Astraea  

Different from Aizen's case where he was completely transformed, Kisuke was just given a chance, even if the Hougyoku had used itself just to jump start up the process. Kisuke estimated that he was still a lot weaker than Aizen, even after he fully recovered, however, unlike Aizen who achieved his ideal and possibly final form, Kisuke's path had just started.

After cutting his hair, Kisuke's pale blonde hair to his former shaggy appearance and putting on his favorite bucket hat. Yoruichi then immediately crouched down in front of Kisuke with her back facing him, "Although you can stand, you still can't walk. Hop on."

Kisuke hopped on her back and asked, "We can't teleport back, after all? Sorry, my senses right now are a mess."

Kuroka had been looking at the teleportation circle on the top of her hand and shook her head at Kisuke's question, "It's no use. The surrounding space is too disturbed to properly calculate our entry and exit points, nyaa. I can force it, but it's too dangerous. The risk is not worth taking, nyaa."

And while speaking, she also dispelled the mist that has been covering the forest, "Pandemonium is more than a hundred kilometers away from this spot, nyaa, but there's a village just a few kilometers from here where we could rest."

"Let's go there then," Yoruichi replied and Kuroka immediately led the way, avoiding numerous monsters and some Adventurers that came to investigate the mist that suddenly appeared and disappeared.

On the way to the village, Kisuke fell asleep on Yoruichi's back and the girls didn't disturb him. Yoruichi estimated that he'd need a few days of sleep to at least get some of his strength back. After that, he would be able to actively recover.

A quarter of an hour later, the trio arrived at their destination, the village of Sanes. It's a relatively small village that was surrounded by lined-up logs with sharpened tips as the fence.

Approaching the entrance, Yoruichi asked the guard, "Excuse me. Do you have a free room where we could stay and rest?"

The guard first looked at them silently before answering, "I'm sorry but it was already occupied by a Familia who came yesterday to clear out the monsters in the area. You can try asking the residents if they are willing to share a room and food or something useful would be enough as compensation."

"I see. Thanks. We'll also join the effort to clear out monsters in the vicinity later."

The guard smiled and said, "We should be the one thanking you. If you can't find a place after asking around, come back here and I'll arrange something with the village elder."

But before Yoruichi could answer, someone approached them and interjected, "No need. We still got a few beds to spare. You can stay with us. After all, we can't have you move him around in his current state."

Yoruichi and Kuroka looked towards the source of the voice and saw Goddess with a long walnut brown hair that is gathered together behind her head in a dignified manner, along with deep indigo eyes that are reminiscent of a sea of stars. She's also wearing a simple kirtle and a long skirt.

Seeing her, the guard called out to her, "Astraea-sama. Is that fine with you? All of your members are women."

Astraea shook her head and said, "It's fine. It looks like he needs help more than anything else," she then looked towards Yoruichi and Kuroka who are making a subtle expression that is indistinguishable for most people, 'Do they know me?'

However, she didn't voice out her question and said, "Follow me. I'll lead you to the place we are staying."

"Thank you very much, Astraea-sama," replied Yoruichi and silently followed her.

When they arrived at the aforementioned place, it resembled a longhouse that the Vikings used in their previous world. This one, however, had wooden floorboards instead of pounded earth. One could also immediately tell that it's only designed for temporary lodging as there were only rows of beds on the side and a stone hearth in the middle where one could cook their meals.

The only private space available was a narrow room at the opposite end of the entrance that was meant to be a room where one could wash up and change clothes. Yoruichi and Kuroka now finally understood why the guard was a bit reluctant for them to stay here, 'Looks like the problem of those two big gender-based Familias existing managed to reach as far as this village,' Yoruichi thought.

"You can lay him down on the first bed from the left," Astraea pointed at a free bed.

Yoruichi laid the unconscious Kisuke down carefully and bowed towards Astraea, "Thank you very much, Astraea-sama."

Astraea just smiled at her and said, "It's fine. By the way, do you need a potion? Although we only have the cheap ones, it should be helpful if he has injuries."

"No need, nyaa. He's in a state similar to Mind Zero so he should be able to recover after some rest. Thank you for the offer, though, nyaa~!" Kuroka replied with a big smile, "But aren't you worried that we're bad guys, nyaa? You're too kind and trusting."

"That may be the case, but I don't have any reason to think so. But regardless of what you may be, I'll still choose to help you when you clearly need one. I'd rather help a few evil-doers than miss the good people," replied Astraea with a small smile.

"I see... As expected of the Goddess of Justice," muttered Yoruichi.

Astraea's eyes widened slightly, "So you do know me..." But before she could continue any further, it became noisy outside.

Recognizing the voices, Astraea immediately came out to see the guard and some village residents assisting two of her children. But seeing one of them with a huge wound on their chest, Astraea shouted her name in panic as she ran towards them, "Liz!? April, what happened!?"

With tears running down her cheeks, the cat person known as April looked up to Astraea, "A-Astraea-sama!!! Liz! Liz is..! Potions don't work!!!"

Within April's arm was a Pallum in mage attire and across her chest was a large slash wound. With a very pale face, it's obvious that she'd already lost too much blood and was on the verge of death.

Astraea bit her lips and took out all the potions she had before pouring all of them on the wound. However, the wound only closed slightly before blood started to gush out again, reopening it, "No..." she muttered and tried to find something useful in her bag.

But among the panicked voices, a calm one emerged from behind, parting the crowd, "Lay her on the ground properly."

Yoruichi approached the wounded Pallum with a bottle of top-class Elixir in her hand, "You are..." Astraea muttered but she immediately gave way to her.

Without minding everyone, Yoruichi proceeded to pour half of the bottle on her wound before lifting the Pallum's head and putting the remaining Elixir on her mouth, "If you want to live, do your best to drink it even if it's painful."

The Pallum heard her and felt the refreshing liquid within her mouth. Liz then tried her best to shallow the Elixir, not wasting a single drop of it.

Yoruichi smiled at her and said, "Good," she then took out a red pill, crushing it with her bare hand, and put it inside the now empty bottle of Elixir. Conjuring water in it and giving it a good shake, Yoruichi once again put the bottle on her mouth, "This will help you replenish the blood you've lost."

Now in a better state, Liz was able to drink the red juice without much difficulty this time.

Everyone who was watching was amazed to see Liz's wound close completely and slowly recover the color of her face. Seeing her in a good state, April finally recalled something, "Oh no! Mildred and Cecil are still in the forest luring the monsters away! I have to save them!"

But before she could stand completely, two hands pressed on her shoulders, stopping her actions. Looking up, she saw a black-haired Cat Person, "Where are they, nyaa?"

"T-they ran towards the east side of the forest..." April answered.

"Is that so? Then stay here since you're already tired and take care of your companion, nyaa. I'll go assist them," Kuroka then turned around, ascertaining the direction she should go.

Still, April tried to stand up. If she's going to help, then she's extremely thankful, but for a better chance of saving her comrades, she should go too, "I'll come with... you?"

Before she could finish her words, however, Kuroka suddenly jumped away, instantly disappearing from everyone's view.