(T/N: Hello!! So, I'm now gonna release 3 chapter, and either later release the other 3 to make up for yesterday, or tomorrow there will be 6 chapter!)
"It's all because of you!" Vice-Dean Tsunayashiro couldn't help venting. He had to get it off his chest. "Anyone who looks into your past would know the mess you left behind!"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's expression turned icy, his twisted thoughts growing ever more intense.
But now wasn't the time to reveal them. Tokinada asked coldly, "What do we do next? Katori Nanatsuki came here personally and said all that. If I keep approaching Kakyō, I'd better be ready to make an enemy of him."
"Let's delay this matter for now," the vice-dean replied after calming down, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes. "Talents like Kakyō are bound to graduate early... does he really think he can offend the Tsunayashiro Clan and walk away unscathed? Does he think he's Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto?"
Vice-Dean Tsunayashiro had already made up his mind.
If they couldn't have her—then they'd destroy her.
Kakyō's homeroom teacher wasn't Katori Nanatsuki, and graduation assessment tasks weren't his to oversee.
They just needed to make a few adjustments. The consequences would be more than a still-maturing Shinigami like Kakyō could bear.
A few weeks later, at the Katori-ryu Dojo.
In the courtyard, Katori Nanatsuki was training Kakyō.
After spending some time with her, Nanatsuki had discovered that her talent in swordsmanship was poor, but her aptitude for Kidō was exceptional.
And she had grown up in Rukongai—she hadn't even encountered Kidō before entering the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy.
Yet now she could already cast Hadō in the 30s range using chant abandonment.
This reminded Nanatsuki of the two original Kidō spells passed to him by Nobutsuna Shigyō: one was the Bakudō Tidal Moonrise, and the other was the Hadō Falling Star, Sinking Moon.
Tidal Moonrise could bind enemies and absorb their Reiatsu.
Falling Star, Sinking Moon, in turn, used that absorbed Reiatsu to unleash a powerful destructive spell.
With Nobutsuna Shigyō gone and no successor left behind, Nanatsuki had the intention of passing these down—and Kakyō was the perfect candidate.
"Kakyō, your talent in Kidō is excellent. I recommend focusing your specialization there."
Nanatsuki retrieved a bamboo scroll inscribed with Tidal Moonrise and Falling Star, Sinking Moon, and continued:
"These were passed to me by Captain Nobutsuna Shigyō. They record his two original Kidō spells. Train well—you might even be able to join the Kidō Corps after graduation."
The Kidō Corps differed from the standard Gotei 13. Its members specialized in Kidō and handled tasks like opening gates, erecting barriers, and sealing threats.
"I'll train hard!" Kakyō accepted the scroll with joy. She had already realized her strength in Kidō, and joining the Kidō Corps was high on her list.
"But don't neglect the basics either. Your Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Shunpo shouldn't have obvious shortcomings. The Flagfish Suburi Training Method can help improve your Reiatsu control—don't slack on it," Nanatsuki reminded.
"Yes, Sensei!" Kakyō nodded enthusiastically.
[Current Training Quest Added: Guide Kakyō in Advanced Reiatsu Control Training (In Progress)]
[Current Training Quest Added: Guide Kakyō in Kidō Mastery of "Tidal Moonrise" and "Falling Star, Sinking Moon" (In Progress)]
"Kakyō, the other day I noticed Amamimon Tomoya seemed mentally disturbed. Was that your Zanpakutō's doing?" Nanatsuki was curious—he had never seen a Zanpakutō that could affect the mind like this.
"My Enma can wear down a target's spirit and consciousness, but its effects vary depending on the opponent. Amamimon Tomoya's will and Reiatsu were too weak to resist Enma's influence. Let me demonstrate for you, Sensei."
Kakyō drew her Zanpakutō.
"Pass judgment, Enma."
The blade in her hand transformed into an ancient-looking mirror.
Inside the mirror sat a woman with horns sprouting from her head, seated in judgment.
"So this is Enma, huh… try it on me," Nanatsuki said, interested in observing it firsthand.
Kakyō didn't hesitate—her teacher's Reiatsu far exceeded hers, and she knew Enma wouldn't have much effect on him.
Before long, the woman in the mirror unfurled a scroll atop her desk.
The mirror then reflected Katori Nanatsuki's image.
Next, a stream of black mist surged out from the mirror and rushed toward him.
"This black mist is called Breath of Yomi. It manifests what's most pressing in your heart to erode your mind—often appearing as unbeatable enemies or sources of deep fear," Kakyō explained.
Nanatsuki watched as the mist morphed into a flood of shirtless Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamotos charging toward him.
He had to admit—the sight was deeply unpleasant.
But given the vast gap in strength between him and Kakyō, the mist only made him uncomfortable. It posed no real threat.
"It's quite limited…" Nanatsuki frowned. "You should keep Kidō as your main focus."
Enma could only truly affect enemies with weak wills or low Reiatsu.
"I understand. The only reason it worked on Amamimon Tomoya was because of his fragile mind," Kakyō nodded.
Just then, Nanatsuki noticed a reaction from the Sound of Hell stored in his pouch.
It had reacted upon contact with the black mist.
"It's like how it activates when exposed to Hell Reiatsu!" Nanatsuki observed.
"You called this mist Breath of Yomi?" he asked, recalling the term.
That mist… it seemed to contain traces of Hell Reiatsu—something he hadn't expected.
"Yes. That's what Enma told me. I heard that Yomi is something from Hell," Kakyō replied.
"Your Enma is linked to Hell?" Nanatsuki asked with a frown.
"Not exactly... but after I unlocked Shikai, a spring of Yomi water appeared in my Inner World," she explained.
Nanatsuki's expression darkened. Yomi Spring Water was known to be from Hell—and it might have unforeseen consequences.
"Contact with Hell-related entities can have side effects. Be cautious. Don't use it recklessly until we understand the risks," Nanatsuki warned sternly.
"I will, Sensei..." Kakyō nodded solemnly, clearly taking his concern seriously.
After returning to his room, Nanatsuki noticed the Sound of Hell still hadn't gone silent.
From the conch shell, a voice echoed out:
"Undying…"
Nanatsuki recognized it immediately. It belonged to the grandmother of Saitō Furaofushi, with whom he'd previously spoken.
"Granny Saitō?" he asked tentatively.
The voice replied,
"Oh, I thought it was the undying one contacting me again… So it's you, Katori Nanatsuki?"
"I'm afraid Miss Saitō is still in Muken. I only activated the Sound of Hell by accident. I didn't expect to connect with you."
"That's fine too, Nanatsuki-kun. I was just about to ask you for a favor..."