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Chapter 247 B
🕑 Added 2025-02-03 16:00:15 +0000 UTCChapter 247
You know how it goes by now. Another one.
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Far off in the Soul Society, a beautiful event was unfolding.
Boom!
Scarlet flames shot high into the sky. Trees several hundred meters away were instantly incinerated to ash by the wave of heat. Amid the firelight, Kaelith shone with spiritual energy, leaping high.
“Ow! My butt’s on fire!”
“Old man! If you don’t stop, I’m gonna fight back!”
“Help meee!”
Roiling flames dyed a vast swath of sky red. Even the distant Seireitei could feel the terrifying ripples of power emanating from there.
At the 13th Division barracks, Jūshirō Ukitake was lounging under the eaves, basking in the sun, when he looked toward the commotion in surprise.
“…Hasn’t our junior disciple been keeping his head down for the past year? Why’s he suddenly fighting with Teacher Yamamoto again?”
Shunsui Kyōraku adjusted his hat and gave a mischievous grin.
“You know Kaelith’s not the type who can stay quiet for long. That bout of ‘lying low’ was probably just a ploy to lull Old Man Yama. Hard to believe a dignified Captain-Commander could be toyed with by his own disciple—really shows that age spares no one!”
Chuckling, he took a delighted sip of his drink. Ukitake could only give a wry smile.
After sensing the spiritual pressures clashing in the distance for a while, Ukitake spoke again:
“Shunsui, you felt it too, right?”
“Mm.” Shunsui nodded. “In just a single year, Kaelith’s grown a whole lot stronger. It’s hard to imagine where his limits lie at this rate. Old Man Yama has his work cut out for him.”
Putting himself in Yamamoto’s shoes, Shunsui admitted it’d be a dilemma.
Kaelith was improving far beyond the norm. If the Captain-Commander indulged him too much, Kaelith might grow arrogant and self-destruct. But if he was too strict, it might turn out like Kuchiki Kōga’s case, creating a stubborn and resentful outcome.
Striking the right balance tested the mettle of a good teacher. Shunsui, for one, didn’t think he could handle it. But both he and Ukitake held absolute faith in Yamamoto. If anyone was the greatest teacher in the Soul Society, it had to be Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
…
At the 5th Division barracks, Shinji Hirako sipped tea with a shameless smirk.
“Nice, real nice. Kaelith dares defy his superior—what a traitor he is. Then the Captain-Commander, upholding justice, chops him to bits. Such sweet music!”
He lifted his steaming teacup, eager for a tasty sip, when suddenly a hand clapped down on his shoulder. The timing and strength were precise—light enough not to harm him, yet forceful enough to knock the teacup from his grasp.
Splat! Scalding tea spilled all over Shinji.
“Waaaagh!”
He jumped up, yowling in pain and frantically shaking off the burning liquid.
Standing nearby, Aizen Sōsuke watched with mild surprise. “My apologies, Captain, I didn’t see you were drinking. Are you all right?” Even as he spoke, he hurried over. Passing the teakettle on the way, he planted his foot on the wooden floor with a bit of force, causing the kettle to bounce up and splash half its contents onto Shinji’s feet.
“Gyaaaah!”
Now hopping on one leg, Shinji flailed around the room. Aizen sighed.
“Captain, please be more composed. You’ve got sixty files still waiting for your review.”
Shinji gaped at his lieutenant in disbelief.
“Traitor… You fiend, Aizen! I should strip you of your rank as vice-captain!”
Aizen raised his brows. “Really? That’d be great. I have two hundred more files that need tending. If you remove me, could you handle those too?”
“Uh— Actually, Aizen, what do you feel like eating? I’ll treat you!”
Shinji’s expression flipped in an instant, brimming with courtesy. Aizen dropped his smile, gave him a flat look, and turned away.
“Get the files done. I’ll come by tonight to collect them.”
Listening to his vice-captain’s frosty order, Shinji felt a surge of grief and indignation. He’d never rest until he took vengeance. He couldn’t do anything about Aizen, but Kaelith had vulnerabilities everywhere! With his cunning, Shinji was sure he’d make Kaelith pay dearly. Yes…he’d gather every scrap of Kaelith’s dirty laundry, present it to the Captain-Commander, and watch the old man lop off that rogue disciple’s head. Shinji grinned wickedly, already dreaming up an evil plan.
…
A bruised and battered man returned to the 11th Division he commanded so loyally. Before the astonished eyes of his squad, Kaelith strode over to his big fur-draped seat and plopped down. Only then did they recognize him as their captain. The group bowed as one.
“Boss!!”
Kaelith nodded, taking a grape from a tray offered by a nearby member and spitting out the seeds casually.
“My friends!”
He cleared his throat. “In a few days, I’m bringing in a special expert. He’ll teach you some new combat methods for dealing with certain special enemies. Make time for it—pay attention and learn! If I catch anyone trying to skip out, I’ll personally give them a knuckle sandwich!”
The moment Kaelith finished, the crowd roared in unison, “Yes, Boss!!” But in the lull that followed, surprise rippled through them. Though most of them seemed like dropouts at first glance, they’d actually studied properly at the Shin’ō Academy. They already knew the usual enemies from the textbooks. Why bring in an outside expert?
Kisuke Urahara, within the crowd, had a guess. It likely concerned Kaelith’s latest developments on the Wandenreich front. Whoever this expert was, he probably specialized in fighting Quincies. Such busy times for the Soul Society, indeed. Kisuke shook his head in quiet reflection.
Right then, a figure used Shunpō to appear nearby—a member of the messenger squad. Several of the 11th Division tried to intercept him.
“A courier? What’s your business here?”
“You’d better not be some assassin in disguise!”
The messenger broke out in a cold sweat. He edged past the imposing brutes and bowed to Kaelith.
“Captain Kaelith! This is a message from the Shin’ō Academy!”
The Shin’ō Academy? Kaelith blinked in curiosity, thinking of the place he’d attended for under a year.
“What’s up?”
The messenger answered promptly, “The Academy’s Education Committee and Principal Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto have sent you an invitation—to a teaching position.”
Kaelith raised an eyebrow. They wanted him to teach? He’d only been out of the academy a few short years, and now they wanted him back as an instructor?
He grew intrigued. “So what subject does my teacher want me to teach? Battle strategy? Tactical layouts? Swordsmanship? Kidō? Maybe how to connect with and care for your Zanpakutō?”
At that, the messenger hesitated, then shook his head.
“Ah…no, that’s not it. The Academy has extended an offer for you to serve as an instructor in calligraphy.”
Kaelith: “…”
“Pfft—”
“?”
From the crowd, Kisuke Urahara couldn’t hold back a laugh. Though he suppressed it immediately, Kaelith snapped his head around, eyes flaring with crimson glints like a rocket’s tail. Kisuke turned to flee, but Kaelith was on him in a flash, pinning him to the ground.
“Kaelith-san, I’ve rendered so many services for the 11th—!”
Kisuke’s protest became a wail that echoed over the division’s grounds.
…
Later, holding the letter from Shin’ō Academy, Kaelith lapsed into thought. On one hand, he was delighted by the chance to openly return to campus and…exchange knowledge with female students. On the other hand, calligraphy class? It didn’t sound very satisfying. He was much more suited to grappling and close-quarters practice with those underclasswomen—surely that was a real man’s calling.
Sensing Kaelith’s dilemma, a squad member sidled up.
“Boss! If you don’t wanna go, just turn ’em down!”
“Yeah, Boss, that Academy’s full of nitpicky rules—nowhere near as free as the 11th Division!”
“Boss—”
Aizen arrived at the 11th just then, finding the place in a noisy uproar. Scanning the crowd, he saw Kaelith on the big fur seat, bruised and battered—and in the corner, Kisuke Urahara wearing a matching set of bruises.
Aizen: “…”
Walking over, he asked Kisuke what had happened. Upon hearing it all, he paused. Then he approached Kaelith.
“Step aside—let the Grand Vizier through!”
At Kaelith’s shout, the chattering members parted like a wave.
“Brother Aizen!”
“Hi, Aizen-bro!”
Aizen’s lips twitched. The awkwardness was palpable. By sheer will, he brushed off their greetings and came to stand before Kaelith.
“Kaelith.”
“Yeah?”
“Take the position as calligraphy teacher.”
“Huh?”
He certainly hadn’t expected Aizen to specifically push him toward that. Under Kaelith’s puzzled look, Aizen’s gaze grew resolute.
“I said, do it.”
Hearing Kaelith’s invitation to teach, Aizen had formed a plan. To accomplish their goals, they needed manpower. The best source of fresh blood was the academy’s top students. With Kaelith on staff, it’d be much easier for Aizen to filter out talents and quietly bring them aboard. Or maybe Kaelith’s knack for drawing people in would simply gather them without any complex schemes. Either way, Aizen looked forward to it.
Unaware of Aizen’s true motives, Kaelith only saw the confidence of the Soul Society’s second-greatest schemer (after himself). So he gave a casual nod.
…
Emerging from the Red-White Springs, Kaelith stretched and shook out his hair like a husky dog. The bruises from Yamamoto’s beating had vanished completely. How many times now had these springs saved him in his short Shinigami career?
Watching the steaming water, Kaelith felt a sudden urge to check on Yoruichi and Soifon’s training. In the lifespan of Shinigami, a single session could last ten years. But Yoruichi and Soifon were both exceptional talents; maybe they’d wrapped things up early. If so, he might head to the Shihōin estate, spar with them, then bathe together afterward. He could lie on Yoruichi’s pillowy thighs while Soifon worked on his back… Just imagining it made him feel all warm inside.
He’d just finished dressing in his Shihakushō and was preparing to return to the 11th when he heard a voice from out of nowhere. Opening his protective layer of reiatsu, he let a faint thread of spiritual energy enter his ear. It was Kirio Hikifune.
“Master! Come to the 12th Division, there’s a surprise for you!”
Kaelith raised a brow. A surprise at the 12th? Maybe Kirio had whipped up some new dish for him to taste-test? If that was the case, no way he’d show up empty-handed!
He hurried back to the 11th to fetch a special item he’d prepared: tofu dyed black with sesame paste, plus a variety of special seasonings. This time, if the 11th and 12th Divisions were to have a “master chefs’ duel,” he’d wow Kirio with his “Dark Magic Panda Mapo Tofu!”
Excited, Kaelith arrived at the 12th Division to find an unexpected visitor sitting across from Kirio—someone wearing a Shihakushō with no one inside it, moving on its own.
Frowning, Kaelith studied the animated clothing for a few seconds. Then recognition dawned on him.
The garment huffed.
“Hey, what’s with that look? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten who I am in the short time since we last met?”
Kaelith snorted. “Ridiculous. You stand before one of the top three brains in the Soul Society! You’re…that big-shot from the Royal Palace. The ‘Bloody Mary!’”
“Most certainly is not!!”
Shutara Senjumaru burst out in protest, then turned to Kirio.
“Kirio! See how rude he is to someone who came bearing gifts? We might as well refuse to give it to him!”
Only then did Kaelith remember. Last time they’d met, this “robe spirit”—ahem, Royal Guard—had promised him a garment capable of completely sealing off spiritual pressure.
His eyes lit up. He was about to ask for it when he suddenly froze: Royal Guard? He’d nearly forgotten. Not only was Shutara Senjumaru an active member of Squad Zero, but Kirio Hikifune was on the cusp of joining Squad Zero as well.
