Return of the Mythic Bloodline

"Lord Ancestor, what is the meaning of this disrespect?" Hana shouted, her veins bulging.

"Elder Hana, why are you getting so restless?" the Ancestor said, hiding a smirk behind his wrinkled face. "Our little Riku told us something interesting about your daughter. Riku, come here. Why don't you tell the audience what you saw in the forest?"

Riku held his mother tightly, refusing to move. The kid was traumatized. Yahiko rose from her seat and reached the edge of the platform while holding Riku in her arms.

"Don't be afraid, Riku. No one can harm you. Your grandfather is here as well," Yasuko said, patting Riku's head.

Riku nodded, then staring at Gumiho, he said, "She-she isn't a beast. She is a demon."

His words sent a wave of gasps through the audience. They began murmuring in confusion, trying to digest his words.

"Why do you think she's a demon, Riku?" Yasuko asked in a soft voice.

"When we went to play in the forest, two humans attacked us. It-it was then that Ume showed her true form. She tore those humans into pieces."

"Hah! From the words of the heir, it's clear that Ume not only killed the despicable humans who tried to harm the children but also protected the heir as well. And yet, instead of being grateful, you not only insulted us but also called my daughter a demon," Hana shouted, her eyes filled with fury. "Has the main family completely lost their wisdom?"

The audience began whispering again.

"She fought two humans and killed them? At the age of five? Isn't that truly remarkable?"

"Then why is the main family targeting them? If Lord Aruma heard about this..."

"SILENCE!" the Ancestor shouted, hitting the platform below with his stick.

"The reason Yuta called her a demon isn't because she killed the humans, but because of the method she used. One of the humans was missing his lower half in an irregular shape, as if a giant wild creature had eaten it, while the other had his head completely obliterated. Even the cruelest murderer would tremble at the mere sight of those corpses."

"They were despicable humans trying to hurt the future of our clan. They even pierced Yuta's shoulder. Does the way they died even matter?" Hana countered.

"Elder Hana is right. Those humans didn't show mercy to children, so they don't deserve mercy either," someone from the crowd shouted.

"Yes, he is right," several of them said in unison.

"Lady Ume is innocent!"

"Release her!"

"Release her!"

.

.

.

"Release her!"

The crowd began chanting, their voices tearing through the sky.

The Ancestor snapped and this time hit the platform even harder. A wave of intense energy erupted from the point of impact and spread in all directions.

The people in the arena fell to their knees from the sheer force, turning the building silent again.

"Are you going to abuse your authority to suppress us because you couldn't justify your reasons?" Hana said, her words turning the crowd restless.

"Don't try to manipulate the subjects of the clan, Elder Hana," the Ancestor barked. Then, turning to Riku, he commanded, "Tell them the complete truth."

"When Rumi and Yuta left, Ume transformed into a two-tailed demon. First, she ate the legs of one, and then she gulped down the head of the other as well."

His hands tightened around his mother's robe as he spoke further, "And... and she also tried to eat me, but then she heard Rumi and Aunt Hana coming, so she transformed back."

"Why are you lying?" Gumiho shouted, her eyes brimming with tears. "I didn't eat those humans, and I didn't try to hurt you."

"It's alright, Ume, you don't need to give a justification," Hana said, rubbing Gumiho's tears. Then she spoke in a loud voice:

"I didn't want to disrespect the heir of the clan, but since it has come to this, I must say it. The heir of the fox clan is a faint-hearted child. Who knows, he might have just been too horrified after seeing Ume fight them, and his young mind pictured Ume as a demon in his eyes."

"How dare you disrespect the clan heir like that?" Yasuko barked.

The folks who came to observe remained silent, as if everyone knew that Hana's words made sense, but they dared not openly admit what she said about the clan's heir.

"Oh, so you do know what disrespect means. I thought you might have forgotten it after you shamelessly brought an innocent child to the trial land."

"You... you—"

"Remove that from her hand, and she will turn into a demon," Riku said, pointing at Gumiho's bracelet.

Gumiho flinched and instinctively clutched her bracelet.

Yasuko, with an arrogant tone, ordered, "Ume, remove your bracelet."

"Why does she need to do that? You aren't providing any proof but only making absurd demands of us," Hana protested.

"Elder Hana, there's no need to be so agitated. If she is truly innocent, then what's the harm in removing a bracelet, right?"

"Lady Ume, just remove your bracelet so they won't have any more reason to suppress you," a voice resounded from the crowd.

"Yes, Lady Ume, prove your innocence and silence the main family," another one shouted.

The pressure from the crowd left Gumiho with no way out. Now, if she didn't remove the bracelet, everyone would suspect her, and if she did… her other tail would be revealed.

Gumiho's tiny hand began trembling as she reached for the bracelet.

Just as she was about to hold it, Hana grabbed her hand and removed the bracelet for her.

The main family stared without blinking, hoping for something to happen.

But there was nothing…

Gumiho looked the same as she had before her bracelet was removed.

"That-that's impossible," Riku muttered in disbelief. "I clearly saw it. When she removed the bracelet, a cloth belt fell from her body, and another tail appeared behind her."

"Are you satisfied now?" Hana said, her eyes twitching with anger. "My husband will hear of everything that happened today. And mark my words, he won't let any of this slide."

She grabbed Gumiho's hand and began walking out of the arena. But then, an unexpected and utterly disgusting order came from the Ancestor.

"We all know that you are the master of sealing techniques, Elder Hana. You must have put some rules into the bracelet so it only unseals her demonic form under the right conditions. However, there is another way to find out if she has two tails or not."

A wide smirk appeared on that fucking bastard's face as he ordered,

"Take her clothes off."