This Monster Was Actually a Brainy Type! / A Perfect End to School Life

"I just like taking risks. The smaller the chance of winning, the more I stand to make!"

"If I really had to choose, I'd bet on Kyōsuke Kuchiki."

The captains had only mentioned the bet in passing.

After all, none of them believed Kyōsuke Kuchiki actually had the strength to defeat Kiganjō.

A fraud of a captain was still a captain, and could use Bankai.

Besides, their statuses were worlds apart. There was no way they would fight.

None of the captains took the matter to heart.

Chapter 35: This Monster Was Actually a Brainy Type!

At that moment, Kyōsuke Kuchiki had no idea how many flags the captains had planted for him and Kiganjō.

After completing his Konsō practicum and reporting the circumstances and outcome of the battle, he returned to Shin'ō Academy.

Now he sat with his classmates, waiting for his Konsō practicum evaluation report.

Gengorō Ōunabara, their homeroom teacher, took the top evaluation report from the stack and said softly, "Kuchiki, this one is yours."

"Thank you."

As he watched Kyōsuke Kuchiki stand and accept the report, an expression of deep satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Whether in your regular classes or in this Konsō practicum, your performance has been impeccable. It's gone beyond the very idea of perfection."

"Top grade in the first rank, without a doubt."

As he said this, Gengorō Ōunabara himself began to feel regretful.

"Perhaps the academy's grading system needs updating?"

"With results this outstanding, it's a shame you can only receive the top grade in the first rank."

"Not at all. I only made a small effort."

Kyōsuke Kuchiki wore a perfectly proper smile.

"Sir, the other students are still waiting, so I'll go back to my seat."

"Oh, right... Ichimaru, yours is next."

"Coming."

The silver-haired boy rose with a smile, collected his report, and chatted briefly with their homeroom teacher before sitting back down beside Kyōsuke Kuchiki.

"Young Master Kuchiki, the graduation ceremony is tomorrow."

"The captains who want to invite students to visit their divisions for practical training will be there too."

"Have you decided where you want to go? Are you really joining the Sixth Division?"

"I have my own plans."

Looking at Kyōsuke Kuchiki's calm profile, Gin Ichimaru felt even more at ease.

Even after doing something that had shocked the entire Seireitei, he could still remain so composed, no different from usual.

Perhaps only someone like him could defeat that equally terrifying man.

At that thought, he couldn't help asking.

"Tomorrow is the day I join the Fifth Division."

"Young Master Kuchiki, do you have any advice for me?"

"Advice?"

Kyōsuke Kuchiki glanced at Gin Ichimaru and thought for a moment.

"Sometimes, doing something out of line is a better way to attract someone's attention."

"Having a secret in common might help you grow close more quickly."

Seeing that he still seemed somewhat puzzled, Kyōsuke Kuchiki finally spelled it out.

"I hear the Fifth Division's Third Seat is a fraud who was foisted on them by the nobles."

"He's very weak."

"..."

In the original story, Gin Ichimaru would also deal with the Fifth Division's Third Seat.

Only then would Aizen take this ace undercover agent's abilities seriously and bring him into his inner circle as a trusted aide.

Gin Ichimaru evidently caught on as well.

As he looked at Kyōsuke Kuchiki's utterly unperturbed profile, a chill suddenly rose in his heart.

Until now, he had never revealed his intention to infiltrate Aizen's circle.

Yet this man had already seen through everything.

They were clearly the same age, yet the boy before him was just like those thousand-year-old monsters.

So it wasn't just his strength and talent—were his wits and strategies on a monstrous level too?

To stand against a monster like that... it really did take an even stronger monster!

Gin Ichimaru drew a deep breath and nodded slightly.

"Understood."

"I'll keep an eye on that Third Seat."

"...Mm."

After acknowledging him, Kyōsuke Kuchiki couldn't help glancing at him.

Naturally, he knew nothing of the ideas Gin Ichimaru had imagined for himself.

At that moment, he merely found the other boy's tone and expression a little strange.

He didn't think much more of it. Once classes at the academy were over for good, Kyōsuke Kuchiki returned to the Kuchiki Clan, intending to wait in peace for the next day's graduation ceremony, which was also when the divisions would recruit members.

In his room, Kyōsuke Kuchiki looked at his Heaven Communicating Talisman Art, now at 95% proficiency, and considered a plan to raise it faster.

In the world of Soul Reapers, strength was everything.

With enough strength, one could even become a god in every sense of the word. Becoming undying and indestructible was not out of the question either.

So Kyōsuke Kuchiki's most important task from here on was to unlock all the Eight Extraordinary Skills.

But the Heaven Communicating Talisman Art was different from the Six Treasury Immortal Thief.

The closer the Heaven Communicating Talisman Art came to the mastery realm, the more it needed fierce battles to the death to improve.

The Six Treasury Immortal Thief, on the other hand, could be rapidly improved by indirect means: eating plenty of good food.

Previously, he had done nothing but eat, eat, and eat, and had cultivated the Six Treasury Immortal Thief to the perfection realm.

In any case, the Kuchiki Clan had plenty of provisions to spare.

As for how much money had been spent along the way, Kyōsuke Kuchiki couldn't even be bothered to calculate it.

The scarf around his grandfather's neck alone was worth ten mansions.

In this life, he could finally declare at the top of his lungs, "I, Kyōsuke Kuchiki, have no interest in money."

Kyōsuke Kuchiki pondered:

"The Six Treasury Immortal Thief needs fine food to improve, while the Heaven Communicating Talisman Art needs profound knowledge of Kidō and fierce battles to advance quickly."

"Perhaps the conditions for rapidly improving the other Eight Extraordinary Skills are different too."

"So I must build a force that belongs entirely to me. Only then can I unlock all the Eight Extraordinary Skills as quickly as possible."

In the next instant, his expression grew resolute.

"Besides, the stagnant pool that is the Seireitei isn't suited to cultivating the Eight Extraordinary Skills either."

"And I'm very interested in that throne hanging high in the sky."

As he pondered, Kyōsuke Kuchiki heard a knock at the door.

He opened it to find Byakuya Kuchiki standing ramrod straight outside, dressed in his Soul Reaper uniform.

"Grandfather said to congratulate you on your excellent results in the Konsō test."

Cold as ice, Byakuya Kuchiki continued, "Grandfather also said it would be best if you joined the Sixth Division. But if you really don't want to, then the Kuchiki Clan will have another 'Sixth Division.' That would be good too."

"It seems Grandfather is willing to let me go out and make something of myself. My thanks to the old man."

"What about you, then?"

Kyōsuke Kuchiki walked over to the low table, brewed two cups of tea, and set them out.

Of course, the household had maids, and every one of them was easy on the eyes.

It was just that the Kuchiki Clan did not favor a life of luxury and decadence, and Kyōsuke Kuchiki also had good habits from his previous life.

So he generally did things himself.

Byakuya Kuchiki sat at the table, picked up his tea and slowly drank it all, then rose to leave.

Only when he was nearly at the door did he leave him with a few words: "I'm happy! Whatever you choose, I'll support you."

At the table, Kyōsuke Kuchiki smiled faintly and took a small sip of tea, feeling warm all over.

Chapter 36: A Perfect End to School Life

With no opposition from the Kuchiki Clan, Kyōsuke Kuchiki had one less thing to worry about.

He could take his time choosing a division according to his own plans.

Besides, he was in no hurry. The captains were the ones who ought to be anxious.

After all, there was an invisible rivalry between the divisions, and being able to recruit Kyōsuke Kuchiki, the most legendary genius in the Seireitei, was itself a demonstration of a captain's ability.

So Kyōsuke Kuchiki would simply wait to collect the benefits.

Early the next morning, he arrived at Shin'ō Academy.

A year ago, he had come here as a new student to take the entrance test.

Only a year later, he was already graduating. That was quite fast.

Realizing that the familiar sights before him would soon become memories, Kyōsuke Kuchiki felt only a slight pang of nostalgia.

Although he would surely have an enduring life, he might never experience this kind of simple school life again.

Then again, perhaps he would.

If he unlocked all the Eight Extraordinary Skills, Kyōsuke Kuchiki would be the true god of the world.

By then, there would be no bad people around him either.

Even the most wicked villains would have to behave themselves and be good people when they saw him.

His world would become simple and pure again, and everywhere he went, "the people would be honest and guileless."

"Kuchiki, aren't you going inside?"

A familiar, deep male voice suddenly sounded beside him.

"...Lieutenant Aizen."

Seeing who it was, Kyōsuke Kuchiki put on his customary polite smile and nodded to him.

"Congratulations on graduating, Kuchiki."

Before Sōsuke Aizen could say anything, Shinji Hirako came up behind him.

"Hey, hey, Aizen, this isn't the time to chat."

"We—"

The blond man with the straight-cut bangs froze when he saw Kyōsuke Kuchiki.

Then his eyes immediately lit up with interest.

"You're that Kyōsuke Kuchiki? Captain-level Reiatsu? A Kidō genius?"

"The most legendary genius in the history of Soul Society!"