Chapter 2: 1. The Inadequate Quincy
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It has been a thousand years since they were defeated in the Great War and pushed to the brink of extinction.
The surviving Quincy, save for a few who fled to the World of the Living, gathered to serve their King and rebuild their strength.
Thus, their nation was forged.
A world within a world.
Carving out a space of Reishi within the Seireitei, it took root like a tree growing through the cracks of a rock.
The Shadow Empire existing on the reverse side of the Soul Society: the Wandenreich.
And there, lives a Quincy who is a little—no, always—considered deficient.
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"Hey, hurry it up, will you?"
Tap, tap, tap.
I quicken my short, hurried steps.
I walk at a pace that borders on a run while maintaining my posture.
In a way, it’s a gait so peculiar it might elicit a chuckle.
However, since we are the only two people in this vast hollow space, there is no one else to react.
With a sharp turn of her head—
A woman looks back, her expression a mix of coy irritation and a beauty she cannot hide.
Her black hair, tinged with a faint violet hue, flows down to her waist. While the back is smooth, the front and sides are jagged and unruly, as if reflecting her temperament.
Though she isn't tall, her naturally excellent proportions keep her silhouette balanced. Her figure, with its striking curves, is certainly eye-catching, but what is even more impressive is her bearing.
Her legs stand firm and unyielding even before men much larger than herself; her hands are placed confidently on her hips, her shoulders squared, and her chin tilted upward.
And above all, her eyes are beautiful.
Those eyes, possessing a solid sense of self that refuses to be encroached upon by others, are her true charm.
Of course, that self-assurance is often excessive, making her attitude toward others incredibly harsh.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Bambietta-san."
"Honestly, do I really have to wait for you like this?"
"Haha. I'll come faster next time."
"Hmph, 'next time' my foot. This is the last time."
The delay was due to the duties of information gathering and organization, but neither of us makes an issue of it.
She simply scolds me like a woman complaining to a man who arrived late for a meeting.
Crunch, munch.
On the plate I brought are fruits, cookies, and drinks.
The various snacks, the kind young women tend to enjoy, disappear at quite a rapid pace.
When one uses their Spiritual Pressure intensely, the body can feel a bit hungry even without much physical movement, so I brought relatively high-calorie foods.
It seems I made the right choice.
"The last time? Are you done with your training?"
"Ha! A Quincy of my caliber doesn't need 'training.' This was just a warm-up to keep my instincts sharp. From now on, I need to focus on conditioning."
That is certainly true.
All around us are fragments of debris scattered as if a massive bombardment had occurred, and smoke that has yet to settle despite the time that has passed.
Setting aside the fact that creating a scene bordering on a ruin is considered a 'warm-up'...
The war into which the Wandenreich will pour everything.
A war of surprise and attrition.
A war of melee and slaughter.
The war of annihilation, the final war, is less than two months away.
"I suppose so. Someone as strong as you, Bambietta-san, could easily take down the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the Gotei 13 barehanded."
When I toss out a compliment—sincere, yet mixed with a bit of lip service born from years of experience—
"Heh."
A light, somewhat silly laugh escapes her, resembling the innocence of a child.
Immediately after, she lets out a forced cough, trying to affect a solemn atmosphere. Even that effort is an entertaining sight.
It is a curious phenomenon.
Despite her tactless joy at mere flattery or her tendency to forcefully ignore the will of others, she shows such unique reactions to actions mixed with sincerity.
'She isn't very perceptive... Is this an instinctive reaction from her deep subconscious?'
I recall a passage from a psychology book I read recently. It was a book recommended by Lloyd-san (the younger brother), who thought my behavior was a sort of "search for self" exercise.
We shared a sense of camaraderie and had a very honest conversation back then.
"Ahem, hmph! Let the others handle the cleanup here. Let's go!"
"Ah, yes."
Still, she has finally reached a point where she can think of the concept of 'cleaning up' on her own.
Until just a short while ago—or rather, a few years ago—she didn't even understand the concept of tidying up after herself, let alone taking responsibility for her actions.
This was all thanks to the man standing before her. Though, of course, she herself wouldn't realize it.
"More importantly, Bambietta-san. New information has come in."
"Is it something I need to know?"
"Yes. It is information of quite high importance."
I quickly gather the empty plate and cup.
Matching my stride to her leisurely pace as we leave the shattered hollow behind, I report the new intelligence.
Even if the hierarchy and cohesion are incredibly precarious and unstable, these essential matters have always existed because we are, strictly speaking, soldiers of the Empire.
Without even these nominal procedures, we would often forget that we are soldiers at all.
"Ichigo Kurosaki has regained his powers as a Substitute Shinigami through contact with a group of Fullbringers. His designation as a Special War Power has also changed from provisional to confirmed."
In the narrowing corridor, the shadows grow deeper.
The further we walk toward the inner palace, the more the colors intensify.
"Additionally, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of the 6th Division, Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya of the 10th Division, and Captain Kenpachi Zaraki of the 11th Division—along with two Lieutenants and one Seated Officer—have moved to the World of the Living. I have placed materials on your desk that outline their estimated combat strength."
A deep, cold energy, perhaps influenced by its master, seems to lie in wait, coiled like a spring.
Like a snake inside that darkness... waiting for prey it can snap up at any moment.
"As for the other Fullbringers worth noting—"
"Enough!"
The corridor ends, and we enter the hall.
The gloomy, acrid feeling that felt so eerie just a moment ago vanishes quickly in the brightness of the wide space and the movement before my eyes.
"Good grief, there's no need to report every little detail. They're no match for me anyway."
Knowing the enemy's information in advance is extremely important in war. Since it is directly linked to one's own safety, it would normally be right to continue the explanation.
...However.
The way her teeth and eyes show when she gives that confident, bright smile.
Even her arched eyebrows, which look confident rather than fierce.
"So you just focus on taking good care of me. Got it, Soldat?"
She is simply a woman who shines dazzlingly.
"...Yes."
The order of knights bearing the Schrifts bestowed by the Quincy Emperor, Yhwach.
The Sternritter.
Among them, a powerhouse who vies for the top rank in terms of sheer destructive force.
Schrift 'E'.
Bambietta Basterbine.
And one Soldat, a low-ranking grunt who always follows her around.
"You're always so deficient in common sense, aren't you? Not even knowing that."
"Compared to you, everyone is deficient."
"Hehe."
This is the story of a Quincy who is always deficient.
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