"Are we heading into another war?"
Inuyasha glanced at the heavily armed troops marching past, then crossed his arms, his tone indifferent.
"No… there are no signs of war nearby," Miroku replied, frowning slightly as he looked toward the villagers still calmly tending their fields. "If anything, this feels… unusual."
"Maybe they're mobilizing to deal with a powerful demon," Sango suggested quietly, resting her hand on Hiraikotsu as she studied the armored soldiers at the front of the formation.
"Who cares?" Inuyasha scoffed, turning away. "I've got no interest in human wars."
The group paid the soldiers no further mind and continued on their way.
Before long, however, a conversation between two villagers drifted toward them from the roadside.
"I heard the neighboring lord's army was completely wiped out…"
"Tch. Humans are ridiculous," Inuyasha muttered with disdain. "Always killing each other over pointless things."
"But I heard the battlefield was… strange," another villager said, his voice trembling. "It didn't look like something humans could've done…"
That was enough to make the group stop.
Their expressions sharpened instantly.
"Y-you think it's true? That rumor about the Band of Seven…?" another villager whispered nervously. "That their undead have come back?"
Kagetsu halted mid-step.
The Band of Seven…?
"What is it?" Kikyo noticed the subtle shift in his expression and turned to him.
"…Nothing," Kagetsu replied, shaking his head as he continued forward.
But Kagome, walking beside him, leaned closer, curiosity written all over her face.
"What are they talking about? The Band of Seven's undead?"
"Excuse me," Miroku stepped forward smoothly, adjusting his robes and adopting his usual composed, monk-like demeanor as he approached the villagers.
Inuyasha sighed.
"Do we really need to get involved?"
"We can't just ignore something like that!" Kagome shot back immediately.
"…Tch." Inuyasha clicked his tongue but didn't argue further.
Seeing Miroku in monk's attire, the villagers quickly grew respectful.
"The Band of Seven's Tomb," one of them explained, "was built to appease the spirits of the Band of Seven."
"The Band of Seven?" Miroku prompted. "Could you tell us more?"
"That was over ten years ago…" one villager began, his expression growing grim.
"They were mercenaries from the eastern lands. Seven of them,no master, no allegiance. They fought wherever there was war, taking any job that paid."
"And they were terrifying," another added quickly, his voice tinged with fear. "Seven men… with the strength of an army."
"But their methods were… cruel beyond words."
The first villager swallowed hard.
"Their enemies were butchered, burned alive… slaughtered without mercy. They were no different from demons."
"I-Is that so…?" Shippō trembled, instinctively burrowing into Kagome's arms.
Kagome, equally unsettled, hugged him tightly,so tightly that his face began to turn red from lack of air.
"Because they were too dangerous," the villager continued, "the feudal lords joined forces to eliminate them. The battle was brutal… many soldiers died."
"The Band of Seven fled into the mountains, but in the end, they were surrounded and captured. They were executed in a remote northern village… all seven of them."
Miroku nodded slowly.
"And this tomb…?"
"The locals feared their spirits would return to wreak havoc," the villager explained. "So they built a memorial mound at the foot of a sacred mountain,to suppress their resentment."
Kagome leaned forward slightly.
"And the undead…?"
"Not long ago…" the villager said, his face paling further, "the tomb split open."
"…Everyone says the Band of Seven have returned."
Silence followed.
"I see. Thank you," Miroku said with a respectful bow.
As the group resumed their journey, the mood grew noticeably heavier.
Each of them turned the story over in their minds.
"For the dead to return like this…" Kikyo spoke at last, her voice calm but thoughtful, "either someone deliberately revived them,like the clay soldier technique…"
"…or their remains were corrupted by evil energy, turning them into vengeful spirits."
Miroku nodded.
"Indeed. Those who lived such violent lives would leave behind strong resentment. If left unchecked, their remains could easily attract malevolent forces."
He paused.
"And if Naraku is involved…"
"There's also the possibility of Shikon Jewel shards," Kagetsu added quietly.
Sango's expression darkened.
"If that's the case… then it's almost certainly Naraku's doing. Most of the shards are already in his possession."
"Whatever they are,undead or demons,it doesn't matter," Inuyasha said, crossing his arms again. His eyes gleamed with confidence. "If they show up, I'll cut them down in one strike."
Kagetsu glanced at him, a strange look flashing through his eyes.
One strike… huh.
He remembered all too well how this encounter had gone before.
Poison. Traps. Near-death battles.
Even Kagome and the others had barely escaped with their lives.
"…If we run into them," Kagetsu said casually, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, "I'll leave one for you."
Inuyasha snorted.
"Hmph. I'll send them straight back to hell myself."
After restocking supplies in a nearby castle town and taking a short break, the group continued north toward Mount Hakurei.
The terrain gradually opened up into wide roads, allowing them to move much faster than before.
Kagetsu had expected their enemies to appear soon.
After all, if the rumors were true, the Band of Seven should have already been active.
But strangely,
Days passed.
Aside from a few minor demons that barely posed a threat,
There was no sign of them at all.
It was as if the rumors of the Band of Seven's return…
Had been nothing more than whispers carried on the wind.