Chapter 1: Tsundere? I've withdrawn!

Soul Society.

Wandering Souls Street, District One, Moist Forest Peace.

Countless wandering souls walked the streets, coming and going, heads crowded together.

Compared to the wandering soul districts where resources are obviously 'scarce' and far from the 'distant' Pure Spirit Court, the Moist Forest Peace area numbered as District One is undoubtedly the safest and most resource-rich area.

At least there is obvious order here, although the order here is also not perfect.

Perhaps because Moist Forest Peace is closer to the Pure Spirit Court, on this street where wandering souls live, one often sees a black-clad Death God passing by.

The existence known as Death God basically wears a uniform attire and accessories. Almost all Death God soldiers wear the black kimono called Death God Uniform, and at their waist they carry a weapon used to slay evil spirits that looks like a samurai sword. Of course, that is not an ordinary samurai sword, but a weapon exclusive to Death Gods called the Soul-Cutting Sword.

Whenever a Death God passes by the street, the wandering souls on the side unconsciously straighten up and look with reverence at those Death Gods who enjoy 'privilege' and are strong in strength……

At this moment, those Death God soldiers who should be guarding the Pure Spirit Court and maintaining the order of the three worlds, causing the 'Hollow' evil spirits to dissipate and the 'Plus' spirits to come to Soul Society to continue suffering, have instead gone straight to stand in front of a ramen shop located on Moist Forest Peace Street in District One of Wandering Souls Street.

"Sure enough, the captain has come here again to eat noodles."

"So that's the case, huh? Is the noodles made by others just better than those made in the division cafeteria?"

"Honestly, always ditching your duties to go eat ramen in Wandering Souls Street—what would that sound like if it got out? If the soldiers of other divisions found out, they'd think our division's captain is irresponsible~"

"Shh, keep it down! Don't let the captain hear your remarks, or you'll definitely get a beating."

Two Death God soldiers dressed in black Death God Uniforms stood in front of the ramen shop as if no one were there, whispering their discussion.

They did not choose to enter this ordinary ramen shop, but instead stood cautiously outside the door, continually peeking inside through the gap.

From the complaints in these two Death God soldiers' words and their tightly furrowed brows, it can be seen that they feel helpless toward a certain presence inside the ramen shop.

"What do we say now?!"

"Anyway, we still have to call the captain out of the shop, right? The other soldiers are still waiting in the division barracks for the captain to hold a meeting!"

"That's also true……"

"Speaking of which, last time I went to the shop to fetch the captain, and not only did I get scolded, but the captain also beat me up under the guise of instruction! This time it should be your turn, no matter what."

"Huh? Didn't we agree that I just needed to accompany you here? What you're saying now is completely different from what you said when you called me over! If I had known I needed to go inside to fetch the captain, I wouldn't have come with you."

"Shut up! You really think I don't know what you're thinking? If it weren't for the fact that the position of vice-captain of the Sixth Division has been vacant, you wouldn't have come along out of kindness."

"Don't think I don't know; your heart is just as dark as mine! We're both just sucking up to the captain for the Sixth Division vice-captain position."

The two Death God soldiers felt great distress looking at the ramen shop ahead, as if there were some primordial beast inside, and neither dared to go in first……

Finally, because the two Death God soldiers had differing opinions over who should enter the ramen shop first, they stood at the door arguing, each holding their own view and unable to convince the other.

Yes, the relationship between these two Death God soldiers is exactly like that of the two third seats of the Court Guard Thirteenth Division in later generations, Xiaochun Xiantaolang and Huche Qingyin.

Although they are soldiers of the same division and trust each other, they can entrust their backs to each other!

But because they are both third seats of the division, they are in a relationship of competing for the division vice-captain position, resulting in mutual dislike.

"What's happening?"

"I don't know……"

"Long time no see, it looks like the Death Gods are arguing."

As the two Death God soldiers' voices grew louder, many curious Wandering Souls Street residents nearby turned their gazes this way.

Thus, there appeared two Death Gods standing in front of the ramen shop on Wandering Souls Street constantly 'haggling', attracting countless wandering souls to secretly stop and watch.

Meanwhile, while the two Death God soldiers were making a spectacle in front of the Wandering Souls Street residents, a struggle was also unfolding in the moderately sized room of this seemingly ordinary ramen shop.

Logically, this ramen shop is located in the safest, most prosperous area of Wandering Souls Street in Soul Society! Even if the shop owner's culinary skills are limited, the customers should be steady, but the current situation is quite special!

Judging by the scale of this shop, from any angle, for the ramen business where you can buy and sell by just pushing a cart, this counts as a comparatively 'luxurious' interior, and at the moment there is only one customer.

It's a shame that, although the ramen shop has plenty of tables and chairs, even the row of chairs set up by the counter facing the kitchen, the room opposite the counter is appropriately sized, and moreover there are seven or eight longer tables with chairs naturally packed tightly around them, but the number of tables and chairs still cannot change the fact that there is only one customer.

And at this moment, the shop's sole customer does not look like someone easy to deal with.

The shop's sole customer is a girl, but she is like a thorny rose—although alluring, she exudes an aura that says 'strangers keep away', as if approaching her would get you pricked by poisonous thorns~

Meanwhile, opposite the girl, inside the kitchen surrounded by the counter, stands a youth whose face is rather handsome.

The youth is the shop's owner and also works as a cook. Right now he stands in the kitchen, looking with utter disdain at the delinquent girl sitting before him, who is also his shop's only customer.

As for this 'customer'.

If you only look at the customer's appearance, from any angle, this girl with a head of light purple twin tails and delicate, exquisite features would be considered a beauty.

But the customer's bearing right now is truly bad, making anyone see her as a delinquent little tart.

Yes, the girl's bearing is exactly this 'irritable'!

Only see the girl sitting before the youth, leisurely lifting a pair of long, beautiful legs, her long flowing hair tied into purple twin tails, freely swaying as her rhythmic, pale white legs swing back and forth~

"If you want to eat noodles, hurry up and eat! If not, please turn left and leave."

"Also! Stop shaking, I'm getting dizzy watching you."

"Keep shaking… you also get out."

Finally, the youth inside the counter could no longer tolerate the girl's constant shaking, and spoke to her in a displeased tone.

Honestly, if it weren't for the girl's identity, the youth really wanted to slap her to the ground, then grab her two twin tails tightly and shout at her: 'I'll make you shake! I'll make you shake! This time I'll see if you still shake!!'

Cough cough……

"Hey hey hey! Is this how you talk to a customer?"

The girl, upon hearing that, had a hint of displeasure in her eyes as she looked at the youth.

"Customer? I don't see any of my customers!"

"You wouldn't think that just entering my shop makes you my customer, would you?"

"Sorry! I'm a principled person; in my eyes, someone who doesn't spend a penny and doesn't eat a bowl of noodles cannot be called a customer."

The youth spoke to the girl calmly.

"Hah, profiteer! Seeing a customer, you should at least give them a cup of plain water—that's common sense!"

Also! You better listen to me! Don't look at me like this—I'm a Shinigami! And I'm also the captain of the Thirteenth Division of the Court Guard Squads.

The girl spoke, and instantly thrust her hips—she looked downright fierce!

Coming to a noodle shop opened by low‑class wandering‑soul street folk like you to eat noodles—I'm really giving you face!

From now on you can brag to other wandering souls, saying the noodles you made were praised even by the Captain of the Guard Court Thirteen Squad!

The girl, after hearing the ramen master's words, furrowed her fine brows and tapped the young man before her, speaking.

"So what?!"

However, the young man wasn't buying any of the girl's act.

"You…"

The girl heard that and flashed her sharp canines.

At the same time, with her keen eyes she glared viciously at the young man before her, silently thinking: "Damn Araki, you'll fall into my hands sooner or later; when that day comes I'll have plenty of time to have fun with you~"

Thinking of that, the girl's gaze softened gradually, taking on a hint of teasing.

That made the young man behind the bar knit his brows and sigh helplessly: "Being too handsome is really a trouble; you always get weird nasty women staring at you~ sigh~"

If this scene were seen by other wandering souls on Wandering Soul Street, or the two death gods guarding outside the ramen shop, they'd have their jaws drop outright!

Because that delinquent girl sitting at the ramen shop's bar is no "ordinary person"!

As the girl said, her true identity is a death god, and not just any death god, but a Squad Captain at the pinnacle of the Guard Court Thirteen Squad!

In fact, anyone familiar with the Jingling Court can tell the girl's identity and status from her attire.

In this vast Soul Realm, aside from royal agents and the well‑funded vassals of high‑ranking nobles, only thirteen members of the Guard Court Thirteen Squad are allowed to wear, over their black death‑armor, the costly white feathered robe that signifies rank and status.

These thirteen are called "Squad Captains" by the countless death‑god squad members of the Guard Court Thirteen Squad.

It is a symbol not only of power but also of authority!

The girl's white‑outside, red‑inside feathered robe bears a large Chinese character meaning 'six', indicating she commands the Sixth Squad of the Guard Court Thirteen Squad.

Indeed, the girl before you is the Captain of the Guard Court Sixth Squad, one of the Thirteen Squads that guard the Jingling Court.

With the privileges she wields, even if the girl were to draw her Soul‑Cutting Blade and kill the ramen master for his insolence, no one would say a word…

Because, in the Soul Realm, it would just be a wandering soul looking for death that ran into a captain—nothing more.

"Who says I don't eat noodles? Bring me a bowl of tonkotsu ramen!"

Unexpectedly, the girl at the bar didn't get angry at the young man's words; she actually ordered a tonkotsu ramen. Yes, in the end it still concluded with the girl's compliance.

"Alright, that'll be fifty taels in total."

"Pay first, then the noodles! This shop doesn't extend credit!"

In response, the young man behind the bar wasn't pleased that his noodles were about to be eaten by a squad captain; instead, with a calm face he demanded payment from the captain.

It seemed that, in the young man's eyes, money was above all else.

"Fifty taels? A bowl of noodles costs fifty taels? Why don't you go robbing?"

"The price was already shocking to begin with! How come it's gone up again after a few days?!"

But when the girl heard the ramen price, her eyes widened.

"Captain, you're joking; I'm a good citizen who never steals…"

"The price of this noodle has risen to fifty taels ever since you walked in~"

"If you don't want to eat, you're free to leave; our shop may be small, but we're all about mutual consent…"

"Perfect timing, I see your squad's soldiers are coming to fetch you again. As the Captain of the Guard Court Thirteen Squad protecting the Jingling Court, you shouldn't always make things hard for your soldiers…"

The young man at the bar seemed extremely familiar with the girl; he knew her identity clearly and remained stern.

Indeed, the ramen shop's young master didn't get excited or grovel because of the girl's status; instead he was a bit disgusted! After all, it's precisely because of her that all his customers fled!

Of course, the young owner didn't blame the fleeing patrons; after all, anyone would be scared off upon seeing the original Guard Court Thirteen Squad's elite squad captains.

Nevertheless, that didn't stop the youth from greedily milking the girl!

Honestly, opening a ramen shop in this spot is still costly, so he had to charge the losses he incurred from customers onto the captain before him.

"I'll eat, I obviously…"

The girl, hearing that, painfully took out fifty taels and placed them on the bar, then turned to glance at the Sixth Squad soldiers stationed outside the ramen shop, her gaze a little disdainful: "Hmph! Truly, you're relentless! I only came out to rest half a day, why the rush to send me back?!"

"Thank you for your patronage!"

On the other side, the young man at the bar snatched the girl's small money from the table and brought out a steaming bowl of ramen from the back kitchen. Hmm, judging by his actions, it's hard to say he didn't prepare it in advance.

"So fast…"

The girl stared at the steaming bowl of ramen before her, eyes wide. Even her eyesight couldn't discern how the young man made the ramen.

"Also, I ordered tonkotsu ramen! This is clearly…"

The girl first marveled at the ramen master's speed, then immediately complained about the watery noodles in front of her.

Especially, the girl couldn't fathom how the youth sliced the meat so thin—like cicada wings; his knife skill was definitely captain‑level.

"Not eating?!"

In response, the young man at the bar showed no intention of spoiling the girl, and prepared to remove the bowl of noodles from the table.

"Huh? Who said I'm not eating? I paid for this!"

The girl, seeing his move, clutched the noodle bowl to prevent him from taking the noodles away.

"Heh…"

The young man, watching her half‑hearted gesture, shook his head. He said "no" with his mouth but his body was quite honest~

But tsundere has long been out of fashion.

"Slurp~"

On the other side, the girl, guarding her food, gulped the noodles in big bites and asked the young man at the bar: "Hey! Araki, you—stop keeping your ramen shop on Wandering Soul Street! Better join the Guard Court Thirteen Squad with me! Having talent stay here is just a waste of Soul Realm resources."

The girl, rarely tsundere, was sincerely earnest as she invited Araki. After the invitation, she quietly watched the young Araki before her. In fact, the girl couldn't even recall how many times over the past decades she had invited the young man…

Unfortunately, over the past decades every invitation she's sent has been met with the young man's refusal.

Hmm.

Regarding the girl's invitation, the youth named Araki remained silent, as if he were thinking about something.

"As expected, you still don't want to go to the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, huh?"

"Well then, but I won't give up because of that; I'll keep inviting you until you, this guy, truly agree to go with me to Seireitei."

The girl sighed helplessly at the sight of the youth before her remaining silent for a long time. Although she felt a bit disappointed, it was also somewhat expected.

"The Thirteen Court Guard Squads, right?!"

"Alright! Let's go once!"

However, just as the girl was waiting for Araki's another refusal, she heard the youth's—namely Araki's—voice of agreement.

"Eh?!"

"You... what did you just say?!"

The girl, who serves as the captain of the Sixth Division of the Court Guard Squads, upon hearing this, put down her bowl of noodles, and once again widened her eyes in surprise. This was the second time the girl had been shocked by Araki's words since coming to the ramen shop; the previous time she was shocked was upon hearing that damn sky-high noodle price.

"..."

Compared to the girl's surprise, the youth whom the girl calls Araki remained much calmer.

It was only because Araki's exclusive mission system in his mind had just successfully issued the mission to go to Seireitei; everything was merely a tool to make him stronger~

Youth,

Temporarily called Araki,

He, is a transmigrator.

Newcomer author of a new work, seeking recommendations, investments, and collections~ Support the quality triple~

I will strive to write my book well, presenting the most exciting story to everyone~

(End of chapter)