Slay a Rich Dog!

My name is Aizen Sosuke, and I am a first-year student at the Spiritual Arts Academy.

Because my talent is passable, I was assigned to Class 1, which is filled entirely with elites.

I had originally intended to use the Spiritual Arts Academy as a platform to uncover more secrets, while simultaneously searching for an existence capable of standing at the same height as myself.

But why...

Have things developed to this point?

On a small path within the Spiritual Arts Academy, there sits a table, a folding fan, and a gavel.

A banner flutters in the wind, bearing the title: High Priest of Nikkotsu Shrine.

Kisaragi Akira sits behind the table, putting on a grand display, while Aizen stands behind him, arms crossed, expressionless.

"Sosuke, don't just stand there like a fool!"

Kisaragi Akira urges in a low voice, "I am the High Priest, after all; I can't be the one to shout and lower my status."

You can't lower your status, so I can?

Listening to the buzzing noise in his ears, which sounds like a swarm of flies, Aizen expresses that he has no desire to offer any opinion.

He has already begun to regret greeting this guy when he first enrolled.

Looking back over his decades of life, Kisaragi Akira is the most bottomless individual he has ever known.

Aizen never imagined that Kisaragi Akira's method of making money would be to expand the business of Nikkotsu Shrine within the Spiritual Arts Academy.

It is even more excessive than before.

Exorcisms, consecrations, blessings, prayers, communicating with deities, peddling amulets with all sorts of effects...

Whatever business a shrine might involve, Kisaragi Akira has a hand in it.

It looks like he can do everything, but in reality, he is a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

Aizen shakes his head, waiting for Kisaragi Akira to crash and burn.

My name is Kuchiki Sojun, the eldest son and heir of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the five great noble families.

Although my family has provided me with professional tutors, and even my father often sets aside time to instruct me personally, I still chose to come to the Spiritual Arts Academy for a period of advanced study.

Because here, one can see many things that are inaccessible within the family.

Just like right now...

"Nikkotsu Shrine?"

Kuchiki Sojun gazes at the black characters written on the banner, lost in a daze.

If he remembers correctly, this shrine seems to be...

"Hey, don't miss out as you pass by! Future, romance, fortune—young man, what kind of thing are you looking to calculate?"

Seeing a customer arrive, Kisaragi Akira greets him enthusiastically.

Kuchiki Sojun's expression freezes; he feels that the other party's phrasing is somewhat off.

Fortunately, being gentle and kind by nature, he does not quibble over such details and instead asks with a smile:

"Excuse me, do you have an amulet that protects the wearer from illness and disaster?"

Hearing this, Kisaragi Akira is deeply disappointed, feeling that his talents have no room to shine. He can only pull one amulet from those displayed on the table and hand it to the other party.

Kuchiki Sojun takes the amulet and examines it closely.

As the heir to a great noble family, his knowledge is by no means shallow.

Because he was born physically weak, Kuchiki Ginrei has gone to great lengths for him, and he has seen no fewer than a hundred styles of amulets.

But while he has seen many styles of amulets, this is the first time he has seen one like this.

Wrapped in red cord, the exquisite white wooden piece depicts a pattern: a massive black right hand draped in luxurious robes, its anthropomorphic posture giving one a sense of something sacred and inviolable.

And on the back of the right hand, a single eye is slightly closed, its indifferent gaze fixed forward.

"A bit familiar."

Kuchiki Sojun fiddles with the amulet, trying hard to find the source of this familiarity in his memory.

"That will be one thousand Kan."

Kisaragi Akira reveals a smile like a crooked merchant, asking for an exorbitant price.

Kuchiki Sojun frowns slightly, seemingly realizing the impropriety of this price.

"Young man, don't hesitate!"

Kisaragi Akira cajoles, "Nikkotsu Shrine is renowned far and wide; the One-Eyed Great Deity will surely protect your health and well-being."

Kuchiki Sojun struggles for a moment, then takes out a banknote with a face value of one thousand Kan and hands it to Kisaragi Akira.

Just then, from the end of the street in the distance, comes a burst of exasperated reprimands:

"Kisaragi Akira, Aizen Sosuke!"

"How dare you two act so recklessly within the Spiritual Arts Academy!"

Kisaragi Akira cursed under his breath, swept up the table with a wide wave of his arm, and shouted:

"Sosuke!"

"The heat is on, let's bolt!"

Then, under the stunned gazes of the two, Kisaragi Akira hoisted the table and erupted with astonishing speed, vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye.

"Young man, Nikkotsu Shrine provides after-sales service; if you have any needs, you can go to East Rukon District 76..."

Before the words could finish, Kisaragi Akira's figure had already completely disappeared.

Seeing this, Aizen Sosuke's mouth twitched. He gave a nod of acknowledgment to Kuchiki Sojun standing opposite him, then took off in the direction Kisaragi Akira had fled.

His speed was even greater than the other's.

By the time Kaede Junya arrived at the scene, only Kuchiki Sojun remained standing there.

"Ku, Kuchiki Sojun-sama..."

"That guy Kisaragi Akira didn't say anything strange to you, did he?"

Realizing the identity of the person before him, Kaede Junya felt a massive headache coming on. That bastard wouldn't have tried to swindle this young master of the Kuchiki Clan, would he?

One had to know.

Kuchiki Sojun had an excellent reputation at the Spiritual Arts Academy; he was gentle, kind, and completely devoid of the airs of a high-ranking noble.

If that kid had managed to scam such a good-natured person, he would truly be devoid of conscience.

Kuchiki Sojun shook his head with a faint laugh: "No."

Hearing this, Kaede Junya let out a sigh of relief, his tense nerves relaxing slightly.

"That's good."

"I'll go chase those two down now. Please excuse me, Kuchiki Sojun-sama."

Kuchiki Sojun gave a slight nod.

After Kaede Junya had departed, he raised his right hand and spread his fingers. On the white wooden charm strung with a red cord, the deep, solitary eye stared indifferently ahead.

Perhaps it was an illusion, or perhaps it was truly effective.

While holding this amulet, Kuchiki Sojun felt his body grow significantly lighter.

The sensation was as if the accumulated grime of years had been largely scrubbed away.

After a moment of contemplation, he gripped the amulet tightly and whispered: "Kisaragi Akira, is it?"

"I will remember that name..."

First-year dormitory.

Kisaragi Akira set down his belongings and flopped onto the soft bed without a shred of dignity.

Beside him, Aizen was struggling to ponder a question.

Why had he followed this idiot and fled through the Spiritual Arts Academy in such a pathetic state?

Could it be that stupidity was contagious?

"A huge haul!"

Soon, Kisaragi Akira's cheer drew his attention. "As expected, fleecing the rich is the fastest way to make money!"

"The rich?"

"Didn't you notice? That guy had a Kenseikan pinned in his hair. That's a hair accessory only high-ranking nobles are permitted to wear."

"You only asked for such a high price because you noticed that?"

Aizen's tone suddenly turned calm, his scrutinizing gaze landing on Kisaragi Akira.

"Narrow-minded!"

Kisaragi Akira rolled over, returning Aizen's gaze with disdain. "That amulet is the real deal; one thousand rings is a bargain, if anything!"

"Infused with the spiritual pressure of the One-Eyed Great Deity, it's one of the few masterpieces from Nikkotsu Shrine."

Aizen frowned slightly, puzzled: "The deity worshipped at Nikkotsu Shrine is called the One-Eyed Great Deity?"

Kisaragi Akira nodded, grinning:

"A relic dedicated to the right arm of the Soul King, the One-Eyed Great Deity, Mimihagi..."