Chapter 58

"Bakudō #61"

His slender index finger stretched out straight, perfectly aligning with the path of the Hadō attack.

"Raikōhō!"

"Rikujōkōrō!"

After a moment of silence—

"Boom!!"

――――

Byakuya brushed the soot and ash off his body.

After realizing that it wasn't working, they simply tore off the tattered half of their school uniform.

"You win."

Byakuya, who was still walking towards Haruto, suddenly heard Haruto's voice of surrender.

"So decisively?"

Byakuya asked, somewhat surprised.

"You've revealed three of your trump cards today, so I have to give you some face."

#

The spot where the veins are bulging on Byakuya's forehead is almost fixed.

"Don't make it sound like you're giving me charity."

"... You definitely won."

The verbal argument they just had was just a habit they had when chatting; Haruto wouldn't stubbornly refuse to admit defeat when necessary.

"Please elaborate?"

However, it's always at times like these that Byakuya takes advantage of the situation.

"..."

"The Raikōhō, Eishōhaki, can only hurt you; at most, it can only interrupt the Kōjutsu Eishō the Rikujōkōrō."

The Kōjutsu Eishō.

Strengthening an already used Kidō by adding additional chanting is a relatively rare, high-level Kidō technique.

"And your Rikujōkōrō can at least hold me captive for three seconds."

Byakuya didn't think much of Bakudō before, but in order to compete with himself, he actually chose the Rikujōkōrō as the first advanced Kidō to learn.

This was Haruto truly hadn't expected.

What surprised him even more was Byakuya's sudden burst of talent: in just fifteen days, he was able to master so many new things while maintaining his Zanpakuto training. Byakuya's reputation as a genius was truly well-deserved.

"This is enough time for you to unleash your Zanpakuto."

Haruto's assessment of the situation was very clear, and he didn't try to save face for himself: Byakuya had mastered both Shikai and Shunpo, and his Reiatsu was a level higher than his own. Haruto was already very satisfied with the situation.

Of course...

"Um?"

Byakuya thought Haruto was going to stick to his guns one last time.

"We agreed to only test three moves, and the Shikai is definitely not included."

"The real area where we're outmatched..."

Having broken free from the Reiatsu Shibari his entire body, Haruto emerged from the Rikujōkōrō and slowly raised one finger.

"You released the Rikujōkōrō with just one finger, while my Raikōhō used my entire palm."

"In terms of sophistication..."

"You won."

――――

While the two were still bantering...

The students in the audience had their entire worldview shattered.

While they were still using the Shakkahō to measure skill levels, Gyōkaku Kumoi had already shown them what a true master was with the more advanced Haien.

But after seeing Haruto and Byakuya's match...

Forget seeing pigs run, he can casually conjure up advanced Kidō he's never even heard of, and he can even use Shunpo techniques that he doesn't understand at all and can't even keep up with the naked eye.

Although they couldn't understand Senka and Utsusemi, a move that could hold its own against a high-level Hadō technique couldn't possibly be an ordinary Shunpo.

Moreover, the Shunpo is already an unattainable ability, yet people still need to use special secret techniques to achieve it in battle.

Anyone would question their future.

Certainly.

The students were just laymen watching the spectacle.

A true expert...

Mutsuki Shōkaku suspects he is a fake Soul Reaper.

As for the high-level Kidō like the Tōzanshō and the Zanka no Tachi, which are numbered over seventy, she, as the Seated Officer of the Fifth Division —and in a weaker division, she might even be a contender for the Third Seat —Seated Officer has never even had the chance to see their secret techniques, let alone master them!

The only techniques she's had the opportunity to learn Raikōhō and the Rikujōkōrō, but she still hasn't been able to master them.

And these two on the field...

But they used it to compete for class representative.

Mutsuki Shōkaku suddenly remembered something Haruto had once said.

"Haruto seems to really not be good at intermediate-level Kidō."

"..."

"He's skilled in advanced Kidō, damn it!!"

Mutsuki Shōkaku couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out a curse, disregarding her image.

――――

Volume 1: Chapter 38, Sneaky

The battle has just ended.

Haruto and Byakuya had a lot to talk about.

If it weren't for the fact that they were occupying the space, and the Heat gazes of the surrounding audience, they might have continued practicing.

Fortunately, Ms. Mutsuki's work had already been arranged, and there were no other classes to schedule in the afternoon, giving her ample time to reflect on the problems and shortcomings encountered during the battle.

Soon.

"Mutsuki- sensei."

After agreeing on a training time for the afternoon, the two headed towards Mutsuki Shōkaku outside the training ground.

As you can see.

Haruto helplessly shrugged.

"I'm not as skilled as others, so it seems I'll have to take the position of class monitor."

"... That must have been very difficult for you."

When Mutsuki said this, her emotions were truly complicated.

In terms of individual strength, apart from Byakuya, no one in the Shin'ō Academy can match her; don't be fooled by Haruto's impressive Kidō skills, if the two of them were to fight, Mutsuki's Shikai plus Shunpo would definitely be able to suppress Haruto.

But!

Their roles are teacher and student, so there's no comparison between them.

Moreover, despite the suppression, even Mutsuki herself couldn't guarantee that she could successfully defeat Haruto: Haruto's Reiatsu level was already no lower than hers, and what if he was hiding some even higher-level Kidō...

The outcome of a match can change in an instant.

"You two really made a splash."

Mutsuki glanced at the surrounding audience seats; there were at least four classes that had just held class monitor selections here.

Before long, news of Haruto and Byakuya's match will spread rapidly throughout the entire academy.

Although the number of spectators who witnessed it was far less than when the Live-Blade Match, the duel between Shunpo and advanced Kidō sounded much more exciting than the contest between "Chong" and the Shakkahō.

I think...

Mutsuki said with a hint of helplessness.

"At least for sixth graders, the class representative competition has probably lost its meaning."

A high-level Hadō that Eishōhaki.

Neither the Raikōhō nor the Zanka no Tachi could withstand them; they were utterly annihilated without any chance of resistance.

Moreover, let alone the students, even the teachers other than Mutsuki might not be able to survive those two attacks that Hadō.

The remaining teachers, who were already few in number, mostly held the eighth or ninth seat in the team. Their Rei'i Grade was only equal to or slightly higher than Ayaka's. Their strength lay only in experience, and they wouldn't dare say they could quickly defeat Ayaka.

"But it's alright."

"Principal Mitarai's idea is certainly good, but the change is too sudden and will inevitably make the atmosphere in the Spiritual Arts Academy somewhat intense."

"With you here keeping things under control, at least they'll be much more at ease."

Mutsuki Shōkaku turned her gaze to Gyōkaku Kumoi in the audience:

"And."

"I thought it would be a hassle for you, but since even the most disobedient one has quieted down, it looks like things will be much easier to manage from now on."

Haruto also turned his gaze in that direction, and he quickly understood what Mutsuki was referring to. The latter then followed up with:

"Yes, Class 5-1, the class you're scheduled to take over."

――――

The class meeting is over.

Principal Mitarai probably thought that the election of class representatives would take too long, so this competition, which actually lasted less than half a minute, became the only course activity in the afternoon.

What are everyone's plans?

At the entrance of the Shin'ō Grand Training Ground, Haruto asked the crowd.

"My sister and I signed up for the Kaidō retreat, and we'll go this afternoon since we have some free time."

Kiyone answered first.

As one of the three major components of Kidō, the Kaidō is not a compulsory subject at the Shin'ō Academy; only students who want to join the Fourth Division will sign up.

It's not that the Kaidō is not valued, but rather that learning the Kaidō requires a different talent than ordinary Kidō, and also requires a lot of time to study.

Haruto possesses strong talent in Kidō, but it is primarily manifested in Hadō and Bakudō, while he is completely ignorant about Kaidō.

So.

Even though Haruto was very interested in the Kaidō —initially to improve his physical fitness—his limited talent prevented him from getting involved.

"I... I plan to continue practicing intermediate-level Kidō."

It was rare for Nanao to speak before Ayaka.

My uncle won't let me get involved in advanced Kidō.

After glancing at Haruto, Nanao laid out her thoughts completely.

"Furthermore, I think that since A-Qing can use a single-digit Kidō a type of Japanese magic) to unleash power equal to or even surpassing that of an intermediate Kidō through fusion and modification."

"If my proficiency with intermediate-level Kidō were even higher, would I be able to make them perform like advanced-level Kidō?"

"..."