Chapter 218
"Besides sacrificial rites and offerings."
"The reason we are different from ordinary priestly families and are specifically listed among the 'Three Greats' is because the 'divine artifact' kept by our family is not Heavenly Bestowed Armaments like the Shihoin Clan's, but a weapon once used by the Soul King."
There are three divine artifacts in total.
"The Ise Clan's 'Eight-Mirror Sword,' Kusaka Clan's 'Mirror-Sheltering Jewel.'"
"And the Kyōshiba Family's..."
"Scorching Water Mirror"
Volume 1: Chapter 131, The Mystery of the Divine Artifact
Haruto knew was the Eight-Mirror Sword.
He had never heard of the other two divine artifacts before.
It seems that, apart from the priestly family itself, this is not information that can be easily revealed.
"The three divine artifacts have different effects, but they all possess the ability to absorb and reflect certain powers: the Eight-Mirror Sword targets divine power, the Mirror-Sheltering Jewel targets the power of rules, and the Scorching Water Mirror targets Reishi and Reiatsu."
"..."
Everyone listened quietly to Seigen's explanation.
It must be said that the effects of these three items truly live up to their reputation as divine artifacts: one might be somewhat lacking, but with all three at the same time, Haruto felt confident that he could defeat the Sternritter.
Of course, this is on the premise that your Hakuda and Shunpo are strong enough.
Otherwise, you could easily end up like Haschwalth, who didn't even have time to use his Scapegoat Shield before being knocked away by Kirinji.
"Did your ancestors lose their noble status because they lost that divine artifact called the Scorching Water Mirror?"
"... That's right."
Seigen confirmed Haruto's guess.
Nanao's mother was like this; because she handed over the Eight-Mirror Sword to Kyōraku and claimed it was lost, the head of the prestigious Ise Clan was sentenced to death by the Central 46 Chambers.
The ancestors of the Kyōshiba Family must have had similar experiences.
"You guys spent so much time in Rukongai..."
Haruto recalled the first time he met the Shusuha siblings.
Even after he joined the Gotei 13, the two siblings were rarely in the Fifth Division Barracks, instead spending most of their time on special missions in Rukongai.
Now it seems --
"It's all to find the Scorching Water Mirror that was lost years ago."
Seigen reaffirmed Haruto's guess.
"Found it?"
"Right."
Seigen nodded.
"... The position of a high-ranking noble shouldn't matter to you or Sister Ika, right?"
Seigen reclaimed his noble status through his own strength; although he was only a lower-ranking noble, it was still an unprecedented feat.
After all, they were once "sinners" of the Soul Society.
"... The old folks at home always have some lingering memories."
Seigen said with a touch of emotion.
"Understood."
Although they said they didn't care, the ideals they were instilled with day and night still subtly influenced Shusuha and her brother.
"So..."
"The Scorching Water Mirror we just found is gone again?"
Haruto couldn't think of any other reason—after all, this was absurd enough; how could someone commit a crime by finding what they had lost themselves?
"Without."
Seigen shook his head.
"The problem is... this divine artifact is not permitted for use within the Seireitei."
The Seireitei has many rules.
Haruto had experience with things like Captain 'Shikai and Number 90 Hadō, but he never expected that he wouldn't even be allowed to use a single piece of equipment.
Anything with even a modicum of power has to be reported in advance... How afraid are those noble gentlemen of the Central 46 Chambers of having their throats slit in secret?
"You probably tested it as soon as you got it, right?"
"Right."
Seigen nodded in affirmation.
"Ika and I never intended to use this divine artifact. Our original plan was to hand it over to Captain-Commander Yamamoto immediately upon returning to Seireitei."
"Some things..."
"The Captain-Commander's words carry far more weight than ours."
That's absolutely right.
If you need to deal with nobles, unless you yourself are a high-ranking noble or even a great noble, it's better to let the invincible Genryūsai handle it.
"It seems things haven't gone as planned?"
"We were attacked as soon as we entered Seireitei."
Now we're finally getting to the point.
"... Who is it?"
Judging from Seigen Kyōshiba's condition, he must have gone through a tough battle.
"Captain-level I've never seen before."
Seigen Kyōshiba is a genuine Captain-level. Although his Reiatsu level may not be particularly high, the lightning-type Zanpakuto he wields is extremely lethal.
To defeat Seigen without alerting others, one would need to be at least Captain-level with Second-Class Spiritual Pressure.
Not to mention...
"Can you force you to use a divine artifact?"
Even if they were unfamiliar with it, the Scorching Water Mirror was still the Kyōshiba Family's heirloom Zanpakuto.
The bloodline of the priestly family inherently dictates that only they can unleash the full power of this divine artifact—if it weren't for the bloodline-related restrictions on its use, the Central 46 Chambers wouldn't act in such an incomprehensible way.
"Yes, and it was used but never actually used."
"... Captain Seigen should have a general idea of the enemy's identity, right?"
Seigen has said so, Haruto feels that the key moment is probably yet to come.
Seigen Kyōshiba hesitated for a moment before answering:
"Kusaka Clan."
"..."
Was this answer entirely unsurprising?
With the other two families having lost their artifacts, only the Kusaka Clan has maintained its original status.
Their status; if one of them were to reclaim their divine artifact at this time, it would be a blow to the Kusaka Clan to some extent.
Can you be sure?
Dealing with such a powerful priestly family is no easy task.
Why do you think the Scorching Water Mirror failed to work?
"... Does the 'absorbing rules' ability of that Mirror-Sheltering Jewel also work on the Scorching Water Mirror, which is also a divine artifact?"
"Yes."
Seigen's answer was clearly based on his personal experience.
"Among the three divine artifacts, the Scorching Water Mirror has the widest range of applications, but its 'level' is the weakest; conversely, the Ise Clan's Eight-Mirror Sword has the highest priority... It can absorb the power of the other two divine artifacts."
The power of these artifacts comes from the gods who created them, and that explanation doesn't make much of a difference.
"Then what?"
Haruto asked.
"Although you used the Scorching Water Mirror first, the opponent also used the power of a divine artifact, not to mention that it was an attack launched against the captain within the Seireitei."
"Since the existence of this divine artifact is so crucial, the Central 46 Chambers should surely consider this carefully before making a decision—"
"How could they so easily list you as fugitives?"
This is also what Haruto doesn't understand:
Seigen and Ika escaped from Soul Society. Even if the decision to arrest them was made by the Central 46 Chambers after they left, they should have first clarified the facts... Wouldn't appeasement and surrender be a better way to resolve the problem than directly arresting them?
"... I'm not clear on the details, but judging from the decisiveness of their actions, they must have been planning this for a long time."
"..."
Haruto didn't ask any further questions, but nodded thoughtfully:
"Understood."
Things are a bit complicated.
Regardless of the other party's true purpose, since they've become involved with the divine artifact, they must be inextricably linked to the Kusaka Clan.
If Haruto wants to help--
"Captain Seigen."
"That Scorching Water Mirror, would it be convenient for me to take a look at it?"
"Can."
Seigen Kyōshiba answered very decisively.
To be honest.
Haruto's request was actually a bit excessive. Although outsiders couldn't unleash the power of the artifact, they could deprive Seigen of a powerful safeguard.
Although Haruto appears to be on Seigen's side, who can guarantee they won't be tempted by such enormous profits?
"Give."
Seigen handed over a round mirror that required two hands to hold.
From the perspective of a magical artifact, it looks far too plain and unadorned, even inferior to a nobleman's dressing mirror; the only thing that reveals its mystery is the mirror surface, which seems to be swirling and turning with black mist.
"I don't see anything special about it."
Haruto casually flipped it over a couple of times, but didn't find anything special about this artifact. Logically speaking, since it had fused with the Soul King Hakusui, it should be considered a fragment of a "god," so activating an artifact or two shouldn't be difficult. But it seems that's not the case at all.
Thinking about it carefully, that makes sense.
If all holders of the Soul King Fragment can use it, then the concept of family bloodline becomes irrelevant.
"Do you want to take a look at Nanao?"
"No, thank you."
Nanao initially looked very curious.
However, when Haruto handed it over, she immediately refused: this thing could attract secret murderous intent towards a captain, so it was best not to get her hands on it.
Can I try it out?
Ayaka, on the other hand, immediately raised her right arm, looking as serious as a student eager to answer a question in class.
Haruto glanced back at Captain Seigen, and after confirming that the other party didn't mind—