Chapter 22: Do You Believe You Can Be Reincarnated into the Ninja World?
As the sun set, Yuyu returned to the dormitory after another satisfying day spent exploring the commercial district. As had become her habit, she immediately began sharing the snacks she had just bought with her companions.
Although her expenses had increased compared to before, the joy she gained was many times greater.
"Sōma! Ichigo! Rindō! I'm back! Come see what I bought... Huh?"
She knocked on the door of Room 001.
Yuyu's gaze traveled past Rindō, who had opened the door, into the room, and her cheerful expression froze.
Because Sōma was busy tinkering with an assortment of bottles and jars, while Ichigo stood nearby, looking conflicted as he held his Zanpakutō against his own hand, as if contemplating self-harm.
"What in the world are you all doing?"
Without realizing it, she slipped into the Kansai dialect she'd picked up from someone else.
"Nothing much. Just planning to earn some extra money, but we've hit a minor snag with the product we're selling. It's nothing serious though, we'll solve it soon... So, Kurosaki, why are you still hesitating? Hurry up and do it. My potion and energy are both limited."
Faced with Sōma's urging, Ichigo felt the strong urge to swing his Zangetsu at him.
"You were the one who came up with this plan, so why am I the test subject?!"
"Because I'm also the one solving the problem."
"...You'd better actually be able to solve it."
"Of course. Although I'm not a scientist, I have confidence in myself."
To be precise, he had confidence in the Compound Potion.
Sōma's business plan had encountered a small problem.
The issue mainly lay with the hot spring water.
Kirinji Tenjirō's Kaidō skills lived up to his reputation as the strongest in the Soul Society. The hot springs he had created who-knows-how-many years ago were truly miraculous, but this miraculous effect could only be experienced by immersing oneself in them.
Once removed from the pool, the efficacy of the hot spring water plummeted.
When poured over a wound, it could only stop the bleeding.
According to Sōma's speculation, the hot spring water was like formaldehyde; it needed to be combined with other equipment or medicines to maximize its effect.
And he happened to have the Compound Potion gifted by the Machine Soul.
Previously, he had always activated it directly, causing the potion to be instantly absorbed by his body. This time, he tried extracting the potion alone and succeeded easily.
A single extraction yielded one hundred milliliters.
That made two hundred milliliters per day.
Sōma mixed the materialized potion into the hot spring water. Sure enough, the two underwent some kind of wondrous chemical reaction, producing effects comparable to soaking in the hot spring itself.
From this point on, things became much simpler.
It was just a matter of finding the right ratio.
To minimize the proportion of potion used while still ensuring its effectiveness wasn't too poor.
After all, the daily production of the potion was limited.
Unlike the hot spring water, which was practically inexhaustible.
On the other hand, running back and forth was quite troublesome. Although Sōma didn't care about exhausting Ichigo's stamina, he still hoped to stockpile a larger quantity at once to save time and effort.
Earning extra money was one thing, but it absolutely must not interfere with their daily training.
That was the bottom line.
After listening for a while, Yuyu also understood the situation. She watched curiously as Ichigo poured the mixture from a teacup onto a wound on the back of his hand.
After more than half an hour, the wound healed.
"It worked!"
"No, it failed."
Sōma shook his head.
"The effect is too weak."
"Huh?"
Yuyu wanted to say ordinary wound medicine wasn't this effective, but seeing Ichigo and Rindō wearing equally convinced expressions, she couldn't help feeling stunned.
"At the current production rate, we can make thirty 100ml portions daily at most. If we want enhanced effects with visible wound healing, we'd struggle to produce even ten portions."
Sōma fell into deep contemplation as he spoke.
Though taking the luxury goods route wasn't entirely impossible...
"By the way, can this be consumed orally?"
Yuyu suddenly asked.
"Not sure. How about..."
Sōma's gaze shifted toward Ichigo.
The latter darkened his face and sternly refused: "Don't even think about it! I'd rather die than drink that!"
...
...
Five minutes later.
Ichigo clutched his stomach as he dashed toward the restroom.
"Never thought it would cause diarrhea."
Sōma watched the scene with thoughtful eyes.
Yuyu and Rindō, standing nearby, fell into silence.
If they were surprised by anything, it was how Sōma had managed to convince Ichigo to desperately gulp down the "medicine" using the line: "You wouldn't want people to keep sacrificing themselves to protect humanity where you can't see them, would you?"
"Ichigo is too kind-hearted."
Yuyu felt complicated emotions.
"Indeed."
Sōma nodded slightly, though his expression showed no trace of contempt.
"But he's no fool, and I've never treated him as one. That's why he's willing to see this through to the end."
"Well, I guess this counts as a failure then."
"No... it's a success."
Yuyu's disappointment didn't last long. Almost as soon as she finished speaking, Ichigo returned.
Seeing his figure, Sōma's lips curled slightly.
Though Ichigo wore a sour expression, he raised his hand showing only faint scars and grumbled: "I'll reluctantly admit your unorthodox method worked, but I never want to go through that again."
"Indeed, no further attempts are necessary. But how does diarrhea accelerate wound healing? Does it expel necrotic Reiatsu?"
"Who knows? Though medicine with such side effects would significantly lower its market value, right?"
"True."
Sōma acknowledged Ichigo's point.
"So we won't sell it as wound medicine."
These words made Ichigo, Yuyu, and Rindō pause momentarily.
...
Marechiyo, who had just returned from patrol in Rukongai, felt uncomfortable all over.
"Honestly, that captain just arbitrarily assigns all these bizarre working methods and makes me lead teams through trial implementations. So unreasonable. If you ask me, no one would ever marry..."
Spotting someone ahead unexpectedly, Marechiyo quickly shut his mouth.
Only after recognizing who it was did he relax, then assumed his Lieutenant demeanor and swaggered over.
"What are you two brats doing here? The dormitory isn't in this direction."
"Kurosaki and I came to the commercial district to sell something."
Sōma pointed at Ichigo, who wore a peculiar expression beside him.
"I see... Wait, selling something not buying? What could you possibly have to sell with your financial status? Don't get involved in anything shady! Even if Captain Aizen wouldn't mind, I, Ōmaeda, won't stand by idly!"
"Thanks for your concern. This guy's family ran a hospital when he was alive, and they had a hereditary herbal formula. Though it only has minor functions like regulating digestion, balancing gut flora, suppressing liver and stomach heat, and relieving mental anxiety, I thought it might have market potential, so I tried making some to sell."
"Hit a wall, didn't you?"
Marechiyo was clearly enjoying this.
He wouldn't normally act this way toward others, but the two kids before him were geniuses, future captain candidates. Getting to see them struggle was a rare treat.
"Yeah."
Ignoring Ichigo's barely contained expression, Sōma sighed.
"I don't know why either, but after drinking that medicine, you can't help but want to go to the bathroom, and you lose some Reiryoku because of it. Also, any injuries on your body disappear along with it."
"Such a strange laxative—it'd be weird if you didn't hit a wall."
"Wait... what did you say?"
Marechiyo keenly caught some information.
"Injuries on your body disappear?"
"Though I don't understand the principle, that's indeed the case."
Sōma raised an eyebrow.
"What? Are you interested in this laxative?"
"How could I be... It's just a laxative. My family is in the gemstone business—it doesn't suit me at all."
Marechiyo cleared his throat lightly, then abruptly changed his tone.
"But then again, we've fought side by side, and you saved my life. As a wealthy man, I can't be less grateful than commoners. So this injury medicine... no, this laxative, sell it to me."
"Lately, the Second Division's workload has been heavy, and no one's been eating properly. They might have stomach issues—this could come in handy."
"This counts as killing two birds with one stone."
"Indeed, that would be perfect."
Sōma readily agreed.
Then the two began discussing the transaction.
Marechiyo wanted to buy out the formula, but Sōma refused without hesitation.
So he slashed the price drastically.
Five thousand kan per portion, equivalent to five thousand yen.
"That's absolutely impossible. The cost of materials alone is more than that. I'll compromise—fifty thousand."
"???"
Marechiyo almost asked if he was compromising right over his head.
"Ten thousand! I'm buying in bulk and might even sell to other divisions. Your profits could be huge then."
"In that case, why don't we find more distributors and let you bid against each other?"
Sōma looked as if he'd just had an epiphany.
Marechiyo cursed inwardly for his misstep and quickly shouted, "Twenty thousand! I want exclusive distribution rights! That's the final offer, take it or leave it! Don't forget I'm from the Onmitsukidō—I have the authority to shut you down!"
"You're being a sore loser, but whatever. It's just a laxative business—no need to haggle over every detail. We'll do it your way. How do we deliver?"
"Wait for my notice. I'll send someone to Shin'ō Academy to find you. I want one hundred portions for the first batch. If the effect is good, I'll place more orders. Any problems?"
"None. Then, pleasure doing business."
Sōma and Marechiyo shook hands with smiles.
They parted ways after that.
Once they were out of Marechiyo's line of sight.
Ichigo, who had remained silent until then, let out a long sigh.
"That was close. I thought he'd see through us."
"Impossible. He's quite pleased right now."
Sōma's tone was indifferent, showing none of the earlier frustration from having his medicine rejected and then haggled down.
Ichigo nearly laughed in exasperation.
"Well, of course. We turned wound medicine into laxatives, thinking they wouldn't sell. But when marketed as laxatives, people thought they were getting a bargain and discovered new uses, so they couldn't wait to buy them."
"A hundred portions, made from hot spring water and your own concoctions, almost zero cost. In just three days, we made two million—equivalent to a Shinigami captain's monthly salary. And this is just the beginning. Once he tastes the profits, he'll keep ordering continuously. Surpassing a captain's income is inevitable."
"I never thought we'd initially achieve what you called financial freedom like this..."
Everything that happened today had truly refreshed Ichigo's worldview.
He genuinely admired Sōma's cleverness.
"Hey, Sōma..."
"Speak."
"Do you think I have a chance to become as eloquent as you?"
"..."
Sōma stopped walking, his eyes scanning Ichigo up and down.
"Do you believe you can be reincarnated into the ninja world?"
"..."