"There, there. Be good."
Monk Yunya crouched down and picked up a little one who was crying most pitifully, a snot bubble hanging from his nose, to comfort him.
"By the way, children, after the demon captured you, were all of you here?"
The children exchanged glances at his question.
The little snot-nosed boy in his arms pouted and pointed toward the cave.
"There's still someone inside."
He had been the slowest runner, so he had noticed that Rin was still behind them and had not come out.
Inside the cave, Rin sat quietly curled up on the ground, her arms wrapped around her knees.
After entering, Monk Yunya approached the little girl and crouched beside her, asking with great concern, "What's wrong? That demon has already been destroyed. Come back to the village with me."
Rin knew he meant well, but she still showed no intention of getting up and leaving with him.
"I'm fine. I have to wait for Lord Sesshomaru. You can go, Grandpa."
Naturally, Yunya refused.
After some conversation, he simply picked the little girl up and carried her out of the cave.
"Let go of me! Let go!"
Rin waved her arms and struggled.
"Child, what on earth are you thinking?"
As he reached his disciples and the rescued children, Monk Yunya frowned.
Just then, a talkative child spoke up. "Grandpa, back in the cave earlier, she said humans were scarier than demons."
The other children also wore expressions that were neither particularly friendly nor approving.
An invisible gulf seemed to separate them from Rin.
Hearing this and seeing their reactions, the old man's expression darkened.
"Hmph, what nonsense is that? How could humans be scarier than demons? Demons are evil villains who devour people, bones and all, and love to bewitch their minds. Besides,