You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

I wrote about Lake Toya just because I was bored and it reminded me of some funny scenes from Gintama!

And what's with this CG title? It's almost as long as a light novel!

And what's with the Toya Lake Sage? Is he a beggar's version of Yhwach?! Can't he come out and give me a buff? Can't I learn Mugetsu's cool transformation like Gintoki?

Of course, Iori knew that no one would respond to her complaints, so she could only sigh at the unpredictability of the CG system.

Soon, Tenbei brought Iori to the captain's room. He knocked on the door politely and then announced his arrival. A low female voice came from inside, sounding rather unhappy.

Tenbei gave Iori a "good luck" look, pushed open the door and called out, "Captain, the new recruit you personally selected has arrived."

As the two entered the Japanese-style room, the scene inside left them speechless with astonishment:

On the wall inside the Japanese-style room hung a large character "義" (righteousness). Below the character, the dignified first captain of the Sixth Division and the current commander-in-chief of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force—Saito, who was immortal—was wearing a plain white kimono. He pulled it off from both sides, revealing his upper body bound with layers of bandages.

In front of him was a low table and a tray holding wakizashi short swords—it looked as if he were about to perform a traditional art.

"Captain, Captain, why did you go to such lengths!" Tianbei was immediately shocked.

Iori was also dumbfounded. Although she knew that this expired violent loli was not very reliable, she did not expect her to pull off such a big stunt right away.

Could it be that he committed some heinous crime and is now contemplating suicide?

"I made a huge mistake... I'm over a thousand years old, and I actually flirted with a child while drunk, and I even broke my promise to a mere brat who's not even a hundred years old! Ugh!"

Saito even replaced his blindfold with a white cloth, his remorse overflowing: "To express my shame, I will commit seppuku to atone for my sins!"

She glanced at Iori quickly and secretly, then immediately closed her eyes.

"Huh?" Iori was taken aback. "Do you mean the thing about teaching me Shunpo?"

"If word gets out that I, Saito, am someone who likes to harass young boys and is untrustworthy, how am I supposed to survive in this underworld!"

Saito took a deep breath and said to the two men with righteous indignation, "My mind is made up, you don't need to stop me!"

Having said that, she decisively drew her dagger and raised it high—

"..."

"..."

"..."

Three seconds passed, five seconds passed, eight seconds passed...

"...Why didn't you stop me?!" Saito broke the almost frozen atmosphere first. "Amagai?"

"No... I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Tianbei frowned: "Also, could you please stop making a scene?"

"Today they hang themselves, tomorrow they take poison—this has happened more than ten times this year alone. You seem to be living a carefree life, but it's very hard for everyone to cooperate with you. I even have to clean up your mess!"

Saito looked at Iori speechlessly, while Iori, still looking shocked, simply asked, "When can we begin?"

There was even a hint of anticipation in his words.

"..."

"This is the first time I've ever seen a real seppuku. I just wanted to broaden my horizons."

Iori extended her right hand, gesturing for them to continue: "Please!"

"Forehead……"

Now you're all sweaty, Captain Saito!

Chapter 37: I, the Grim Reaper, the King of the Shura Field!

Clearly, "immortality" is just Saito's name, not his ability. He's neither like some blond vampire who can live after being beheaded, nor does he intend to learn from Kaido how to die in various ways.

They're just bored and like to stir things up, why take it so seriously!

You must understand that when a person is killed, they die!

"Alas, since there is no second, I will have to wait—Iori, what is the meaning of borrowing Amagai's sword?"

You look down on me? You really are! You might just really kill yourself!

On his first day in the team, Iori witnessed the leader's bizarre style and for a moment regretted coming to the wrong place. Perhaps he should have gone to the real world?

That's not entirely true. Hueco Mundo is indeed dangerous, but the Quincy are not to be trifled with either.

This can be seen from the fact that even with so many elites being transferred from the top ranks, it was still not enough; the 46th Chamber truly feared the Quincy clan from the bottom of their hearts.

Of course, this may also be related to the current lack of young talent in the thirteen teams.

"They actually sent a student who hasn't even graduated to Hueco Mundo? Has Team Thirteen really fallen into such dire straits?"

Saito, now dressed, brought out sake vessels, seemingly wanting to treat Iori and Amagai to a drink to help them forget the previous unpleasantness.

"No, I volunteered." Iori said righteously, "In this time of crisis, everyone has a duty to stand up and protect Soul Society. Although I am just a student, I also have a heart full of passion!"

"...Ah, um, that's amazing..."

Tenbei and Saito held their wine glasses, unsure how to respond. They were willing to risk their lives for Soul Society, but at their age, saying such things in front of others... was quite difficult!

My instinct is that Iori is lying, but it's not easy to call her out on it.

"Alright, I know your skills. Although you are still a trainee, you are no less capable than an elite officer. You are a rare talent in the expeditionary force."

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Amagai glanced at Iori in surprise. Because of the killing intent stone amulet on his body, it was difficult for others to judge Iori's true spiritual pressure. Amagai thought he was just a technician because he was young and didn't have a strong aura...

Surprisingly, Saito, who has been the captain for a thousand years, gave him the evaluation of "a rare talent".

The Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force is composed of elites who have undergone repeated eliminations, but even the positions of captain and vice-captain are rare talents anywhere. And how old is Iori? Yet Saito is comparing him to these people...

People should not be judged by their appearance!

Saito nodded: "I've accepted your transfer request, but you need to understand one thing beforehand: even if you join as a support member, you'll still have to fight once you're in Hueco Mundo... No one will give you any special treatment, understand?"

"I'm not some pampered young nobleman. I understand that on the battlefield, you can only rely on yourself."

"Then things are simple. Go back and pack your things. The expeditionary force has nothing but essential supplies. If you are clean or have any quirks, hurry up and get ready."

"Once you get there, if you're still in the mood to learn from me, I certainly won't hesitate to give you my time. You can learn as much of the Instant Step technique as you want."

Saito thought for a moment: "Our departure time is a little later than the army going to the mortal world, so you still have time."

"Is the army about to set off?" Iori's heart skipped a beat. "Are we finally going to officially start the war against the Quincy?"

"The old men of the 46 Chambers have long disliked the Quincy. The reason they've dragged it out until now is because Captain Kuchiki has overruled everyone's objections, insisting that we must be fully prepared to minimize our casualties." Saito's words revealed his disdain for the highest authority in Soul Society (the Central 46 Chambers).

"Captain Kuchiki?" Iori noticed something else. "Isn't the Captain-Commander or Kenpachi leading the team?"

"Huh? Such a big matter, entrusted to that idiot Gui Yancheng? You're not kidding, are you?!"

"Forehead……"

When asked this question, Iori was speechless for a moment. It was clear that even he, a candidate Shinigami, had heard of Onijin Kenpachi's "illustrious reputation".

Generally speaking, the commander-in-chief cannot easily take action. In the event of such a large-scale battle, another commander with strong abilities is needed to serve as the front-line commander.

According to the usual practice of the Gotei 13, this "Admiral" position is usually given to "Kenpachi", who is the captain of the 11th Division.

"Kenpachi" is a title with special significance, and he is known as the strongest Shinigami (excluding the Captain-Commander)!

His Eleventh Division subordinates are mostly battle maniacs; placing them on the battlefield would naturally allow them to sweep across the land. As for strategizing and planning, that can be left to shrewd and capable advisors.

The awkward thing now is that there were some minor problems when the previous generations of Kenpachi were replaced...

The seventh and eighth Kenpachi were both top-notch heroes, but now one is dead and the other is sentenced to life imprisonment. The ninth generation was a very mediocre person, and the tenth generation who succeeded him was okay in terms of strength, but his personality and intellect were... hard to describe.

Entrusting such a large army to someone like that is something even the 46th Division wouldn't feel comfortable with, and neither would the captains!

Therefore, according to Saito's immortality, the leader this time has been changed to the recognized mature and steady captain of the Sixth Division:

Rotten wood and silver ridge.

He is a role model of conduct for the five noble families and indeed all noble families—the current head of the Kuchiki family.

He possesses strength, background, experience, and wisdom—he has everything and commands respect from everyone. Even the Chief Commander respects his opinions. He is a general candidate who is flawless, and even the 46th Division takes his operational plans seriously!

This is a completely different treatment from that of Saito, who is immortal and a "remnant of the old era".

"Actually, if I had to choose, there is another person... no, that woman would absolutely never agree."

Saito, as if struck by a sudden thought, grinned mischievously: "If she were to pick up her knife again, the 46th Chamber would be quite uneasy, wouldn't they?"

Amagasa didn't know who Saito was talking about, and a look of doubt appeared in her eyes. Iori knew who it was, but she also raised her wine glass to cover it up.

The first Kenpachi, Unohana, is certainly strong enough, but with Yamamoto's personality becoming increasingly reserved, this woman is now the most dangerous person in the entire Seireitei... Unless we're at our wits' end, let her remain sheathed.

"I don't have much to prepare; I can join the team right away."

Iori knows many people in Soul Society, but people like Shunsui, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Iba are just friends or collaborators with him. Iori's departure will not affect them in any way.

Although Tosen Kaname is a subordinate that Iori has just recruited, as a person with a resolute and patient nature, Tosen's mentality is the least of our concerns. He will only be away for a while; we can just say goodbye to him.

What Iori really cares about is his "family".

Yuuki already knew, but her mother-in-law... it's better not to tell her about going to Hueco Mundo. Just say that she's going to the human world as an outstanding student for a year or two of internship.

I need to talk to Yu-hi about this in advance to avoid her accidentally revealing it later. Also, I'll need to ask her to take good care of my mother-in-law for a while.

"A good expression... That's the look you only see when you're determined to do something."

Saito, holding his wine glass, looked at Iori with amusement: "There must be a special reason why you joined the expeditionary force, right?"

However, you made the right choice. I am not Yamamoto or Kuchiki, who insists on getting to the bottom of things. My expeditionary force consists of either gullible fools or troublemakers, but I never pry into their privacy.

Remember, as long as you can kill the enemy on the battlefield, you are my comrade-in-arms. Nothing else matters to me!

And before that, one last reminder:

Aizen Iori, you're about to step into a battlefield of carnage~

-

"A battleground, huh... But I'm the 'Grim Reaper'!"

On the edge of the continent in the world of "Akatsuki no Akame ga Kill!", Iori stands by the sea, gazing at the boundless deep blue ocean. In the far distance, a vast white line seems to stitch the sky and the sea together, as if it were the end of the world.

But Iori knew that on the other side of the sea existed a mysterious Eastern island nation, a place that inherited extraordinary forging techniques.

"Captain Saito, the battlegrounds I'll be entering in the future are far more than just Hueco Mundo~"

The boy sighed wistfully, then, as if struck by a sudden thought, chuckled.

"Of course, that includes relationships between men and women too!"

Chapter 38: Who is more beautiful, me or Narcissus?

The day before yesterday, Iori cooperated with the Revolutionary Army to launch a surprise attack on Sheila and her subordinates, successfully killing Yanxin and Izo, and capturing Sheila and Kosmia.

Both prisoners were taken back to the Revolutionary Army headquarters. Sheila was to be used as a bargaining chip to negotiate with the minister, and it was estimated that he would eventually be abandoned by the minister, with the Revolutionary Army using his head to win over the people.

Kosmia's fate seems to be open to debate. She comes from the Western Kingdom and, although she has committed serious crimes, she has no deep-seated hatred for the Revolutionary Army. Some people think that handing her over to the Western Kingdom in exchange for support would be more valuable than killing her directly.

But none of this mattered to Iori anymore. After receiving the agreed-upon reward, he took some time to return to Soul Society and then traveled all the way to the coast of the East Sea.

It is said that there is no trade between the eastern island nation and the mainland, and no one can cross this sea that is sometimes shrouded in thick fog and sometimes struck by lightning. However, Izang undoubtedly came from the island nation across the sea, so he must still have a way to cross the sea.

He searched for a long time in the villages near the seaside, using money to pave his way, and wiped out several groups of pirates who were harming the area. Through various means of intelligence gathering, he finally obtained the nautical charts and necessary tools, including ships and compasses.

Therefore, he even went to the old sailor to learn how to sail a boat... Of course, the old sailor said that even a small boat cannot be learned in a few days, and going to sea alone is no different from courting death. He sincerely advised Iori not to challenge the majesty of the sea.

But Iori had her own plans, which she kept secret from others.

It is impossible for an ordinary person to perfectly master navigation in a month or even less, let alone cross oceans alone.

But Iori is not an ordinary person, not even a "person"!

As a Shinigami, he doesn't need to prepare large amounts of food and fresh water on the ship, nor does he need to worry about scurvy or anything like that. Even if his spiritual pressure is insufficient, he can return to Soul Society to replenish it.

More importantly, he possesses the spatial Imperial Arms, [Dimensional Array: Shangri-La]!

By setting a marker on the beach, if he gets lost at sea due to a wrong turn, he can easily return to land and prepare a small boat for going out to sea.