Chapter 81
"What did the old man promise?"
Haruto asked first.
"... You reacted really quickly."
Byakuya pouted slightly in dissatisfaction, then held up three fingers to Haruto.
"Choose one of three."
Tell me about it.
Haruto had already guessed it.
The Kuchiki Clan is wealthy and powerful; dividing the spoils equally is merely a playful wager between Haruto and Byakuya.
The actual wages are not included in this—especially after Haruto demonstrates his value: even though Byakuya is very considerate of his friend, he will only propose these three rewards after Haruto has fulfilled his grandfather's conditions.
"Hadō #90: The Secret of the Kurohitsugi."
"Unnecessary."
Byakuya was immediately rejected by Haruto as soon as he finished speaking.
"This is the uncut version of the Ninety Secret Manual."
"I've only just learned Hyōga Seiran Sweep, and there's still Senju Kōten Taihō waiting in line. What use is a Kurohitsugi to me?"
Kurohitsugi.
The 90th Hadō, embodying sophistication, aesthetics, and power, is the signature skill of Sōsuke Aizen.
It's impossible for me to say I don't like it.
But.
Haruto understood the principle of not trying to learn too much at once. His Hyōga Seiran was still being consolidated, and he simply didn't have the extra energy to learn this move.
By the way...
Haruto was able to unleash the Hyōga Seiran of Eishōhaki, not because his proficiency was that high, but because Hyōga Seiran had no lyrics to begin with.
That's right.
The difficulty of this Hadō lies in the fact that it begins with Eishōhaki:
Without specific incantations to help the caster concentrate and gather Reiatsu, the difficulty of successfully releasing the spell is naturally far greater than that of a similarly rank-based Hadō.
If Haruto hadn't had ample experience with Eishōhaki and even silent chanting, it would have taken him at least several more years to learn Hyōga Seiran.
"Just don't regret it."
Byakuya responded with a gloating smile.
"No... since they brought out the Kurohitsugi right away, the reward later should be something of similar value, right?"
After Byakuya mentioned it, Haruto, who had been quite confident, began to wonder if he had spoken too soon.
"... you guess?"
Of course, they certainly wouldn't intentionally fall into a linguistic disadvantage.
"Tch, you'll have to take it out eventually anyway."
"Hehe, whether it's valuable or not, that varies from person to person—"
"Like this one!"
Byakuya took out a small notebook from his inner pocket; it looked about the same size as the one in Icha Icha Paradise.
"Your cringey diary?"
"Roll!"
Byakuya first let out a loud swear word, then mysteriously introduced:
"This is a secret technique of the Shihoin Clan!"
"Um?"
Haruto became somewhat interested.
Shihoin Clan?
Byakuya possesses a considerable number of items belonging to the Shihoin Clan.
Although nominally the gifts were given to Byakuya by Yoruichi Shihōin, as the head of the Kuchiki Clan, Ginrei Kuchiki was required to reciprocate by giving gifts to the Shihoin Clan afterward.
This is what is known as reciprocity, and as a basic quality of the nobility, the great nobles should naturally set an example.
"Stealth Steps?"
"No, the Cat Transformation Technique!"
"..."
The Cat Transformation Technique.
As the name suggests, this is Yoruichi Shihōin's ability to transform herself into a black cat, a closely guarded secret of the Shihoin Clan.
Haruto has been very active lately, but he is not arrogant enough to think that he has caught the eye of the Shihoin Clan.
At most, it's just a matter of paying a little attention.
So...
"Did the Cat Demon give this to you?"
In terms of address, Haruto always followed Byakuya's form.
"That's right."
Byakuya nodded.
So you're planning to make me the guinea pig first?
Based on Byakuya's tone just now, Haruto instantly understood the brat's intentions.
"... I'm indirectly admitting that your talent in the Kidō arts is slightly better than mine!"
Byakuya gestured the distance between his two fingers, which was less than half a centimeter.
"It's just a tiny bit!"
Haruto first clasped his hands together, then forcefully performed a chest-expanding exercise to its limit.
"Next."
Immediately before Byakuya could refute, they announced that the topic had entered its third phase.
You don't want this either?
Byakuya remembered that Haruto had always been very interested in the Cat Demon's ability when they used to chat.
"It's the same concept as the Kukai Box you have."
Haruto glanced at Byakuya's waist, at that drool-worthy thing.
"Without the Shihoin Clan's consent, even if you dare to send it, I'd have to be alive to accept it—they have the Second Division and the Stealth Force behind them. If I didn't know my place, I might have my throat slit in my sleep tonight. If they go easy on me, they might convict me of some crime and throw me into Maggot's Nest, which I wouldn't be able to handle."
"Fine, you're smart to know what's good for you."
Byakuya reluctantly put away the booklet.
He brought out the Cat Transformation Technique with two intentions: Byakuya knew that Haruto was very interested in this special Kidō, and he was also unsure whether the Cat Demon was using this as an excuse to tease him, so he took it out here as a reward.
But Haruto wasn't fooled at all.
"Since you don't need the first two, this is all that's left."
From his pocket, Byakuya took out a small package wrapped in butter paper, with a red string tied around the opening.
"What's this?"
Haruto asked, somewhat curiously.
The pill Byakuya took out last time was the Heavenly Bedding Pill, which drastically changed Haruto's fighting power. So this time, the stuff won't be much worse.
"Spirit Jewel Pill."
A drug I've never heard of.
"... Your family seems to produce quite a lot of pills."
Would you believe me if I said they're all manufactured by OEM?
Haruto ignored Byakuya's witty remarks.
What is its function?
"I won't explain further; just think of it as a one-time oral dose of Kidō Orb with no side effects."
"... I have reason to suspect that your recent crackdown is aimed at eliminating potential competitors."
Volume 1: Chapter 52, I'm the One Who's Unlocked
"Cough cough!"
Byakuya coughed twice forcefully:
"If you're so capable, then don't want it."
Byakuya tossed the small package containing the Spirit Jewel Pill to Haruto.
"There are no restrictions on the types of things this can learn?"
"No, but the higher the level of the Kidō, the faster the medicinal effects wear off."
Very good, we've found the reason why the Kuchiki Clan eliminated the Kidō Orb.
"Then why don't you use this to comprehend the Hyōga Seiran?"
Haruto examined the pills, holding them in his hand.
"First, there's the issue of production volume; second, it's related to the user's talent; and finally, it's about timing—"
Byakuya explained.
"It cannot achieve complete mastery of the new Kidō from scratch like the Kidō Orb; it can only play a role at crucial moments of enlightenment."
"In other words, the prerequisite for the drug to be effective is that one has a certain understanding of the Kidō one wishes to master."
Byakuya spoke very casually.
But in reality, the Spirit Jewel Pill was a reward that Byakuya specifically asked his grandfather for on Haruto's behalf.
There's no question of production volume for this stuff. While the Kuchiki Clan has the method, gathering all the materials...
Only one or two like this are produced every few decades.
As for Byakuya's reasons for doing this--
"Haven't you been working on conquering the Senju Kōten Taihō lately?"
Haruto asked with some curiosity:
"I don't think I mentioned this?"
Generally speaking
High-level Kidō, numbered 75 and above, can only be accessed after reaching the Captain-level.
Haruto's ability to successfully comprehend the Zanka no Tachi at the Seventh-Class Reii was the key reason why Master Ise looked at him with new respect.
As for the Kidō with a number of 90 or higher, it's no exaggeration to say that it's wishful thinking for someone who hasn't reached the Captain-level to learn it; Haruto mentioned that one can only barely begin practicing Senju Kōten Taihō after Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure, so only someone who knows him well would believe that.
Outsiders would only see it as arrogance.
Now...
Haruto is still some distance from reaching the Fifth-Class Reii.
"Tch, don't I know you too well?"
Byakuya understands Haruto.