The Soul King.
He truly is an incredible man.
To live knowing your death is inevitable, yet willingly offering your life for the sake of other beings.
The moment I heard those words, it felt as though I'd been struck over the head with a sledgehammer.
I wondered how anyone could live like that.
The conversation we shared that day became the turning point that fundamentally shifted my perception of him.
When I first saw him, he was just a 'Ruthless Hollow-Killer Man.' When I realized he was oddly airheaded, he became 'The Young King.' But through our most recent conversation, he finally became, in my eyes, the 'Soul King.'
In my mind, his image transformed from a mere machine that slaughtered Hollows into a King in the truest sense of the word.
"But isn't it dangerous if Tsunayashiro hears this?"
Of course, that doesn't mean my attitude is going to change.
Unlike the Soul King, who seems to have been born from the seeds of gods and nobles, I am a lowly bastard by nature. I don't know the first thing about formalities or etiquette.
Scratching my head, I glanced toward the tree where my disciple was hiding. He wasn't even trying to conceal himself anymore; our eyes met as he stared openly in this direction.
I looked at my disciple with a sour expression for a moment before turning back to the Soul King. He shook his head slowly.
"He would not have heard our prior conversation. Nor can anyone else hear what we speak of now, save for you and I."
"Is this some kind of special barrier?"
Was it *Tenteikura*? I've seen techniques like 'Voice Transmission' in martial arts novels; was it something like that?
"Can you understand the cries of a beast?"
"As if."
"Then do you believe a beast can truly comprehend the meaning of a human's words?"
"...Probably not?"
If you keep teaching them, they might follow orders, but that's just a body habituated through repetitive learning. You can't really say they 'understand.'
Wait, don't tell me.
"Are you saying they can't understand what we're saying right now?"
"Correct."
"But they seem to understand us just fine normally."
"That is because, subconsciously, I lower the level of my speech to a degree the listener can comprehend."
"Oh..."
If anyone else had said that, I would have walked away thinking I'd met a total lunatic. But the person in front of me is who he is, and this is the world of *Bleach*, where a self-proclaimed 'Mothman' who transcends Hollows and Soul Reapers actually exists. I had no choice but to believe him.
And well, he's the expert. Who am I to argue? Experts are experts for a reason.
So, what now?
I've learned why the Soul King intends to die, and I've realized he's a man dreaming of a global reformation through a level of self-sacrifice I could never even fathom.
But what can I do about it? No, what *should* I do?
To be honest, while I thought, 'Wow, what an amazing person. It's a shame for someone like this to die,' I didn't have any thoughts beyond that.
Sure... I felt a small prick of guilt knowing he's going to die and just letting it happen, but I didn't feel like trying to persuade the Soul King or Tsunayashiro otherwise.
Because that's the only way I get to live.
I don't have the confidence to conceive of a better world than one where the Three Worlds are divided and the Soul King serves as the lynchpin.
"Tch..."
If I were some omnipotent god who created the heavens and earth in six days and said 'I should rest' on the seventh, that would be one thing. But I'm not.
Even if I tried to convince everyone that the Soul King is a great man and we should let him live because it's a waste to kill him...
'Then what do we do if we don't kill him? The world will perish if he stays alive.'
'...I dunno?'
If I answer like that, it's a total dead end.
Besides, if I run my mouth like that and things go sideways, I might end up becoming Soul King Mark II.
No, wait. In that timeline, since the Soul King wouldn't have died yet, I guess I'd be Lynchpin Mark I.
Persuading the Soul King is also difficult. No, it's not just difficult—it's impossible.
'Sir, please stop killing Hollows.'
'The Hollows are devouring other Hollows and souls alike, and the world is ending. What shall I do?'
'...I dunno?'
It's the same result.
In the end, it's a choice between the worst and the lesser evil.
In that case, shouldn't I at least choose the lesser evil over the worst?
I have to survive first.
And since the man himself is volunteering for the sacrifice, who am I to stop him?
"Right... Um... Well, I guess I've got nothing left to say."
Tch.
As I smacked my lips and scratched my head, the Soul King gazed into the distance and murmured softly.
"I have no need for guideposts on the path I have chosen to walk."
"Your way of speaking is seriously..."
Wait a second...?
Hmm...
He used unnecessarily convoluted words, but after thinking about it for a second, he basically meant, 'I'll handle my own business, so leave me alone.'
If the Soul King himself steps up and says that, what can I do? I have to respect his wishes.
"Yeah, well. Do whatever you want."
As I replied while scratching my head, the Soul King nodded and turned his body to leave.
"Wait right there. Where do you think you're going after dumping another load of crap on me?"
"It is a task only you can perform."
"What kind of nonsense is that? Am I your personal junk collector? I'm already exhausted just dealing with that one guy over there, and now you want me to raise a rowdy brat too?"
"I ask this of you. There is not much time left."
'I'm going to die soon, so please help me out just this once.'
Hearing the weight behind those words, I let out a deep sigh and scratched my head.
When he puts it like that, how can I possibly tell him to take her back because it's a hassle?
And since these are the words of a man willingly giving his life for the world, I naturally have to grant them.
"Ha... Fine. So there are three now?"
"It is so."
"Right. It won't take long, I guess."
"It will be but an instant."
After I nodded and waved my hand dismissively, the Soul King looked at me for a moment before vanishing in an instant.
I stared at the spot where he had stood and let out a sigh.
Since I said I'd take her in, I guess I have to look after her.
As I turned my head with a heavy sigh, the dark-skinned brat who had been trembling under the tree just moments ago was gone.
"What? Where'd she go?"
My disciple usually disappears whenever he has nothing left to say or do, so whatever.
But this rowdy Shihoin girl—where did she go? She was passed out just a second ago.
"Over here!!"
"Oops, my shoelace."
Hearing a voice from directly behind me, I ducked as if tying a shoelace, naturally avoiding the kick aimed at my head.
The truth is, I don't even have shoelaces—I'm barefoot—but mocking someone like this is extremely effective at getting under their skin.
"He avoided my attack from this distance...?!"
"That's because I knew exactly where you were."
Was it *Sonido* or *Shunpo*? No, was it neither? Regardless, I can sense the presence of the Soul King, who uses a form of high-speed movement even more advanced than those teleport-like techniques.
How could I possibly miss the presence of this brat who's practically radiating a bloodlust that screams, 'I'm going to leave a footprint on your face'?
"You tricked me!"
"Hey kid, do you know what 'bluffing' is?"
"Bluff...ing?"
"Make sure you remember it, kid. A time will come when it'll be useful."
"I am asking you what this 'bluffing' thing is!"
"Man, you're impatient. Fine, since the Soul King asked me to look after you, I'll give you a special explanation. Open your ears and listen carefully."
As I spoke and crossed my arms, I saw the Shihoin brat leaning in to listen, despite her clear wariness.
That should do it.
"What bluffing means is... Uh, wait. Why is the Soul King back?"
"Huh!? Lord Soul King!"
The brat's eyes went wide as she whipped her head around, but of course, the Soul King wasn't there.
Because I was lying.
"It was a lie, you idiot."
The Soul King is the type who never looks back once he leaves.
"You bastard...!"
Before she could finish saying 'You tricked me again,' I struck her on the back of the head and knocked her out cold.
Phew. Finally, some peace and quiet.