"Well done, Kūgo," the nobleman said softly, watching the young man in his Shihakushō and nodding in satisfaction.
Kūgo Ginjō raised the Asauchi in his hand, clenched his fist, and felt the power surging through his body.
"Now, will you finally tell me... just who you really are?"
"Well... I suppose it doesn't matter if I do," the nobleman said, glancing at the bloodstains on the Zanpakutō with a look of distaste before flicking them onto the ground.
Kūgo Ginjō's eyes narrowed slightly, a chill creeping into his heart.
The nobleman continued as if speaking to himself, "I come from the Tsunayashiro Clan."
"The Tsunayashiro Clan?"
"That's right. We are the rulers of Soul Society..."
Watching the two converse, Masatsuki Aozaki cast Bakudō #26: Kyokkō and approached quietly.
"The rulers of Soul Society? So the Shinigami are under your control? That means this Shinigami was your subordinate all along... meaning all of this was orchestrated by you. Why did you seek me out? Why are you helping me?"
Kūgo Ginjō fired off his questions all at once.
The rulers of Soul Society had discarded a Shinigami's life so casually.
"Whether it's one or a hundred, it's just a number," the nobleman said indifferently. "We chose you because you have value."
"Do you know what that ability you just used—the one that created a massive sword out of thin air—actually is?"
"I don't," Kūgo Ginjō admitted, shaking his head.
A few years ago, this man had suddenly appeared in his life and taught him how to use his abilities. Today, he had helped him obtain the power of a Shinigami.
His current feelings could only be described as confusion.
He had lost everything. His parents had died years ago. The priest who had taken him in had just been killed before his eyes. Even the church he lived in had been reduced to rubble.
And now, this nobleman before him—draped in arrogance—spoke of choosing him while making no effort to hide his disdain.
That superiority was infuriating.
Kūgo Ginjō had never personally met a noble, but he had long heard stories of feudal lords and daimyo.
Still, having grown up in this era, he had never truly believed in the priest's words about "equality under God."
The cross around his neck was merely a keepsake from his parents. He had never once seen God.
"That power is called Fullbring. As for its origins... you don't need to concern yourself with that," the nobleman said, sheathing his katana. He clapped his hands lightly and continued,
"Let's not waste time. I have two tasks for you."
"First, find others like you—people who can manipulate objects—and gather them."
"Second, hunt them down. Kill more Hollows."
Masatsuki Aozaki listened and nodded slightly, beginning to grasp the Tsunayashiro Clan's intentions.
If he recalled correctly, Kūgo Ginjō had the ability to steal others' Fullbrings.
The Tsunayashiro Clan had likely taken notice of this. And since Soul King fragments could exist anywhere—including within Hollows—it made sense that they would want to see if Kūgo Ginjō could extract them from the creatures.
"That's all I can tell you."
Then, as if to instill fear, the nobleman warned,
"Don't think for a second you can escape us. The Tsunayashiro Clan rules Soul Society. You killed a Shinigami to steal his power—an unforgivable crime. At our command, the entire Soul Society will—"
Before he could finish, a flash of steel sliced through the night. His head separated from his body, and warm blood, glistening like gemstones under the moonlight, splattered across Kūgo Ginjō's face.
A voice, rich and magnetic, rang out behind the nobleman.
"Sorry, but this kid's arrogance was unbearable. I couldn't listen any longer, so I sent him to meet his ancestors."
Kūgo Ginjō looked up, glancing at the slender young man standing behind the noble. Even with his hood casting a shadow, the sharp contours of his jaw hinted at an undeniably striking face.
Draped in a black cloak, he had the unmistakable air of a villain lurking in the dark.
Kūgo Ginjō started to step back, but the nobleman's lifeless eyes, still fixed on him even in death, seemed to warn him—don't even think about running.
Suppressing the fear rising in his chest, Kūgo Ginjō forced himself to ask, his voice slightly unsteady, "Who are you?"
"Hmm, good question… What should I call myself?"
Masatsuki Aozaki rubbed his chin thoughtfully, paying no attention to Kūgo Ginjō. After a brief moment, he clapped his hands as if inspiration had struck.
"I've got it. You can call me… Sephiroth. I like that name."
"Do you know what it means? In Latin, it signifies the 'outflow of divinity.' Pretty cool, right?"
"Uh… yeah, not bad."
Masatsuki Aozaki's sudden enthusiasm left Kūgo Ginjō feeling awkward.
"Hey, kid, got any money? I'm starving," Masatsuki Aozaki said, suddenly grabbing Kūgo Ginjō's hand.
Is this guy some kind of lunatic who escaped from Soul Society? Kūgo Ginjō wondered.
"Kid, I like you. You seem like a loyal guy!" Masatsuki Aozaki sprawled out lazily in his chair, devouring roasted meat and downing shōchū from a small porcelain bottle.
The tiny shop was eerily empty—not even the owner was in sight.
Not that it was surprising. In this era, if someone saw dishes floating midair and food vanishing on its own, they'd flee as far and fast as possible.
"Can Shinigami even eat human food?" Kūgo Ginjō asked.
"I'm breathing the same air as you in the World of the Living. Do I look like I'm having trouble?"
Masatsuki Aozaki rolled his eyes, beginning to suspect the young man before him wasn't the sharpest.
"The foundation of Soul Society is made up of Reishi, while the foundation of the World of the Living is Kishi," Masatsuki Aozaki explained, gesturing toward the grilled meat in front of him.
"That said, Reishi exists here too—whether in the air, in the food, or even within humans."
Kūgo Ginjō scratched his head, a little embarrassed. Now that he thought about it, his question was kind of dumb. Deciding to ask something more useful, he pressed on.
"Why did you kill that man just now?"
"Because I have a grudge against them."
"But aren't they the rulers of Soul Society? Does that make you a criminal?"
"No. Strictly speaking, I could be considered one of Soul Society's overseers too."
Masatsuki Aozaki waved a hand dismissively. "That idiot was just spewing nonsense. The Tsunayashiro Clan has influence, sure, but they don't rule Soul Society."
"At the end of the day, if you have enough strength, no authority in the world can dictate your fate."
Kūgo Ginjō fell silent for a moment, then asked the most pressing question on his mind.
"Why did you bring me here? Are you going to kill me?"
"I'm not going to kill you," Masatsuki Aozaki said with an easy, sunlit smile. "Stick with me, kid."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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