Chapter 172

"Although the systems are different, there are still many commonalities in the rules for application, so I think it shouldn't be difficult to master."

Haruto just wanted to openly and honestly learn the Numbered Spells.

Including the previous Reverse Release, there must be many things worth learning from the magic system of the West Branch Bureau.

"While you've learned it, why don't I just go home and take a shower?"

Lily tilted her head and poked the direction of the apartment with her thumb.

"Because our old, dilapidated apartment doesn't have a shower at all; the nearest public bathhouse is two kilometers away—"

Haruto glanced down at his watch.

"That bathhouse called 'Kusatsu Onsen Fūyūbuin' will stop accepting customers in two minutes."

"At human speed, there's no way we can catch up... Do you want to ride a dragon?"

Haruto's shrug made Lily realize that she couldn't waste any more time in silence.

"Heave-ho!"

She jumped right into Haruto's arms.

"?"

Haruto instinctively caught the heavy object that was about to fall.

"Isn't your Shunpo or something fast?"

"..."

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get going!"

"..."

"Whoosh!"

Two hours later.

"Ah!"

Lily let out a satisfied groan... accompanied by a loud, alcohol-smelling burp and a beer can that had been slammed flat onto the low table.

"..."

Haruto glanced at the messy table and the area beneath it, the table full of empty, round, and flat things almost filling half his field of vision— Lily had come all the way from London to Japan to drink German beer, Haruto had no idea what kind of quirk this was.

Fortunately.

Lily's drinking manners weren't too bad; even after drinking so much, she was just in high spirits and didn't lose her composure like Isane did.

Perhaps it's related to the type and alcohol content of the liquor?

Haruto was thinking of going to the convenience store to buy a few bottles of sake, since there were far more convenience stores than public bathhouses in Japan—he didn't have any particular motives, he just wanted to do his best to be a good host.

"Gulp, gulp!"

The can, which had just been opened, was emptied again within seconds.

The rosy complexion that had been tinged with soreness in the bathhouse returned to its original whiteness after the icy drinks went down; it complemented the loose white shirt she was wearing, the hem of which just covered her hips; and the light gray woolen lounge shorts that served as her underwear were also hidden under the shirt hem by the two shades of white.

This outfit can only be described as "Gooood~".

"You want to learn Numbered Spells?"

After drinking with Lily for so long, we finally started talking about the topic we had dropped out of earlier.

"Yes."

Haruto glanced at the small television mounted in the corner of the wall.

The screen was broadcasting news of multiple gas explosions, as well as footage of an apology press conference held by the gas company, "Hondoni, Marseille."

It's no wonder he's called the "Apologetic Immortal"; that Haruto bows at a ninety-degree angle hasn't even learned the basics of local customs after all this time.

"No problem--"

Lily readily agreed.

"But!" x2

Haruto helped Lily shout it out in a different tone.

"... Do you know what I'm going to say?"

Lily slapped her hand in dissatisfaction, her squinted whites turning into tiny, cartoonish eyes.

"You seem to be quite interested in the Kidō as well?"

"Tch, that's boring."

Having her thoughts exposed, Lily leaned back forcefully, bracing herself with her arms and exhaling a strong breath of alcohol towards the ceiling.

"Of course it can be taught; there are no rules in Seireitei from being shared."

Haruto's current mastery of the Kidō) has largely undergone his highly personalized modifications; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a newly acquired secret technique.

"Then I want to learn the technique you used to destroy the Quincy!"

No sooner had Haruto finished speaking than Lily had already climbed up the pole.

"That's not a high-level Hadō."

Haruto shook his head.

While drinking earlier, Haruto told Lily a lot of basic knowledge about Soul Reaper, and Lily also gave Haruto information about WB.

"He's so strong?"

Lily displayed extraordinary flexibility, instantly sprawling back onto the table and staring intently at Haruto...

I also knocked over a whole bunch of aluminum cans.

"That's Hadō #1: Charge."

"The regular version doesn't have this much power. It's mainly because I'm more familiar with this move, and it also incorporates the Hadō #54: Haien..."

Haruto stopped explaining as he went on.

"You can definitely learn it if you want, but you can't be this strong right away. After all, the power of Kidō is mainly related to the user."

Are you trying to say I'm weak?

Having understood Haruto's rambling explanation, Lily immediately glared and slammed her hand on the table, her upper body closing in aggressively—not all Western bloodlines are associated with being "big"... Lily used her own body to profoundly illustrate this fact.

"That's certainly true compared to me."

"..."

Thinking about the battle just now, Lily's rising momentum vanished.

"I have some really advanced magic here!"

However, she quickly rallied: Lily held the half-empty can between her thumb and forefinger, dangling it in front of Haruto like a hypnotic pendant, her words full of seduction.

"I also have Hadō numbered 90 and above."

"Leaving aside the question of whether you can even learn it... do you dare to learn even if I dare to teach you?"

"..."

Haruto's words successfully sank Lily.

High-ranking Hadō numbered 90 and above, whose corresponding Numbered Spells is only available to the Incantation Chanting Squad in WB, are forbidden techniques that can only be used when encountering specific targets (evil dragons).

Lily was transferred from the combat-oriented Magic Circle Squad to the life-skills-oriented Pipers because she used a "Reverse Release" that was restricted to certain areas.

If she disobeys orders again and learns forbidden techniques...

Revoking your license is the least of your worries; you might face hundreds of years in prison, or even the death penalty.

The death penalty was a very common form of punishment in Reverse London.

Hiding in the East Branch Bureau won't absolve her of her crimes.

"Oh well!"

Lily downed her beer in one gulp, straightened the wrinkles in her clothes, and casually tucked her vest (the identity card of the Pipers, equivalent to the team flower of the Gotei 13) into her waistband as a skirt.

"Besides the Crown Gatling you just saw."

"I still have one advanced -Numbered Spells left—by the way, forget about 'Reverse Release,' that requires sealing magic to use. It seems you Soul Reaper aren't allowed to get along with Hollows (Dragons)—how about we go practice over to the other side of the river?"

Lily pointed to the window through which the autumn wind was constantly blowing in the dead of night.

"... Didn't you just finish showering?"

Drinking alcohol after showering is one thing, since the scent of soap and shower gel versus the smell of alcohol is subjective.

But if I go out to practice a few moves after taking a shower, wouldn't all my previous trip have been for nothing?

"Why not just go after you've finished practicing?"

"They're already closed."

Bathhouses can't be open all day; they need to be cleaned after closing. So you can imagine how outrageous the water quality must be in those hot spring hotels that can be used around the clock... It's common for bacteria levels to be thousands of times higher than the standard.

"We can find a place that's open 24 hours."

"As far as I know, within a ten-kilometer radius, the only places that can operate 24 hours a day are convenience stores and love hotels."

We're all adults; it's okay to speak a little louder.

Besides, the news broadcasts on TV are covering it up, so there's no need to worry about any scandals spreading from the landlord's side.

"Can't you take a shower at the one in the back too?"

Lily's brow twitched very slightly.

"... That's quite a distance."

Haruto asked a very thoughtful question, without using a single word that showed a lack of understanding of romance.

"Can't you teleport people there Shunpo? I don't even need the magic to summon Marshall."

"Sure?"

Do you even want to learn?

"Okay!"

Haruto is very busy at night.

To appreciate the differences between the East and West of Soul Society, he barely slept all night... whether at the inn or on the riverbank.

Learning Numbered Spells was no challenge for him.

With the blessing of the Soul King Hakusui, Haruto's body can adapt to the Flow or arrangement of various Reishi (magic) at the fastest speed.

The real challenge lies in teaching Lily how to use Kidō —since they've already offered advanced Numbered Spells as a bargaining chip, Haruto definitely needs to show sufficient sincerity... How can he expect a witch who's never even touched Kidō to learn the most difficult advanced Kidō right off the bat?

It's unrealistic without even considering it.

So.

Haruto could only help Lily organize and record all the knowledge points, then make them into a small, secret notebook and give it to her for safekeeping.

As for the remaining compensation period --

Compared to teaching Caihua Baipai last night, I can only say that black has its merits and white has its wonders, and Mo Cong and Bai Hu each have their own unique strengths.

As dawn breaks and the sun begins to rise, the desires of all souls are once again concealed by sunlight and clothing.

Just as Haruto and Lily were about to walk into the classroom as the bell rang--

"Kotetsu- kun."

The cool guy with glasses had been waiting for a long time. When he opened the back door, he discovered that Sōken Ishida had been lying in ambush with them...

To be precise, they are waiting for Haruto.

Would you mind going up and having a chat?