novelblue
Chapter 171
Chapter 171
Chapter 171
As dusk fell, Kaelith dragged his tired body back to the Second Division barracks.
It had been a very busy day.
In the morning, he received orders to go to the Living World as a vice-captain to participate in an operation.
In the afternoon, he went to the First Division to tell Yamamoto about his new Shikai.
Seeing that Kaelith’s Zanpakut? and its powers involved fire, Yamamoto stated that this was his area of expertise.
Although Rixiang Jimie’s core ability wasn’t truly fire-based, those fiercely burning blue flames still carried considerable lethality.
Yamamoto brought out a stack of books—notes he’d compiled on using fire-type Zanpakut?—and handed them to Kaelith. He required Kaelith to read and memorize them, with surprise tests at irregular intervals.
Staring at that thick pile of books, Kaelith’s eyes widened, feeling as if he’d returned to a previous life and its nightmarish three years of study.
After finally escaping the First Division alive, he was immediately caught by Yoruichi.
She took Kaelith straight back to the Shih?in family grounds.
Once they found a secluded spot, Yoruichi got straight to the point:
“Kaelith, do you want to become the Second Division’s captain?”
Kaelith paused in surprise. “Were you sent by the old man as reinforcements?”
“Huh?”
Yoruichi blinked, confused.
Seeing she didn’t seem to be acting, Kaelith relaxed.
He had worried that Yamamoto, eager to push a captain’s position on him, had started recruiting his close acquaintances to persuade him.
Leaning against a wall, Kaelith spoke lazily: “The Second Division captaincy is already reserved for the Shih?in family. You don’t have to worry about the position being left vacant and getting stolen by others.
“Back in the old days, the Central 46 might have targeted your family’s seat, but now that the Central 46 is entirely under the control of the Kuchiki and Shih?in families, who would dare provoke the Shih?in?”
Hearing this, Yoruichi shook her head.
“It’s not a power struggle.
“I just realized that, though I’ve worked hard, I’m still quite far from being a qualified captain.
Until I bridge that gap, I’d like the Second Division to have a captain—a guidepost to lead everyone forward.”
Kaelith’s expression turned thoughtful.
Becoming the Second Division’s captain… Not a bad idea.
First, ?maeda Marechiyo could handle the captain’s duties, allowing Kaelith to reap the benefits without the workload.
More importantly, as captain, he’d have high authority over the division’s members.
The Gotei 13 was a traditional organization that didn’t prioritize the rights of ordinary squad members.
If he became captain, wouldn’t the female members of the Second Division be like delicacies right at his fingertips?
The paradise plan for the Second Division was right before his eyes!
Heh heh!
Noticing Kaelith’s subtle change in expression, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes:
“Forget it. I take back what I said. Let’s leave the captain talk for another time.”
Kaelith: “?”
He was about to respond when a voice suddenly called out—
“Brother-in-law! You’re here!”
With that cry, a figure cheerfully rushed over.
Yoruichi showed a speechless look and turned to face the newcomer.
It was a child with the same coffee-colored skin as Yoruichi.
Delicate features, a slender figure, wearing a black kimono with a white noble’s haori over it.
At first glance, one might think this was a young girl.
When Kaelith first met him, he too was fooled into thinking this was Yoruichi’s younger sister.
But no it was a boy!
Kaelith reached out and pressed his hand on the approaching boy’s head, keeping him at arm’s length.
Though Kaelith pinned him in place, preventing further approach, the boy still wore a sunny smile.
“Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, it’s me, Y?shir?!”
“Yes, I know it’s you. That’s exactly why I’m not letting you come any closer,” Kaelith replied with a calm smile.
This “little brother-in-law”… ahem, Yoruichi’s younger brother Y?shir? Shih?in was just too enthusiastic.
If Kaelith didn’t hold him off, this kid would cling to him like a hyper puppy—something a certain church’s clergy might see as a blessing, but Kaelith found it noisy. (t/N the stray shots lol)
Peering through Kaelith’s fingers, Y?shir? asked curiously, “Brother-in-law, I heard your Shunk? involves fire? I want to see it…”
Not waiting for Kaelith to answer, he continued on his own:
“That’s so cool! I hope when I learn Shunk? someday, I can use fire too!
If you have fire, maybe I can inherit fire as well!”
Yoruichi: “?”
What nonsense was this younger brother spouting?
She raised her fist and thumped Y?shir?’s head.
“Idiot, he’s not your brother-in-law yet! Don’t call him that so casually!”
Y?shir? crouched down, holding his head, tears in his large eyes as he looked at Yoruichi.
“But the elders say it’s only a matter of time…”
Yoruichi froze slightly upon hearing that.
At the side, Kaelith gave her a mischievous look.
Sensing Kaelith’s gaze, Yoruichi cleared her throat.
“Speaking of Shunk?… Kaelith, let’s practice together!
No matter who becomes the Second Division’s captain, we need to keep improving ourselves!”
As she spoke, electric currents flickered across Yoruichi’s body.
For some reason, when they first met, she’d always been the one in control—teasing him, making him blush. She was the one taking the initiative.
But lately, whenever topics like this came up, she found herself growing nervous instead.
Puzzled, yet somehow performing even better than when she trained alone, Yoruichi sparred with Kaelith until she was satisfied.
Finally freed from Yoruichi’s training, Kaelith returned to his dorm.
Upon entering, he nearly jumped in fright.
Aizen was already waiting inside, sitting quietly.
“What are you doing here? You scared me!”
Kaelith patted his chest.
Aizen, eyes closed, seemed to be resting. Hearing Kaelith’s voice, he opened his eyes.
“Kaelith, I went to the Great Spirit Library again today.”
Kaelith paused, surprised.
He knew Aizen had visited before. But back then, the Soul Society was in chaos. The Tsunayashiro family, who managed the library, had no time to tighten security. Now that defenses were restored, sneaking in would be risky.
He was about to remind Aizen of the danger when Aizen spoke up first:
“We’ve run into a problem.”
Under Kaelith’s gaze, Aizen took out a glass bottle and tossed it to him.
Kaelith caught it and sensed the spiritual pressure inside.
It felt heavy, oddly familiar.
He frowned.
This spiritual pressure seemed to come from a Shinigami, yet was somehow different.
It was as if the spiritual pressure had rotted and turned into something else.
That made no sense.
When a Shinigami died, their reishi gradually dispersed into the air. There was no concept of it “spoiling.”
So what was in his hand?
Before he could ask, Aizen said:
“This is the spiritual pressure of Gosuke Kenpachi.”
“To be precise, the reishi particles left after his death.”
Kaelith blinked in surprise.
Aizen continued, “You’ve heard about the Konso Reisai, right?
“This bottle of spiritual pressure is the real reason for the Konso Reisai’s existence!”