Below Kurumadani

"How do you intend to handle this Ritual Bell?"

After offering a light intimidation toward Kisaragi Akira, Aizen produced the Ritual Bell that had been handed to him earlier.

At this moment, the Ritual Bell no longer retained its original brass color.

Ink-black patterns, resembling the veins of a tree, coiled around the body of the bell, finally settling into a pitch-black, single eye at the center.

Seeing Aizen return to his usual composed demeanor, Kisaragi Akira coughed lightly and picked up the conversation:

"Naturally, I'll return it to Azashiro Soya."

"Do you expect me to keep it for myself?"

"There's certainly no hope of resurrection; they've been dead for decades, if not centuries. Even the Soul King..."

"Hmm, He should be capable of it."

Kisaragi Akira suddenly recalled that the deity enshrined at the Nikkotsu Shrine shared the same origin as the Soul King.

"Once Azashiro Soya's subordinates arrive, I'll have them pass it along," he said, waving his hand dismissively.

Aizen nodded, harboring no other thoughts on the matter.

The power maintaining the current state of the deceased within the Ritual Bell originated from the local shrine in the Nikkotsu District.

Given his current level of knowledge and ability, he was unable to analyze the essence of this power for the time being.

However, based on the current situation, he could roughly speculate that it likely had a significant connection to the Soul King's ability to create the three worlds.

The Soul King—truly a distant name.

Textbooks had mentioned the Soul King's power more than once: with the assistance of the progenitors of the Five Noble Families, He had single-handedly carved out the Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo.

According to the records, after completing all of this, the Soul King retired to the Soul King Palace, silently watching over the development of the three worlds.

However.

After coming into contact with a troublesome friend like Kisaragi Akira, Aizen had gradually begun to doubt this narrative.

According to this guy, the One-Eyed Great Deity enshrined in the Nikkotsu Shrine was a tribute to the right arm of the Soul King, also known as Mimihagi.

How could the high and mighty Soul King be connected to a local shrine in the Rukongai?

Did some unknown secret lie hidden within this?

Was the Soul King truly high and mighty?

Aizen gazed up at the sky. A gentle breeze blew, the faint chill refreshing his heart. A crescent moon hung high amidst the hazy clouds, appearing and disappearing...

Over the next few days, Kisaragi Akira's life returned to tranquility.

He was like a wild horse off its tether, roaming frantically throughout the Spiritual Arts Academy.

A normal student's life was a straight line between three points: dormitory, cafeteria, and classroom.

Kisaragi Akira, however, wove a web of countless points.

Wherever people could appear, his figure might be found; where they couldn't, he would create the conditions to appear regardless.

Because the abandoned Central Execution Grounds had failed to trigger a location check-in, Kisaragi Akira had felt increasingly cheated over the past few days, as if he had lost hundreds of millions.

Although he had the assets of the Azashiro Clan to supplement his needs, he couldn't shake the feeling that not earning a reward was a massive loss.

Therefore.

He began attempting to trigger potential location check-ins within the Spiritual Arts Academy.

Though the hope was slim, it was better than nothing.

Regrettably, the only response he received was his daily sign-in.

Konpeito, Tea Egg, Yamamoto Shigekuni's Beard Comb, calligraphy works...

The first two were barely acceptable.

At the very least, they tasted good.

But what was he supposed to do with a beard comb? He was still just a youth!

What was even more outrageous was that when Kisaragi Akira held the calligraphy work in his hand, he was stunned to find the handwriting inexplicably familiar.

After taking his own homework notebook and making a careful comparison, he concluded that this was indeed Aizen's handwriting.

Kisaragi Akira was incensed. Was he really lacking Aizen's calligraphy?

He only needed enough tofu dishes to exploit this guy into completing his homework with full dedication.

In this regard, even a capitalist would have to learn from him!

On the third day after the execution grounds ritual ended.

The person mentioned by Azashiro Soya also arrived at the Spiritual Arts Academy.

It was the same familiar face.

The Kuchiki Clan steward, Ginjiro!

"Why is it you again?"

Kisaragi Akira looked surprised. "Is this what they call 'eating the same meal twice'?"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Ginjiro felt his blood pressure spike, threatening to surpass his own Reiatsu.

This kid's mouth grew more caustic with every passing day.

Last time they met, he at least knew how to be subtle; this time, he didn't even bother to hide it, opting for blatant mockery.

He really didn't hold anyone in high regard!

"Captain Azashiro entrusted me with this task."

Ginjiro managed to suppress his rising anger, maintaining the utmost professional decorum as he faced the youth.

"Regarding the transfer of the Azashiro Clan's assets, you only need to sign your name on this document."

"Leave the rest to me."

Kisaragi Akira didn't suspect a thing and carelessly scrawled his name.

Truth be told.

Under the influence of his surroundings, his calligraphy was slowly trending toward Aizen's level—at the very least, it no longer looked like—

He was drawing talismans every time he picked up a brush.

Staring at the nearly illegible handwriting, the corner of Ginjiro's mouth twitched.

He considered asking the kid to write it again, but fearing what kind of world-view-shattering remarks might come out of his mouth, he decisively abandoned the idea.

"Since the handover is complete, I shall take my leave."

Ginjiro stood up abruptly. "As for the Azashiro Clan estate, it has been abandoned for many years, so if you intend to live there, please find someone to clean it up first."

"The specific location is District 6, plot 6072, northwest."

Kisaragi Akira nodded.

It made sense that the Azashiro Clan estate was abandoned; Azashiro Soya had no desire to face the memories of the past.

As for the other nobles, they had been terrified into submission by him and dared not covet a single scrap of the Azashiro Clan's property.

Now that it had all fallen into his lap, one could say that good deeds were finally being rewarded.

After handing the Ritual Bell over to Ginjiro, he hurried away.

The scene left Kisaragi Akira feeling a pang of regret; what a dedicated and professional man, he wouldn't even stay for a cup of tea.

A pity, really, considering it was the only low-quality tea he had obtained from his check-in.

"Time for class."

Aizen, who had been sitting at his desk grinding away, suddenly closed his textbook and said, "This period is Kido, still taught by Hikifune Tessai."

"He's the teacher who gets sick the least often."

Kisaragi Akira nodded in deep agreement.

Hikifune Tessai was as strong as an ox; he could probably kill a Gillian with a single punch, making Kido somewhat redundant for him.

It was worth noting that his current status panel had reached a state of extreme specialization.

[Name: Kisaragi Akira]
[Identity: Nikkotsu Shrine Priest, Rukongai Commoner, Shin'o Academy First-Year]
[Reiatsu: lv52]
[Kendo: lv64]
[Hakuda: lv22]
[Shunpo: lv21]
[Kido: lv24]
[Exclusive Traits: Reishi Affinity, Danger Instinct, Heart of the Divine, Miraculous Hands, Light as a Swallow, Mercy of the Death Sword, Kido Mastery]

His Reiatsu had soared to the eleventh rank, and his Kendo had reached lv64.

With the boost from Mercy of the Death Sword, in terms of swordsmanship alone, Kisaragi Akira dared to trade a few blows with certain captains.

Of course, only those at the level of Kurumadani or below.

Conversely, his Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido were somewhat unsightly.

Even though he was a genius among geniuses compared to his peers, he was unfortunately surrounded by an even more monstrous genius.

Even though Kisaragi Akira's strength was already quite impressive, he still didn't dare to slack off, terrified of being left so far behind that he couldn't even see the other's exhaust.

Fortunately, Sosuke wasn't the petty type.

Just a short while ago, he had kindly prepared a method for him to grow stronger quickly.

It seemed to have a slight connection to this Kido class.