Chapter 184
"Although the individual strength isn't great, the essence of Reiatsu is undeniable."
"Even if it's not as absolute as the Quincy bloodline, the spiritual pressure of a Shinigami is still incompatible with that of a Hollow, isn't it?"
How could you...?
Sōken Ishida asked, quite incredulously.
"Um..."
While Haruto was still hesitating about how to explain...
"His body contains the Reiatsu of Vasto Lorde."
Byakuya had already exposed it from the side.
"This low-ranking Adjuchas is too weak; to have any effect on him, one would probably have to be bitten twice by another Vasto Lorde."
Compared to Haruto's current strength, his taking Heavenly Bedding Pill is no longer a secret; and since everyone present is on the same page, Byakuya naturally doesn't try to hide it.
"..."
Haruto remained silent.
Actually, Byakuya was only half right—even if Haruto were bitten by Vasto Lorde, he wouldn't necessarily be affected.
After all...
The power level of Vasto Lorde within him was too high.
"Haruto."
After hearing Byakuya's explanation, Sōken Ishida stared at Haruto for a long time, and after pondering for a long time, he finally spoke.
"Um?"
Can we speak in private?
"Sōken Ishida suggested with a serious expression."
"... Is it really necessary?"
Haruto also understood something from Sōken Ishida's face: unless it was some earth-shattering secret, there was no need to hide it from the "friendly forces".
"Right."
"..."
Haruto just turned around to look at Haruto and Isane.
"Go ahead."
"Leave things here to me for now... I've already sent the 'key' parts of the message back to the Kuchiki Clan."
His best friend has already learned how to answer questions quickly.
"The Tsunayashiro Clan hasn't been able to detect the problem yet."
"Thank you for your help."
Haruto smiled and nodded.
"No big deal, just remember to spar with me when we get back to Soul Society."
Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up?
"Are you kidding me? You're going to fight me with that Fifth Class you just mentioned!"
Just as Haruto was about to leave with Sōken Ishida, he suddenly turned around and stuck his head out onto the eaves:
"Lily?"
"..."
Good grief, are they all copying Hiyori?
"Lily, are you there?"
Haruto then amplified the noise a little more.
"Exist!"
Golden heads also peeked out from the doors and windows of the third-floor classroom.
"Come up here, don't stay in the classroom."
"... Are you safe now?"
Haruto responded with an "OK" sign.
The large-scale sleeping Kidō used to deal with ordinary people are definitely ineffective against witches; luckily, Haruto had her stay in the classroom from the beginning, otherwise having an extra little burden would inevitably cause more chaos.
"Here I am!"
――――
"Haruto."
With the roof temporarily requisitioned, Haruto and Sōken Ishida could only use the small staircase leading to the rooftop.
Corner position
This area is also known for its frequent occurrences of doujinshi plots and school bullying.
"Could you stop looking at me so affectionately? Ms. Izumi is just a door away."
Sōken Ishida's glasses are multifunctional; when he doesn't want his expression to be seen, they're like a giant flashlight, and at those times, they reveal his sincerity and clarity.
That's kind of scary.
"..."
Although the two had fought side by side, it would take quite a while to get used to Haruto's everyday speaking style.
Fortunately.
Sōken Ishida's personality was rather calm and collected. He raised his hand and pointed to Haruto's left arm, which was leaning against the stair railing.
You don't seem to be paying attention to your arms.
"Um?"
Arm?
Haruto didn't even have time to change into his Shihakushō; he was still fighting in his Seitō Academy uniform.
The fitted cuffs prevent the view of what's inside from being seen.
Haruto didn't sense anything unusual, but since Sōken Ishida had said so...
"Hiss!"
Once the mission is complete, there is no need to keep the uniform.
"!?"
When Haruto saw the changes on his forearm, he couldn't hide his surprise.
Those were pale blue lines that seeped from inside the body to the surface of the skin.
On the next film set, this is called a magic circuit.
In the world of Soul Reaper...
"Blut Vene?"
This was an absolutely unexpected bodily change.
"Right."
Sōken Ishida nodded very seriously: In the previous battle with Schubert, the two had also fought with Blut; however, in Quincy war, the static/ Blut Arterie abilities basically cancel each other out.
"Because you just absorbed Ms. Izumi's Reiatsu?"
This was the first thing Haruto thought of.
Having undergone Bone Forging and the transformation of the Soul King Hakusui, his body is extremely adaptable. In fact, although the Bone Strike taught by Chikane Iba does not involve blood vessels, Haruto could inject Reishi into them if he wanted to, thus performing an operation similar to the Blut Vene.
The problem lies solely in a lack of proficiency.
Moreover, Haruto was short on time and didn't have time to do similar training.
"Really."
Sōken Ishida first nodded, then shook his head in denial.
"But..."
"If it were foreign Reishi, the 'erosion' on blood vessels should gradually subside over time, but Haruto— "
Sōken Ishida rolled up his sleeves, revealing the uncontrolled Blut Vene to Haruto:
Aside from a brief moment of brightness at the beginning, the patterns quickly disappeared back into the depths of the skin as the supply of Reiatsu slowed down.
"The Blut Vene, which doesn't seem to affect you much, is still expanding in scale."
In my understanding...
"This is the first time Pure-Blood Quincy has activated the Blut Vene."
"..."
Sōken Ishida's words made Haruto think.
Pure-Blood Quincy?
Of the power wielded by the Soul King, a portion was indeed transformed into the Quincy system through Yhwach, but if it were only a part of the Soul King's organs...
There is a difference between Fullbringers and Quincy.
"Ishida- kun."
Haruto suddenly remembered his initial guess.
"When you first called me to the rooftop, what did you use as a reference point to determine that I was Quincy?"
Haruto took out the Silver Cross Quincy Medallion from the Kukai Box.
"This one?"
Haruto's question was refuted by Sōken Ishida:
"How is that possible!"
"The Silver Cross Quincy Medallion does indeed contain traces of Quincy Reiatsu, but wouldn't that lead to mistaking the target who killed the Quincy for an ally?"
"..."
Sōken Ishida's words prove that Haruto's conjecture was based on the wrong premise from the start.
"So what exactly is the reason that makes you feel...?"
In that case...
Haruto needs to reconsider the complexity of this matter.
"I'm not just Quincy, I could even become your ally?"
Just like Schubert, the Quincy of the Wandenreich must be hostile towards Sōken Ishida; it's impossible for Sōken Ishida to have any goodwill or affection towards Quincy Haruto.
"As a former researcher of the Lichtreich, I initially only had a vague feeling."
Sōken Ishida couldn't quite maintain his cool demeanor today, but this time his expression was so gloomy it could be described as frightening.
"But only after confirming that you possess the void within you could I truly be certain—"
Sōken Ishida raised his index finger and gently poked Haruto's chest.
"Before you become Soul Reaper..."
"Before?"
"They are probably Quincy Auswählen."
"!?"
――――
Haruto's pupils dilated for a moment.