Help! I am bound to Aizen!-Chapter 238

Chapter 238

A thud.

The wolf fell from the tree and stopped breathing on impact.

Snow showered down from the branches, covering the wolf beneath its frosty blanket—saving the trouble of finding it a gravesite, Kaelith thought absently.

Collecting his thoughts, he turned his gaze toward the orange-haired girl. She looked just as stunned. She knew she was stronger than most kids, but she hadn’t expected to be this strong.

Before she could figure out what had happened, two more wolves lunged at her simultaneously. The girl was so tense she nearly forgot to breathe. Gripping her branch, she swung with all her might—

Boom!

Just like before, the moment she struck, her strength suddenly surged. The first wolf was sent flying with a yelp. By coincidence, it collided with the second wolf, and the two rolled away in a tangled heap.

Seeing how fierce she was, the remaining wolves hesitated.

Wolves always hunt with the goal of maximizing gain. If the prey put up too strong a fight, it wouldn’t be worth the risk. A wounded leg today meant no more meals tomorrow.

After some thought, the pack decided on a final attack. Three wolves emerged slowly, encircling the girl. Although the tree at her back protected her from behind, the other directions were still dangerous.

She swallowed hard, her full attention on the wolves. A few seconds later, all three pounced.

Unlike earlier, this time they staggered the timing just enough. The first wolf took another full-force blow from her branch and went flying. The second ducked under the swing, lashing her arm with its tail. Pain flared; the girl’s face went pale, and her movements slowed.

Seizing the moment, the third wolf lunged, jaws wide, aiming for her neck. She saw the rows of razor-sharp teeth inches away and felt a surge of despair.

Bang!

To her shock, the lunging wolf slammed into an invisible wall. It had put all its weight into the leap and was knocked back, yelping as it hit the snow.

A figure descended from above, landing between her and the wolves. Seeing this newcomer, the wolves grew wary. They sensed danger from this man.

Moments later, the lead wolf made its decision. With a low growl, it barked an order, and all the wolves that could still move turned tail and fled.

Kaelith watched them vanish and felt a hint of admiration. Animals of the Soul Society really did have a keen sense for danger.

He turned to the girl leaning against the tree. Initially, he had planned to save her and leave, but the power she displayed piqued his interest. Each time her strength flared, he sensed a peculiar surge of energy around her—enough to make even someone of his Captain-level skill feel uneasy.

Maybe he’d caught Aizen’s flue for studying strange phenomena. Kaelith now had a habit of investigating anything unusual.

“Hello there. I’m Kaelith, a Shinigami. I saw your fight with those wolves—it was impressive.”

“You must be hungry after that battle. I happen to live alone in a pretty big place. You’re welcome to come stay, for as long as you’d like. No problem at all.”

Hearing this, the girl grew wary. Anyone who grew up in Rukongai would be no stranger to caution. Although she was grateful he had saved her, his words clearly hinted at ulterior motives.

She forced a thin smile. “Thank you for the offer, but I have something I need to do…”

Kaelith waved a hand dismissively. “Relax, I’m not a bad person. I often help folks in Rukongai who have nowhere else to go. But it’s your choice—you don’t have to come. If you do, though, I’ll take you to a restaurant for a good meal.”

“Uh…” She couldn’t help hesitating. In truth, she was starving. She had come to the mountains looking for food, only to find wolves instead. After that chase and fight, she was so hungry she felt dizzy.

After a few seconds’ thought, she nodded. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

She made up her mind to fill her stomach first and run away afterward if needed.

Kaelith nodded, clearly satisfied.

…

In the restaurant, the girl stared wide-eyed at the scene before her. Half an hour earlier, Kaelith had led her into town for a meal. Because she was so hungry, she wolfed down three bowls of rice in one go, cautiously sampling some side dishes while worrying he might be upset.

She thought she had eaten quite a lot—until she witnessed Kaelith. From the moment he sat down, he seemed to do nothing but devour plate after plate. In only half an hour, bowls and dishes were piled high beside him. The entire restaurant bustled just to keep bringing him more.

Watching Kaelith’s hearty appetite, the girl swallowed again. Her own appetite stirred anew. Do all Shinigami eat this much?

Sensing her gaze, Kaelith looked up. “What’s wrong? Don’t like the dishes? Why don’t you order something else? I can finish that plate for you.”

She quickly shook her head. “No, I’m fine with this…”

Kaelith simply nodded, then raised a hand. “Boss, three more bowls of rice for her!”

The girl could only smile wryly. Still, despite his odd behavior, he didn’t seem like a bad person at all.

Once he’d had his fill, Kaelith let out a long breath and looked content. He was about to say something but paused, as though recalling something important.

“By the way, I still don’t know your name. Calling you ‘girl’ all the time feels like I’m calling Soifon at home…so how about introducing yourself?”

She nodded quickly. “Ah… I’m Rangiku. Matsumoto Rangiku.”

“Huh?”

Kaelith paused in surprise. Matsumoto Rangiku—the future Lieutenant of the Tenth Division? He hadn’t expected the random kid he rescued to be such a key figure in the story.

He unconsciously glanced at a certain spot on her figure. Even at her young age, she already showed signs of… promise. So that explains her future development.

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However, as far as he remembered, Rangiku had never displayed that sudden surge of strength she’d used earlier. Was the plot shifting somehow?

He decided to confirm the timeline.

“Rangiku, do you know a boy named Ichimaru Gin?”