Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 213 - Mizu no Kanata

“Senior Sister, how should I go about improving the six Lunar Forces?” Lily asked.

“That isn’t my area of expertise, so I can’t give you exact guidance,” Rinne replied. “The six Lunar Forces originate from the Lunar Heavenly Path. As before, you can only strengthen them through battle, trials of will, and comprehension. The rest, you’ll need to uncover on your own. However, each of your sisters possesses unique traits. Through Pair Training or by using the Maiden’s Command Technique with them, you might find insights that help you improve your Lunar Forces.”

“I see…” Lily recalled that her Purple Lunar and Hazy Lunar Forces had advanced through continuous training and sudden moments of inspiration. There was no set path to improve them, it came down to personal insight. Reflecting on her progress, she realized that aside from the Silver Lunar Force, the remaining five had all grown through various stages of comprehension. At least now, she understood what she needed to focus on.

But then, how could she improve her Silver Lunar Force?

“Alright, Lily. Go outside and bring Ayaka in.”

“Huh?” Lily blushed in surprise.

Rinne let out a sigh. “Why are you so nervous? You’re already flustered before anything’s even started. It’s not like you haven’t touched them before. Is it just because you have to be the one to take the lead? How do you expect to command your sisters if you act like this?”

“But… you haven’t explained how I’m supposed to use the Maiden’s Command Technique.”

“No need to worry about that,” Rinne said. “I’ll activate Mizu no Kanata at the right moment. As long as you don’t resist, I’ll take control of your body. Just pay attention and memorize everything I do. With your intelligence, I doubt that will be difficult.”

“Alright… I understand,” Lily said softly.

Outside the room, Lily’s sisters waited anxiously. They didn’t dare interrupt, worried they might disrupt her at a crucial moment. Just then, the door slowly opened.

“Lily!”

“Lil’ Lily?”

Ayaka, Rei, Shimizu, Kaguya-hime, and the others stood ready, but it wasn’t Lily who opened the door. A woman floated into view, her purple robes fluttering as an aura of intense cold swept over them. It was Yuki-Onna.

“Yuki-Onna?”

“Where is Lily?”

The sisters exchanged confused glances. Rakshasa-Onna and Nanako instinctively peered inside.

“Everyone, please remain calm,” Yuki-Onna said. “There’s a long explanation behind this, but now is not the time. Lily is at a critical point. Lady Ayaka, she would like to see you first.”

Ayaka, dressed in a white top and short skirt with a black underlayer, looked surprised. “Me?”

“Yuki-Onna, why can’t I enter the Mirror Dimension?” Nanako asked.

“That sound earlier… did Lily just have a breakthrough?” Chiya added.

“I appreciate your concern,” Yuki-Onna replied calmly. “But we’re still under threat from the demons, and I cannot explain further. I must borrow Sister Ayaka for a moment. Once her training is finished, Lily will speak with all of you personally.”

With that, she took Ayaka by the arm and led her into the room, closing the door softly behind them.

The sisters exchanged puzzled looks after the door closed. From the intense energy earlier, they were certain Lily had broken through. But why was she still acting so nervous and secretive?

Yuki-Onna brought Ayaka into the room, where Lily stood waiting by the window.

“Master, my task is complete. I’ll take my leave.” She offered a meaningful smile before fading into a shimmering mist of frost.

Ayaka stood silently, unsure of what to say. Her tall figure and long legs, accentuated by her stockings, drew Lily’s gaze despite herself. But guilt weighed heavily on Lily’s chest. She had called Ayaka here for an unusual and deeply personal reason. Her thoughts churned, but she forced herself to stop overthinking and let her senior sister take control so the Maiden’s Command Technique could begin.

Ayaka flicked her long hair and turned with a half-smile. “Keeping the other sisters outside… Are you sure that’s appropriate?” Though her words sounded critical, her tone was teasing and gentle.

In truth, Lily had never planned to shut her sisters out. She would never treat those who cared for her that way. But her senior sister’s guidance left her with little choice.

Since Nanako had been separated from Kagura and couldn’t return to the mirror as a Shikigami, Lily had sent Yuki-Onna in her place. It wasn’t exactly a task she could assign to a dog, and Inugami was still in the Hekiraku Realm.

“Just as Yuki-Onna said, this is a crucial moment. I can’t explain anything to the sisters now. I’ll apologize to them afterward.” The moment she said it, Lily felt conflicted. Wasn’t she meant to assert her dominance as their leader? Constantly apologizing didn’t feel authoritative. She needed to be firm, she needed to take command.

Ayaka didn’t know what Lily had planned. Now that they were alone again, her mind drifted to the time she had given Lily a massage. It had stirred her feelings, but nothing meaningful had come from it. That left her unsatisfied and slightly frustrated.

Ayaka stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Lily immediately caught her scent, a mature, vibrant fragrance, subtly intertwined with the delicate aroma left by Celestial Maiden dances. Her body grew warm in response.

Lily couldn’t tell whether Ayaka wore perfume or if the fragrance came naturally from the Heavenly Charm Dance. Ayaka’s height gave her an imposing air, and just being near her made Lily feel flustered.

‘Calm down. You have to stay in control,’ she told herself. ‘You’re supposed to be the one in charge.’

Sensing Lily’s internal struggle, Ayaka gently tousled her hair. “We’ve both become Celestials before we even realized it. I should congratulate you. I’m honored that you wanted to see me first. Are you in such a hurry that you’re hoping for a personal reward?”

She tucked a lock of Lily’s hair behind her ear and leaned in to whisper, her breath soft against Lily’s skin. Her hand trailed lightly down Lily’s arm. “Shall I give you a reward no other sister must ever see?”

As Lily struggled to respond, she felt a strange sensation ripple through her. Rinne had activated a technique, an overwhelming power took hold of her body. She could feel everything, sense everything, but no longer move of her own will.

Mizu no Kanata had begun.

As Ayaka reached to slide her hand across Lily’s back, her wrist was caught mid-motion. Lily had intercepted her, her body now fully under the control of Rinne.

“What?” Ayaka flinched. It was just a simple hold, but it felt entirely different.

Lily lifted her head. Her eyes still held their usual warmth, but now carried a subtle authority. “Sister Ayaka, we are under siege by demons. As a former Chief Advisor, do you not feel any urgency?”

The sudden shift in tone caught Ayaka off guard.

Something felt off, but Ayaka’s pride wouldn’t let her retreat. Lily was someone she had always been able to tease and handle easily. If Lily resisted now, she would simply use her own methods to bring her back under control.

“Lil’ Lily, of course I know that. But who’s really ignoring the danger here? I recall you did quite a few unspeakable things with Her Highness, the Imperial Princess, in that serene, radiant Hekiraku Realm. Aren’t you the one to talk?”

As she spoke, Ayaka made her move. She pulled Lily into an embrace, kissed her earlobe, and let her hands wander with practiced confidence.

But this time, Lily simply smiled, unaffected. She caught Ayaka’s hand in a firm grip, pressing it into her palm and turning it slightly. A wave of warm, concentrated energy surged into Ayaka’s body.

The warmth surged like lightning, spreading from Ayaka’s palm to every part of her body. Numbness swept through her limbs. Her strength faded, and she quickly lost control over her movements.

Though Lily had been caught off guard, she remained calm. She felt strangely indifferent to Ayaka’s touch and countered her advance with remarkable ease and clarity.

“What… was that?” Ayaka’s face flushed deeply. Her breath came short and ragged, and she struggled to regain composure. The abrupt shift left her overwhelmed with embarrassment.

“What just happened?” she muttered to herself. One touch from Lily had paralyzed her. Her breath came out in thick puffs of white mist.

“This isn’t the time for games, Sister Ayaka. We’re facing a crisis,” Lily said firmly, her voice carrying a clear note of command.

‘Senior Sister… she can even change the way I speak,’ Lily thought in disbelief.

Lily’s perspective had completely changed. Now, she could easily hold Ayaka’s hand down with strength that came naturally to her after reaching the Celestial Stage. In the past, whenever her sisters teased her, she would become flustered and lose all composure. But now, she could maintain control.

Ayaka’s tall, graceful frame stood before her. From behind, Lily could see the curve of her hips beneath the hem of her skirt and the smooth outline of black stockings. For once, it felt like the situation was entirely in her hands.

A sudden realization struck Lily. There was something strangely exhilarating about being able to take control over such a mature, composed woman. Yet the irony wasn’t lost on her. Despite the illusion of control, her body wasn’t her own. For a brief moment, Lily even felt a strong urge to wrestle it back.

At that moment, Lily’s voice spoke again, but the words were not her own. Her senior sister whispered softly through her lips, “Sister, how shortsighted you’ve become. Has your time wandering through lawless Yomi dulled your instincts as a Chief Advisor? That won’t do. You need to be corrected.”

As the words fell, Lily released Ayaka’s hand and gently pressed against the small of her back.

A warm yet commanding energy flowed from Lily’s palm, spreading into Ayaka’s body. It overwhelmed her so suddenly that her long legs faltered beneath her. She stumbled forward, knees hitting the floor.

‘What’s happening to me? I’m Fujiwara no Ayaka… How could I…? Lily actually…’ Her thoughts raced, disbelief flashing in her eyes.

Never in her life had Ayaka imagined her body could feel this helpless. She lost all balance over her towering frame and collapsed forward, catching herself with one hand against the floor. Her long legs trembled beneath her, as if her strength had been drained away.

The energy that entered through her waist and palm surged wildly through her body, colliding in ways she couldn’t control. The force of it blurred her vision, and tears gathered in her eyes.

Naturally, certain reactions went unspoken. This was neither the time nor place to dwell on them.