Chapter 32
The sudden turn of events stunned all the beastfolk present. They instinctively scanned their surroundings, eyes filled with vigilance.
Who had attacked just now?
Chief Tali was secretly alarmed—there was still a powerful beastman hiding nearby.
Mino was equally on guard. He hadn’t sensed who had struck either.
Sal sneered inwardly. If he hadn’t yet recovered his strength, how could these people still be alive?
Nina was also startled. Dora had been blown away out of nowhere—but anyone who dared insult her cub deserved it.
She felt no sympathy for Dora at all.
After that explosion, the beastfolk no longer dared approach Nina. Instinctively, they felt that whatever had just happened was connected to her.
Nina stepped out from behind Mino.
“Chief Tali, about the demon beasts attacking me—I believe another beastman deliberately framed me p>
Chief Tali asked, “You’re saying someone framed you? What evidence do you have p>
“Earlier, after a male bumped into me, he smeared something onto my clothes. I suspect that substance attracted the demon beasts p>
She took off her outer garment and pointed to the stained area.
“Mino, smell it—do you notice anything unusual p>
Fortunately, she had been wearing a thin beast-skin cloak for sun protection, so she could remove it easily.
Mino sniffed it. “There’s a very faint bloody scent… like p>
He paused, unable to immediately place it—but if it could attract demon beasts, what could it be?
“A smell proves nothing,” Dora retorted, panic flickering beneath her voice. “You might have brushed against something yourself. And the scent is so faint—how could demon beasts track it from so far away p>
Some of the other beastfolk nodded, thinking she had a point.
Chief Tali’s gaze sharpened. “Can you recognize the male who bumped into you? Is he here p>
Nina scanned the crowd carefully. “He’s not here p>
“Heh. Sounds like you’re making things up to clear yourself,” Dora sneered.
“Chief, you can check—see if anyone is missing,” Nina said calmly. “I’m not lying p>
Chief Tali hesitated.
Suddenly, realization flashed across Mino’s eyes.
“Nina, that scent should be from a demon-beast egg. Demon beasts are extremely sensitive to it. Beastfolk might not smell it clearly, but they can. The scent doesn’t dissipate easily—even washing won’t remove it completely. That male should still carry the smell as well p>
Nina nodded. That made perfect sense.
“Chief, you heard him. If we find that male, we can prove he smeared demon-beast egg fluid on me p>
Chief Tali exchanged looks with the other chiefs.
“Count the people,” he ordered.
Several males began checking attendance.
Dora grew more agitated. “Just because you say it’s demon-beast egg doesn’t make it so. It could be something else p>
“We’ll know for sure if we bring a few demon beasts here,” Nina replied calmly.
“Chiefs, you can send some males to lure two or three demon beasts over p>
Chief Tali sent several males to lure a few low-level demon beasts.
The count was soon completed. One male reported, “Chiefs, Zola and Tim are missing. Everyone else is here p>
“Go find them,” Chief Tali ordered.
More than a dozen males immediately split up to search.
After a while, three demon beasts were brought over. Once they got close, instead of attacking the males who had provoked them, they suddenly roared and charged straight toward Mino and Nina—toward the clothing in Mino’s hands.
The surrounding beastfolk scattered in alarm.
Nina said to Mino, “Give the clothes to Chief Tali. Let’s see if the demon beasts will still attack me p>
Mino tossed the garment over. Chief Tali caught it.
The moment the garment changed position, the demon beasts instantly redirected and lunged at Chief Tali.
That made everything clear—the demon beasts were targeting the scent on the clothes.
Once everyone understood, Mino swiftly subdued the demon beasts without killing them.
At the same time, the males returned with Zola and Tim.
Chief Tali pointed at them. “Nina, take a look. Are either of them the one who bumped into you p>
Nina examined them and pointed at Zola. “He’s the one p>
Zola struggled fiercely. “I didn’t do it on purpose! What’s wrong with accidentally bumping into you p>
“You smeared demon-beast egg fluid on me,” Nina said flatly.
“I didn’t! Don’t frame me!” Zola protested, fear creeping into his voice.
“I’m not framing you,” Nina said coldly. “You still have the scent on you p>
She pointed to a nearby tree. “Tie him to that tree p>
Several males glanced at Chief Tali. He nodded.
They bound Zola to the tree.
Zola panicked. “Let me go! Why are you tying me up p>
Nina had Chief Tali order the clothes taken far away first. Then she whispered something to Mino. Mino released the demon beasts he had restrained.
Freed, the demon beasts shook themselves, sniffed the air—and immediately locked onto Zola tied to the tree. With a furious roar, they charged straight at him.
Zola screamed and wet himself in terror.
Just before the demon beasts could bite him, Mino killed them all in an instant.
Zola went deathly pale, slumping against the tree, barely conscious.
“Well?” Nina said, stepping up to him. “Anything left to say p>
Zola had no will left to argue. “I—I smeared it on you p>
His confession cleared Nina completely.
“Why did you do it?” Nina asked.
Zola glanced at Dora, conflict flashing in his eyes.
Mino formed an ice blade and held it at Zola’s throat, killing intent radiating.
“Speak. Or I’ll kill you right now p>
Zola shrank back, trembling. “It—it was Dora. She told me to do it. She said if I helped her, she’d let me become her beast husband p>
Mino’s eyes turned razor-sharp.
The surrounding beastfolk all looked toward Dora—shock, disbelief, and sudden understanding spreading across their faces.
Dora’s legs went weak. She leaned against a beast husband, forcing herself to appear calm.
“Zola, don’t slander me p>
“Dora, just admit it,” Zola blurted out. “You told me to do it. And those demon beasts were deliberately lured here by your beast husbands p>
“You’re lying! What proof do you have?” Dora shouted.
“If your beast husbands lured that many demon beasts, they must’ve gotten hurt,” Zola said.
“Check their bodies—see if they have wounds caused by demon beasts p>
Chief Tali ordered several males to inspect Dora’s beast husbands. Sure enough, two of them bore injuries consistent with demon-beast attacks, hastily concealed beneath beast skins.
“These were from fighting demon beasts earlier,” Dora tried to argue desperately.
But by then, no one was listening.