Help! I am bound to Aizen!-Chapter 296

Chapter 296

2-in-1 chapter:

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Mayuri Kurotsuchi was in high spirits. He’d expected Kaelith to recommend Kisuke Urahara for the vacant Twelfth Division Captaincy—but instead, Kaelith had chosen him. Yes, he thought, Kaelith must value me more.

Another delight: while Kaelith was visiting the Royal Palace, Aizen had brought Mayuri and a select group to Hueco Mundo, revealing countless secrets. Learning of all the covert operations Aizen and Kaelith had carried out over the years, Mayuri was stunned.

He’d always suspected they were plotting something big but had no idea their plan was already so advanced. The entirety of Hueco Mundo was effectively under Kaelith’s control—Arrancar transformations, the Three Grand Generals, the “Seven Swords” of the Hollow Blade, Las Noches brimming with human-shaped Hollows…

Mayuri was nearly overwhelmed, then euphoric. His “Nemuri Project” needed many Hollows as experimental material. He’d been fretting over where to find so many high-quality specimens—when suddenly, Hueco Mundo had fallen into his lap, courtesy of Kaelith’s collaboration with Aizen.

At the time, he wasn’t exactly on good terms with Aizen, but the moment Aizen finished explaining the situation, Mayuri pledged loyalty to “Team Kaelith” without hesitation.

Now newly installed as Twelfth Division Captain, he wrapped up a day’s work, then slipped into his lab. After concealing his reiatsu, he opened a Garganta and entered Hueco Mundo. Everyone in Twelfth Division had already learned to fear the new Captain’s aura—nobody dared disturb him, so he could secretly come and go as he pleased.

Walking the grand corridors of Las Noches, Mayuri noted how the lower-ranked Arrancar bustled about, bowing politely. The sight of these Hollows greeting him courteously amused him greatly. Fufufu…

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He was in an even better mood recalling that Urahara hadn’t been among those Aizen showed around Hueco Mundo. Despite working under Kaelith for so long, at the crucial moment he wasn’t chosen. Clearly, the sneaky little man isn’t fully trusted.

It meant Mayuri—approved by both Aizen and Kaelith—was actually ahead. With Hueco Mundo’s resources, his research would reach new heights, and once he was hailed for his achievements, Kisuke Urahara would be nothing more than a tiny pebble on the path of his success.

Yes, Mayuri thought, laughing quietly. He followed an Arrancar deeper into Las Noches until he reached the laboratory. With Aizen absent, he was the absolute authority here. Brimming with excitement, he shoved open the lab door—only to find Kisuke Urahara crouched beside an instrument, shoveling food from a boxed meal into his mouth.

“...Huh?” Mayuri stared. Urahara looked up at the sound.

“Oh! Mayuri, fancy seeing you here!” Urahara set down his meal, smiling in his usual genial way. “Let me guess…Kaelith is busy with the Royal Palace, so I doubt he brought you on his own. That means it must’ve been Aizen reaching out on Kaelith’s behalf, gathering ‘Team Kaelith’ to stand by just in case something went sideways in the Royal Palace.

“Huh, I wonder who else was in that first wave of recruits. Either way, good for you! I’ve been dying to discuss a few projects with someone of your caliber!”

He moved to clasp Mayuri’s hand and lead him to the instrument. Mayuri stared in disbelief at the hand gripping his. Jerking violently, he yanked free.

“Kisuke Urahara… So you’ve been in Kaelith’s pocket all along? He recruited you long ago?”

Urahara cocked his head. “Not too long. Just a few months before you, I guess.”

“A…few…months?” Mayuri lifted his head to the ceiling, jaw clenched, fingers twitching. The pride he felt about “being selected in the first wave” vanished.

Urahara had already been there even earlier!

He forcibly steadied his breathing, then abruptly turned back toward Urahara with a crooked grin.

“Hmph. Well, guess who replaced Captain Hikifune in the Twelfth Division—me. Kaelith personally recommended me at the Captain’s assembly. I hear he never once mentioned you—straight to my name!”

Mayuri smiled broadly, baring sharp white teeth framed by his unsettling makeup. He watched, anticipating Urahara’s frustration. Instead, Urahara paused, then broke into a gentle, heartfelt smile.

“Really? That’s wonderful,” he murmured, his tone genuinely touched. “Kaelith…he’s mellowed a lot compared to the old days.

All right, since he’s gone out of his way, guess I should repay his kindness with some effort. Time for me to work a bit harder!”

Beaming, he turned back to Mayuri. “Perfect timing that you’re here—help me tinker with—Mayuri?”

Before Urahara could finish, Mayuri toppled backward in a faint, leaving the lab in total disarray.

…

A thin blanket of snow covered the stone walkways leading to the Eleventh Division’s offices. Soifon moved briskly over it, heading toward Kaelith’s study. She’d grown taller since the day she first met him, her once mid-length hair now cropped short, with two longer locks pulled into ring-like braids—Suzumebachi braids. Her once round, youthful face now carried a cool aloofness. Even her figure had developed a modest curve that, according to a certain shameless individual, was “just right.”

She was Kaelith’s personal guard and intelligence officer, but the reason for her visit today was trivial. Allegedly, Kaelith insisted that he hadn’t completely recovered from injuries inflicted by the Royal Guard, so he needed her special massage techniques for full recuperation. As she’d been stepping on his back (and massaging him) for years, she knew every muscle on his body. And so, he demanded she come handle this “critical duty.”

Approaching the study, Soifon sighed. Why did I ever agree to serve as this man’s guard? If this goes on, I’ll be infected by his laziness and become a useless fool myself…

She was only a few steps away when she froze, noticing someone lurking behind a pillar, peering at her. Golden-orange wavy hair, a face still touched by youthful naïveté, and…a certain figure far more developed than her own, despite being younger.

“Rangiku Matsumoto…what are you doing?” Soifon asked coolly.

Caught in the open, Rangiku emerged, eyeing Soifon warily.

“Soifon-senpai, what are you up to?”

“I’m here to give my report to Kaelith-sama,” Soifon answered flatly.

“Is that all you’re here to do?”

Kaelith’s words caught Rangiku completely off-guard. She took a deep breath, as though steeling herself for something monumental, then spoke:

“Soifon-senpai, do you…like Kaelith?”

“…Huh?”

Soifon’s blood pressure spiked momentarily. Like Kaelith? What nonsense was that?

She shook her head without hesitation. “No.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“…Then, if you don’t like Kaelith, why did you do that… that kind of thing with him?”

“!!”

Soifon’s pupils shrank. Had she seen it?

Just yesterday, that scoundrel Kaelith had demanded her help with something indecent. Although Soifon hated it, after so many years, she’d more or less gotten used to these tasks. So she had gone along with it despite her reluctance.

She’d been certain that no one else was around. How did Rangiku catch sight of them? Did this young girl already surpass her in stealth or detection? It sounded unlikely, but then again, Soifon had watched people from Rukongai grow into absolute monsters under Kaelith’s Eleventh Division. Even if Rangiku didn’t feel as terrifying as Kenpachi Zaraki or Tōsen Kaname, there was still something special about her—Kaelith himself had personally brought her in.

Soifon pressed a hand to her forehead and said, “Matsumoto, it’s…complicated. First, I’m different from the rest of you. Although we’re all considered subordinates of that scoundrel—cough, I mean of Kaelith-sama—your overall status isn’t really that different from his. But me? I was born into the Fēng Clan, a branch of the Shihōin family’s retainers. Since birth, I’ve served the Shihōin. Yoruichi-sama and Kaelith-sama are bound to end up together eventually. As Yoruichi-sama’s retainer, I’ll inevitably end up serving him as well.

“As a servant, I can’t disobey my master’s orders. Whatever Kaelith-sama wants, I have no right to refuse.”

Rangiku pursed her lips. “Even that kind of thing?”

“…Yes. Even that.”

Seeing her expression, Soifon sighed inwardly. Sure, Kaelith was a degenerate in many ways, but he was undeniably accomplished and charismatic. It wouldn’t be surprising for a girl like Rangiku to fall for him.

Soifon turned away, ready to proceed with her errands, but Rangiku suddenly tugged on the hem of her clothing. Turning around, Soifon found the girl regarding her with a resolute look.

“Soifon-senpai, I want to do what you did with him, too! Teach me! Take me with you!”

“???”

Soifon almost lost her composure on the spot. Inhaling deeply, she tried to steady herself.

“Don’t be rash, Matsumoto. If you truly like Kaelith-sama, then you should tell him directly and court him properly, not offer your body like some bargaining chip. Even if that does get his favor in the short term, it won’t last.”

Rangiku met her gaze head-on, determination in her eyes. “I’ve made up my mind.”

“…I see.”

Privately, Soifon sighed. Kaelith might be a scoundrel, but he was overwhelmingly skilled in so many areas—no wonder a girl this age would be drawn to him. Accepting the situation, Soifon guided her to Kaelith’s room.

Inside, Kaelith was flopped out on his bed, fiddling with his LSP2. On-screen, a swordswoman clashed with a monster surrounded by crackling red lightning. Despite his honed reflexes, Kaelith was clearly struggling without a clear vantage point.

“Ah, Soifon? Sorry, just let me finish this important task first,” he muttered, wearing a pair of headphones and frantically rotating the joystick.

Soifon ignored his chatter and simply cast Rangiku a meaningful glance. Without a word, she slipped off her top layer and stepped forward.

Rangiku’s eyes went wide. “W-wait, Soifon-senpai! Arent you bing to quick. What are you doing?!”

Soifon paused mid-motion, puzzled. “Preparing to step on his back. What else?”

“You mean… that’s all you were doing?”

The two stared at each other for a moment—mutual confusion slowly dawning.

“…Of course that’s all we were doing,” Soifon said, frowning. “What exactly did you think you saw?”

Rangiku’s face turned bright red. “I—I thought it was something… else.”

Soifon dragged a hand down her face. Unbelievable. I can’t believe I confessed for nothing.

Hearing the noise, Kaelith took off his headphones. “Huh? Rangiku? What’s going on?” On-screen, his character had just fainted, carried away by helper cats. “Damn, again?”

“I…” Rangiku started, glancing awkwardly at Soifon.

“She wants to learn how to give you a proper back massage,” Soifon cut in smoothly.

Kaelith perked up. “Oh? Wonderful news! Excellent! You ladies wait just a sec while I find a comfortable position…”

Soifon exchanged a look with Rangiku, then slipped off her straw sandals, revealing the white tabi socks beneath. She moved onto Kaelith’s back. Rangiku followed suit, though her gaze remained locked on Soifon. She still couldn’t shake the sour feeling from discovering just how… familiar Soifon and Kaelith’s dynamic was.

Meanwhile, an odd feeling twisted inside Soifon herself.

When she thought Rangiku just wanted to give Kaelith a back massage, she'd felt nothing. But now that she realized the girl had been offering herself to him, a sharp pang twisted in her chest—tight and uncomfortable in a way she couldn’t explain.

Why? Why did I feel this uneasy?

…........

..

.

Snow continued falling in Seireitei, each storm heavier than the last. In the First Division compound, beneath the eaves, Yamamoto sat on the veranda, quietly admiring the snowfall in the courtyard. Beside him crouched Kaelith, holding Ryūjin Jakka in one hand, using its flames to heat water for tea.

“Here you go, Teacher—try this!”

He carefully poured a cup and brought it to Yamamoto. Tasting the brew, Yamamoto nodded in approval. Despite Kaelith’s questionable skill with a charcoal brazier, for some reason, tea boiled with Ryūjin Jakka always turned out well. While he disliked recalling a certain earlier incident with “tea” and that Zanpakutō, he couldn’t deny the results were worth it.

So he permitted his troublesome disciple to use Ryūjin Jakka each time he visited.

Watching Kaelith’s easy smile, Yamamoto couldn’t help feeling reflective.

This fool had single-handedly ventured to the Royal Palace, provoked Ichibē Hyōsube into a deadly fight, and then been slapped out of the sky, plummeting to Seireitei below. That alone would leave most people shaken, if not downright traumatized. But Kaelith acted like nothing happened.

Setting his tea aside, Yamamoto finally spoke. “Brat, are you telling me there’s nothing in this world that frightens you?”

Kaelith, in the midst of whispering something profane to make Ryūjin Jakka’s flames hotter, turned his head. “Scared of something? Yeah, sure, I’m afraid of a few things.”

“Oh?” Yamamoto arched a brow.

“Like your fists, or division paperwork, or a bad-tasting lunch—”

“You idiot!” Yamamoto barked. “That’s not the kind of fear I’m talking about.”

Then, more solemnly: “Listen closely. People who act fearless day to day, when they finally do meet something that chills them to the core, can become paralyzed with terror—far more so than the average person.

No one is devoid of fear. Not me, not you.

“You must identify your deepest fear and think about how you’ll overcome it, not hide it away. Repeatedly confronting what you fear is how you’ll become truly strong, truly resilient.

Hah! Are you even listening?!”

Kaelith jerked out of his daze. “I am, Teacher! I promise!”

“Hmph.” Yamamoto huffed but let the matter drop. Kaelith stared at Ryūjin Jakka in silence, recalling his harrowing trip to the Royal Palace.

Indeed, he had discovered something fearsome there—though not Ichibē. That big bald monk might be scarily powerful and mysterious, but Kaelith’s gut told him Ichibē wasn’t what truly merited fear. The real nightmare was someone else…someone still dormant.

Yhwach.

Before Kaelith’s transmigration, he never finished reading Bleach’s Thousand-Year Blood War arc, but he’d seen enough online snippets to learn that Yhwach ultimately beat everyone in the Soul Society, including the entire Royal Guard. If that was accurate, then the threat was overwhelming. Ichibē’s abilities alone had boggled Kaelith’s mind: “Cut the name, not the flesh,” or stripping away the concept of a name.

It seemed essentially unbeatable.

If Yhwach could defeat Ichibē, how had he done it? Kaelith couldn’t even imagine. Which meant Yhwach’s power was on a whole other plane. Maybe in the original story, only Kurosaki Ichigo—the real protagonist—could stop him.

But was that really all there was to it? Kaelith pursed his lips. Letting fate rely on someone else didn’t sit well with him—especially if the canonical storyline might not even unfold the same way in this world.

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