I went up there personally to open the Gates of Hell and kick this bastard into the abyss, and now I'm hiring him as a laborer? Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?
One might think so. In fact, it's only natural to think that way.
After all, I'm using bad guys to catch bad guys.
But then again, look at Shiryu, Rasatsu, and Myoren. All three of them are technically sinners, so putting them on the seats of the Ten Kings is also backward in a sense.
Actually, let's leave Shiryu out. That guy probably spent a thousand years agonizing over his guilt.
Should I cut Myoren some slack too? Didn't he cry and say she couldn't do it?
"Hmm..."
They aren't exactly innocent, but there are definitely mitigating circumstances.
Anyway, if I'm using guys like them as the Ten Kings, why shouldn't I use Jomon?
Looking at it this way, it feels like I'm putting together a damn Suicide Squad.
With that thought, I arrived at Naraka. In the distance, I saw Jomon floating, curled up in a ball.
"I know you're awake."
Despite my call, Jomon didn't even pretend to hear me, keeping his eyes shut in silence.
Oh, playing the 'I can't hear you' game? Bastard, you think I haven't been in your position before?
"Open your eyes, you prick!"
I picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it straight at Jomon's leg.
Whack! With a sharp crack, Jomon began to spin wildly in the air.
His spinning slowly decelerated, and only then did Jomon open his eyes.
"Urgh..."
Looking considerably dizzy, Jomon clutched his forehead and turned toward me.
"Why does the likes of you seek a sinner such as I?"
"Let's do a job together. Of course, there's no pay, no honor, you'll be cursed to high heaven, and people will hold massive grudges against you—but you can consider it atonement."
"Atonement... Ha. What meaning does that have at this point?"
His cynical smile was a dead ringer for Reiwa's. Or rather, I suppose it's Reiwa who looks like Jomon.
But why are their personalities so different? Truly...
I crossed my arms, waiting for him to continue. Jomon watched me wordlessly, his gaze fixed on me before he looked down, lost in thought.
"What use could you possibly have for a sinner like me?"
A sinner... giving me backtalk?
"If you've done wrong, you bastard, you just say 'Yes, I understand,' shut up, and follow me. That's how it works, brat."
"Then I shall ask but one thing. If I were to betray you once more, what would you do? Why entrust me with work?"
"If you were actually planning to betray me, you wouldn't have even brought it up. Besides, aren't you just floating aimlessly in Naraka because you've realized everything is futile?"
I saw the corner of Jomon's lip twitch.
It was such a minute tremor that if it weren't for me, anyone else would have missed it.
"I simply needed time to think."
"Since you can't even die anymore, thinking 'I just want to float here and do nothing,' or 'I want to die without doing anything,' counts as thinking, I suppose."
"I see that from the start, I never had the option to refuse."
"You catch on quick. From the moment I came looking for you, your fate was already sealed—you're working with me."
Don't even think about running away. I'll chase you to the very end of Hell.
"Since we have already met at the very end of Hell, how could I possibly think of fleeing?"
Because you're exactly the type who would, you devious bastard.
I swallowed the words that were right on the tip of my tongue. Words have power; no need to invite trouble by speaking it into existence.
"Anyway, get out of there. We have a lot to do."
"Understood."
As expected, Jomon used an unnamed Kido to slowly drift out of Naraka. I smirked.
He could have gotten out whenever he wanted; he was just staying in there on purpose.
"So, what is it you intend to do?"
"I'm going to create Hell."
"?"
I could practically see him thinking, What the hell is he talking about?
I guess it's good that his youth makes his expressions easier to read.
Setting aside those idle thoughts, I relayed the same explanation I gave to Shiryu. I told him about the Six Realms of Reincarnation, the Ten Kings of Hell, the Eight Hot and Eight Cold Hells, and even the Nether King Palace and the Pure Spirit Hall.
"The Nether King Palace and the Pure Spirit Hall... are you imitating the Soul King Palace and the Zero Division's hall?"
"So what? If a design is good, you use it."
"..."
What? You got a problem? When I jerked my chin at him, Jomon quietly looked away.
Regardless, once the explanation was over, Jomon nodded and began to trace characters in the air.
"That's impressive. How are you doing that?"
"I am simply tweaking the principles of Kido. Much like how one gathers Spiritual Power to manifest the phenomenon of a Demon Art in reality, I gather it at the tip of my finger like this."
As he moved his fingertip, a blue line formed following its trail.
"It carves the letters into the air. Of course, since I am writing with Spiritual Power rather than ink, the script will fade naturally over time, so you need not worry."
"I see."
Having finished his explanation, Jomon continued writing. After summarizing my points, he rubbed his chin and tilted his head slightly.
"Before constructing this Hell, I believe the priority should be establishing the laws that will judge sin."
"Look at you, actually making sense for once."
How unexpected.
When I let out a dry laugh, Jomon gave a thin smile and shook his head.
"To maintain a Great Noble Clan for a thousand years, one must be well-versed in such matters. Besides, who do you think it was that cast the very first sinner into Hell?"
"Acting all high and mighty when you're just as much of a sinner yourself."
Brat. His habit of shutting his mouth when he's out of arguments hasn't changed a bit.
Seeing that he was exactly the same as in the old days was actually a bit funny.
He might be a total bastard whose sins were great enough to spark endless rumors, but in a sense, it meant he was also the most unwavering man I knew.
"Alright, then establishing the laws comes first."
"Yes. I shall leave that part to you, Master."
?
Did I hear that right?
"You bastard, I brought you here to work and the first thing you do is try to dump the workload on me? Do you want your skull cracked open like the prisoners over there?"
"Do you truly think it appropriate for a sinner to be the one to ordain the law?"
"It takes one to know one. You're the one who's committed the sins, so you should know them better than anyone. You're going to organize everything from A to Z and bring it to me. The types of crimes, the methods of punishment, the grounds for justification—everything down to the smallest detail."
"Then you are essentially telling me to do it all alone."
"You organize it and bring it for my approval. Naturally, I'll look through it all, and if anything looks weird, I'll make you rewrite the whole damn thing."
"Without even paper or ink?"
"I'll go get them for you."
"By when must this be completed?"
"As soon as possible."
"..."
Seeing Jomon staring at me with a 'What did I just hear?' expression, I gave him a wide grin.
"It's too late for regrets now. Grit your teeth and endure it."
"This is tyranny."
"And what you did to the Soul Society wasn't?"
"Ugh..."
Brat, trying to play victim? You're asking for a beating.
The more I thought about it, the more annoyed I got. What gives him the right to talk back so smugly?
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No, I was just thinking... you haven't been hit even once yet. Maybe that's why you keep running your mouth; it's getting on my nerves."
"I-I was hit plenty back in the Soul Society!"
"The sinners down here in Hell die once a day. I'll hit you once. Just once. It's a wake-up call so you'll work properly from now on. I'll make it hurt just enough so you don't die."
"You said you wouldn't hit——"
"This bastard... backtalk again?"
"Gasp!"
Shutting your mouth now is too late, brat.
I smirked and clenched my fist.
Yeah, I'll be gentle—just enough not to kill you.
Don't worry; I've had plenty of practice making lumps on people's heads the size of mountain ranges.
"DISCIPLINE!!"
"Gwaaargh!!!"
BOOM!!
A sound like a heavy palm slamming onto a wooden desk erupted as Jomon's head bobbed violently.
"K-huuuuuugh...!! Graaaakh...!"
"How is it? It hurts just enough not to kill you, right? I've recently mastered the art of holding back, so you won't even be able to faint."
"This is... tyranny...!!"
"You prick, you want another one?"
"Y-You said you'd only hit me once!"
"I can't let it slide since you keep talking back. Take one more."
BOOM!!
"GYAAAARGH!!"
I cackled as I watched Jomon collapse to the floor, clutching his head and trembling.
"Be grateful that's all you get, brat. Normally, I'd have torn off your limbs and head and tossed you into the Avici Hell."
"...Ugh, yes..."
"Anyway, brushes, paper, and ink, right? That's all you need? I'll be right back."
Before the bewildered Jomon, I punched the air, shattering the boundary.
Jomon, who actually possessed quite a brain, realized that I had just smashed the barrier between the Three Worlds and Hell. He looked horrified.
"How could you...!"
"How else? I punched it. Anyway, wait here."
Crossing the boundary into the Soul Society, I headed straight for the Shiba estate.
I could have gone to Rasatsu or Myoren, but I didn't feel like wrestling with gatekeepers again, so I chose the most comfortable option.
It seemed they hadn't forgotten my face yet; the gatekeeper immediately fetched Shiryu. I received paper, ink, and brushes from him.
Oh, and since I needed water and a stone to grind the ink, I took those as well before heading back.
"Here. Brushes, ink, and paper."
"To cross the boundary so easily..."
"It worked when I tried?"
I placed the four treasures of the study before Jomon, who was still in shock, and patted his shoulder.
"Let's work well together from now on, alright?"
"...Yes."
Good, now you're answering properly.
I was nodding in satisfaction when it happened.
Flash——
A single beam of light descended, illuminating Hell.
It was an intense light, powerful enough to reach the very edge of Hell, the darkest depths of Naraka.
"What on earth is that...?"
Jomon voiced his confusion, but I knew.
"Kagaya...?"
What I felt coming from the direction of the light was undoubtedly Kagaya's Spiritual Power.