Chapter 195

Regarding physical attributes, which I haven't mentioned yet, Mashiro Kuna's physique is quite extraordinary; in Haruto's eyes, it even shows some signs of being a phantom.

"Hurry up, hurry up!"

Ayaka thrashed about on the bedding like a drowning salted fish.

"Who gave you permission to use your Zanpakuto as a tennis racket?"

Haruto casually made a comment.

"Who knew the counterattack would go so fast!"

"..."

That's all.

As the moon gradually rose higher in the night sky, the whispers in the room faded into almost imperceptible noise with the sound of the door being locked...

Hmm, humming.

Volume 1: Teams 118 and 13 only need to take action, while Room 46 has much more to consider.

A bright and sunny morning.

Haruto woke up feeling incredibly refreshed.

It must be said that having a small indoor hot spring is incredibly effective, whether for relieving fatigue or increasing it.

Pity.

Haruto could even appreciate the other wonderful aspects of the morning, the familiar Hell Butterfly had already landed on his shoulder.

"..."

Haruto picked up the Hell Butterfly with his fingertips.

"So much?"

To his surprise, there were more than a dozen Hell Butterflies fluttering around the entire hot spring inn: the members of the Soul Reaper Women's Association had also spent the night at the inn, indicating that they had received the same or similar missions.

Or perhaps...

What major event has occurred in Seireitei?

"What's the matter?"

Ayaka rubbed her eyes and crawled out from under the covers.

The Reiatsu of the Hell Butterfly is bound to each Soul Reaper, and now a small creature of the same appearance has landed on the tip of her hair.

Urgent Notice.

Because the information being transmitted was consistent, Haruto didn't even have time to read Ayaka's message about the Hell Butterfly.

"All Soul Reaper on leave, return to your respective divisions immediately. There are communications from Captain-Commander Yamamoto and the Seireitei Research Institute that require your attention."

Haruto casually caught the Hell Butterfly that was flying towards Isane at his fingertips.

This little thing's spatial abilities are indeed exquisite, but Haruto can control it if he wants to.

"... Why can't I sleep a little longer?"

Ayaka, still not fully awake, complained softly.

"You deserted halfway through last night, and you've slept quite a bit by now."

Haruto replied teasingly to Ayaka.

"Is that my problem? It's because Isane got drunk again--"

Haruto interrupted Ayaka with a kiss on the lips.

After the match, to bolster his courage, Isane secretly drank several bottles of alcoholic beverages.

Sure enough, even Ayaka couldn't beat her in the competition.

"I'm not showing favoritism. The Fourth Division will be busy as soon as they get back, as for you, the Eighth Division..."

"With the captain and vice-captain personally taking charge, what pressure do you have?"

"Okay~"

Ayaka accepted Haruto's statement.

Compared to Isane, who is busy both inside and outside the squad all day long, and Haruto, who is constantly going on dangerous missions to the World of the Living, the Soul Reaper of the Eighth Division are indeed well protected by Shunsui Kyōraku.

You're right.

Ayaka decided not to Isane.

Haruto quickly tidied his clothes, and while he was at it, he used the Mini Tōzanshō to keep Isane's Hell Butterfly imprisoned for another half hour before leaving the inn with Ayaka.

The Gotei 13's practice of constantly conscripting men for no reason...

"Once Kaien comes out, things shouldn't be so busy."

Haruto could only console himself with this thought.

The Thirteenth Division, Captain's Office.

"Whoosh!"

Haruto started a little late, but his Shunpo speed still allowed him to arrive first... Of course, there was no one else in the office.

Sentarō Kotsubaki was supposed to go out on a mission yesterday, and running into the 11th Division was just bad luck; but Hidechika Jōmanmaru was in the World of the Living at the time, and Haruto was the only high- Seated Officer from the Thirteenth Division who could come, so it would be strange if they didn't look for him.

"Bite."

Haruto glanced at the oversized Denreishinki on the office wall, the only thing that could be heard was the voice... The "SOUND ONLY" sign was very much in the style of EVA.

"It doesn't seem too late."

Kirio Hikifune's voice came from inside:

"Fellow members of the Gotei 13, I am Kirio Hikifune, captain of the Twelfth Division."

Captain Hikifune should have been summoned to the First Division Barracks at this time, otherwise he wouldn't be qualified to use this communication device.

"Two hours ago, the Seireitei Research Institute observed a Reiatsu fluctuation with a very wide impact in the World of the Living."

"The strongest of them were upgraded to Captain-level two minutes before I spoke."

"The lieutenant of the Tenth Division, who led the team to the World of the Living half an hour ago, has lost contact. I'm sure all of you are aware of the seriousness of the situation."

Multiple Captain-level Reiatsu, plus the disappearance of the vice-captain.

--Either the Wandenreich intervened, or they encountered another enemy... The possibilities of Hueco Mundo or the Soul Reaper cannot be ruled out.

If it's the former...

Sōken Ishida would likely send him a message; there's no need to go through official channels to find out.

"The Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force is already in such dire straits, so logically there shouldn't be any Hollows frequently venturing into the World of the Living, especially since they don't have the habit of targeted hunting."

"Where did all this junk come from...?"

While Haruto was still pondering the cause and effect, Kirio Hikifune continued:

"According to the order of the Central 46 Chambers."

"All Soul Reaper received the Hell Butterfly message, immediately proceed to the respective divisions 'Senkaimon and divide your forces at these locations in the World of the Living realm to investigate the cause."

"If you encounter an enemy, there is no need to fight them head-on. The priority is to preserve your own strength and send as much information back to Soul Society as possible."

"Above!"

"..."

The message from the First Division has ended; it's a little disappointing not to hear Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice.

And...

"The Central 46 Chambers has actually become a human being?"

"... No, no, no."

Haruto shook his head with a wry smile.

"If the disparity in strength between the two sides weren't so vast, the Central 46 Chambers wouldn't have said something like 'preserve our own strength,' even with Captain-Commander Yamamoto's advice."

"It seems this mission is quite dangerous."

Haruto glanced at the empty office of the Thirteenth Division captain.

"Neither the squad members nor the lower- Seated Officers were summoned."

"Plus, I met those Soul Reaper Women's Association at the hot spring inn last night..."

Are the high- Seated Officers merely the minimum combat strength?

Within the Gotei 13, the so-called minimum combat strength is actually no different from cannon fodder.

"Let's meet up with Ayaka as soon as possible."

Haruto straightened his Shihakushō and Shunpo to walk towards the Senkaimon.

"While the Eighth Division is certainly reliable, Shunsui Kyōraku and Lisa Yadōmaru might not be able to come to the World of the Living, so this mission is unlikely to be easy."

He didn't need to apply for the Kaijō, as he carried it with him at Haruto; moreover, since he wasn't the vice-captain, there were no complicated procedures for Limitation Release... In that sense, the position of Seated Officer was indeed much easier than that of vice-captain.

"Let's save our own people first."

Even among fellow Soul Reaper, there are still differences in kinship.

"Snap."

As the captain's office door slowly closed—

"Whoosh!"

Inside the Dangai.

"Um?"

Haruto sensed the state of the Kōryū around him—he was no longer the person he used to be, someone who had to be careful even when looking at the Kōryū.

"There's a strange Reiatsu fluctuation... Is it just my imagination?"

Haruto frowned slightly.

As he stepped through the Senkaimon, he felt something "look" at him, but there shouldn't be anything alive in the Dangai except for the Kōtotsu... The Kōtotsu are more like a natural law than a living being.

"Beep!"

Speak of the devil and he appears.

A colossal creature, its entire body covered in furry tentacles and its single, golden eye resembling a locomotive, is approaching from afar.

"No way?"

Haruto took a step and used Shunpo to move directly towards his target.

"Kōtotsu only appears once every seven days; the Twelfth Division would never forget to remind them of such important information."

The speed of the Kōtotsu wasn't fast, but its "level" was practically invincible.

It doesn't inherently possess Reiatsu, but even Captain-Commander at the peak of the First-Class Reii level would have to use Shunpo to get far away from it: if they're lucky, they'll at most be deprived of a week's time; if they're unlucky, they'll be thrown into a spacetime rift and never come out again.

A time traveler isn't Transcendent; it would be strange if Haruto didn't run away immediately.

Fortunately.

Haruto's current Shunpo incorporates many techniques from the Hirenkyaku.

While the Kōryū Reishi within the Dangai cannot be used, they can be used to create a fluid of Reishi beneath one's feet by releasing spiritual Reishi on their own.

This is used in conjunction with Shunpo...

Even doubling the speed is an understatement.

What should have been a ten-minute journey was quickly completed when Haruto found the destination.