Chapter 44: What Should a Girl Do If Her Hobby Is Discovered?

At this time, Kano Chiharu still wanted to maintain her image as a refined young lady. She bowed slightly and said,

“If you want money, please take it. Please let us sisters go. Thank you very much.”

However, the bandit leader completely missed the point of her words. Instead, his eyes sparkled with greed as he shouted,

“Sisters? There’s a woman in the carriage? Great! Brothers, you haven’t played with aristocratic women before, have you? Wait until I’ve had enough fun, and then everyone will get a turn!”

The bandits around him burst into laughter. These nobles were so naïve—did they really think they could escape unscathed after running into bandits? This was meat delivered straight to the wolves.

“Brother, look at that woman’s chest! Bigger than your head! After you’re done, how about cutting them off and hanging them as trophies?”

“I wonder if the one in the carriage is just as pretty?”

“Quit talking and let’s do it already!”

Kano Chiharu looked at the group of beasts before her with eerie calm—almost unnervingly calm.

In the distance, Yamabuki Haruto watched with hesitation. Save the damsel? No… Kano Chiharu’s strength far outstripped his own. Even if he jumped in, it would only be a token gesture, and she might not even appreciate it. Maybe it was better to wait and see.

Kano Chiharu spoke softly, almost politely,

“Everyone, it isn’t easy for us sisters to survive in this chaotic world. Please… make way.”

But the bandits, blinded by lust, only leered harder.

The leader sneered,

“Great! If you volunteer to stay and serve us, I’ll let the ones in the carriage go. How about it?”

Inside the carriage, Kano Chimaru clenched her fists. She couldn’t take this anymore. I can’t beat a Hollow, but a bunch of bandits? These fools are mine! She was just about to jump out and unleash a Kidō spell when her sister suddenly caught her wrist.

Kano Chiharu nodded gently,

“Very well. I’ll stay. Let the carriage go.”

“Sister…” Kano Chimaru’s voice trembled with worry.

“Keep going forward,” Chiharu said calmly. “And don’t look back.”

The driver’s hands shook on the reins. To leave the head of the Kano family behind—if anything happened, no punishment in the world could atone for it.

“Go!” Chiharu ordered. “I am the head of this family. Listen to me.”

“I… I won’t leave—” Chimaru began, but before she could finish, Chiharu’s hand struck the back of her neck. Chimaru slumped unconscious.

The driver, weeping, whipped the carriage forward. His only thought was to get back to Seireitei as fast as possible, to beg for help—hoping against hope the head of the Kano family would still be alive by then.

Watching her sister and the carriage vanish down the road, Chiharu let out a faint sigh of relief. Good. They’re out of the way.

The bandit leader grinned wickedly and reached out for her chest. It was so large his hand couldn’t even cover it.

Then—blood splattered.

Before he even realized what had happened, his hand flew through the air. A heartbeat later, he let out a scream that shook the forest.

“MY HAND!!!”

In Kano Chiharu’s grip was a massive steel naginata, its blade gleaming red. Despite her calm, almost demure smile, the long weapon spun effortlessly in her hands, the steel shaft twirling like a dancer’s embroidery needle.

She asked gently, almost playfully,

“Do you know what my favorite moment is?”

The bandit leader, now pale with terror, had no time to regret his mistake.

“It’s when I see blood spraying from a body. It’s beautiful. Please… don’t scream. It would ruin the view. Endure it.”

And then she brought the naginata down.

The man’s body burst apart like an overripe fruit.

The blood sprayed high, and in Chiharu’s eyes, it bloomed like a crimson flower—pure, radiant, and dazzling. Her lips curved into an innocent smile, so sweet and girlish it was terrifying.

“Next.”

One bandit shouted desperately, “She’s just one woman! Don’t be scared—get her!”

The next instant, he was split cleanly in two from head to toe, his organs spilling out in a wet heap. Chiharu had deliberately chosen the bloodiest way to kill.

The weaker bandits broke ranks, trying to flee.

Her voice, gentle and elegant as ever, stopped them cold:

“Anyone who runs… dies first.”

She swung the steel shaft sideways. A fleeing bandit’s skull caved in like a melon.

“You—you monster! Murderer!” one cried, nearly hysterical.

Chiharu smiled sweetly, even bowing her head with ladylike grace.

“Please resist a little harder. It makes me so much happier. Thank you.”

By now the bandits knew the truth—they hadn’t trapped prey. They had stumbled into the lair of a predator.

One by one, they died screaming. And in the end, Kano Chiharu stood alone in a field of blood and mangled bodies, quietly basking in the afterglow of her carnage.

From a distance, Yamabuki Haruto swallowed hard. I knew it. This woman isn’t normal… She’s a complete maniac. And yet… if she joined the Gotei 13, she could kill to her heart’s content—with official approval!

Straightening his robes to look respectable, he cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“What happened here? So much blood! So many corpses! Oh? Isn’t this Kano Chiharu? Did you kill all of them?”

Chiharu flinched, trembling at the sound of his voice. She turned, face suddenly red, and clutched her naginata like a shy maiden caught in an embarrassing act.

What do I do? My little hobby has been discovered! What should I do?! I’m so embarrassed!

There was only one answer, her mind screamed—

Silence him.