https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-484-Yecheng-the-Home-of-My-Dear-Friend-Rukia-Benzen-/12944270/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-486-The-Arrancar-Espada-Attacks-/12944274/
Chapter 485: Yecheng: I Didn't Take Advantage of Ranzan!
Chapter 485: Yecheng: I Didn't Take Advantage of Ranzan!
On the third day after Aizen and his group betrayed the Soul Society, Black Zaki Ichigo received the Substitute Shinigami Permit from Captain Asahagi. Subsequently, the group prepared to return to the human world.
Among them, Lucia, who had just been pardoned, also accompanied them on this journey back to the human world.
Although Black Zaki Ichigo had been temporarily recognized by the Gotei 13 and granted the Substitute Shinigami Permit, the Soul Society still had some reservations about this fifteen-year-old who had become a Shinigami less than half a year ago and had already mastered Bankai, an anomaly among them.
It was necessary to assign someone to monitor and educate him about the rules, and since the Captain Commander had entrusted this task to the Thirteenth Division, the Shinigami sent to watch over Ichigo was naturally from the Thirteenth Division.
Upon returning to the Thirteenth Division, Rukia Kuchiki volunteered for this task without hesitation.
Rukia was a highly responsible person. She believed that Ichigo had been dragged into these troubles due to her own mistakes, so she felt obligated to take full responsibility.
Furthermore, despite only spending a few months together, Rukia had witnessed Ichigo's chaotic conduct firsthand.
She also believed that without her supervision, given Ichigo's personality, it wouldn't be long before he violated the Seireitei's regulations and faced arrest or even execution.
When Rukia expressed her desire to return to the human world, Fei Zhen, being an extremely overprotective sister, tried her best to stop her. Unfortunately, despite having her husband, Rukia Byakuya, wrapped around her little finger, she had no control over her sister, Rukia.
Fei Zhen, who trusted Yawaragi immensely, had originally planned to hire him at ten times his salary to protect her sister in the human world. However, Yawaragi was still under house arrest, so she could only tearfully watch her sister venture into the "dangerous" human world.
Time passed, and another month went by. Aside from the issues that arose due to Aizen's betrayal, which the Captain Commander had ordered to be rectified, the Seireitei had regained much of its vitality.
Although the Shinigami of various divisions had suffered casualties during the Arrancar's invasion, these losses were not significant.
After all, being a Shinigami was an inherently high-risk job, and the lower-ranked Shinigami were essentially cannon fodder, no different from chives that grew back after being cut.
The Rukongai had an abundance of souls, and despite the high mortality rate among Shinigami, the souls from the deeper areas of the Rukongai still eagerly sought out this dangerous occupation.
Life in the deeper areas of the Rukongai was harsh, and the mortality rate was not much lower than that of being a Shinigami.
Compared to the life of a Shinigami in the Seireitei, which was considered a privileged existence, enduring hunger for three days out of every nine was a more appealing option.
Although it was cruel, this was the reality and the survival rule of the Soul Society.
"Hey, hey, hey! Are you guys here to drink with me, or are you just getting drunk for the sake of it?
Don't think that by pretending to be completely drunk, you can avoid paying the bill later. Captain Kyosuke has used this trick many times, but it won't work on me, Yawaragi. Remember, you guys invited me here."
In the busiest izakaya in Seireitei, Yawaragi, who was still under house arrest, sat silently, observing the three drunk individuals—Yagi Ika, Kashiwagi Shuhei, and Matsubara Ranju—in front of him.
The betrayal of Aizen and his two followers had hit these three the hardest.
Yagi, the Vice-Captain of the Third Division, and Kashiwagi Shuhei, the Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division, were both once greatly admired and respected by their respective Captains, Shiman Gin and Genryusho Tsozen.
However, their once-idolized figures have now become enemies of Soul Society, turning from revered icons to traitors, leaving Yagi and Kashiwagi with a profound sense of disappointment.
These kindred spirits, sharing a common plight, found solace in each other's company, frequently gathering at an Izakaya to drown their sorrows in alcohol.
It's worth mentioning that Matsubara Ranju, known as Ranzan, joined them later, after learning from Yagi that her Captain, Shiman Gin, and Ranzan herself were childhood friends.
Initially, Yagi had intended to invite Orihime Inoue, the Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division, as the Captains of the Third, Fifth, and Ninth Divisions had all betrayed Soul Society.
In Yagi's eyes, Orihime, who shared the same fate as a betrayed Vice-Captain, was also someone he could relate to.
Unfortunately, Orihime hesitated and declined Yagi's invitation, instead encouraging him to stay strong, saying, "Because our Captains have betrayed Soul Society, we, as Vice-Captains, should be the ones to lift the spirits of our fellow squad members!"
Thanks to Yagi's intervention, Orihime didn't fall into a love-struck state, and even if she did, her affections would no longer be for Bluezenzo but for someone else...
Orihime, who should have been the most affected by Bluezenzo's betrayal, had become the strongest among them, even though she had once been on the brink of death.
Although Orihime declined Yagi's invitation, she remembered Ranzan's low spirits from a few days ago and suggested that Yagi invite Ranzan instead.
Regarding Shiman Gin's betrayal, Ranzan's condition wasn't as dire as Yagi's, but she had indeed been in low spirits these past few days. With free alcohol on offer, she readily accepted the invitation.
As a result, the number of people passing out drunk at the Izakaya each night increased from two to three.
The owner of the Izakaya was delighted, as Yagi's group significantly boosted her business this month compared to the previous one.
Moreover, the well-endowed beauty who joined them later drank with such gusto that she made the two men before her look like amateurs.
The owner estimated that if these guys kept drinking like this for the next decade, her Izakaya would have the potential to expand.
"Yecheng, what's so great about that guy? He's just a self-righteous jerk..."
"Captain Shiman..."
"Hey, why would someone who always boasts about justice..."
Looking at the three drunkards in front of her, especially Ranzan, who was preventing one of them from escaping by pressing his head into her lap, Yecheng couldn't help but roll her eyes.
These guys were supposed to be here for a drinking session, not to babysit!
"Yagi, Kashiwagi, tomorrow we have to go to Sokyoku Spiritual Academy to recruit graduates. Please..."
"Why are you here, Yecheng? And what are you and Ranzan doing?"
This time, the Hollow invasion had taken a heavy toll on the lower-ranked Shinigami of various divisions, especially the Third, Fifth, and Ninth Divisions, which were severely lacking in combat power without their Captains.
Therefore, the Captain Commander specially approved the recruitment of graduates from Sokyoku Spiritual Academy for the Third, Fifth, and Ninth Divisions.
Concerned about Yagi and Kashiwagi's conditions, Orihime came to the Izakaya to remind them about the recruitment the next day, as they might forget due to their drinking.
But to her surprise, when Orihime entered, she saw Yecheng being smothered by Ranzan's ample chest.
(End of Chapter)
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