Chapter 291: If You Don't Mind
Driven by anger, Senjumaru brandished her embroidery needle, rapidly modifying Satoru's clothing.
Every time she finished modifying a section, Satoru would suddenly go berserk and tear it off with his hands.
In the blink of an eye, only a few scraps of fabric remained on Satoru's body, while Senjumaru was so furious her blood pressure was about to explode.
Staring at the last remaining section of Satoru's pants, she suddenly fell into deep thought.
Initially... she had wanted Satoru to strip and be embarrassed in front of everyone, right?
Then, at this moment, hadn't she already achieved her goal?
Her gaze traveled upward, past Satoru's abdominal muscles and pectorals, landing on his wildly laughing face.
You only have a section of pants left, what are you so happy about?!
Don't you have any sense of shame, you bastard!
Senjumaru suddenly felt exhausted.
This battle had become meaningless to continue.
With a flick of her wrist, her embroidery needle suddenly enlarged, transforming into a kunai-like close combat tool. She swung it horizontally, carving out a large semicircle.
Taking advantage of Satoru's dodge, she created distance and waved her hand:
"Enough, I'm done fighting!"
"I am a lady, I cannot stoop to arguing with a beast!"
With that, she flashed away and landed back on the ground.
Kirio smiled as she came forward, brushing the dust off her.
"Captain, you fought wonderfully!"
"After coming to the Soul King Palace, your strength has improved even further."
Senjumaru smiled faintly.
"Kirio, from now on we are both members of the Zero Division. There's no need to address me as captain anymore."
"From now on, you may call me by my given name."
"Understood, Captain!"
"..."
Looking at her former subordinate's smiling face before her, Senjumaru felt somewhat numb.
Had this girl been infected by the Satoru virus too?
As she frowned in thought, applause sounded from nearby:
"Impressive, truly impressive!"
"As expected of the disciple Shigekuni favors! To be able to battle Senjumaru at such a young age, with Flash Step techniques rivaling even Tenjirō's... It's unimaginable how far you'll progress given time!"
Following this boisterous praise, Satoru turned to look.
Two Shinigami had arrived at some point without anyone noticing.
Even his Gigai's sensory field had only detected their presence the moment they spoke.
The one standing closer was a large, burly monk.
His eyes were wide open, arms crossed over his chest, standing tall and proud—he looked quite spirited.
Seeing this person, Satoru couldn't help but pause.
"Chad?"
Bald head, messy beard, and a body built like a fierce warrior.
If you added an iron ball to this picture, wouldn't this be Chad himself?
Hearing how Satoru addressed him, the monk scratched his head.
"What... Chad who?"
"Though I don't know who you're referring to, you've definitely mistaken me for someone else, hahaha!"
He grinned broadly, laughing with great enthusiasm.
Though his aura was imposing, no hostility could be felt from him.
On the contrary, his casual attitude seemed quite favorable toward the guests present.
Following behind was a dark-skinned older man.
With curly hair, sunglasses, and a Captain's Haori modified into a jacket style.
Without a doubt, these two were the ones Yamamoto had mentioned, the ones he needed to be extra cautious around.
The God of the Zanpakutō, Nimaiya Ōetsu.
And the leader of the Zero Division, Hyōsube Ichibe'e!
The burly monk stepped forward, announcing loudly:
"Everyone, welcome to the Soul King Palace!"
"Captain Hikifune, your Detached Palace is ready—I'll raise it up right now!"
As he spoke, he looked toward the distance, at the four large discs floating in the sky.
Swish!
The monk extended his hand, making a gesture as if lifting something.
With his motion, the four large discs in the sky began moving simultaneously, their previously triangular formation tightening slightly.
Then, a new large disc rose from below, forming a pentagram arrangement with the other four.
"Captain Hikifune, from now on, that will be your exclusive territory, your Detached Palace!"
"If you want to add or remove any structures, just inform the divine soldiers in the Detached Palace—they'll handle it as quickly as possible."
"If you need residents, go select them from the residential area below. For them, living in a Detached Palace is the highest honor!"
"Oh, and whenever you decide on a name for your Detached Palace, let me know—I'll come and 'christen' it for you!"
Hearing the monk's words, Satoru frowned.
"Hey there, young man, what's on your mind?"
Suddenly, a flippant voice sounded nearby.
Before Satoru could turn, the speaker had already slid into view facing him.
Under Satoru's gaze, he waved his hands like a rap artist, keeping rhythm as he announced:
"Six! Five! Four! Three!"
"Nimaiya, Ōetsu!"
"I, the Zero Division's most popular Shinigami!"
"God of the Zanpakutō, king of forging!"
"Any troubles, you can tell me!!"
Satoru stared at him for two seconds.
Then raised his own hands:
"Seven! Six! Five! Four!"
"Mikami Satoru!"
"I, the most popular Shinigami across Soul Society and Hueco Mundo and the living world!"
"Any words you can't say, you can find me, I'll teach you!"
Ōetsu: "?"
Watching Satoru return with swaying hands and rapid-fire rap, he stood there stunned.
Senjumaru stood to the side, her expression complicated.
It was the first time she had ever seen someone completely overpower Ōetsu in an opening exchange.
It felt somewhat satisfying, yet also unsettling.
After a brief moment of surprise, Ōetsu grinned.
"Bro, you're interesting!"
"Were those skills you just showed all learned from Yamamoto?"
"If you have time, you should come to my Phoenix Palace. We can properly... hmm?"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly looked at the sword hanging at Satoru's waist.
Under Satoru's gaze, he abruptly bent over, leaning close to the sword, frowning as he examined it.
After looking for a while, he tilted his head as if listening to something.
A moment later, he straightened up, his gaze turning somewhat complicated as he looked at Satoru.
"Bro, your sword... really has quite the personality."
"Can you hear the sword speaking?"
Satoru showed a curious gaze.
Although he had known about Ōetsu's authority before coming, he hadn't expected this guy to be able to hear the voices of Zanpakutō that hadn't even materialized yet.
Ōetsu hesitated for a moment, but then nodded.
"What did my sword say?"
Satoru asked with some anticipation.
In the Soul Society, many Shinigami didn't take very good care of their Zanpakutō.
Take Yamamoto, for example—he constantly used his sword for heating, roasting sweet potatoes, or boiling tea.
Then there was Sōsuke, who always seemed to disdain his own sword, believing it limited the full extent of his power.
And Zaraki... he never maintained his Zanpakutō at all, leaving it battered and chipped, looking as if it had been chewed on by a dog.
But he was different. When it came to cherishing his Zanpakutō, he was absolutely in a league of his own.
Any Zanpakutō with a shred of conscience would surely be filled with gratitude to be by his side, right?
Hearing Satoru's words, Ōetsu opened his mouth as if to say something.
But after hesitating for a while, he shook his head.
"The words are too vulgar; it's not appropriate to repeat them."
"?"
Seeing Ōetsu shake his head and fall silent, a question mark popped up in Satoru's mind.
He suspected this guy was just jealous of the bond between him and his Zanpakutō, deliberately saying such things to drive a wedge between them.
Reaching out, Satoru drew his sword and held it before him.
"Don't worry, Risō Jakumetsu, I won't listen to his nonsense."
"The bond between us is deep, as if we share one heart and one body. How could I ever doubt your feelings for me?"
Bzzzt!!
In his hand, the Zanpakutō vibrated intensely several times.
Satoru felt greatly comforted.
As expected, Risō Jakumetsu had responded.
It truly cared for him.
While the two were chatting, the Monk also explained various precautions within the Soul King Palace to Kirio.
When he was nearly finished, he turned his gaze to Satoru and Shinji.
"Satoru, Shinji, thank you for escorting Captain Hikifune!"
"Since it's rare for you to visit the Soul King Palace, there's no need to rush back. Stay and rest for a couple of days, enjoy yourselves!"
"Besides, this will give the Divine Soldiers time to adjust and repair the Heavenly Pillar Palanquin!"
Shinji instinctively looked toward Satoru.
He saw that guy had already agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Does this guy even know how to spell 'caution'...?
Even though we're all Shinigami, this place is entirely someone else's territory. Could you at least have some awareness that we're in 'enemy' camp?!
After the Monk spoke, Ōetsu went over to chat with Kirio for a bit.
In fact, the members of the Zero Division weren't meeting for the first time.
Decades ago, when Kirio had first been selected as a member of the Zero Division, she had already visited the Soul King Palace once.
Back then, these future colleagues had already gotten to know each other.
Although Kirio was less experienced and the newest member, the Zero Division only had a handful of people. They were bound to see each other constantly, so it was always good to be familiar with one another.
After greeting Kirio, Ōetsu returned to stand before Satoru.
"Bro, wanna come check out my Phoenix Palace with me?"
"I'm not bragging, but my Phoenix Palace is the coooooolest building in the entire Soul King Palace! Just one visit, and you'll remember it for the rest of your life!"
"Nah, I'll pass."
Satoru waved his hand, completely uninterested.
"No matter how fancy the name, isn't it just a blacksmith's shop for forging Zanpakutō?"
"Not to boast, but I'm the type who never sets foot in blacksmith shops. Every time I upgrade my gear, I rely on boss drops."
"Your Phoenix Palace, you should keep it for yourself to admire~"
Under Ōetsu's stunned gaze, he grinned and turned to leave.
Just then, several figures suddenly appeared using Flash Step.
Seeing these people, Satoru couldn't help but freeze.
A red-haired, sharp-eyed tomboyish girl.
A gentle mature woman with medium-length black hair and half-closed eyes.
A bold, generous big sister with golden curls and ample bosom...
All who arrived were actually beautiful women!
Under Satoru's astonished gaze, the women immediately approached Ōetsu as soon as they appeared.
"Lord Ōetsu, please return quickly!"
"The forging furnace is malfunctioning! The materials you put in are problematic—it's about to explode!"
"You fool! After a lifetime of sword forging, how could you still make such a basic mistake?!"
Surrounded by everyone, Ōetsu raised both hands and hurriedly begged for mercy.
"Wait, wait! I have a reason!"
"Our new Zero Division colleague officially ascended today! As a senior, how could I not come to meet him?"
"This is official business! Official business!"
Hearing Ōetsu's words, the red-haired girl's furrowed brows relaxed slightly, but she still urged: "Alright, alright, we already know about that. Hurry back and fix the problem!"
Ōetsu sighed.
He had heard about Yamamoto Shigekuni's interesting disciple coming up and wanted to properly befriend him and have some fun together.
After all, the long years in the Soul King Palace were truly boring. As a Zero Division member, he had to remain stationed here permanently and couldn't go anywhere.
Unlike Senjumaru, who could at least manipulate her heavenly garments to go play in the Soul Society.
He didn't have such abilities.
He looked toward Satoru's direction, preparing to bid farewell to this interesting young man.
But when he turned his head, he discovered Satoru had already disappeared.
Just as he was wondering, he felt a hand rest on his shoulder—
"Brother Ōetsu, to be honest, I've wanted to visit the Phoenix Palace ever since before coming to the Soul King Palace."
"Since you've kindly invited me, how could I refuse?"
Ōetsu: "?"
He looked at Satoru in confusion: "It's Phoenix Palace, not Phoenix King."
"Besides, you clearly just said..."
"The me from before is not the me of now. Humans are creatures who must always look forward—how can we cling to the past?"
Satoru's expression was profound, his facial lines sharp, as if he had completely changed his style.
Shinji: "..."
He suddenly felt somewhat confused.
Usually, Sōsuke often complained that he was too frivolous and not steady enough, unlike a captain should be.
But compared to this guy Satoru, he was practically a saint!
That Sōsuke, who spent every day with Satoru, why did he only criticize him and not Satoru?
Was there some injustice here?
As he pondered the darkness of the world, Satoru had already changed the subject:
"Speaking of which, Brother Ōetsu, who are these ladies?"
When it came to this topic, Ōetsu became energized.
He laughed heartily and introduced them to Satoru:
"These are all Zanpakutō I forged!"
He pointed to the red-haired tomboy.
"Her name is Mera, a fire-type Zanpakutō... Though not as powerful as your teacher's sword, she can still spew super-high-temperature flames reaching thousands of degrees."
"Her abilities were quite useful during the forging process!"
Then he moved his finger to point at the golden-haired big sister:
"This is Renka. As long as she stands on the ground, she cannot be moved by any force, steady as a mountain!"
"I often have her grip the blade of the Zanpakutō and hold still, making it easier for me to temper the edge..."
Soon, Ōetsu had finished introducing all the Zanpakutō before him.
Satoru stood wide-eyed, rooted to the spot, silent for a long while.
Just as Ōetsu began to wonder if he had fallen asleep, Satoru suddenly whipped his head around, staring directly at him:
"All the Zanpakutō you forge can maintain their materialized forms long-term?"
"...That's right. I am the God of Swords, after all."
Ōetsu blinked, feeling somewhat unnerved by Satoru's intensity.
Satoru took a sudden step forward:
"Can the appearance of a materialized Zanpakutō be freely decided?"
"...Complete control isn't possible. Each blade has its own unique patterns. But based on blade length, sharpness, and crafting techniques, we can roughly predict the effects..."
Before he could finish, Ōetsu was startled to see Satoru suddenly drop into a squat and wrap his arms around his thigh.
"Brother Ōetsu!"
"Having drifted through half my life, I regret having no exceptional skills... If you would not reject me, I wish to become your disciple! From this day forward, I will devote myself to mastering swordsmithing, sparing no effort for the Phoenix Palace, striving to make it greater and stronger, achieving new heights!!"
Watching Satoru's genuine display of emotion, Ōetsu fell into deep thought.
This guy... is he really Yamamoto Shigekuni's disciple?
Could there be some mistake?
The monk grinned, watching the scene with great interest.
Shinji looked utterly despairing.
How could he prove he had nothing to do with this guy? Urgent inquiry, awaiting response.
Amid the long-absent cheerful atmosphere, the Zero Division members dispersed, each returning to their respective palaces.
Satoru and Shinji were assigned lodging in Tenjirō's palace.
After dinner, led by the pompadour-sporting man, the two arrived before a steaming hot spring.
The pompadour man—Tenjirō—stood to the side, a towel wrapped around his waist, wearing a peculiar smile.
"Gentlemen, this is my specially crafted hot spring. It has the power to revive the dead and regenerate flesh and bone."
"For those without illness or injury, it can cleanse the marrow, strengthen bones, invigorate blood, and regenerate muscles!"
"As guests who've traveled far from the Seireitei, please, try it quickly!"
"I'm sure my hot spring will leave a lasting impression on you~"
By the end of his sentence, he could barely contain the smile on his face.
Shinji curled his lip.
Damn, there's a trap here.
Only a fool would step into it.
Not to mention Tenjirō's poorly concealed smug expression, just the red and white colors alone made it seem like anything but a proper hot spring.
He chuckled dryly and prepared to excuse himself due to illness.
But before he could speak, he saw Satoru casually toss aside the towel around his waist and head toward the hot spring.
Idiot! How could he do that!
Shinji was shocked and hurried after him.
Under his what-the-hell-is-Komamura-doing gaze, Satoru laughed heartily, leaped into the air with legs spread wide like a kid visiting the beach for the first time, and plunged into the white hot spring with a splash.
Oho!
Tenjirō grinned widely.
From Satoru's fighting style during his battle with Senjumaru earlier today, he had already deduced that this kid was reckless by nature.
Now it seemed his prediction was spot on.
Could his Bone Hot Spring be entered so casually?
This Bone Hot Spring's function was to scrape bones and drain blood.
Through its highly destructive spring water, it would extract the bather's blood along with their Reiatsu, simultaneously drawing out physical injuries during the process.
Then, one would enter the red hot spring, relying on its powerful healing properties to reconstruct flesh and blood.
Both were meant for saving people at death's door.
A normal person entering the Bone Hot Spring would have their Reiatsu drained and die from exhaustion.
Entering the Blood Pool Hot Spring would cause death from excessive regeneration, resulting in complete bodily decay!
Kirinji certainly wouldn't kill anyone, but he was quite pleased to make Satoru scream in pain and embarrass himself.
However, what happened next made his eyes widen in surprise.
After entering the Bone Hot Spring, Satoru voluntarily released all his defenses, allowing the spring water to penetrate his pores.
Soon, streams of black Reiatsu began flowing from his pores.
Looking at this Reiatsu, Tenjirō couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
Bone fractures, bone cracks, severe burns, slash wounds...
This kid's body was like a compilation of every serious injury method!
If he remembered correctly, this guy had graduated from school less than a hundred years ago?
Just how much had he been through to end up in such condition within just a few decades?
Did he have some masochistic tendencies?
While Kirinji was distracted, Satoru had already released nearly half of the blood and Reiatsu from his body.
Seeing this, Kirinji quickly prepared to call Satoru out.
Having lost so much blood, if he didn't replenish soon, something serious would really happen.
But before he could speak, he saw Satoru already heave himself out with a grunt and head toward the blood pool.
Splash!!
Satoru plopped down into the Blood Pool Hot Spring, comfortably narrowing his eyes.
The red hot spring water instantly transformed into refined blood and Reiatsu, flowing into his pores.
After replenishing for a while, Satoru stood up again and headed back toward the Bone Hot Spring.
Kirinji: "?"
What's going on... How does this guy know how to use the Hell Hot Spring so well?
Watching Satoru sit back in the Bone Hot Spring and begin bloodletting again, he finally couldn't resist walking over.
Sitting down next to Satoru, he asked:
"Kid, have you heard of my Hell Hot Spring before?"
Satoru cracked open his eyes and glanced at him.
"Of course I've seen it before."
"Not only have I seen it, I even created a simplified version in the Soul Society."
"Though it can't compare to the Twin Heavenly Shield, the therapeutic effects are quite decent."
Tenjirō's eyes widened.
Twin Heavenly Shield? What's that?
No, that's not the important part!
"Kid, you better explain clearly—where did you learn about the Hell Hot Spring?!"
"This is Tenjirō's secret technique! Throughout the entire Soul Society, only the Shihōin..."
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Wait... Shihōin?
He suddenly recalled that during today's Flash Step competition with Satoru, this guy's movements contained some techniques unique to the Shihōin Clan.
Kirinji asked suspiciously:
"Kid, what's your relationship with the Shihōin Clan?"
Upon hearing this, Satoru thought for a few seconds.
"For now, there isn't any clearly defined relationship."
"However, Yoruichi and I often play together in the same bed, so you could say we have a very good relationship."
Playing with Suì-Fēng in the same bed should indicate a close relationship, right...
Thinking about it, he used to frequently play with Bambietta alongside Suì-Fēng in the same bed too.
Is this some kind of legacy?
Kirinji couldn't help feeling like he'd been screwed over by Komamura.
No shit!!!
If you're already playing around in the same bed, of course your relationship is good!!!
He looked Satoru up and down, puzzled: "Are you from an upper-class noble family?"
"Lower class."
"Lower class? How could that be... Oh, I get it, are you planning to marry into their family?"
"Considered it, but gave up."
"Gave up? You've reached this point and you're giving up? Aren't you afraid the Shihōin Clan will chop you to pieces?"
Tenjirō leaned back slightly, regarding Satoru with newfound respect.
This kid played around with Yoruichi Shihōin and now plans to skip town without taking responsibility?
Does he really think the Five Noble Clans are just for show?
Satoru looked confused: "Chop me? Why would they? The Shihōin Clan treats me very well."
Ever since Tsunayashiro Tokinada was convicted, the Shihōin elders had completely changed their attitude toward Satoru.
The elders who previously complained that the clan head spending too much time with Satoru would create gossip had all fallen silent.
Tenjirō scratched his head.
This conversation kept getting stranger and stranger.
What exactly is this kid's relationship with Yoruichi Shihōin and the Shihōin Clan?
He suddenly grew curious about the current situation in the Soul Society. Maybe he should find time to visit.
Given the Monk's easygoing nature, if he requested some time off, it would probably be approved.
While lost in thought, a sudden scream came from nearby—
"Uwaaah!!!"
Kirinji turned to see Shinji, face bright red, leaping out of the blood pool hot spring.
Large patches of ulceration had appeared on his buttocks.
Kirinji couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Even though he failed to trick Satoru, he at least got someone else.
Not a bad deal!
...
...
Step!
Bathed in the morning sunlight, freshly washed, neatly dressed, and exuding elegance, Satoru arrived at Nimaiya Ōetsu's detached palace.
Today, he would definitely succeed in becoming a disciple and learn the ultimate technique of creating girls!
After returning to Hueco Mundo, he would use this skill to build a Satoru Paradise!
Just imagining the scene made Satoru so excited he could barely contain himself.
But after taking a few steps, Satoru suddenly fell into deep thought.
Although the sword girls around Ōetsu yesterday were quite attractive, perhaps... those few were already the peak beauties of the Phoenix Palace?
After all, forging Zanpakutō wasn't an easy task. Even Nüwa created humans with both beautiful ones and misshapen ones, let alone materialized Zanpakutō spirits.
It's better not to set my expectations too high. What if, after going there, I find that aside from the few I saw yesterday, the rest are all plain-looking? That would be quite a blow.
Following the address Ōetsu had given him yesterday, Satoru arrived at the Phoenix Palace.
The two Divine Soldiers at the entrance confirmed his identity and immediately stepped aside, opening the door.
Satoru straightened his collar and stepped inside.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
The moment the door opened, lights suddenly illuminated the interior.
Dozens of party poppers exploded simultaneously, spraying colorful streamers and confetti all over the sky.
"Welcome!! Captain Satoru!!"
Amid the welcoming cheers, Satoru stood there wide-eyed, completely stunned.
Before him was heaven.
Blonde hair, black hair, pink hair.
Long hair, short hair, wavy locks, straight tresses.
Bountiful bosoms, generous curves...
All sorts of beautiful women gathered into a magnificent feast of flesh, presenting him with the most splendid scenery in the world.
"Yo, bro! How's this welcome party I prepared for you? Satisfied?"
Nimaiya Ōetsu walked out from the side, asking proudly.
Looking at the approaching Ōetsu, Satoru put on a serious expression.
"Sorry, I have very important matters to attend to. The Phoenix Palace is closed today. Please come another time."
"?"
"Ahem, I meant, would you like some water?"
Satoru snapped back to reality, quickly cleared his throat, and showed a smile.
Ōetsu seemed somewhat emotional.
He waved his hand, and upon seeing this, the Zanpakutō all bowed in salute before withdrawing.
Looking at Satoru, Ōetsu spoke:
"Bro, first, I need to answer the question you asked yesterday."
"Sorryy! There's no way you can learn to forge Zanpakutō!"
"Why do you say that?"
Satoru was shocked.
Ōetsu nodded to him: "Come with me."
Leading Satoru, the two walked until they reached a cliff.
Below the cliff stretched an ocean.
Fierce waves crashed against the shore, churning up countless white foams.
At the edge of the cliff stood a small wooden cabin, solitary like a watchman waiting for seafarers to return.
"Bro, look, what's written on the plaque of this house?"
Satoru approached and saw three characters inscribed: "Phoenix Palace."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Phoenix Palace? But the place I was at earlier was clearly called Phoenix Palace too."
"Could this be the old site, and the one I visited earlier the new site?"
Ōetsu shook his head: "If it were possible, I'd wish that were the case."
"Unfortunately, pity! That's not the truth."
"The building before your eyes is the real Phoenix Palace."
"That beautiful structure full of sweethearts earlier was just a counterfeit—it doesn't possess the essential function of the Phoenix Palace... which is forging Zanpakutō!"
Satoru raised an eyebrow.
"To forge Zanpakutō, it must be done here?"
"Correct."
Ōetsu nodded, "Only this place can grant Asauchi a soul."
"Asauchi without souls cannot be forged into Zanpakutō."
"This is an unchangeable fact from the moment the Phoenix Palace received its name."
"That's why I said you can't learn to forge Zanpakutō."
"Because you haven't been granted the name 'God of the Sword,' nor do you have a place like this where Asauchi can develop souls."
"Do you understand, bro?"
Hearing Ōetsu's words, Satoru pondered for a few seconds.
"One must receive the name to possess this power?"
"In that case, where did the bald guy's Zanpakutō come from?"
"Since you're the one who invented Zanpakutō, his sword should have been forged by you too."
"He gave you the name, making you the man who can forge Zanpakutō, and you invented Zanpakutō for him to use—isn't that contradictory?"
Upon hearing this, Ōetsu grinned, revealing a somewhat eerie smile.
"Wrong."
"His sword wasn't forged by me."
"Before Zanpakutō came into existence, the monk already had a sword."
"The swords I forge are ultimately just imitations of his blade..."
"What's called creating Zanpakutō was actually just expanding a ability originally possessed by a few to where the vast majority could use it."
"Except for the Soul King, everything else in existence cannot escape the monk's fundamental being."
"What he recognizes is right."
"What he doesn't recognize is wrong!"
"So... give up on this idea early. Forging Zanpakutō—at the very least, you'd have to wait until I die before someone else could possibly inherit it."
"But when will I die? Hoho, having been transformed by the Spirit King Power, perhaps I'll never die at all~"
Ōetsu swayed his head to a rhythm as he spoke.
Satoru stood there, lost in thought.
Everything in this world was named by the Monk.
Names represented authority and power.
Ōetsu, who was said to have "invented" the Zanpakutō, wasn't actually the first to possess one.
Thinking about it this way, the so-called "history-making" of the Zero Division was merely managing to stand out in the river of history created by the Monk, making them appear special.
If one could accomplish that, wasn't the Monk already a "god"?
No... Ōetsu said the Monk was the most fundamental existence besides the Soul King.
In other words, if one could become the Soul King or possess power and authority on the same level as the Soul King, they could surpass the Monk's control and become an equal or even superior existence.
So how does one take that step?
My head feels itchy, like it's about to grow a brain.
No, this kind of thing should be left for Sōsuke and Kisuke to ponder when I return to the Soul Society.
In a monotheistic world, researching how to obtain divine power—or even surpass it—is no less difficult than verifying a unified theory in the scientific world.
No matter how you look at it, a task of this difficulty shouldn't be handed to me.
Ōetsu stood nearby, quietly watching Satoru.
He hadn't spoken a word since explaining the Monk's power.
His eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, were as calm and indifferent as deep pools.
Under his gaze, Satoru suddenly shook his head and stretched.
"Got any good liquor?"
"Huh?"
"Liquor, a kind of drink... fragrant and sweet, the specialty of the Soul Society. Not that bitter, spicy stuff from the living world."
"You don't have any here?"
Seeing that Satoru didn't seem to be joking, Ōetsu scratched his head.
Then, he grinned.
"Liquor! Liquor!"
"Of course! Plenty of it!"
"Come on, let's head back, have the sweethearts pour us drinks and put on a show. Let's drink to our hearts' content!"
"Let's go!!"
He grabbed Satoru by the shoulder and laughed heartily as they walked back the way they came.
The wind swept across the cliff.
A gaze that seemed to have been watching this place gradually faded away.
...
...
"Kamen Rider, Skull Everybody!"
"Kamen Rider, Maaaah Can't Stop!!"
"Kamen Rider, Black! Al! X!!"
Humming a cherry blossom tune, Satoru strode into Kirio's Detached Palace.
Over the course of a day, Kirio had directed the Divine Soldiers to remodel the place to her liking.
Of course, it was still just a rough outline.
Completing the renovation would be a long-term project, one of the few pastimes for Zero Division members.
Kirio's palace was named the "Reclining Boar Palace."
Boar, meaning pig.
Reclining Boar Palace was literally the "Lying Pig Palace."
Satoru found the name rather awkward.
Who names a place where people live "Lying Pig Palace"?
But Kirio herself loved the name.
In the Soul Society, or rather, in Japanese culture, pigs weren't entirely negative symbols.
Just like "Boar, Deer, Butterfly" in Japanese culture, it was considered quite refined.
From a distance, Satoru caught a whiff of a fragrant aroma.
As he entered the palace, the scent grew stronger.
Shinji sat in the corner of the room, arms crossed behind his head as he leaned against the wall, looking completely lost in thought.
"Yo, Sadako, still deciding which TV to crawl out of?"
Hearing someone speak suddenly, Shinji couldn't help but jolt.
Seeing his reaction, Satoru was somewhat surprised.
When he had approached, he hadn't deliberately hidden his footsteps.
For Hirako to only notice him at this point, the guy must have been deeply engrossed in his thoughts.
Hirako looked up at him with confusion. "What?"
"What Sadako... I'm Shinji, seriously. Even your nicknames make no sense. How stupid!"
Hearing this familiar sharp tongue, Satoru nodded.
"Good, it's definitely you."
"Seeing you suddenly capable of thinking, I thought you'd been swapped out."
"?!"
Shinji's blood pressure spiked.
He'd actually been mocked by the guy least skilled at thinking around him!
Watching Satoru head toward the kitchen, he suddenly spoke up:
"Hey, Satoru."
"Oho, what? Struck a nerve and looking for payback?"
Satoru immediately took a swift step back, falling into a defensive stance.
Seeing his antics, Shinji couldn't help but laugh.
Then, he took a deep breath and adopted a serious expression.
Bringing his hands together, Shinji deployed a Soundproof Barrier.
Then he spoke:
"Satoru... before returning to the Soul Society, you must be careful."
"In the Soul Society, you have the Captain-Commander's protection, the Shihōin and Kuchiki Clan backing you, so many captain-level friends and subordinates. No matter what you say or do, there won't be any consequences."
"But now it's different. This is the Soul King Palace. If you say or do something wrong..."
Shinji didn't finish his sentence.
But the implication was clear.
Under his gaze, Satoru stood there, crossing his arms.
He stared at Shinji for a moment, then grinned.
"Don't worry, Shinji. My greatest virtue is being honest."
"I'll pretend I believe that..."
Shinji scoffed and waved his hand.
The soundproof barrier dissipated.
As Satoru approached the kitchen, he saw Kirio bustling about with a spatula in hand.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Satoru.
"Master, perfect timing! I was just about to ask a divine soldier to fetch you!"
"After officially becoming a member of the Zero Division, my body underwent transformation through the Soul King Power. They say everything from my bones to my skin has been reinforced."
"After this enhancement, I tried cooking and discovered my ability to integrate Reishi into dishes has greatly improved!"
"Even ingredients that were previously difficult to combine are now handled with ease!"
"Come see, how are these dishes I've made?"
Satoru came closer and peered into the pot.
Unlike his usual casual self, he was very serious today. He took a small plate, scooped some food, carefully examined the color and aroma, then tasted a bit of each dish.
Finally, he put down the plate.
"The aroma is captivating, the color is enticing, and the Reishi is rich."
Satoru applauded in praise.
"However, there's still something missing."
"What?"
Kirio showed surprise at his words.
She had prepared all these dishes exactly according to the methods Satoru had taught her.
Each dish had been practiced over a hundred times.
Even if not perfect, they shouldn't contain any mistakes.
Under her nervous gaze, Satoru smiled.
"What's missing is the final approval and blessing from this master chef."
"Captain Hikifune, congratulations. Today, you have successfully graduated."
"All your past efforts have transformed into the perfect aroma on these dishes today."
"I have nothing left to teach you. These dishes you've made can truly be called master chef-level!"
"I hope you'll continue walking this culinary path, becoming a true God of Cooking who shines without needing anyone else to bestow the title!"
Kirio's eyes widened as she looked at him in surprise.
"Master, you..."
"Hmph, these are my sincere blessings. You should properly receive them, treasure them in your memories, and savor them carefully."
Watching Satoru tilt his chin up proudly, Kirio gradually adopted a serious expression.
"Master, I will remember this."
"But..."
She slightly frowned, as if pondering something.
Meanwhile, Satoru turned to look toward the door.
Snap!
Senjumaru pushed the door open.
"Kirio, I've arrived!"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried directly through the hall into the kitchen.
Following her words, she instantly appeared.
"Previously when I tasted your cooking, it was always through remote sampling via Heavenly Weaving, which lacked the full experience."
"Finally getting to taste the real thing today, I'm really looking forward to it!"
After saying this, she suddenly noticed Satoru standing nearby.
"Tch, why is that brute here too?"
"Hello, auntie."
"I'll kill you!!"
Senjumaru was utterly enraged.
Ever since that guy had arrived at the Soul King Palace, she had gotten angrier than in the previous few centuries combined, and her blood pressure had risen more than in the past several millennia!
She shouldn't have bothered with this fellow at all—it would have been better to let him fend for himself.
Unfortunately, she had already said everything she needed to say. Anyone with half a brain would definitely stop courting death after all that.
Ah, regrets, regrets!
Before long, Kirio began serving the dishes one by one.
The other three members of the Zero Division also arrived one after another.
"Ooh!! What a wonderful aroma!"
"Captain Hikifune uses cooking as her training method, right... We're going to be living the good life from now on!"
The Monk laughed heartily as he sat at the table.
Ōetsu and Kirinji followed and took their seats.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the Monk widened his eyes, showing a benevolent expression as he looked at Satoru.
"Satoru, now that you've toured the Soul King Palace today, what are your impressions?"
Satoru rubbed his chin: "It's pretty similar to the Soul Society."
"Oh? Does it feel like home? That's wonderful!"
The Monk showed a happy smile.
He scratched his head, then extended an invitation:
"Tomorrow, come visit my detached palace!"
"As the most senior member of the Soul King Palace, my place is quite interesting."
"You'd regret it if you didn't come take a look!"
Shinji picked up his water and drank slowly, using the cup to hide his expression.
Kirinji and Senjumaru both turned to look over.
Kirio put down her utensils and looked at Satoru.
Under everyone's gaze, Satoru nodded.
"Alright."
"Tomorrow, I shall pay you a visit."
The Monk nodded, stood up, and bid farewell to Kirio before leaving.
The other Zero Division members departed one by one.
Satoru stood up, stretched lazily, and walked out of the Pigsty Palace.
As he walked along the path, a loose thread from his clothing suddenly floated up.
Simultaneously, a faint voice sounded in his ear—
"Boy, come find me."
"?"
Satoru turned to look at the thread on his shoulder.
"Auntie Robe Spirit, are you trying to taste this young grass?"
"Although you're from the Zero Division, I, Satoru Mikami, am a man of principle and won't easily accept any shady arrangements!"
"Shady arrangements my foot?!"
Senjumaru was somewhat irritated.
"Stop wasting time and come quickly."
"I don't know why the Monk is so interested in you, but based on my understanding of him over all these years, this is definitely not a good thing."
"For the Monk, the only meaning in life is to protect the Soul King and maintain the order of the Three Realms centered around the Soul King."
"Ordinary Shinigami... even someone as strong as Yamamoto or as noble as the Five Noble Clans, he only interacts with them indifferently, never showing concern like he did today!"
"Anyway, regardless of the reason, you should leave the Soul King Palace today and return to the Soul Society."
"I'll open the barrier for you—just jump down and you'll reach the Soul Society in a few days."
"No matter how much the Monk is paying attention to you, he won't personally chase you down to the lower world. Just don't ever come back after this."
Hearing Senjumaru's words, Satoru curled up the corner of his mouth.
This auntie, though usually sharp-tongued, actually had a pretty good heart.
"Don't worry, Captain Senjumaru."
"I'll be fine."
"Don't be fooled by my appearance—I'm the kind of man who can toy with this world's most formidable boss as I please."
"I am, after all, this world's 'protagonist'!"
"Huh?"
Senjumaru nearly burst out laughing.
Protagonist this, protagonist that... Was this some kind of novel or story?
She retorted impatiently, "I don't have time to listen to your nonsense. Are you coming or not?"
"No, no, we're not coming, auntie~"
"Drop dead!"
The threads on her shoulders instantly went limp and fell silent.
Satoru chuckled heartily.
Returning to the Kirin Palace, he saw the man with the pompadour hairstyle scrubbing the hot spring pool.
The scene piqued Satoru's curiosity.
"Old-timer, why don't you have the Divine Soldiers do this?"
Divine Soldiers were ordinary soldiers blessed with the Soul King Power.
Most of them were silent, strictly obedient, machine-like warriors.
No matter what orders the Royal Special Forces gave them, they would carry them out without hesitation.
Hearing Satoru's words, Tenjirō paused his work, straightened up, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Hah, kid, the fact you'd ask such a question shows you're still too young!"
"Labor is something you must experience personally to truly appreciate its essence!"
"With your level, if you don't die, you'll surely live a long life... When that time comes, don't forget what I've told you today."
"Only by maintaining reverence for this world can you live with passion and happiness!"
Upon hearing this, Satoru pondered for a few seconds.
Then he said: "Even if everything in this world is merely the product of someone's fleeting thought?"
The moment his words fell, he suddenly saw Tenjirō take a fierce step forward, rushing right up to him.
Under Satoru's gaze, Kirinji firmly grasped his shoulder, a murderous glint in his eyes.
"Kid, I have old ties with the Shihōin Clan. Out of respect for your relationship with the current head of the Shihōin family, I'm giving you a serious warning..."
"Tomorrow when you go to the Monk's place, you'd better not utter a single word of such nonsense!"
"Otherwise, I guarantee you won't make it back to the Soul Society!"
Looking at Kirinji who was right in his face, Satoru grinned.
"Old man, if something is truly the truth, it shouldn't fear what others say."
"You little..."
Kirinji's face turned pale with anger.
But before he could finish, Satoru raised his hand:
"Don't worry, I still have many things to do. I won't throw my life away in a place like this."
Frowning, Kirinji stared intently into Satoru's eyes.
After confirming the latter wasn't speaking carelessly, he snorted coldly, released his grip, and returned to the hot spring pool to continue scrubbing the floor.
...
...
As the first rays of sunlight appeared, Satoru left Kirinji's detached palace and came to the most ancient-looking one among the five detached palaces.
The disc-shaped detached palace resembled a three-dimensional landscape painting.
Green mountains, flowing water, and an old wooden residence.
Just walking here brought a feeling of refreshment and clarity.
Passing through a bamboo grove, a dojo appeared before him.
The Monk stood at the entrance, arms crossed over his chest, wearing a hearty smile.
"So, how do you find my detached palace?"
Looking at the large, portly monk before him, Satoru thought for a moment and said:
"Feels inferior to the First Division barracks."