Chapter 136
"Bite!"
The clear and melodious sound of a knife echoed throughout the vast forest—it was definitely not an illusion.
"Isane!"
Haruto ran quickly toward the three people protected by Tōzanshō.
Adjuchas was killed.
But the trouble wasn't over yet.
Ayaka and the others were seriously injured. Only Isane and the half-baked Haruto could barely stabilize their vital signs to prevent them from deteriorating further.
As for the rescue...
Haruto could only hope that the previous Cero and Senju Kōten Taihō had made a big enough noise to attract the patrol members of the nearby Gotei 13.
Or perhaps the sages possess some valuable magical artifact that allows them to send messages when faced with a life-or-death threat.
However, the latter possibility is probably not high, after all, the Central 46 Chambers were all slaughtered, and there was no reaction from the Gotei 13.
"A-Qing!"
Isane's smooth silver hair was matted together, a testament to the immense mental pressure of maintaining the Kaidō on the front lines of the battlefield.
"Don't worry about Reiatsu consumption."
Haruto placed his palms on Isane's back.
"You focus on stabilizing their injuries. With me here, no one can threaten this place."
"... good!"
Hearing Haruto's assurance, Isane also perked up again.
But.
Isane's biggest pressure was mental tension; her Reiatsu wasn't so high that it needed replenishing. Haruto stood behind Isane because he didn't want Isane to see his complex side—he was astonished by his own coldness: even though someone he knew was being murdered before his eyes, the tremor of grief only lasted for such a short time.
His revenge stemmed from a thirst for pleasure, not from hysterical madness.
Haruto can recall that the self who forgot her name wasn't like this in front of the crematorium.
He would truly weep for the dead.
"I see."
Haruto seemed to understand something.
"This is..."
Haruto's fingertips rubbed against the hilt of the sword.
"Your feelings, my emotions."
"..."
Before you came to Soul Society, what role did you play in your life?
Nearly 15 minutes later.
"Whoosh!"
The support that Haruto had been eagerly awaiting finally arrived.
Half an hour is not a slow delivery time. The distance between Rukongai Seireitei is not significant. The key issue is that it is difficult to find strong enough reinforcements in a short period of time.
Adjuchas- level Cero explosion means that anyone not at the Captain-level would be easy prey.
Furthermore, since this matter involves the sages of the Central 46 Chambers, someone from the great nobles must also step forward.
Then.
The rescue team that arrived at Haruto's location was quite well-equipped:
Leading the group was the vice-captain of the Sixth Division, Kuchiki Sōjun — Byakuya's father was already Captain-level of the Third-Class Reii. However, he didn't originally need to be here on a mission; Byakuya had forcibly dragged him here.
Apart from Sōjun and Byakuya.
There's also Kotetsu Nanako came along out of concern for her daughter's safety; Kiyōnosuke Yamada came on orders from the Central 46 Chambers —the sages do have ways to protect themselves, but the destination they were sent to was the Central 46 Chambers Gotei 13; and the Eighth Division Vice-Captain Lisa Yadōmaru and the Fifth Division Third Seat Shinji Hirako, who came to investigate and provide support on orders from Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
"Kiyone!"
The instant she landed with Shunpo, Kotetsu Nanako ran towards her daughters, with Kiyōnosuke Yamada close behind...
However, he was heading towards Mutsuki Shōkaku was lying on the ground.
"Tsk."
Lisa Yadōmaru adjusted her glasses and looked around.
"What can I find out from this?"
"No wonder I couldn't find anyone anywhere in the barracks... That bastard Shunsui Kyōraku!"
The "Lisa- chan" that Kyōraku mentioned is mercilessly criticizing his captain.
Ah~
Pity.
This time, no one could agree with her.
Shinji Hirako followed Kiyōnosuke Yamada with a solemn expression.
"Lieutenant Yamada."
"Little Mutsuki, she..."
"..."
Kiyōnosuke Yamada did not answer immediately, but instead repeatedly checked Mutsuki Shōkaku's condition.
"She wasn't murdered by a fake."
Kiyōnosuke Yamada stood up and first shook his head at Shinji Hirako.
"Excessive exploitation of the Hakusui led to Reiatsu depletion and death."
Then he looked in the direction of Kotetsu Nanako of Tōzanshō.
"It must be to protect these students."
"... Is that so?"
Shinji Hirako knelt down and draped the haori she had worn when she was the temporary captain over her shoulders.
"Little Mutsuki..."
You've done a great job.
"Haruto!"
After Kotetsu Nanako and Kiyōnosuke Yamada took over the task of Kaidō, Haruto was finally able to free up some time.
Byakuya walked over to Haruto, who was helping Isane up.
"..."
"It was my fault."
Looking at their tattered clothes, Byakuya spoke with extreme seriousness.
"If I were to take this exam, maybe..."
"Stop, stop, stop! Don't flatter yourself!"
Haruto interrupted Byakuya's rare seriousness.
"That's Adjuchas, Third-Class Reii."
Haruto saw that Kuchiki Sōjun, Shinji Hirako, and Lisa Yadōmaru had all come closer, so he stopped trying to hide himself.
After all, these are things that can be easily discovered through investigation, and from the perspective of their respective factions, they can largely be considered "one of us."
"Its target was the Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure Captain of Daijiji, or more precisely, the Zanpakuto 'Monument' of the Vice-Captain Daijiji."
As for the rest...
Haruto selectively recounted his experiences to Byakuya in front of everyone.
"..."
"You've Fifth-Class Reii?"
Byakuya was naturally concerned about Haruto's strength. He had only just touched the edge of the Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure, and Haruto had already caught up with him—of course, such an "awakening" experience was nothing to boast about.
"Um."
Haruto had just nodded when Lisa Yadōmaru interrupted, asking:
"The weakest Adjuchas is a captain -Third-Class Reii Captain-level. Even if you advance to the Fifth Class..."
As the person in charge of this intelligence gathering, Lisa Yadōmaru must take responsibility.
"No."
"This guy has only just evolved; he's far from reaching the normal level of Adjuchas."
Haruto interrupted Lisa Yadōmaru.
"And it was even injured by Mutsuki -sensei's Zanpakuto... Adjuchas with less than half its Reiatsu is just a slightly stronger Gillian."
"..."
Upon hearing Haruto's explanation, everyone exchanged glances for a few seconds.
"Haruto."
Lisa Yadōmaru covered her forehead and sighed.
"The Gotei 13 are not Hueco Mundo; everyone there will more or less hide their true abilities, and everyone tacitly agrees to this."
Lisa Yadōmaru glanced at Shinji Hirako, who helplessly avoided her scrutinizing gaze.
Both of them were typical examples of concealing their true abilities: they had long since reached the Third-Class Reii.
"After all, intelligence is combat power."
Lisa Yadōmaru's words also reflect the principles consistently upheld by the Eighth Division.
"But the statement that Adjuchas is similar to Gillian..."
How am I supposed to report this to my superiors?
As she spoke, she glanced at Haruto's Zanpakuto at his waist.
"..."
I wasn't lying.
Haruto shook his head.
"This Clear Seisen is the most basic Water-type Zanpakuto."
Haruto swayed the Seisen at his waist... or rather, he was comforting Him by giving Him a "basic" evaluation.
"If I absolutely had to find a reason to defeat Adjuchas..."
Haruto glanced at Kuchiki Sōjun without making it obvious, receiving a seemingly unrelated look in return.
After indicating:
"Hadō #91: Senju Kōten Taihō".
Haruto revealed one of his trump cards.
"When I was at the Sixth-Class Spiritual Pressure, I was able to briefly contend with Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure Vice-Captain-level Soul Reaper by using Hyōga Seiran."
This is the first time Haruto has publicly declared that he has mastered Hyōga Seiran, which also means that he has made his relationship with the Kuchiki Clan clear.
"Once we reach the Fifth-Class Reii, the Senju Kōten Taihō will naturally follow."
"..."