— — — — — —
Ryo took several slow breaths, forcing down the churn in his chest.
Whatever was going on between the Father and the Son, the only thing he needed to do now was pretend he hadn't learned a thing.
Information was useful, but revealing that he had it was dangerous. Unless the intel was common knowledge, he couldn't afford to let anything slip. All decisions would have to wait until he returned to Little Garden.
Once he steadied his thoughts, Ryo used his Cosmo to sterilize all three of them, then dissolved the pocket dimension around them, removed the layered constructs of the outerworld technique, and finally lifted the outermost barrier.
He'd gone through all those layers for one reason: to use Tsukishima Shukuro as a convenient tool to extract intel from Mithras.
If Mithras' true body managed to sense that Ryo had just looted his memories from across worlds, two dimensions, and a barrier… well, Ryo would just have to accept his fate.
But chances were extremely low. Almost nonexistent.
Thinking about this, Ryo narrowed his eyes, calculating the worst-case scenario while turning toward Orihime Inoue.
"Orihime, heal them."
She hadn't heard any of the conversation, just watched a strange silent play unfold, but she didn't hesitate. She stepped forward and whispered. "Shun Shun Rikka…Sōten Kisshun."
As Orihime started healing the two convenient "tools," Ginjo and Tsukishima, Ryo paused and reached into the dimensional space, pulling out a person.
A woman in a tight black kimono that left her shoulders bare, short hair clean and sharp.
Soi-Fon. The Second Division Captain, who should've been rescued by Ōmaeda Marechiyo.
But tricking Ōmaeda, Ichigo, and the others into believing she'd been whisked away was child's play for Ryo.
After about a minute, Orihime finished her healing. Ryo raised a brow.
"Already done?"
"Yes. They're fully recovered," Orihime said. She glanced at Soi-fon but didn't comment.
Ryo crouched and checked Tsukishima.
As expected—mental death. His soul had already scattered.
Ginjo was different, though. He was only asleep.
"Hm?"
Ryo's expression shifted. Just asleep?
Even though he'd held back, the mental shock he hit Ginjo with should've caused at least some soul damage.
But Ginjo's condition was spotless.
"This kind of healing… truly amazing."
Ryo's tone carried genuine admiration.
"This is power that infringes on the domain of gods. Authority, maybe? Although her 'Rejection'… that's basically a kind of Authority too."
He wasn't an expert on Gifts, so he couldn't classify it properly. But in his heart, Orihime's value rose another notch.
For him, now she was a real treasure.
This girl actually had the potential to reach the four-digit tier as a healer?
Not just any four-digit healer either. One of the rare ones. The kind who could patch up damaged spiritual foundations.
Two hundred years ago, even Arcadia hadn't been able to produce someone like that.
Could Orihime really become an actual prodigy?
Thinking about it, Ryo couldn't help giving her more attention.
He looked at her nervous but determined face and smiled. "Relax. I'm not gonna eat you."
"Huh?" Orihime blinked rapidly and waved her hands. "No, no, I wasn't worried about that."
She looked down at Tsukishima and said, confused. "It's just… this person feels different from the others I've healed."
She noticed the soul death. Ryo raised a brow, then smiled.
"His ability is to sneak into other people's memories, rewrite them, and insert himself as a family member or lover… then use that closeness to launch a surprise attack."
"And he just tried to use that trick on me, so he got hit with backlash. The 'strange feeling' you sensed is probably that."
He didn't mention that Tsukishima's brain was already dead. No need to poke Orihime's kindness or complicate recruiting her.
Compared to the value of Orihime, a potential four-digit healer, one little lie meant nothing. He'd gladly tell ten thousand more if needed.
"How awful…" Orihime covered her mouth, horrified. "Why would anyone have such a terrible ability?"
'Who knows… There is even a time-stop in a world,' Ryo grumbled inwardly, then sighed aloud.
"I didn't expect it either. But from what I know, these two were planning to use that trick on Ichigo Kurosaki."
That part was absolutely true.
Ichigo was the ultimate hybrid—human, Quincy, Shinigami, Hollow.
Quincy from his mother's pure bloodline, Shinigami from the prestigious Shiba clan, Hollow from Aizen's experiments infused with the Soul King's power and a fragment from Tosen's soul.
In short, Ichigo was the highest-grade hybrid in this world. Four different lineages, all exceptional.
His potential was monstrous.
Ginjo and Tsukishima had chosen their target well. If they'd actually managed to steal Ichigo, they really might've been able to challenge Soul Society.
"How could this be…"
Orihime had never imagined someone would use such a vile ability on her classmate.
This was even more disgusting than that scammer, Kisuke Urahara.
Not knowing what was going through her head, Ryo continued gently. "Don't worry. These two won't be bothering anyone again. We can leave safely now."
He said it like he'd acted purely out of concern for Orihime's friends.
Which touched her deeply.
'I'm basically becoming an emotional con artist,' Ryo complained to himself. He decided he shouldn't keep this up too long.
The more lies you tell, the harder they are to maintain. And he had no interest in doing maintenance work.
With that thought, Ryo turned, opened a Garganta, then paused and looked back at Orihime.
"Earlier, with Ichigo and the others around, I couldn't ask you directly. But now that it's just us…"
Ryo met her eyes, expression serious. "Orihime, are you sure you want to join us?"
.
.
.