Chapter 229 The Norm of Soul Society Residents
Chapter 229 The Norm of Soul Society Residents
An hour later, in the underground experimental site of Division 12, the Captains gathered once again.
The last time they came here, it had been for the duel between Kaiser and Kenpachi Zaraki, but this time, the two had already donned white Captain's Haori, becoming part of their ranks.
"It's really quite nostalgic," Shunsui Kyōraku said while pressing down his Straw Hat, smiling at Kaiser who stood beside him, "How many years have passed since then? Captain Kaiser is no longer the Academy Student who just walked out of Shin'ō Academy."
The other Captains all glanced at Kaiser, and compared to back then, their mindsets had undoubtedly undergone great changes.
At that time, in their eyes, Kaiser was just a fledgling kid, not even a proper brat yet — just a naturally gifted genius.
But now, Kaiser had been the Captain of Division 3 for quite a long time, and had always been active since taking up the position, no longer that green genius who had just ascended to Captaincy.
Over these years, no matter what kind of difficult tasks or thorny issues he faced, Kaiser had always dealt with them fearlessly and decisively, with a bold, unrestrained attitude.
Even when facing the Noble Clans in Seireitei, when provoked by the Great Noble Houses, he could suppress them head-on without fear, to the extent that many lawless nobles now feared him and dared not provoke him lightly.
Now, Kaiser's prestige in the Soul Society might not yet match Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto — the very cornerstone of the Shinigami — but compared to any other Captain, he was in no way inferior.
Many commoners in Rukongai might not recognize all the Captains of the Gotei 13, but they would absolutely recognize Kaiser, showing how famous and renowned he had become.
There was no helping it. Kaiser was simply too active, unlike other Captains who remained within Seireitei. His figure had even appeared in the various corners of Rukongai. It was hard not to be famous.
Added to that were his outstanding performances and unique traits in all aspects thus far. Although the other Captains didn't openly speak of it, in their hearts, they had already placed this youngest Captain in history at a very high position — almost on par with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
"It feels like a very long time has passed." Kaiser stood among the Captains, arms crossed, and muttered, "Although I haven't counted carefully, the days I've spent in the Soul Society probably already exceed the years I lived before, right?"
To be honest, Kaiser didn't have much sense of reality about it.
He knew he had stayed in the Soul Society for a very long time, but perhaps because his Reiryoku was too strong, causing his body to age too slowly, he always felt like he was still that Academy Student at Shin'ō Academy — still that soul who had just arrived in this world.
His mind and spirit also felt as if they hadn't matured; he hadn't grown particularly old or felt especially weary. His mindset seemed to always stay young, full of energy, only with a broader perspective when viewing things.
"Maybe this is the norm for residents of the Soul Society?"
Because they were Souls, their mental state might change along with the aging of their bodies?
If there was no aging, then the mental state would remain youthful just like the outward appearance?
Kaiser wasn't sure if that was the case, but at least for himself and those around him, it was true.
The best example was Momo Hinamori. It had already been quite a long time since she joined Division 3 and became a Lieutenant, yet her nature was still so gentle and fragile that she would sometimes cry when anxious — she didn't resemble someone who had lived for at least a century at all.
"So, after becoming the Librarian of the Fantasy Library, did I also gain a similar trait?"
Kaiser pondered this.
After becoming the Librarian of the Fantasy Library, Kaiser's own time was essentially frozen at the moment he entered the Library. His outward appearance and age thereafter were entirely determined by the background of the life experience he selected when entering the Fantasy Worlds.
If the background set him as a child, then he would be a child.
If the background set him as an old man, then he would be an old man.
Given this, was his mental age also forever frozen at the day he entered the Fantasy Library? Or would it change along with the aging of his body in the Fantasy Worlds?
"...I feel it's probably the former."
That was Kaiser's personal feeling.
After all, a human's mental age grows along with the passage of years, but a non-human existence does not.
Gods, with their near-eternal lifespan, do not change their selves no matter whether they live for thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of millions of years. They always remain as they were.
The Shinigami of this world were not true deities, but they showed signs in that direction. Unless their external age truly changed, their psychological states would not shift much.
And as the Librarian of the Fantasy Library, similar to a god, once his external age froze at the day he entered the Library, his self would hardly change thereafter.
Kaiser, being both a Librarian of the Fantasy Library and a Captain-class Shinigami, still maintained the same appearance as when he first arrived in this world, without any change, resulting in his psychological age and spirit state remaining youthful, not turning into the sort of unpleasant adult or elder others might expect.
"Fortunately, when I entered the Fantasy Library, I wasn't at the stage of being the most naive, pure, and foolish version of myself."
On this point, Kaiser felt quite lucky.
When he entered the Fantasy Library, he was already at an age where he had struggled and suffered in society, fully tasted the hardships of independence, and deeply understood the difficulties and realities of the world. Thus, he was rational and genuine, but not yet worn smooth by life.
Kaiser believed that this period of his life was his best — not naïve like youth, nor compromised like old age. He understood the world's pain, but had not yet resigned himself to it; he still had dreams and the drive to fight.
He was very satisfied with this version of himself.
"Could it be that the Fantasy Library deliberately chose to recruit me at the period when I felt my best?"
Kaiser had this kind of speculation.
Unfortunately, it was just a speculation. What the truth was no longer mattered.
Unaware of the emotions Kaiser was sorting through in his heart, Kenpachi Zaraki suddenly spoke.
"Since then, I've gotten a lot stronger too, Kaiser. Wanna have a fight for old times' sake?"
Kenpachi Zaraki grinned at Kaiser.
Originally, he had already been a little restless because of the upcoming duel between Gin Ichimaru and Tōshirō Hitsugaya, itching to take the stage himself. Now that he had returned to the place where he once fought Kaiser, he was even more unable to suppress his desire to draw his sword and battle.
Hearing the conversation between Kaiser and Shunsui Kyōraku, Kenpachi Zaraki immediately became eager, his hand pressing onto the hilt of his Zanpakutō.
However, before Kaiser could even respond, the other Captains spoke up one after another.
"Don't cause trouble, Kenpachi."
Jūshirō Ukitake was the first to speak.
Last time, due to his health, he missed witnessing Kaiser and Kenpachi Zaraki's duel, but this time, he was present and would be a witness.
"Meaningless fights just waste time."
"The demon within you can't be suppressed anymore, Kenpachi?"
Sajin Komamura and Kaname Tōsen spoke up consecutively.
"My trusted Lieutenant's promotion is at stake. Captain Kenpachi, please don't create trouble."
Sōsuke Aizen advised gently.
"Anyway, your fighting is just as crude as ever — like a tasteless beast. I have no interest in collecting your battle data again."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi sneered in his usual sharp, cutting tone.
"Captain Kenpachi, you don't want to end up in the General Relief Station again, do you?"
Retsu Unohana said the most ruthless words with the gentlest voice.
"If anyone acts out again, even if it's a Captain, I'll personally send him to the Special Detention Building."
Even Suì-Fēng spoke coldly.
Byakuya Kuchiki said nothing at all, as if he had no interest in Kenpachi Zaraki, but his eyes did glance at Kaiser from the corner, seemingly recalling the battle he once had with him.
If Kenpachi Zaraki wanted to make a move, he would have to get past him first.
After all, he too wished to duel Kaiser once again.
"Bang!"
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto knocked his wooden staff to the floor at the right time, stopping the verbal onslaught against Kenpachi Zaraki.
"It's about time to begin."
At Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's words, all the Captains turned their heads toward the front.
In the distant wilderness, two figures stood facing each other, just like Kaiser and Kenpachi Zaraki had back then.
"Forgive me, Lieutenant Ichimaru."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya had already drawn the Zanpakutō from his back, holding it in a two-handed mid-level stance, pointing it at Gin Ichimaru.
Even though he had spoken dejected words earlier to Kaiser and Momo Hinamori, now facing Gin Ichimaru, Tōshirō Hitsugaya appeared extremely calm, showing no sign of his previous uncertainty.
"...It should be me saying that, Third Seat Hitsugaya."
Gin Ichimaru also drew his Zanpakutō, adopting the same stance, but the usual smiling expression was absent from his face.
He couldn't help it. Just thinking that if he won, he would have to become Captain of Division 10 — Gin Ichimaru couldn't lift his mood.
He didn't really mind becoming a Captain, since it was Sōsuke Aizen's order.
But... why Division 10 of all places?
A certain girl's figure flashed through his mind, and Gin Ichimaru's expression subtly darkened.
Why did it have to be the squad where she was?
Could it be... this too was part of Captain Aizen's plans?
Gin Ichimaru's heart wavered unusually.
If he weren't worried about revealing flaws, he would have truly wanted to simply lose to Tōshirō Hitsugaya.