Return of the Mythic Bloodline

Gumiho burst into tears as she clutched her mother with her little hands.

"Forgive me, Mother—sob...sob—I broke our promise. I am an impertinent girl."

"There is nothing to forgive, Ume. You did ."

"But-but they called me a demon."

"They are blind. What demon protects their kin while putting their own life in danger? We named you Ume because we hoped you would protect those close to you, and today you held true to your name."

As the mother and daughter duo stood in the water, Rumi, who was following behind Hana, picked Riku up by the shoulder from the ground.

The kid had lost consciousness from all the trauma he had suffered in succession.

Rumi must also have been the one who brought Hana here as reinforcement. Although it wasn't needed for the battle, Hana did help calm the heart of the little Gumiho, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Hana gently lifted Gumiho in her arms and lowered her to the ground closer to Rumi.

"Children, you should go back. I will take care of everything here," Hana said with a warm but firm voice as she continued.

"And don't tell anyone what happened here until I come back. Do you understand?"

"We understand," Rumi was the only one who responded, as Gumiho was lost in her own thoughts and Riku... well... he was just plain out cold.

After a few minutes of walking, the trio reached the garden of plum blossom trees and soon the abode of the little Gumiho.

Inside, Yuta was lying on the futon. His injured arm, which had been brutally stabbed by the knight, had already received the treatment it needed.

As Gumiho and Rumi reached the entrance, holding the unconscious Riku by either side, Yuta's sleepy eyes immediately brightened.

"Ume, are you al—ghwkk...aghh..." Before he could complete his words, the sudden excitement caused a strain on his injury.

"Lie down obediently, Yuta," Rumi nagged with her hand on her waist. "You aren't healed yet."

They laid Riku beside Yuta on the futon and sat on the floor close to them.

"What happened to Ruki? Did he get injured?" Yuta asked, his voice low.

"He is fine. Might be exhausted." Rumi replied.

After a few minutes of silence, Yuta spoke up again, his voice tinged with awkwardness, "It was my mistake. I put all of your lives in danger. Ume, thanks for saving us."

"Exactly!" Rumi said in a louder voice. "You should be thankful and more respectful towards Ume. How about calling her big sister from now on?"

"Big-big… like heck I would," Yuta snapped before grabbing his shoulder in pain again.

"Pfft," a soft giggle filled the room.

Gumiho finally reacted as her half-dead eyes brightened up again.

"Yuta calling me big sis?" Gumiho laughed. "I would puke just by imagining it."

Yuta and Rumi also started laughing with Gumiho as if they were in cahoots to make her smile.

"This brings back painfully happy memories," I murmured, looking at the group with a sad smile.

The precious memories I made in college with my deadly squad rewound in my head. Jay and Leena's bickering while using me as the middleman. Getting caught by the HOD for playing PvP games in the lab. Submitting apology letters for chattering in class or for using my mobile by hiding it in a book. Going to the cinema by bunking lectures. My squad was always the prime suspect for anything out of order happening in class. But still, the professors loved us because we were the only ones who always accepted our punishment without protest. And also, as we were in the bottom section, we were the only ones who answered their questions correctly. Our squad was like a one-eyed king in the land of the blind.

While I was reminiscing about my past, Yuta asked as the mood became lighter.

"Ume, what happened to the humans? Did you defeat those adults all by yourself?"

"I am not that strong. I just ran around waiting for the reinforcements."

Rumi first eyed Gumiho with a confused expression, but then, suddenly understanding the situation, she added, "Those scary humans were about to hurt Ume, but Aunt Hana reached in time and kicked their lowly butts so hard that they ran back crying."

"No wonder you aren't injured. Once again, I thank you for saving us, and please forgive me for all the mean things I said to you," Yuta said in a low, embarrassing tone.

"Kyahaha, are you thanking her or asking for her hand in marriage?" Rumi burst into laughter, repeatedly hitting her belly.

"You are entirely wrong here. I like kind and tender girls with an elegant tone who would depend on me, and her… she is anything but elegant," Yuta said, arrogantly shrugging his shoulder.

"Gasp… Ume, are you letting him get away with this?"

"I'm not angry at all. I'm rather sad that this kid will always remain unmarried, as it's unfeasible that there are girls more tender than him," Gumiho replied, clicking her tongue repeatedly as if she were very sad for the boy in question.

"Now you have done it, Ume," Yuta said, trying to get up. "As a man, I can never tolerate an insult like this."

Gumiho touched his injured shoulder with her finger and lightly pushed him, sending his struggle to get up in vain.

"Now-now, careful, Princess Yuta, or your delicate body might get a scratch."

Yuta was about to snap in fury, but then the door of the house opened, and two shadows stood at the entrance.

One of them was an old man with grey hair and a long chin beard. Like all other members of the fox clan, he had a tail and ears on his head. His face had countless wrinkles, and in his right hand, he carried a stick to support his hunched back.

On his left stood a fox woman, her eyes filled with tears as she stared at the unconscious Riku.

"My baby..." she murmured.

Judging by how similar they looked, she must be Riku's mother.

Meanwhile, Yuta, on the floor, muttered in a nervous tone, "Gr... grandfather?"

Yumi and Gumiho immediately stood up and bowed their heads as they spoke in unison,

"Greetings, Ancestor!"