At my words, Yammy, the 10th Espada, grinned and stood up, while Nnoitra, the 5th, stood up with a deepening scowl.
"Suerte...! An interesting one has shown up!"
"I'll gouge out those eyes I don't like...!"
Unlike the two who looked ready to pounce at any second, the others maintained a lukewarm attitude.
Stark, in particular, let out a sigh with an expression that clearly said something annoying had appeared.
The standoff continued for a brief moment before Aizen, who had remained silent, raised his hand to calm the Espada.
"Let's put a stop to this. I have no desire to introduce unnecessary variables when our Great Undertaking is at hand."
"Tch...."
Aizen looked at the two standing members as he spoke. After a moment of hesitation, they both clicked their tongues and returned to their seats.
They're backing off because they think they'll lose if they fight.
The words almost escaped my lips, but considering that a loose tongue is the gate to misfortune, I decided to keep my mouth shut.
"I'm sorry for dropping in so suddenly, but I was just happening to pass through this neighborhood. I didn't come here looking for a fight."
"It seems our interests align. I'll ask just in case, but... is there any possibility of you becoming my ally?"
"Hmm."
As I've said before, this world isn't the one I know.
Seeing that Aizen has seized control of Hueco Mundo and gathered all the Espada, this is likely either the original world or one infinitely close to it.
If that's the case, there's only one answer I can give here.
"None. Oh, but that doesn't mean there's a possibility of me becoming your enemy, so don't sweat it."
If I were to act as I pleased and run wild in a place like this?
It's obvious that things which must happen won't, and things which shouldn't happen will.
Even in the world I came from, things only ended the way they did because I changed them slowly from the roots. If I had remained a bystander until the end and then suddenly intervened to flip everything upside down, there's no telling how it would have turned out.
Ichigo might have become the Soul King, or the world might have collapsed because Ichigo didn't exist.
I might even have become the lynchpin of the world in place of the Soul King.
Just because it isn't my world doesn't mean I can go running wild.
With great power comes great responsibility.
To put it another way, if you don't do anything you'd have to take responsibility for, you're fine.
"In this world, I am nothing more than a bystander."
"Then that is enough. If you aren't an enemy, it matters not."
"Lord Aizen...! Leaving that man alone is too dangerous!"
"Tosen, the words of those who possess power carry weight. The weight within those words is responsibility. In other words, he will take responsibility for what he says. Do you understand what I mean?"
"...."
Dismissing Tosen's concerns with a single sentence, Aizen looked at me and smiled.
"Furthermore, we do not have the power to control him. This is not an overestimation; it is an objective assessment."
If I had my old personality, I might have said something back, but power is a trivial matter to me now, so I simply shrugged.
It was a gesture telling him to think whatever he liked.
"You certainly referred to yourself as a bystander, did you not?"
"I did."
"In that case, I would like you to stay with us until the damaged buildings are repaired and Grimmjow, who lies here, is treated."
Aha, so he wants to use my existence as a deterrent to stop fights?
Like a sort of nuclear warhead for display?
"So it's my fault for interfering despite calling myself a bystander?"
"Haha, calling it a fault is unnecessary. No one is at fault here. It is merely an 'accident' born from a layering of misunderstandings."
He's saying that since he won't hold me responsible, I shouldn't hold him responsible either.
It wasn't something the usual Aizen would say, so I hesitated for a moment before nodding.
It's not incomprehensible.
Aizen is the type to build plans over a long period; he isn't usually the type to utilize such sudden variables.
He's fundamentally smart, so he likely prepares for contingencies, but since he lacks a sharp countermeasure right now, this is probably his best bet.
"Quite the wordplay. Well... fine. Since there's shared responsibility, it would be polite to go along with such a game to that extent."
Just as Aizen was about to nod, I snapped my fingers.
"In exchange, I have a condition. For the duration of my stay here, do not tolerate any acts of hostility directed toward me."
"Hmm. That feels like a slightly unreasonable condition. What reason do I have to trust you and accept such terms?"
"Don't overthink it. It's simply a condition that we don't point our blades at each other."
"With power like yours, there should be no need for such a condition.... I see, that's it. Keeping you tied here would actually be a loss for me."
As expected of a smart guy, he's quick on the uptake. I like that.
There are two choices Aizen can make here.
Keep me tied to Las Noches while accepting the loss, or risk the danger and let me go.
In truth, either choice isn't exactly a loss for Aizen, but it's not a gain either.
If he lets me go, I might come into contact with the original protagonist's group.
Of course, since I've declared myself a bystander, it shouldn't be a problem, but given Aizen's personality, he wouldn't want to leave behind an unsettling variable.
However, keeping me tied to Las Noches doesn't exactly make me part of his combat strength.
Rather, it only increases the number of things he has to worry about, so in the long run, it becomes a loss.
And if he accepts my condition, he can't even use me as a display-only nuclear warhead.
Because I said not to tolerate 'any' hostile actions toward me.
Of course, words are funny things that can be interpreted differently depending on the perspective, but if he tries to use me like that, I'll have no choice but to interpret the condition as I please in kind.
"Hmm."
It's frustrating, isn't it? You don't know this, kid, but I've been watching you for hundreds of years.
Having watched you for so long, do you really think I wouldn't know what you're thinking?
After a brief deliberation, Aizen seemed to reach a decision, leaning back against his throne.
"Then I shall set one condition from my side as well. If you are a 'bystander,' you should take a look around here and there, shouldn't you?"
"Meaning I should wander places other than Las Noches?"
"While Las Noches is vast, we don't exactly have rooms suitable for receiving guests. I can provide space for a short rest, but beyond that would be difficult."
He used his head a bit there.
I let out a smirk and nodded.
"So, is the negotiation over?"
"I believe so. What do you think?"
"Well, shouldn't you be the one thinking carefully about that?"
When I deflected with vague phrasing, Aizen's smile deepened.
As we faced each other with grins, Aizen gave a nod.
"Very well. Henceforth, there shall be no hostile actions directed toward you. Do not worry."
"Sure. I'll find a room to rest in on my own, so carry on with your meeting."
I don't think for a second that this is the end of it.
Aizen will probably use this as an opportunity instead.
He'll likely attach about two Espada to me.
Under the pretext of being 'escorts' to deal with any hostile acts directed my way.
Of course, while the name is escort, his real scheme is to make me look like I'm on his side by having Espada attached to me.
If the Soul Reapers act hostile toward me, he'll have the escorts fight back and then take the stance that he 'tried to stop them.'
Then he'll probably pick one who is vaguely strong and one who is appropriately strong.
Since they need to monitor me and can't afford to be looked down upon, he'll likely pick ones with strong impressions.
Perhaps the Ulquiorra and Yammy combo?
No, those two were kept busy being called here and there in the original story.
Considering I can only feel one presence of a Soul King fragment within this place, it seems to be before Inoue is kidnapped....
In that case, he might send guys who have some time on their hands.
Either way, it'll be fun.
I chuckled and found a suitable room to enter.
As I waited with anticipation for who would show up, I felt two presences approaching this way.
"Oh? I didn't expect these two to come."
Resting my chin on my hand as I looked toward the open door, I heard the click-clack of heels.
Before long, an Espada with a tall, slender build, dark skin reminiscent of the Shihoin clan, and bright blonde hair appeared.
"Tier Halibel, I see. I never expected you to come."
At the mention of her name, Halibel's eyes widened slightly.
"You know of me?"
"There isn't much I don't know."
"As Lord Aizen said... you are indeed a dangerous individual."
Her expression looked like she wanted to say more, but Halibel didn't continue and instead looked to her side.
"And you, hiding behind the wall and refusing to come out... is that Grimmjow?"
"...Tch."
Grimmjow trudged out, his forehead visibly swollen and red.
The combination of Tier Halibel and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. How very unexpected. Especially that Grimmjow brat.
"To think the guy I knocked out would come find me. It wouldn't be by your own will; did Aizen order this?"
"It is Lord Aizen's judgment that someone who has experienced your power firsthand wouldn't dare attack recklessly."
By attaching the unruly Grimmjow from the original story as my escort, he's basically telling me to hold Grimmjow's leash.
He's clever, alright. Shoving his own mutt off on me. It's not like I'm a dog whisperer.
"By the way, that forehead isn't healing even with High-Speed Regeneration? Oh, right. Do you lose it once the mask is broken?"
When I teased him a bit, Grimmjow's expression twisted as he bared his teeth.
He growled like a threatened dog, but no further reaction came.
"The selection is certainly excellent. Well, welcome. I didn't have much to do anyway, so come on in and listen to a story of mine for a bit."
It's the mandatory test everyone has to pass to be with me.
Now, I wonder how long you two can hold out.