Hunting Conference Day ,Jingling Courtyard, Hunting Grounds.
Makoto Ito stood at the edge of the vast hunting grounds, gazing at the expansive land set aside by the noble families of the Soul Society for their leisure.
The sheer abundance of spiritual energy emanating from the so-called "wasteland" was staggering. Even though it was not as rich as the estates of the great noble houses, it far surpassed the most spiritually dense areas of Rukongai. This land, teeming with powerful spiritual essence, had been relegated to a mere hunting ground for the amusement of the aristocracy. Makoto couldn't help but sigh at the stark contrast.
A sudden disturbance caught his attention. A grand procession, meticulously coordinated and dressed in opulent attire, made its way into the venue. At the forefront, two imposing figures clad in ceremonial garments held up an ornate screen, clearing the path ahead.
Makoto was taken aback by the sheer presence of these two men. Though their spiritual pressure paled in comparison to his, it was still formidable, akin to that of seated officers. The large screens they carried bore two bold characters: Kasume Family.
"So this is the Kasume family's honor guard?" Makoto murmured to himself.
The Kasume family, the most prominent among the five great noble houses, certainly knew how to make an entrance. To have Shinigami of officer rank serving as mere ceremonial escorts spoke volumes about their influence and resources.
With each synchronized step, the hundreds of guards in the procession moved in perfect harmony, the rhythmic tremor of their march resonating through the ground. Their impeccable formation suggested countless hours of rigorous training.
Behind them, a grand sedan chair, adorned with beaded curtains, was carried by eight men. A figure sat within, obscured by an enchantment woven into the curtain's fabric. Though Makoto could not discern the person's face, the silhouette hinted at a young woman.
As the Kasume family settled into the venue, a procession of other noble families followed. Some arrived in sedan chairs, others on foot, but the majority rode in carriages—though calling them carriages was a stretch.
Instead of horses, these vehicles were drawn by Hollows, their bodies restrained by specialized spiritual bindings. These creatures, enslaved and repurposed as beasts of burden, bore the unmistakable black chain mark across their masks, a symbol of their forced servitude.
Makoto surveyed the scene and noted that while none of these Hollows were particularly powerful, they were at least of formidable size and strength.
Amidst the gathering aristocracy, Makoto spotted a familiar face—Masahiko Yano, accompanied by a young girl. Before he could approach, another voice called out to him.
"Ito , you're early!"
Makoto turned to see a short, dark blue-haired Shinigami in the standard uniform of the Gotei 13, smiling as he approached.
"Vice-Captain Yamada? Did they summon you for the conference as well?" Makoto asked.
The man chuckled and shook his head. "No, I volunteered."
The Shinigami in question was Kiyonosuke Yamada, the current Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division, and the older brother of Hanatarō Yamada. Makoto had crossed paths with him before during a mission to suppress a group of rogue Hollows, so their acquaintance was familiar, if not close.
"As the Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division, my healing abilities are second only to Captain Unohana's. Naturally, they were happy to assign me to oversee security and medical aid for the conference."
Makoto smirked. "I didn't take you for someone so interested in noble affairs. Looking to marry into an aristocratic family?"
Yamada laughed. "You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? No, my involvement is purely professional. The Tsunayashiro family—one of the five great noble houses—has been my long-time benefactor. One of their elders has a vested interest in this event, so they sent me to observe."
Makoto raised an eyebrow at that. "Wait, if this is a noble hunting conference, why don't any of the five great noble houses participate?"
At this, Yamada gave Makoto a curious look. "You don't know?"
Makoto frowned. "Should I?"
Realization dawned on Yamada. Given that Makoto had only been part of the Gotei 13 for a few years and had never attended a previous noble hunting conference, it made sense that he wouldn't be familiar with its deeper significance.
"The so-called 'Noble Hunting Conference' is, in reality, an event for those below the five great noble families. Ever since the decline of the Shiba clan, the Kasume family has sought to claim their vacant position among the elite. This conference serves as a means for them to consolidate influence by courting lesser noble houses.
"The truly powerful noble families have no reason to participate in this spectacle. The Kasume family has repeatedly petitioned the Central 46 to strip the Shiba clan of their noble status and elevate themselves in their place. However, the other four great families have consistently blocked these attempts."
Makoto took a moment to absorb this information. The grand spectacle before him wasn't just a hunting event—it was a political maneuver, a show of force orchestrated by the Kasume family to assert their dominance.
"So that's what this is about..." he muttered under his breath.
As more nobles arrived and the hunting grounds filled with chatter, Makoto couldn't help but feel that this conference was merely the beginning of a much larger power struggle.
"So, it's even more impossible for the Five Noble Clans to send people to participate in this hunting conference!" Yamada Kiyonosuke told Makoto Ito.
"I see," Makoto Ito mused. "The power struggles between these nobles run deeper than I thought." He chuckled darkly. "No wonder my Yhwach's Star Cross Knights managed to infiltrate the Soul Society so easily. Turns out this lot is too busy fighting among themselves to notice."
Just as Makoto Ito was indulging in this cynical speculation, a white-haired old man, monocle resting on his face, approached.
"Ito " the old man spoke with measured politeness, "I am Yuni, a retainer of the Kasume family. Our head wishes to extend an invitation to you."
Makoto Ito glanced ahead at the ornate sedan chair, surrounded by a formidable guard of honor. Behind the pearl curtain, a graceful silhouette stirred, and he could feel an elegant gaze resting upon him.
"Oh? Looks like you're about to marry into nobility before me, Ito. Allow me to offer my congratulations in advance!" Yamada Kiyonosuke teased from behind.
"Ito , this way, please," Yuni said with a bow, gesturing forward.
"The head of the Kasume family wants to see me?" A flicker of suspicion crossed Makoto Ito's mind. He had only come to attend this noble hunting conference because the invitation had come directly from the Kasume family, sanctioned by Central 46. And now, the head of the family was summoning him personally?
"Why is the Kasume family so fixated on me, a mere Fourth Seat from the Eleventh Division? What do they want from someone who grew up in Rukongai?"
Still, Makoto Ito dismissed his doubts with a shrug. Whatever this is, be it fortune or misfortune, I'll deal with it as it comes. With that thought, he followed Yuni toward the extravagant sedan chair.
"Ito, please step inside," a soft, ethereal voice called from within.
In a blur, Makoto Ito flickered into the carriage, pushing aside the bead curtain with one hand.
What met his eyes was a vision of beauty—an elegant woman seated before him, dressed in exquisite robes adorned with a cherry blossom motif. Her silver hair cascaded like a waterfall, her skin was pale as snow, and her light purple eyes shimmered with an almost otherworldly radiance, like clouds tinged with the hues of dawn. She exuded a serene, untouchable presence—like a goddess atop a snow-capped peak, radiating grace and nobility with every subtle movement.
For a brief moment, even Makoto Ito, who had seen countless beauties in his previous life, found himself momentarily stunned.
"Do you find me beautiful?" the woman asked, her voice as delicate and melodic as a wind chime.
Makoto Ito smirked. "You're alright."
Without hesitation, he stepped into the carriage and sat down, casually crossing one leg over the other.
Yuni's face immediately darkened. "Ito, please mind your manners!"
"It's fine," the silver-haired woman interjected softly, her tone as calm as ever.
Patreon Seasay