thump. Faced with a reaction I hadn't expected, my pupils shook violently.

Don't tell me it actually worked?

As if to prove it, the black panther's head tilted toward the ground. Then—lick—a wet tongue swept over my cheek. My whole world going white, I bolted, running as if I'd lost my mind.

AAAAH!

Not knocked out by the pheromone after all—apparently the plan had been to taste me instead. Glancing back, I saw the black panther bounding after me, hopping like she was playing some game of tag.

Is she toying with her prey, too?

Black panthers, beastman or beast, clearly all had terrible hobbies. Something like survival instinct kicked my speed up faster than usual.

Running for dear life, my field of view finally landed on Meimi, hands folded neatly in place.

Meimi, help me!

Why are you just standing there watching—pull out the dagger you've got hidden in your apron. Contrary to my desperate hope, Meimi didn't so much as move.

...Is she telling me to survive on my own?

The hope on my face darkened all at once. However you sliced it, surviving a black panther on my own was next to impossible. Just as I threw myself forward, ready to leap into her arms, Meimi finally bent and reached out.

Meim—hk!

Picking up even more speed, I slammed on the brakes—screeeak.

I'd been running with my eyes only on Meimi, so I hadn't noticed until now, but right beside her, Ahin and Iverin stood with their hands out, waiting.

Stopping short in front of them, I quickly changed course and clung instead to Meimi's shoe. Thankfully, her somewhat rough hands lifted me up into the air.

"Miss Rabbit, this is Ash, the black panther who will guard you from now on."

Meimi introduced her with her free hand, gesturing toward the panther, who had by then closed the distance. For someone who didn't joke, it was a hard claim to believe.

What's THAT supposed to mean now!

Guard duty, my ass—felt like I was about to get eaten, and relished while it happened. As if to confirm Meimi's words were true, the black panther pressed her head against Meimi's leg.

Looking down at the horrifying scene, my gaze landed on Ahin and Iverin. There was no one else who could have arranged something like this.

"Meimi again? Vivi never clings to me."

Ahin's expression hardened as he voiced open displeasure. Look at everything you've done. I fixed him with a sharp glare.

"Because of you, Miss Rabbit, this Iverin has grown quite lonely."

And what the hell do YOU want.

Right on the edge of losing my temper entirely, I glared daggers at Iverin. Stepping in to block that stare, Ahin took me from Meimi's hands.

"Vivi, I'm feeling a little upset right now."

His voice had gone rather cold. Was he going to hold it against me that I'd clung to Meimi instead of him? An absurd theory—but exactly the kind of thing he'd actually do.

"Save that look for me, and only me."

Then a line came out of him that made no sense by any normal standard. Dumbfounded, I hung there in midair and simply stared at him.

What...? A loathing-filled look?

What kind of pervert. Speechless, my mouth fell slightly open, and Iverin, arms crossed, nodded along in agreement. His neat black hair swayed with the motion.

"Somehow, I thought that might be the case."

...What did you think might be the case. Too exhausted even to be furious anymore, I shifted my gaze to the black panther standing behind them, called Ash.

Her black tail swayed pleasantly through the air, and honestly, she looked docile enough. Terrifying as she was, at least she was better than these two.