Boom!
The thunderous blast startled Shiba Kaien and Xin into rushing to the backyard.
The area was shrouded in thick black smoke, reeking of acrid gunpowder. Shiba Kūkaku stood amid the smoke, coughing violently, her face smudged with soot. Her clothes and skin bore numerous blackened scorch marks, and she looked thoroughly bedraggled.
When Kūkaku saw them approaching, she coughed as she walked toward them and said, "Just a little accident!"
Seeing that she was unharmed, Shiba Kaien snapped furiously, "You nearly blew up the house!"
Kūkaku shot back without any courtesy, "It's not that serious. There's just a bit more smoke than usual."
Xin looked at her somewhat comical appearance, only to be met with Kūkaku's glare.
"What are you looking at?!"
With that, Kūkaku went straight past the two of them and into the house, presumably to clean herself up.
The smoke gradually dispersed, revealing charred remnants of spent gunpowder scattered everywhere across the ground. Shiba Kaien's mouth twitched.
He coughed lightly as well and said, "Sorry you had to see that."
Xin chuckled unconcernedly. "Having a sister like that must make the house rather lively."
It was not until mealtime that Shiba Kūkaku emerged again, freshly cleaned up. She seemed to have taken a bath and changed clothes, looking much more elegant now. However, her arms were wrapped in many bandages, with blood still seeping through them.
Seeing this, Xin said, "I know a little healing Kido. I can help Miss Shiba treat that."
Kūkaku raised an eyebrow slightly. A Spirit Training Academy student dared to claim he knew healing Kido?
Shiba Kaien said, "Xin has already been selected in advance by the Fourth Division."
Only then did Kūkaku extend her arm. Xin looked at the large bloodstained patch on the bandages and guessed that the skin