Chapter 183

I don't know why.

Every time Haruto chats with Byakuya, he feels like he's become younger.

"..."

"I've reached the Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure."

What should have been something to boast about, for some reason, turned into something he said with a sigh— Byakuya was quite helpless about it.

"I can tell."

Haruto smiled and nodded, his expression exactly like someone wanting to pat Byakuya's head.

"... What's your current skill level?"

Byakuya asked casually.

He couldn't sense Haruto's Reiatsu at all right now. If he were to judge solely based on the battle results... Haruto would definitely try to show off when he broke through to the Captain-level. This wasn't Byakuya making fun of Haruto; it was just that the two of them knew each other too well.

As for breaking through to the fourth rank...

This is such a trivial matter that it's something I'd only mention casually.

For some reason, Byakuya felt a little sad when he thought about this.

Fifth Class.

Haruto spoke with an expression that Byakuya found utterly stiff.

"... She can crush Fifth Class hero like Seirin Tsunayashiro? That's something many full-fledged captains haven't been able to do; you should know, among the Four Great Noble Clans, nearly a handful of Captain-level have been lost to her."

Byakuya covered his head and waved his hand in a gesture as if shooing away small animals.

Fifth Class?

"You're kidding me!!"

"Believe it or not."

Haruto didn't argue with him.

The long-awaited chat between the good brothers has come to an end.

Tell me about it.

Although he wasn't holding a knife, Byakuya's eyes never left Sōken Ishida.

What exactly happened here?

The dilapidated ruins scattered throughout the area have rendered this once-renowned Jūreichi, a rare sight in the World of the Living, utterly desolate.

"Um..."

"This is how it happened."

"Aren't the Quincy supposed to fight individually anyway?"

Haruto picked out the information he could talk about and told it to Byakuya.

"Schubert belongs to a relatively large branch; you should be able to find quite a few related records if you go home and check the history."

Haruto refers to the Quincy attacked the Soul Reaper as "remnants of the Empire."

It's not that he doesn't want to tell the whole story, but rather that it's far too early for him to do so.

--The research capabilities of the Gotei 13 are too weak. With Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi not yet in positions of power, even if they reveal information about the Wandenreich, it would be impossible to verify, and there is a high chance that Haruto would be caught in a self-justification controversy.

Moreover, if the Seireitei's actions prematurely alert the Wandenreich, Haruto's remaining foresight will essentially be wasted.

So.

Before the conditions are right, there are some things he needs to discuss with Sōken Ishida beforehand, so that he won't elaborate too much.

Fortunately, the latter did not cause Haruto any worry. After clearly hearing Byakuya's surname, he imagined enough plot points and solutions on his own.

"I see."

Byakuya know a bit about the former Lichtreich, so I don't need to go home and look it up in a book just to listen to Haruto's explanation.

"No wonder there's Captain-level Reiatsu; Seireitei hasn't observed Quincy of this level for a long time."

"You..."

Byakuya looked at Sōken Ishida and intended to say a few more words, but then gave up after remembering Haruto's earlier mention of "friendly forces".

"Never mind."

"Even the Soul Reapers aren't entirely Isshin; it wouldn't hurt for the Quincy to have one or two more allies."

The fact that Byakuya said this as one of the Four Great Noble Clans shows that he has indeed made considerable progress recently.

"Anyway, overseeing the World of the Living is within the responsibilities of the Thirteenth Division, so you're practically the head of the Thirteenth Division in the World of the Living now."

"Just do as you say."

Volume 1: Chapter 111, Am I really Quincy?

Byakuya is right.

Despite Haruto's low rank, both his position and strength make him one of the highest-ranking Gotei 13 in the World of the Living.

After all, the duties of the Gotei 13 are primarily reflected in the word "Gotei" (protect the court), rather than...

The only requirement in this World of the Living is stability.

"It's great that you think that way."

It seems Byakuya hasn't just been in seclusion at home lately; he's certainly been putting in a lot more political work.

Attribute points.

"The other two."

Haruto released his hand from Isane's shoulder; the fading Reiatsu made Isane slightly unsteady on her feet.

Fortunately, Haruto had planned ahead and was prepared, managing to support the girl by the arm in time.

"Now that you're awake, you should get up quickly."

"..."

The two vice-captains lying on the ground showed no reaction whatsoever.

"Miss Hiyori?"

Helpless, Haruto could only conjure an acupuncture-type Reiatsu bullet from his fingertip and flick it toward Hiyori.

"Ah!"

Hiyori did a perfect somersault to her feet.

"Is it dawn?"

"... Miss Hiyori, could you have acted a little more convincingly?"

Haruto sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Haruto, this is not Lieutenant Sarugaki's fault."

Kanmuri Yasu straightened his upper body as he spoke.

--This thing didn't get up that violently, but it looked a bit like a zombie.

"After all, the topic you were just discussing..."

Kanmuri Yasu carefully considered his words before speaking.

"Logically, as Gotei 13, we can't pretend we didn't hear it, but emotionally... we can only pretend we didn't hear it."

Kanmuri Yasu is right.

Given the long-standing feud between the two sides, the collaboration between the Soul Reaper and the Quincy, which involves high-ranking members of the Thirteenth Division and the direct heirs of great noble families, is something that cannot be made public.

And...

If we're really going to be "reasonable," it's uncertain whether the two of them will even make it out of this rooftop alive.

"Lieutenant Kanmuri Yasu, there's no need to worry about it."

Haruto replied with a smile.

"I didn't have time to say it earlier: the one who saved your life from Schubert that night was this Sōken Ishida."

"You surely understand the debt of gratitude for saving my life."

"... I see."

Haruto's words instantly crushed the last vestige of hope in Kanmuri Yasu's heart: since they had already put it so bluntly, he could only be a grasshopper on the same rope.

Where is Ms. Hiyori?

"I don't care."

Hiyori spat in a very unfriendly manner.

It's a pity there weren't any thriving foxtail grasses around, otherwise her actions wouldn't have been so rough.

You definitely have to chew it a few times before spitting it out.

"The captain spoke to me before you came to the World of the Living..."

"I'll do whatever you say."

Kirio Hikifune had actually contacted Hiyori, which Haruto hadn't expected. Perhaps he had taken into account the characteristics of the Soul King Hakusui?

After all, the original plan was to deal with Captain-level Quincy, Haruto might expose some of his hidden abilities as a result.

In hindsight, it turned out to be a lucky accident.

"Thank you for Captain Hikifune's support."

Haruto secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If these two people disagree, he will be forced to take more risks.

Leave the rest to me.

Haruto helped Isane to sit down on a chair made of Tōzanshō.

Isumi Ishida's body is different from that of Soul Reaper. Although Isane can stabilize her Reiatsu, he cannot control the spread of her injuries in a short period of time.

Especially the way the void erodes the bloodline, it seems that only Haruto can handle that:

Haruto was able to digest and absorb the Quincy Reishi containing the Hollow Poison through his Sklaverei; moreover, he wanted to test whether he could do it, and if he succeeded... whether Ichigo would be born in the future depended on Haruto's willingness.

"Snap."

Haruto gently placed his palm on Isumi Ishida's forehead.

Because the Soul King Hakusui made the Reiatsu "full of flaws," Haruto was still quite familiar with the Quincy's body; in addition, Isane had used the Kaidō to stabilize the Flow of Reiatsu and ensure its smooth operation. Haruto could use the fastest speed to peel off and absorb those parts that were no less powerful than his "master's" from Isumi Ishida's body.

Soon.

Sōken Ishida didn't even have time to frown.

"Alright."

"?"

"Alright."

Haruto repeated it to Sōken Ishida.

"... So fast?"

Sōken Ishida quickly knelt down and carefully examined his wife... discovering that Haruto's words were indeed true.

"That's Menos Grande of Adjuchas level."

I was careless.

The light reflected from his glasses obscured Sōken Ishida's furrowed brow—this guy was actually faster than Haruto.