Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 102 – Killing To Set An Example

What was her “destiny”?

Lily’s journey had been perilous. While she suppressed the desires stirring inside her, they grew stronger with each passing day. After midnight, some of the demons she faced rivaled Yanari in strength. In Hyakki Street, where spiritual power could not be used, endurance was paramount. Though Lily’s body approached the level of a Supreme God, her stamina was not infinite. She could only hide during the day and continue battling through the nights. But how long could she endure? If this continued forever, could she ever reach the end?

‘That demon swordsman’s mocking expression before his death… he acted as though my fate was worse than his.’ The thought gnawed at Lily. ‘He wasn’t lying. Maybe traveling only at night isn’t the answer. I can’t keep hiding from Hyakki Street during the day.’

Of course, “morning” was only a measure of time. Hyakki Street remained an endless night market, illuminated by countless lamps. True daylight had no place in Yomi.

Could she break the rules? Face the black and white demonic spirits head-on? Madam Yoruko remained in their grasp—she needed to act quickly! But to deliberately violate the rules now, after coming this far, would feel reckless. Surely, this wasn’t the “destiny” she was meant to find.

Fate required luck, timing, or perhaps both. It was never something so simple.

Over the following nights, Lily fought relentless battles, each deepening her comprehension of swordsmanship. This path—her third Heavenly Path—focused on weapons and swordsmanship. It complemented her earlier achievements: the Lunar Heavenly Path, which enhanced ability power, and the Charm Heavenly Path, which refined her physical ability. Together, these paths strengthened Lily’s combat prowess in ways that felt natural and harmonious.

Yet, she was far from gaining enough strength to break Hyakki Street’s rules by force. She could feel it—whoever governed this place was an existence far beyond her current power.

“Where is my destiny hiding?” Lily’s gaze hardened with resolve as she made her decision. “No matter—what will happen, will happen.”

When morning came, Hyakki Street burst back to life. Endless marketplaces, lively winehouses, casinos, shops, dojos, and brothels lined the bustling roads. Clad in red, Lily walked the street with an air of nonchalance, holding the Sakura Parasol in her hand.

The Sakura Parasol couldn’t conceal her presence in Yomi, but it brought her a sense of luck. It reminded her of the night she entered this world, during the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

“Hey, young sister, why don’t you come play with me in that alley?” A small demon, barely a meter tall, blocked Lily’s path with a lecherous grin.

“Is that an order?” Lily asked coldly, her tone devoid of emotion.

“Heh heh, what do you think?”

Lily said nothing, exhaling softly before following the young demon into the shadowy alley. Inside, six demon children of varying sizes surrounded her, their eyes gleaming with mischief.

“So this is how it works?” Lily realized the young demon had summoned her not for himself, but to enable others to make their demands. Although the rules prevented her from being physically harmed, harassment—especially of the degrading kind—was still possible.

Predictably, the little demons shrieked their orders for Lily to strip. But Lily stood motionless.

“What’s the matter? Take it off! You’re a woman, aren’t you? Women should listen!”

“You dare defy Hyakki Street’s rules, pretty sister?”

The young demons hopped around, their screeches growing louder and more obnoxious.

Lily’s eyes darkened as she spoke coldly, “I can strip if you insist—it’s nothing to me. But when midnight comes, I’ll hunt each one of you down in your little hideouts. I’ll drive my Cursed Blade through your souls, and you’ll never reincarnate for eternity.”

As she spoke, Lily raised her hand, revealing the trapped souls of Archdemons swirling in a ghostly light. “These are merely a fraction of the demons I’ve slain these past nights. Care to join them?” Her voice was detached, her distant gaze indifferent—as though neither the act of killing nor the idea of humiliation held any meaning for her.

“Eek?” The demon brats froze, their faces pale as the Resentment Energy of the Archdemon anima engulfed them. Overwhelmed, they stumbled and fell backward in terror.

The animas’ oppressive aura was far stronger than anything they had ever faced. Screaming, the young demons fled one by one into the shadows of the alley.

The idea had been inspired by Yanari. Even a figure as powerful as him couldn’t fight during the day but could exact vengeance after midnight. Demons might desire women, but they also valued their lives—and being alive to enjoy that desire.

During the day, demons could not truly harm women. At most, they could engage in minor harassment. But was it worth dying over? Few would dare to take such a risk.

Barely fifteen minutes before midnight, a drunken but brutish demon cornered Lily, demanding to strip her. The oppressive rules weighed on her, pushing her to comply. But the moment the midnight chimes sounded, Lily struck—killing him with a single blow.

‘I can’t judge a demon’s desires by human standards,’ Lily mused. ‘Especially when they’re drunk—lust can drive them to madness, no matter the consequences.’

With that thought, Lily continued forward. Two demon swordsmen appeared in her path. Lily flicked her long black hair, her movements deliberately graceful and captivating.

“Why must we fight just because it’s after midnight?” Lily asked with an enticing smile. “Why not come with me instead?”

The demons believed Lily had surrendered and were ecstatic. According to the rules of Hyakki Street, a female who surrendered didn’t need to be killed. Overjoyed, the demons eagerly followed, delighted to claim such a stunning woman without lifting their swords.

Lily led them forward.

“Hey, where are we going?” one demon grumbled.

“Hurry up! I can’t wait any longer!” the other urged impatiently.

“Don’t worry—we’ll get there soon,” Lily said soothingly.

The demons, unwilling to harm her, trailed behind eagerly. After all, the night was still young.

Before long, Lily had attracted a total of eight demon swordsmen. Since they all considered her their first opponent, they were not obligated to fight each other until they had dealt with her.

Suddenly, a towering red demon appeared ahead, wielding a colossal bone sword. His reputation was equal to Yanari’s—an Infernal Stage swordsman feared across Hyakki Street.

The other demons immediately fell silent, their bravado replaced with fear.

The red demon’s eyes gleamed with delight at the sight of Lily, drool spilling uncontrollably from his mouth. He bellowed at the others, “All of you, get lost! This woman is mine—Mahon Danmaru’s!”

“Damn it! I should’ve acted earlier!” the other demons grumbled resentfully.

With pride written all over his massive form, Danmaru approached Lily, showing off his immense strength. Standing several meters tall, he extended his colossal claws toward her. “Beauty, from now on, you are mine—!”

“An idiot like you?” Lily lifted her head and stared at him coldly. Her posture straightened—her chest proud, slender legs poised—as contempt flickered in her eyes.

“What?” The surrounding demons gasped in disbelief, shuffling backward. Was this woman insane? Just moments ago, she had refrained from challenging them, but now she dared to openly insult Danmaru, one of Hyakki Street’s rulers!

The red demon let out an earth-shaking roar, his howl reverberating through Hyakki Street. Muscles bulged, green veins snaked across his body, and his massive head, fangs bared in fury, loomed closer. “How dare you insult me?”

Lily spared a fleeting glance at the trembling demons behind her before fixing her gaze back on Danmaru. “Did I insult you? I only spoke the truth. If I call a pig a pig, is that an insult?”

“Wretch!” Danmaru’s rage exploded. The other demons cowered further. Abandoning all restraint, he swung his colossal claw at Lily.

Lily’s gaze turned deadly. Dropping into a low stance, her slender hand gripped the hilt of Oborozuki Muramasa. The blade was unsheathed with a cold, reverberating ring that sent chills through the air.

In a flash, the demon’s massive claw was severed cleanly, flying off to the side. The wound was so smooth it shone like polished glass. “What?” The demons gawked in shock.

Danmaru froze in disbelief before scrambling to draw the sword strapped to his back. In Hyakki Street, the use of a weapon in combat could drastically change the outcome of a battle.

If he managed to wield his weapon, he could have traded blows with Lily for quite some time. But she wouldn’t give him the chance. In an instant, Lily leapt onto his shoulder, her blade slicing down with relentless force.

The demon’s head fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Even headless, the demon’s arm reflexively swung his sword, trying to resist. Lily struck again, cleaving off his remaining arm along with his shoulder.

The demon’s body stood, blood spurting violently from his wounds. Without his head and arm, recovery would take time—time he didn’t have.

Moving with blazing speed, Lily darted behind the demon and slashed, severing the tendons in his leg. He crumpled to the ground. Without hesitation, she leapt onto his back and drove her sword straight into his soul gem.

Before the horrified onlookers, Danmaru was killed without managing a single real resistance.

Standing atop the fallen demon’s back, Lily turned her cold gaze to the others. “It’s nothing serious. You don’t need to worry. Would you like to keep following me?”

No matter how much they lusted after her, the demons valued their lives more. Threatening her had been easy—but now they’d witnessed her power firsthand. Mahon Danmaru, one of Hyakki Street’s rulers, had fallen without resistance. None of them dared to act on their desires again.

The demons stood frozen in shock, their disbelief etched across their faces. Though they desperately wanted to flee, the ironclad rules of Hyakki Street held them in place. Their only options were surrender or death, and a grim sense of desperation overtook them.

“If you don’t wish to die, I’ll offer you a way out,” Lily said with chilling calm. “Become my slaves, obey me, and once I leave Hyakki Street, I’ll spare your pathetic lives.”

Lily wasn’t certain if such a rule even existed. This situation was likely unprecedented, a scenario no one had dared to test before.

Still, the rules of Hyakki Street seemed to operate on twisted fairness. If men and demons could claim women as slaves, why couldn’t she turn the tables and claim demons instead?

And if this gambit violated the rules? Then she would simply kill them later.

The demons, confused and hesitant, realized this was their only lifeline. One by one, they dropped to their knees.

“Goddess, spare us! We’ll serve you as your slaves!” they pleaded, their voices trembling with fear.

“Very good,” Lily said with a faint, approving smile. “You’re weak, but far smarter than that fool I just killed. When morning comes, all of you will serve as my bodyguards and escort me.”