After dinner, Seiji asked Chiaki to draw for her and her mother.
Chiaki didn't expect that he would make such a request. She paused in surprise for a moment before happily agreeing.
What sort of expression would her father have if she showed Seiji's drawing to him? Chiaki found it quite amusing just imagining it.
In the study, she described her mother's appearance to Seiji Mukai. Seiji Mukai seriously memorized what she said and then started imagining the drawing.
The background was filled with beautiful cherry blossoms. Amidst the falling cherry blossoms, the daughter and mother were walking together intimately. Both of them had happy smiles on their faces as if they were chatting about something. The former was cheerful, while the latter was gentle. Anyone who saw them would feel a sense of warmth and familial love …
After he finished imagining the drawing, Seiji started seriously drawing while activating the [Mother and Daughter Drawing] spell!
Chiaki quietly watched his drawing from the side and suddenly realized that this was proof of her mother's existence.
If there was no evidence that existed, then he would create evidence … Is that what you think, Seiji?
Chiaki wanted to ask her boyfriend about this, but then felt that there was no need to.
The answer didn't matter. What was important was what he was currently doing.
Chiaki felt a warmth in her heart as she thought about the meaning behind this.
After observing for a long while, she finally silently left.
…
Later that afternoon, Seiji was training in the Domain.
A gigantic vicious demon level snake demon appeared. Seiji immediately used [Ultimate Performance] to cast [Great Light Spell]! He assisted everyone in killing it.
Everyone assumed that Seiji Kamijou's spell was something that Seiji had comprehended and mastered.
Seiji had indeed learned [Great Light Spell] after going through a trial. However, he still needed more time to learn it. This time, he basically cast [Ultimate Performance] ahead of time, so he had a general idea of how powerful [Ultimate Performance] was.
As for [Role Playing], he had taken some time in the morning to test it out. He discovered that the larger the difference between his appearance and his original appearance, the greater the Mana and mental energy consumption.
The feeling of transforming was very wonderful. It was as if he had really changed his body, and he couldn't tell that it was fake when he looked in the mirror. It was really amazing. His appearance after the transformation would also affect his attributes, such as "Charm". If he became ugly, it would probably decrease a lot, which was equivalent to a temporary debuff.
He had thought about turning into a girl, but he gave up in the end. He felt that if he really did that, he would lose something important.
System: "You've already worn women's clothing, so why are you still being so pretentious? Bravely open a new world, young man!"
Seiji: I refuse!
After the strategy was over, the team members went to the hall to rest.
"Let's have a banquet," Seiji said to his companions.
Before the battle during the trial, "Divine Seiji" said that he would hold a banquet after the trial. He wanted to fulfill his promise in reality.
This was a celebration party for the resolution of Chiaki's matter, as well as a rally for the troops before the great war.
Everyone agreed to hold it.
"Since the promise of a banquet is valid, what about the payment?" Summer Night smiled as she asked.
"Of course it's valid as well … but I also said at the time that accompanying you wouldn't count as payment. Let's change it to something else."
"But that's what I want."
"Me too," Mika immediately added.
This time, Feng Wu didn't come. Otherwise, she would have added as well.
"I …" Hoshi opened his mouth, but then closed it again, because he felt that the atmosphere had become rather subtle.
Genji glanced at Summer Night, and then glanced at Mika as she blinked.
As a girl, she was more sensitive to the change in the atmosphere than Hoshi. It was as if something invisible was faintly tensing up … could it be that they were currently in a shuraba?
No … that didn't seem to be the case. It wasn't to such a degree … right?
"Alright then." Since Summer Night and Mika insisted, Seiji agreed. "I do want to use something tangible as payment, but if that's what you want, then so be it."
He could sense that Summer Night and Mika were both feeling rather emotional.
It wasn't that they weren't willing to help Chiaki out this time. They just hoped that he could spend more time with them after everything was over.
It wasn't that Seiji didn't want to accompany them. He just didn't want to use the method of "payment". But since they insisted, he could only comply.
Such subtle things would definitely happen again in the future. He would have to be careful and even be prepared to load depending on the situation … who told him to be a scumbag who started a harem?
Summer Night happily sipped her tea after seeing that her boyfriend had complied.
Mika also sipped her tea. The pigtailed girl and President Grand Mistress miraculously synchronized their actions.
What just happened?
Kazuko and Kaori were both confused as they sensed the subtle atmosphere but didn't know what was going on.
They didn't know that Seiji had started a harem, so they didn't notice the undercurrents beneath the calm surface. They could only sense the atmosphere.
If Seiji wanted to touch that incorporeal and tense thing, he could ask for the same payment. But he seemed to sense a faint aura of danger … Kazuko adjusted her eyeglasses.
That seemed rather interesting. Should he try something suicidal?
No … forget it. It would be better not to provoke President Grand Mistress.
"Although I do want the same payment, let's keep it for now until I have something I want," Kazuko said as she followed Kazuko's instructions.
Seiji looked at her and nodded.
"What about you two?" He then looked at Genji and Kaori.
"I don't want anything. I don't need any payment," Genji told him.
"Same for me." Kaori agreed.
"I'll keep it for now as if you two are doing the same." Seiji smiled. "Just like Kazuko, let me know if you want anything."
He then asked everyone for their opinions on the banquet's time and location.
…
Later that night, it started raining again. It wasn't too cold, but there was a lingering chill in the air.
Seiji went out in the rain and got into Yui's car.
Just like last time, she reported Kamitani's incident. She told him about the top-secret information she received from Soul Society.
The gist of this information was that Soul Society was unable to determine the specific location of the Realm of Cherry Blossoms' Spirit One. Nor could they evacuate the entire city, because it was highly likely that Spirit One would go out of control.
After careful consideration, Soul Society decided to activate the Realm of Cherry Blossoms' Spirit One! At the cost of sacrificing a small number of citizens, Soul Society forcefully guided the Realm of Cherry Blossoms' Spirit One to a specific location.
And, this "small number" was relative to the entire city's population. The estimated number of deaths would be more than three thousand!
This basically meant that Soul Society intended to sacrifice at least three thousand lives in order to locate the Realm of Cherry Blossoms' Spirit One!
"Is this true?" Seiji asked Yui in a serious tone after he finished speaking.
Yui responded with silence.
This meant that it was true. Seiji also fell silent.
Itsuki Kamitani's words, as well as his previous words, about "peace", that "interesting" story, and that final question … all echoed in his mind.
"Is there really no other method?" After a period of silence, Seiji spoke up again. "A method that won't kill anyone."
"There is, but it's not being used," Yui stated lightly.
Her expression and tone didn't show any emotion at all.
Yet, at a time like this, not showing any emotion was still an emotion.
"Why's that?"
"Because the losses are too great."
"What losses? What kind of loss could possibly compare to so many lives!? "
Seiji knew that he was being "unreasonable" the moment he said this.
Human lives were priceless. Everyone could say this.
Human lives had a price. This was the truth of the world.
When sacrificing some people could avoid even greater losses or obtain even greater benefits, "Order" would operate in such a manner. This had always been the case since ancient times.
Soul Society was "Order". It only needed to operate in accordance with this principle, just like an ice-cold machine.
As long as the benefits exceeded the losses, then no matter how many people were sacrificed, it would be "appropriate" … that was all.
That was all.
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