Chapter 136: The Seireitei Spokesman
One hour later.
"Phew, finally done!"
Orihime lowered her blade and looked up at the towering white towers, palaces, and buildings standing just as they once had. Though she was exhausted, she felt an extraordinary sense of satisfaction.
For her, seeing damaged things restored to their original state by her own hands brought a sense of accomplishment even greater than creating something from nothing.
Because this was not simply doing something afterward to make up for regret.
It was undoing regret itself.
The two were fundamentally different.
That was why people desperately longed for a so called "medicine for regret."
Fortunately, Orihime possessed an ability that could truly be called such a medicine.
"I understand now why the Quincy tried to capture you."
Hachihara, standing nearby, had long since gone blank with shock.
She had no idea how much manpower and material had gone into constructing the First Division Barracks, the Palace of Penitence, and the plazas of Shino Ward.
She only knew that she had personally watched those battle ruined facilities, which were difficult enough just to clear away, restore themselves to their original state in mere minutes at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Even the objects inside the buildings, including official documents that had not been removed in time, had reappeared from thin air.
Many of those things had not even remained as "ruins." They had long since been reduced to invisible reishi and dust.
And yet, with a single swing of Orihime's blade, everything had returned as if time had reversed and space itself had been restored.
Regarding Orihime's power, Hachihara, like most people, had always believed she possessed a rare Kido type Zanpakuto that manipulated "barriers" as a supernatural force.
That alone already made her a first rate practitioner.
And if she were a first rate practitioner, then being skilled in healing, repairing things, and using all sorts of tricks was not especially unbelievable.
But after personally witnessing Orihime complete this "request," Hachihara no longer dared to view her as just another practitioner.
After all, this far exceeded the scope of techniques that could be learned.
It was a miracle on the level of divine manifestation.
"Maybe you could even revive the dead and erase successful conspiracies as if they never happened. If I were some scheming careerist, I wouldn't sleep easy unless I locked you in a dark room!"
"Eh, eh, eh...? I can't do things to that extent! And why lock me in a dark room? Wouldn't it be easier to just... finish me off?"
"...Orihime, you've grown. You can say 'finish me off' without even blinking now. Well, it does make sense, but that would be too wasteful. A precious talent like you would definitely be brought under someone's control by any means necessary and then worked to the bone... Yes! Just like Takeru does!"
"Takeru kun?!"
"However, in my opinion, he still isn't thorough enough. After all, you're a beautiful girl, Orihime, and yet he only ever makes you work. If it were me..."
"If it were you, what?"
Without warning, a voice that seemed to fall from the sky made Hachihara's entire body go rigid.
"Ah! Takeru kun, you're here!"
Orihime was slightly startled, then immediately broke into a bright smile and waved happily.
"Repairing all this must have taken a lot out of you. Thank you for your hard work, Inoue."
Takeru looked around at the perfectly restored Shino Ward, fully acknowledging Orihime's achievement. Then he turned his head toward a certain someone who had become as still as a statue, his tone faintly eerie.
"And thank you for your hard work too, Hachihara."
"N not at all! It was only my duty! From the moment I put on this armband, I swore silently in my heart that I would devote myself to Lord Shimiya's great cause, even if I were crushed into powder!"
At that lukewarm voice, Hachihara shuddered violently and snapped into a salute.
"Really? Then head to the Technical Development Bureau immediately. The industrial area there suffered severe damage, and they urgently need manpower to clear out the reishi facilities. Most of the people there are technicians. They don't have the physical strength for this kind of labor, so I'm counting on you. I'll be needing those facilities later, and time is limited, so don't let me down. Otherwise... be prepared to go out clean and white."
Takeru patted the shoulder bearing her armband, seeming quite gratified as he calmly issued the next order.
Hachihara's face turned green.
When she fled, she looked as if she wished she had two extra legs.
She did not even have time to say goodbye to Orihime.
Orihime did not mind, though she was a little confused.
"Takeru kun, what did you mean just now by... going out clean and white?"
"Hachihara is obsessed with certain fashion elements from Shibuya, but Seireitei has none of the cosmetics she wants. So she commissioned someone to make a special product. If you throw it into water and soak in it for a while, it coats the skin in a black protective film. It satisfies her fashion sense and protects the body. It is almost like armor."
"Ar armor?!"
"So as long as I cut off her supply, she has no choice but to go out in her original appearance."
Orihime wanted to say that did not sound particularly terrifying, but then she remembered Hachihara's panic just now, along with the sight of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who showed himself all day in a mask, and silently swallowed her words.
At that moment, her stomach suddenly growled.
It was loud enough that she turned red with embarrassment.
"Sorry... I rushed over and haven't had time to eat yet."
"Then stay and eat before you continue working."
Takeru reached out, put an arm around her shoulders, and started pushing her forward without leaving room for refusal.
"Maybe I should go to the General Medical Relief Station first. I can eat while working."
"That place is overcrowded right now, yes. But as long as someone enters the gates of the General Medical Relief Station alive, there is no immediate danger to their life."
That was simply the truth.
Retsu Unohana had reproduced large quantities of wound medicine based on those past "laxatives," and together with the emergency hot springs and the mass produced flesh replenishing agents developed with the help of reigai Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the medical system had already taken shape.
Of course, wound medicine, hot springs, and flesh replenishing agents were not miracles in themselves. If organs had been severely damaged, removed, or were missing altogether, treatment was still complicated.
That was when the "cloned organs" manufactured by Kageroza through reigai technology came into use.
With all these things in place, it was genuinely difficult to die.
As long as someone had no immediate life threatening danger, then it was not considered a pressing issue.
By contrast, restoring the entire Shino Ward was far more important, because it concerned stabilizing the overall situation.
And for Orihime, who had already rendered extraordinary service, Takeru had no intention of driving her around exactly as Hachihara had joked.
He was currently the acting authority of Seireitei, not a capitalist.
"By the way, Inoue..."
"What is it?"
"Can your ability reject your own state of hunger?"
"...Eh?"
In the end, Takeru still managed to stop the over eager Orihime.
The two arrived at the First Division Office, and food was served soon after.
It was not especially lavish, only sushi and matcha.
Orihime pulled over a small stool and sat beside the desk Yamamoto Genryusai had once used. While nibbling on sushi like a squirrel, she blinked and watched Takeru as he dismissed one reporting group after another.
The blood war after a thousand years had left immense trauma in Seireitei.
Yhwach had withdrawn, leaving behind a mess for the Gotei 13 to clean up.
In order to regain control of the situation as quickly as possible and stabilize Seireitei, Takeru had brought Orihime to restore the First Division Barracks.
As soon as the barracks recovered their original appearance, the personnel who had been evacuated earlier quickly returned to their posts.
Although Yamamoto Genryusai was absent, and even Tsubakabe, the First Division Lieutenant who had overseen Seireitei's affairs during the expedition, had been captured by the enemy, the role Takeru now played was not inferior to theirs in the slightest.
In some respects, he even surpassed them.
By personally sitting in the office and issuing orders to the Gotei 13, the Onmitsukido, and the Kido Corps, he restored not just the appearance of the First Division, but also its function.
Thus, the First Division, which had already become Seireitei's "center of power" after Central 46's departure, resumed proper operation.
People naturally gravitated toward the First Division.
Even if they did nothing else, the mere fact that the First Division was functioning again eased the chaos.
Moreover, presiding over everything was Takeru, whom many had now come to regard as a "spiritual pillar."
And as this "spiritual pillar," openly taking over the practical authority of Seireitei from the First Division, he was unexpectedly familiar with the work patterns and personnel structures of each division, as well as Seireitei's administrative departments, thanks to the field duty experience Yamamoto Genryusai had once arranged for him.
It could not be said that he handled everything effortlessly, but he certainly never made the foolish mistake of an outsider trying to direct professionals blindly.
Whenever he encountered a blind spot in his knowledge, he decisively changed methods, delegated authority boldly, and allowed trusted specialists to solve the problem, all while fully mobilizing the personal connections he had built in the past.
Kukaku was one example.
Omaeda's father, Kishinoshin, was another.
The members of the Golden Seal Society had been wiped out by the Sternritter member Lille Barro during a meeting.
Guanting Street had been devastated, many people were injured, and the economic losses were immeasurable.
But compared to the total annihilation of the Golden Seal Society's upper ranks and the paralysis of the "heart" and "brain" that governed the noble district, these were secondary.
Because there was no one left there who could make decisions like Takeru could.
So the elder of the Kuchiki Clan proposed that the Noble District be placed temporarily under Gotei 13 maintenance, with all reorganization matters postponed until the end of the war and Byakuya's return.
Surprisingly, many noble houses approved the proposal.
After all, the Sixth Division of the Gotei 13 had always handled the Noble District's security and had deep ties to the nobility. They were a trusted option.
Before long, that report was submitted by a Lieutenant of the Sixth Division.
Takeru considered it briefly, then decided to "requisition" the former Second Division Lieutenant, Kishinoshin Omaeda, under wartime special order, having him work alongside the Onmitsukido and assist the Sixth Division in taking over all aspects of the Noble District.
With Kishinoshin present, the Sixth Division, which no longer even had a Lieutenant, would not be pushed around by the nobles or turned into a shield in case of another Quincy raid.
Takeru understood the nobles' thinking far too well.
Even the place where the Golden Seal Society had gathered was no longer safe. That meant they could only place their hopes in the Shinigami who had successfully repelled the Quincy invasion.
And since various division districts had also suffered severe losses, even if the nobles could not provide manpower, material and financial support alone would greatly ease the First Division's postwar burden.
Takeru had every confidence Kishinoshin could draw out the nobles' spirit of contribution.
"Oh, right. Tell Senior Kishinoshin to take over the Projection Hall as well. Information moves through that place even faster than through the Great Spirit Library Corridor. The lord of the Tsunayashiro Clan died tragically. There's no need to burden them further."
"Otherwise, if Yhwach crawls out of the shadows and seizes that place, he could tamper with our information channels without anyone noticing."
Takeru suddenly remembered and added the instruction to the row of Interior Court Corps members standing in the corridor outside.
"Yes!"
One of them knelt in salute and vanished the next instant.
Takeru withdrew his gaze and turned back to the reporting personnel who had just arrived in haste.
The man quickly said, "The vital signs of the six prisoners have stabilized."
Not every Quincy had been killed by [The Antithesis].
The Female Knights survived.
More accurately, apart from Liltotto and Giselle Gewelle, the others had all died, but were then revived as zombies by Giselle Gewelle.
As long as Giselle was willing, they could also be restored and return to their original appearance, so it was not inaccurate to call it a resurrection.
In addition to the Female Knights, one other Quincy had been captured.
Lille Barro.
Although he had been knocked down and lost the initiative, he had still held onto his strongest trump card.
Relying on that, he had survived Amagai's relentless attack.
Amagai had wanted to finish the battle quickly, but failed to get the chance and could only wait patiently for an opening.
What he had not expected was that the opportunity would come from Yhwach himself.
Once Yhwach stripped away his power, Lille Barro did not even have the strength left to curse.
Seeing the situation, Amagai judged him potentially useful and temporarily spared his life.
Kageroza had thought the same.
Thus, the six prisoners were stabilized, sent for treatment, and now their disposition awaited orders.
"...Transfer them to the first level of the First Division's Underground Great Prison."
After a moment of thought, Takeru gave the order.
The reporting personnel withdrew.
At that moment, an old man entered.
Though elderly, he radiated a vigor no different from a man in his prime. His build was solid and powerful, and he looked like someone dependable who got things done.
"Captain Shimiya, the casualty figures are out. Total deaths are 1,456. Of those, 516 belong to the Gotei 13. The rest are civilians caught in the war, along with members of the Onmitsukido, the Kido Corps, and the reigai."
"In addition, among the divisions, Ninth Division suffered the highest casualty rate. Excluding the wounded, 73 Squad Members were killed in action."
The moment those words were spoken, the air froze.
Even Orihime, who had been quietly eating nearby, unconsciously stopped and looked at Takeru with concern.
"..."
Takeru was silent for a moment. It was impossible for others to read his emotions from his face.
But as the current Captain of the Ninth Division, hearing that such a large number of his direct subordinates had died, there was no way he could be unmoved.
Especially when he could already imagine the kind of resolve with which they had fought.
"I understand... Third Seat Okiga, preserve the bodies for now. Ours and the enemy's alike. Transport them all to the Technical Development Bureau for storage. We'll discuss the rest later."
"Understood!"
As the Third Seat of the First Division and one of Yamamoto Genryusai's trusted right hands, Genshiro Okiga nodded solemnly.
If Seireitei was in chaos, then there was no reason the First Division, now without Tsubakabe, should have been exempt.
It should not have been able to recover so quickly.
But before the expedition, regardless of outside criticism, Tsubakabe had made adjustments to the duties of the First Division's internal staff, forcing even those who only cared about power struggles to grit their teeth and do real work if they wanted to keep their positions.
And once even the people who hated working were made to work, efficiency naturally rose.
Together with Okiga's ability to connect upper and lower levels, it had saved Takeru a great deal of trouble.
With the First Division as the core, supported by the Onmitsukido, Kido Corps, the General Medical Relief Station, and the Technical Development Bureau, the system that radiated across all of Seireitei and gradually brought the entire situation under control was now running more and more smoothly.
Before long, Nayura Amanomalso arrived.
She had been called in by Takeru to assist.
However...
"Didn't we agree I was only helping? You gave me the title of Advisor and then just left me here by myself. What exactly is the meaning of this?"
"Even if I'm supposed to join Central 46 in the future and don't mind getting some work experience early, there's no reason I should be managing Gotei 13 affairs too, right?"
The young lady of the ancient family sat behind the office desk, feeling as if the seat under her was inexplicably scalding hot.
But things had already reached this point, so she could only grit her teeth and get to work.
After all, Takeru had more important things to handle.
He could not spend all his time on administration.
Yet Nayura soon realized her mental preparation had been unnecessary.
"...What is there even left to manage? Anyone with half a brain could handle this. Did he specifically bring me here just to give me something to do?"
Facing the neatly sorted division affairs and the several already drafted government decrees, Nayura sighed with a mixture of admiration and helplessness.
The only role left for her now was probably to use her own name to carry this administrative model through to the end and ensure those decrees were implemented.
"He handled it too well... It actually makes people uneasy."