Help! I am bound to Aizen!

Chapter 129

Chapter 129

"Not happy!"

In Rukongai, at the Ky?goku House, Yoruichi was wearing her Shihakush?, tilting her head back to down a cup of sake.

"After all, I'm the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukid? and the Corps Commander of the Punishment Force. Logically, I should be the one protecting others—so how did I become the one being protected?"

As she complained, she extended her cup toward Kaelith.

Kaelith picked up the sake flask and poured her another cup.

He consoled her, "Look at it this way... Besides those titles, you're also a great noble of the Soul Society."

"Isn't it typical for nobles to hide in safe places and enjoy themselves? So you're just fitting your role."

Yoruichi: "?"

Her blood pressure spiked.

After pouring Yoruichi's drink, Kaelith refilled his own cup.

Taking a light sip, he squinted his eyes, showing a satisfied expression.

"Don't dwell on it. How old are you anyway? Not even a hundred, right?"

"Others at your age are still playing house, but you're already a vice-captain-level expert."

"I guarantee that in another two or three hundred years, you'll definitely be one of the strongest captains in the Soul Society!"

Hearing this, Yoruichi first flashed a proud smile.

But immediately after, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"If someone else said that, it might be a bit convincing."

"But you—you're younger than me and stronger than me. Saying that is just asking for resentment."

Kaelith shook his head. "It's just that my substitute is strong; my true self is pretty average."

Yoruichi snorted with a laugh.

Kaelith was about to say something else but suddenly stopped.

Gently finishing his cup of sake, he set it down.

Then, he grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

---

Not far away, on the rooftop of another tavern, Shunsui Ky?raku adjusted his straw hat.

"Oh dear, watching others drink while I have to stay here—this is practically punishment."

"K?ga-kun, don't you agree?"

Beside him, K?ga Kuchiki stood silently.

Hearing this, K?ga shook his head.

"My mission is to protect Yoruichi Shih?in."

"Since I've accepted the task, I must complete it properly."

"Enjoyment is not my desire."

Shunsui just smiled.

He was never good at dealing with such overly serious personalities.

Suddenly, K?ga looked at him.

"Captain Ky?raku, if you want to have some sake, please go ahead. I can handle things here."

Upon hearing this, Shunsui's eyes lit up.

But then he sighed and waved his hand. "Nah, if Old Man Yama finds out, I'll be in trouble again."

For some reason, in recent months, the old man's temper had noticeably worsened.

Clearly, over the past two or three hundred years, his temper had improved, but lately, it's reverted to how it used to be.

They say that in the World of the Living, humans become temperamental in middle age—is Old Man Yama just experiencing a delayed reaction?

As he mused over these trivial thoughts, K?ga approached him.

"It's alright; I won't report to the Captain-Commander."

Half of his face was hidden behind a red floral veil.

His exposed eyes seemed to hold a certain resolve.

Shunsui chuckled. "Well, I appreciate the thought, but it's okay."

"Despite how I may seem, I know how to prioritize when it counts."

"Is that so." K?ga nodded and said no more.

The two fell into silence.

A gust of wind blew past them.

At the moment the last wisp of wind departed, K?ga suddenly drew his sword without warning.

Countless hours of practicing his sword-drawing technique made his movements so fast they seemed like illusions. The unsheathed blade traced a cold silver arc, instantly reaching Shunsui's neck.

Just as he was about to be beheaded, Shunsui raised his hand.

At some point, he had also drawn his sword.

Holding his blade in a reverse grip, it extended from beneath his cherry-colored cloak. With a clang, it blocked K?ga's strike.

Sparks burst brilliantly where the blades met!

Seeing his attack blocked, K?ga was not surprised.

Though it was a sneak attack, he never thought he could take down the renowned Shunsui Ky?raku in a single move.

However, Shunsui's lack of surprise—as if he'd anticipated the attack—left him a bit puzzled.

"Captain Ky?raku, you don't seem surprised," K?ga said as he pressed his sword toward Shunsui's neck.

Shunsui's face was hidden in the shadow of his straw hat, like a predator lurking in a cave, quietly observing him.

Gazing at the blade so close to him, Shunsui sighed.

"Kaelith told me you might be a problem and that I should be careful. At the time, I thought he was overthinking."

"I didn't expect things to turn out just as he predicted."

"As his senior, I'm feeling a bit embarrassed."

"Kaelith?"

A hint of astonishment flashed in K?ga's eyes.

He hadn't expected it to be that guy.

He had a strong impression of Kaelith.

Initially, through his interactions with Kaelith, he thought they might share common ground.

In terms of strength, background, and experiences, they were quite similar.

But once that guy learned about Muramasa's abilities, he began to fear him like everyone else, avoiding him.

Even more obviously than others.

Just like... his father-in-law!

Thinking of this, K?ga took a deep breath, his Reiatsu becoming slightly unstable.

Seizing the opportunity, Shunsui skillfully broke free and put some distance between them.

Looking at K?ga standing there, he asked curiously:

"Lord Kuchiki, by doing this, have you defected to the Tsunayashiro family?"

"You bear the Kuchiki name... and you killed the Tsunayashiro family's heir."

"Do you still hope for reconciliation with the Tsunayashiro family?"

Last night, Kaelith had suddenly approached him, telling him that K?ga Kuchiki might be a problem and that he should be cautious.

When he asked Kaelith why, Kaelith didn't explain, only saying that it was a secret.

He pondered over it all night but couldn't make sense of it.

Although K?ga was an adopted son-in-law, his treatment was no different from that of a biological son.

The Kuchiki family had cultivated him with utmost dedication.

Various resources and opportunities—anything they could provide, they did without hesitation.

Defecting to the Tsunayashiro family wouldn't grant him such treatment under any circumstances.

Moreover, he had personally killed Senzo Tsunayashiro's heir.

Such deep hatred—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they couldn't coexist.

What hidden truth was there?

Hearing Shunsui's words, K?ga chuckled softly.

"Bearing the Kuchiki name?"

"In the eyes of outsiders like you, perhaps that's true."

"But in reality, does the Kuchiki family truly consider me one of them?"

"Has Father ever trusted me, even a little?"

Shunsui showed a look of surprise.

Then, under his gaze, K?ga raised his sword.

"Whisper, Muramasa!"

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T/N: Do you think if Kaelith didn't refuse at that time K?ga would not have defected?