TSROTRATBP Chapter 7

Night fell, and Meimi brought me to Ahin's bedroom.

Settled among the cushions by the sofa, I was fairly worn out from the day's events, but I couldn't afford to let my guard down. Any moment now, that door would open and the black panther would walk through.

But against my expectation that he'd be back soon, the waiting only stretched longer.

After a long while, the door burst open, and Ahin appeared, looking somehow worn and tired.

Poking my head up cautiously, I froze at the coppery smell that hit my nose.

Blood. The smell of it.

Looking closer, I saw his black formal uniform was smeared with fresh blood—whose, I couldn't tell.

What…

Unlike me, frozen stiff, he shrugged off the blood-crusted jacket without any concern. Underneath, blood had soaked through his ink-black shirt too.

A moment later, a beastman in a white coat entered the bedroom alongside Iverin. Judging by the medicine case in hand, the beastman accompanying him was a physician.

"The laceration isn't deep, but it will need suturing."

Having obtained permission, the physician tore Ahin's shirt open with practiced hands. My whole body rigid, I could do nothing but watch the process, dazed.

I'd never seen a wound like that, let alone one being treated. It was all foreign to me.

"Please take care not to press on the wound. I'll come check again in the morning."

Having finished bandaging as well, the physician bowed slightly and left the bedroom.

For someone who'd taken a wound to the back, Ahin, the physician, and even Iverin all carried on as though this were routine.

"Wolf-beastmen's work?"

Iverin asked in a low voice, picking up the bloodied garments from the floor.

"Those dog bastards even used a scent to numb the body."

Ahin wore a cold smile, and language rougher than his usual self came spilling out of him. Only then did I notice—flecks of bright red blood had spattered across his silver hair too.

"I'll dispose of the bodies and see them delivered to the wolf territory's sovereign. Though they'll no doubt play innocent and claim they had nothing to do with it."

"Send about thirty of ours over too. While we're at it, may as well slit some high official's throat too."

"As you command."

Perched on the sofa, rubbing his shoulder, Ahin's gaze finally landed on me.

"Ah, right, that thing was here."

His red eyes looked especially bloodthirsty today, and my body shuddered on its own. Watching me steadily, he crossed his legs at his leisure.

"You've been keeping your presence hidden the whole time. Quite clever, befitting someone Lord Ahin has brought in."

"That's how it works, is it?"

"It is."

Puzzled by Iverin's nonsense, Ahin tilted his head to one side.

Then he rose, approached at an unhurried pace, and crouched down.

"Come here."

A large hand extended toward me. I hesitated a moment, then climbed onto his palm. In this kind of atmosphere, I had zero courage left to resist.

"Awfully clever for a rabbit. Even understands speech."

"Though there's a great deal about her that's hard to explain, if she truly is a beastman."

"What about the ones whose heads got cut off in the forest? Where this rabbit turned up."

"I ordered the bodies recovered today, but the panthers in the forest had already torn them apart."

Ahin clicked his tongue, head held stiff, staring at me where I sat frozen. He truly looked like he was mulling over how to dispose of me.

I dodged the piercing gaze, hastily gathering my forepaws to flatten myself into a prostrate bow. It's not that hard a thing, is it—just letting one little life live?

Apparently pleased by the servile posture, Ahin curved his eyes into rounds and pressed down on my head, again and again.

"Sharp instincts too."

Then please, please hold off on putting me on the dinner table. Biting my lip, I secretly narrowed my eyes into axe-blades.