"Well, well…"
An aged crimson tray rested neatly on the table, holding soy-flavored senbei and lightly sweet rice crackers.
"This is far too generous."
Inside the Ise household's living room, Haruto had been formally welcomed as a guest.
It was said that one should never strike a smiling face. Haruto had come prepared with gifts: fresh tea leaves and traditional coarse sweets. None of them were rare items, but they perfectly suited the elderly couple's tastes. The information about those preferences had come as a bonus from the ramen shop owner.
"Since I knew the elders were home, it would have been improper to arrive empty-handed."
Haruto brushed the dust from his clothes and sat on the cushion before the low table as instructed. While doing so, his eyes quietly examined the room.
Although the couple appeared to live modestly, both their residence and the aged objects within it carried the unmistakable refinement of upper-noble heritage. Nothing here was cheap—it was simply that most people lacked the eye to recognize the value.
"What a polite young man," the old woman said with a soft laugh, covering her mouth.
"With you looking after Nanao at the Shin'ō Academy, we can finally feel a little more at ease."
"Aunt—"
Nanao had only just sat down when the old woman cut her off immediately.
"Oh, that's enough," she said cheerfully.
"I've heard quite a lot about you from Nanao. When she came back this afternoon, she looked a little downcast."
"She probably thought you had forgotten your promise."
Though her words were delivered jokingly, a faint hint of reproach lingered in her tone.
The elderly couple cared deeply about their granddaughter's feelings.
"It's already getting late today," she continued.
Even during summer, by the time Haruto had arrived it was already past seven. His pace had been quite fast by ordinary standards. After all, a normal soul would need at least forty days just to walk around the entire perimeter of Seireitei.
"If you plan to practice Kidō in the dark, the conditions here are suitable… but it would get quite late, and the roads around here aren't easy to navigate."
"How about staying the night?"
"…Then I'll gratefully accept your hospitality."
Haruto did not refuse.
The Shin'ō Academy break lasted only seven days. If he returned to the academy dormitories to sleep and then set out again in the morning, he would waste another half a day.
Time was already tight for his journey home. There was no reason to waste it over appearances.
As for accommodations nearby…
Hotels in Seireitei were both rare and absurdly expensive.
"Good."
The old woman nodded in satisfaction.
She had only just sat down, yet she immediately stood again while supporting her back.
"I'll prepare the guest room."
"I'll help!"
Nanao quickly rose to assist.
Soon afterward, the lively room fell quiet.
Only Haruto and the elderly man remained, the latter quietly sipping tea across the table.
"…."
Haruto followed suit and drank more hot tea.
"Haruto."
"Yes, sir."
When the old man finally spoke, Haruto knew the real purpose of tonight's conversation had arrived.
"How much of Nanao's Kidō book have you read?"
"All of it."
"All of it?"
"Yes. Seventeen Hadō spells and thirteen Bakudō spells."
Although the book was said to contain Kidō below number seventy-five, that did not mean it recorded one hundred and fifty distinct techniques. Many of the higher spells only had partial descriptions.
Even so, a single book detailing thirty Kidō techniques was already an astonishing volume of information.
"How many have you learned?"
"All of them."
Haruto was not exaggerating.
Although he had only chosen Hadō #63 Raikōhō and Bakudō #63 Sajō Sabaku for focused training among the high-level spells, he had technically mastered every Kidō recorded in the book.
He could successfully cast all of them.
"…Remarkable."
The old man sighed softly.
Even the eyes hidden beneath his thick white eyebrows widened slightly.
"I originally assumed you were simply a clever boy with some talent, hoping to take shortcuts."
"But now…"
"It seems Nanao's description of you was rather modest."
Haruto's honesty had clearly altered the old man's previous judgment.
"With talent like yours, even without the Kidō book you could graduate normally and enter the Kidō Corps."
"In a hundred years…"
"No, within thirty years, you might even become the Vice Commander of the Kidō Corps."
The old man's evaluation of Haruto was even higher than Ginrei Kuchiki's.
The Kidō Corps stood on equal footing with the Gotei 13 in terms of official status.
Its vice commander was not merely equivalent to a vice-captain but possessed genuine captain-class combat power.
"You flatter me."
Haruto bowed slightly.
"That's no exaggeration," the old man replied calmly.
"I still have enough discernment to judge such matters."
Although he had long retired, he had once been a legitimate Ise clan priest.
Men who married into the Ise main family often died under mysterious circumstances, but collateral branches were unaffected by that curse.
As one of Seireitei's three great priestly noble families, serving in such a position proved the old man's ability.
Had he joined the Kidō Corps, he likely would have become another vice commander-level figure.
"After all…"
"That book was personally compiled by me for Nanao."
Haruto nearly revealed his shock.
"To fully master the Kidō within that book, vice-captain level is merely the foundation."
"Even without relying on a Zanpakutō."
The old man stroked his long beard.
"I estimate that with your current ability, if you graduated today, you could secure the Sixth or Seventh Seat in almost any division of the Gotei 13."
"…Your insight is truly sharp."
"Hmph."
The old man snorted quietly, unmoved by the praise.
"Back to the matter at hand."
His expression grew noticeably more serious.
"Haruto."
"Are you interested in Kidō above number seventy-five?"
"…Of course."
Kidō above number seventy-five were truly rare techniques.
Even vice-captains who specialized in Kidō rarely had the opportunity to learn them.
Seated officers?
Even if a secret manuscript were placed before them, they might never master it.
Any spell of that level, if cast successfully, could threaten even a vice-captain.
Naturally, Haruto could not pretend he lacked interest.
"…."
After a brief silence—
Thud.
A bamboo-bound manuscript appeared on the table.
Haruto did not open it immediately.
Instead, he gently touched its surface and straightened his posture.
"So then…"
"What price do you require?"
He tried to read the old man's hidden intentions.
"…You are impressive."
The old man praised him without explanation.
"I am old now."
Haruto listened quietly.
"Within the Ise family's main house…"
"There is no direct heir."
Haruto nearly froze.
A revelation of this magnitude involving an upper-noble family could have disastrous consequences.
But he quickly grasped the meaning behind the words.
"You mean…"
"Yes."
"Nanao is the last direct descendant of the Ise clan."
Even without knowing why the once-powerful clan had fallen to such a state, that conclusion alone was enough to stir violent political turmoil.
"You've given me quite a problem."
Haruto glanced at the manuscript on the table.
It felt like a burning coal in his hands.
He might have looked down on certain middle nobles, but the affairs of an upper noble house were another matter entirely.
"As a transaction, only a fool would accept this."
He smiled bitterly.
"But if it's as Nanao's friend…"
"…then it would be foolish not to accept it."
He picked up the manuscript without hesitation.
If Nanao ever faced danger, Haruto would never stand aside.
"Relax."
The old man spoke reassuringly.
"I have no intention of dragging you into the Ise clan's troubles."
"As long as Nanao can successfully enter the Gotei 13…"
"That will be enough."
Seeing Haruto accept the manuscript, the old man quietly exhaled in relief.
"The Eighth Division?" Haruto asked.
"Oh?"
"You know quite a bit."
"Just a little."
Haruto knew more than he let on.
The true significance of the Ise bloodline likely lay in its authority to wield the Divine Sword, the Shinken Hakkyōken.
But anyone foolish enough to covet it would be courting death.
Very few in Seireitei could hope to take something from Shunsui Kyōraku.
Haruto responded casually while opening the heavy manuscript.
"Hadō #78…"
"Zanharen."
A technique famously used by Shunsui Kyōraku.
It allowed the wielder to release spiritual energy blades from their Zanpakutō, making it ideal for mid-range combat.
The Shiba family's legendary Getsuga Tenshō might very well be a modified derivative of this technique.
Shinigami—indeed, all human souls—could absorb spiritual particles in many ways.
Breathing.
Eating.
Even contact between skin and the surrounding environment.
All of these allowed spiritual particles to be absorbed and converted into stored spiritual pressure.
However, unlike Hollows, a Shinigami's spiritual pressure primarily flowed outward through the wrists.
That was why most Shinigami required their hands to release Kidō or wield their Zanpakutō in battle.
A Zanpakutō was the manifestation of a Shinigami's soul and an extension of the arm.
It could also serve as a conduit for Kidō.
When Haruto fought Byakuya earlier, techniques like Yellow Fire Flash and Tianlan relied on this principle.
Unfortunately, Haruto's skill with the sword itself remained limited.
Using mid-level Kidō through a blade was manageable.
But Hadō #78 Zanharen was far more difficult.
Still—
For someone who favored swift, decisive draw strikes, mastering Zanharen would drastically enhance Haruto's close-combat ability.
And regardless of what ability his Zanpakutō might eventually possess, learning this technique would amplify its future combat potential.
After all—
Ichigo Kurosaki practically fought half his battles with nothing but Getsuga Tenshō.
"Then I will safeguard this carefully."
Haruto lifted the manuscript.
"I will never teach its contents to others without permission."
But just as he prepared to put the book away—
Smack.
The old man's rough palm pressed firmly onto the back of Haruto's hand.
"…?"
"Whether you pass it on or not doesn't matter."
"Direct descendants of the Ise clan do not possess their own Zanpakutō."
"This technique is simply my personal understanding."
"If it spreads further, I would only be pleased."
The old man shook his head.
"But this manuscript…"
"You must finish reading it here."
"Tonight?"
Haruto blinked.
"No."
"Before my wife and Nanao return."
Haruto glanced at the thick manuscript.
Even accounting for bamboo scrolls being bulky, the text easily exceeded ten thousand words.
Even if Nanao worked slowly, she would return within ten minutes.
"Relax," the old man said calmly.
"If you truly mastered the Kidō in that book, then learning Zanharen is a trivial matter."
"And when I say mastered…"
"I'm not referring to high-level Kidō."
"If you fully understand Hadō below number sixty, I guarantee you'll be able to cast Zanharen immediately after reading it once."
"I…"
"I know you're not skilled with swordsmanship."
The old man interrupted him.
"And neither am I."
"No one in the Ise family is."
"But who said you must hold a sword to use Hadō #78?"
Haruto fell silent.
"Otherwise," the old man continued,
"how do Shinigami whose Zanpakutō change form after release still use this technique?"
"A high-level Kidō only receives a number if it can be widely applied."
"You mean…"
"It seems you've understood."
The old man did not elaborate further.
But Haruto already grasped the truth.
A Zanpakutō was merely a fragment of a Shinigami's soul.
Whether striking with a blade or releasing Kidō through it followed the same principle.
Everyone knew this fact.
Yet very few Shinigami could truly apply it in battle.
"…I understand."
Haruto felt as though a veil had suddenly lifted from his mind.
Zanharen did not necessarily require a Zanpakutō.
And releasing a Zanpakutō did not necessarily begin with the sword itself.
The key—
Was the soul.