After more than a decade, Gumiho's half-dead eyes fully opened for the first time.

"Father has come?" she gasped.

"Yes, and he isn't alone. He has brought strong allies from other beast clans with him."

Yuta took off his robe, placed it on Gumiho's shoulders, and extended his hand to her.

"Let's go."

Gumiho wore the robe and tied it with the cloth belt, and the moment she did, the petals that had preserved her chastity finally fell to the floor, having fulfilled their task.

She tried to stand, but her legs failed to support her — and how could they? They had not moved in such a long time.

Seeing her struggle to rise, Yuta supported her by the shoulder, and the duo began making their way toward the exit.

As Gumiho reached the doorway, she whispered while turning around, "Wait."

She lightly pushed Yuta back and raised her arms. Her hair began to wave, and her ethereal eyes glowed with a violent pink as a storm of plum blossoms emerged in her hands.

She stared at the hellish room that had echoed with her screams. She stared at the stone slab which was stained crimson from her blood. She stared at the container that still reeked of her flesh.

And for one last time, she stared at the lantern that still glowed with a dim light before hurling the barrage of petals inside.

She closed the door and began walking away with wobbly steps. Yuta tried to support her, but she refused.

"I can walk now," she said, as the room behind her erupted with a sonic boom.

The exit lead to a flower garden of a huge stone castle. Gumiho looked up at the nightsky filled with countless stars as a cold but soft wind kissed her body giving her the sense of freedom she longed for.

"The guards must have heard the explosion. We need to leave the castle quickly," Yuta urged, grabbing Gumiho's hand and beginning to run toward the castle gate.

However, five guards had already arrived—standing in their way.

"Young Master Yuta, what was that sudden explosion just now? Have the rebels already reached the castle? Wait... isn't that the two-tailed demon?" one of the guards inquired.

"She isn't a demon. She is my friend, and I'm taking her away with me. Now make way."

The guards exchanged glances before immediately drawing their weapons.

"Young Master Yuta is being controlled by the two-tailed demon! Quickly, subjugate the demon and free the young master!"

"Tch, these idiots are completely brainwashed."

Yuta extended his palms, the nails on his furry hands elongating into terrifying claws that shone under the moonlight.

"I don't want to hurt you, so scram."

"Make sure not to gaze into the eyes of the two-tailed demon! I heard it can cast illusions with its eyes!" the guard shouted as they began circling the duo, completely ignoring Yuta's words.

"You'll regret not heeding my warning," Yuta shouted as he launched his claws at the guard in front of him.

Flustered by Yuta's sudden movement, the guard tried to defend himself with his metal shield. However, Yuta's claws were too sharp to be stopped by a mere shield. He sliced right through it like butter, leaving a trail of sparks at the point of contact before landing a deep cut on the guard's chest.

At the same time, two guards lunged at Yuta from both sides. The young warrior, sensing their attack, placed his hand on the head of the guard in front—who was already about to fall—and in a flash of motion, stretched his legs sideways, delivering a brutal kick directly to their faces.

The guards buckled, but before they could fall, Yuta placed his feet behind their necks and this time pulled his legs inward, slamming the guards' faces against each other, bursting blood from their broken noses and teeth.

"Subjugate the two-tailed demon first! The young master will naturally return to normal!"

One of the remaining guards shouted as they both leapt at Gumiho.

"Please don't kill them," Yuta pleaded as he ran toward Gumiho.

"Don't worry, young master. We will only subjugate the demon."

"Idiots, I'm not talking to you."

"Huh? What does he mean?" one of the guards muttered in confusion as a plum blossom petal graced his cheek softly.

"Where did these petals come—"

Boom.

And just like that, the two guards were already crossing the River Styx, not even knowing what hit them.

"I told you not to kill them."

"They called me a demon, so I showed them what happens when they face one," Gumiho whispered in a low, expressionless tone before walking toward the castle gate.

"You are not a demon," Yuta countered firmly, stopping Gumiho by the shoulder.

"Have you seen any fox-beast with vertical slit pupils or two tails?" Gumiho asked, shrugging his hand off her shoulder.

"I haven't. But being different doesn't mean you're a demon."

"So what am I in your eyes?"

"You're my closest friend who saved me fifteen years ago."

"Then where were you when this so-called closest friend of yours was suffering through hell?"

Yuta didn't reply. More like he couldn't. He knew anything he say now would just come out as excuses. There was only one thing he could say at that point. One phrase that would be far heavier than any pretexts.

And it warmed my heart that this kid wasn't completely clueless.

As Gumiho was about to move again, a loud thud resounded from behind.

"I'm sorry," Yuta shouted firmly on his knees as drops of blood trickled from his forehead, staining the ground beneath him.

"I know even a thousand apologies won't be enough for what you've suffered because of the Ancestor. I'm not trying to take the easy way out by asking for your forgiveness."

His voice cracked and tears began falling from his eyes as he spoke further, "Please don't forgive me no matter how desperately I beg you. I want to live the rest of my life to atone for the mistakes I did in my younger age and for the sins the Ancestor has committed against you. I will make sure that the Ancestor will suffer a hundredfold for every injury he caused you."

For the whole speech, Gumiho stared at Yuta without a single hint of expression on her face. She turned and walked towards the castle gate, replying with a single sentence,

"You're not going to touch the Ancestor. Because it will be I who will destroy him."

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