The bloodline of a god...
It sounds grand, but I honestly don't feel any differences. No matter how I check my body, it doesn't look different from the others.
After getting this bit of information from Guren, I honestly felt like there was no benefit in accepting his offer of becoming the next head of the Seimei Family anymore.
"So, what do you think? Do you feel like accepting my offer now?"
Guren asked as if he were reading my mind. My mouth, moved by the [Oath of Truthfulness], spouted words that seemed to come from the depths of my mind.
"I don't. There's just not enough benefit for me in doing so."
The Seimei are an ancient clan. This means that I would not only need to manage family matters as the head, but I would also need to keep watch for power struggles and such. Although Guren seemed to be avoiding the topic, I think he, too, was fed up with this muddy subject.
"I see..."
Guren sighed. However, a faint smile appeared on his face shortly after.
"You love your tamed monsters, right?"
"Of course!"
I quickly replied. The girls coughed lightly, surprised by my sudden confession.
"But right now, you're being chased by the Luo, so they're not entirely safe."
"..."
"To tell you the truth, the Seimei isn't a monolith of a clan either. There's the peace faction that my father led and the radical faction that my first uncle led."
"... Is this a threat?"
I can't help but mutter. However, Guren shook his head and continued.
"It's not; I'm just stating facts. And also, my first uncle is trying to wrestle the family head position from me."
He said this while gesturing with his thumb going across his neck.
"So if he succeeds, then I guess you'd have to run away from the Seimei too since you'd be a thorn in his eyes with your bloodline and such."
"This IS a threat, bastard."
My true thoughts slipped out. However, it fully represents my current thoughts.
In short, if I don't accept being the next head, then the Seimei will chase after me after they eliminate Guren. I could finally see that he wasn't really offering his position as a favor for me but rather to save his own neck. He's literally betting his life on me accepting his offer.
In short, although I don't see any added benefits, the drawbacks of declining it became something I couldn't ignore. I glared at Guren, who was just staring at my face with a clear smile.
For a few minutes, I thought hard about all the possible angles of accepting becoming the family head. In the end, however, I came to the conclusion that refusing wasn't a choice anymore.
"Alright. I accept becoming the next family head. You win."
I sighed as I raised my arms in surrender. As if waiting for this moment, Guren quickly stood up and opened the door behind him.
"Great! Then, let's go and meet all the branch heads! They should've already gathered at the meeting room by now."
Hearing this, I can't help but glare at him once more. I can't brush off the feeling that I was only rolling around the palm of his hand. Letting out a longer sigh, we followed behind him along the long corridor.
About a hundred meters in, the corridor stopped in front of a large room. Guren unhesitatingly opened the sliding door and rushed inside.
"Good evening, everyone. Sorry for calling for you this late."
He greeted cheerfully as he went towards the head seat.
"You tell me, my useless nephew. I was in the middle of a meeting with General Jiao, so hurry up with whatever it is."
A stern-looking man, seated on the right-hand side of Guren's seat, raised his voice in displeasure. Without even an introduction, I could guess that this man was the first uncle he was talking about.
"Hmm?"
However, something was strange with this first uncle of his. His energy wasn't similar to anyone else's in the room. I feel like I know what this pattern is, but I can't remember.
But when Igni came in, her gaze quickly zoned in on this first uncle as she shifted from indifference to rage in a second.
"A Demon Tamer!!!"
She shouted as she dashed forward. Her claws extended as she released a vicious attack.
The first uncle just glared at her, though, and was about to move when two shadows quickly dropped by and dragged Igni down on the floor. They were none other than Sasuke and Chiyome, who were behind Guren a moment ago.
"Sorry for this, first Uncle Hiei. Please let this small matter go."
Guren quickly apologized, trying to diffuse the situation before it escalated. The other heads, who heard what Igni shouted, were whispering with each other as they stealthily pointed fingers at Hiei.
"Let it go?"
His gaze turned sharp as he glared at Guren.
"This thing tried to attack me within our home grounds. If I don't take her life, then the Seimei name would be a laughingstock!"
He raised his hand in the air, and a sharp blade made of energy extended from it. He quickly sent it down, right on top of Igni's head.
*Clang!*
But of course, I wouldn't allow such a thing to happen.
I swung my sword, which I recovered from inside my storage ring, covered in burning energy that was the residue of using Echoing Thunderclap before. The energy in my sword interfered with him, causing the energy waves to disperse.
I was surprised, though, as the energy left in my sword should be able to overpower a 6th-stage beast at least. This first uncle, who should only have about 5th-stage power, was definitely strange. This gives Igni's claim that he was a Demon Tamer more credibility.
"Who are you, rude brat?! You dare interrupt me in my own home?!"
The first uncle flared up in anger. His energy, which was dominated by the fire element, raged wildly. The energy pattern he was releasing was definitely not that of a Demon Tamer, but Igni and my eyes aren't easily deceived. He was using some techniques to hide the impurities of his energy inside his body, passing himself off as a normal tamer.
"Me?"
I asked as I placed the sword in my hand forward, aiming for his forehead.
"I'm your new Family Head."
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