I'll Be Your Follower!

The new house's address was still in the outskirts. Led by Iwao and Kin Hikō, the group arrived at another suburban area.

Having frequently traveled around the western part of Rukongai, Duan Mu was extremely familiar with it. If he wasn't mistaken, this area should be the wilderness between the west and north, roughly between sectors numbered 3-5 horizontally.

Just looking for some peace and quiet?

Duan Mu couldn't help but inwardly grumble. Rukongai's eastern, southern, western, and northern sectors rarely interacted, and places between two sectors were even more desolate. Living here felt like residing in a country villa; buying groceries would require a half-hour drive...

"Well, we're here," said Iwao, who was leading the way, suddenly pointing ahead.

Duan Mu followed his gaze. The familiar giant smokestack, the familiar low-rise houses – their exteriors were almost identical to the previous house.

However, on either side of the house's facade, two arms taller than the house itself now extended, holding a banner with the four characters 'Shiba Kūkaku' written in large letters!

So, it's here.

Although he had seen it a few times through the cold screen, seeing this imposing structure appear in reality made Duan Mu's brow twitch, and a sense of admiration welled up within him.

"Unique."

After much thought, Duan Mu could only describe the overwhelming admiration he felt with this single word.

"Right? I thought about this for a long time," a woman's voice called out. Looking in the direction of the voice, Duan Mu saw a beautiful black-haired woman approaching from in front of a house not far away.

Judging by her appearance, she looked to be in her early twenties. Her right arm was severed at the elbow and wrapped in bandages, while her left arm, tattooed with the character 'Empty' (Kū), held a smoking pipe. She had a beautiful face and a graceful figure. The revealing nature of her attire, and her prominent chest, gave Duan Mu the feeling that she could roll over and slap him with her pipe at any moment... Her clothing colors were almost identical.

The moment he saw her, information about her flooded Duan Mu's mind.

Shiba Kūkaku, the current head of the Shiba Clan.

Rukongai's foremost fireworks master. Although not a Soul Reaper, her strength was considerable, and she excelled in Kido.

"Are you Duan Mu?"

Kūkaku arrived before them, sizing Duan Mu up, and laughed heartily. "The owner of the tobacco shop in District 3, where I often go, mentions you frequently. She says you're helpful and that after her business improved, you'd help out at the shop in your spare time. I've heard it so much my ears are practically calloused."

The tobacco shop owner from District 3?

Duan Mu's mind immediately conjured the image of a kind-faced old woman. Granny Hidariha was one of the few people with whom Duan Mu had a favorability rating above 50. She was gentle and often asked Duan Mu to harvest tobacco leaves for her.

"Granny Hidariha is too kind. If anything, I'm the one who's often taken care of by her. She introduced me to quite a few customers for the tobacco shop," Duan Mu said earnestly. These were his genuine feelings. The reason the Yorozuya had so many customers in such a short time was thanks to the spontaneous help from the Rukongai residents who felt favorably towards him.

This also allowed Duan Mu to experience a warmth he had never felt before, further solidifying his belief that his approach of "returning sincerity with sincerity" was correct.

Compared to methods of gaining favor through deception, interacting with people with the mindset of "making friends with sincerity" allowed Duan Mu to feel his own transformation more profoundly.

Perhaps...

This was what people meant by "you can only change after you die." Although Duan Mu didn't know how he died, or why he had inexplicably fallen into Rukongai.

Seeing the genuine expression on Duan Mu's face, Kūkaku laughed heartily and patted his shoulder. "You're a good kid, much more sensible than my Iwao."

Duan Mu suppressed his instinct to flinch and sighed inwardly. These siblings seemed to both like patting people on the shoulder.

Perhaps it was the condescending nature of the gesture, or perhaps his 'semi-socially anxious' nature made him unaccustomed to such physical contact. In any case, Duan Mu didn't like people patting him on the shoulder, nor did he like patting others.

['Shiba Kūkaku' Favorability +1, Gained 300 Experience Points]

Huh?

Duan Mu blinked, staring blankly at Kūkaku in front of him.

A favorability increase from 0 to 1 had yielded 300 experience points. Wouldn't that mean if Kūkaku's favorability towards him reached 9, he would gain 2700 experience points?

This was equivalent to the total experience points provided by six or seven Rukongai residents with whom he had a favorability of 60.

And this was only the experience gained from 1-9. After all, every ten points of favorability gained would double the experience points awarded.

Seeing Duan Mu spacing out, Kūkaku waved her hand in front of his eyes. "Hey, kid, what's wrong?"

"Ah, nothing."

Duan Mu quickly shook his head, putting on his signature gentle smile, ready to further build rapport with Kūkaku.

However...

Kūkaku didn't give him the chance. After greeting Duan Mu, she stretched and walked towards the small house, saying as she went, "I haven't finished building the lower part yet. You can leave the things you brought outside. Kin Hikō, you stay here and watch."

"..." The smile on Duan Mu's face froze.

As expected, making friends isn't that simple.

A favorability of 1 was practically the same as having none, roughly equivalent to a stranger you've met once and have a slight impression of.

Moreover, if one were to be precise, Kūkaku was the employer, and Duan Mu was the one being paid to do a job. As the head of a noble family, Kūkaku deigning to speak with Duan Mu was already quite generous.

However, Duan Mu wasn't discouraged. He looked at Iwao beside him and reached out to pat his shoulder.

"???" Iwao.

"When I don't have any commissions, how about I be your subordinate? No charge!" Duan Mu said seriously.

Although Duan Mu's principle was to make friends with sincerity, a catalyst was still needed. Especially when dealing with someone as powerful and noble as Shiba Kūkaku, why would she, a person of such status, want to befriend a mere Rukongai resident like Duan Mu?

In the past, the people Duan Mu chose to interact with were based on opportunity. In simple terms, he would proactively help when the other person was in need, and after getting acquainted, he would increase their favorability through continuous interaction.

Therefore, he had never deliberately approached anyone; all his acquaintances and friendships were formed by chance encounters.

Now, if he wanted to actively forge connections, he naturally couldn't rely on that method.

Even though the Shiba Clan had fallen on hard times, they still possessed a deep and rich heritage. They weren't lacking in money or manpower, and Shiba Kūkaku herself was terrifyingly strong. It was almost impossible to find an opportunity to increase her favorability by helping her.

This left Duan Mu with only one path: first, build a good relationship with Iwao, and then strive to make his presence known to Kūkaku.

Normally, even frequent acquaintances would naturally become closer over time. If his presence was sufficiently established, he should be able to gain a few points of favorability, right?

"Really?"

Although he was puzzled by Duan Mu's sudden increase in enthusiasm, when he heard that Duan Mu could be his subordinate without charge, Iwao decisively cast his doubts aside and patted his chest, saying:

"This choice is definitely the wisest one you've ever made. From now on, if you encounter any trouble, just mention my name, 'Shiba Iwao,' and I guarantee I'll help you sort out any problems!"