Chapter Sixty-Three: Squad Zero

The hall was enveloped in silence. No one showed any sign of surprise.

Everyone understood what a "promotion" meant, yet it was hard to muster any feelings about it—there was not even a trace of envy. To be promoted to the Zero Division was a sacred honor for ordinary Soul Reapers, even if the matter was a secret among them.

Creak—

“Oh dear, I thought everyone would be depressed after such a great battle, but it seems I was worried for nothing.”

“Nah~~~ The atmosphere is clearly gloomy though…”

Two figures pushed open the doors of Squad One’s headquarters without so much as a knock and walked in directly.

“The Zero Division has arrived!!”

An odd pair: the monk and the wild-haired eccentric. Unsurprisingly, the room fell silent once more.

“How strange. It’s been so long since we last greeted you all, and yet it’s so ineffective.”

“Kids these days really don’t know how to appreciate things…”

“Don’t say such weird things! Isn’t it the way you two made your entrance that’s the problem?!”

Although everyone had long known from the comics that the Zero Division was an unreliable and bizarre group, witnessing them in person made it impossible to suppress the urge to retort.

“Oh? Is that so?”

“We’ll improve next time.”

“There better not be a next time, damn it!!”

Faced with these two Zero Division members—so powerful and yet so utterly lacking in common sense—Nagatsurou could do nothing but lower his head in resignation.

I surrender~~~~~~~

“It’s been a while, Monk, and you as well, King Oetsu.”

Yasuda Motosei glanced at the two, apparently quite familiar with them.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Of course. We’ve been out for a while; it’s time to report back to His Majesty the Soul King,” the monk replied, rubbing his chin and glancing at Kirinji beside him.

“If you’re ready, let’s go, Kirinji.”

“You Zero Division people really are straightforward,” Ten no Miya Kazuki suddenly interjected coldly.

The two Zero Division members didn’t even turn around.

“All right, let’s go.”

“So you’re just going to ignore me!!”

“I feel the same,” Ten no Miya Jirou also piped up at that moment.

“We’re not saying the Zero Division is at fault, but to come and take someone away right after a great battle—don’t you think that’s a bit arrogant?”

Swish!

In a flash that almost no one saw, Oetsu Nimaiya was suddenly crouched at Jirou’s side, his blade unsheathed and pressed against Jirou’s neck.

“Apologies. I didn’t even notice someone was here—were you too insignificant, perhaps?” Oetsu’s voice was icy to the extreme.

“You bastard…”

Bang!

Of course, Kazuki wasn’t about to just watch his younger brother be threatened. He drew his sword to rush forward, but a powerful hand pressed his blade back into its sheath.

“We mean no harm, so please put your sword away,” the monk said, one hand on Kazuki’s hilt, the other hanging loosely, his previously genial air gone without a trace.

“Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.”

“Tsk…”

Kazuki bit his lip in frustration. He could feel clearly the immense gap between himself and the man before him—a gap so vast that even with his Bankai, he might be defeated in an instant.

“The order appointing Kirinji Tenshirou, current Captain of Squad Eight, to the Zero Division, was issued by the Soul King in person, and it was three days ago.”

“!!”

Three days ago? That was during the conflict with the Quincy, wasn’t it?

“Because of the war, the order was delayed until today,” the monk explained, glancing around the room and suddenly arching an eyebrow at something he noticed.

“Hey, you too—put your sword away.”

At the monk’s words, Oetsu clicked his tongue and put away his blade.

None of the other captains present said a word.

Yasuda Motosei and Unohana Yachiru certainly wouldn’t quarrel with the Zero Division over such a trivial matter, especially since their own side had spoken out first. Kirinji, about to join the Zero Division, had no intention of getting involved. As for Nagatsurou, he never intended to antagonize the Zero Division in the first place.

As for why the others just stood by as the Ten no Miya brothers were so thoroughly suppressed—well, that’s not quite right. In fact, because the monk and Oetsu moved so quickly, no one even realized what had happened until the brothers were already subdued.

With just two people, seven captains were instantly rendered powerless to resist.

Such terrifying strength.

“In fact, I rather like you. Want to join the Zero Division?”

“Can it really be that casual???”

Once again, Nagatsurou was left speechless by the monk’s easygoing attitude.

“Ahaha, of course not.”

……

Still, it was infuriating.

“Joining the Zero Division isn’t that simple. Neither Yasuda Motosei nor Shigekuni Yamamoto are among our ranks—it takes more than just strength.”

“…I understand.”

At present, joining the Zero Division might not be a bad thing, but Nagatsurou had invented nothing, nor had he earned the Soul King’s recognition. As for scientific research, he was utterly clueless.

“But you do have the qualifications…”

“!”

Nagatsurou froze.

Qualifications? What qualifications? He hadn’t invented anything, and the Soul King probably didn’t even know who he was—where would such qualifications come from?

“That’s all for now. Perhaps we’ll be colleagues someday, but…”

The monk shook his head, ignoring everyone else, even Yasuda Motosei, and spoke only to Nagatsurou: “For now, let us take our leave, Lieutenant Nagatsurou.”

“Well, I’m not sure what’s going on either.”

After the monk and Oetsu left the Squad One captain’s office, Kirinji approached Nagatsurou, chewing thoughtfully on the stick in his mouth.

“If we get the chance, let’s meet again, Nagatsurou.”

He gave Kirinji a hearty pat on the shoulder, and Kirinji departed.

……

“So, Kirinji has left, has he?”

A month later, Shigekuni Yamamoto, now awake and gradually recovering, listened as Nagatsurou gave his report on the past month.

In the end, the position of acting Commander-in-Chief still fell to him… and he was also serving as assistant vice-captain of Squad Four to support Unohana Yachiru.

It was exhausting.

Nagatsurou sighed helplessly.

“Well, that’s all for now. If there’s nothing else, please focus on your recovery, Lord Hyakujisai—I’m about to collapse.”

“Don’t say that; this is good training for you, Nagatsurou,” Yamamoto said with a rare smile, holding his teacup and appearing every bit the serene old man.

“It’s not all bad, is it?”

“How is it not bad?”

“Lord Yasuda just came by.”

Yamamoto pushed himself to his feet, adjusting the cloak draped over his shoulders.

“Since I should get some exercise, come with me to the Yasuda estate tomorrow.”