novelblue
Chapter 173
Chapter 173
Chapter 173
Long chapter again!
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Two sharp knocks rang out in the quiet of the night.
Tap tap tap!
Tap tap tap!
The urgent, deathly sound of knocking startled Urahara Kisuke awake.
He lay in bed, body motionless, yet his hand had silently gripped his Zanpakut?.
Then he glanced at the clock on the cabinet.
Past three in the morning…
At this hour, if there were an emergency mission, the Onmitsukid? would have delivered it directly.
They wouldn’t just knock on the door.
He tried sensing the spiritual pressure outside.
There was nothing.
Had whoever it was left?
Just as he was thinking that, the knocking came again—
Tap tap tap!!
Urahara Kisuke’s scalp prickled.
This was too much like a haunting!
He rose cautiously, hand on his Zanpakut?, ready to activate the Blood Mist Shield at any moment.
Then he crept toward the window, pressing close to it, and peeked toward the door.
In the pitch-black night, a face full of smiles was right at the window, staring back at him.
“Yeegh!!”
Urahara Kisuke’s hair stood on end, and he jerked backward several steps.
Just as he reflexively prepared to release his Zanpakut?, he suddenly realized that face looked familiar.
Smack!
Urahara slid open the door, furious.
“Mr. Kaelith, you must be so bored that you’d come frighten me in the middle of the night for amusement?!”
Kaelith blinked in mild surprise.
“Mr? Really? anyhow how could that be… I felt bad disturbing you so late, so I tried smiling to lessen your anger. How could you think such a thing of me?”
Urahara Kisuke sneered inwardly.
If you hadn’t predicted I’d check the window and squatted there to startle me, I might’ve believed you.
Seeing Urahara was unconvinced, Kaelith coughed loudly.
“Ahem, Kisuke, I have not slept, and you have not slept. Such a coincidence.”
“Look, I brought some snacks and wine. Care to have a midnight snack together?”
Hearing his claim that Urahara had also not slept, the latter mentally cursed a thousand times. But in the end, it all condensed into one sentence:
“Please come in.”
If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t bother.
He had no desires or ambitions; as long as he could slack off every day, get his paycheck, and occasionally indulge in some research, he was happy. (t/N My spirit animal)
But Kaelith was different…
Offend him, and he could ruin you.
Forget anything else—just dumping months’ worth of backlogged paperwork on Urahara would be enough to break him.
Inviting Kaelith inside, the two sat facing each other.
After a few sips of wine, Kaelith spoke gently:
“Kisuke, I see your recent project is going well, so you must have some free time now.”
“How about combining work and rest? Take on a different sort of small project to refresh yourself?”
Here it came.
The big one was coming!
Urahara Kisuke mentally sounded an alarm.
He tensed, still smiling. “What does Third Seat Kaelith want?”
To appease Kaelith, he’d already prepared a new-generation game development engine.
If Kaelith’s request was too outrageous, he’d whip out this secret weapon to delight him, then change the subject.
Kaelith’s Weapon: Prototype Edition!
Under his watchful gaze, Kaelith said:
“I want to build a base in Hueco Mundo.”
“This base must be of a certain size, easy to hide, sturdy and durable, block spiritual pressure…
Most importantly, it must be constructed quickly—preferably completed within one day from start to finish!”
Urahara Kisuke: “?”
His expression twisted from calm to contorted.
If it weren’t Kaelith asking, he would have cursed long ago.
Just listen to that request!
He would have immediately surrendered and said it couldn’t be done.
But before he could speak, Kaelith’s calm voice interrupted:
“Kisuke, I must complete this project.”
“No matter what resources, what power, what help you need, I will do my best to provide it.”
“This is my life… well, half my life… at least? No! It’s my biggest request this year!”
Urahara Kisuke: “…”
Without that last sentence, it might have been quite impactful.
He scratched his head, grimacing. “Third Seat Kaelith, your request is too outrageous. Even if I team up with Aizen and Mayuri, it’d be almost impossible.”
“The earlier requirements might be managed, but that final one—built in a single day—requires large numbers of autonomous devices. I don’t have that many materials, and I’m missing key technologies.”
Kaelith didn’t hesitate: “Write it all down. I’ll try to find them.”
Seeing Kaelith’s determined attitude, Urahara sighed and got to work.
Though he always complained, he was genuinely grateful to Kaelith.
Ever since Kaelith joined the Second Division, Urahara’s life had improved immensely.
Especially after the Kaelith Technology Bureau was established, life was like heaven.
He’d originally become a Shinigami just for a stable job, to earn some money and to invest in his hobbies.
Now, thanks to Kaelith, even if he stopped being a Shinigami, he’d still be living well, doing what he loved.
To repay this guy, working overtime a bit was no big deal.
…
Carrying the list Urahara wrote, Kaelith returned to the Second Division barracks.
On the way, he held an oil lamp in one hand and the list in the other, studying it repeatedly.
He recognized only a few items… Tomorrow, he’d sort them out, try asking Yoruichi, or old man Ginrei for help.
With that in mind, he put the list away and headed to his dorm to sleep.
But as he reached the officers’ dorm area, he suddenly stopped.
His soul domain warned him that two people were standing outside his room.
Sensing their spiritual pressure, he found almost nothing.
To achieve that, either they wore spiritual pressure-blocking cloaks like he did sometimes, or they had a secret technique to conceal themselves.
Either way, they weren’t ordinary people.
No doubt they were waiting specifically for him.
Could it be remnants of Tsunayashiro?
Curious, Kaelith moved forward.
His shadow slipped away, merging with the night, approaching the two from another angle.
Before he got too close, the two seemed to sense something.
Under Kaelith’s watchful gaze, they stepped out of the darkness on their own.
They wore black kimonos and white noble haori over them.
Kaelith raised an eyebrow.
They didn’t wear spiritual pressure-blocking cloaks, meaning their ability to hide spiritual pressure was their own skill.
When did nobles start producing such talent?
After approaching him, the two raised their hands in a respectful greeting.
One spoke:
“Pleased to meet you, Third Seat Kaelith.”
The other followed:
“Forgive us for this late-night intrusion.”
“We are emissaries sent by the Sarunomiya family. My name is Sarunomiya K?sei.” (t/N see notes)
“My name is Sarunomiya Jin.”
“On behalf of the Sarunomiya family, we have come to ask for your help.”
Hearing that name, Kaelith pondered for two seconds.
Then he showed a somewhat enlightened yet surprised expression.
The Sarunomiya family… he knew of them.
The last of the Five Great Noble Clans, who never participated in political affairs.
They never got involved in noble power struggles or changes in the Gotei 13.
Even when Tsunayashiro and Kuchiki fought fiercely, nearly destroying one side, Sarunomiya showed no reaction.
They were so low-key that they didn’t even hold a seat in the Central 46.
Their only known activity was silently watching Hell.
Any matter involving Hell and Hell’s Gate was within their scope of attention.
That was what Yamamoto had told him before when he asked about this family.
Such a family had come to ask for his help?
He asked, puzzled, “Help with what?”
Sarunomiya K?sei bowed: “Please lend us your spiritual pressure to help suppress the Gates of Hell.”
“?”
Kaelith was full of question marks.
He understood every word, but strung together, he had no idea what they meant.
The two weren’t surprised by his reaction.
“Mr. Kaelith, may we speak in private?”
“Fine, but I must search you first.”
The two exchanged glances, then raised their arms, allowing Kaelith to check them thoroughly.
Confirming they carried no dangerous Hueco Mundo devices or such, Kaelith nodded and led them into his room.
After brewing some tea, he sipped slowly while listening to them.
“Mr. Kaelith, you should be aware of the Gates of Hell.”
“Souls who committed great sins in life, too severe to be cleansed by a Zanpakut?, are dragged away by the Gates of Hell. This is the purpose of Hell’s existence.”
“As a repository of evil, Hell accumulates more and more sin over time.”
“Some of these monstrous evils might try to break through Hell’s Gate and return to the three worlds.”
“The Sarunomiya family’s mission is to prevent that.”
“Whenever a powerful individual appears who can help suppress Hell, we approach them for assistance.”
“Mr. Kaelith, we sincerely invite you to share a small portion of your spiritual pressure to bolster the strength sealing Hell’s Gate.”
Both bowed again.
Kaelith, curious, asked:
“Who in the Seireitei is participating in this now?”
Sarunomiya K?sei listed:
“Yamamoto Shigekuni, Unohana Retsu, Hirako Shinji, Kuchiki Ginrei, Ky?raku Shunsui, Hikifune Kirio, Ukitake J?shir?…”
Sarunomiya Jin added: “Muguruma Kensei and Love Aikawa probably haven’t been approached yet, since they are newer captains.”
They continued: “There was once Mizukage S?ya, a mainstay in sealing Hell’s Gate, but after he was imprisoned in Muken, we can hardly borrow his strength.”
K?sei nodded: “Right, and Kuchiki K?ga… He also provided spiritual pressure before, but recently, the reishi from him is extremely thin, like Mizukage in Muken. We don’t know what happened to him.”
Kaelith’s pupils contracted slightly.
Surprised, he asked: “Kuchiki K?ga? He’s alive? Where is he?”
K?sei showed an apologetic look:
“Sorry, we cannot know. The contract with Hell’s Gate only shows how much spiritual pressure we obtain from each signer, not their situation or location.”
Kaelith’s face remained neutral.
But inside, he felt like he’d stepped on a cat’s tail.
These nobles had too many inexplicable tricks.
Sarunomiya K?sei pondered: “Within the Seireitei, that’s mainly who we have.”
Seireitei itself…
Kaelith caught a strange note in their wording, filing it away mentally.
After scanning the names again, Kaelith shook his head:
“I’m just a Third Seat. I doubt I have the strength you need.”
The names they gave were all top-tier captains. Even Kensei wasn’t included, probably because he hadn’t proven himself enough. (t/n: Why is my boy always catching strays?)
If their standard was so high, how could they consider him?
Sarunomiya Jin said: “Please rest assured, Mr. Kaelith. Our standard is determined by a divine artifact.
If the artifact believes you have the necessary strength, then you certainly can.”
So it’s not subjective, but judged by some device…
Sarunomiya K?sei added: “Mr. Kaelith, offering your spiritual pressure won’t greatly affect your abilities.
If Hell’s Gate is stable, it won’t draw on your reishi at all.
Even if something does happen, the contract will prioritize stronger spiritual pressures first, like Yamamoto’s.”
Kaelith asked calmly: “If the disturbance at Hell’s Gate is unprecedentedly severe, could the signers be drained dry?”
K?sei shook his head: “No. According to our family’s records, if Hell’s Gate reaches an uncontrollable state, it’ll break all contracts under Hell’s power.
Historically, Hell’s Gate opened twice. Both times due to the sudden death of a great power loosening the seal.
According to records, it never harmed the other contractors.”
Kaelith nodded noncommittally.
You talk, I listen.
As for truth or not, Aizen can analyze later.
Seeing Kaelith uninterested, Sarunomiya Jin spoke:
“Mr. Kaelith, the Sarunomiya family can provide any reward within our power to those who help seal Hell’s Gate.
Wealth, weapons, secret techniques…”
Kaelith asked, intrigued: “Can you help me kill Tsunayashiro Senzo who fled to Hueco Mundo?”
Jin gently shook his head: “Sorry, we never involve ourselves in such conflicts.
This rule has been upheld for a million years.”
Kaelith nodded slightly.
Then he thought of something.
“I’ll list a few items. See if you can get them for me.”
He took pen and paper, writing down several of the most difficult materials Urahara needed, picking out a few obscure ones to avoid revealing the project’s nature…
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