"Money isn't an issue."
Hearing Kisaragi Akira's words, Kuchiki Sōjun finally let out a breath of relief.
For a moment, he had genuinely feared Akira might demand something outrageous—like requesting noble privileges, insisting on entry into the upper echelons of the Seireitei, or even asking for a seat in the Gotei Thirteen.
But in the end… he only wanted money?
Watching the wealthy and utterly carefree Kuchiki heir waving money around like it meant nothing, Kisaragi Akira could almost hear him saying: "Sorry, but being rich really does mean I can do whatever I want."
For such a shamelessly privileged rich boy…it was absolutely necessary to make him pay. Hard.
"One thousand—no, wait. One hundred thousand rin."
Akira opened like a lion demanding tribute, multiplying the original price by a hundred in one breath.
"Sure."
Sōjun agreed immediately. "But you have to guarantee the protective charms are exactly the same as the one before."
"And I expect after-sales support, too."
Akira blinked.That fast?
For a split second, he wondered if maybe—just maybe—he had still gone too cheap.
But after a moment's internal struggle, he chose not to backtrack.He had finally met a walking goldmine. Letting him slip away now would be the real loss.
"No problem!"Akira thumped his chest confidently. "For after-sales service, just come find me, or go to the local shrine in Reiryū District 76, Yokotsu Ward."
"As for the charms… I only have ten left in stock. How many would you like, Sōjun-sama? All ten?"
Sōjun narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling a strange suspicion. Just now, he could've sworn this kid was about to say something extremely rude.
"…I'll take them all," Sōjun decided after a pause. "I'll have the payment delivered by my steward this afternoon."
Akira nodded and, without hesitation, hopped onto the bed.
Before Sōjun or Aizen Sōsuke could even react, Akira began fishing around the room—pulling talismans from beneath the mattress, the corner of the bedsheet, inside his shoes, under the pillow, and even from Aizen's bed.
Aizen stared at his half-dismantled bed, the corner of his eye twitching violently.For one terrifying moment, he felt the urge to draw his zanpakutō.
With his level of awareness—and given how much stronger he was than Akira—the idea that he hadn't noticed charms being hidden in his bed was absurd.
This kid was really…
Sōjun accepted the ten wrinkled-from-storage protective charms.But when he recalled where Akira usually hid things, he suddenly wondered if he should just cancel the purchase entirely.
"Wait—one more question."
Akira raised his right hand and pointed a finger skyward."How exactly was the previous charm activated?"
Sōjun froze, thought for a moment, and then smiled.
"It's not really a secret."
"You already know I'm the heir of the Kuchiki family."
Akira nodded, curiosity intensifying.
"The Soul Society isn't as peaceful as it appears on the surface. In the unseen corners, countless conflicts break out—unending battles, uncountable deaths."
Sōjun's expression hardened."To seize more influence, both noble factions and rebel factions don't care about casualties. They wage war without restraint."
"Besides the Gotei's shinigami, there are many powerful individuals without formal affiliation. Their loyalty lies with these hidden factions who operate in the shadows."
"To grow stronger quickly—and lessen Father's burdens—I entered one of the rebel war zones not long ago."
"During the battle, I was ambushed. The enemy nearly pierced my heart with one strike."
"That's when the charm activated."
"Its sigil appeared at the center of the battlefield, releasing a thick fog… killing thirty-seven rebel shinigami instantly. One of them was even a high-ranking officer."
Akira rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
No one understood the actual limits of the charm better than he did.
Protecting the wearer from sickness or minor misfortune—sure, the charm could manage that.But killing thirty-seven shinigami?Including a seated officer?
That was impossible.
Unless…
"Can you describe the appearance of the corpses?" Akira suddenly asked.
Sōjun blinked, then frowned as he recalled."Scar on his face, medium build—"
"No, no, no, not what they looked like alive."Akira cut him off."I mean what they looked like after death."
"After… death?" Sōjun paused. "They were mummified. As if something drained their blood and spiritual pressure completely."
Hearing this, Akira finally understood everything.
The charm itself didn't have that kind of power.
But the One-Eyed Great Deity certainly did.
When it manifested on the battlefield, the bloodshed and violence created a perfect sacrificial stage.The dead became offerings, surrendering everything to Mimihagihime.
"Wow…"Akira shook his head in amazement."What an unexpected path this has taken…"
"Is there an issue?" Sōjun asked, confused.
"No. Not at all!" Akira said firmly."In fact, I don't think there's a single person more suited for these ten charms than you."
"But I should warn you: charms activated in different environments may produce very different effects."
"So be careful, young master!"
Still confused, Sōjun eventually left.
Even under his repeated questioning, Akira did not reveal the true meaning behind his warning. He only urged him to keep one charm for Akira himself.
"See that, Sōsuke? I really am a business genius!"
After sending away his walking fortune, Akira snapped his fingers smugly."Let's go—target: Shinō Academy Cafeteria! Today, I'm treating!"
Aizen could only sigh helplessly.Some people simply couldn't hide their moods—joy, anger, sorrow, all displayed openly.
But people like that…might actually make good friends.
…
After breakfast, the two headed to class together.
First period was once again a Healing Arts lecture.
After a night to calm down, Instructor Kawai should have recovered his composure. After all, he was a capable shinigami—an upper-seat officer of the Fourth Division.
Once Akira placed the textbook on his desk, he lazily glanced around, waiting for Kawai-sensei to arrive.
Thanks to his exclusive trait, Healer's Touch, he had overwhelming talent in healing arts—but to use that talent, he still needed to learn the techniques formally.
However…
Even long after the class bell rang, there was still no sign of Kawai.
Just as Akira wondered if the teacher still hadn't recovered from yesterday's humiliation, a familiar yet unexpected figure slowly walked down the hallway outside the windows.
Akira rubbed his eyes hard.
Then, recognizing the person, he gasped—literally sucking in air—before muttering in disbelief:
"Don't tell me…"
"Has the Fourth Division's financial situation gotten that bad?"
"They're actually coming to the Academy to collect debts?!"