On the side, Chihiro Hayate could hardly contain his laughter.
Old man! Old man, now you finally taste your own medicine!
Outside, Chidō Ryū had always been seen as a benevolent gentleman.But in front of his own family, he was always a stern and unyielding father.Now, seeing him completely helpless, Hayate couldn't be more amused.
As for Bibi Tō, she was nothing but a lovestruck obsessive.
And you think she can be reasoned with?
"Dō," Chidō Ryū sighed, "let's not even speak of why Haruto Akiyama approaches you."
"But his so-called Spirit Theory is not even a theory at all."
"It is simply plagiarism of our Shikon-den's sacred texts, crudely pieced together, and shamelessly claimed as his own."
"Worse still, those theories are filled with dangerous flaws."
Chidō Ryū patiently pointed out the problems with Haruto's so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Spirits, even exposing the risks in his theory about the limits of soul ring absorption.
Beside him, many of the venerable guardians chimed in, each pointing out what they too had noticed.
But unfortunately, Bibi Tō remained stubborn, unwilling to believe a single word.Instead, her face filled with disappointment as she declared:
"Grandfather Chidō, venerable uncles, it seems I misjudged you all."
"You are no different from the rest—people who only care about talent and strength."
"You despise Haruto because of his martial spirit and innate soul power. You discriminate against him."
Chidō Ryū and the guardians felt their stomachs turn in disgust.
What nonsense!
What are we, and what is Haruto Akiyama compared to us?
A deceitful, shameless, utterly incompetent waste of a man—someone not even worth looking at.
How could such a worthless fool be worthy of even our contempt?
At that moment, Chihiro Hayate stepped forward and addressed his father and uncles:
"Father, uncles—you see it clearly now, don't you?"
"It wasn't that I wanted to cripple her cultivation, seal her memories, and rip away her spirit bones."
"She brought this upon herself. She insists on leaving Shikon-den, to be with that useless Haruto Akiyama. No one can dissuade her."
"But Haruto is of the Aoden Hegemon Clan. Her actions are nothing less than betrayal of Shikon-den itself!"
"You all know very well how every empire, kingdom, duchy, and sect in the land punishes traitors."
"If anything, the fact that I did not kill her outright is already the height of mercy!"
Hearing this, and seeing that even Chidō Ryū and the guardians were completely disappointed in Bibi Tō, Hayate sneered coldly.
Chidō Ryū, however, only sighed deeply, asking with sorrow:
"Dō, after all we've said, you truly refuse to believe us?"
"If we forbid you from being with Haruto Akiyama, are you truly willing to abandon Shikon-den and elope with him?"
"Believe you?" Bibi Tō clenched her fists, her voice filled with indignation.
"How can I believe you!"
"Everything you say is only to look down on Haruto, to scorn him!"
"But Haruto is not like that at all!"
"Grandfather Chidō, you and the others are no different from Hayate. You only ever cared about my talent. That's why you took me into Shikon-den, why you treated me well."
"In truth, it was only because I was useful to Shikon-den."
"But my happiness? That never mattered to you!"
Her words chilled the hall.
Chidō Ryū's heart froze. With a bitter laugh, he mocked himself.
All these years… and I treated a thankless, selfish wolf as if she were my own granddaughter.
Ridiculous! What a joke!
If this gets out, my reputation is finished!
The guardians too wore dark expressions, disappointment heavy in their eyes.
But Bibi Tō remained oblivious.Her selfish betrayal had already destroyed the trust of the only people who could have protected her.
She thought Chidō Ryū and the guardians were still different from Hayate—that their care would never change.
She thought, if she only threw a tantrum, they would bend to her will again.
But this time, she was wrong.
"Hayate," Chidō Ryū said after a long silence, "this time, you have done well."
"From here on, it is up to you. Handle this matter as you see fit."
With that, weary and broken-hearted, he no longer wished to see Bibi Tō.Turning away, he drifted toward the sacred Angel Sanctuary deep within Dōra-den.
The guardians, silent, followed him out one by one.
Only Chihiro Hayate remained.
Now, for the first time, Bibi Tō panicked.
"Grandfather Chidō! Venerable guardians! Why are you leaving?"
But Hayate only gave a cold, mocking laugh.
"Bibi Tō," his voice was like iron, "as Pope of Shikon-den, I hereby declare you guilty of treason."
"Your title as Holy Maiden of Shikon-den is abolished."
"From this day forth, your cultivation shall be crippled, your memories sealed, and your spirit bones torn from your body!"
(End of Chapter)