Chapter 26
“Do you… not like it?”
When the village chief tried to take back the key he had just offered, Ray quickly snapped out of his daze.
He shook his head and clenched his fist around it. He did like the carriage — and he was grateful for the chief’s effort. If he had known this would happen, he would have brought more things from the palace.
Clicking his tongue quietly at his light purse, Ray pulled a gold coin from his chest pocket.
“Here. Take this.”
“Huh…? What’s this for?”
“To say thanks.”
He summarized all his gratitude into four simple words. But the gold coin he handed over was anything but simple.
Each gold coin was worth 500,000 pering — enough to buy two of the carriages the chief had just purchased.
“R-Ray! This is too much for a carriage! No, wait— we never intended to take any money from you in the first place!”
The chief jumped on the spot, trying to give the coin back. But between an active knight and an aging village chief, their reflexes were worlds apart.
With a light movement, Ray dodged the man’s hands and clasped his own behind his back.
“I’ll repay you properly next time.”
“Ah…”
‘Properly’? Just how much more could that be…?
As he repeated Ray’s words in his mind, the chief clutched his chest as if his heart couldn’t take it. In over fifty years of life, he had never once held a gold coin before.
Worried that someone might see, he hurriedly slipped the coin into his pocket and bowed deeply. With this, running Timi Village would be so much easier.
Though he did wonder if he could even use such a huge coin in nearby towns.
“Oh, and please— Sir Ray must drive the carriage yourself!”
“Hm?”
“You know how Perea drives, don’t you? And the road to Eclit is completely new! If you let her take the reins…”
Just remembering Perea’s unique driving skills made the chief’s chest tighten for a different reason.
If she were to drive and an accident happened… the mere thought was terrifying. And worse — the reality might turn out even more disastrous than his imagination.
Ray nodded, clearly understanding the warning. He already had no intention of ever letting Perea hold the reins — even if it cost him his life.
He still remembered that smiling face she made while gripping the wheel — it was horrifying.
As he unintentionally thought of her again, the memory of her “eye kiss” popped into his mind.
Her blinking green eyes sparkled so beautifully. If he had stayed there a little longer, he might have blinked back — exchanging affection for the first time in his life.
Ray’s round ears twitched. He didn’t know exactly why, but his heartbeat kept speeding up.
✦ ✦ ✦
With Hayu’s help, Theo — now a perfectly disguised “young rabbit noble” — drew even more attention from the village children than when he’d had his tiger ears.
He looked so proud and adorable that it made it even sadder that they had to leave soon.
“Theo! Now we’re brothers!”
Chuchu held out his tiny hand, and Theo took it seriously, shaking it up and down with a solemn face.
Their faces were so serious it looked like a meeting between two world leaders.
Behind them, the adults chuckled softly. Everyone hoped this precious friendship would last.
“Perea. Take care of your health, okay? You’re a doctor — you can’t be the one getting sick.”
“Of course!”
“Good, good.”
The chief’s worries never ended, but Perea, having heard the same advice countless times, let it in one ear and out the other.
She couldn’t hide her excitement to get on the new carriage — her foot was already tapping, and Theo started mimicking her.
The chief sighed heavily instead of adding more words.
Then, Perea and Theo climbed onto the new carriage.
A large magic stone was embedded in the ceiling — much bigger than the one in the village’s supply wagon. The carriage itself was small, but with that magic stone, it was bound to be incredibly fast.
The driver’s instinct inside Perea began to awaken… but thanks to Ray and the chief’s firm defense, she didn’t even get to see the keys.
Pouting, she peered through the window — and saw all the villagers waving goodbye.
Their faces showed both pride and sadness — the same expressions they’d worn years ago when sending Perea off to the Imperial Academy.
They all seemed to believe that even if she left now, she’d come back someday — more experienced, more mature, and still Timi Village’s one and only doctor.
Perea felt the same. Even though she was human, she was part of Timi Village. They were her people, her family. So she didn’t make any grand farewell speeches — she simply left quietly.
It was Theo who couldn’t let go, crying loudly as he rolled on the floor.
By the time Perea finally calmed him down, the village was already far behind them, out of sight.
“Waaah! I don’t wanna go! Theo’s a rabbit now too!”
“Of course! Our Lord Theo is such a handsome rabbit — all your friends know that!”
“What if they forget me?”
His strength gone from all the crying, he sat down with big teardrops falling down his cheeks.
Perea wiped his round, wet face and hugged him tightly.
“Of course they won’t forget! You know my friend Harun, right?”
“Mhm.”
“He still remembers how many times I fell into the stream when I was little!”
It was true — even now, Harun still treated her like the clumsy girl who always fell into the water.
It wasn’t fair, but she couldn’t complain — she still thought of him as the scaredy-cat who used to wet himself at the sound of rustling leaves.
That’s what childhood friends were like.
So just as she said, there was no way the children would ever forget Theo. When something leaves that strong of an impression, it stays forever.
A tiger beastman child with shining golden hair suddenly appearing in a village full of white rabbits — no one could ever forget that.
As Perea calmly explained this over and over, Theo’s tears slowly began to dry up.
“Then… when I come back with Perea later, we can play again?”
“Of course!”
Her firm answer made Theo’s little shoulders bounce. His mood instantly brightened, and he purred softly.
A rabbit beastman making a predator’s growl — it should’ve sounded strange, yet somehow, it suited him perfectly.
Thinking such doting thoughts, Perea affectionately ruffled his golden hair. Theo giggled, pressing his head into her hand.
The seats were soft and cushioned — much better than the old wagon.
Then she wondered: If it’s this comfortable inside, is it easier to drive too?
Curious, she stood and peeked toward the front.
A partition separated the passenger area from the driver’s seat, so to talk to the driver, she had to slide open a small window.
It opened smoothly, and she gasped in admiration.
There, at the reins, sat a tall man with silver hair fluttering in the wind. His hands turned the wheel skillfully.
The carriage didn’t shake much, which meant they were going quite fast. Perea liked this carriage more and more.
But outside, the sunlight piercing through the trees was harsh on her eyes. She squinted and called out,
“Sir Ray!”
At the sound of her voice, Ray glanced back, his sharp blue eyes shifting away from the road for just a moment — just long enough to check if Theo was alright.
And then— as if she had been waiting for that exact moment — Perea narrowed her eyes playfully and winked!
The sudden “flirting” made his hands twitch, and the reins jerked. The carriage swerved sharply.
“Whoa—!”
Startled, Perea instinctively reached out for balance. Unfortunately, her hand landed right on Ray’s broad shoulder.
The unexpected touch startled him even more — and in panic, Ray yanked the reins again.
