Demon Sword Maiden Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 110 – Lyn-hime

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 110 – Lyn-hime

That night, Lily was swept into a dream. In the endless darkness, a young girl appeared—a mirror image of herself, yet with a starkly different demeanor. The girl stared at her, unblinking.

“Senior sister… Is that you? Senior sister?” Lily called out hesitantly.

Clad in only a thin white bathrobe, Lily wandered barefoot through the void. Her senior sister moved ahead of her, always close yet just out of reach, her figure fading into the distance as Lily tried desperately to catch up.

Lily reached out, yearning to grasp her senior sister’s hand, but no matter how fast she ran, the distance between them never closed.

“Senior sister, where are you? Where are you really?” Lily’s voice trembled with desperation. “How can I wake you up? Tell me, please! No matter how dangerous or difficult it is, I’ll do whatever it takes! Just don’t leave me, senior sister!”

But instead of answering, her senior sister turned toward her, her eyes filled with a profound, heart-wrenching sorrow.

“Senior sister!” Lily cried out, her heart aching as though it had been torn apart by the sorrow in her sister’s gaze. She couldn’t bear to see such pain and sprinted forward, desperate to reach her. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her senior sister faded into the shadows, vanis.h.i.+ng entirely.

“Senior sister! Senior sister!” Lily’s cries echoed helplessly through the infinite darkness.

Suddenly, she felt the warmth of a body pressing against her back.

“Lily, remember, you belong to me.” The voice was gentle yet commanding, radiating a warmth as intense as sunlight—comforting yet imbued with an undeniable authority.

“Senior sister…” Lily whispered, her voice trembling.

Her senior sister’s hand slid around her waist while the other reached for her lapel, the gesture both intimate and overwhelming.

“No, don’t… Don’t do this! Senior sister… I… I…” Lily stammered, her thoughts spiraling in confusion.

They say a woman’s heart often succ.u.mbs to emotion. It was merely a touch, a gentle caress, but because it was her senior sister, it sent s.h.i.+vers coursing through her, leaving her breathless.

“You are mine,” the voice whispered, its heated breath brus.h.i.+ng against Lily’s ear and sending a jolt through her.

Though Lily’s body trembled with deep embarra.s.sment at the bold declaration, she found herself unable—or perhaps unwilling—to resist.

Slowly, Lily turned, her gaze meeting her senior sister’s dazzlingly beautiful face.

“Senior sister…” she murmured, but in that instant, her senior sister’s face transformed—becoming s.h.i.+mizu’s.

“Huh? Sister s.h.i.+mizu?” Lily gasped, startled by the sudden change.

But this s.h.i.+mizu was different. Her gaze was darker, more domineering than ever, as though she commanded the very depths of this h.e.l.lish realm. Her piercing eyes regarded Lily not with affection, but with a possessive intensity that sent chills through her.

Lily’s body shook as she stammered, “Who… who are you? Who are you really?”

“Lily, you’re mine! I’ve loved you for so long!” s.h.i.+mizu’s voice rang with both pa.s.sion and dominance.

“Ah! Who… who are you?” Lily cried, her voice trembling with fear and confusion.

In a haze of confusion, Lily jolted awake in the small hut.

The hut on the mountainside, nestled within the mysterious domain of the Madam, surrounded her once more. Through the swaying curtains, she glimpsed the courtyard’s serene pond and the distant twinkling lights of Hyakki Street.

A thin sheen of sweat clung to Lily’s skin as her wide, panicked eyes darted around the room.

“Was it… a dream?” Lily whispered, her voice barely audible.

Why had she experienced such a strange and unsettling dream? And why had her beloved senior sister transformed into Sister s.h.i.+mizu? Could it be that she was overcome with suppressed desires? While it felt shameful to dream of her senior sister in such a way, she couldn’t deny her deep affection for her. But why, in the end, had her senior sister become s.h.i.+mizu?

And yet, the s.h.i.+mizu in her dream had been nothing like the one she knew. She had been terrifying.

At that moment, a glowing purple b.u.t.terfly projection fluttered into the wooden hut, its delicate wings s.h.i.+mmering with ethereal light.

“Could this be a summons from the Madam?” Lily wondered aloud, her gaze following the b.u.t.terfly’s graceful movements.

Knowing the Madam’s unparalleled status as well as her role as Lily’s G.o.dmother, Lily understood the importance of appearing presentable. She bathed meticulously and dressed carefully, spending an hour preparing herself. She finally emerged wearing a light green blouse adorned with golden leaf embroidery and delicate blue-and-white floral st.i.tching, ready to meet the Madam.

Walking through the dark yet mesmerizing cave pa.s.sage, Lily soon arrived at the Madam’s mystical domain, its beauty otherworldly and serene.

As always, the Madam lounged on the platform, her posture graceful yet commanding, her smoking pipe resting lightly in her hand. She wore a luxurious long white ribbon dress, intricately embroidered with vibrant floral patterns that accentuated her regal presence.

Kneeling respectfully beside her were two familiar figures—Asura-Onna, draped in elegant red and white robes, and Rakshasa-Onna, clad in deep purple and white attire, their demeanor solemn.

‘Asura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna? They’re here too?’ Lily thought, startled by their presence.

Lily knelt gracefully and greeted them. “Greetings, G.o.dmother. Greetings, Your Highnesses, Asura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna.”

The Madam nodded serenely, exhaling a thin plume of smoke before casually remarking, “Lily, you look as beautiful as ever today.”

“You’re too kind…” Lily replied humbly, lowering her gaze.

To Lily’s surprise, Rakshasa-Onna and Asura-Onna turned toward her with solemn expressions, bowing deeply until their foreheads nearly touched the ground.

“Lyn-hime,” Asura-Onna said, her tone reverent yet humble. “As the Madam’s G.o.ddaughter, you are now the Princess of all Yomi-no-kuni. We could never dare to have you address us as Highnesses.”

“Indeed,” Rakshasa-Onna added, her voice tinged with a playful coyness but lacking any sign of defiance. “From now on, you are our Highness—the Princess of Yomi.”

“No, I wouldn’t dare,” Lily replied hastily, lowering her head. She knew she had been made G.o.ddaughter by the Madam’s whim, and these two were Supreme G.o.ds—trusted a.s.sistants to the Madam. Lily had no intention of letting this honor make her arrogant.

“You are certainly polite and sensible,” the Madam said with an approving nod. “But, my daughter, I wish you’d be a little more arrogant—perhaps even unreasonable.”

“Huh?” Lily blinked in surprise, unsure how to respond.

“In that case, I’d have more reason to discipline you properly,” the Madam added with a playful yet serious laugh.

Lily’s cheeks flushed deeply at the comment. Though she was now a grown and mature woman, the idea of being threatened with discipline—especially in front of others—was mortifyingly embarra.s.sing.

“Forget it,” the Madam said, her tone softening. “I’m relieved to see you’re this intelligent.”

“Princess,” Asura-Onna began, bowing low with unwavering courtesy. “During the Night Parade training, my sister and I may have offended you many times. Please forgive us, Your Highness.”

“That’s perfectly fine,” Lily replied warmly, bowing deeply in return. “Everything you did was for my own good. Without your guidance, I wouldn’t have made it through the compet.i.tion. I’m truly grateful to both of you.”

Asura-Onna’s gaze momentarily lingered, and a fleeting thought crossed her mind: ‘My sister and I have far more strength and have served the Madam for countless years. Yet, she chose Lily as her G.o.ddaughter. Could… this be the reason?’

“By the way, Asura-Onna,” the Madam inquired, her tone s.h.i.+fting to seriousness, “what’s the current situation in the Boundless Abyss?”

“Madam, the situation is… not favorable,” Asura-Onna said, turning toward the Madam with a solemn expression.

“The Boundless Empress has ruled the Abyss for over a thousand years,” Asura-Onna explained gravely. “She commands an army of powerful Dark Celestial Maidens and has subjugated every major faction within the Boundless Abyss, uniting them under her control. She’s now the undisputed overlord of the region, wielding immense power and influence that far surpa.s.ses any other faction in Yomi. She poses a grave threat to the peace of Yomi-no-kuni.”

“Since time immemorial, the Boundless Abyss has been a haven for the most dangerous and violent ancient demon G.o.ds in Yomi,” the Madam said, her expression darkening as she took a slow drag from her smoking pipe. “When I first arrived in Yomi, I faced and defeated several powerful enemies who then sought refuge in the Abyss. It took great effort to subdue them. Yet now, this Boundless Empress has managed to unite the entire Abyss under her rule. It’s… deeply troubling.”