The boy squatting outside Seff's "office" was, of course, none other than Yui.
Although new souls often appeared in the Rukongai, and new residents came and went, the community tended to be insular and slow to trust outsiders. For someone like Seff, who spent most of his time either training or hunting Hollows, it was nearly impossible to integrate into the local social fabric within just a month.
Not that he had ever intended to.
From the very beginning, Seff had known that his stay here was temporary. So while he maintained a decent relationship with the adults due to his work and influence, he had neither the energy nor the inclination to bond with the children.
Yui was the only exception, the first true friend Seff had made in Soul Society, and the only one who'd treated him the same from beginning to end.
Still, Seff sometimes overheard comments from the townsfolk marveling at how quickly Yui was growing up.
"Seff-aniki."
When Yui spotted him walking down the road, he sprang up excitedly. But he had clearly been crouched for too long, his legs had gone numb. He stood in an awkward, half-pained twist, face scrunched up, though not in actual distress.
Despite this, by the time Seff reached him, the boy had already put on a big smile.
With a hand sheepishly rubbing his nose, he beamed up at Seff with a proud, triumphant glint in his eyes.
"I found something. Something I know you'll be interested in!"
"Oh? That's great news."
Seff didn't mention that he was already thinking of leaving. He hadn't decided when, and there was no need to spoil the moment.
Instead of ruffling Yui's hair like one might a child, he gave the boy's shoulder a light pat.
Then he unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Sunlight poured in through the doorway, illuminating a room that was half cluttered with boxes and storage crates, and half furnished with basic living essentials: a bed, a table, a few chairs.
This place had originally been one of the Senryu family's old storage units. They'd offered to clear it out for him, but Seff had stopped them.
He didn't plan on staying long. A proper renovation would've been unnecessary.
Yui followed him in, but his expression was noticeably off.
His smile was forced. His hand trembled slightly as he wiped sweat from his brow, not the kind of sweat that came from sitting under the sun, but the kind born of mental strain, as if he'd been enduring an invisible pressure the entire time.
Seff fetched a chair for him and placed a few snacks and a cup of homemade juice on the table before getting back to the main topic.
"So. You said there's someone in Zaraki District who fits what I'm looking for?"
"I wouldn't say for sure, but... there is a rumor. And from what I've confirmed, it's definitely not just a myth."
Yui ignored the snacks, but took interest in the juice, draining half the glass in one go before sipping the rest between his words.
A strange shadow seemed to pass over his face. His tone dropped, hushed and ominous, like a child recounting a ghost story.
"The Demon of North Rukongai's 80th District… Zaraki's Killer."
The tale of the Killer of Zaraki was infamous throughout the Rukongai.
Even though the 45th and 80th Districts were both in the West Rukongai, they were separated by vast stretches of lawless land. Aside from freaks like Seff, most souls couldn't dream of surviving the trek. And the Zaraki District, being in the North, wasn't even in the same region.
Still, this legend had persisted for centuries.
It was said that deep within North Rukongai's 80th District, Zaraki, there lived a nameless killer, origin unknown. Human, Hollow, beast, anyone who entered the district met the same fate.
Slaughter.
According to old records, the Soul Reapers had once mobilized en masse to eliminate this entity. But even then, the killer remained entrenched in Zaraki. After that, no Shinigami ever returned to the area.
In time, the legend turned into a bedtime threat parents used to scare disobedient children.
"If you keep acting out, I'll take you to Zaraki."
No more explanation was needed. That one sentence did the trick.
This was the weight of the legend.
Ironically, the tale had spread more widely among the chaos-ridden districts beyond the 50th than in the inner ones. In those outer areas, the Zaraki Killer was infamous.
Some self-proclaimed tough guys even sought it out, thinking that if they could slay the Killer, they'd instantly be famous.
After all, the 80th District was the bloodiest, most savage corner of the Rukongai. A haven for the violent, the bloodthirsty, the deranged. A place where lives were lost as easily as drawing breath.
Seff had been curious about it since early on, but back then, survival had taken priority.
Now that he had a foothold in the 45th District, it was a different story.
If someone like himself existed in Soul Society, it wasn't unreasonable to think that Zaraki might house someone equally abnormal.
Sure, every enemy Seff had encountered so far had been nothing but cannon fodder. But given enough numbers, even trash could become dangerous.
Besides, just as he believed the Seireitei and its Shinigami weren't all elite warriors, surely there were some lazy, useless freeloaders, he also believed the inverse: somewhere in the slums, real monsters could be lurking.
That was why he'd asked Yui to investigate.
Normally, when a kid showed interest in the Zaraki Killer legend, adults would immediately shut them down. But Yui's mother, upon hearing that the request came from Seff, not only didn't scold him, she actively helped.
Thanks to that, Yui now brought back solid intel.
"You like it?" Seff asked with a grin, watching Yui set his cup down.
"...It's actually pretty good."
The boy scratched his cheek in embarrassment. Maybe he thought admitting it was childish.
"As long as you like it. I've got more, take some home later. Especially since I might be heading out soon."
Yui's eyes widened slightly. After a pause, he asked carefully, "...You're going to Zaraki, aren't you? You're planning to challenge the Killer?"
"Don't give me that look."
Seff chuckled and ruffled Yui's hair hard, messing it up.
"I'm not heading there to die. If that thing really is as terrifying as the stories say, I'll run. I've got enough strength that escaping shouldn't be a problem, right?"
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
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• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed