Chapter 198: Satoru's Dull Life
Slap!
Feeling the warmth falling on her face, Suì-Fēng slightly frowned.
But she didn't let it distract her.
In a flash, she appeared by the window, pushing it open with one hand while drawing her short blade with the other, ready to eliminate the peeping tom outside.
However, there was nothing beyond the window.
Suì-Fēng furrowed her brow in confusion.
She extended her senses but detected no traces of lingering Reiatsu.
Was it just her imagination?
For a moment, she had distinctly felt something moving out there…
As she pondered, Satoru raised his hand:
"Suì-Fēng-chan, if you keep sticking your head out, the passing squad members might see you~"
"!!"
Suì-Fēng's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly closed the window.
The marks from Satoru's earlier "projectile" were still visible on her face.
If anyone saw her like this, she'd have no choice but to silence them permanently.
Feeling her heart race slightly, she couldn't help but shoot Satoru a frosty glare.
She walked back to him and, with a cold, disdainful expression, clumsily wiped him clean and helped him put on his Shinigami Uniform.
Satoru glanced uneasily toward the window.
Why had Yoruichi suddenly shown up… and in her black cat form, no less?
Had she seen what he and Suì-Fēng were doing?
...
...
In the Second Division, atop a large tree.
The black cat, swift as a tiny bolt of lightning, darted into the dense canopy.
Perched on a branch, Yoruichi blinked her feline eyes and surveyed her surroundings.
After confirming that neither Satoru nor Suì-Fēng had followed her, she let out a small sigh of relief.
The scene she had just witnessed made her heart race uncontrollably.
Though she had mentally prepared herself for this when she entrusted Suì-Fēng to Satoru, seeing it in person still left her somewhat shaken.
As the head of the Shihōin Clan, despite her youth, she had already been taught the relevant knowledge by the clan's elders.
She flicked her tail, the earlier scene replaying in her mind.
Ah, Suì-Fēng looked so adorable.
No, no… that wasn't the point.
Judging by the look on Satoru's face, he seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit.
If he were to marry into the Shihōin Clan in the future, would she have to do such things too?
Imagining herself in Suì-Fēng's place, helping Satoru with this and that, Yoruichi's tail began to wag faster.
In the past, her relationship with Satoru felt more like camaraderie between buddies than anything romantic.
Even when she saw Satoru's body, she rarely had any strange thoughts.
But now… just thinking about Satoru made her recall that scene.
"Damn it, that Satoru… he's so irritating."
The black cat abruptly stood up.
No more. She couldn't keep thinking about this.
The more she dwelled on it, the more her body inexplicably heated up—perhaps her Reiatsu was acting up.
She should return to the Shihōin Clan and throw herself into some extra training!
The black cat leaped from the tree and dashed swiftly toward the Shihōin residence.
...
...
After taking care of their needs, Satoru and Suì-Fēng headed to Bambietta's temporary cell.
The Quincy girl seemed far less arrogant than before.
When she saw Satoru and Suì-Fēng enter, she instinctively squeezed her legs together.
Under her nervous yet expectant gaze, Satoru approached her.
"Your verdict has been decided."
Hearing this, Bambietta unconsciously swallowed.
Nervous, so nervous.
What would become of her?
Would she be beheaded?
Or burned at the stake?
Or... perhaps just throw herself into the midst of those filthy male Shinigami and let them ravage her body until she meets a miserable death?
As she considered this last possibility, her breathing grew slightly heavier.
Seeing Bambietta's slightly flushed face, Satoru showed a puzzled expression.
Was this the kind of reaction one should have when afraid?
Though he found it strange, he didn't dwell on it.
"Originally, the higher-ups intended to have you secretly executed."
"But considering you still have value to offer, you've been granted special permission to atone for your crimes through service."
"Effective immediately, you will join the Onmitsukidō under the guise of a wandering soul and become my personal guard."
"During this period, you must not reveal your identity or leave the designated area I assign you."
"A special Kidō will be placed on you—if you violate any orders, your body will explode and perish."
"Throughout this time, you must unconditionally follow my commands, including but not limited to serving as experimental material, demonstrating Quincy powers as training examples, and so on."
"Do you have any questions?"
Hearing Satoru's words, Bambietta widened her eyes in surprise.
This outcome was truly unexpected.
She was a Quincy—the sworn enemy of the Shinigami—yet the punishment was so lenient?
Shouldn't she have been stripped naked before all the Shinigami, her body slowly crushed and her soul utterly destroyed?
Even if they intended to keep her alive, shouldn't she have been nailed through all four limbs, blindfolded and gagged, then locked away in a pitch-black water prison?
This treatment... wasn't it too gentle?
After a moment's thought, she suddenly understood.
The key point of his words must be "serving as experimental material."
This Shinigami probably intended to tie her to an operating table and dissect her repeatedly to uncover all the secrets of the Quincy...
Though she felt guilty toward His Majesty Yhwach, this wasn't something she could decide.
In the end, it was all Haschwalth's fault!
As if resolving herself, Bambietta lifted her small face and nodded earnestly:
"I understand. Please use me to your heart's content!"
"...Mm."
Satoru nodded vaguely.
What was going on... This girl seemed a bit odd.
Were all Quincies this strange?
Though the process was somewhat peculiar, he was still quite satisfied with the outcome regarding Bambietta.
That evening, he summoned Bambietta to his secret training ground.
The Quincy girl's heart raced.
Watching Satoru walk ahead of her, she glanced curiously at her surroundings.
This time, that petite Shinigami girl hadn't followed.
In other words... tonight, Satoru would be interrogating her alone.
What methods would he use?
How many times would he bring her to the brink, only to stop abruptly?
Bambietta couldn't help but smile.
Under her expectant gaze, Satoru removed the upper half of his Shinigami uniform.
Was it finally happening?!
Bambietta took a deep breath.
Then, she heard Satoru say:
"Come, activate your Vollständig."
"Attack me with all your strength—let me see the limits of your power!"
"?"
Seeing that Satoru didn't seem to be joking, Bambietta's eyes filled with disappointment.
But then, she quickly regained her composure.
Right, interrogation couldn't always happen back-to-back.
If it went on continuously, it would eventually become tiresome.
As long as she performed well enough in battle, she could actively request the next stage of interrogation.
Isn't this feeling of actively participating in the story much better?
Thinking this, she revealed a smile.
A pair of light wings suddenly spread out from her back!