Saint Discernment

Up ahead, passing cars splashed through the puddles on the road, soaking Ichigo from head to toe.

"What a nuisance. That truck was awful."

"Ichigo? Are you all right?" Masaki gently wiped his cheek. "Sorry about that. Let's switch places. Mom will walk on the outside."

"I'm fine. I'll stay here!"

"We still have raincoats. It's all right."

Yuko watched the scene with a faint smile. To be honest, she didn't dislike this sort of sight.

Hmm?

At that moment, a figure by the railing along the riverbank caught Yuko's attention.

The figure looked like a little girl. Despite the heavy rain, she held no umbrella and wore no raincoat. She simply stood alone by the river, as if she intended to take her own life.

I see. A disguised Hollow?

After only one glance, Yuko looked away.

This type of Hollow was basically somewhat intelligent. It specialized in luring humans who could see them—in other words, people with powerful spiritual energy.

"Ah... Mom, wait for me." Ichigo saw what was happening and suddenly dashed over.

"Ichigo?"

The incident had happened too suddenly for Masaki to stop him. But when she instinctively looked in the direction Ichigo had run, she noticed something strange about the girl and hurried after him.

Yuko quietly watched the two of them cross the road, one following the other, beneath their umbrellas.

Because his mind and spiritual energy were still immature, Ichigo couldn't distinguish between the dead and the living, let alone see through a disguised Hollow.

Still, with Masaki's strength, she shouldn't need to intervene.

"Ichigo! Wait!" When Masaki caught up from behind and pushed Ichigo to the ground, the little girl also revealed her true form.

The bait in the shape of a little girl seemed to shed its human skin from the