A fat man with pale yellow hair and leopard ears followed after, his round belly shaking with each step. His dark brown eyes swept over the line of children like he was judging livestock and he snorted loudly.
"How did so many dirty colors end up in one place? Filthy creatures."
As the leopard-eared man made his way toward the chapel, Bao Bei stuck out his small tongue at the man's back with a quiet "bleh."
"Oh? Still here, are you? Not that anyone would want to take in a filthy-colored thing like you anyway."
A high-pitched voice rang out. Bao Bei turned around and saw a young man with white rabbit ears standing there, looking down on Judy. Judy's long rabbit ears drooped, and he stared at the ground, saying nothing.
The rabbit-eared man had pure white hair, snow-white ears, pale skin, and bright red eyes. He was a slender, delicate-looking man dressed in flashy clothes decorated with lots of lace, and he wore sparkling jewels around his hands and neck. His face was very beautiful, but Bao Bei thought he looked mean and didn't like him at all.
"You don't even deserve to be alive. You're a disgrace to the rabbit-eared race," the man spat with clear disgust.
Then, with growing irritation, he raised the riding crop he held and aimed it at Judy.
Just as Judy shrank back in fear, a small body jumped in front of him, his fur bristling, hissing in warning. It was Bao Bei who is standing in front of him with his legs shaking, his arms spread wide, trying his hardest to protect Judy. The white rabbit-eared young man looked down at him with annoyance.
"What is this? A little freak? His fur is all patched up. Disgusting."
"Don't hurt Judy!" Bao Bei shouted, voice trembling.
"Ha, so the filthy little mud-colored brat is friends with a pile of rags," the young man sneered.
At that moment, Finnick came rushing from the chapel and politely spoke to the white-eared guest.
"Please, this way. The head priest is waiting for you."
While guiding the man, Finnick leaned toward Bao Bei and whispered softly, "You don't need to stay here. Go help in the kitchen."
"Yes," Bao Bei nodded. "Come on, Judy!"
Judy still hadn't said a word. He just kept staring at the floor. Bao Bei grabbed his hand and pulled him along as they ran out of the front hall together.
Not long after, someone in the chapel turned to the head priest and said, "That little dog-eared child who just left... he's awfully small, isn't he?"
As he returned to the chapel, Father Finnick was suddenly called out to. Turning around, he saw it was Horangi, a tiger-eared merchant in his forties, with chubby hands, a round belly, and a sagging double chin.
"He's three years old this year," Finnick answered.
"Really? I thought he wasn't even two yet. Must be a very small breed!" Horangi chuckled.
"Yes..." Finnick replied vaguely while watching for the right moment to excuse himself from the conversation.