Chapter 38: Return and Reactions from All Sides
"Heh, suit yourself." Mizuma let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Whatever the reason, if Urahara didn't plan to return home, the risk of his cover being blown dropped sharply. After all, even if his title as the Soul King's Messenger carried divine legitimacy, his actual identity under it was forged from top to bottom.
If he ever ran into the real one, it'd be beyond awkward for both sides.
"Be careful," he added offhandedly, dropping a small hint.
"This whole affair is the work of the History Bureau—those guys. You'll know how to handle them."
"As I thought…" Urahara clicked his tongue. "I knew it. Otherwise, with Watanabe Fifth Seat gone this long, there should've been reinforcements already."
"That's that. My mission's complete—farewell."
With a clean turn, Mizuma disappeared, racing out of the cave and sprinting across the barren landscape, making sure to vanish like a shadow without a trace.
Right. The Human World would do.
He couldn't dissolve the clone just yet. He'd hide out with Ainicht for now—and take his time studying the Divine Sword.
---
Later…
The two of Tokinada's subordinates whom Mizuma had knocked out finally came to.
At first they panicked—then, using their impeccable logic, concluded:
"We must've fainted from reiryoku exhaustion during battle!"
How much of that was self-deception was anyone's guess.
From a hidden perch, Mizuma quietly watched them stumble away, finally exhaling a long breath.
He'd secured the Divine Sword, obtained the Messenger's emblem, and even boosted his reiryoku—all while preserving his weak, harmless façade. Win.
The two thieves had survived what should've been a suicide mission, earning themselves undeserved credit. Win.
Even Tokinada's plan—to eliminate Watanabe Mizuma—had wrapped up cleanly, with minimal damage and a "successful" cover-up. Technically, still a win.
So… who was the loser here?
That answer would soon fall to Mizuma's third clone.
---
North Rukongai, District 7 — Central Market, Teahouse
After resealing the Divine Sword, Mizuma's third clone raced to the teahouse—and, sure enough, found exactly what he expected.
"Tsunayashiro Tokinada!!"
Inside the top floor's private room, a short, goat-bearded old man was in a rage—hurling everything within reach: teacups, paintings, cushions, even the table. Unfortunately, lacking the stamina of a Shinigami, his tantrum burned out quickly, leaving him panting for breath.
His bloodshot eyes still bulged as he spat curses—against Tokinada, the Gotei 13, and countless others—his fury filling every word.
This was Katani Shinno, officially the Twenty-First Seat of the Central 46, one of the highest judicial figures in Soul Society. In truth, though, he was nothing more than a disposable pawn—handpicked by Tokinada to take the fall.
Listening from the roof, Mizuma quickly pieced the scene together.
Katani had arranged periodic contact with his subordinates—the same ones Mizuma had already "handled." When communication went silent an hour earlier, the old man panicked and tried to reach Tokinada, who was disguised as Tsunayoshi Yōki.
But by then, he had vanished entirely, leaving no trace.
For a bureaucrat, Katani still had some brains—but not much.
If he had, he'd have been miles away instead of throwing a tantrum in public.
Then again, when years of plotting crumble overnight, maybe rage is the only thing left to fill your head.
As for Mizuma? Ever the "kind-hearted young man who respects his elders," he couldn't just stand by and watch an old man risk a stroke.
"I'm too softhearted… can't bear to see an old-timer like this suffer."
He wiped an imaginary tear—then drew Ryugetsu in one clean motion, grinning sharply.
"Well then, old lantern… don't blame me. You just happen to be the first Central 46 member I've ever found alone."
---
That Night — Seireitei, 8th Division Headquarters
After returning to Seireitei, Urahara first dropped off Lisa and Kensei for treatment. Then, after briefing the 4th Division, he headed straight to the 1st Division Headquarters, gathered several captains into a private chamber, and began urgent discussions.
No one in the room was an idiot.
The Tsunayashiro Clan had led the expedition team—now it had vanished, and Watanabe Mizuma, who should've requested reinforcements, had been found unconscious throughout.
The pattern was glaringly obvious; even a blind man could see through it.
(No offense to anyone in the Ninth Division.)
Within minutes, the old foxes had reached a quiet consensus, each preparing to act in their own way.
But for now, none of that concerned Mizuma.
After "slowly regaining consciousness," he skillfully played the part of a confused survivor—claiming ignorance of the situation and deflecting suspicion with well-practiced innocence.
Soon after, Lisa was brought back from treatment.
Her injuries weren't severe—thanks to Captain Unohana's direct healing, both she and Kensei recovered swiftly. If not for the bandages, she actually looked healthier than Mizuma, whose face was still pale from "extreme reiryoku depletion."
(For the record—after arriving in the Human World, Mizuma had fired off seven or eight Kurohitsugi underwater just to drain his overloaded reiryoku, leaving him genuinely weak enough to sell the act.)
Lisa hurried into his room, confirmed he was fine, then ruffled his hair affectionately—speaking half-proudly, half-reproachfully:
"The junior I trained myself has finally become someone of importance," she said warmly. "But you are not allowed to do such dangerous things again, got it?"
Mizuma's face twisted into a complicated smile.
How many more years was she going to treat him like a kid?
---
After chatting a while, Lisa left. Moments later, Shunsui Kyōraku returned to the 8th Division barracks.
He immediately found the squad members who'd guarded Mizuma earlier, questioning them one by one. Whatever he learned darkened his expression.
When he finally approached Mizuma's room, he paused at the door.
Hearing the lighthearted laughter inside, Shunsui inhaled deeply, patted his cheeks to compose himself, then slipped back into his usual laid-back smile before sliding the door open.
"Oh, Captain, you're here," Mizuma greeted, waving. "Good evening. Paperwork going well?"
"More or less," Shunsui chuckled. "Still a few reports left—but Ukitake offered to handle them for me. So I figured I'd stop by to check on my brave Vice-Captain… and our up-and-coming Fifth Seat."
<><><><>
〔TL〕
Every 100 powerstones = 2 bonus ch.
Every 2 review after 100 ps = 1 bonus ch.