"From now on, come here to train."
Nanatsuki brought Bambietta to Liltotto's little shop.
Since Bambietta had just beaten up a few soldiers, he didn't want her staying in that district and becoming a target for revenge.
"She's your disciple too?" Meninas sized Bambietta up with curiosity.
"Then she's our junior," Liltotto said casually, though a glimmer of satisfaction sparked inside—being the senior sister had a nice ring to it.
"You two look tough?" Bambietta narrowed her eyes, sizing up Meninas, who was just a little older, and Liltotto, who seemed even younger. She wasn't too convinced.
"Fellow disciples should support one another," Nanatsuki said, ruffling Bambietta's hair.
"…Fine," Bambietta reluctantly dropped the idea of re-establishing a pecking order.
"Bambietta, I take it you've never had formal training?" Nanatsuki asked.
"Nope. I haven't even enlisted yet," she said, shaking her head. She hadn't entered basic training.
"Then you're relying purely on instinct." Nanatsuki nodded. "Only a rare few Quincy are born with special talents. Meninas, you've probably noticed it too."
"Mm… I've always been strong," Meninas muttered thoughtfully.
"I can inject Reiatsu into things, then make them explode," Bambietta looked at her hand. "Even air."
She had used this ability earlier in the alley—detonating the air itself to knock out those soldiers.
"Impressive talents," Nanatsuki praised. "Developing your innate gifts is an important part of training."
"…So I'm the only one without a gift?" Liltotto raised an eyebrow.
"You're still young. If you have a special ability, it'll show itself in time," Nanatsuki chuckled.
"I think Liltotto does have a gift—she can eat a lot," Meninas nodded confidently.
In truth, Liltotto's gluttony had already begun to emerge. Her appetite had surpassed Meninas's considerably.
And Meninas, being in her growth phase, already needed a substantial amount of food to replenish Reishi.
"Eating is a talent?" Liltotto scoffed. If she didn't own a shop, she probably couldn't even afford to stay full.
"Teacher, do you have a special ability?" Bambietta asked, intrigued.
"I do." Nanatsuki smiled. "Try to move."
"…I can't!" Bambietta gasped.
She'd felt this sensation before—back in the alley, her body freezing up instantly.
"Me neither!" Liltotto and Meninas both realized they couldn't move.
"The shadows! Look at the shadows!" Meninas pointed at the ground in alarm.
They all looked down.
Their shadows clung close, but Nanatsuki's had lost all human shape—and had coiled around each of theirs.
"My ability is tied to shadows," Nanatsuki explained.
His Quincy powers granted him control over shadow itself.
It differed slightly from his Shinigami powers, where Shadow Bind functioned more like a Bakudō spell.
With Quincy abilities, he could manipulate someone through their shadow, binding them directly.
"…What does that mean?" Bambietta asked, not the type to overthink.
"Our shadows got grabbed by Teacher's?" Liltotto was the first to piece it together.
"Exactly. By controlling your shadows, I control your movements," Nanatsuki nodded. "I can even use it to harm you."
"It's getting tighter!" Meninas grimaced as an invisible pressure seemed to crush against her muscles.
Then, all at once, the pressure lifted.
"That was incredible!" Meninas's eyes sparkled with awe. "You didn't even have to move to defeat someone!"
"These powers give us more options," Nanatsuki said seriously, "but at the core of real strength are the basics—Reiatsu, Reishi Control, Blut, Hiryūkyaku. Never neglect them."
"Bambietta, I'll start by teaching you Hiryūkyaku. After that, train with Meninas and Liltotto on the basics."
Bambietta didn't even know the movement technique yet, so he'd begin there.
[New training mission added: Instruct Bambietta Basterbine to complete Hiryūkyaku Training (In Progress)]
"Let's go!" Bambietta could barely contain her excitement.
While Nanatsuki coached Bambietta, Meninas and Liltotto continued training with their spirit wristbands.
A short while later…
Boom!
A small explosion rang out in the courtyard.
"Ow!" Bambietta hit the ground, blasted off her feet.
She was used to this kind of accident and had shielded herself with Reiatsu. She wasn't hurt—but her boots were destroyed.
"…You even triggered your explosive talent?" Nanatsuki sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"My powers are tricky… One misstep and boom… Oh no! My boots! I just bought these last week!" Bambietta pulled them off and stared at the shredded fabric, heartbroken.
"They're unwearable now!" Meninas peered through the hole.
"I have extras in the shop," Liltotto offered.
Her little store wasn't huge, but it had everything—including clothing and shoes.
"I was about to enlist, so I stocked up on gear. Spent all my merits…" Bambietta looked embarrassed.
"No problem. Big Sis Liltotto's got you," she said flatly.
"Ah—thank… thank you!" Bambietta suddenly didn't mind being the junior anymore.
"Your foot's red and swollen, but it's nothing serious. This cream will fix it in ten minutes," Nanatsuki lifted her leg gently and retrieved a tube from his Reishi pouch.
To stay inconspicuous, he kept many Quincy-related items in the puppet's inventory—this salve among them, made with traditional Quincy recipes.
As the medicine seeped in, warmth spread from her foot to her chest.
Bambietta had grown up in the Wandenreich alone. Her parents had left her resources and military merit, so she was never hungry—but kindness had been rare.
When she was younger, people constantly tried to take advantage of her.
[Bambietta Basterbine Reputation Level Increased: Current Status – Familiar]
Liltotto asked for her shoe size and went to get a new pair.
"Liltotto, are you okay? What was that explosion just now?"
A voice called from outside.
It was Candice Catnipp, a green-haired military police officer Nanatsuki had seen before.
She'd been nearby when the blast caught her attention.
"No big deal. Just a Hiryūkyaku accident," Liltotto replied casually.
"…What?" Candice's eyes went wide. "How does Hiryūkyaku explode?!"
"No one's hurt, right?" She leaned over the counter to check Liltotto's legs.
"Wasn't me," Liltotto shook her head. "Teacher was teaching Bambietta."
"Teacher? Since when do you have a teacher?"
Candice was familiar with this area and knew Liltotto fairly well. She'd never heard anything about a mentor.
"Just got one."
"You sure you're not being scammed?" Candice frowned. "Someone teaching Hiryūkyaku that explodes?"
She'd gone through new recruit training. Never once had she heard of Hiryūkyaku causing explosions.
"There's a chance Bambietta's just… clumsy." Liltotto didn't explain further.
"No way. That guy's gotta be a fraud!" Candice pushed open the gate and stormed inside. "You got conned, and I'm not letting it slide!"
Candice was the type to speak her mind and never tolerated shady types in her patrol zone.
"Wait—really, he's not a fraud! Teacher's strong!" Liltotto insisted.
But Candice didn't trust the judgment of someone so young.
"I'll find out for myself." She grabbed Liltotto's hand and marched into the courtyard.
"So this is your so-called teacher?" She squinted at Nanatsuki. "…Wait. I know you. You're that Quincy who just came back from the World of the Living!"
"Is there a problem?" Nanatsuki was confused.
He remembered meeting Candice once—but didn't think they had any bad blood.
"Heard your Hiryūkyaku lessons are explosive," Candice sneered. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. What a scam. How much merit have you taken from Liltotto?"
"Liltotto can tell right from wrong."
Nanatsuki realized the explosion had drawn her here.
"That was my fault! It had nothing to do with Teacher!" Bambietta snapped, bristling like a furious cat.
"She's the one who blew up? Ugh. That's beyond clumsy," Candice groaned, rubbing her temples.
This girl wasn't even healed, yet she was still defending her teacher!
"You wanna repeat that?" Bambietta clenched her fists.
"You're overthinking it," Nanatsuki said calmly. "I'm more than qualified to teach them."
He knew Candice meant well, so he didn't take offense.
"If you don't believe me, feel free to test me."
"If you lose, you give their money back!"
Candice raised her standard-issue spirit bow and aimed.
"Let's see what you've got!"
She pulled the string—
And nothing happened.
"…What?"
Her arrow misfired.
She couldn't draw any Reishi from the courtyard.
All the spirit particles were flowing toward Nanatsuki.
A drop of sweat ran down her cheek. She realized she had made a huge mistake.
The difference in their power was enormous.
Reishi control was about commanding the ambient energy. At this close range, Candice couldn't compete at all.
"Still think you're right?! I told you it was my fault! How dare you doubt Teacher!" Bambietta pounced, kicking her while she was down.
Candice felt like she'd fallen into an ice bath, ignoring Bambietta completely.
"I apologize, Kurosaki-sama," she said, recalling the name from her last report.
"It's fine. You didn't know," Nanatsuki nodded. "However…"
That one word made Candice's spine go stiff again.
"Please accept this as an apology!" she hurriedly offered her coin pouch.
"…You just didn't want them to get scammed." Nanatsuki nodded, taking the pouch.
"Do you still need disciples? I'd like to become your student!" Candice blurted out. "I learn fast—top of my class every time! I'll even hand over all my monthly merit!"
Nanatsuki's power had overwhelmed her.
Until now, the strongest Quincy she'd known were the boot camp instructors.
But even they couldn't strip her of Reishi control like this.
This was an opportunity she couldn't pass up.
[Candice Catnipp has requested apprenticeship. Accept as Personal Disciple?]
"…Alright. You seem sincere. I'll take you in," Nanatsuki said after a moment. "But once you're under me, there's no backing out. Betray me, and I'll personally cut you down."
He had no intention of rejecting her.
"Yes, Teacher! I swear loyalty! I'll never betray you!"
[Candice Catnipp Reputation Level Increased: Current Status – Friendly]
"Lucky girl," Bambietta muttered. She hadn't forgotten the insults from earlier. But now she wasn't the youngest. "Let's hear you call me 'senpai.'"
"I have to get back to patrol duty," Candice pretended not to hear.
"You're joining the Sternritter recruitment, right? Why aren't you on leave?" Nanatsuki asked.
He'd heard many soldiers had requested time off to prepare.
"The military police can only take leave in shifts," Candice replied. "Someone's got to stay on duty. I have one hour left—then I'll be back!"