#9

I instinctively shivered at the mention of Zakari. Zerakiel, who had found amusement in my reaction, spoke gently.

“Don’t worry. As long as your body is covered in my pheromones, you should be safe.”

He then lightly touched my cheek, wearing a slow smile. There was something melancholic about it, a tone mixed with familiar resignation.

“Father especially hates my pheromones.”

In the heavy atmosphere that settled, I silently looked at Zerakiel.

‘So, when he said I smelled, he ws talking about your pheromones, not mine?’

Only now did I realize the reason behind Zakari’s criticism. I had thought it was about my scent.

It was an unusual feeling. I was expecting a severe personal attack, but it turned out to be not an attack on me but on Zerakiel.

But still, it felt peculiar.

‘This is too much…’

Would any parent say to their son, “You smell,” referring to their pheromones? Usually, they would feel a closer connection to the pheromones of their own kin.

Could this also be related to the madness of the Jabisi family?

The original work didn’t delve deeply into the madness of the Jabisi family. It only mentioned that Ella’s unique pheromones were helpful.

“No, seeing it as purely due to madness might be difficult.”

The pheromones of the Black Panther family were among the most extreme in the category of closed pheromones, belonging to the top tier.

Considering Zerakiel’s extreme sensitivity to the pheromones of other supernatural beings in the original work, it wasn’t clear if it was a specific feature of pheromones.

Perhaps the pheromones were so subtle that they didn’t bother him. Or maybe it was a minuscule amount of pheromones that allowed me into his personal space without causing irritation.

“So, be careful not to encounter Father.”

With those words, Zerakiel closed his eyes. To prevent me from escaping, he enclosed me in his arms.

Being turned into the antagonist’s favorite plushie, I gazed at his sleeping face and, before I knew it, fell asleep.

* * *

On that day, while playing hide-and-seek with Ayla in the garden, the wind was not too fierce.

While searching for a good hiding spot, I coincidentally encountered the one person I least wanted to meet.

“You…”

Zakari, who happened to be taking a walk, noticed me and frowned.

I, still harboring resentment from yesterday, bristled my fur openly, then boldly hid behind a tree. Only belatedly realizing that I hadn’t greeted him, I cautiously peeked my head out, and he raised an eyebrow.

Zakari gestured for me to come closer. Worried about his reaction, I stuck my head out behind the tree.

As he scratched my head, pheromones gathered on his fingertips.

Threatening recklessly! What can a mere White ferret supernatural being like me do? It was an inevitable moment when he suddenly approached.

He grabbed me with his thumb and forefinger, bringing my face close.

Thanks to that, my body stretched out like laundry caught on a clothespin. He looked at me as if I were some strange organism.

For some reason, feeling uncomfortable and blinking, he said, “Hmm, was your name Jiji? You look like a clump of dust.”

It was a quite insulting remark.

“Chichi—!”

I bristled with a burst of humiliation. The name Chichi was not great, but there was a vast difference in the sound between Jiji and Chichi. Jiji sounded like it might smell like something!

Moreover, calling me a clump of dust was infuriating. As a White ferret, I was furious.

When I shivered all over, Zakari chuckled. It was more infuriating as he taunted me first and then laughed calmly.

As I rolled over and begged to be let go, Zakari muttered sarcastically, “If you stay quiet, I won’t eat you.”

I stretched out quietly, rolling my eyes.

He continued menacingly…

In the world of supernatural beings, hierarchy was organized by pheromones.

I was abandoned without even knowing the nature of my pheromones. In contrast, Zakari was the leader of the Jabisi family.

Even though I knew I should bow down just because of his position, the stubborn nature of my past life as a Korean kept emerging, causing problems.

“Now you’ve become a bit more obedient.”

Zakari gently sat me on the palm of his hand, seeming to enjoy my submission.

Just yesterday, he was telling me not to come near. Suddenly showing interest now made me extremely suspicious.

As I rolled my eyes pitifully, Zakari opened his mouth.

“Hey, Jiji.”

It’s Chichi!

“Jiji.”

When I didn’t respond, Zakari called me in a sarcastic tone. Then, with a rapper-like rhythm, he added,

“If you put it in water, Jiji will swell and burst like a white bean. If you haven’t eaten, answer. If you don’t answer, I’ll soak you in water and eat you.”

“…”

“Hmm, where was the lake again…”

Zakari pretended to take me to a nearby lake.

“Chichi!”

Desperate, I grabbed his thumb and shouted. It was frustrating, but falling into the lake in winter would be tantamount to suicide. Before the fire is lit, I would freeze into an icicle like a frozen white bean!

I howled, rolled over, and hung on desperately. How long did I cling there?

Suddenly, when Zakari said nothing, I, puzzled, raised my head, meeting eyes with him.

“Hehe.”

Zakari was laughing heartily, shoulders bouncing with amusement.

Damn Black Panther-like guy.

Indeed, all Black Panthers seemed to be completely turned upside down. I took advantage of the moment when he laughed and slipped away from his palm.

But not long after, someone blocked my path.

“Chu?”

“Here you are.”

Zerakiel found me and smiled gently. The smile that shone through the winter sunlight was quite charming. I was even more delighted after being tormented by Zakari.

“Chichi!”

Help me!

When I stuck to his leg and timidly raised my head, Zerakiel’s golden eyes widened. Perhaps, I was usually too busy running away when he approached, so my clinging seemed strange to him.

Then, Zerakiel, who carefully picked me up, hid me in his arms as if he didn’t want me to be taken away, like protecting a cherished object.

“Why are you interested in what’s mine? You told me to clean up because it smelled.”

“Well, I thought you already knew and brought it with me.”

“Well, I wanted to check just in case.”

What are you checking?

I cocked my head at the incomprehensible conversation. Zakari said, “Well, a normal ferret doesn’t stare at me like that.”

“Our Chichi is a bit unusual. Her kicks are quite powerful.”

“She hit you?”

Zakari opened his eyes wide as if he had heard a shocking revelation. Well, it’s not surprising for a White ferret to brazenly defeat a Black Panther, especially the future leader of the Black Panther family.

‘I didn’t really intend to hit him.’

I rolled my eyes like a student called to the office for doing something wrong. But Zakari’s surprised point was completely different from what I expected.

“You just left it alone?”

His attitude of disbelief was off. Zerakiel shrugged and said, “I didn’t leave it alone.”

“Then?”

“She extended her side too.”

Stop with the nonsense!

I raised my tail in frustration at Zerakiel’s shameless answer. His proud boasting only made me feel more awkward.

Zerakiel added another word, “It’s a pity you haven’t been hit yet. It’s quite sharp.”

Why do I need to get hit?

Feeling like my common sense was escaping my brain, I shook my tail onto the palm of Zerakiel’s hand. Of course, he was talking about the palm of his hand.

“Ahem.”

Zakari coughed as if he thought Zerakiel was exaggerating.

‘No, he’s serious….’

Zakari’s blurry eyes and Zerakiel’s trembling pupils met in the air.