Human World, Karakura Town.
A few days had passed since the invasion of the Shadow Realm, and nothing about Ren's power had been made public, as he had been restraining his strength to prevent it from leaking outside the Shadow Realm. As for the survivors, he had manipulated their memories—it was not difficult for someone who could control concepts themselves.
"I didn't expect to see you again so soon…" Ren said with a mocking smile, staring at the woman in front of him.
"Weren't you the one looking for a new Lieutenant?" came a beautiful voice, noble and old-fashioned. "You should be grateful that I volunteered for this role."
Before him stood a slender, youthful woman with fair skin and long black hair, adorned at the back with a large golden ornament shaped like a crescent moon, with numerous small lines radiating outward.
She wore the standard Shinigami shihakushō beneath a white long-sleeved haori, over which she donned another white robe fastened near the center of her chest. On her feet were extremely thick-soled okobo. Attached to her back were six long, golden skeletal artificial arms, used in place of her physical hands.
To his right, the person standing before him was none other than Shutara Senjumaru, who had now become his Lieutenant.
The events leading to this went back to when Ren had requested a Lieutenant change from the old man after being appointed Captain of the 5th Division. The old man had agreed but did not implement it immediately.
Although Hinamori Momo's mental state was severely broken, he had hoped for her recovery. Ultimately, he could no longer postpone the matter, and when he was about to promote someone worthy of the position, Senjumaru volunteered, having relinquished her post as the Holy Guardian of the North.
The reason? She had been very attentive while accompanying Ren during his training at the Soul King Palace, which had sparked her curiosity about the current world. Thus, she decided to step down from her position and return to being just a Lieutenant.
"Certainly, I'm confident you'll be a great help to me with those arms…" Ren nodded meaningfully, staring at the arms on Senjumaru's back. "Whether it's for work or other matters."
"So, don't forget—you still owe me a date," Ren said with a meaningful smile, returning to work on the pile of papers before him, as the 5th Division was responsible for relations with other factions. "It seems I'll have to leave the city again."
Ren could only grumble in annoyance upon seeing the invitation on his desk, stamped with the Devil Faction seal. They were holding something called the Gathering of Young Devils, inviting Norse mythology to join the treaty with the four factions that had signed the peace agreement.
Since his work was akin to being the Shinigami Faction's foreign minister, he had to attend the Gathering of Young Devils.
"Gathering of Young Devils? It seems the Devil Faction wants to showcase the new generation's talents to pressure the other factions," Senjumaru said with a sarcastic smile upon seeing the invitation. "That scoundrel Sirzechs still loves doing these annoying things."
"Hmmm, Sen-nee. Do you know that two-faced hypocrite?" Ren raised an eyebrow curiously, surprised that the two might have any acquaintance.
"Not really. I've fought him many times in the Great War, and he's truly cunning," Senjumaru shook her head dismissively, returning to work on the papers with Ren.
"Agreed. He's very skilled at separating his expressions from his thoughts," Ren nodded, unable to disagree with Senjumaru's description of Sirzechs Lucifer—he truly was a crafty man.
"By the way, will you participate in the Gathering of Young Devils?" Senjumaru asked curiously, her hands, along with the six artificial arms, moving quickly to organize and seal the papers. "You have every right to participate, having inherited the Bael Clan blood from your mother."
Silence fell over the room, broken only by the sound of flipping papers and pens scratching rapidly across them.
The revelation was shocking, yet neither of them seemed surprised. Ren hadn't tried to hide it—he had discovered that Masaki was from the Bael Clan, making her half-Devil, half-human—or more precisely, half-Devil, half-Quincy.
Her children had also inherited the Bael Clan lineage, but so far, only Ren had awakened it. Ichigo and the others seemed unaware, and even Isshin appeared ignorant of Masaki's heritage.
"I haven't decided yet. I want to focus on my human life for a while," Ren finally answered honestly after a moment of silence.
Due to his preoccupation with his supernatural life, he had neglected many aspects of his ordinary life—particularly Akiko, who was about three months pregnant. It was impossible to hide the pregnancy now, and Saki must have noticed her mother's condition, though he wasn't sure if she knew he was the father.
He planned to visit Akiko, check on her, and tell Saki the truth—that he was the father of her unborn child. He also intended to introduce Akiko to the family, as there was no longer a need to hide anything.
Thinking of Akiko and the child in her womb, Ren's lips curved into a gentle, loving smile—a rare expression on his face, strikingly charming alongside his handsome features.
"…." Senjumaru froze, stunned by the sight, unable to do anything but stare at him in disbelief for a long moment.
After a while, she regained her composure, her face turning crimson with embarrassment before she quickly returned to work.
'That bastard… why is he smiling like that all of a sudden…' Senjumaru gritted her teeth in annoyance, feeling extremely flustered. She was over a thousand years old, yet she had been completely caught off guard by the smile of a young man who had lived less than two decades.
...
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