The illustration froze on a beautiful woman with lively eyes and a gentle, peaceful aura, coming into Araki's view.
Her smooth black hair was braided and draped around her neck to her chest. She wore a white haori over a grayish cherry-blossom-colored underlayer, with a pale sash tied at her waist by a red cord.
She sat quietly in seiza on a tatami mat. Herbs and bandages rested on the low table before her, while silvery moonlight spilled through the half-open window and softly fell over her like a gauzy veil. She seemed tranquil and sacred, like the gentlest, most virtuous Yamato woman.
No matter how one looked at her, it was difficult to associate a woman like this with the term sword master. Calling her a doctor would have been far more fitting.
But Araki was not shallow enough to judge people by appearance.
He knew very well what kind of savage, terrifying soul was sealed beneath that calm and gentle exterior.
Araki was given no time to marvel or reminisce. As specks of light scattered from the Book of Sword Masters, that elegant figure had already appeared before him.
Soul Society's first Kenpachi, Unohana Retsu!
Araki immediately drew his sword and readied himself.
As the light faded, Unohana Retsu opened her eyes. Seeing Araki's stance, she lightly covered her mouth and said in surprise, "Oh my, are we going to fight? I'm not very good at all this killing and fighting!"
"..."
The corner of Araki's eye twitched twice at Sister Hana's words.
If I didn't know that before becoming a doctor, you were a Sword Demon who nearly slaughtered her way through all of Soul Society—and the first powerhouse to bear the title of Kenpachi—I might actually have believed that!
After all, the title Kenpachi had always