Help! I am bound to Aizen!
Chapter 379

Chapter 379

2-in-1 chapter:  

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“Training match?”

At the monk’s suggestion, Kaelith showed a thoughtful expression.

Seeing he might be tempted, the monk quickly added:

“I’ve heard about it—you fought Yamamoto to a draw. That’s an unimaginable feat!”

“Even I wouldn’t dare say I could win without using the power of Ichimonji.”

“At your age, to have reached such a level… if you keep improving, you might just qualify for the Royal Guard based on combat ability alone!”

“Oh, and speaking of joining the Royal Guard—your heavy reishi purification technique has already earned you the qualifications. If it weren’t for—”

He abruptly stopped mid-sentence, mouth open.

“Ahem. In any case, Kaelith, if you want to go further, I’m always ready!”

Hyōsube Ichibē thumped his chest and grinned widely.

At those words, Kaelith suddenly remembered something:

“Now that you mention it, wasn’t Kuruyashiki Kenpachi once invited to the Royal Guard due to his combat strength?”

“So when you say I’d need to improve more to join, you’re saying Kuruyashiki Kenpachi is stronger than me?”

The monk shook his head.

“Not exactly. The circumstances were just different.”

“First, the Royal Guard was short-handed at the time.”

“Kirinji had only just joined and wasn’t yet fully accustomed to the power levels of the Royal Guard.”

“Shutara and Hikifune hadn’t ascended yet. Besides Ōetsu and myself, there were barely any active members.”

“Second, Kuruyashiki’s abilities are extremely unique. Even I’ve rarely seen a Zanpakutō like his. Leaving him in Seireitei could’ve caused serious consequences.”

“Given all that, Kuruyashiki received a special invitation.”

“As for you now—your combat power is absolutely on par. It’s just that for certain reasons, the invitation hasn’t come.”

Kaelith made a sound of understanding.

Hearing the monk’s words, a sudden question arose in his mind.

The Royal Special Forces should’ve existed for a million years or more.

For an organization that’s lasted this long—even if they weren’t called the “Royal Guard” back then—there should’ve been something similar.

So what happened to all the previous Royal Guard members?

Did they all die of old age?

After briefly pondering, Kaelith decided to set the question aside.

Something that simple—he could just hand it off to Sōsuke or Urahara Kisuke when he got back to Seireitei.

Looking at the large monk in front of him, he crossed his arms:

“A training match sounds great.”

“But before that, I need to warm up.”

“Warm up?”

The monk raised an eyebrow.

Kaelith nodded.

“Before fighting you, I’m going to spar with the rest of the Royal Guard first.”

“When I’ve beaten all of them, then I’ll have a proper showdown with you.”

At this, the monk let out a low “Hmm.”

“That’s fine, I suppose.”

“But Kaelith, you’d better be careful.”

“I know you’ve had small skirmishes with Kirinji and the others before—but that wasn’t their full strength.”

“If it’s a real battle, their capabilities might far exceed what you expect.”

As he said this, he grinned with a slightly eerie expression.

Kaelith snorted.

“No problem. The stronger the better—I don’t bother with the weak.”

“When playing a game, it’s only fun if it’s on hell difficulty, and you’re smiling the whole time.”

Upon hearing “hell difficulty,” the monk instinctively pictured a grotesque monster with a gorilla face and giant bull horns.

Honestly, he wasn’t smiling. He'd rather fall off the map than fight it again.

In his mind, he silently marked another grudge against the game developers.

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When the rest of the Royal Guard heard Kaelith’s request, they were first surprised—then something felt off.

That brat wants to challenge the monk? Fine.

But fighting the rest of us first—what’s that supposed to mean?

Is he using us to test his blade?

In that moment, the four of them were united in outrage. Gone was the subtle tension of internal rivalry; all were fired up to crush Kaelith.

Meanwhile, Kaelith was completely unaware.

Under their combined glares—each suggesting they might cut him down on the spot—Kaelith cheerfully returned to Hōton Hall, had a full meal, and slept an entire day.

The next morning, everyone gathered at Omotesandō. (Note: A grand courtyard or ceremonial avenue)

Seeing Kaelith preparing to fight, Kirinji Tenjirō couldn’t hold back and rushed forward.

“Yo! Kid! Your first opponent—and your last—will be none other than this great me!”

Looking at the pompadour man in front of him, Kaelith blinked.

“Last?”

“No way, no way... this is just a warm-up. I won’t beat you that badly, don't worry.”

“It’s just a friendly spar. It’s not like I’m going to scare the rest into forfeiting.”

“?”

A vein popped on Kirinji Tenjirō’s forehead.

Is that what I meant? he thought.

His blood pressure spiked.

Taking a deep breath, he gave a menacing grin.

“Very good, kid. You’ve successfully pissed me off.”

“I’m going to show you what real terror looks like!”

He swung his paddle-like Zanpakutō:

“ Flash from Illuminating Heavens—Kinpika!!”

As the blade erupted in golden light with the release phrase, Kaelith nodded slightly.

Well, the name matched, at least.

He then released Rixiang Jimie, charging at Kirinji Tenjirō.

Not far off, the other four Royal Guard members sat atop a high platform, observing the battle.

“Much as I hate to admit it, the brat really is something,” Shutara Senjumaru said, propping her chin on a skeletal hand with a serious expression.

“Kirinji’s body has been enhanced by the Soul King’s power, and he’s been breathing high-density reishi air in the Royal Palace for years. In every way, he has the advantage over Kaelith.”

“But... even so, Kaelith is clearly dominating.”

“A little over a hundred years ago, when I first met him, he’d just barely stepped into captain-level. I never expected him to grow this much, this fast.”

“Well, he is my master,” Hikifune Kirio chuckled.

“He only taught you how to cook… don’t make it sound like he trained you in combat, it’s creepy,” Shutara said flatly.

Unlike the others who were watching the flow of battle, Ōetsu Nimaiya was more focused on Kaelith’s Zanpakutō.

Having lived so long, he had rarely seen a bond like the one between Kaelith and Rixiang Jimie.

The last time they met, the way Rixiang Jimie spoke so poetically of Kaelith had left a deep impression on him.

Now, watching them fight, he couldn’t help but wonder.

“Strange. Kaelith clearly wields his sword well. Their coordination is great. By all logic, they should be a good match. So why… do they get along so poorly?”

Upon hearing that, Kirio Hikifune showed a somewhat complicated expression.

Among the few people present, she was the last to arrive in the Royal Palace, yet the one who understood Kaelith the most.

Ōetsu Nimaiya’s question had truly hit the mark.

Hopefully, he could remain this calm once he learned the truth.

At that moment, the battle on the field had grown increasingly intense.

Tenjirō Kirinji, even back in Seireitei, was known by the title “Lightning Speed.” Kaelith, too, had honed his speed significantly.

Their battle looked like two streaks of lightning and fire colliding—disappearing, reappearing, crashing, unleashing spiritual pressure storms with each clash.

Hyōsube stroked the beard on his chin.

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but it felt like Kaelith wasn’t in a rush to win. Rather, he seemed to be watching Tenjirō Kirinji, waiting for him to reveal more techniques.

Why?

Was he trying to gauge the limits of what a body modified by the Soul King could achieve?

Hmm. That wasn’t a bad idea.

Hyōsube nodded slightly in approval.

After a long exchange with just Shikai, both Kaelith and Tenjirō Kirinji released their Bankai in unison, as if by tacit understanding.

Both of their Bankai emitted golden light, making the battlefield dazzlingly radiant.

The fierce fight continued all day—from morning until nightfall.

At first, Tenjirō Kirinji became more and more excited as the battle progressed, enjoying the feeling of finally finding a worthy opponent.

But gradually, even with the modifications he had undergone via the Soul King’s power, he began to falter.

His spiritual pressure was thick and his body was strong, but only in relative terms.

In a battle between equals, even tremendous endurance could be worn down by overwhelming spiritual pressure consumption.

Luckily, just as he was reaching his limit, Kaelith voluntarily called off the match.

“Hungry. Food.”

Kaelith explained the reason for ending the fight in just two words.

Though he felt a faint dissatisfaction, Tenjirō Kirinji decisively agreed.

No kidding—he was already barely hanging on, yet Kaelith still seemed completely composed. Only a fool would continue.

As Kaelith walked off the field, Kirio Hikifune ran over with a cheerful smile:

“Master, you were amazing!”

“Hmph, that was just the tip of my immense power.”

Kaelith smirked proudly, putting on the demeanor of a seasoned expert.

“Hey hey, Kirio, whose side are you on? We're supposed to be a united front right now!”

Senjumaru Shutara ran over, stopping what she saw as treason.

At that, Kirio Hikifune suddenly looked as though she remembered something.

“Oh right, we’re supposed to be unified or whatever.”

Shutara: "....."

Kirio chuckled and turned to Kaelith.

“Master, how about letting me go next?”

“I’m fine with that.”

Kaelith nodded.

Right now, he didn’t care about who he was or what his mission was.

All he knew was that here, in the Royal Palace, he wanted to go on a glorious killing spree.

Back at the Hogtusk Hall, Kaelith transformed into a food-devouring machine and began to feast.

Sitting across from him, Tenjirō Kirinji matched his pace with equal speed, devouring his own share.

Though their battle hadn’t ended in a decisive winner, perhaps their appetites could serve as the next contest.

After all, he had been altered by the Soul King's power—a man holding the "King's Key."

How could he fall behind even in eating?

Kaelith, let me show you what true manly appetite looks like!

Tenjirō Kirinji curled his lips into a confident smile.

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Two hours later, his pupils were trembling as he stared at the man across from him, lost in thought.

The dishes prepared by Kirio Hikifune contained an incredibly dense spiritual pressure.

Ordinary captain-level Shinigami would be overwhelmed after just one or two plates.

Even gifted individuals with immense spirit power would be pushed to their limits with one full table.

Someone like him—a powerhouse of the Royal Guard, starving after a day of fighting—naturally had a monstrous appetite.

In two hours, he had eaten over ten full tables of food.

The spiritual pressure inside him had long reached the point of overflow.

His bloated stomach left him unable to eat another bite.

Yet Kaelith… this madman… was still going!

Even more terrifying, he hadn’t slowed down in the slightest!

Had he not been watching the entire time, Tenjirō Kirinji might have suspected cheating.

Sensing Kirinji’s gaze, Kaelith looked up.

“What’s the matter, old man? Not enough food?”

“If that’s the case, you can ask Captain Hikifune to make more.”

“If she’s too tired from cooking, I can do it.”

“I’m about seventy percent full now—almost time for a break.”

“???”

Tenjirō Kirinji’s eye twitched.

Seventy percent full?

This guy… was he even human?

For a moment, he couldn’t help but feel like he had just experienced the equivalent of being emotionally punched by Komamura.

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After the meal, Tenjirō Kirinji prepared to take Kaelith back to rest.

But as Kaelith sat cross-legged, he discontentedly patted the tatami mat beside him.

“What? Rest already? How can someone so lazy exist in Soul Society?”

Tenjirō Kirinji was taken aback.

At this hour, what else could they be doing if not resting?

After a moment of confusion, realization dawned.

Ah—he wants to train?

Suddenly, Kirinji was deeply moved.

Damn it… no wonder this kid was so strong at such a young age. Turns out... he’s that dedicated!

He took a deep breath, wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, and prepared to volunteer to train with Kaelith.

Then he saw Kaelith turn his head to Hyōsube Ichibē.

“Hey, Big Monk, wanna play that thing?”

“Eh?”

Hyōsube blinked in confusion.

Then his eyes lit up, and he smiled.

“Ah, you should’ve said so earlier—I’ve been looking forward to it!”

Minutes later, under Tenjirō Kirinji’s blank stare, Kaelith and the other Royal Guard members had gathered happily around, game controllers in hand.

“Gentlemen! I bring you the latest masterpiece from Kaelith's Paradise… the one and only Yuriō Party! A must-play classic when friends and family gather!”

“Tonight, I shall show you the true meaning of power—with an endless supply of coins!”

The Hogtusk Hall instantly filled with joyful energy.

Usually aloof and dignified, the Royal Guard rarely gathered for games like this.

But ever since Kaelith arrived, the entire atmosphere of the Royal Palace had changed…

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The next day, at Omotesandō.

Early in the morning, Tenjirō Kirinji arrived.

Yesterday, he had viewed Kaelith’s battle from a first-person perspective—it hadn’t been comprehensive.

Today, he planned to study the kid’s fighting style carefully and pinpoint his weaknesses—so that next time, he could seize victory!

Soon, Senjumaru Shutara, Ōetsu Nimaiya, and Hyōsube Ichibē also arrived.

Seeing Kaelith and Kirio Hikifune facing off in the distance, everyone’s spirits were high.

A feast and a party at night.

Sparring and duels during the day.

This life—is truly sublime.

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