In the Rukongai—especially in the districts with larger numbers—it feels like even the drifting atmosphere changes into something eerie. It's as if the entire surrounding area is covered in a prickly, threatening air.
At least, it's completely different from when I was in the 1st District.
There are no houses nearby, let alone any sign of people.
On the way here, I saw dilapidated houses and people lying around listlessly, but here, there isn't even that.
As if they are avoiding this place.
"Insects and beasts must instinctively sense it and flee... I suppose."
I take out several sheets of paper from my pocket—documents I've read over and over on the way here—and look through them again as a final check.
"Geez... Captain Unohana always does things too suddenly... Even when she gives me training, it's always suddenly the day before..."
What is recorded is information about a wanted Hollow.
"Let's just think of this as another trial—a whip of love."
Why did things turn out like this? That goes back about half a day.
"Ah, Recruit Yukawa. Just in time."
"Yes?"
At the Comprehensive Relief Station, probably about ten minutes before the starting bell rang. Captain Unohana spoke to me.
"Um, is there something...?"
"Yes. I am assigning you a special mission."
"...Huh?"
Special... mission...?
It's been over ten years since I was assigned to the Fourth Division, but I don't recall anything like that ever happening.
I don't think it happened to my seniors or the seated officers either...?
"Here, take this."
Saying that, the Captain handed me several documents.
I asked while skimming through them.
"This is?"
"Information on a Hollow obtained from another squad."
My eyes running over the documents stopped.
"Eh...? Um, could you repeat that please..."
"Like I said, it is information on a Hollow target for subjugation. It was a case handled by another squad, but I had them specially share it with us."
The figure of the Captain saying that with a beaming smile seemed to say, "Is there a problem?"
"...Share it...? Wait, Hollow extermination!? I've been in the Fourth Division for a long time, but I've never..."
"It's fine, you can do it. The location is a bit far, but going there, investigating, exterminating it, and coming back—two days should be more than enough."
"Um, what about my regular duties while I'm gone—"
"No problem, we will distribute them among the others."
Ah! She's not listening to me!!
"Sending someone with no experience suddenly for Hollow extermination, and moreover, you're telling me to go alone!?"
"Naturally."
"I'm telling you that's impossible!! Captain, do you perhaps hate me!?"
When I retorted that far, the Captain let out a single sigh.
"Listen well. From the time you enlisted until today, I have been watching you."
...It's already been several decades since I enlisted and started receiving training from the Captain, though... Really, I don't grow at all...
"Time is not the issue. True, your progress is slower than a turtle, but think of the fact that I haven't abandoned you until now as proof of that."
Sh-She read my mind!? N-No, surely it's a coincidence...?
"And the current you can complete the mission without any problems. Because I judged so, I asked the other squad to oblige me."
"Captain... was that... how it was... I'm sorry."
"I am glad you understand; this is all because I think of you. Besides, I personally examined it and chose an opponent that even you can likely defeat. Even if it is your first Hollow extermination, there will be no problem."
"Thank you for your consideration."
I inadvertently bowed my head to the Captain.
"I will explain the rest later. Recruit Yukawa, head to the site immediately."
"Yes!"
Thus, I came all the way to the Rukongai.
I came, but.
"The fact that the information listed in the documents is thin is a problem..."
Information on the Hollow is certainly written there.
However, what is listed is only a summary of where it appears, a rough estimated range of appearance deduced from that, and information on where its base is thought to be.
There was also information on the enemy Hollow.
There was, but only about its size and appearance. There is absolutely no information necessary for combat, such as what kind of abilities it has or how strong it is.
For now, the place I am currently at is a destination I headed to relying on the "Isn't it lurking around here?" information listed in this document, but—
"This place seems like a hit."
Judging from the surrounding state devoid of any sign of living creatures, I determined that the possibility of it being the main target was high.
"In that case, somewhere around here—...!! !!"
Just as I was about to search the surroundings using Reilaku (Spirit Ribbons) perception, I felt a fiercely bad premonition that made the back of my neck tingle, and intense killing intent.
Almost unconsciously, I activated Cero to boost my basic abilities, and at the same time, threw myself away from that spot.
"...Kuh!"
But perhaps my reaction was just a little slow; my back was shallowly cut.
Maybe thanks to my defense being increased by Hierro, it was only a skin-deep cut, like a scratch.
But if I hadn't activated Hierro, I would have suffered a much deeper wound.
"Kihyahyahyahyahya!! So a Soul Reaper finally came out!! Well fine, I was getting tired of the taste of small fry around here anyway!! Dealing with big game for a change isn't bad!!"
It must have been pleased that it injured a Soul Reaper, however shallowly. The Hollow suddenly revealed itself—where had it been hiding?
With a large hole in its chest and a huge mask, its appearance was exactly that of the Hollows I knew.
Its mouth had fang-like sharpness, and its claws were sharp like a carnivore's. Its figure possessing those sturdy arms seemed to claim confidence in close-quarters combat.
"And although a bit large, it's a female Soul Reaper... Aah, I can't get enough!! Slowly, slowly, I'll carve wounds all over your body, and no one will come to help no matter how much you cry and scream... I'll eat you right when you've fully despaired!!"
"Try it if you can!!"
The opponent seems to have quite a personality.
To not be swallowed by its momentum, I also ready my Zanpakuto and bark back to rouse my spirit.
However, the theory of Hollow extermination was supposed to be "split the head with a single blow from behind," yet a beginner gets a serious battle right off the bat...
"Kihyahyahyahyahya!! Then, as you wish!!"
"...Eh!? It disappeared...!?"
The Hollow that was right in front of my eyes disappeared as if assimilating into the surrounding scenery.
What on earth is this...?
"Heeeere I go!!"
"...!! There!"
It became invisible, but strictly speaking, only its figure became invisible.
Indeed, it is fast and its attack power seems high. But if I can detect its movements with Reilaku perception, I can also hear the sound of its attacks cutting through the air. It hasn't even hidden its killing intent.
At this level, if I stay calm, I can deal with it.
It seems I was flustered because I took the first hit and it was my first Hollow extermination.
Calm down, me... If I recall the training with the Captain, this level is...
Ah, I'm getting scared in a different sense.
"Ho, for a fluke, you're pretty good! But how long will that last...?"
Does it think my dodging the attack was a coincidence, or does it have absolute confidence in its ability that it doesn't matter even if avoided?
I feel the Hollow's mocking emotions coming through.
"So this... is your ability?"
"That's right!! I can assimilate with the surrounding scenery and hide myself! That's why I'll absolutely never be found! No matter what kind of Soul Reaper you are, can you fight properly with your eyes covered!? No way you can! I'll make you taste the fear of the unseen to the fullest!!"
"Is that, so..."
...Calling it manga-esque sums it up, but why did it reveal its own ability? Because I think teaching it puts it at an absolute disadvantage.
Even with this ability, from the opponent's perspective—
Is it becoming transparent? Is it assimilating with the scenery? Or is it hiding its figure and launching invisible attacks from somewhere? Is there an accomplice somewhere?
—Like that, there should be several possibilities. Could this be what they call "stylish"? I don't think I can understand it.
There is one more thing I understood.
That is about "why this Hollow extermination was passed to the Fourth Division."
Hollow extermination is a Soul Reaper's job and also a subject of evaluation.
Would they easily give up such an achievement to another squad? If they were to give it up, it must surely be an opponent they "don't mind passing to another squad."
Like this guy this time, hiding so well that enormous effort is needed to find it. Or running away immediately and changing nests frequently.
Such troublesome or annoying tasks, the kind where you think 'I don't want to do this myself... I want to push it onto someone else...' came around to us...
Oh well, in short, it's the same as the usual Fourth Division work.
Moreover—it's only a guess, but I feel like the Captain carefully selected the "most troublesome and annoying opponent" and brought it to me.
Because she even went out of her way to say, "I examined it properly."
Aha... ahahahaha...!!
Alright, it's all this guy's fault.
"..."
"Guaaaah!?!?"
The enemy was cleverly moving and shifting its position even while speaking, but its location was already exposed by Reilaku perception in the first place.
When I casually thrust my hand in that direction, I immediately fired a flash of destruction—Cero.
The opponent seemingly never thought it would be shot at, and received heavy damage proportional to how much it had let its guard down.
"W-Why do you know my location...!? No, more importantly, what was that just now...!? Why, why can a Soul Reaper use Cero!?"
"It's a fake, but I practiced... Besides, I can do this too."
"Gyaaaaaaah!!"
Next, I fired a barrage of Bala.
Each shot is weaker than Cero, but its selling point is high speed and rapid fire. I hammer them into its whole body without leaving any spot untouched.
Unable to maintain its camouflage under the ceaseless barrage of Bala, its figure appeared.
Both Cero and Bala are effective hits against an opponent of this level. Hierro was also demonstrating its defensive power properly.
It was worth training for over a hundred years without giving up.
Since it's a rare opportunity, let's have this Hollow become a test subject for abilities I can't use or try openly.
"Sto-, stop it!! Gubeh!! A-Aren't Soul Reapers supposed to use something called Kido!!"
"Oh, you desire Kido? In that case..."
"He...? No, eh..."
"Bakudo Number 30! Shitotsu Sansen!!"
Creating three huge beaks, I pierced them into its arms and waist. Still, the momentum of the beaks didn't stop, fixing the Hollow to a nearby tree.
"Gah!? I-I can't move...!? With this..."
"Hado Number 33! Sokatsui!!"
Continuing, I created blue flames and fired them at the opponent who had now been reduced to a mere target.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!! Hot hot hot hot hot!!"
It must want to roll on the ground and shake its arms to put out the fire. But since it's sewn down by Shitotsu Sansen, it can't budge an inch.
"Now, this is the end."
"A, aaaaaaaah!! No no no no! I am still—aaaaaah!!"
I flashed my Zanpakuto at the opponent completely immobilized by Bakudo and blue flames.
Perhaps backed by the enhancement from Cero, I cut the supposedly hard mask in two surprisingly easily, and the Hollow vanished just like that.
Only the scorched marks remaining on the tree bark were the sole proof that that Hollow existed.
"Unlike your fetish, your dying words were quite boring."
It wasn't for nothing that I continued the Captain's training—where I was made to prepare for death every time. It is no longer a sword disproportionate to me, mimicking my master.
I sheathed my sword, and just as I was about to leave as if the job was done, I realized.
"...Ah, I almost forgot."
A slight pain running across my back. A wound I couldn't fully avoid due to my immaturity.
"Well, if it's just this much."
I silently concentrate my mind lightly. With just that, the pain in my back disappeared completely. Not a single scar remains anymore.
This is the result of Kaido training with the Captain. It's my own body, so I can heal an injury of this level in an instant. My proficiency is on a different level from when I first enlisted.
Thus, my first subjugation mission ended all too easily.
"Oh, Recruit Yukawa. Just the right timing."
"...Again, Captain...?"
Did she get a taste for it from the last time?
Since then, every time I see the Captain holding documents and handing down special missions, I hang my head in despair.
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