Ichigo leaves and takes up residence in Soul Society!

This is Soul Society, the land of the dead.

Torucia's blessing.

They were assigned to the safest areas.

With the help of respected local elders, they were not ostracized by outsiders, but instead received free temporary accommodation, as well as clean clothes and food.

They had a peaceful first day in Soul Society.

"Let me make this clear from the start: I'm not complaining about the poor living conditions here."

Ichigo emphasized.

Is it because you're worried about failing the exam?

"Long-winded!"

Judging from this reaction, it's clear that they guessed correctly.

"Don't worry, you definitely won't fail the exam twice like that guy named Hisagi Shuhei. Besides, he's a big shot at the captain level now. What an inspiring and touching story."

Yesterday, they learned a great deal about the basic facts of Soul Society from the elders.

After witnessing Rukia's power, Ichigo developed a strong interest in the profession of Shinigami, which planted a seed in his heart.

Coincidentally, the admissions process for this year's Shinigami Academy hasn't ended yet.

If you register now, you can still catch the last train.

It’s self-evident how to choose.

The Grim Reaper is a controversial figure in Rukongai, but the elders are very open-minded and generous. When they learned that the Grim Reaper were interested in applying to the Spirit Arts Academy, they gave the elders some guidance in this regard.

One of the stories mentioned was about a vice-captain who is now in a high position and who failed the exam in the past.

The Four Palace Master believes that the Elder's original intention was to give a heads-up and offer some encouragement.

Even if you fail, don't give up. Other freshmen who pass on their first try aren't necessarily better.

But it seems that this message wasn't conveyed to Ichigo.

"If I could, I wouldn't want to wait another year or even longer... It's not that I lack patience, it's just..."

Ichigo's voice grew weaker and weaker, as if he had said something, or perhaps he had fallen silent, unsure how to express his feelings.

His brows were furrowed, as if they had never relaxed.

Shinomiya-no-Tsurugi walked over with a towel, patted him on the shoulder, pushed him aside, and said something while washing up.

"There are all kinds of people in Rukongai. If there were a political background check in the exam, it wouldn't be surprising if you were screened out. But we're different. We've received modern education, are qualified, have clean backgrounds, abide by the law, have impeccable morals, and never cause trouble. We're practically the epitome of honest people."

"The only thing to worry about is that honest people like us are easily bullied."

"Cough... That's right. If I get eliminated this time, I'll try other paths. I heard from the elders that some squads have special recruitment channels. As long as you have a Zanpakuto and enough strength, you're good to go. But if I use a sword I picked up outside to outdo a real Shinigami, won't I be hated?"

Ichigo quickly regained his fighting spirit.

Just as the Four Palaces Venerable was about to speak, a line of characters resembling ink wash painting suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[As a great time traveler, I participated in the murder of the chosen one and the protagonist of the era upon my arrival, and my mechanical soul was overjoyed...]

"Who? Who are you saying murdered Ichigo?"

The Four Palaces Lords remained outwardly calm, but inwardly they were furious.

Even if you have a cheat code, you can't judge cases like this. Isn't this just slandering someone's innocence out of thin air?

Your bold actions have earned the world's respect. You have a gift to receive; will you accept it?

"..."

accept.

[—You have obtained "Fairy Tale Dragon: Cinderella's Blood," greatly increasing your physical abilities and growth potential by 1000%]

Poof.

A strange heartbeat resounded in my chest.

It seems to be no different from before.

However, the Four Palace Masters clearly felt an additional power within their bodies, which intertwined with the spiritual power that already existed within them, and then merged and grew stronger.

My wrist strength has increased, my breathing has become more powerful, and it feels like I can lift a bucket of water as easily as lifting a grain of sand.

This is not the kind of athletic ability that a highly concentrated soul gains by training and mastering its own spiritual power.

They tend to favor innate talents.

Only a void with a high density of compressed soul can compare to it.

As for growth potential, it's +1000%.

According to the understanding of the Four Palace Master, the growth rate should be ten times faster than before when training in physical abilities.

This is a unique ability of geniuses; they not only possess extraordinary potential but can also quickly realize that potential.

"So, have I become a 'dragon,' or a 'dragon-possessed person'?"

In Europe of this world, there exists another organization that stands in opposition to Soul Society; dragons and dragon possessors are products of that organization.

Although the dragon in Shinomiya's memory didn't seem very strong.

But in this world, hybrids are the eternal answer.

The vast majority of Hollows, Shinigami, Quincy, and even Fullbringers aren't that much stronger.

The key point is that the power of these groups is fundamentally different.

Break through the limits of the soul with different kinds of power.

To break free from the constraints that the world imposes on life, until one transcends everything and rises above all phenomena.

This is the path Aizen chose, and it may become his path in the future.

"..."

The four palace masters bent over, picked up a towel to wash their faces, and their facial expressions were not visible.

After washing his face, the cool well water dripped down his cheeks, leaving a few strands of hair clinging to his handsome, wet face.

Those eyes were like mirrors that had been polished to an exceptionally bright shine.

There's only one thing to consider right now.

He was admitted to the Spirit Arts Academy and became a Grim Reaper.

I wish you all the best in your exams.

"Thank you."

After breakfast, we said goodbye to the elders and several enthusiastic children.

The Four Palace Masters and Ichigo officially entered the Seireitei, arriving at the entrance of the Shinigami Academy with the Pass issued to them during their registration.

Looking at the antique plaque, which had existed for who knows how many years, the two were filled with emotion.

"Brother Kurosaki."

"what?"

"See, I told you I was right."

"what do you mean?"

"Being hit by a dump truck and killed is the protagonist's treatment, and then he is sent to another world by a goddess."

"Let's assume you're right, even though that guy doesn't look like a goddess at all."

Want to hear what happened next?

"what?"

"Gain powerful abilities in another world, protect the kingdom as a hero, defeat the demon king, marry the princess, and then Happy End."

"...Is this a game reference? I'm not a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) person. I'm not interested in playing the hero, defeating the demon king, or marrying the princess, but I'm not opposed to other things."

"Let's go then, it's time to start our campus life in another world."

"I never thought I'd have to go to school even after I'm dead. In a sense, it really feels like I've come to hell."

That's what they said, but both of them stepped into the hospital gate with great anticipation.

The confidence conveyed between the lines clearly indicated that the acceptance letter was already in his grasp.

Chapter Three: Honest People Don't Bully Honest People

The Dean of the Spirit Arts Academy was not a high-ranking or powerful figure in Seireitei.

Take, for example, a future academy dean; he'll only be a former third seat of the fifth division.

The current headmaster is a pragmatic executive officer who retired from the First Division and transitioned to civilian life.

There are many Shinigami like him in Soul Society who dedicate themselves silently without ever appearing on screen.

Especially in the not-too-distant future, they will die at the hands of the Quincy's holy weapons while protecting students and most teachers, and there will never be a day when they shine.

But this hard-core old man, who upholds the spirit of "Yuanliu," doesn't care about any of that.

He only hoped that the Spirit Arts Academy could produce more outstanding students who could contribute to the great cause of protecting the Soul Society and maintaining the balance of the three realms.

Therefore, at this time of year, the college president personally goes to the front line of the admissions assessment to supervise the process.

This continued day after day until the assessment was over.

"Sigh, ever since Captain Hitsugaya graduated, the quality of students has been declining year by year. How am I supposed to explain this to Lord Genryusai?"

Even if one intends to treat all students equally.

They also knew that special talents like Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro, who possessed pairs of Zanpakuto, pure talents like Shiba Kaien and Ichimaru Gin, and super geniuses like Hitsugaya Toshiro, who appeared once in a thousand years, were all accidental phenomena.

The current lukewarm situation is the normal thing.

But the dean was still not satisfied. He wasn't dissatisfied with the students, but with the current teaching methods.

In his view, work should be like kendo, requiring courage and diligence, without slacking off. Once you stop progressing, it means you've gone astray or reached your limit.

The examples of those geniuses serve as cautionary tales, proving that the current Spiritual Arts Academy has not yet reached its limit in its efforts to discover talent, and there are certainly still promising talents waiting to be discovered in unknown places.

The Academy of Spiritual Arts should innovate its concepts and make some new changes to recruit these promising talents.

In this way, the strength of the Gotei 13 will be visibly increased.

Unfortunately, despite having the courage to innovate, the Spirit Arts Academy was ultimately one of many institutions under the jurisdiction of the Central 46 Offices, and the Dean of the Spirit Arts Academy did not have the authority to change the rules.

This left him feeling extremely helpless.

Seeing this, the elite teacher accompanying them, Daiu Naihara Ikengoro, offered words of comfort:

"Dean, don't be discouraged. This year we have two new students who have reached the seventh level of the Spirit Might realm. In the upper grades, there are also a group of noble elites, including the heir of the Four Maple Academy's main family. Overall, we are much stronger than before."

"You don't understand. This is just temporary glory. It won't change anything. Besides, the talents of nobles are not worth expecting. It's expected that they are outstanding. The Academy of Spiritual Arts can't teach them much."

The dean shook his head.

"Although those two freshmen are neither as outstanding as the famous graduates of the past, and their academic performance is extremely unbalanced, making them genuine problem children, I would still prefer to choose them over the great nobles."

"Speaking of nobles, I heard that the Kuchiki family member has gone to guard the mortal realm?"

"Seems to be."

"She also comes from Rukongai. She was in Class 2 back then. Although many people don't think highly of her now, I believe in Captain Ukitake's judgment. She will be the best candidate to succeed the vice-captain."

"Her? The vice-captain?"

Daiyu Naihara Yanwulang disagreed, but with the Kuchiki family's assets as a backer, it wasn't impossible.

However, he was destined to be inferior to his contemporaries such as Abarai.

They are already vice-captains.

Even the two freshmen this year, named "Ba Ba Yuan Xiong Ru" and "Lun Tang Yu", were able to become high-ranking officers based on their hard work and then set their sights on the position of vice captain.

She seems to have a brighter future than that adopted daughter of the Kuchiki family.

The topic involving the nobility did not continue.

The two then walked around the examination hall and saw some "illiterate" candidates who had been screened out because they could not read or write and had extremely poor cultural literacy.