Demon Sword Maiden

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By some twist of fate, Shizuka Gozen had survived the ascension. She tumbled into Yomi amid thousands of fragmented ship pieces scattered across the darkness.

Only then did she realize she had been deceived.

No, she wasn’t merely deceived—she had been a sacrificial pawn, disposable bait in a grand design. The so-called ‘ultimate mission’ of the mirror girls? Their ‘leader’? It had all been an elaborate ploy to conceal some unfathomable truth.

“What truth are they hiding? What could be so precious that sacrificing me was a price they were willing to pay?”

Yet Shizuka Gozen did not resent the mission. She had embraced it with one selfish hope—to resurrect her beloved, no matter the cost.

She had staked everything on completing the mirror girls’ mission, hoping to earn enough merit to entreat Amaterasu-Ōmikami herself1. Though Amaterasu did not preside over life and death, Shizuka believed in her limitless power—that if Amaterasu wished, she could bring her beloved back.

And now, she had descended into the very depths of Yomi, seeking that same hope.

No matter where she went or what trials she endured, this purpose was more precious to her than life itself. She would not relent until her goal was achieved—and that unbreakable resolve had carried her here.

The decrepit temple gate creaked open, revealing a chasm of endless darkness within. A fierce wind howled from inside, sending Shizuka Gozen’s long hair flying as she clung to the stone steps.

“You who have come this far must understand that I grant nothing without a price,” a voice intoned from within. “If the price you offer falls short of my desire, then you may as well die here.”

“I understand. Whatever the price, I am prepared to pay it,” Shizuka Gozen replied, shuddering as she braced against the dark wind. “A price makes it real, grounded—unlike those lofty, unattainable dreams!”

Just then, a painting floated from the dark doorway. Shizuka Gozen seized it amid the gusts. Despite the tremor in her hands, she immediately recognized the figure within—a young girl with long black hair and a gentle gaze, though her eyes bore a faint sadness and weariness.

It was Minamoto no Shimizu, one of Lily’s close companions. Shizuka Gozen recognized her at once.

The voice spoke again, “Since you hail from the mortal realm above, do you recognize this woman?”

Without needing to ask further, and without even appearing in person, this Empress of Darkness had discerned that Shizuka came from the mortal world. Such mystical power convinced Shizuka all the more that this was the one being capable of fulfilling her deepest wish.

As long as there was a price to be paid, she would gladly pay it.

She had learned that things offered freely often carried the heaviest, hidden costs.

In this world, even the destiny crafted by the heavens had forsaken her. What remained that she could not surrender? For his sake, she would sacrifice everything.

“I recognize her,” Shizuka Gozen replied, though a faint hesitation flickered in her voice.

The voice asked nothing further of this woman’s identity or history, merely commanding, “Bring her into Yomi.”

“This…” she murmured, uncertain.

“What now? Are you hesitating? Then let your wish die here, lost and broken forever.”

“No, no—I’m not hesitating! I will bring Shimizu2 into Yomi, if that’s what it takes for him to see the light of day again,” Shizuka Gozen declared, her gaze hardening as her resolve turned steely and unbreakable. �

From the darkness, a bright, yellow spiritual flame flared to life. An ancient, unadorned lantern, exuding an aura of profound power, drifted toward her.

“Take this soul-beckoning lantern,” the voice intoned. “That woman possesses certain… unique qualities. Only with this lantern will you be able to lead her along Yomi’s path.”

Clinging to the stone steps with one hand, Shizuka Gozen extended her other arm, worn and trembling, to grasp the soul-beckoning lantern.

In an instant, the dark winds gathered around Shizuka Gozen, converging and pouring into her very being. Her wounds healed instantly, her strength returning even greater than before.

Slowly, she rose to her feet. The winds had ceased, and she gazed at herself in astonishment, feeling a power within her that surpassed even her former strength.

“Empress of Yomi!” Shizuka Gozen cried, her voice trembling with desperation. “I will fulfill your command—so long as you uphold your promise to revive my beloved!”

Suddenly, an endless wave of darkness surged toward her, its raw power threatening to rip Shizuka Gozen apart. Then, as swiftly as it had risen, the darkness receded, leaving silence in its wake.

Shizuka Gozen raised the lantern, casting its glow into the temple’s depths. Inside, she saw only emptiness. Stepping cautiously within, she found nothing—just a lone, dilapidated chamber devoid of life.

Yet this emptiness only strengthened Shizuka Gozen’s belief.

Holding the lantern close, Shizuka Gozen left the temple. No longer plagued by the cold or wearied by darkness, she followed the lantern’s guiding light, tracing her path back from the abyss of Yomi.

Even the Queen of the Female Queendom lacked knowledge of Yomi’s exit, yet this lantern granted Shizuka Gozen a path out. However, had the Queen or Lily obtained the lantern, it would have been of no use, for they did not truly belong to Yomi.

Two months later, Lily finally completed her grand embroidery project, The Painting of Flowers Beyond the Shore, deep within the land of Yomi-no-kuni.

Lily stood and took a step back, gazing upon the crimson embroidery adorned with golden flowers, each stitch meticulously crafted by her hand. The piece was mesmerizing in its beauty, carrying a subtle yet pervasive melancholy.

This piece encapsulated the essence of allure, reflecting the subtle interplay between each delicate gesture and the overall grace of an enchanting woman. Through her painstaking work, Lily felt her own charm deepen and mature.

“You’ve finished it,” Rakshasa-Onna remarked, gazing at the Painting of Flowers Beyond the Shore with both admiration and a trace of mockery glinting in her eyes. It seemed that she hadn’t entirely forgiven Lily for her previous actions.

“Humbly, I still seek Your Highness’ guidance,” Lily said, bowing respectfully.

“No, Lily,” Rakshasa-Onna replied, “your understanding of the Painting of Flowers Beyond the Shore is beyond that of any other woman. Paired with your skill, it’s flawless. Even I could not surpass this work.”

“Your praise is too generous, Your Highness.”

“This Painting of Flowers Beyond the Shore, embroidered on such fine silk, has become a true treasure of Yomi. It will be preserved with the utmost care. Someone, come and store it safely.”

A group of attendants approached, handling the silk cloth with the utmost care as they removed it.

Watching it being carried away, Lily felt a slight reluctance—not out of attachment to the treasure itself, but due to her lingering desire to unlock the deeper mysteries of allure that it held.

Observing Lily’s expression, Rakshasa-Onna thought to herself, ‘This woman’s desire for treasure seems insatiable3.’

“No need to worry. Ultimately, it still belongs to you,” Rakshasa-Onna remarked with a knowing look.

“Really?” Lily felt a small sense of relief; perhaps she would have a chance to reclaim the silk cloth in the future.

“Follow me,” Rakshasa-Onna instructed, turning away. Lily followed her into the dark, towering main hall of the Rakshasa Dojo.

Statues of fierce and grotesque Rakshasa spirits seemed to glare down at her as she entered. With a wave of her hand, Rakshasa-Onna summoned an ancient piece of withered tree bark that appeared in her grasp.

The bark unfurled before Lily, floating horizontally to reveal an ancient map etched across its surface. Rakshasa-Onna’s slender fingers glowed with a soft purple light as she touched a point at the end of the map.

“This is Hyakki Street, the endpoint of the Night Parade of Hundred Maidens,” Rakshasa-Onna explained, her youthful face cast in eerie shadows from the purple glow below.

“The end of the Night Parade of Hundred Maidens?” Lily murmured with a faint smile, feeling her heartbeat quicken.

“Exactly. This map marks Hyakki Street’s location, supposedly millions of kilometers away—though it may also exist nowhere at all,” Rakshasa-Onna replied, her eyes gleaming with a strange light. “You’ll have to find it on your own. This journey is one you must undertake alone, or the map will lead you nowhere.”

“Your Highness, is Hyakki Street to be my final trial?”

“When you walk alone in the night and reach the end of Hyakki Street, you will have completed the ultimate trial.”

Lily gazed silently at Rakshasa-Onna’s face, outlined in the dim light, her lips pressed together thoughtfully. She understood that the path traced on that ancient bark would be anything but simple.

“Your Highness, when may I begin?” Lily asked, her voice steady and fearless.

Rakshasa-Onna raised an eyebrow at Lily’s resolve, wondering if this boldness came from ignorance of Hyakki Street’s true terrors.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“Understood.” Lily nodded.

Taking two steps back, Lily offered a deep bow. “Thank you, Your Highness, for your guidance and care during this time.”

“Eh?” Rakshasa-Onna felt a flicker of surprise. She had opposed Lily’s actions and nearly imposed harsh punishment, yet here Lily was, expressing sincere gratitude. With thoughts of the challenges awaiting Lily on Hyakki Street, a mixture of emotions stirred within her. “There’s no need to thank me; I was merely following orders. If you’re ready, you may leave at any time.”

Lily gave a slight nod and moved past Rakshasa-Onna, heading toward the exit of the main hall.

“Wait!” Rakshasa-Onna called out just as Lily reached the door. Watching her tall, graceful silhouette, she added, “Do not linger on Hyakki Street for too long. Over tens of thousands of years, countless triumphant winners of the Night Parade have ventured there, only to fail, forever joining the ranks of Hyakki Street’s eternal shadows.”

Lily’s slender frame trembled slightly at the warning. She turned back, gazing at Rakshasa-Onna with surprise in her eyes.

Lily had known that Hyakki Street would be treacherous, yet she hadn’t anticipated that even victorious contenders from the past had been trapped there.

“Only a rare few have ever reached the end of Hyakki Street—and those who have are now powerful figures in Yomi. I shouldn’t even be telling you this, as I still haven’t forgiven your breach of the competition’s rules4. But we share a karmic bond, and you were my student. Be warned, though—Hyakki Street’s path shifts in length according to the strength of the traveler.”

A mysterious gleam flickered in Rakshasa-Onna’s eyes. “Each traveler’s destination is uniquely theirs.”

Pausing at the exit, Lily felt a flicker of concern but steadied herself. “Thank you for the warning, Your Highness.”

“One more thing.” Rakshasa-Onna’s gaze turned steely. “Although I’m allowing you to leave the Rakshasa Dojo alone, don’t entertain thoughts of escape. This trial is decreed by The Madam. If you defy her, survival in Yomi will be the least of your concerns. A painless death will be impossible. And those dozen slaves of yours? They’ll suffer unimaginable torment for your transgression.”

Her gaze held a chilling intensity as she issued this final warning.

“Even if there were no consequences, I wouldn’t betray you,” Lily responded firmly, her voice unwavering. “As long as I breathe, I’ll reach the end of Hyakki Street.”