Recommendations from Iwamoto-Senpai (岩元先輩ノ推薦)

I can draw my sword.

What?

Don't blame me.

We're both gonna die!

Th-This shouldn't...

Sky Burial's Spider Lily Inferno!

I want you! I simply must have you!

This power will belong to the Great British Empire!

Magnificent!

SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE RYUGU PALACE INCIDENT

LONDON

Say, have you heard the rumors about the old building?

They say late at night, a coven of witches gathers,

and they hold some sort of suspicious tea party.

The old building? Isn't it completely abandoned?

Officially, yes.

But the school's administration has connections with the military...

And someone I know heard stories about witches being used in the army.

You do love your tall tales, don't you?

Can you imagine how incredible it would be to meet a witch?

Honestly...

Ow!

What happened?

Th-That coin bit me!

Huh?

Careful, now.

This coin is gimmicked. You need one to enter the academy.

And I'd recommend you forget about what just happened.

Right...

Well, let's call that one a "close encounter."

Hey! Pardon the delay.

England's "witches."

They're the local equivalent of Japan's supernatural phenomena—

in other words, you boys.

INVASION OF THE WITCHES

Igni!

There's no pardoning this kind of delay.

Witches have come from across the nation. Do you know how long we've been waiting?

I really am sorry. I happen to live in a different time zone, so...

And where's that supposed to be?

Igni, you're drinking elixir again!

It's not meant to be a beverage! You're mad!

Heya, Igni. Come have a seat.

Sit with us.

Igni.

Let's share a drink as a pair of outsiders.

Still a day drinker, huh, Mr. Watergun?

How old are you, anyway?

I don't see what difference it makes.

Okay, let's begin.

Our subject today is the investigation and capture of powered people

from countries in the Far East.

We witches have been the targets of discrimination for centuries.

But things have changed.

Under the queen's rule,

our powers will become wings that raise a grand ambition aloft.

The Underworld War has already begun.

A CERTAIN MOUNTAIN IN SAITAMA PREFECTURE

Iwamoto-san!

Iwamoto-san, where are you?

Oh, there you are.

This is what happens when you run off on your own.

Do you realize where—

Of course I do.

It's your intent to dive into battle against the witches on your own.

That said...

We want to fight, too.

We want to help you, Iwamoto-san. We won't take no for an answer.

Things'll be different this time!

Yajima-senpai from the Research Tower built me this weapon!

It's really something!

I bet it could even stand up to those water dragons!

I'll be counting on you, then.

Th-That smile's making me nervous.

Iwamoto-san?

Still, this really is a ton of Buddha statues, isn't it?

Yeah. Hard to believe one person sculpted them all.

"Someone with the power to replicate objects."

"You'll find your current top priority in a forest of Buddha statues."

If it really is the power to replicate anything without limitation,

that's the kind of power people would covet in a time of war.

Yeah. That's why we're here.

They're highly likely to send a high-ranking fighting force here

to secure this power for the war.

And if we play it smart, we can strike a decisive blow as soon as fighting starts.

What's all this?

The statues are melting?

Get ready, Haramachi.

What in the—

It's the enemy.

They're trying to overwhelm us!

Watch out, Iwamoto-san!

Okay. Looks like I should be able to counter this.

But there are so many bubbles...

Bloom, crematory spider lily!

Fire burns them away? You've got this, Iwamoto-san!

No.

We're getting nowhere.

It's some kind of solvent.

That's what these bubbles are made of.

Where's the English witch causing this?

See, Igni? This is how you use elixir.

That must be Iwamoto. Let's make him melt.

He'll be much more handsome that way.

This isn't as dangerous as modern weapons like planes and bombs.

But that doesn't make this power any easier to deal with.

Iwamoto-san can burn these bubbles away.

After all, his fire can even burn water.

But...

It'd be unwise to generate a lot of flame without a clear goal in mind. Because...

the comrade we're looking for is somewhere on this mountain.

Well, now I get it!

Whoever's behind this understands Iwamoto-san!

So they're staying hidden to fight, like a coward!

They've got us right where they want us!

Th-The bubbles are moving more aggressively now.

They're faster and more destructive.

Our enemy is really dangerous!

I heard he was more dangerous than Mr. Watergun,

but they waltzed in here clueless, and they're paying for it.

It's like these bumpkins don't understand how to fight a powered battle.

I was waiting for the crowd to get bigger.

Wh-What are you gonna do with that tiny flame?

Bloom, spirit lodging's lantern fire.

It may be small, but it's resilient enough to spread through all the enemy attacks.

And it seems to be heading in one direction.

I get it! If we follow the fire,

we'll have a path to the enemy!

Fire?!

Am I really going to be beaten? So easily?

Your power is beautiful.

So much so that I'd love for you to join us. If you wouldn't mind.

I've secured her.

Put me down!

All right! You did it.

Now we just need to find our comrade.

No, I don't think we're done here.

Oh, awfully sorry. I appear to have dropped my coin.

Mind grabbing it for me?

There's a second witch?

CRYSTAL FLAVOR (BRITISH EMPIRE)