Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 202 - Wasted Years

“Even though it’s our time to rest, the demons have been quiet for the past two days. That worries me,” Ayaka said as she stared into the dark abyss. “I can’t help but wonder what they’re planning.”

“I heard you used to serve as the Chief Advisor to the Heian Dynasty, Lady Ayaka,” Asura-Onna said, glancing sideways at her. “Even now, you’re still thinking about others.” She studied Ayaka’s profile: the tall, elegant figure with a slim waist and a full, mature form.

“You flatter me. I’m no longer a Chief Advisor, and even when I was, it was only for a fleeting moment by your standards. A few decades may seem long in the mortal world, but to you, it’s nothing more than a blink.” Ayaka turned slightly, only to find Asura-Onna’s gaze resting on her waist. She felt a twinge of embarrassment. Though rumors once swirled of her liaisons with many women, the truth was that she had never even shared a kiss. Still, she knew how easily her presence stirred desire.

“Hehe, if anyone deserves to be teased, it’s me,” Asura-Onna said with a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’ve lived for tens of thousands of years, yet I still don’t know what it means to truly be a woman. I’ve fought, ruled, and served the Madam, but all I’ve gained is attention I never asked for and little in return.” Her voice trailed off, heavy with quiet sorrow.

Ayaka was surprised to hear such words from someone as powerful as Asura-Onna, a Supreme God. But considering how long she’d been trapped in Yomi, the disillusionment made sense. “Surely that’s not true,” Ayaka said softly. “You’ve spent countless years in cultivation. You command great strength, and yet you carry the youth and grace of a maiden. Many would envy you.”

“Do you really think so?” Asura-Onna’s gaze softened. She lifted her head and looked at Ayaka, her eyes drifting from her face to her chest and finally to her lips. “Personally, I think a woman with a more mature appearance is more beautiful.”

Ayaka had interacted with many women in her life, and it didn’t take long for her to understand what Asura-Onna meant. Despite all her power, Asura-Onna remained surprisingly innocent when it came to matters of the heart.

She wanted to steer the conversation elsewhere, but the words never came. Beneath her composed exterior, even Ayaka carried loneliness and regret.

Somewhere deep inside, she too longed for release, a space to express the emotions she kept buried.

“What use is maturity?” Ayaka murmured, turning to press her palm against the window frame. She leaned forward, her voice soft with resignation. “I can’t compete with those delicate-looking girls who scheme behind innocent faces.”

After a pause, Asura-Onna stepped forward and gently placed her hand over Ayaka’s. “Your hand is beautiful, Lady Ayaka. Slender, soft… I would never believe it belonged to someone who wields a Naginata and slays demons.”

Ayaka flinched slightly. She hadn’t expected the touch. Instinctively, she tried to pull away, but Asura-Onna held her hand gently. There was no force behind it, and Ayaka, respecting her, did not resist.

Asura-Onna, born in the heart of Yomi, had spent her life serving the Madam with loyalty and solving problems through force. But in matters of affection, she remained straightforward and surprisingly unguarded.

She took Ayaka’s hand in both of hers, gently caressing her palm and fingers. Then, with a tenderness that belied her strength, she guided it to rest lightly against her chest.

Looking at her with sincerity, Asura-Onna spoke softly. “In all of Yomi, even among the many beauties of Asura Dojo, I’ve never seen hands as delicate and graceful as yours, Lady Ayaka. They’re almost like the Madam’s. Even Lyn-hime’s hands are lovely, but she lacks your poise and maturity. To me, yours are unmatched.”

Ayaka’s heart grew heavy. She had sensed Asura-Onna’s interest, but never imagined she would be so direct. It caught her off guard. Though she appreciated the sentiment, her heart had already chosen another. That was why the ache in her chest had lingered all night.

Yet, even she could not deny her body’s reaction. The simple warmth of another’s touch awakened something inside her. A flush crept up her cheeks despite her best efforts to remain composed.

It was something she could not control, but her mind stayed clear. Her resolve did not waver.

“Asura-Onna, you must be tired. You should get some rest. Considering who we are, this kind of joke seems a little improper.”

“A prank?” Asura-Onna’s gaze dimmed. “I see what you’re getting at, Lady Ayaka. I only meant that if I ever choose a partner, I want her to have hands as beautiful as yours.”

Even after saying that, Asura-Onna gently stroked Ayaka’s hand, reluctant to let go.

Asura-Onna’s actions grew increasingly bold, lacking the usual courtesy. Ayaka knew that if she didn’t draw a firm line now, it might only lead to deeper misunderstandings and encourage her further.

Suppressing the tingling sensation, Ayaka pulled her hand back with a bit of strength.

“The nights in the abyss are cold. Your Grace may not feel tired, but I do. I’ll retire for the night. Please take care of yourself as well.” Ayaka smiled politely, then turned to leave.

“Thank you for your concern.” Asura-Onna watched Ayaka’s figure as she walked away, her gaze lingering on her curvaceous form while her breathing grew uneven.

Despite her immense strength, Asura-Onna had a modest, slender build. Perhaps that was why she felt drawn to women with mature, graceful figures. It felt as though conquering such a woman might fill the emptiness in her heart.

“I could waste tens of thousands of years if it meant sharing a single moment with you.” Asura-Onna murmured to herself as she watched Ayaka disappear down the corridor.

Though softly spoken, Ayaka heard the words as she turned the corner, leaving her with complicated emotions. She had assumed Asura-Onna merely spoke to her out of boredom, not realizing just how deeply the woman desired her.

Ayaka had long noticed the strange way Asura-Onna looked at her but dismissed it amid the chaos surrounding Lily and her own responsibilities. Compared to those concerns, such attention had seemed trivial. Tonight, loneliness had simply made her more willing to engage.

Ayaka shook her head. She didn’t dislike Asura-Onna, and might have entertained her advances had Lily not entered her life. As the former Chief Advisor, she once had many ways of dealing with women—charming them without ever falling in love, using affection to gain leverage while keeping her distance.

Now that she reflected on it, Ayaka realized this situation might just be the result of her own past behavior.

“Eh? Lady Ayaka, we saw what happened just now,” Suzuhiko-hime’s voice rang out as two puffs of smoke appeared beside her.

Suzuhiko-hime stood beside Kagura as they both appeared from the smoke.

“You two…” Ayaka sighed. Things had been so chaotic that she hadn’t even had the chance to introduce Suzuhiko-hime to Lily properly.

Neither of the two had romantic feelings for Lily. Kagura, while always loyal to her, maintained a master-servant bond rather than that of a lover. Even so, her feelings toward Lily couldn’t be described as entirely neutral.

At most, it was ambiguous.

Now that she had reunited with Suzuhiko-hime, her first master, those vague feelings had naturally faded.

“I can’t believe how charming you are, Lady Ayaka. Even a Supreme God like Asura-Onna has fallen for you,” Suzuhiko-hime said with a light laugh.

“That’s true. My master and I both felt a little awkward hearing that. Wanting a future partner with hands like yours… Asura-Onna is rather forward, isn’t she?” Kagura said while clasping Suzuhiko-hime’s hand, her tone tinged with disapproval.

“That’s right. Even Kagura was blushing,” Suzuhiko-hime said playfully as she hugged Kagura and rested her head against her chest.

Although Kagura was used to this kind of closeness, being held like that in front of Ayaka still made her shy. “Master… please, don’t do that,” she mumbled with a flushed face.

Ayaka sat quietly in front of them, her tone serious. “Don’t tease me. Lily is in the middle of training. Once she finishes, I’ll take you to see her.”

“Lily? You’re right. It’s time we met again.” Suzuhiko-hime’s gaze softened as she walked over. Her arm, adorned with a jade bangle beneath her light coat, reached out to tap Ayaka’s shoulder. She spoke gently but directly. “You know what Lily is like. A woman like her will always be surrounded by others, drawn to her like butterflies to a flower. You’ll have to accept that, Lady Ayaka. And honestly, I think Asura-Onna wouldn’t be a bad match for you either. She suits you.”

Ayaka gently brushed her hand aside and sighed. “Enough of that nonsense. Don’t you two have training to do? I certainly do.”

Shimizu had already reached the level of a Supreme God. Although Ayaka had received her share of fortuitous encounters, her strength hadn’t surged the way Shimizu’s had. She knew she needed to keep pushing forward. Without power, how could she ever hope to win the heart of the woman she truly loved?

At that moment, Lily and Shimizu were engaged in Pair Training within a secluded chamber. They had taken their usual stances, but when Shimizu tried to grow closer, Lily gently pushed her away.

“What’s wrong? You’re reacting so differently from how you did back in the Hekiraku Realm. I remember how you were then…”

“Sister Shimizu, we’re here to train,” Lily replied, cheeks tinged with pink. “These stances are enough to reach the Waterless Moon stage. Pair Training is about finding that perfect boundary. Going too far could ruin everything.” She steadied herself, focused on maintaining the proper rhythm.

The Waterless Moon stage was far beyond the earlier phases of Pair Training. Not only did it require near-perfect harmony, but it also enabled something the previous stages could not: the direct transfer of comprehension as a skill.

It allowed one to directly pass on their understanding as a tangible ability. However, the one giving had to possess much deeper insight in that field, and the process was draining, offering them nothing in return except the gratitude of their partner.

That was why only the closest of sisters would choose to do it for one another.

To Lily’s knowledge, only Celestial Maidens who had reached the Waterless Moon stage were capable of accomplishing such a feat.