Chapter 21: What’s It?

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to kill Urahara.

Honestly, I’d like to take at least one of his arms, but his abilities are too excellent for that.

This is probably what you call a double-edged sword?

He’s too valuable to discard, yet troublesome to embrace.

That’s Urahara Kisuke.

Honestly, I don’t know what he’s thinking.

Soon, Ichigo and his friends returned to their high school lives.

This is, in fact, the normal life of a high school student.

It’s just that this time didn’t last long, and Soul Society Shinigami came to Ichigo’s school.

Well, I guess that’s to be expected.

Since it’s unknown what will happen after Aizen’s full-scale rebellion, it makes sense to dispatch Shinigami to be able to move quickly.

And.

“Guess what this is?”

A blond-haired man approached Ichigo, holding a Zanpakuto, the proof of a Shinigami, in one hand, and a Hollow mask in the other, taunting Ichigo.

Ichigo’s eyes widened at that.

Now, Ichigo knows enough about Shinigami common sense to understand what those are and what they mean.

The leader of the Visored, Shinji, had appeared.

“Wanna learn how to Hollowfy?”

“Can you take out a mask too?”

“….Your tone is weird? It sounds like you can take it out freely too.”

“Oh, I can take it out too.”

After saying that, Ichigo naturally took out a Hollow mask with the tip of his hand.

There are no restrictions if it’s just taking out the mask.

And Shinji was greatly surprised by Ichigo’s actions.

Of course, Shinji thought that Ichigo hadn’t properly learned Hollowfication yet, but the fact that he could take it out so freely meant that he had already mastered Hollowfication.

“What the. You, did you already master Hollowfication?”

“I can’t maintain it for long yet, but I did learn it?”

“How? Who taught you? Did Urahara do it?”

“Urahara-san? No, the Zanpakuto inside me taught me?”

“Huh? What kind of bullsh*t is that? Your Zanpakuto taught you?”

“Isn’t that how you learn?”

Shinji frowned, and Ichigo was puzzled.

Naturally, the order and method in which the Visored and Ichigo learned Hollowfication were bound to be different.

The means and methods by which the Visored learned Hollowfication could be said to be a life-or-death struggle, but in Ichigo’s case, the inner Hollow, White, is on Ichigo’s side, so he can just take it out and use it freely from the beginning.

The rest is just getting used to Hollowfication to increase the duration.

“…Well, fine. If you’ve already mastered Hollowfication, it’ll be easier for both of us.”

Shinji scratched his head and said as if it didn’t matter.

“Ichigo, become one of us Visored.”

“What are you saying all of a sudden?”

“I’m saying that you and we are the same kind.”

“Same kind?”

“Do you think this mask is for decoration?”

Shinji tapped the Hollow mask with his finger.

Seeing Ichigo still frowning as if he didn’t understand, Shinji sighed and said.

“To put it simply, it’s like this. We, who are different from normal Shinigami, have no choice but to stick together and survive.”

“Different from Shinigami?”

“Do you think the Shinigami will just leave you alone, with all that Hollow spiritual pressure leaking out?”

“That’s…”

“It’d be a relief if they just threw you into the Department of Research and Development and dissected you.”

Others might think it’s just instigation or a conspiracy theory, but I could understand why Shinji was saying that.

Because the Visored were originally Soul Society captains, vice-captains, and members of the Kido Corps, but they fell into Aizen’s conspiracy and were rescued by Urahara, escaping to the World of the Living.

It can be said that Aizen’s strategy and Kyoka Suigetsu are amazing, but on the other hand, it can also be said that the Visored, who were victims, were easily discarded.

Even considering the Visored’s strength, it’s no exaggeration to say that they made up 30% of the Gotei’s forces at the time.

“I’m telling you this for your own good, Ichigo. Don’t trust the Gotei too much.”

“What are you saying all of a sudden. Don’t trust the Gotei too much.”

“Why, he’s right.”

“Are you going to be like that too?”

-It’s because Aizen has rebelled and it’s a wartime situation now, but normally, it wouldn’t be strange for the Shinigami to try to take your head right away.

The reason I tried not to reveal White as much as possible when I was causing a ruckus in the Seireitei was because of that.

No matter what, Hollows are the sworn enemies of the Shinigami, and the existence of a Shinigami who uses the power of such Hollows is unlikely to be viewed favorably.

Just like humans, Shinigami also have a tendency to reject those who are different from them.

Besides that, I knew quite a bit about the darkness of the Gotei, Central 46, and the nobles, so I could easily agree with Shinji’s words.

In the first place, the Visored’s lives were threatened because of a mixture of such political problems.

Central 46 is ostensibly the superior organization of the Gotei, but if you ask if Central 46 is absolutely in charge, I would shake my head.

The Gotei can overturn Central 46 overnight if they want to. It’s just Genryusai’s belief that he listens to the opinions of Central 46.

Rather, Central 46 is more keen to oppressing the Gotei even more so because of that.

“Who are you talking to? Are you talking to your Zanpakuto?”

“Uh, it’s hard to explain?”

-Should I come out?

“That would work.”

With those words, I took shape with Ichigo’s spiritual pressure and remained.

Shinji was surprised at my appearance.

“Strong and mighty morning, my name is Black.”

“It’s night now.”

“Strong and mighty night, my name is Black.”

“……It’s weird. I didn’t get hit with any illusions, so why am I feeling dizzy?”

Shinji grabbed his forehead, seemingly in pain.

“What are you? Are you a Hollow inside Ichigo?”

“Who do you take me for, looking like a Hollow? I’m not a tsundere who cries out for my master.”

“Damn, I’m going crazy. You’re saying there’s another one besides you?”

“Can you see it that way?”

“He’s already mastered Hollowfication, a strange guy pops out from the inside, Ichigo. What the hell are you?”

“Uh, a normal Substitute Shinigami?”

At those words, Shinji shouted.

“A normal Substitute Shinigami doesn’t master Hollowfication, and a strange guy like that doesn’t pop out!!!”