When the madman wrote his name in the condolence book as 'Shimon Meio,' the Nether King of the Death Gate, the guests didn't worry much.
And for good reason—the one in charge of the register was Shiba Kairyu (male), a granduncle of the Shiba clan and their martial arts instructor for decades.
However, the moment the guests saw the madman standing perfectly fine after taking a punch from Kairyu—a strike packed with enough Spiritual Power to send Spiritual Pressure radiating in all directions—a collective, subconscious thought struck them.
'Is this... actually dangerous?'
But that worry was short-lived, replaced quickly by anticipation.
"Enough."
The founder of the Shiba family, Shiba Shiryu (male)—one of the 'Five Ancestors' who had lived for over a thousand years—made his appearance.
The guests felt a wave of relief at the sight of the man who was more than just a pillar of the family; he was the family personified.
At least, they were relieved until Shiba Shiryu dropped to his knees before the madman.
* * *
This is awkward.
"Ah..."
Seriously.
It's really awkward.
How awkward? It's about as awkward as finishing your business in a public restroom only to realize there's no toilet paper left. No, it might actually be worse than that.
In fact, is there even a situation more problematic than this? What the hell am I supposed to do here?
A grandfather who looks at least seventy years older than me is kneeling at my feet, sobbing his eyes out. What am I supposed to do with this?
"Aaaaah..."
"Knock it off and get up. You're freaking everyone out."
When I first greeted him, I didn't think much of it.
Whether he was old or sickly, Shiryu was still Shiryu.
But the moment I saw him drop to his knees with tears streaming down his face, my mood shifted instantly. Specifically, it shifted once I noticed everyone around us whispering and side-eyeing the hell out of me.
"Aaaah... I... Ah..."
"Hey! Get up, you brat! People are watching!"
What are you, No-Face?!
When I scowled and shouted, the weeping Shiryu finally managed a weak smile and nodded.
"Yes... Yes, of course... *sniff*..."
Naturally, the murmuring around us grew louder.
If they were picking a fight, that would be one thing, but they were genuinely just worried about their ancestor. I couldn't even get properly pissed off at them.
"Ha... I'm going crazy, seriously..."
Why is it that I'm only ever surrounded by weirdos like this...?
"Stop crying. I have something important to discuss, so let's go inside first."
"Understood... Since my Master has come, it is only right..."
"Argh! Stop crying!! You're a damn skeleton, why are you blubbering like a child?! Are you older than me?! Huh?! I'm older than you, you little bastard!!"
After I lost my temper and barked at him, Shiryu finally nodded and pushed himself up.
Perhaps I had underestimated the flow of time too much, because the moment he stood, he staggered and almost fell backward.
If he collapsed like that, something would definitely snap.
Judging by the Spiritual Power I felt from him, he should have been fine, but his appearance was so beyond 'old'—he looked like a walking corpse—that I couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Sigh... You're really something else."
"I have no excuses..."
"Whatever. I don't care if you get carried or lean on someone, just follow me. This is serious business."
With that, I strode through the main gate and headed inside.
Maybe it was because they saw their own founder kneeling before me, but no one dared to block my path.
'If I'd known it'd be this easy, I should've just dragged him out and made him kneel from the start.'
I planned to visit the other houses too; maybe I should use this tactic then. Hmm... no. That feels too much like elder abuse. Even if I am technically older, appearances matter, and it looks bad.
By the way, this house is disgustingly huge.
Wait, is that a garden? Unbelievable. While someone's out there eating dirt in Hell... what a life.
"This spot looks good."
It was isolated enough, had a small pond, and seemed perfect for a conversation.
I looked back and made eye contact with Shiryu, who was being supported by a man with his face covered by a black cloth.
"This is far enough... I shall go on alone from here..."
"But, Ancestor..."
"Enough. In this moment, I am not your Ancestor, but Shiba Shiryu. Stand down."
"...As you command."
The masked man gave me a long look before leaping up onto the roof.
Punk. Does he think I can't feel him glaring just because his face is covered?
...Sigh. Whatever. Getting annoyed over nothing will only tire me out.
I guess being around people has made me sensitive. I should finish this and get back quickly. There's nothing to see in Soul Society anyway.
"...It has been a very long time, Master."
"Yeah. Has it been a thousand years? No, more like a thousand and a hundred years."
"Haha... Master, you are as energetic as ever. At first, I thought I was seeing a hallucination."
"You're probably the only brat left who still calls me Master."
I smirked and sat down, leaning my back against a wall.
My rear and back were a bit stiff, but it wasn't too uncomfortable.
"Don't you even have cushions in this giant hut?"
"You there."
"Yes, right here."
"Bring another one."
"...Yes."
A man—the same one as before—brought two cushions with a speed that could only be described by the sound effect *shirr* and left. I stacked them up and laid right down.
"Ah, that's better."
I let out a long yawn, lying on my side and staring at the seated Shiryu.
Whether it was because of the mental toll over the years or simply the crushing weight of time, his once-thick hair was completely gone.
"You've aged quite a bit. Gotten more tearful, too. I expected Myoren to blubber, but I didn't think you'd leak tears the moment you saw me. I do like that you talk less now, though."
"I have grown old, after all."
"Don't you think it's about time you died? You've lived for a thousand years."
"It seems dying isn't as easy as one might hope."
"I guess that's true."
I scratched my cheek, then sat up straight, cracking my neck side to side.
I have to talk about something important; I can't exactly do that while lying down.
"Do you know why I'm here?"
"Have you come to drag me to Hell?"
"Why would I go through the trouble? You're going to croak soon anyway."
As I waved my hand dismissively, Shiryu gave a bitter laugh.
"I thought perhaps, after a thousand years of waiting, your patience had finally run out."
"I've already waited over a millennium. A little longer won't kill me."
"Hehe... I suppose so."
I don't know what he's so happy about.
I watched Shiryu chuckle lowly, then sat on the cushion with my arms crossed.
"That's enough small talk. I'm going to say something important, so clear out everyone in the vicinity."
"Yes, it shall be done. You heard him. I will not tolerate any presence here. All of you, withdraw."
The moment Shiryu finished speaking, the man who had brought the cushions dropped silently from the roof behind him.
Judging by his sour expression, he had a lot of grievances built up.
But so what? What can you do? Your ancestor told you to beat it. What else can you do besides tremble and say, 'As you command'?
"Ancestor. We are the shadows created to serve and protect you. How can a shadow exist apart from its master? We would rather you take our heads!"
Holy shit, they're actually using suicide as a threat.
I can't tell if this is extreme loyalty or just fanaticism.
While I was watching this guy take an unexpectedly hard line, he turned his glare toward me and shouted.
"Above all...! I cannot leave such a suspicious person alone with the Ancestor...!"
"SILENCE!!"
"Oh."
The thunderous scold.
First time seeing one in real life.
He didn't use Spiritual Power, so the sound merely echoed for a moment before dispersing. However, the sheer spirit behind it was overwhelming. The man who had been blabbering froze like a statue, unable to utter a word.
"Do you even know who this person is? He and the Soul King are—!"
Whoops, this crazy old man is about to break the embargo.
I stood up and tapped Shiryu on the shoulder.
"Hey, hey, stop. If you go that far, things are going to get complicated."
"But..."
"It's fine. I'll explain it myself."
Shiryu nodded and stepped back.
He never listened back in the day, but I guess getting old makes him more compliant.
I smirked and stood before the masked man.
"Don't glare like that, kid."
"...I have likely lived longer than you."
"Pfft! Hey, Shiryu. Did you hear that? He says he's lived longer than me."
I almost lost it.
I shook my head, chuckling under my breath.
"I'm older than your ancestor sitting right there. Didn't you hear him? Shiryu called me 'Master.'"
"You must be using some sorcery...!"
"Denial, huh? Just what kind of 'sorcery' would I have to use to make your founder kneel before me in front of everyone?"
"...Tch."
Yeah, can't answer that, can you? Nothing to say.
I hit him with straight facts. If he keeps talking, he's just throwing a tantrum.
"I have some really important things to talk about, so take the others and go play far away from here."
"How can I trust you enough to leave you alone with the Ancestor?! If you were to harm him...!"
"Stop it, brat."
I placed a hand lightly on the shoulder of the man whose loyalty had crossed into obsession.
"If I had come here to harm you—"
As I slowly drew up my power, the sky of Soul Society began to ripple and shiver.
Not just the sky, but the earth beneath us groaned with violent tremors.
Was the man's body shaking because of the earthquake, or was it primal fear?
Either way, it didn't matter.
"—this place would have been erased from existence long ago."
If you understand, then get lost.
Don't bug adults when they're trying to talk.
In a flash, the man—along with the ones hidden on the roof and under the floorboards—scattered.
If they'd just left when I asked nicely, I wouldn't have had to work twice. Seriously annoying.
"You are as immense as ever. No... it seems you've become even stronger than before."
"I don't know. I don't have anyone to compare myself to."
I guess because the original world was split into three, things here break easily when I show a little muscle. Hell isn't like this.