Chapter 49: Return to the Soul Society |
A few days later.
The Hollow King Palace.
Nelliel gently and rhythmically kneaded Yeruashi's shoulders as he lay relaxed on a wooden lounger with his eyes closed.
"Is the pressure alright, Lord Yeruashi?"
"No, it is perfect..."
Yeruashi murmured with satisfaction.
It had been quite some time since he had enjoyed such a massage. Hisana, despite her docile nature and elegant manners, was not particularly skilled in the art. On one hand, she was not a Shinigami, and on the other, she lacked any real understanding of physical anatomy.
Nelliel, however, who had become one of the most powerful beings in all of Hueco Mundo, was capable of delivering an exceptional massage, perfectly balancing technique and strength.
Lilith sat on a small wooden chair opposite Yeruashi, who remained leaned back comfortably on his lounger.
Surrounded by such a lovely and obedient daughter, the gentle and graceful Hisana, a mischievous yet sweet younger sister like Rukia, a diligent and skilled servant like Nelliel, and even Captain Yoruichi and her subordinate Soi Fon, any ordinary person might have lost themselves in the bliss, forgetting all external concerns.
But Yeruashi did not allow himself to succumb to such idleness.
No matter how comfortable or alluring his surroundings were, they could never cloud his judgment.
He had completely uprooted and cast aside even the simplest thoughts of lingering in this comfort for much longer.
Yeruashi would never stop moving forward; he was determined to find his place within the infinite river of time and return to the women he had cherished in other worlds.
Of course...
He did not mind enjoying himself a little every now and then.
As Yeruashi leaned back and closed his eyes, setting aside his concerns, a respectful female voice suddenly called out to him.
"Lord Yeruashi."
It was Harribel.
She bowed respectfully and gave her report, showing no surprise at the scene before her. "We have restored order to Las Noches. What are your commands? Will you appoint a new ruler, or do you prefer to leave things as they are?"
Yeruashi opened his eyes and spoke nonchalantly, remaining at ease on his lounger. "No, leaving it without a ruler will only invite chaos again. As for a successor... there aren't many options. Why don't you take charge, Harribel?"
"Me?!"
Harribel stood straight and exclaimed in surprise, staring at the relaxed Yeruashi.
In response to her stunned expression, Yeruashi asked a rhetorical question, "Are you not capable of it?"
"No, it is not a particularly difficult task, in truth," Harribel replied without hesitation.
Yeruashi nodded in satisfaction. "Since you are willing, then in addition to your position as a member of the Royal Guard, I appoint you as the ruler of Las Noches. From this day forward, you are responsible for all internal affairs there. You need not report to me or the palace unless there is a grave and compelling reason."
"Understood!"
Harribel nodded firmly, accepting the new appointment.
After some brief reflection, Yeruashi had concluded that Ulquiorra and Starrk were ill-suited for governing Las Noches. Nelliel and Harribel were far more capable in that regard, but there was only one throne to fill.
Once Harribel had departed, Yeruashi sat up and stretched lazily. "It is time to return."
"...Huh?"
Nelliel gasped in surprise and stopped the massage. "Where do you intend to return to?"
She didn't know where Yeruashi had come from, and she hadn't dared to ask, as she hadn't witnessed how he and Lilith had arrived in Hueco Mundo from the Soul Society.
"The Soul Society," Yeruashi replied with a casual smile.
Yeruashi smiled. "It's much more lively and interesting there than in Hueco Mundo."
Generally, Menos only gain a certain level of intelligence after evolving into Adjuchas, and the intellect of a Vasto Lorde is close to that of a human. As a result, even Las Noches tended to have a desolate and dreary atmosphere, to say nothing of the rest of Hueco Mundo.
Furthermore, all Menos, including Vasto Lordes, possessed only partial human appearances, with the exception of Nelliel and the other members of the Royal Guard.
From Yeruashi's perspective, it didn't strictly matter whether a mass of Reishi took the form of a human or a monster, but he still identified as human.
As a human, he was accustomed to living among beings with normal human features.
"..."
Lilith carefully placed her teacup on the small table and stood up.
Nelliel stepped aside and bowed as Yeruashi stood up slowly. "Nelliel will await your return."
According to legend, the Hollow King had created not just Hueco Mundo but the Soul Society as well, so there was nothing unusual about him moving between the two dimensions.
In her eyes, to a supreme being like Yeruashi, there was likely little difference between a Hollow and a Shinigami.
"Do you want to come with us?" Yeruashi asked with a carefree smile while looking at Nelliel.
He looked at Nelliel, his expression light.
She was startled by the offer but didn't take long to decide. "If you will allow it, Master..."
Nelliel would have agreed instantly had Yeruashi given a direct command, as she would never dream of defying the Hollow King. She would have carried out his will without hesitation, even if he had ordered an immediate assault on the Soul Society.
Because of this, his question had caught her off guard, but she quickly composed herself and nodded. By following him, she could best fulfill her duties as a member of the Royal Guard.
"Then let's go."
Yeruashi nodded casually.
Returning to the Soul Society with Nelliel in tow would inevitably draw attention and suspicion from the Gotei 13, but it didn't really matter anymore. Yeruashi had no intention of continuing his role as a mere Shinigami.
After returning from this trip, he planned to rest briefly before heading to the Soul King Palace.
Whoosh!
Yeruashi gave a calm wave of his hand, opening a spatial rift leading out to Hueco Mundo.
Before stepping through, he turned his head and said calmly, "Do not allow anyone to enter the Hollow King Palace during my absence."
"Understood!"
Ulquiorra and Starrk, stationed on the two lower levels, stood simultaneously and looked up the moment they heard Yeruashi's voice—quiet, yet crystal clear.
Having issued his final instructions to the Royal Guard, Yeruashi stepped into the black spatial rift, with Lilith and Nelliel following immediately behind him.
Emerging from the rift, the figures of Yeruashi, Nelliel, and Lilith appeared in the gloomy sky of Hueco Mundo, directly above Las Noches.
Then, Yeruashi raised his hands and thrust his palms into the very fabric of space, pulling them apart to tear open a direct gateway between Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society.
The figures of Yeruashi, Lilith, and Nelliel, having just left the Hollow King Palace, vanished into the new passage, which quickly sealed shut behind them, leaving no trace.