Truly, it was the most embarrassing death and resurrection in the history of the world, but regardless, the fact that I was back among the living was what truly mattered, wasn't it?
Even though the embarrassment was doubled because I'd set the mood and said everything I wanted to say under the assumption that I was dying, there's a saying that even rolling in a field of dung is better than being in the afterlife.
Therefore, this level of shame was nothing compared to the joy of having my life back.
It was nothing. I said it twice because it's important.
As for what I did after coming back to life...
"First, we need to handle the memory erasure. If I bring Jomon over to work with Aizen and Urahara, they'll probably whip up a memory-erasing drug or Kido within a few days. And then—"
What else would I be doing? I was cleaning up the mess I made.
Part of me wanted to go into hiding until the embarrassment faded at least a little bit, but I didn't have that luxury.
Because of the battle between the Soul King and me, the Three Worlds had briefly reverted to the Primordial World. I had to handle the aftermath in the Soul Society and the World of the Living simultaneously, so I didn't have time to complain about being embarrassed.
Fortunately, Azashiro was handling the cleanup in Hueco Mundo on my behalf, so I didn't have to touch that. If he weren't, I would have been struggling for quite a while.
Even so, should I despair over the mountain of remaining problems, or should I be glad that at least one major task was off my plate?
...Right, being glad was the correct choice.
Just as one wipes their own rear after doing their business, it's only natural for someone to finish what they started.
'I might have been the one who did it, but I really caused a massive incident this time...'
After several months of working without a single wink of sleep, embarrassment became the least of my concerns.
Was it because it was physically taxing? No, if it were just physical labor, I wouldn't even mention it.
I had created Hell by myself and worked for thousands of years without sleeping; going a few months without sleep was nothing.
The real problem lay elsewhere.
"Namu Amita Bul..."
"Namu-san... Namu-san..."
"Please grant us entry into the Pure Land..."
No matter where I went, the nearby citizens approached me and began to pray. That was the real issue.
At first, I tried to ignore them or assumed they'd eventually move on, but it was happening everywhere. It was driving me insane.
But then again, even if I was a troublemaker, anyone who walked around tirelessly fixing things while sporting an Aureola of light behind their head would naturally be treated that way.
To make matters worse, ever since I became an Enlightened One, this damn mass of light wouldn't disappear no matter how much I waved my hands at it. It drew attention wherever I went, so while I was working, people would inevitably gather and start praying.
Do you find it hard to understand why they'd pray to the very culprit who trashed the Soul Society?
...That's exactly what I wanted to say.
'Why are you doing this to me...?'
It's not that I wanted them to curse me or throw stones since I was the villain, but I really wished they would stop coming up to me to pray or bow while I was trying to work.
After living like that for a few months, I was no longer known as the sinner who broke the Soul Society and killed the Soul King. Instead, I had become famous as the Living Buddha who restored the collapsed Three Worlds and helped the people.
It got to the point where even the people working with me were treating me like a Buddha.
I told them not to do that. I told them I wasn't a Buddha and that praying to me wouldn't grant them anything, and that they should spend that time bettering themselves. But it was useless.
"Ah... Be a lamp unto yourself, a refuge unto yourself! This is the sermon from the Mahaparinirvana Sutra...!"
"Thank you... Thank you..."
"Namu Amita Bul..."
"Sigh..."
Those people, blinded by my Radiant Halo, took my irritated outbursts as holy sermons.
I almost cracked the skull of one guy who was crying while calling me the reincarnation of Sakyamuni.
Look here, buddy, that man entered Nirvana and doesn't reincarnate anymore.
And if we're being pedantic, I'm actually older than Sakyamuni...
Anyway, whatever, doesn't matter.
It's all water under the bridge now. Why?
"It's finally winding down."
Because after months of toiling without rest, I had resolved eighty percent of the problems.
The remaining twenty percent were matters regarding the reconstruction of buildings and the shattered Hell, so for all intents and purposes, it was practically finished.
The repairs on the Seireitei buildings that took direct damage would soon be completed, and Hell wasn't a problem that could be solved just by rushing in right this second.
Clang, bang. I let out a deep sigh as I watched the construction work on the fallen buildings from the Great Inner Sanctum, the highest point in the Seireitei.
"Haa... I'd rather die than do this a second time."
Unless a second Soul King emerged by awakening divinity among humans, such a thing would never happen again.
In the first place, with the success of this plan, human egos had become so strong that awakening divinity was impossible unless someone truly realized the Truth of the World. So, one could safely assume it wouldn't happen again.
Now, only a life of peace remained.
As I was smiling contentedly at that thought, a familiar presence approached.
"So you were here, Lord Mahesvara."
"Thinking of visiting the Hell of Black Darkness for old time's sake? Luckily, that place wasn't destroyed."
"Hahaha, my apologies. I was so amazed that my Master has become a Living Buddha that I spoke out of turn without realizing it."
"Living Buddha, my foot. If anything, I'm just a Buddha who died and came back."
"I notice you aren't denying that you're a Buddha."
Seeing him chuckle made my stomach turn and curses rise to the tip of my tongue, but I held it in and let out a deep sigh.
I couldn't swear at a disciple who had rolled up his sleeves to help the moment he realized what I was doing.
"So, why were you looking for me? I should have finished all the work I was supposed to do."
"What are your plans for Hell?"
I felt like a kid who just finished studying and sat down to rest, only to hear his mother nag him to study more.
When I scowled, looking genuinely disgusted by the idea, Jomon let out a short laugh.
"It was just a question. I'm sure you'll handle it in due time, Master."
"I have to. I will. But let me rest for just a bit. Just a little bit..."
Hell was basically a planned city, so it had to be done properly once started.
Furthermore, since the Six Realms of Reincarnation had become unstable with Hell being shattered, I had integrated the Soul King and the Hogyoku into the cycle. The state of the Six Realms was a little... no, it was in very bad shape, so I had to fix that too.
And if it ended there, that would be one thing, but people were dying at this very moment, so Hell had to be restored as quickly as possible.
"Sigh... Now is not the time to be resting."
"I suspected you would say that, so while you were overseeing the Three Worlds, I have been creating the framework and restoring it."
"What? What about the manpower?"
"I utilized the sinners of Hell and the Ox-Heads and Horse-Faces. I prioritized rebuilding the courtrooms where the Shiwang Trials are held, and a report came in just a while ago that the restoration is complete. Here is the report."
Startled by the unexpected news, I took the report Jomon handed me.
The report contained everything—from the person in charge of Hell's reconstruction to the available personnel, materials, and blueprints.
Since the content was what it was, the stack of papers was very thick, but because it was organized so neatly, I was able to read through it all quickly.
Seriously, as long as he isn't harboring ulterior motives, there's no better talent than this guy. Feeling proud, I looked at Jomon with a smirk.
"You should have reported this to me first, you brat."
"My apologies. Having learned so much from you, Master, it seems I have even inherited your temperament."
"So, when did you prepare all this?"
"A disciple must reach where his Master cannot. Besides, you have already retired, have you not? It is only right that I go in your stead."
"You retired too."
"Hmm. Would it not be more accurate to call it a change of post rather than retirement?"
"You really don't back down for a second, do you?"
I chuckled as he fired back without missing a beat and handed the report back to him.
"Thanks. You saved me."
"Think nothing of it."
Jomon answered calmly and scooted over to sit beside me.
Even a fool would know the significance of a man who strictly adheres to hierarchy choosing to sit right next to me.
"Look at you, sitting level with me now?"
"Please let it slide just for today."
So, I nudged his shoulder with the back of my hand, laughing playfully.
Jomon responded with a bittersweet smile.
"Are you going?"
"Yes. As I told you before, the person I must protect and the responsibilities I must uphold are now gone."
If the Soul King dies, I too shall leave.
Recalling the words Jomon had said in the past, I took a breath, but couldn't find anything to say and let it out again.
Instead of his clumsy Master, the disciple was the first to speak.
"...I truly thank you for everything. Also, I am deeply sorry."
"Forget it. You've already paid for your sins with interest."
"Hehe, I suppose all those hardships were worth it, then."
After saying that, he spent a long time looking over the Soul Society in silence before standing up.
Once he left, we would never see each other again. But at this moment, no words were necessary.
Neither mental preparation nor a long goodbye was needed.
"You did well during that long span of time."
There was no answer to my final words.
Only a warm spring breeze blew past, brushing against my back.