#10.

Until now, we thought the relationship between the two was terribly bad, but we were surprised to see wealthy people having a seemingly normal conversation.

Of course, the content was far from normal!

At that time, Zerakiel spoke in a businesslike manner.

“Anyway, when you’re done with your business, can I take her away?”

“Yes.”

Zakari replied nervously, furrowing his brow. It was a face that seemed fed up at a glance.

I, too, realized much later where Zerakiel was taking me, as I was mentally shaken in a different way.

* * *

The place Zerakiel headed to was the medical room. Chichi noticed that it was not the usual direction he usually took and kept her ears perked.

Seeing the wary face, it seemed like eyes that knew how to devour someone.

“Don’t worry. We’re going to the clinic.”

“Chu?”

“Of course, you need to know how to humanize for it to be useful.”

Judging by Chichi’s reaction, it seemed like she knew well what it meant not to be able to humanize.

Well, there must be something she picked up in the wild.

Maybe something discarded when found. Small carnivores like ferrets didn’t accept slow ones for survival. Being slow ultimately led to extinction.

Judging by the weak pheromone scent, they might have considered Chichi a slow one.

However, Zerakiel sensed it clearly. Chichi’s pheromones were something special.

He, being more sensitive to pheromones than other beings, could immediately tell.

It was clear that when she was in danger of being caught and chased, she used pheromones as a last resort.

The strange thing was that I could feel it but it didn’t seem to harm me at all. Instead, it seemed to improve my mood.

Every time we met, I smell her. Now, it might be partly because Chichi’s reaction was amusing, but…

‘From the beginning, she was extraordinary.’

The pheromones essential for ferrets beings were for camouflage. It was to create a protective color with a small body to catch prey at once.

So, when you spot a dangerous opponent in front of you, you should hide your body at the moment of discovery rather than pretending to be crazy.

So, I thought I would check. If she really was a slow one, she should be sent back to the wild when spring comes.

However, the grip that caught Chichi, despite the intention to send her away, contained a weak force.

Meanwhile, Chichi wasn’t just standing still. With her ears perked up, she seemed a bit excited, looking around.

On the other hand, I wanted to see her disappointed, as if she were collapsing in a slump.

Watching Chichi, who was never still for a moment, was never boring. I had expectations for anything.

Zerakiel had not clearly defined his feelings for Chichi. It meant he was doing whatever he felt like. Then it happened. Each time the white ears perked up, a fragrant scent wafted gently.

Surely, even though my pheromones were covered in a sticky state, her pheromones felt vivid. Thanks to the Black Lion family’s characteristic sensitivity.

Recalling the confrontation with Zakari just now, Zerakiel pretended to rub his pheromones on Chichi’s head. Zakari didn’t like smelling Chichi’s pheromones.

Usually, he wasn’t interested in my affairs, so suddenly showing interest in Chichi made him uncomfortable.

‘No. You were always capricious.’

In fact, talking calmly like just now was almost the first time. Usually, it was common to pretend not to know each other even if we met. The Black Lion family, Javisi, had a strong individualistic tendency, unlike the usual lion families.

They preferred solo hunting to forming groups and had no interest in each other.

There were no exceptions for family. Rather, the closer the family, the more hesitant to deal with a family in madness. Facing a strong opponent and hesitating was the end.

Of all times, it had to be when I went to find Chichi that I met Zakari. Moreover, I was surprised to see Zakari teasing Chichi and laughing.

When I was born, Zakari, who almost killed me, had a generous attitude that was very unfamiliar.

‘Did he notice something different after all?’

In fact, since the first meeting, I had never properly sensed Chichi’s pheromones even once after that initial attack. Perhaps at that time, it was an instinctive use of pheromones, and she didn’t even know how to use them properly.

Still, just in case, I made sure only I could smell them. To prevent anyone else from catching her scent.

When Zerakiel entered the medical room, Ivan was waiting.

“Have you come?”

Ivan, with a seemingly friendly smile, immediately greeted Chichi at eye level.

“Today, as always, you are small enough to fit in one bite, Chichi.”

As Ivan opened his mouth as if he were about to eat, Chichi took a step back.

* * *

Why greet each other so warmly as soon as they meet?!

I, terrified by Ivan’s intensity right in front of my eyes, stepped back.

“Chuuuu!”

This kind of joke is not fun!

When I showed my displeasure, Ivan raised his eyebrows and spat out nonsense.

“Oh, I thought I could finally taste you this time.”

Unable to endure it, I finally attempted a kick. Zerakiel, blocking my front paw, spoke.

With a charmingly lowered eyebrow, Zerakiel made a wounded expression.

I lost my words, and Ivan didn’t miss the opportunity to join in.

“Indeed, you’ve already developed such a relationship. I envy you, Lord Zerakiel.”

“Yeah, so Ivan, you should do better.”

Proudly, Zerakiel spoke and petted my head. As he did, Ivan focused his gaze on me and said,

“I look forward to the day when I can chew, tear, taste, and enjoy Chichi like jerky.”

That day will never come!

“I will eagerly await that day with reverence. Of course, with a fang as small as a bird’s tooth, I won’t be able to shed a drop of blood.”

Ivan raised the stakes, extending his finger to my mouth. I quickly blocked it with my front paw.

Somehow, if I bite that, it feels like crossing a river of no return.

“If you want to be bitten so badly, should I bite you, Ivan?”

“No, thank you. Lord Zerakiel’s fangs don’t chew, they tear, right?”

Ivan trembled, pretending to be scared, while waving his arms. We both knew he wasn’t scared at all.

Zerakiel spoke.

“What about the cat?”

“Its inside.”

Ivan pointed behind the curtain. Beyond the curtain, someone’s silhouette was visible.

It was because I couldn’t detect pheromones.

It was also said that among the beastmen, cat beastmen could accurately discern the pheromones of other beastmen.

‘Really, do I have pheromones?’

I had been wandering in the wild, solely focused on survival. Perhaps I had thought I might live and die as a ferret for the rest of my life.

But to think I also had pheromones!

With an excited heart, I entered the curtain with Zerakiel. However, there was no one inside. Weren’t there figures just a moment ago?

As I looked around, in the corner, a brown-haired woman was shielding herself behind the curtain, trembling. Zerakiel smirked.

“What are you doing?”

In response, the woman nervously laughed, clutching the curtain preciously. She still hid her body behind the curtain.

“Oh, sorry. I’m scared of small animals like mice.”

A cat afraid of mice? That was as absurd as saying mice eat cats.