Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 72 - Mr. Kimura Tours Herikaku City

“Here is the great furnace. It burns thousand-year-old ancient timber and can temper treasures, medicinal herbs, and weapons.”

Yanagihada walked alongside several Celestial Maidens as they escorted Kimura across a narrow suspension bridge. Beneath the swaying planks stretched an enormous hollow at the heart of Herikaku City. At its center floated a colossal bronze furnace, soaring over three hundred meters tall, comparable to an entire great city of the Heian Dynasty. Waves of searing heat rolled outward from it, and sweat streamed down Kimura’s face without pause.

“S-Such a massive furnace… how much firewood would that take to keep it burning?” Kimura clutched the iron chains on either side of the bridge. “Good heavens… it’s scorching.”

“This furnace uses thousand-year ancient wood. Each log burns for a thousand years,” Yanagihada explained calmly. “Be careful. The temperature here is extremely high. An ordinary mortal likely would not endure it.”

After several years of tempering and with assistance from Cherry Blossom Valley, Kimura had at least become a Late-Stage samurai. An ordinary person would have blistered their hands in an instant from that heat.

Unfortunately, his aptitude was too poor to absorb Spirit Power. He could only train his body, and that was as far as he could go.

As he glanced at the tall, graceful Celestial Maidens beside him, an itch stirred in his heart. They were so slender and beautiful, towering and radiant. Compared to them, the women back in his town were dark-skinned, coarse, short, and plain.

Still, the Heian Dynasty did have peerless beauties. Miss Lily, whom he had met at the Matsuda household, was one such example. Even Celestial Maidens could not compare to her.

Yanagihada and the others continued leading Kimura on a tour of Herikaku City.

Beyond the inner sections, the lower part of the vast city was fused with a mountain body. Ancient trees, flowers, and grasses grew upon it, waterfalls cascaded down its cliffs, and clear streams wound through the greenery.

After all, this city rose tens of thousands of meters into the sky, more than ten times taller than an ordinary mountain.

Within the mountain forest stood a gigantic stone toad statue. Its mouth gaped wide toward the sky, moss and vines crawling thickly over its surface.

“This is the Water-Attraction Formation,” Yanagihada introduced. “When Herikaku City floats in Takamagahara, it absorbs moisture from the clouds. It can then form rain clouds and snow clouds around the city, sustaining its own climate. There are eight such toads surrounding the city, drawing water vapor from all directions.”

“Absorbing moisture? Making its own rain…” Kimura circled the massive toad, staring wide-eyed. “In the Heian Dynasty, only the most accomplished onmyoji can pray for rain. Yet such a colossal man-made city can circulate and sustain itself… remarkable… truly remarkable. If our farmlands had something like this, we would never have to fear drought again.”

“Hee hee hee…” The Celestial Maidens accompanying Yanagihada burst into bright, lilting laughter. To them, this middle-aged man seemed like a rustic bumpkin entering the city for the first time.

“Heh heh… heh heh…” Kimura scratched his head sheepishly. He knew he was ignorant in these matters and did not mind embarrassing himself before them.

“What lies ahead?” Kimura asked, pointing toward a winding mountain path from which waves of floral fragrance drifted.

“Up ahead are the mountain hot springs,” Yanagihada replied with a faint smile. “From top to bottom, there are twenty-four hot spring courtyards. At present, many Celestial Maidens are bathing within. Mr. Kimura, would you care to observe?”

“Ah! N-No, no need! No need!” Kimura flushed bright red.

Afterward, Yanagihada brought him to the thousand-meter-tall weapon vault and pill repository. The treasures stored within were staggering. Any single item there would fetch more than the entire Takeshita Town could ever afford.

“W-What is that?” They arrived at a courtyard outside a building. Beneath the eaves stood a small pavilion slightly taller than a person, its interior veiled by gauze curtains. The faint sound of flowing water could be heard within, and through the fabric one could vaguely discern the silhouette of a graceful beauty.

“That shameless little harlot from the Female Queendom!” Yanagihada cursed in irritation, her cheeks coloring faintly. “T-This is a personal purification pavilion used by the Celestial Maidens. In harsh battlefields or perilous lands without clear springs, such pavilions are used. Besides cleansing the body, it also soothes physical agitation. After all, Celestial Maidens train and fight year-round. Loneliness is inevitable. And if one were struck by certain enemy techniques, this treasure is needed to relieve the effects.”

“Ah… there exists such a treasure…”

Strange sounds seemed to echo from within the pavilion, leaving Kimura profoundly embarrassed.

“I have already strictly forbidden these pavilions from being set up casually. Later, I will drag that little harlot out and have her flogged thirty strokes! Those wretches from the Female Queendom are too accustomed to such things, utterly without shame.” Yanagihada frowned.

“This is the peach grove. It grows peaches from Takamagahara. Originally, they take a thousand years to mature. But if magatama are used as fertilizer, they ripen once every ten years.”

“…What kind of life do the Celestial Maidens lead, to use magatama as fertilizer?” Kimura gaped in disbelief.

“This is a mulberry forest for Star Ice Silkworms. This variety exists only in Takamagahara. It is called the Frostridge Mulberry and must be watered with the tears of Celestial Maidens and… a certain kind of water.” Yanagihada’s face reddened again as she spoke.

Seeing the white silkworms as large as jade resting upon the crystalline leaves, Kimura finally felt a hint of familiarity. “They’re enormous… but we raise silkworms where I’m from as well—”

“Don’t touch!” Yanagihada stopped him sharply. “Once fully grown, these silkworms possess Permanence Stage strength. Other than Celestial Maidens, outsiders who touch them carelessly may be injured by their frigid aura.”

“What!? My heavens! Even a single silkworm has Permanence Stage strength?” Kimura felt a heavy blow to his pride. Compared to a mere silkworm, he seemed separated by a gulf of one hundred and eight thousand miles. A deep sense of inadequacy settled over him.

“This is the Takama Ox. Its beef melts upon entering the mouth. A single bite increases one’s training.

“This is where the Celestial Maidens spin and weave. The threads produced here are, at worst, spirit treasures.

“And here is… well, never mind. It is better you do not know.”

“Huh? Why not? I see singing and dancing within, lanterns glowing, quite lively. And there’s a rather… fragrant scent in the air.” Kimura asked in his simple, honest manner.

“That place… is where Celestial Maidens take on part-time work during breaks from training. It does not receive male guests.” Yanagihada’s cheeks burned crimson.

“Ah… I see…” Kimura cast her a meaningful glance. “As the magistrate of Takeshita Town, there are certain matters I understand.”

“What do you think you understand!? I have never once set foot in such a place!” Yanagihada snapped angrily.

“Ah, Goddess, forgive me! I meant nothing by it!”

They walked along wooden courtyard corridors, passing layered pavilions, weaving through verdant mountains and elegant waters. At last, before the slope of a hill, an endless stretch of blue sky unfolded before them.

From deep within this mountain city, the plaintive, sorrowful songs of Celestial Maidens drifted upon the air.

“Up ahead is Sky-Gazing Cliff. Sometimes the Celestial Maiden sisters come here to weep and sing, binding up their hair as they grieve their longing for Takamagahara and mourn the sisters who have fallen…”

Hearing this, Kimura’s expression grew solemn. Even beings as noble and powerful as the Celestial Maidens carried their own helplessness and sorrow.

On this day, Lily had ordered Yanagihada to accompany Kimura on a tour of Herikaku City and had instructed her to treat him with proper courtesy. Though she and Kimura could be considered old acquaintances, their statuses were no longer the same, and Lily would not personally attend to him. Besides, unless it was someone she truly liked, she found accompanying others on leisurely outings more exhausting than braving perilous adventures and battles.

When asked about her subsequent military plans, Lily gave no answer, merely saying that they would remain stationed by the shores of Lake Biwa for a few days.

Since falling into Yomi, Lily had endured relentless pursuit by countless demons, been forced into a political marriage, willingly allowed herself to be captured and bound for punishment, and infiltrated a prison to rescue Bishamonten. Even she felt weary now. Today, she wanted to do nothing at all—only to rest.

After bathing, she changed into a simple light-green yukata adorned with small yellow blossoms and walked alone through the forested courtyard atop Herikaku City. This upper garden belonged exclusively to her and her sisters; ordinary Celestial Maidens were not permitted to enter.

As she wandered along, she came upon a mountain stream. The sight stirred memories of her earliest days adventuring through the forests of the Heian Dynasty. Just as she had done in the past, she crouched by the water’s edge, took out a white towel, soaked it in the cool, clear stream, and slipped it beneath her collar to wipe herself down. She lifted her arms to cleanse her shoulders and underarms, savoring the refreshing chill.

It felt especially soothing.

Seeing no one around, she held the towel and reached beneath her skirt, wiping herself thoroughly, front and back, up and down. She had only just bathed; in truth, she was merely reliving the sensation from those bygone days.

Suddenly, a rustling echoed from the forest above the stream. Wanting to completely relax and indulge in that faint thrill of relying solely on sight and hearing instead of divine perception, Lily had refrained from using her powers to sense her surroundings. She had not expected that someone would truly appear while she was in the midst of wiping herself down. Her heart began to pound.

“Who’s there!?”

“Sister Lily, Mother and Haihime are already waiting in the main hall.” Nanako stood shyly by a tree, glancing at Lily’s slightly embarrassed state.

“Didn’t I say no one was allowed— …Oh, it’s you, Nanako…” Lily had been ready to turn and scold, perhaps even punish, the rule-breaking Celestial Maiden. But since it was Nanako, who had the right to enter this place, she said nothing further.

Her anger subsided. Her shoulders rose and fell with a faint breath as she approached Nanako. “I understand. I’ll go at once.”

With that, she casually tossed the towel to Nanako, adjusted her skirt and hair with both hands, and headed up the mountain path.

Watching Lily’s retreating figure, her full hips swaying beneath the yukata as she ascended the steep slope, Nanako felt momentarily dazed. She lifted the damp towel in her hands, pressed her face into it, and inhaled deeply.

“Big Sister Lily’s scent… I haven’t felt it in so long…”

Lily may have forgotten about the towel altogether. She had intended to relax alone that day and had even forgotten to deal with Haihime and the others. Now somewhat vexed, she hurried back into the city.

Standing before a mirror, she realized the casual pinkish-green yukata was far too informal. She changed into a black long-sleeved robe, one of the few times she wore such a color.

Then she entered the hall.

At that moment, Kotoka, Sakiko, Haihime, Mayumi, Yukiko, and Shiu were already kneeling in the main chamber, waiting. Other sisters sat to either side. When Lily saw them, she understood full well that they had acted for her sake. Though they offered no explanation, how could she fail to grasp their intentions?

Even so, what had happened today warranted stern punishment. It must never occur again. Her own authority mattered little compared to the greater danger: if the sisters acted on their own impulses and placed themselves in peril, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Lily would not allow them to repeat such a mistake. Even if it stemmed from wholehearted devotion to her, was she not equally devoted to them?

“Kotoka. Haihime. One of you serves as the acting administrator of Cherry Blossom Valley, the other as its chief military officer. Though I know your intentions were good, you nearly pushed yourselves—and so many of our sisters—into danger, risking both your lives and your chastity. The responsibility you bear cannot be shirked.” Lily’s face was stern, her voice cold and severe.

In such a situation, even Kotoka and Haihime would receive no leniency from her.

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