Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 110 - Lilyʼs Reply

Lily’s chest rose and fell violently. It was not because she had been moved, but because she found it utterly unbelievable. It was not as though she had been unaware of Kiyoshi’s intentions, but for him to openly propose to her under circumstances like these? Lily simply could not understand it.

At that moment, the eyes of a million gods and demons were all focused upon Lily.

“My, my, Miss Kagami Lily truly possesses boundless charm!” the Sanzu Demon Queen said with a seductive smile, propping her chin on one hand. “To think someone would be willing to lavish such a heaven-shaking treasure upon another, all for the chance to win a beauty’s favor. Old man, I’m afraid this is the most extravagant bride price we’ve seen in countless ages, isn’t it?”

Hakushaku’s feelings were somewhat complicated. Although another man seeking to marry Lily left even his aged heart feeling unwilling to accept it, Kiyoshi’s display of power moments ago, along with the wealth required to gather every Oborozuki soul throughout the Celestial Demon Path, left him with nothing to say.

Thus, wearing a kindly smile, he said, “His Highness Ashikaga is a rising star among the Three Realms, blessed with unfathomable strength, while Miss Lily is acknowledged as the greatest beauty in the Three Realms. A talented hero and an unparalleled beauty. They are truly a perfect match. Everyone, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Indeed! Indeed!” echoed a large group of Fortune Gods from the Amatsukami camp opposite them, their robes hanging open across their bare chests.

Kiyoshi had risen to prominence within the Celestial Demon Path at astonishing speed. Most powerful beings knew nothing of his background, but many among the Amatsukami and Kunitsukami had at least heard rumors. Even those who had not could see the truth before them. Standing behind Kiyoshi as nothing more than his deputy commander was Amanozako, one of the Five Shining Stars serving Takamagahara’s new Celestial Maiden commander, Suseri-hime, and one of the direct military powers representing the true pinnacle of Takamagahara’s authority!

If someone of Amanozako’s stature merely stood behind him as a subordinate, then the forces backing this man could only be unimaginably terrifying. Whether one called him the spokesperson of Takamagahara’s ruling powers or merely their puppet, it made little difference. Either way, he was someone no ordinary powerhouse could afford to provoke.

Kujaku Myōō folded his arms, his expression conflicted as he looked toward Lily before shifting his gaze to Kiyoshi and Amanozako standing behind him.

“The strength Ashikaga Kiyoshi displayed just now is unfathomable. He is merely a mortal. Even if the rumors about his Heaven-Blessed Physique are true, how could he possibly have gained such power in so short a time? Just what kind of terrifying force stands behind him?”

If they truly fought, Amanozako’s combat power might not be much weaker than Kujaku Myōō himself. The crucial difference, however, was that he was already the greatest pillar supporting his entire race. But the forces standing behind Amanozako were simply too terrifying.

Suseri-hime and her new Celestial Battle Maiden army led by the Five Shining Stars, Ame-no-Tajikarao, Tennin-Mikoto, nearly the entirety of the Kunitsukami faction, and even… that exalted figure!

Even Kujaku Myōō had no choice but to lower his head before such a force.

“Hahahahahaha!” Before Kujaku Myōō could speak, Kuroyoku, who had fought him to a draw, burst into hearty laughter. “Kagami Lily, you’ve really got good fortune! Damn, this is already the second time within a year that I’ve seen you about to get married! I think His Highness Ashikaga Kiyoshi’s proposal is excellent! If we all started killing each other here, it wouldn’t be a pretty sight. This way, all of us powerful figures receive double the rewards, while you not only obtain every Oborozuki soul for free and forge a Great Imperial Artifact, but also gain such an outstanding husband. Truly, congratulations! Congratulations!”

Kuroyoku clapped his hands vigorously. The moment he spoke, the abyssal demons behind him erupted into cheers and loud shouts, enthusiastically supporting the marriage.

The supreme beings were one thing, but what ordinary followers wanted to fight an army of equal strength? They would inevitably end up as cannon fodder. Besides, even if they truly succeeded in forging a Great Imperial Artifact, there was no guarantee they would receive any benefit from it. Under this arrangement, they could exchange their contributions for twice the rewards and be promoted according to their merits. Naturally, they were more than willing.

Although the vast majority of demons, monsters, and spirits all desired Lily, she was simply too powerful. Anyone foolish enough to try taking her by force would only be courting death. Even Kuroyoku and Kujaku had no confidence whatsoever of subduing her in a one-on-one battle.

As a result, the masculine pride of these men had been dealt a tremendous blow.

Since they could never have her, since this woman had become far too powerful, watching her become another man’s wife, be possessed by another man, forced to lower her proud head and dutifully serve him… The hearts of the million gods and demons found great satisfaction in that thought.

Everyone knew that Lily disliked men. Precisely because of that, seeing this unattainable woman humiliated and forced to suffer brought them joy. Only then did they feel their hearts were balanced.

Mudobozu also patted his enormous belly and declared, “Excellent! Who would have thought that amidst all the slaughter of the Celestial Demon Path, such a joyous occasion could arise? The greatest beauty in the Three Realms is finally going to submit to a man! And since it is His Highness Ashikaga, who has displayed such extraordinary generosity, Kagami Lily, you have no reason to refuse, do you?”

“That’s right!” said Bharata-Tamon. “Miss Kagami, for all our sakes, for the sake of sparing these million gods and demons from needless bloodshed, and for your own sake as well, you should accept this heaven-sent marriage.”

“Indeed! Miss Kagami, marry him!” Kujaku Myōō also urged.

“Marry him!”

“Marry him!”

“Marry him!”

The leading powerhouses made their positions known, and the million gods and demons echoed them in overwhelming unison. Gradually, rhythmic cries rose from every direction across the Celestial Demon Assembly, shaking the heavens and the earth. At the same time, the pressure released by the million demons became so overwhelming that even ordinary Celestial Stage experts would likely have found it impossible to remain standing.

“Accept him!”

“Accept him!”

“Accept him!”

Countless desires, ridicule, mockery, jeering, overwhelming pressure, and coercion converged upon Lily alone.

The pressure was so overwhelming that even Nanako, whose strength had already approached the Supreme God Realm, felt herself unable to remain steady on her feet. If Lily refused now, she would be riding a tiger she could no longer dismount. It would mean placing herself in direct opposition to the combined might of the millions of supreme experts across the Three Realms!

Originally, the seven factions had each pursued their own interests and fought among themselves. Yet in the blink of an eye, it had become a million gods and demons joining forces to pressure Lily alone.

Nanako felt a chill run through her heart. The hand gripping her parasol trembled uncontrollably. The schemes of a man like Ashikaga Kiyoshi were truly terrifying.

At that moment, every gaze was fixed upon Lily. Her long hair flowed gracefully in the wind, her eyes sharp and unwavering. Though her ample chest remained exposed, radiating an alluring, feminine charm, it stood as proudly unyielding as twin mountain peaks, without the slightest hint of bowing its head.

The million gods and demons gradually fell silent. The entire Celestial Demon Path waited for Lily to accept the marriage proposal, after which jubilant cheers would erupt, and everyone would leave satisfied.

Yet Lily’s delicate pink lips parted slightly, her voice carrying a frosty chill as she answered with breathtaking beauty and icy composure. “His Highness Ashikaga’s profound affection and sincerity have deeply moved me. However… I cannot accept.”

“What?!”

In an instant, the million gods and demons exploded into an uproar. Boundless brutality surged forth like a world-engulfing tidal wave, crashing down upon Lily.

“Kagami Lily!” Mudobozu was the first to leap to his feet, pointing a fat finger at her as he shouted, “Think carefully before you answer! Do you even realize what you’re saying? Because of a single sentence from you, millions of us gods and demons will be plunged into slaughter! The entire Celestial Demon Path will become a river of blood! Can you bear that responsibility?”

“Kagami Lily!” Kuroyoku stepped forward with his towering, dark frame, his voice filled with menace. “Even beings like Kujaku Myōō and I have given His Highness Ashikaga our respect. His proposal benefits every one of us, including you. Do you truly dare to go against the will of the entire world? Think this through!”

So long as Lily agreed to marry Kiyoshi, every one of the million gods and demons would benefit. As for Ashikaga Kiyoshi himself, he possessed handsome looks, an impressive physique, and his status and wealth ranked among the very greatest in the Three Realms. In their eyes, what could possibly be wrong with Lily marrying such a man?

Everyone had unanimously decided that Lily should accept. Yet this Kagami Lily, under such overwhelming, one-sided pressure… Actually dared to refuse?

It was nothing less than a slap across the faces of the million supreme experts. Just how much courage did this woman possess?

Originally, these countless powerhouses had acted only for their own interests. Since they could neither obtain Lily nor defeat her, they merely wished to see her humiliated and suffer a loss. But now, Lily had openly rejected the will of a million supreme experts before their very faces. Wouldn’t that make every single one of them a laughingstock?

No matter how powerful Lily was, she was still a woman. Yet she dared to defy the united will of a million supreme experts. Furthermore, this was not even a matter of taking her life. On the contrary, it appeared to offer her tremendous benefits. And still she refused to give the million supreme experts any face at all. How could they possibly tolerate that?

Amid the overwhelming tide of furious roars, accusations, and suffocating pressure, Lily stood beneath the endless oppression. Her crimson robes fluttered coldly in the wind as her long hair danced behind her. She looked indifferently at Ashikaga Kiyoshi.

“So this… was your true objective, Kiyoshi?”

Kiyoshi’s eyes remained dark yet unwavering. He did not shy away from the sorrow and disappointment reflected in Lily’s gaze.

“Miss Kagami, all I desire is to marry you. My heart is completely sincere. I have no other intentions besides that. Please rest assured. Although I am already married, once I take you as my wife, I shall make you my principal wife and grant you the status and position befitting the foremost beauty of the Three Realms. I will cherish you with all my heart for the rest of my life. So long as you are willing to become my woman, to faithfully serve your husband, and to obey your husband, then every Oborozuki soul, indeed all of my wealth, shall be yours. The only thing I desire… is you.”

“Kagami Lily, I can pretend I never heard what you said just now. Should these million gods and demons truly erupt into violence, the devastation would rival the collapse of heaven itself, and even I fear I would be unable to restrain them. Therefore, I ask that you carefully reconsider… and give me your answer once more.” His gaze remained fixed upon Lily, filled with an obsession beyond compare, as he presented her with what was all but an impossible ultimatum.

She would marry him whether she wished to or not. Otherwise, not only Ashikaga Kiyoshi, but the million gods and demons themselves would never accept it.

“There is no need to reconsider.” Lily answered without the slightest hesitation. “I’ll tell you once again. That is impossible.”

“Kagami Lily!!!” Mudobozu kicked over the table before him with a thunderous crash and pointed furiously at Lily’s chest as he cursed, “You ungrateful, ignorant b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲! Are you trying to make an enemy of the million gods and demons? Where did you find the courage for that?!”

“Kagami Lily! You’ve gone too far!” Kujaku Myōō thundered threateningly. “Are you so incapable of distinguishing right from wrong that you would dare show such contempt toward me, Kujaku Myōō?”

Boom!

Kuroyoku stomped down, shattering a vast stretch of the stone floor beneath his feet. “B̲i̲t̲c̲h̲! Believe it or not, if Kujaku Myōō and I join forces, we’ll subdue you! Even if we have to bind you, we’ll drag you into His Highness Ashikaga’s bridal chamber! The situation has already reached the point where you no longer have a choice!”

“Exactly! Kagami Lily, are you truly still this unreasonable?” Kunhiza folded his arms across his chest as the serpents in his hair writhed wildly. Though he appeared furious, inwardly he was overjoyed. “Could it be that the lives of the million gods and demons, and the greater good itself, are worth less than the marriage of a mere woman like you?”

The assembled gods and demons erupted into chaos. Divine power raged, Eldritch Energy filled the sky, and countless voices denounced her with venomous accusations. They bared their fangs, glared with murderous eyes, and unleashed endless threats and coercion upon Lily.

Should she continue to defy them in the slightest, the million gods and demons would likely rise together to besiege her. No matter how powerful Lily was, there was no possibility she could stand alone against a million gods and demons.

Yet Lily merely let out a cold laugh. “So what if it’s a million gods and demons?”

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