Before I End Up as Rabbit Stew - Chapter 2

Bipa Dream was a long market street located west of the Celestial Palace. It was a regularly held night market, but students of Oreum Hall were usually forbidden from entering. This was because the inner alleys were lined with bars and red-light districts, which were considered disruptive to proper conduct and studies.

“Give me a big jug, a big one!”

Upon graduation, the entry ban was lifted. Yimae waved her hands wildly, urging for more alcohol. Baekho and Jujak, sitting across from her, already had bright red faces. Baekho, unaware that his glass was empty, brought it to his lips and giggled.

“Hurry, give me a big one!”

He followed the rabbit, urging the tavern owner. Jujak smiled at his companions. Those sitting around, both men and women, were captivated by his smile.

“Why don’t you just run away? You could hide in any mountain, couldn’t you?”

Baekho draped an arm over Jujak’s shoulder. Jujak, also quite drunk, nodded in agreement with Baekho’s words.

“If it weren’t for the Geumbusa, I would have run away already.”

Yimae sighed deeply.

The Moon Rabbit clan originally lived in the Immortal Realm. The Immortal Realm, where immortals resided, was a world completely different from the Celestial Realm. At the entrance to the Immortal Realm was a range of mountains called Kunlun, and at its peak lived the Queen Mother of the West, the ruler of the immortals.

“Was it the Geumbusa who moved you to Geumwon?”

“Yes, I would have died at dusk if it weren’t for the Geumbusa.”

On the mountainside was a peach orchard called Bandowon.

One day, the Queen Mother of the West suddenly announced that she would expand the orchard. As a result, the Moon Rabbits who had nested there lost their home overnight. At that time, the number of rabbits had dwindled, so there were no more than five, including Yimae.

It was unfair to lose their home, but their voices had no power. They themselves didn’t know when the Moon Rabbits had started living in Bandowon, but if the landowner told them to leave, they had no choice. Moreover, what authority did the Moon Rabbits, who didn’t even have a land deed or a house deed, have to stand up to the Queen Mother of the West?

“The Geumbusa even took care of my father’s funeral in Geumwon.”

Yimae poured the alcohol that came in a large jug. Because the jug was so large, the rabbit had to stand on tiptoes on the table to scoop the alcohol. Seeing the clear alcohol she had painstakingly filled the glass with, the clear moon came to mind, and she felt resentful. But all she could do was empty the glass quickly.

The Geumbusa, having learned of their story, begged the Celestial Emperor for permission. And he often looked after the rabbits he had brought to Geumwon. It was also he who put Yimae in Oreum Hall after her father died. He even had his friend Chaesang admitted with her, lest she be ostracized as a small creature.

“I can’t cause trouble for the Geumbusa.”

“Isn’t running away before graduation causing trouble?”

Baekho was eager to tease the rabbit. He couldn’t be serious for even a few seconds when he was with her. That’s why Yimae thought she was getting a lot of comfort from him in some ways.

At that moment, the sliding door of the tavern creaked open. Had someone else come to see Jujak’s face in a house that was already full? Yimae, who was listlessly trying to fill her glass, realized that everyone in the tavern was looking at the door. Even Baekho and Jujak, whose ears were red.

“What is it?”

Yimae, who turned her head last, froze.

It was a woman as flamboyant as a peony, the flower king. As she moved her steps lightly and approached, an unknown, intense fragrance spread. Her elegantly pursed red lips and the black cheollik that fit her body perfectly suited her.

“So, you were here.”

The lips, beautifully closed like rosebuds, parted. It was as if beauty was dripping from her every time she spoke.

“Congratulations on your graduation, Su, Yung.”

“Thank you, Black Dragon.”

Baekho and Jujak stood up from their seats and greeted her. Only then did Yimae realize that the beautiful woman in front of her was the Black Dragon, one of the Four Symbols.

People did not call Baekho and Jujak by their names. They had titles more noble than their names. Therefore, their names could only be called by those as close as family, those who did not have to worry about formality. Yimae had never dared to call them by their names.

“Do you have business in the Celestial Realm?”

For some reason, the Black Dragon raised her eyebrows at Baekho’s quiet words.

“That’s right. This Black Dragon cannot come to the Celestial Realm unless she has business.”

And immediately, her black gaze turned to Jujak. Yimae thought her eyes were like well-honed knives.

“Now that you’ve graduated, you should take a proper wife.”

“The bond between husband and wife is made by heaven, so I don’t intend to rush.”

Jujak replied politely. Hearing that he would not rush into marriage, the women in the tavern exclaimed. Upon graduating from Oreum Hall, one was recognized as an adult even if they were not of age, and all the previous Baekho and Jujak had married upon graduation. So, Jujak’s marriage was of great interest to the women of the Celestial Realm. There was already a lot of whispering about who would win the handsome god.

“A different kind of joy awaits you when you marry.”

The Black Dragon’s eyes, shining like Go stones, glanced out the door. Yimae unknowingly followed her gaze. There was a man standing outside the door, with his back to the tavern. He was standing under the eaves with his feet neatly gathered, looking at the Bipa Dream alley where people were busily walking around.

“You came with Soon.”

The Black Dragon smiled at Jujak.

“Yes. I hope Yung will soon know the joy of having a child.”

Yimae couldn’t resist her curiosity. It was amazing to meet the Black Dragon, whom even the Celestial Realm people had rarely seen, but her son, the next Black Dragon, had come with her. Yimae left her seat and approached the door. She wanted to see him up close.

No one cared if a bean-sized Moon Rabbit disappeared, or where she went. Baekho and Jujak were too busy dealing with the Black Dragon. Yimae felt at ease and lifted her waist to observe the Black Dragon’s son.

“He looks scary.”

He had a younger face than Baekho and Jujak. In fact, he looked six or seven years younger than the others. But surely all creatures resembled their parents, and his gaze, facing forward, was as sharp as the Black Dragon’s. Beneath the forehead with the black geon tied around it, his straight nose and red lips were distinct. He was a beautiful man, but somehow he felt artificial.

“He doesn’t need to worry about Jujak’s marriage.”

Which woman would embrace him if he looked so scary? The Moon Rabbit even crossed her arms and stared closely at the Black Dragon’s son. Because he didn’t move from his spot like a statue, Yimae felt relieved and approached a little closer. A group trying to enter the tavern flinched when they saw him. No one could ignore him standing in front of the entrance like a large stone. Even while watching the people hesitating because of him, the Black Dragon’s son didn’t budge. It was as if he had been put under a “stand at attention” spell. The rabbit chuckled. He was quite a unique character.

“See you next time.”

“Take care.”

The Black Dragon, having finished her story, walked leisurely to the door. Yimae was able to step aside without being bumped into by her by a hair’s breadth. As if she had noticed something blocking her way, her black eyes looked at the rabbit. At that moment, Yimae couldn’t move, as if she had faced a venomous snake with prey in front of it.

“Oh, so you’re the Moon Rabbit who graduated this time.”

An ominous voice tightened around Yimae.

“It’s hard for even Celestial Realm people to get in. Amazing.”

There was a bone in her words. Yimae felt the subtle gap between the pale face that was only smiling and the gentle voice.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

The Black Dragon smiled thinly at Yimae’s words. As she crossed the door, she looked back at the rabbit again.

“See you again.”

The Black Dragon’s son, who had been standing like a totem pole, followed his mother. He took a step with his long legs and turned his head. He stared at the small rabbit standing on two feet in front of the door. Yimae silently left the black eyes that were looking at her for a long time.

“Soon.”

At the Black Dragon’s call, he averted his gaze. He followed his mother without hesitation. His black hair, tied up in one, fluttered richly like a bird’s wings.

“Are you okay?”

Jujak approached the door. Yimae slowly shook her head.

“The only thing that’s not okay is my future.”

She said self-deprecatingly and ran back to the liquor jar. Baekho was already pouring it in by the jug as soon as the Black Dragon left.

“Yimae! There’s a garden in Baekho’s palace! If you come, I’ll give you the Fatsia japonica colony!”

“I’m worried about whether the palace will be safe if you become the next Baekho.”

Yimae clicked her tongue and sat down. Jujak quietly raised his hand and ordered more alcohol. Seeing that, the women’s faces were full of smiles, which was sickening. Even if he suddenly lay down on the floor and acted spoiled, the women would like it.

“In my palace…”

“I know you all have gardens.”

The rabbit cut off Jujak’s words.

“Thank you.”

They were friends who would tear off the entire garden and give it to her if she really went. But Yimae didn’t want to crawl out of the Geumbusa’s arms and into the arms of the Four Symbols. Living like a parasite was not what she wanted.

“I’ll visit the Moon Palace often.”

“Thank you for that too. But it’ll be okay since Chaesang is going with me.”

Yimae clinked glasses with Jujak. Baekho belatedly picked up his glass and rushed over. She could tell without having to say it. This was the first and last time they would all be drinking together.

Yimae swallowed all the tears that were stuck in her heart along with the alcohol.

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