Demon Sword Maiden

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“Lady Lynne!” Despite the humiliation welling up inside her, Murasaki-hime knelt down and kowtowed before Lily. She had no other option left.

“Tell me, what’s happening?” Lily asked, her tone steady.

Murasaki-hime raised her head hesitantly and glanced around. “Lady Lynne, this isn’t the place. We need to speak in private.”

Lily nodded thoughtfully, her eyes scanning the area. Spotting a nearby winehouse, she instructed her demon subordinates, “Clear that venue and reserve it entirely for us.”

The winehouse quickly erupted into noise as disgruntled demons were unceremoniously kicked out. Though they muttered complaints, none dared to openly defy one of Hyakki Street’s newly established rulers.

“Give them compensation,” Lily instructed coolly.

While Lily carried no Hyakki Street currency herself, her powerful subordinates were forced to dig into their own resources, reluctantly providing compensation to the evicted demons.

Hachiwan chariot was stationed at the entrance, guarded closely by Lily’s demon retinue. She had given strict orders that no one was to enter without permission.

Murasaki-hime sighed quietly as she observed Lily’s commanding presence. With nothing more than a word, she had cleared out an entire venue filled with ferocious demons. Such dominance had not been seen in a woman on Hyakki Street for centuries.

For the first time in ages, a glimmer of hope stirred in her heart.

Lily and Murasaki-hime settled on the second floor of the winehouse, while the maidservant remained waiting downstairs.

“Can we talk now, Murasaki-hime?” Lily asked, her tone calm but firm.

Murasaki-hime recounted her background briefly before continuing, “I’ve been trapped on Hyakki Street for centuries. Though it’s been humiliating and grueling, I’ve held on, hoping to one day find an opportunity to escape. But now, someone has pushed me to the brink of despair.”

“Who is it? And how did they force you into this situation?”

“He’s no ordinary being,” Murasaki-hime explained, her voice trembling slightly. “He is the Lord of Oblivion, an ancient demon god of unimaginable power. Legends say he rules the River of Oblivion, which flows through Yomi-no-kuni. This very street lies at its source, and one of his palaces is located here. One day, he came to the casino where I work. He took a liking to me and demanded that I accompany him. I refused repeatedly. Fortunately, the madam of the casino intervened, and he had to back off—at least for the time being.”

"However… not long ago, the elderly madam of the casino passed away. With her gone, no one can protect me anymore. The Lord of Oblivion wasted no time—he sent his minions to the casino to threaten me. They demanded I go to his palace within three days. If I refuse, he'll kill every human in the casino and drag me to Female Prison Hell, where I'll endure unspeakable torment. Even as a winner of the Hundred Maidens, I can't stand against him, let alone his subordinates!"

"Rumors say the Lord of Oblivion has a particular obsession with winners of the Night Parade. Many of them who entered Hyakki Street ended up as his pitiful slaves or concubines, trapped in his depraved palace. He’s hideous and monstrous—none of us maidens could ever willingly submit to such a creature. But what can I do? I’m powerless. When I saw your arrival, Lady Lynne, it felt like fate had delivered a savior to me. I had no choice but to humble myself and beg for your help. Please, Lady Lynne, save me!"

With those words, Murasaki-hime knelt deeply once more, her dignity as a former winner of the Night Parade completely gone. Among the Hundred Maidens, competition was fierce, and the environment toxic—each woman fought to outshine the others at any cost. It was unheard of for a winner to bow to another woman. Yet, Murasaki-hime had no other choice.

Lily regarded Murasaki-hime with a mix of sympathy and contemplation.

“Lady Lynne, if you won’t save me, my life is as good as over,” Murasaki-hime sobbed, tears streaming down her face. “I would rather take my own life than submit to that revolting monster!”

Lily could feel the intense resolve in Murasaki-hime’s words, knowing she meant every syllable.

From what Murasaki-hime had said, it wasn’t just her—countless past winners of the Night Parade, unable to escape Hyakki Street, had fallen victim to the Lord of Oblivion, reduced to his slaves and concubines. If Lily could rescue them and bring justice to their suffering, perhaps this might be the destiny she needed to fulfill to finally leave Hyakki Street.

“Murasaki-hime, tell me—how can I save you?”

"Lady Lynne?" Murasaki-hime's voice trembled as she raised her tear-filled eyes, a faint glimmer of hope lighting her expression. "The Lord of Oblivion has been the greatest scourge of Hyakki Street for centuries. Even if you could protect me temporarily, it would only delay the inevitable. He must be eradicated once and for all, so that no other woman will suffer as I have. Though Hyakki Street has its own rules—rules that can sometimes allow women to defend themselves—he defies them entirely! Countless Night Parade winners and innocent women alike have fallen to his cruelty, either dying by his hand or being enslaved. Lady Lynne, if you truly wish to save me, you must kill the Lord of Oblivion. Only his death can liberate us all!"

Lily listened in quiet contemplation before responding, her tone calm but resolute. "The Lord of Oblivion has inflicted immense suffering, enslaving countless Night Parade winners and driving many women to their deaths. As you said, his actions are unforgivable, and he deserves justice."

"However," Lily continued, her voice firm, "these are still accusations. I cannot act hastily or attempt to kill the ancient God of the River of Oblivion without first uncovering the truth. That said, I promise I won’t allow him to take you by force. I’ll secure this winehouse as a temporary refuge for you and your servant, and my demons will guard you closely."

"Lady Lynne, please," Murasaki-hime pleaded desperately. "You must kill him! If you leave without doing so, I’m as good as dead."

"I understand," Lily said, her expression unwavering. "I will see this through. Tell me—where is the Lord of Oblivion’s palace?"

"Hyakki Street is a mysterious place," Murasaki-hime explained. "To find his palace, you must venture out during the third quarter of early midnight. Walk backward for three hundred steps, then move forward for thirty minutes."

"I see…" Lily mused. No wonder she had never managed to leave Hyakki Street despite all her efforts. The constantly shifting paths ensured she never visited the same place twice, a truly mysterious labyrinth.

"You may go for now," Lily said. "I will handle this in my own way."

"Lady Lynne, I…" Murasaki-hime hesitated, her voice laced with conflict and humiliation, before painfully continuing, "You’ve been so busy, Lady Lynne. I… I’m willing to offer you a traditional massage to serve you and show my gratitude…"

"Huh?" Lily raised an eyebrow, momentarily startled. "That’s unnecessary. I need some time alone to think. You’re dismissed for now."

Murasaki-hime lingered in doubt. She had heard that many powerful women avoided men altogether, rejecting domination and preferring the company of women instead. Yet, Lady Lynne’s upright and honorable nature took her by surprise, leaving her relieved. Though she despised the Lord of Oblivion, Murasaki-hime still longed for men. Sadly, there were no honest ones in Hyakki Street.

After Murasaki-hime left, Lily fell into deep thought.

"Her actions suggest she’s telling the truth," Lily mused. "Either way, I’ll follow her instructions and investigate the Lord of Oblivion’s palace myself." With that, she made her decision.

Lily instructed her demons to secure the winehouse and use it as a temporary headquarters, reinforcing it with heavy security. She resolved to set out after midnight.

"Lady Lynne, a package was delivered to the entrance. The messenger said it was meant exclusively for you," a ghostly samurai reported from outside.

"Bring it to me," Lily instructed calmly.

The samurai entered, bowing deeply before handing Lily a silk-wrapped package.

Lily accepted the package, noticing the meticulous wrapping—a delicate touch suggesting it had been prepared by a woman. After dismissing the samurai, she inspected the package herself, carefully opening it once assured it posed no danger.

Inside the silk wrapping lay a purplish-black wooden box, its surface smooth yet ominous. The box was locked, and no key accompanied it. As Lily frowned in puzzlement, a distant, mature female voice echoed in her mind.

"It will open only for those who are meant to unlock it."

The voice struck a familiar chord within her.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Could it be… that Madam?" Lily murmured in astonishment.

Lily examined the box once more, placing her fingertip on its surface. With a soft click, it unlocked effortlessly. As the lid opened, an icy blue mist spilled out, carrying an almost tangible chill that could pierce one’s soul. Inside, she found a dagger barely an inch long, its presence both eerie and captivating. Beside it lay a rolled scroll.

Lily cautiously unrolled the scroll, revealing its contents.

"The Lord of Oblivion is an embodiment of Yomi’s essence. As long as the River of Oblivion flows, he cannot die. He is a Supreme God, his existence spanning nearly as long as Yomi-no-kuni itself. You cannot defeat him through force alone; such an attempt would lead to certain failure. The Lord of Oblivion has grown corrupt, feeding on the Resentment Energy of souls drifting through the River of Oblivion. Use this dagger to pierce his chest while his guard is down, and it will purify his tormented mind."

With each sentence Lily read, the words on the scroll vanished as though erased by an unseen hand. Once she finished reading, the scroll dissolved into a gust of icy wind, dispersing into the air like a fleeting whisper.

Lily’s gaze fell upon the dagger nestled in the box. She reached out and brushed her fingers against its surface, only to feel a bone-deep chill that sent shivers through her.

‘Both the scroll and this dagger are extraordinary,’ Lily thought, her mind racing. ‘And that voice… Could it be? Has that Madam been guiding me all along?’

"An opportunity!" Lily’s heart quivered with anticipation. This dagger could very well be the key to escaping Hyakki Street.

Carefully, Lily secured the dagger.

"That Madam has no reason to deceive me," Lily reasoned. "If she wanted to harm me, she could have done so easily. By her words, the Lord of Oblivion is an ancient Supreme God—far beyond my strength to defeat directly. Yet, this dagger was sent to me for a reason. It means this task is mine to undertake."

A determined plan began to form in Lily’s mind.

That night, Lily instructed her demon subordinates to guard the winehouse vigilantly. Meanwhile, in the solitude of the top floor, she donned a sleek purple ninja outfit adorned with delicate floral embroidery. The outfit featured a high-slit vest that framed her upper torso and a short skirt layered with square panels at the sides, blending elegance with agility.

She secured the Oborozuki Muramasa to her sash, the sword resting snugly against her back. Her long, raven-black hair was gathered into a sleek ponytail, fastened with a pale purple-blue ribbon.

Tonight, Lily would infiltrate the Lord of Oblivion’s palace. Her mission was clear: find the opportune moment to drive the frozen dagger into his chest and cleanse the corruption that consumed him.