Sizzle... crackle...
As I drew the lightning rampaging in my hand back into my body, the Vajra, which had taken the form of a five-pronged ritual scepter, reverted to its hiltless Asauchi state.
"Well... I've done it... but what now?"
The Shabby Monk has been dealt with! End of Part 3!
How wonderful and convenient it would be if the world ended like that. But life never quite works that way.
If you've committed an act, you have to clean up the aftermath properly so there are no complaints or headaches later on.
So, now I have to find someone to take over the position of Captain-Commander of the Zero Division...
"But there isn't anyone suitable."
I can't just drag one of the other three from the East, West, or North and shove the responsibility onto them.
They each have their own duties; it would be a huge nuisance if their workload increased because of me.
And besides, they all have different specialties. Would putting one of them in the center really result in good management?
It might hold together at first, but side effects would surely crop up eventually.
And if I rotate them like that, their original post becomes vacant. Then who's going to fill that spot?
In the end, the best scenario right now is to appoint a new Overseer for the Zero Division.
"I just can't think of anyone..."
First, let's think about the requirements to enter the Zero Division.
One must be powerful, and they must have left a monumental mark on the history of the Soul Society.
Tenjiro created Kaido, Nimaiya created the Zanpakuto, and Senjumaru created the Shihakusho.
An entity who has made an equivalent invention, possesses Spiritual Power comparable to the others, and is rational and neutral enough to coordinate the three of them...
First, Genryusai.
He founded the Gotei 13 and established the Shinigami Academy, but his emotions tend to edge out his reason, and he's not neutral—he's a Shinigami-centric hardliner. Out.
Aizen. Considering the Hogyoku and the Visored, he technically meets the conditions, but he hasn't even been born yet. Besides, that black-hearted bastard would cause a catastrophe the moment he stepped into the Zero Division. No go.
Kisuke Urahara is the original Hogyoku gourmet, so to speak, but he's out for similar reasons to Aizen...
Is that it for the candidates I can think of right now? Every single one of them is flawed.
"Wow... how the hell did the talent pool end up like this... is it the end of the world?"
As I stroked my chin in contemplation, I felt a presence approaching.
The presence neared at high speed, then slowed, accompanied by a rhythmic clacking sound.
How should I describe it? It sounded like the rattling of a ball-jointed doll.
There was only one person in the Zero Division who made that sound.
"Is that you, Senjumaru?"
"How fleeting is life... that the Monk should fall into ruin so hollowly. And that the cause should be the karma of his own past."
Her way of speaking was unique as ever.
I turned around to see Senjumaru staring down at the ground, scorched black by fallen lightning, letting out a soft sigh.
"I knew we would meet again one day, though I did not expect it to take such a form. However... it pleases me to see thou art wearing the Hakama I wove for thee so well."
"A fairly detached reaction. I thought you'd have built up some affection for him after hundreds of thousands of years."
"Affection? Hmph. One may briefly feel pity and reach out to one dancing blindfolded at the edge of the abyss, but if one still has much they wish to do—and has no intention of committing a double suicide by holding that hand—is it not only natural to sever those ties?"
She was using fancy words, but essentially, she meant she tried to tell him to stop, but he kept acting like a lunatic, so she got tired of him and gave up.
"You certainly make things sound complicated."
"What of it? Is it not better than speaking the same tongue yet failing to communicate?"
I scratched my head at her nonchalant shrug.
"Can't argue with that. So, why are you here? Did you come to see what happened to the Monk? Or are you here to ask for the Overseer position? Because if you want it, it's yours."
"Though this body has a thousand hands, I possess but one head. Fulfilling my designated tasks is more than enough; why would I seek more labor? I have merely come to witness the final departure of one who once walked the same path."
I really can't get used to this rhetoric.
Roughly translated into my own way of speaking, it would be 'I'm busy enough, don't give me more work' and 'He was my business partner, so I came to see him off since he's dead.'
Wait, a second. That means...
"What, were you on the side of the Quincy eradication too?"
"When weaving a garment from cloth, balance is of the utmost importance. Even a slight disruption in the stitching can render the fabric and the garment useless. The world... I once thought it the same. That is, until thou appeared and made thy plea before the Monk."
"So you're saying you're not anymore."
"When a hand is reached down to a frog in a well, no matter how foolish one is, any creature with eyes and ears would surely climb out to see the wider world. Is that not the natural order of things?"
She was insulting the Monk while subtly expressing that she had washed her hands of it.
I smirked and nodded, tapping my cheek with my finger.
"Since you're here, why don't you recommend someone to take the Monk's place?"
"To ask for a recommendation from one who has not descended to the Soul Society since ascending to the Royal Realm... how farcical. Why not ask a fish for a map of the land?"
"Ah..."
Thinking about it, she had a point.
In the end, I have to find someone within my own sphere of knowledge...
"Wait. There's one."
"Oh? As expected of the Forerunner?"
I shuddered at the title that triggered my PTSD and glared at Senjumaru.
"Hey, don't call me that! The Monk used to call me that all the time; it gives me the creeps!"
"My, my apologies. It seems it has naturally stuck to my tongue after hearing it for tens of thousands of years. So, who is this person?"
"There's a guy. A fellow who's still working hard right now. He's been grinding himself to the bone without being able to retire. If I bring him here and put him to work, he'll do great. You'll be genuinely surprised when you see him."
"Hmm? Thou speakest as if I already know the individual. But if it is someone of such caliber that thou wouldst speak so highly of them, I doubt I would forget. Art thou not perhaps mistaken?"
"You'll know when you see him. Wait right here, I'll go grab him and be right back."
"I shall look forward to it. I pray thou bringest good news."
Leaving the lightly laughing Senjumaru behind, I leaped from the Royal Palace and opened a Hell Gate in mid-air.
It had been a very long time since I'd returned to Hell, but not much had changed.
At most, there was a slightly increased presence in the Pure Spirit Hall area as the population grew, and I could feel the presence of the Shabby Monk.
Seeing no major issues, I ran straight toward my destination.
"——Therefore, I pass judgment. The sinner shall——"
What, still in the middle of a trial?
Since I shouldn't interrupt, I decided to wait outside for a bit.
I dusted off a nearby rock and sat down. Before long, a sinner screaming about his innocence was dragged out by Gozu and Mezu.
Before the next sinner could enter, I walked into the courtroom.
"Long time no see, Jomon. Or should I call you King Enma since you're at work?"
"Master? You haven't shown so much as a shadow since you retired. What brings you here?"
"I had my reasons for not showing my face. Would it be comfortable for you to work if your retired boss was always loitering around?"
"You probably just forgot."
"Fine. I forgot, you little shit. Happy?"
Eat it.
I flipped him the bird and swore at him, and Jomon let out a smirk and a shrug.
"So, why the visit today? I haven't finished my work yet, so it might be difficult to offer you tea..."
"It's fine. I didn't come for tea."
I grinned at the puzzled Jomon.
"You, come upstairs with me."
"Excuse me? You drop by out of nowhere and say that? To 'go upstairs,' you should have at least sent word in advance so I could make time. Don't tell me... is this something that just happened? Did you just do something reckless again and come find me?"
"Reckless? Hey. Watch your mouth, kid. Are you being prickly with me?"
"Have you not done so frequently in the past? If you want evidence, I can list them one by one. Do I really need to go that far?"
I opened my mouth to retort but closed it again.
Man... why does this guy take after Kagaya more and more as time goes by? Is he trying to reach enlightenment or something?
While I was staring with a sour expression, Jomon, who was checking his scrolls, let out a deep sigh.
"Going upstairs... I see. Then that massive Spiritual Power that fell into Hell moments ago must belong to someone from the Zero Division. And among them, the only one likely to have a conflict with Master is that old Dharma monk. Hmph, I wondered when he would fall, but it took quite a while."
"I love how I don't need long explanations with smart guys. Yeah, the guy who just fell. He's exactly who you think. And the reason I'm here to take you is exactly what you're thinking."
"But to do this so suddenly... More than that, won't it be trouble if that man goes on a rampage in Hell? No matter how he fell, he was the Overseer of the Zero Division."
"Don't worry about that. The more he rampages, the more he'll suffer."
"I assume you took some measures."
"Of course. Do you think I'd just drop him into Hell without a plan? I can't let some bum ruin the foundation I've built up."
The lightning I struck him with is still rampaging inside the Monk.
If he tries to use Spiritual Power, it will rage even more violently, tearing him apart from the inside.
As I thought that, Jomon looked at me intently in silence.
"Get your eyes off me. I know exactly what you're thinking."
"I wasn't thinking anything, so why the reaction? Do you have a guilty conscience? If you are aware of it, why not practice some self-restraint?"
This bastard. He's been so consistently annoying ever since he reformed. How can he treat his master like this?
But... I actually like it. Because he's that kind of guy, I can trust him even more.
"Fine. I'll think about the consequences more in the future before I act."
"So you're saying you're still going to act. Well... at least that's a hundred times better than acting recklessly without any thought at all. Then, let me finish handing over my duties before we go."
"What, you found a successor? Last time you said there was no one worth picking. When did you find one?"
"I didn't pick one; I trained one myself. Ever since Master mentioned a successor, I thought such a day might come, so I took the most decent soul among the sinners as my disciple and raised him."
"Impressive."
"I am flattered. Please wait outside. I'll finish up and follow you shortly."
I nodded and walked out of the courtroom.
After waiting a short while, Jomon came out, wearing an ordinary Hakama instead of the ceremonial robes worn by the Ten Kings.
"Shall we?"
"Yes. I will follow you."
I smirked and grabbed Jomon by the scruff of his neck before leaping upward.
I did it because I didn't want to carry another man in my arms while running.
"Ugh...!"
"A man shouldn't be so fragile."
"Anyone would...! If they were leaped into the air by their collar!! Blerg...!"
"You should exercise more later."
Anyway, thus I brought Jomon into the Soul King Palace.
It was a return after hundreds of thousands of years.
"Hurrrrk!!"
It was a bit of an unsightly return, but who cares? I'm back. Cheers to that.