Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 50 - A Cup of Wine to Settle Old Scores

“Eh? Me?” Lily was slightly taken aback. However, she did not hesitate for long. Looking at Ame-no-Tajikarao, a resolute expression appeared on her face.

Lily drifted lightly in front of Ame-no-Tajikarao. With a casual wave of her hand, a wine flask and a single bowl appeared between her and the burly god.

The flask tilted on its own, pouring wine until the bowl was filled.

Ame-no-Tajikarao breathed heavily like an exhausted ox, blinking in confusion, clearly unsure what Lily intended to do.

“Ame-no-Tajikarao, I toast you, as a man who stands tall between heaven and earth.” As she spoke, Lily flicked her long sleeve. A fragrant breeze followed, and the wine bowl flew toward Ame-no-Tajikarao.

Without waiting to see whether he drank the wine, Lily turned around and said to Rei and Bishamonten, “Let’s go.”

Neither of them objected. They simply nodded. The three goddesses took flight and departed.

Ame-no-Tajikarao stood there somewhat dazed, his large hand holding the wine Lily had given him as he gazed at her graceful, retreating figure. “To think that even today, I would be able to drink wine personally poured by a young lady. All I lost was a few treasures and nearly my life. Worth it. Worth it! Hahahahahaha!”

Ame-no-Tajikarao laughed heartily, draining the bowl in one gulp, his laughter echoing across the clouds.

Lily, Rei, and Bishamonten flew back into the midst of the Celestial Maiden Rebels. They exchanged glances and nodded.

Bishamonten addressed the gathered Celestial Maidens. “Take the injured sisters with you. We’re leaving.”

Meishin, Asazora, and the others quickly issued orders, directing each group of Celestial Maidens to take flight and withdraw.

The many soldiers of the Yuten Army did not attempt to stop them.

Hundreds of Celestial Maidens filled the sky as they flew away.

“Meishin, lead the way,” Bishamonten said.

“Yes,” Meishin replied. She led the Celestial Maidens back through Thundercloud Gorge, returning to the airspace of Yuten Castle, to that hidden floating island.

Deep within the forests of the Hakanajima stood a large teleportation formation. The Celestial Maidens all landed around the teleportation array.

“Although we gathered here from many different places, sending everyone back individually would consume far too many treasures and materials. Moreover, some sisters’ destinations are one-way only,” Meishin explained.

“Then where do we retreat to now? Although Ame-no-Tajikarao has been defeated, the main forces of Yuten Castle are still here. We cannot afford to linger,” Bishamonten said.

“Since Lady Bishamonten is here, perhaps we can use this formation to retreat to the Sakura Squad’s hidden sanctuary,” Meishin suggested.

“Very well.” Bishamonten nodded. “There’s no need to overthink it right now. Reaching a safe place comes first.”

“Stop! Who are you people?” At that moment, the Celestial Maidens spread out, drawing their swords and blades as they surrounded a small group.

These Celestial Maidens were not part of the rebellion, but a squad led by Riyuki.

“Riyuki?” Lily froze, not expecting them to have followed.

“What do you want? Do you really think a handful of you can stop us?” Asazora advanced, her katana pressing toward Riyuki.

Riyuki showed no intention of fighting. She faced Bishamonten and knelt down directly. “Riyuki pays her respects to Lady Bishamonten.”

“……” Bishamonten’s gaze was imposing, but she said nothing.

Sensing the tension, Riyuki shifted her position and knelt toward Lily instead. “Riyuki pays her respects to Miss Lily…”

“With the world as it is now, what exactly do you want?” Lily asked coldly.

“I… I know that saying this now is shameless, but my sisters and I truly do not wish to continue enduring humiliation under those Heroic Gods. Although Ame-no-Tajikarao is upright, those beneath him are not. Many of them have bullied and abused us sisters. We… wish to defect to the rebellion and beg Lady Bishamonten to take us in!”

As she spoke, Riyuki’s face flushed crimson with shame. Together with the other Celestial Maidens, she kowtowed toward Bishamonten, pleading.

“Miss Riyuki, those who abandon darkness and turn toward the light are always welcome in the Celestial Maiden Rebels. After all, we are all sisters of the same kind,” Bishamonten said. “However, I do not know you well. It seems you are acquainted with Miss Lily?”

Bishamonten turned to Lily and asked, “Lily, what kind of person is this Riyuki? Do you think we should take her in?”

Lily’s expression was complicated as she spoke. “Riyuki, no matter what, you did not betray the promise you made to me. Otherwise, there would be nothing left to discuss. But I want to ask you, why did you refuse to join the rebellion back then, yet come to defect today? Aren’t you afraid of being hunted down by Takamagahara?”

Riyuki’s face reddened further as she raised her head and said in shame, “Riyuki is a calculating, opportunistic woman. When the rebellion was on the verge of being wiped out by Takamagahara, even though I endured humiliation at the hands of those Kegaretsus and Heroic Gods, I did not dare defect. But now, after witnessing Lady Bishamonten’s return, seeing Sister Lily, and seeing the strength and methods of this silver-haired goddess, even the arrogant Ame-no-Tajikarao was defeated by you. Riyuki realized that perhaps, in this despairing world, following you is the only path left for us Celestial Maidens. Perhaps by following you, we will one day rise again and no longer suffer humiliation. That is why Riyuki discussed it with my sisters and came to defect.”

“Tch… You really are quite realistic… but at least what you said is the truth,” Lily said.

“Miss Lily, although I do not particularly like women who are overly pragmatic, beneath the heavens, in such a cursed and brutal world, how many Celestial Maiden sisters are forced to endure oppression and survive in hardship and humiliation? It is also a matter of helplessness,” Bishamonten said.

“Lady Bishamonten is right. Celestial Maidens who are willing to die to defend their chastity make up the majority, but those who dare step forward to fight are ultimately few. If we reject Riyuki now, how will we accept even more sisters who wish to abandon darkness and turn toward the light in the future?” Meishin said.

Bishamonten turned to Lily. “Lily, what do you think? After all, you are the only one who truly understands her.”

Lily looked coldly at Riyuki, her gaze carrying a trace of disdain, yet also a measure of sympathy. “Riyuki, you are pragmatic and utilitarian. I do not like that, but it is not a crime. Taking you in is not impossible. However, we handle public matters according to rules. After joining the rebellion, you must fully confess all the wrongdoings you committed when you served as a lackey of Takamagahara’s dark forces. You will then be punished publicly according to your crimes. Once the punishment is complete, we will put the past behind us and accept you into the rebellion.”

“Public punishment…” Riyuki’s face flushed crimson. She hesitated briefly, then steeled herself and kowtowed. “Riyuki is willing to accept any punishment, as long as you do not kill me.”

“That, I can guarantee. We will not harm your life, nor will we destroy your power level.”

Hearing this, Riyuki let out a sigh of relief. “Then Riyuki is willing. Willing… In any case, when I served under those Heroic Gods and Kegaretsus, I was often subjected to harsh punishment over trivial matters. I was even beaten brutally simply because I refused to become a city lord’s mistress. Even if it is punishment, being punished by fellow Celestial Maiden sisters is far better than being humiliated before those vile scoundrels. Riyuki is willing to be punished, willing to confess and repent. Please take me in!”

Lily nodded. “Understood. As for the specific arrangements, please let Lady Bishamonten decide.”

Bishamonten also nodded and said, “Riyuki, since you have committed wrongdoing, punishment is unavoidable. Not only now, but even in the past era of the Celestial Maidens, those who erred were punished publicly. This is only proper. However, the responsibility lies with you alone. Your subordinates will be exempt from punishment.”

“Th thank you, Lady Bishamonten!” The few Celestial Maidens behind Riyuki hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude. As for Riyuki herself, she felt a hint of dissatisfaction in her heart, but there was nothing she could do. This was already the best path she could see.

In truth, joining the rebellion was not Riyuki’s ultimate goal. She intended to seize this opportunity to draw closer to and ingratiate herself with Lily. From what she had observed, Lily possessed abundant treasures, unfathomable methods, and immense popularity. Not only did she have powerful sisters at her side, even Lady Bishamonten seemed to heed her words. Even Ame-no-Tajikarao favored her and refrained from harming her. Riyuki felt that following this woman would surely lead to a good future. Trusting her own judgment, she believed that even with risks involved, the gamble was worth it. She could not continue living as she had.

Even so, although the matter was settled, many Celestial Maidens of the rebellion around them showed dissatisfaction in their expressions. They admired Lily, felt grateful toward her, and acknowledged her strength and beauty, yet Lady Bishamonten was the leader of the Celestial Maidens. Why was Lily consulted on everything?

This woman Lily was also going a bit too far. She spoke without the slightest humility, almost as if issuing commands. No matter how great her achievements were, she should not overshadow the leader.

After Riyuki and the others withdrew, Furaku swayed her hips and stepped out from among the Celestial Maidens, fanning herself. “Miss Lily, Lady Bishamonten, then next, shouldn’t you give me a public punishment as well? Otherwise, you would not be willing to take me along, right? After all, I have committed quite a few wrongs myself.”

Bishamonten was somewhat unwilling to respond to such a shameless question and turned to look at Lily.

“Oh?” Lily replied. “Madam Furaku, no matter what, you helped rescue me and Lady Bishamonten. You have redeemed yourself through merit, so we will not punish you publicly. You may come with us. I will instead sentence you to a punishment carried out by me alone.” Her tone carried a touch of arrogance.

“Eh?” Furaku’s face immediately reddened. Being spoken to like that in public filled her with shame. She wanted to refuse, yet deep down, she actually wanted to be punished by Lily alone. “I-I understand. Then, thank you for your leniency, Miss Lily…”

“Lily, Mother, we should act quickly,” Rei said as she walked over to Lily’s side.

“Mm.” The two nodded.

“Sisters, we are short on Blood Spirit Magatama for teleportation. Please contribute what you can,” Asazora called out.

The Celestial Maidens looked at one another, their expressions troubled. It was not that they were unwilling to offer them, but that their purses were nearly empty.

“No need.” Lily waved her hand, and a bulging pouch of Blood Spirit Magatama flew directly into Asazora’s hands. “I’ll cover the resources needed for teleportation. Time is tight. Let’s depart as soon as possible.”

“Whoa…”

The Celestial Maidens burst into murmurs, all staring at Lily in astonishment. They thought that this woman was truly extraordinary. Throughout the battle, she had produced one treasure after another, and now she casually tossed out a whole bag of Blood Spirit Magatama as if it were nothing. Were treasures worthless to her?

Was this the reason Lady Bishamonten held her in such high regard?