Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 60 - The Sanzu River, Mount Toshu

“Don’t worry, my daughter. On this journey, if you obediently accept Mother’s punishment, I will send you back to the human world.” Izanami looked at Lily as she spoke, her expression tinged with ambiguity, yet her eyes were filled with something like deep, overwhelming maternal affection.

“Th-thank… huh?” Upon hearing that she could return to the human world, Lily was overjoyed and nearly agreed on the spot, but then she froze. “Punishment?”

Izanami’s gaze lingered on Lily’s heaving, pale chest. Her crimson lips parted slightly. “Of course. You unfilial daughter, after receiving so much from Mother, you do not think of repaying that kindness, and instead rush back to the human world. If I do not punish you, what sort of order would that be?”

“No, Daughter is willing to serve Mother,” Lily hurriedly explained. “It’s just that I’m truly worried about my sisters in the human world.”

“Tch. So those women are more important than Mother?”

“Well… of course not. If one day Mother were to encounter even the slightest danger, Lily would not hesitate to give everything she has and fight to the death to save you!” These words were perhaps the firmest and most domineering statement Lily had ever made before Izanami.

Izanami was, to some extent, quietly moved, though she still gave a wicked smile. “Then, are you willing or not to accept Mother’s guidance along the way… ah no, punishment?”

Her worry for her sisters burned fiercely. Although Lily knew that Izanami might be deliberately teasing her, there was no other choice at this moment but to submit. Besides, even if she refused, forcibly resisting was impossible. If she angered Izanami, she would not only be punished harshly, but Izanami might also refuse to help her. What would she do then?

“Lily… is willing to accept Mother’s punishment.”

“What’s this? Why do you sound so reluctant? It feels as though Mommy is coercing you.” Izanami said, displeased.

“No, that’s not it.” Lily knelt deeply, her face flushed as she spoke with a sense of shame. “Mother is doing this for Lily’s own good. Mother’s punishment toward Lily is… an expression of love. Lily is willing. Lily is grateful in her heart for Mother’s… punishment.”

Fortunately, no one else heard these words. Otherwise, how could she ever face anyone again? Being so grown up and still being punished by her mother like this.

“Mmm. That’s more like it.” Izanami nodded in satisfaction. “I’ll let you off for today. After all, you’re exhausted from rescuing others. That Fivefold Tower, was it useful?”

“Thank you, Mother. Without the Fivefold Tower, Lily would likely have already become a prisoner of Takamagahara,” Lily replied. The Fivefold Tower appeared in her hands. “Now, I return this treasure to Mother.”

Izanami merely waved her hand, and a force pushed the treasure back toward Lily. “No need. I have no use for it. You keep it. If you were captured and bullied while adventuring in the future, wouldn’t Mother have raised you for nothing?”

“Thank you, Mother…” Lily felt deep gratitude, though she also found it slightly strange. When had Izanami ever raised her?

“Mmm. Returning to the human world is not impossible, but you must go to one place first.”

“Where to?”

“Have those women below adjust Herikaku City’s course and head for the source of the Sanzu River, Mount Toshu,” Izanami said.

“The Sanzu River… Mount Toshu?”

* Heian Dynasty, the Shinano Snowfields.

This land lay sealed in ice for thousands of kilometers, the mountains and forests buried beneath vast stretches of snow.

Inside a hidden, narrow, and freezing mountain cave.

Haihime, Yukiko, Mayumi, and the others, dressed in thin and tattered clothing, huddled together inside the cave.

From afar, a signal like the cry of a cat echoed faintly. Yukiko immediately responded with the call of a fox.

A young girl clad in a ninja outfit so torn that it barely covered her chest cautiously emerged from the bushes. After scanning her surroundings to ensure no one was following her, she quickly dashed into the cave.

The girl was Shiu.

Snowflakes still clung to her hair, her cheeks flushed red from the cold, white breath constantly spilling from her lips. She looked utterly exhausted and shaken.

“How is it? Shiu, is there any news of Lady Kimiko?” Yukiko asked eagerly, longing for a positive answer.

Shiu shook her head. “No. Ever since Lady Kimiko closed herself off, there has been no news at all. Foxes coming from the Kansai region said that that night, the forests of Suno were engulfed in sky-piercing foxfire, accompanied by eerie sounds of laughter and crying that could not be grasped. Afterward, the surrounding forests of the closed domain were burned to ashes, yet there was still no trace of Lady Kimiko.”

“What? How could this be…” Yukiko suddenly felt weak and collapsed onto the icy rock, no longer caring about the cold.

She shook her head blankly. “In the current situation, on this land, Lady Kimiko is our only hope. But why, at this very moment, has she vanished without a trace? If she had closed herself off and broken through successfully, how could we sisters have been driven to such a desperate state by those demons and demonkin?”

“Could it be that Lady Kimiko… was burned to death by the foxfire?” Mayumi said worriedly.

“Shut up! Don’t speak nonsense!” Haihime rose to her feet. No matter what, she had once been Mayumi’s superior.

“Sister Haihime, at this point, there’s no other way. Let’s ask Sister Lily for help,” Shiu said, tears shimmering in her eyes as she spoke pitifully.

“No.” Haihime replied firmly, without hesitation.

Yukiko also stood up, her expression grave. This gentle, devoted woman now appeared exceptionally resolute. “The danger Lily faces is the endless Yomi, a terrifying, obscene world coveted by countless billions of demons and monsters. The crisis she faces, the pressure she bears, is countless times greater than ours.”

“Exactly. They’re nothing more than remnants of a fallen era. We cannot become Lily’s burden any longer. If this continues, are we women only capable of creating trouble for her? If that’s the case, what face would we have to remain by her side… to be with her again… to face her…”

At the thought she harbored, Haihime did not voice those words aloud. Although the gap between them had continued to widen, Haihime had never once given up.

“We can’t trouble Lily anymore. She has already… suffered enough,” Yukiko said gently, her voice tinged with sorrow.

“We are absolutely not useless women, and we are absolutely not a burden,” Mayumi declared, standing firmly beside her sister.

“Th-this… I understand what you sisters are thinking,” Shiu said softly. “How could Shiu not feel heartache for her mistress as well? But…”

“Shiu, you don’t need to say any more. This was a decision we made together back then,” Haihime said coldly. “Our strength may not be enough, but do you want all of us to become women looked down upon by others?”

The sisters, too, had their own pride and dignity.

Although Shiu was worried, she said no more. Perhaps it was simply that she herself was not strong enough. Lily was far stronger than she was, while she remained so weak, always wanting to rely on Lily. Perhaps that was why she felt herself drifting farther and farther away from her.

“When Rei and Ayaka went down into Yomi, how strong were they back then?” Haihime said, straightening her ample chest as she faced the cold wind blowing in from the cave entrance. “Facing the ten thousand demons of Yomi, the danger they encountered was far greater than what we are facing now. How can we lose heart and be afraid over this?”

“Then what should we do now?” Mayumi asked solemnly.

“No matter what, we must rely on our own strength to reclaim Cherry Blossom Valley,” Haihime said resolutely.

“But right now we don’t even have spare clothes, food, weapons, or ninja tools,” Mayumi said helplessly. “How are we supposed to fight those who have seized Cherry Blossom Valley? Those vile onmyoji from Iyo Island used despicable methods to steal all our storage treasures with spells!”

Her clothing was so torn it could barely cover her body, all ripped apart during combat. Going out like this would be indecent, but even setting that aside, without treasures to replenish spirit power, without ninja tools or weapons, how were they supposed to fight?

Clang! Yukiko drew the wakizashi from her waist. “At least I still have this blade.”

Haihime shook her head helplessly and turned to Shiu. “When you went out this time, did you learn anything else? What is the situation in Cherry Blossom Valley?”

“I finally encountered Mister Kimura on the transport route to Cherry Blossom Valley,” Shiu said. “He is now responsible for delivering food and drink to the demons. Mister Kimura said that Lady Kotoka and Lady Sakiko are currently being held hostage by the demons occupying Cherry Blossom Valley. Those demons need them to maintain the operation of the magatama mining veins. The deeper the veins are explored, the larger they are, far beyond what anyone imagined.”

“Those vile, lecherous demons!” Mayumi exclaimed in alarm. “They wouldn’t have done anything to the two ladies, would they…?”

Shiu shook her head. “Mister Kimura said we shouldn’t worry and must not act rashly. Lady Kotoka and Lady Sakiko have not been violated. Although those demons have captured many common women and abused them, Mister Kimura said that, first, there is a powerful figure behind the scenes who strictly forbade them from touching anyone connected to Sister Lily. Second, Lady Kotoka was extremely brave and wise. She handed over all her treasures in exchange for her and Lady Sakiko’s safety, and also struck a deal with the demon leader, securing a portion of private gains for him during the mining. That was how she managed to keep herself and Sakiko safe.”

“Still, this can’t last forever,” Shiu said worriedly. “Those demons have no sense of honor and are beasts consumed by lust. Who knows when an accident might happen?”

“If Lady Kotoka and Lady Sakiko were to truly suffer something unimaginable, how would we ever face Lily?” Yukiko hesitated, her heart heavy.

“So we should tell Lily and let her help us!” Shiu said urgently.

“No!” Haihime replied without hesitation. “They are nothing more than demon rabble. Compared to the demons of Yomi-no-kuni, they are not even one ten-thousandth as dangerous. What Lily faces are millions of ancient demon gods of Yomi, the very Heavenly Path of darkness itself. If such a trivial matter were to distract Lily and cause her to suffer an accident, what then?”

“We can’t trouble Lily anymore…” Yukiko said, her freezing hands bracing against the cave wall.

“We must find a way, using our own strength, to reclaim Cherry Blossom Valley and rescue Lady Kotoka and Sakiko!” Haihime said, her resolve ironclad.

The Female Queendom had tens of thousands of women, mostly female adepts and their descendants, who chose to follow Queen Kaguya. As for the thousand Celestial Maidens, needless to say, all of them had already migrated into Herikaku City.

Herikaku City bade farewell to the Female Queendom and set out once more. Eight massive demon gods hauled the dark, colossal city as it advanced in vast procession toward the Sanzu River.

At this moment, Herikaku City was stronger than at any time since it had fallen into Yomi-no-kuni, not counting Izanami’s own strength.

The next day, as Herikaku City traveled across the boundless wilderness of Yomi-no-kuni, Lily, dressed in a red brocade bandeau and red brocade hot pants, had just finished practicing her sword techniques when she suddenly heard Izanami’s summons. Helpless and without time to change, she could only go at once to see her.