Demon Sword Maiden

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Although Shiro, Kansaku, the bald man, and Saya sat atop the tiger demon’s back, they would have preferred stripping off their shirts, strapping bundles of hay to their backs, and running behind instead. Anything was better than riding this monstrous beast.

They were perched atop an Empyrean. How could they not feel uneasy when their weakness was so painfully obvious? If the tiger demon were to go berserk, Lily might be able to subdue him effortlessly, but they? Even if they weren’t his target, a mere aftershock of his power could kill them instantly. And beyond their fear, another weight pressed on their hearts—shame.

"Goddess Lynne!" Shiro pulled the others down with him, prostrating themselves near the beast’s neck. Kneeling, they bowed their heads low toward Lily, who stood at the crown of its head like a sovereign above all.

"We were blind… ignorant beyond measure. We have offended you time and time again, Goddess Lynne, Lady Ayaka. Please, grant us your forgiveness!"

"That’s enough," Lily said, her voice steady, almost indifferent. "There’s no need to dwell on past offenses, nor do you need to kneel before me. I simply possess a bit more strength than you. Strength may rule this world, but remember this—do not cast away your dignity simply because you are weak." Her gaze, serene as still water, rested upon them.

"Thank you for your wisdom, Goddess Lynne!"

Cold sweat beaded on the bald man’s forehead. He could hardly breathe at the thought—if his big brother had gone through with that reckless plan to kill Lynne back then, they would have perished a thousand, no, a million times over.

"Goddess Lynne, here—these are the two Blood Spirit Magatama you gave us earlier, along with all the wealth we have accumulated from years of adventuring," Shiro said, bowing deeply as he extended both hands, five Blood Spirit Magatama resting in his palms. "We dare not accept your generosity, Goddess. Please, take them back. Let the rest serve as a humble token of our respect."

For them, five Blood Spirit Magatama were treasures worth risking their very lives for. Yet to her, they were insignificant. This realization only deepened their awe and reverence.

‘We thought ourselves clever for managing to extort two Blood Spirit Magatama from her… but to her, they were nothing from the start!’ Shiro sighed internally, overwhelmed by the vast difference between their worlds.

At that moment, Saya’s eyes lingered on Lily’s back, her expression unreadable.

Saya was nothing more than an ordinary kunoichi, a woman forced to wander Yomi, relying on the strong to survive. Truthfully, she had never liked these men—but she had no choice. Alone, she wouldn’t last long in this treacherous world1.

But the woman before her—she was different. Incredibly powerful, able to summon a divine hound with a mere flick of her hand, a creature that had effortlessly trampled an Empyrean beast. And yet, despite her overwhelming strength, she was kind… especially toward women. If Saya served her instead, wouldn’t her fate be far better than wasting away alongside these pathetic men?

Slowly, new plans for her future began to take shape in her mind.

A deafening rumble echoed across Mount Tenko as the horde of beasts stormed forward. Who in their right mind would dare stand in their way?

"Big Brother Shiro, we’ve roamed Mount Tenko for years, crossed it more times than I can count, but nothing compares to today!" Kansaku said, his voice laced with excitement. Seated atop the Empyrean beast’s back, he was gradually growing accustomed to the surreal experience. Gazing at the countless beasts swarming around them, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

"Quiet," Saya snapped, irritation flashing in her eyes. "Do you think we achieved this on our own? It’s all thanks to Goddess Lynne. So what exactly are you so smug about?" As the journey continued, she found herself growing more and more discontent with her male companions2.

By now, they had no grounds to argue—even if Saya openly disrespected them, they could only bite their tongues in silence.

With the mighty horde escorting them, it took just over two days to finally emerge from Mount Tenko’s treacherous domain. As they reached the outskirts of the mountain range, Lily raised a hand, bringing the horde to a halt. It was time to part ways.

"Tiger demon Aoyaku," Lily called, her tone commanding. "Take your horde and head to the Abyss of Parting Sorrow, just as I have instructed. From this day forward, you will serve as its eternal guardian. Remember—obey Queen Kaguya, and do not disturb the Female Queendom."

"Yes, Almighty Goddess," Aoyaku answered without hesitation. In a flash, he shifted into his warrior form and knelt before her, his head bowed in reverence.

"From this moment on, your master is Queen Kaguya," Lily decreed. "I will inform her of this arrangement."

Hearing those words, Saya’s heart pounded with excitement. As a female warrior in Yomi, she naturally knew of the Female Queendom—a rare sanctuary for women in this ruthless land. And this woman… she wasn’t just powerful, she was connected to Queen Kaguya herself, a figure of legend! Saya’s admiration for Lily deepened even further3.

"Goddess Lynne… and us?" Shiro hesitated, unsure of their fate.

"You lot?" Lily’s voice was indifferent, almost distant. "Go back to where you came from. If you want to change your fate, then train—truly train. Stop indulging in behavior that the strong find repulsive, or you’ll forever remain weak."

Reluctance weighed heavily on them, but Shiro and the others knew the truth—Lily existed in a realm far beyond their reach. They could only bow in respect and leave, their hearts heavy with helplessness.

But Saya? Her heart thundered in her chest. Something told her that her fate hung in the balance—that a single choice here could change everything4.

"Goddess Lynne!" Saya rushed forward, dropping to her knees before Lily. "I have no choice but to travel with men in this cruel world. Life has been unbearably difficult… Goddess, please, take me with you! I am willing to do anything!"

Though Saya had once been hostile toward her, Lily bore no grudge. She understood the woman’s actions—after all, survival was not easy for women in Yomi. Many were forced to adopt harsh and calculating personalities. Even so, keeping Saya by her side would only be a burden.

"Saya, if you truly don’t wish to stay with them, you may accompany Aoyaku to the Female Queendom," Lily said calmly. "But I cannot take you where I’m going."

"Well…" Saya’s disappointment was plain on her face. Her gaze drifted to Ayaka, who stood silently beside Lily. "Why can she go with you, but not me?"

A sudden surge of spiritual energy burst beneath Lily’s feet, sending a powerful gust through the air. Saya’s hair whipped wildly, and despite kneeling, she lost her balance, nearly toppling over.

Ayaka stepped forward, gently taking Lily’s hand. "Let it be, sister. Why waste your breath on a woman so vain and shallow?"

Ayaka cast a cold glance at Saya, her disdain unmistakable. Saya didn’t understand the full weight of what had just transpired, but Lily’s brief display of power sent a chill down her spine. Her face paled in fear.

Lily didn’t spare Saya another glance. With a simple flick of her arm, Hachiwan materialized, the chariot appearing alongside him5.

Hachiwan’s sudden appearance startled Aoyaku so much that he nearly leapt off the ground.

"Let’s go," Ayaka said softly, taking Lily’s hand as they boarded the chariot. The chariot curtains fell shut behind them.

With a mighty bound, Inugami soared into the sky, vanishing into the heavens in the blink of an eye. Shiro, Saya, and the others—along with Aoyaku and his entire horde—knelt where they stood, staring in stunned silence as the chariot disappeared into the clouds.

"So this… is what a supreme being of Yomi looks like…" Saya murmured, her voice filled with bitter regret6. As Inugami vanished into the misty sky, she felt the weight of a lost opportunity pressing down on her.

Inside the chariot, Ayaka sat beside Lily, gazing out at the endless sea of drifting clouds.

"So my sister possesses such an incredible treasure after all," Ayaka mused.

"It’s not that I didn’t want to use it back there," Lily said, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation. "I just didn’t want to reveal my identity. Besides, weren’t you the one who swore an oath to walk out of Mount Tenko?"

She was in a hurry, that much was true. If time allowed, she would have carefully examined the details of Ayaka’s oath. But deep down, she was conflicted—she felt a strange reluctance to return, yet at the same time, she didn’t wish to defy Madam’s orders.

Ayaka chose not to press the matter further. Instead, she turned to Lily, cherishing this rare moment of solitude between them. She had tried asking Lily certain questions through voice transmission before, but the answers she received had always been vague.

"Sister… you must have faced unimaginable dangers after falling into Yomi, haven’t you?"

After everything she had been through since falling into Yomi, Lily only now realized how deeply she had been alone.

Alone in the enclosed space, Lily felt the stirrings of desire creeping through her body once more. The weight of loneliness, stress, and suppressed yearning gnawed at her, urging her to throw herself into Ayaka’s embrace. But deep down, she knew she couldn’t—she shouldn’t.

Ayaka was different… but wasn’t this still a betrayal? Would she not be forsaking her senior sister all the same—just as she was about to in this looming marriage? Was there truly any difference?

"It’s… a long story," Lily said softly. "I don’t even know where to begin."

"It seems you’ve come across some extraordinary opportunities, sister," Ayaka mused. "I thought that by adventuring along the Sanzu River, I’d be able to catch up to you… but instead, the gap between us has only widened."

"That’s not true, Sister Ayaka… Just having you by my side right now is the greatest support I could ask for." Lily’s voice carried raw sincerity. She had endured so much on this journey—so much pain, so much solitude—with no one to confide in.

"By the way, Sister… where exactly are we going?"

Lily’s expression darkened, her features shadowed by an unspoken worry—one so heavy it seemed almost beyond comprehension.

"Lily? What’s wrong?" Ayaka asked gently, stepping closer.

Lily lowered her gaze, struggling to find the words.

To see someone as strong as Lily looking so lost—it pained Ayaka. A quiet dread settled in her heart. Whatever was weighing on Lily’s mind, it was no trivial matter.

"Lily, I may not be strong enough yet, but I am still your sister!" Ayaka declared firmly. "I will continue to grow, to become stronger. No matter what trials you face, I will stand by your side and face them with you!"

"Sister Ayaka, I…" Lily slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes clouded with uncertainty—uncertainty about herself, about her future.

Her soft, cherry-red lips trembled as she struggled to form words.

Ayaka’s gaze fell to Lily’s lips, and for a brief moment, hesitation flickered in her eyes. Then, without another thought, she pulled Lily into her arms and pressed a kiss against her lips.

Lily’s mind screamed at her to resist, but her body defied her. Instead, she melted into the kiss. Perhaps it was the exhaustion of her journey, the unbearable loneliness that had built up inside her, that made her surrender.

High above the endless expanse of Yomi, two women, bound by fate yet torn by uncertainty, shared a bittersweet kiss.

‘I missed this… Sister Ayaka’s warmth, her taste, the way she feels… Rather than becoming the wife of that so-called Boundless Empress, wouldn’t it be better to just— No. No, I can’t.’

Lily’s heart was in turmoil. The very thought of this betrayal clashed violently with her morals—yet, instead of quelling her desire, it only made it burn stronger.

An overwhelming urge clawed at her—to reach out, to touch Ayaka, to claim this elegant, mature sister as her own. The temptation was intoxicating. But she knew… she couldn’t.

‘Betraying your senior sister? And what of Ayaka? Have you considered what this means for her future? What will you do with her?’ A voice echoed from the depths of her soul, relentless and accusing. ‘ don’t know… I truly don’t know…’

She wanted to silence the voice—to close her eyes, surrender to instinct, and let her desires take over. But in the end, her deeper obsession, the weight of her emotions, won out. Even after lingering in Ayaka’s embrace, lost in the heat of the moment, she finally twisted her shoulders and pushed her away, her movements weak, almost reluctant7.

Lily’s face was a portrait of sorrow—an anguish so deep it was beyond words.

Her breath came in trembling wisps, dissolving into the cold air. She gazed at Ayaka, her eyes unfocused, distant. "Sister… the Madam of Yomi wants me to marry someone."