In the brief moment when Inuyasha and the others were still stunned, Myoga suddenly sprang off Kirara's back and landed squarely on Inuyasha's face. He bit down hard and took a deep gulp of blood before cheering excitedly,
"I've missed you so much, Lord Inuyasha!"
"Smack!"
A crisp slapping sound rang out as Inuyasha flattened Myoga with one hand. His mouth twitched.
"Grandpa Myoga…"
"Why are you even in a place like this…?" Kagome stared at the paper-flat Myoga lying in Inuyasha's palm, completely baffled.
"Do you all know each other?" Miroku asked, unable to resist chiming in, his eyes filled with curiosity.
Afterward, the group buried the fallen villagers. Once that was done, Myoga finally explained why he had been there.
"This is a village where demon slayers live in seclusion. Generation after generation, they've made their living by slaying demons. But I never expected Retsu's warning to come true—demons really did attack at this time."
"Retsu?" Inuyasha and Kagome froze.
"Yes. Yesterday, he and Lady Kikyo came here together. They were investigating the origin of the Shikon Jewel and took the shards from the village…"
"Kikyo?! She was here too?!" Inuyasha blurted out immediately.
Kagome glanced at him but said nothing. Instead, she turned to Myoga.
"Grandpa Myoga, did they figure out where the Shikon Jewel came from? Did they really take the shards?"
Bombarded by questions from both of them—and feeling Inuyasha's sharp gaze—Myoga hurriedly replied,
"Lord Inuyasha, please calm down! I'll explain everything properly!"
"Then hurry up," Kagome urged.
"Alright, I'll start from the beginning.
"For a while now, I've been investigating information about the Shikon Jewel. I kept wondering—what exactly is it? Anyone connected to it always ends up meeting a tragic fate.
"Eventually, following the rumors, I came to this village."
"And Kikyo?" Inuyasha cut in impatiently. "Why did she come?"
"Ah… yes, Lord Inuyasha."
Seeing Inuyasha's expression, Myoga quickly got to the point.
"Yesterday, some guests suddenly visited the village. I secretly followed them and discovered it was Lady Kikyo—and that strange fellow named Retsu."
"So Kikyo and Retsu were together?" Kagome said in surprise. "They came here for the Shikon Jewel?"
"That's right," Myoga nodded.
"From their conversation, I learned that fifty years ago, Lady Kikyo had been entrusted by the demon slayers to purify and protect the Shikon Jewel.
"So this time, she came to investigate its origins."
"I see…" Inuyasha muttered, eyes widening slightly.
"So fifty years ago, Kikyo obtained the Shikon Jewel from here? No wonder she became its guardian."
Kagome looked astonished.
"Grandpa Myoga, does that mean this really is where the Shikon Jewel was born? Do you know how?"
"Yes," Myoga replied. "Near the village, there's a limestone cave. The Shikon Jewel was discovered there. But—"
"Take us there. Now," Inuyasha said, grabbing Myoga and lifting him up.
"Y-Yes, Lord Inuyasha!" Myoga hurriedly agreed.
He jumped onto Kagome's shoulder and led the group toward the cave where the Shikon Jewel had originated.
"Grandpa Myoga," Miroku suddenly said, "there should be survivors in the village, right?"
"Yes," Myoga nodded. "Apart from the demon slayers who went to the castle, there are women, elderly people, and children. They're hiding in that cave."
"How did you know that?" Shippo asked curiously.
"When we were burying the dead, I noticed only adult men were there," Miroku explained. "No women, no elderly, no children. So I guessed they had hidden somewhere."
"Before Kikyo and Retsu left, they warned the village chief that many demons were gathering nearby," Myoga added.
"After all, this village has been slaying demons for generations. They've long made powerful enemies.
"So after the slayers departed, the villagers who couldn't fight took shelter in the cave."
He frowned worriedly.
"With all the strong fighters gone, the village's defenses were at their weakest. I'm worried about the people who went to the castle… I hope they're alright."
"But if everyone hides in the cave," Miroku asked, "won't the demons just go in after them?"
"No," Myoga replied. "Demons can't enter that cave."
"They can't? Why not?" Inuyasha asked.
At that moment, Myoga pointed ahead.
"We're here. That's the cave."
Without waiting for another word, Inuyasha rushed forward.
"Wait—Lord Inuyasha!" Myoga cried out.
"What now?!" Inuyasha shouted as he kept running.
"Aaaah!"
A painful cry echoed as an invisible barrier suddenly activated at the entrance. Inuyasha was violently repelled and sent flying backward, crashing to the ground.
"There's a very powerful barrier here," Myoga explained. "You can't just walk in."
"You should've said that earlier!" Inuyasha growled as he struggled back to his feet, glaring at Myoga.
"So this barrier is why the villagers are safe inside?" Miroku said thoughtfully.
"With it, demons can't get in."
"I see," Miroku murmured, studying the barrier. "So this is how they protected themselves."
"Grandpa Myoga, do you know how to解除 it?" Kagome asked.
"I do," Myoga replied hesitantly, "but it's better not to enter right now."
"Why?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Because of the villagers inside," Miroku said.
"Exactly," Myoga nodded.
"The village was just attacked. If we strangers suddenly barge in, it could easily cause misunderstandings."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Inuyasha scratched his head irritably. "Everyone outside is dead."
"Let's wait," Miroku suggested.
"Either until the villagers come out on their own, or until the demon slayers return from the castle."
"Tch, what a pain," Inuyasha complained.
He plopped down on a nearby rock, crossed his arms, and stared stubbornly at the cave entrance.
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