Chapter 363: Creating Souls?
After a night of indulgent relaxation, Masatsuki Aozaki and Ōetsu Nimaiya made their way to the Kirinden of Tenjirō Kirinji.
With Kirinji’s warm hospitality, the three of them enjoyed a soothing hot spring bath together. Once their time at the springs concluded, Masatsuki returned to Gatonden.
Not long after he left, a tall and imposing figure stepped into the hot spring. A warm and familiar voice sounded from behind the two remaining men.
"So? The kid did well, didn’t he?"
"Hmm?"
Ōetsu Nimaiya turned his head and looked at the kindly smiling bald man behind him.
As expected—it was Hyōsube.
Instead of answering immediately, Ōetsu first splashed some hot spring water on his face. Then, with a deep sigh, he leaned back against a rock and spoke slowly.
"I finally understand now... why His Majesty the Soul King chose him."
With that, he closed his eyes. The image of that rough-hewn Zanpakutō surfaced in his mind.
The material that formed that blade—it was the same kind of soul-infused essence used in his Asauchi. There was no doubt about it. It wasn’t an artificial construct like the ones Kirio Hikifune created.