Chapter 127 The weak only need to learn to protect themselves (Please subscribe)
"How am I supposed to handle this? This situation?" Rukia silently took a step back, watching Sōgo Shihoin openly reveal his true nature. Faced with Sōgo's tiger-like behavior, Rukia somewhat helpless. In the end, what he said wasn't wrong; this was indeed Sōgo's squad, and Sōgo was the rule here. He could do whatever he wanted...
"Huh? This is strange... What am I even thinking about? Why is my mind wandering along the wrong path the other person pointed out? This is so weird! I'm just a cultivator; as long as I can become stronger, it doesn't matter what kind of person my teacher is..."
Rukia Kuchiki suddenly realized that she was just a cultivator and there was no need for her to be bothered by Sōgo's character. As long as it could make her stronger, she didn't care who it was.
" Captain Sōgo Shihoin, hello! I'm Rukia Kuchiki from the Kuchiki Clan. I hope you can let me train here and help me become stronger!"
Having thought this through, Rukia Kuchiki no longer cared about what kind of person Sōgo really was. Even if Sōgo was a freak, as long as it could make Rukia stronger, then Rukia would do anything for Sōgo. That was the simple-minded Rukia's thought.
"Good boy!"
Feeling an awkward Shaoling Fon and unsure how to interject, Rukia Kuchiki a thumbs-up as she smiled and bowed slightly to Sōgo.
Sure enough! At times like these, you have to pretend you didn't see or hear anything, ignore Sōgo's previous words, and get straight to the point.
At this moment, Rukia Kuchiki's popularity with Shaoling Fon increased slightly once again, as Shaoling Fon liked intelligent children.
"..."
"Actually, I really like comic books and games; these are my hobbies."
Sōgo stared at Rukia Kuchiki for a while, then steered the conversation back to the previous question.
"Forehead..."
Rukia Kuchiki, who was still bowing deeply, was completely taken aback.
"How many more times are you going to repeat yourself on this topic? Rukia has already made concessions..."
Shaoling Fon helplessly covered her cheeks; her worst fear had come true.
"That Captain Shihoin... actually, I..."
Rukia Kuchiki straightened up, as if to explain something.
"Enough said. There's no one in our squad who doesn't love manga and games. If you want to train in our squad, you'd better read a hundred manga series first..."
Sōgo interrupted Rukia Kuchiki's explanation. Since his secret had already been discovered by outsiders, he figured he might as well let them share the same secret with him. This tactic was called drawing the enemy into one's familiar territory and then defeating them with one's rich experience! A truly perfect technique!
" Sōgo, come with me for a moment..."
Unable to bear it any longer, Shaoling Fon dragged Sōgo to a secluded corner.
"Hey? Little Fon, are you that thirsty today? If you have any secrets to talk about, we can go home and chat slowly. There are outsiders here! It's too embarrassing!"
After Sōgo was pulled into a corner by Shaoling Fon, he didn't say anything serious.
"That girl was introduced by Byakuya; you should know the details yourself, right?"
Shaoling Fon ignored Sōgo's frivolous remarks and spoke seriously.
"Oh, she was introduced by Byakuya! Could it be...?"
After hearing what Sōgo Shaoling Fon nodded slightly, looking as if he had suddenly realized something.
"Hey! Are you really sure? That girl... I think she came here to train with a very serious attitude. Whether it's because of Byakuya or because of her earnestness, we can't just fool her, can we?"
Seeing Shaoling Fon's unserious behavior, Sōgo couldn't help but say something.
"I can tell that without you even having to tell me. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and that girl's heart is certainly burdened with a lot of worries."
Sōgo, abandoning his previous nonchalant attitude, looked at Shaoling Fon with a slightly serious expression as she spoke.
" Sōgo... really? So you were trying to comfort her?"
Shaoling Fon instantly understood Sōgo's meaning. She looked at Sōgo tenderly, and as expected, her Sōgo never disappointed.
"However, my actions towards her had nothing to do with whether she had any heavy burdens in her heart. It was simply because I felt a little annoyed that she knew my Little Mimi."
Sōgo's lips curled up slightly, looking smug.
"Don't be so smug if no one praises you!" Shaoling Fon Sōgo. "Then the child is yours."
"Don't worry~ Relax~ Easy~"
Sōgo made an OK sign and walked towards Rukia Kuchiki, who was standing alone in the center of the hall, looking somewhat restrained.
"Your name is Rukia, right?"
Sōgo was the first to greet Rukia.
"Hello, Captain Shihoin, my name is Rukia Kuchiki."
Upon hearing Sōgo Shihoin's words, Rukia immediately bowed and greeted him.
"Okay, since I haven't called you wrong, I'll call you Rukia from now on. And you don't need to call me Captain Shihoin, just call me Sōgo."
Sōgo nodded slightly when he heard that he hadn't misremembered Rukia's name. To make it easier to address her and to shorten the distance between him and Rukia, he decided to start by making their way of addressing each other more natural.
"Um... this, calling you Sōgo directly is a bit against the rules, I..."
Rukia looked a little flustered. It was her first time meeting Sōgo, and she was already being allowed to call him by his Sōgo name. It seemed a bit too fast, at least that's what Rukia thought.
"The rules?"
" In the Second Division, I am the rule. Since you care so much about the rules, then consider it my order."
Sōgo heard the word he hated most from Rukia's mouth, but since she came from the rigid Kuchiki Clan, it was easy to understand. Even though Rukia was adopted, she couldn't escape the rules and regulations of the Kuchiki Clan, which was known as the epitome of nobility and made laws for Soul Society.
"Hmm? This..."
Rukia was slightly taken aback; this was an unexpected turn of events.
"New recruit of the Second Division, Rukia Kuchiki, listen to my command!"
Sōgo smiled slightly and shouted in a stern voice.
"Exist!"
Rukia immediately straightened her posture.
"I hereby order you, in the name of Sōgo Shihoin, Second Division Captain, to address me as Sōgo."
After receiving a response from Rukia Kuchiki, Sōgo continued his sermon.
"Yes, sir! Shihoin... no, that's not right, it's Sōgo- sensei."
Rukia responded immediately after receiving the order.
"Hmph! Very well."
Sōgo nodded slightly after hearing Rukia's voice.
"So tell me, why are you so determined to become stronger? Everyone has their reasons for wanting to become stronger, and I think you're no exception. Tell me about it~"
Sōgo casually sat down, took out a comic book, and started flipping through it while asking Rukia a question.
I need the strength to protect my companions.
Rukia Kuchiki pondered Sōgo's question, and soon she had an answer. She clenched her fist and spoke seriously.
"Oh? The power to protect your companions? Why do you want the power to protect your companions? Besides, do your companions really need your protection? Or rather... in your heart, who are your companions?"
Sōgo still didn't look up at Rukia Kuchiki; he continued to tilt his head, flipping through the comic book in his hands.
"Um... You don't need a reason to protect your comrades, right?! I just don't want to experience what happened last time, where I was helpless as the enemy slaughtered my comrades."
Rukia Kuchiki clenched her fists. Even now, when she sleeps, she still dreams of her companions being cruelly murdered by the Menos Grande.
"I see. So, how much power do you intend to acquire to truly... possess that power called 'the ability to protect one's comrades'?"
Sōgo nodded slightly, but still didn't look directly at Rukia, continuing to flip through the manga in his hands.
"If I had Captain Shiba's power, I could protect my comrades."
After thinking for a moment, Rukia Kuchiki spoke.
"Really? Did Kaien save his soldiers?"
Sōgo turned to the next page of the manga, still not looking up at Rukia Kuchiki.
"This..."
Rukia Kuchiki recalled what happened that day. It was clear that Kaien Shiba had also failed to save the members of the Thirteenth Division, and even she herself was not saved by Kaien.
"Let me tell you the answer! You need at least the strength of me to protect your companions from all suffering and misfortune."
Sōgo spoke in a cold voice.
"Then! Please grant me power like yours!"
Rukia clenched her fists and spoke.
"Impossible. There is only one person in heaven and earth who possesses power like mine. This is not to discourage you, but to state a fact."
Sōgo gently shook his head. Things that are absolutely impossible are things that even the Miracle could not achieve. Rukia's attempt to possess power comparable to his was something that was absolutely impossible. It wasn't a matter of dreaming or not; it was something that could never be done even in a dream.
"Then I should..."
Rukia Kuchiki suddenly felt lost; she didn't know what to do.
Let's find a way to obtain power that won't cause trouble for others first!
"As for those grand pronouncements about wanting to gain the power to protect your comrades, that's far too early for you. Besides, who exactly are your so-called comrades? Your brother Byakuya Kuchiki? Your former captain Kaien Shiba? If it's them, rest assured! Their power is far greater than you imagine; they don't need your protection at all. So, right now, the only person you need to protect is yourself..."
"When a crisis occurs, all you need to do is survive and appear before me alive, then tell me about the crisis... Girl, if you ask why? Because I am invincible!"
"Leave saving others to the invincible me, young lady. All you need to do is save yourself, and you did a great job on that last time, so there's no need for you to carry such a heavy burden in your heart."
Sōgo closed the comic book in his hand and laid it aside. He walked step by step to Rukia Kuchiki, put his hands on his hips, and smiled as he spoke.
"I see."
Rukia looked at Sōgo, tears welling up in her eyes.
"He's quite capable when it comes to teaching."
Shaoling Fon stood at a distance, silently watching the scene unfold before her.
"Hmph~"
Sōgo noticed Shaoling Fon standing in the distance, blinked slightly, and looked at her with a smug expression, as if asking Shaoling Fon if his teaching quality was good enough, whether it was good enough, and whether it was impressive enough.
"Hmph~"
Shaoling Fon snorted coldly, raised her chin, and walked to the palace gate. Then she took out a banner from her bosom.
It says above... "Dare to start a harem and I'll kill you..."
"Forehead..."
Sōgo felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the banner in Shaoling Fon's hand.
Let's go!
Shaoling Fon put away the banner, waved to Sōgo, and left the main hall with a dashing air.
Because Sōgo usually neglects his duties, the entire Second Division is managed by Vice-Captain Shaoling Fon, so Shaoling Fon is usually quite busy.
"Without further ado, let's begin our cultivation now!"
Sōgo knew that Shaoling Fon was not joking with him. He gently wiped the beads of sweat that had accumulated on his forehead from nervousness with a handkerchief and began to carefully teach Rukia Kuchiki.
"Good!"
Rukia away the tears from her eyes and instantly got into character.
"The monotonous battles are too boring, let's play a game instead!"
"How about you try to snatch the comic book from my hand?"
"If you can snatch the comic book from my hand, I'll teach you the secret techniques of the Shihoin Family ~"
Sōgo Rukia, waving the comic book in his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Stealing comic books? I get it."
Rukia nodded slightly, indicating that she understood the rules of the game.
"Okay, is there anything else you need to prepare?"
Sōgo clutched the comic book tightly in his hand and asked.
"I'm all ready. We can begin now."
Rukia shook her head at Sōgo, indicating that she was ready to start fighting.
"Very good... then the first ever Comic Book Snatching Battle shall begin!"
After receiving a response from Rukia, Sōgo smiled slightly and announced the start of the match.
"I am coming!"
Rukia Sōgo and the manga book in Sōgo hands like a cheetah.
"Heave-ho~"
Sōgo grabbed the comic book in his hand and smashed it directly onto Rukia's head.
"It hurts so much..."
Rukia immediately covered her head and squatted down on the ground.
"How cunning..."
Rukia clutched her head, her eyes slightly moist.
"I never said I wouldn't fight back, Rukia-san."
Sōgo, with a smile on his face and a poker face, answered Rukia.
"If I fight back, won't I have absolutely no chance of getting the manga from you, Sōgo?"
Rukia frowned after hearing that Sōgo would fight back, and raised her hand to ask a question.
"Correct answer. So, to protect Rukia-san, I, Sōgo, will not use Kidō or Zanpakuto. Rukia, on the other hand, you can use any power you're good at to attack me. As long as you can get the manga in my hand, you win... Well, of course, if you accidentally use too much force and destroy the manga in my hand, you also win~ provided you actually possess that kind of power~"
Sōgo held up Rukia's target manga book high, answering Rukia's question as he did so.
Thank you to book friend Muxuechuan Yehao for the 100-yuan reward!
(End of this chapter)