Chapter 5

Hmm? Upon looking closer, I see it's only the lieutenant that's appeared. Does the lieutenant intend to fight me alone?

The Ise family is a family of priests. They administer rituals and do not individually own Zanpakutos. A single Zanpakuto is inherited by the head of the family from generation to generation.

It is a sword without an edge used for rituals. It cannot be used to cut people down.

It's believed to have the power to go face-to-face with God, receive God's power, and disperse it in all directions.

Its name is Shinken Hakkyoken (Divine Eight Mirror Sword)!

Mm? What is that sword? It's quite the garishly shining sword.

It's so bright I can't even see the blade. It's unsightly.

It is, huh? Well, good.

This sword confronts God and reflects his power.

If it appears shiny to you, it means it's reflecting the light of God you're emitting.

Mm? I have no idea what you are saying, but it does not feel bad to be called God.

The first thing I noticed was the hairpin.

That man over there, I hear he's a court guard captain. He's here to pay respects to the school president.

Watching from afar, I noticed a conspicuous women's kimono draped over your shoulders.

It was a common pattern found anywhere. I simply thought it was something similar to what my mother owned.

But the hairpin looked exactly like my mother's.

Soon after my mother passed away, I was taken in by an elderly couple I'd never met.

I was told they were related to the Ise family, but I had never seen them before.

But the two of them raised me as if I were their real daughter.

While attending the Soul Reaper Academy, I couldn't make the Asauchi supplied to me my own.

But my talent for Kido was recognized, and I was given a chance to take the enlistment exam.

I figured, even without a Zanpakuto, I might be able to make it as a Kido user. So I requested I be assigned to them.

But for some strange reason, I was assigned to Squad 8.

Hello. I'm Captain Shunsui Kyoraku.

Hey, it's that man with the hairpin.

But the captain I saw after joining Squad 8 had changed his kimono and had pulled out the hairpin. That moment, I knew.

So it was him.

The man my mother had entrusted something important to was him.

Do you intend to slay me with that sword?! Fine, try it! There is no sword that can–

(He stopped it! But he should've had his guard down.)

Aha. I had a feeling it was a strange sword. On a closer look, it doesn't even have a blade.

The fact that you would swing a sword like that must mean it's very dangerous.

What a surprise. So it can actually cut me. But it's over for you now. You should have made sure I was dead with that first strike!

A messenger of God never lets his guard down twice!

I didn't know...

...that to take up a sword and fight would be this terrifying.

I didn't know a cut would hurt this bad.

It hurts. I'm scared. My feet won't move.

I thought it was my fault.

It's my fault. Why does this happen?

Everybody passes, leaving their most precious possessions to me. Don't they know I'm not comfortable with responsibility?

Nanao, I can't be left to look after that sword again.

Nanao, lift the weight off my shoulders. Let me...

Let me protect you.

Are you ready, Nanao? Don't worry, I got your back.

Oh...

It's as if the captain's kindness is flowing into me.