"Are you really okay, Airi-san?"
"Yes, I'm fine now. Sorry for making you walk me all this way."
"Really...? If you, a member of the Fourth Division, say so, I'll believe you, but..."
naturally, if one nearly collapses, people will worry.
I finally arrived home after being asked about my condition by Kosuzu-san the entire way back.
Even though we were in front of my house gate, she continued to worry about my health.
"More importantly, what about you, Kosuzu-san? Look, today is the day your long-cherished desire was fulfilled, right? Why don't you hurry home and show your family that you're safe?"
"That's... But I can't just leave you like this!"
"I really am okay. So, please?"
"...Understood."
Good grief, she finally relented.
I intended to be careful not to show it on my face on the way back, and I tried to feign composure as much as possible, but...
Although she said she would go home, she seemed to look back again and again on her way, worrying about me. So, I kept waving my hand in front of the gate until she was out of sight.
"Good grief, finally... huh..."
I waited for about five more minutes after her figure disappeared, and after confirming she wouldn't come back, I dropped to one knee.
It wasn't just pain or suffering.
On the way back, Nubatama had been issuing warnings constantly. My head was filled with agony and noise; I felt like I was going crazy.
'My Lord! My Lord!! Hurry, hurry!! There is no time left!!'
"I know..."
Whipping a body that was in so much pain I couldn't stand, I crawled back into the house.
Moving sluggishly, I opened the door, sat directly on the earthen floor of the entryway, and placed my Zanpakuto on my knees. I was fully aware it was bad manners, but I didn't have the composure to care about such things.
'Jinzen! Jinzen, please!!'
Truthfully, I wanted to do it right there and then.
But today was the day she—my best friend—finally settled her heart. I didn't want to do anything to dampen that.
I have my pride, too.
That is why I came home pretending to be fine like this.
Now, this is the final push.
I have to make the lie I told become the truth no matter what.
Nothing happened to me today. I will meet her again tomorrow, and on my day off, I will go play with her.
I will complete this entire schedule without a hitch.
It was fortunate that the housekeeper was off today.
This terrifying sensation assaulting my whole body.
I have never experienced it before, but I know it as knowledge.
This sensation as if my body is going to burst from the inside, as if the boundary of 'myself' is going to break.
This is probably that.
—Inner...
It is the onset of the Hollow's power inside the body, something the protagonist, Captain Hirako, Lisa, and all those who came later experienced.
Originally, they are existences incompatible with Shinigami, so if this happens, eventually one's existence will be completely swallowed by the Inner Hollow and taken over.
To prevent that, it is necessary to control the Inner Hollow... I think that was it... something like that is necessary.
If neglected, the Shinigami will become a Hollow, soul and all... rampage according to instinct and destructive impulses, be designated as a target for elimination, and be exterminated... I think that's how it ends.
...Eh, isn't the explanation kind of vague?
It can't be helped! I don't remember it properly!
The settings around that part are complicated! Besides, I never thought something like this would happen to me!!
...No matter how much I regret it, it's too late now.
To investigate the cause and deal with it, I hurriedly performed Jinzen and came to my inner world.
The mix of natural and artificial objects is the same as always, but looking closely, there are cracks.
Like this, several fissures are running through the space of my inner world.
It feels like a common direction where "the world is about to break."
And the cause, no matter how I think about it, is that Hollow I fought during the day, right?
She probably did something, like a weasel's last fart.
I messed up.
No matter how much it was to clear Sachie-san's regrets, I shouldn't have done that... I intended to show off absolute power and snap her heart in two, but...
Was I perhaps also affected by Kosuzu-san and acting a bit strange?
"Well then... Nubatama? Are you there?"
'If you call, I shall arrive instantly!!'
As expected, he came out with a "slurp" from the shadow of a building with a momentum that was slightly off-putting.
'So, My Lord! It seems you know both the cause and the solution, so please, do it!! Teacher! Please do it!!'
"Who is the teacher!? I mean, can't you just take care of it? You can do that much, right?"
'No no no! That is, well, I am merely a Zanpakuto! This current situation is My Lord's problem, so it would be unmannerly if My Lord does not resolve it with your own power!! It would be rude for me to pull it off for you!!'
"...Setting aside your phrasing, I understand the reason. In other words, it's meaningless unless I do it?"
'That is exactly right!!'
"Good grief, well then... You're there, aren't you? Come out. This is the world inside me; hiding is useless."
Feeling a slight headache, I called out to the void.
However, the response was silence.
"...Shall I drag you out by force? Like during the day?"
"Kihihihihi!! I'd verify prefer you didn't do that."
When I spoke again, putting spiritual pressure, anger, and bloodlust into it, perhaps the threat worked, or perhaps she simply gave up. A pure white existence revealed itself.
The appearance has changed significantly, so I'm judging by the voice and wording, but there is no mistake.
This guy is the one I fought during the day—the opponent who was also Sachie-san's nemesis.
The form was not that of the monster resembling a canine animal I fought during the day, but that of a human.
However, since it was originally a dead human who transformed, in a sense, it is only natural. Perhaps this mimics her appearance from when she was alive.
She was dressed like the leader of a band of female bandits, and while her appearance was beautiful, it was cold.
Beyond cool, she gave an impression of being cunning, cruel, ruthless, and self-centered.
The expression "eyes like a snake" must exist for her.
Also, as if proof of being one who became a Hollow, everything from her hair color to her skin color was pure white.
"I don't know how you did it during that fight, but you got inside me, right?"
"That's right! I poured it in when I bit you. My Reiryoku, just like snake venom!! Doing that caused my very existence to flow out, so it was a gamble, but... this is great! To think I can take over the body of a young and beautiful Shinigami like you, I feel great!!"
Ah, come to think of it, she did something when she bit me.
So that was the cause.
Pouring one's own spiritual power into the opponent's soul to forcibly hitch a ride, barging into the eaves and taking over the main house as if it were one's own; is that it?
"Is that your ability?"
"No. This is a power held by a Hollow I ate a little while ago! It tasted bad and was a weird guy, but it gave me an opportunity like this! Thinking about it now, he was a good guy!! Kihihihihihi!!"
...A weird guy, huh...
In other words, there was an existence that seemed alien to a normal Hollow, and she ate it...
...Hmm.
Someone's agent? Or a product of coincidence?? Surely not...
"I can tell, I can tell... This world is gradually being dyed in my color...!! All that's left is to beat you, the hindrance, to death, and this world will be all mine!!"
With an expression of ecstatic madness, she transformed one arm into that of a monster and clicked her claws as if to show them off. My stomach was pierced during the day, so I remember it well.
I see, her basic form remains human. But she can change her shape at will. Is that how the Hollow in this world works?
"Do you think you can?"
"Of course!! Shaaaaaaaaa!!"
She's fast. She swung one hand up at a speed that felt even faster than what I saw during the day and attacked.
"But well, it's not something I can't handle."
"Wha... !?"
I flashed my Zanpakuto in the manner of Iaido.
With just that, I cut off her arm.
I could have cut off another one if I wanted to, but I'll stop here for now.
"Did you not understand the difference in ability?"
"Gu, gugugu...!! In that case, take this!!"
Just when it seemed she transformed the arm opposite the lost one into a monster's, she began to punch the empty space.
"A world like this! If it won't become mine, I'll break it!! Take that, take that!!"
She punched with tremendous force, as if there were an invisible wall in that space. But—
"...Are you satisfied?"
"Impossible! Why, why won't it break!? Until just a moment ago, it was so easy..."
—No matter how many times she punched, not a single crack appeared this time.
"It's troublesome for me if you keep breaking it so easily. So, I made it a little harder."
"Ha... harder!? Don't say stupid things! There's no way you can do that..."
"I can do it. After all, this is my world. It's only natural, obvious. How many years do you think I've been playing with Nubatama here? I know every nook and cranny of this world."
'Ah, My Lord... I was a little moved by those words just now! This is a bond! The love-love power of the two of us!!'
...Shut up.
Well, if I reveal the trick, it's an application of Danku.
By making it just... gyuuuuuu! Making it hard like that, I was able to contain it quite easily.
Until now, the defense was nonexistent, so she could do as she pleased, but now that the hardness has increased drastically, it would probably take a thousand years for a Hollow of this spiritual pressure to break it.
"Ki, kihihi... It's true, it seems I can't break it..."
She must have realized it was useless no matter how many times she punched.
However, wondering if she still had some scheme, she stopped her hands and glared at me.
"But you can't kill me! Because I'm already mixed into this world. If you eliminate me, that means eliminating a part of this world as well."
"...So what?"
"So what, you say!? Don't act so high and mighty!! The fact that you can't kill me means you'll have to live in fear of my shadow forever! Sure, I can't break it now, but you can't devote your consciousness to me forever either! A moment of negligence will definitely come! Whether it's when you're eating, or when you're hunting for men, I don't know though!!"
Hunting for men... Oh my, how vulgar. I don't have that kind of hobby.
"Until that time comes, I just have to wait here while sharpening my fangs! Come now, let's have a fun, fun communal life!!"
I see.
Her tone reeks of a lowlife, but what she's saying makes sense.
My soul has already mixed with this Hollow and become one.
To return this state to the original—to separate the pure Shinigami and the Hollow once more—would be like "separating coffee and milk from a café au lait."
I won't say it's impossible, but it's incredibly difficult.
Therefore.
To maintain dominance in this relationship, I first need to force the Inner Hollow to submit.
However, the Inner Hollow continues to watch vigilantly for a chance to snatch control of the body from the master existence, the Shinigami.
Not allowing consciousness to be completely stolen, yet using the power of the Hollow by one's own will.
That was the state when a Shinigami underwent Hollowfication, if I recall correctly.
So I also need to make this Hollow submit and obey in the same way. If I do that, even while having my life targeted, I can obtain the new ability of Hollowfication.
Normally.
"Communal life, huh..."
Everything, the cause of your defeat, is that you didn't know.
"Then, as residents of the same world, wouldn't it be better to deepen our interaction?"
I have a perverted pitch-black rubber ball here who is no less than me, you know?
"Right, Nubatama?"
'Muuuuhhhoooooooohhhh!!!!'
"Hiii!? W-What is this!?!?"
When I called his name, a pitch-black torrent erupted like a geyser as if saying 'I've been waiting for this', causing black rain to fall all around.
Each raindrop wriggled, nestled close, stuck together, and gradually transformed into one giant mass.
The appearance must have been too alien. The Hollow raised a frightened voice and cowered.
"Let me introduce you. This child is Nubatama. My Zanpakuto, and for you, an existence that counts as a senior in this world."
"Za-Zanpakuto, you say!? This grotesque thing that looks like a lump of black meat!?"
Oh my, don't hate him so much.
Right now, he's just... just a little bit unable to suppress his delusions about what's going to happen, twitching and getting ahead of himself.
Also, if you don't get along, it'll be painful later, you know?
"Hey, Nubatama. Can I confirm just a little thing?"
'What would that be!?'
"In this state, I can judge that I have already made the Hollow submit, right?"
'Of course!!'
"Then, there's absolutely no problem even if you lay a hand on her, right?"
'Undoubtedly!!!!'
"I've got your word... Well then, Nubatama. The rest is..."
Please take care of it.
It seems Nubatama understood the meaning contained in these few words all too correctly.
'It's here!! Hyahhaaaaaa!! Tension MAAAAAAAX!! I'm gonna doooooooo it!!'
"Gyaaaaaaaaahh!!"
Wow, what a terrible scream... Where did that fearless and cheeky attitude from before go?
Well... the only ones who can hear this scream are me and Nubatama... What was it? "In space, no one can hear you scream"—it's like that tagline.
'Fuhi! Fuhihihihi! Is it okay!? Is it okay!? Can I make all of this mine!? Such a wonderful thing!!'
"Good or bad, that's already yours."
'Mine! Only mine!! No one will disturb me!! Muhohohoho! My Lord!! Here, even time will not disturb us!! Oh, excuse me!! Calling you "My Lord" was unrefined!! I must think of a cute name for her!! Urgent task! This is an urgent task!!'
"Hmm, then... how about calling her Blanc? I feel like the word for white in some country was something like that."
'Ooh!! That is quite a lovely name!! Fuhihihihi!! T-Then, Bu-bu-bu-bu-Blanc-dono!! I shall make love with you!! Nyan! Calling your name increases the attachment and makes the tension seriously rise!!'
"Hii, stop!! Don't come, don't come near meeee!!"
She is frightened, but Nubatama has already extended like tentacles and entangled her ankles. Ah, she can't escape now.
He closed the distance slowly like a snake toying with a frog... or so I thought, then he pounced all at once.
Pitch-black, muddy mucus like further boiled-down coal tar was splashed all over Blanc's body, and wow... Slimy liquid all over her face... Her hair is sticky and shiny...
"Gabo!! Ga, beeeh! S-Stop! What the, hell... Go, bobobo..."
Ah, she's drowning.
I have a similar experience so I understand well... That is incredibly painful.
Wow... This is terrible... As expected of a slime creature, from every single hole... Eh!! W-Wait a minute, Nubatama!! Is that place okay too!? That's no good!! That's definitely not a place to enter!! That's a place you shouldn't enter!!!
"Gobe! I'm sor... ryyyy!!"
...Hiee!! From the hole!! From various holes in her body, various things are leaking, leaking!!
Eh, that far!? You're going into a place like that!? It goes in that much!? Hyaah... The human body is amazing...
"Ga, ba! I apolo... I apologize!! I won't, I won't ever defy... Gabababa... Oguuuuueeeeh!!"
Gross... It's grotesque... A voice like a crushed frog... Eh!! W-Wait, is that really okay!?
...It swells up that much... Wow, it's a scene like something out of an erotic manga...
But it doesn't burst... Humans are tougher than I imagined...
"I, !! !! I won't defy you anymore!! I won't get in the way either!! , so!! Anything, I'll do anything!! I'll listen to anything!! Hel... p... Gaba... ba..."
I can't describe this in great detail...
It's just that, an ant dropped into an antlion pit is better off... The pure white existence was swallowed by the pitch-black swamp in the blink of an eye...
Countless mucus and tentacles attacked with a bwaaaaaah! and did whatever they pleased...
'Muuhhooooooo!! Fuhihihi! What is the matter, Blanc-dono!! I preferred Blanc-dono's strong-willed and cheeky attitude!! Fuhi, fuhihihi!!'
Hiee... This is probably the most amazing thing that's happened so far...
What should I say...
You see.
To put it very simply, humans are creatures with two holes: an "entrance" and an "exit", right?
That means, if there were a "super long string" or something, you could pass the string from the entrance to the exit. In fact, depending on the length of the string, even if you passed it from end to end, there would still be some leftover...
Since she's Sachie-san's nemesis, I had no intention of showing mercy, but entering from the exit is, as expected, making me sympathize just a little bit...
Wait! Hold on!! A second lap, a second lap is definitely impossible!!
But what's scarier than anything is that even with that, she can't die.
Because she's already mixed with me, so she can't disappear that easily.
Besides, Nubatama can extend her life endlessly with his ability... He can pump in air, so she won't suffocate either...
Also, she said it earlier. "I'll listen to anything." So I have to have her keep her word.
"Nubatama, keep it in moderation, okay?"
'Offu! My Lord, I appreciate your concern!! However, I have always been one to take good care of my possessions!!'
"Ogoooooooohhh!! O...!! \\u\\!!!!!"
Voices like the death cries of a beast rang out again and again... Wow, I can hear it even if I cover my ears...
Well, what should I say.
Blanc being a female Hollow, that was the entire cause.
So if you want to hate someone, hate yourself.
I will make effective use of your Hollow power.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]