* * *

Under the current circumstances, it was only natural for Hoyoon to come to mind.

Saewoo couldn’t understand why Jibeom would ask if he had someone in mind.

Was it because he didn’t get along with Hoyoon and didn’t even want to mention him?

If that were the case, saying the first thing that came to mind would clearly trigger his anger.

“Uh… no, I don’t know. I also… huh!”

“Grkk! P-please, just spare me…!”

As Saewoo tried to feign ignorance, a leopard beastman crept up and grabbed his shoe.

Even tied up, the sheer strength typical of a predator caught Saewoo off guard.

If not for Jibeom, he might have fallen on the spot.

“Take your hands off.”

Thud!

Jibeom, his face now fearsome like a demon, kicked the leopard beastman’s hand away.

“Clean this up.”

“Yes, hyung!”

His cold, merciless order made no room for negotiation.

Sooha, wearing glasses, scrambled to gag the leopard beastmen rolling on the ground once again.

“Mmph! Mmgh…!”

Even as they were restrained, the leopard beastmen resisted furiously.

“What are you planning to do with those beastmen?”

Watching them being stuffed into oversized sacks, Saewoo asked hesitantly with pity in his eyes.

While they had done wrong, treating them like livestock unsettled him.

‘Oh, right. This is the beastman world…’

Saewoo quickly realized and begrudgingly accepted the reality.

“What do you think? Leave it to me. I’ll find out who sent them and make them pay.”
“…….”

Jibeom seemed intent on resolving this the same way he handled the shady real estate agent last time.

“Still, violence is…”

“I’m not hitting them. Just giving them a little warning.”

How was that any different?

Saewoo gave him a disbelieving look, but Jibeom slyly grinned and slipped an arm around his shoulder.

“By the way, babe… didn’t you say something to me earlier over the phone?”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m pretty sure I heard you say ‘that leopard guy.’”

Gulp.

“W-what are you talking about? I didn’t….”

Saewoo immediately decided to play dumb.

He deftly slipped out of Jibeom’s arm and headed toward the building entrance, knowing full well that Jibeom’s persistent nature would latch onto that slip of the tongue.

Avoidance was the best strategy.

“Oh-ho? So that’s how you want to play it?”

Catching on, Jibeom followed closely behind him.

Beep, beep, beep…

As Saewoo punched in the apartment’s entry code, Jibeom hovered beside him, pestering him like a sly old man.

“Why’d you come looking for me? Didn’t I tell you to stay put?”

“…Oh, about that. Hmm… I don’t quite remember.”

“You didn’t seriously think I was the one handing out flyers, did you? I told you I wasn’t.”

“…….”

Jibeom was annoyingly quick to catch on.

“That’s why you called me ‘that leopard guy,’ isn’t it?”

“W-when did I ever! You misheard me!”

“I know what I heard, but you keep pretending….”

“I don’t care! I don’t know! I can’t hear you! Lalalalala!”

“Hah?”

Saewoo suddenly yelling at the top of his lungs left Jibeom looking dumbfounded.

Not caring about his reaction, Saewoo swiftly covered the keypad with his hand and pressed the buttons.

Beep-beep-beep!

“Eh…?”

Beep-beep-beep!

But the keypad only blared warnings.

The password had been changed recently due to frequent visits from unfamiliar beastmen, and Jibeom’s incessant talking had thrown off Saewoo’s memory.

-Password locked after five incorrect attempts. Please wait one minute before retrying.

Saewoo had no choice but to stand there quietly for a minute, stuck with Jibeom.

“Why can’t you even open your own door?”

Jibeom clicked his tongue, smirking at Saewoo.

“By the way, did you know you just called me ‘babe’ a moment ago?”

“Huh? Did I?”

“There you go again.”

Saewoo tilted his head in confusion.

This time, it wasn’t an act—he genuinely wondered if he had said that.

“Sigh… I should start carrying a recorder around, seriously…”

Jibeom let out an exasperated sigh, leaning closer to Saewoo.

As their proximity shrank, Saewoo blinked repeatedly, noticing a faint change in Jibeom’s scent.

‘Huh? His smell… it’s different.’

It wasn’t the usual intense pheromones of a predator. Instead, it was gentler, almost fragrant.

“Why?”

Jibeom froze as Saewoo moved even closer.

“Did you… spray on some cologne?”

“What?”

When Saewoo sniffed the air more intently, almost dog-like, Jibeom, uncharacteristically flustered, backed up three steps.

“What the hell? You said you hate cologne, so….”

‘Now’s my chance!’

Beep-beep-beep-beep!

Seizing the opportunity, Saewoo quickly punched in the correct password.

As the lock clicked open, he darted through the door.

Clack.

“Hey, hey!”

By the time Jibeom realized what had happened, Saewoo was already inside.

Beep-beep-beep-beep!

Jibeom tried entering the old password but, of course, the door didn’t budge.

Saewoo had never shared the updated code.

“Did you change the password?”

“Yeah, I did! What are you gonna do about it?”

Saewoo puffed out his chest mockingly behind the safety of the glass door.

Jibeom’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“…I’ll break it down.”

“W-what?!”

Saewoo had completely underestimated Jibeom’s temper.

Realizing Jibeom might actually smash through the door in his anger, Saewoo frantically shook his head in protest.

“Sir!”

At that moment, Sooha interrupted their standoff with an urgent shout.

“Ugh, I told you not to call me that….”

Jibeom turned with irritation, only to be met with a shadow looming over him.

“You damned leopard punk…!”

One of the leopard beastmen had broken free, a knife glinting in his hand as he charged at Jibeom.

“……!”

Before Jibeom could fully register the situation, the blade was already coming at him.

He narrowly caught it with his hand just in time.

“Ghh!”

The sharp edge bit into his palm, but Jibeom didn’t let go.

With his free hand, he struck the leopard beastman’s wrist hard.

“Argh…!”

The beastman dropped the knife, which spun in the air before clanging against the glass door.

Startled, Saewoo fell on his backside inside.

“Damn it, run…!”

Thud!

Failing their attack, the leopard beastmen transformed into their beast forms and fled in a panic.

“Those bastards…! Get them! Now!”

“Y-yes, sir…!”

Still holding the ropes, Sooha tripped over himself as he clumsily gave chase, only to fall flat on his face.

“You idiot…!”

Watching Sooha’s embarrassing tumble, Jibeom clenched his injured hand, blood dripping steadily.

Clack.

“Ji-Jibeom! Are you okay?!”

At that moment, Saewoo burst through the door, rushing to check Jibeom’s hand in a panic.

“Y-You’re bleeding…!”

Blood dripped incessantly from between his clenched fingers, suggesting a deep cut.

“Don’t squeeze your hand! You’re making it worse! We need to get to a hospital right now—!”

“…”

Seeing the severity of the wound, Saewoo’s face turned pale, his voice trembling.

But Jibeom paid no mind to Saewoo’s concern.

Instead, his sharp golden eyes glinted as he tracked the leopards climbing the building.

“Grrr…”

A guttural growl escaped from Jibeom, resonating like a beast’s.

Suddenly, the air was filled with an intense, overpowering scent.

“W-What… is this? Ugh…”

It was nothing like the pleasant scent from earlier.

This was a predator’s pheromone, designed to immobilize anyone in its presence.

“Eek…!”

Saewoo’s chest tightened as if he were being suffocated.

A dark, oppressive aura surrounded him, making him feel like he was moments away from being devoured.

Shudder.

While Saewoo stood trembling, paralyzed with fear, Jibeom’s body transformed in an instant.

He shifted into a massive black panther, his figure so enormous and wild it could rival that of a bear.

In comparison, the already small Saewoo seemed even tinier.

* * *