Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 216 - Once A Sister, Always A Sister

Although Ayaka appeared energetic, the exhaustion from days of strain still clung to her. Recent events had certainly deepened her connection with Lily. However, some of Lily’s actions early on had been strange and overwhelming, carried out without her full consent. The memory of those moments continued to leave her feeling embarrassed.

But no one else was aware of what had truly happened. Ayaka knew she had to compose herself. This strategy meeting was her chance to reassert her position as Chief Advisor and remind Lily of the identity she once held.

She buried her frustrations and walked through the main hall with unwavering grace. Her tall figure and long legs, accentuated by black stockings, drew the eyes of her sisters as she passed. Pausing at the center, she looked around and addressed the group.

“Currently, Lily has reached the level of a Supreme God,” she began. “That gives us six Supreme Gods in total: Queen Kaguya, Asura-Onna, Rakshasa-Onna, Commander Chiya, Shimizu, and Lily. Additionally, our three Dark Celestial Maiden commanders are among the strongest Celestials. We also have twelve Infernal Stage adepts from the Dark Celestial Maidens, as well as the Rakshasa and Asura Dojos. These make up our core combat force.”

She glanced toward Lily, then continued, “Our enemies number close to twenty Supreme Gods. But they are not united. Their cooperation is born of desire, not loyalty, and their individual agendas will clash. They’re also unsure of the true strength of the Imperial Princess and Shimizu. This gives us an opening.”

Asura-Onna nodded. “It’s unfortunate that we still can’t contact the Madam. If we could, many of our problems might be solved. That said, their forces still outweigh ours. And as strong as Shimizu is, she doesn’t compare to the former Imperial Princess. Even if we could fight back, the risk would be enormous.”

“Hmph, what’s there to fear?” Rakshasa-Onna scoffed. “We six Supreme Gods could strike first and take them by surprise. Even if we don’t win, we can break through their lines and escape the Boundless Abyss.”

“We might escape, but what about Lily’s other sisters?” Chiya interjected. “They’re not strong enough to survive that kind of battle.”

Rei lowered her gaze in silence, the sting of humiliation tightening in her chest. She knew the truth, she was weak, a burden in the eyes of others. No matter how much it hurt, she accepted it. She had always been delicate, but she faced reality with a level-headed resolve.

“There aren’t that many of them,” Rakshasa-Onna said. “We can protect them as we break through. It won’t complicate things too much.”

The Dark Celestial Maiden commanders began to shift uncomfortably. With their power, they might survive alongside the Supreme Gods. But what about the rest of their sisters? There were far too many. Could they truly protect everyone during a full-scale retreat? How could they escape the grip of twenty Supreme Gods?

“No. It won’t work,” Lily said firmly from the center of the hall. Her rare display of resolve caught the others off guard.

She stepped forward, meeting the eyes of the Dark Celestial Maidens. “Yes, we six could fight our way out while protecting a few. But what about the rest? We are sisters. We face the same enemy and share the same fate. If we leave, we leave together. No one gets left behind.”

Lily’s words struck them silent. Yanagihada and the others had once dismissed her as nothing more than a temptress who clung to the Imperial Princess. Even when she displayed strength, they suspected it was deception. They had blamed her for the Princess’ downfall. Yet in this moment of crisis, it was Lily who stood up for them. And she did it without hesitation.

What was Lyn-hime truly thinking? They had treated her like a captive, shown her no kindness. Could it be that she genuinely saw them as sisters?

Rakshasa-Onna and the others frowned, their expressions tightening with unease.

Six Supreme Gods could feasibly break through an encirclement of twenty rival Supreme Gods, especially since such battles dragged on endlessly and rarely ended in death. A focused strike for the sake of retreat was within reach. But if they tried to take thousands of Big Dipper Stage Celestial Maidens with them, escape would be impossible.

What should they do now?

Yanagihada stepped forward and spoke firmly. “You don’t need to worry about us. We Dark Celestial Maidens have already sworn to defend Hekiraku City with our lives. Honestly, we were never true allies to begin with. We only joined forces to face a common enemy. If you wish to escape, go ahead. We have our pride and won’t drag you down.”

“What did you just say?” Renka, standing behind Rakshasa-Onna, responded with a sharp tone. The atmosphere instantly turned tense.

“Enough, both of you!” Lily’s expression darkened as she spoke with authority. “This discussion only continues on one condition. Everyone must leave the Boundless Abyss together. If anyone is thinking about escaping alone, you’re free to leave right now. But know this, I, Kagami Lily, will not take a single step unless the Dark Celestial Maidens can leave too.”

“Lyn-hime…” The Dark Celestial Maidens stared at Lily, stunned. They had always believed her to be a weak and fickle woman who clung to her stronger sisters. Yet here she stood, resolute and unwavering in a moment of crisis. There was no hesitation in her voice or posture.

“If Lil’ Lily isn’t leaving, then neither am I.” Shimizu stepped beside her, her voice calm and certain.

Queen Kaguya, Chiya, and Rei said nothing. They quietly moved to stand beside Lily, their choice made clear without a word.

Yanagihada lowered her gaze, clearly embarrassed. She realized her earlier words had gone too far. Yet in her heart, doubt still lingered. Could she truly trust Celestial Maidens who hailed from Takamagahara?

“Fine, believe what you will,” Rakshasa-Onna said with a heavy sigh. “Lyn-hime is the Madam’s goddaughter. If anything happens to her, we’ll be held responsible. So, Lily, tell us what to do. We’ll follow your lead. But do you really believe we can fight our way out with all these people?”

Lily turned to Ayaka, confident that her thoughts were already understood. As expected, Ayaka gave a silent nod of reassurance.

Ayaka had anticipated the controversy. Everything she was about to say had been carefully considered.

“During my time in the Heian Dynasty, I led countless battles against rebels and demons,” Ayaka began. “The battles may not compare to the scale we face now, but they taught us something vital: in war, strategy is everything, and deception is often the greatest weapon. The warlords of Yomi-no-kuni are formidable, yes, but we know their strengths well, while they remain uncertain about ours. That gives us a crucial advantage.”

“Starting a war should be our last resort. Even if the six of us Supreme Gods strike together and force a way out, there’s no guarantee everyone will make it. If the enemy focuses their efforts, they could capture one or two of us. So let me ask, who among you is willing to be taken prisoner? Who wants to be paraded before the demons, broken and enslaved? That would be a humiliation worse than death.” As she finished, Ayaka fixed her gaze firmly on Rakshasa-Onna.

Rakshasa-Onna lowered her head in silence. The thought of herself, Asura-Onna, or Lily falling into enemy hands was unbearable.

With no one responding, Ayaka continued calmly.

“Since our true strength is still unknown to them, we have an opening. If we approach them strategically, offering incentives to each side individually, we may be able to turn them against one another. That division will be our opportunity to escape the abyss with everyone intact.”

Ayaka’s eyes shone with quiet confidence. When it came to warfare and strategy, few could match her. The battles of Yomi-no-kuni were often little more than brute-force clashes, chaotic and devoid of finesse. Strategy alone could not overcome overwhelming power, but when the sides were evenly matched or disorganized, careful planning could turn the tide.

“Negotiation?” several sisters repeated, their voices tinged with confusion.

“Exactly,” Ayaka said. “They’re still unaware of what happened to the Imperial Princess. I believe Shimizu can maintain the pretense for a while longer. Using that, we offer the abyssal demon lords a deal: let us evacuate the Dark Celestial Maidens peacefully, and we will return control of the Boundless Abyss to them. That should end the war without bloodshed.”

“The greatest threat lies in the ten demon gods of the Boundless Abyss, especially Kuroyodai-Okutsukokami. His power is second only to the former Imperial Princess, and this is his territory. If we fight here, we are at a disadvantage. But if we can fracture the alliance between the abyssal and Yomi factions, the remaining Yomi Supreme Gods won’t pose the same threat. Some of them, like the Lord of Oblivion, prefer neutrality. With six Supreme Gods on our side, and the Dark Celestial Maidens’ elite forces defending Hekiraku City, they may realize resistance is futile and withdraw on their own.”

The sisters exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

Yanagihada spoke up. “She’s right. The abyssal demons never accepted the Princess’ rule. They’ve always wanted to reclaim the abyss. If we give that to them, they’ll agree without hesitation.”

“But we must keep them from learning the truth about the Imperial Princess,” Yinzuhi added. “If they realize she no longer holds power, they’ll never let the Dark Celestial Maidens go, not after how we’ve treated them all these years.”

“I think only a few of us know the truth,” Ansha said softly. “And… most of those demon gods aren’t exactly clever. I doubt they would figure it out on their own.”

Rei stood quietly in the corner, her expression calm as she contemplated Ayaka’s strategy. ‘Ayaka’s strategy might work, but is there something we’ve overlooked?’ she wondered. The silver-haired goddess of war was not one to accept plans without scrutinizing every angle.

Her gaze swept across the ranks of the Dark Celestial Maidens. While none of them could rival a Supreme God in raw power, their coordination, unwavering discipline, and ruthless efficiency gave them an edge few dared to challenge. It was this cohesion that made them truly fearsome, enough to strike terror into the depths of the abyss.

After careful thought, Rei felt reassured. The truth behind the Imperial Princess’ transformation was known to only a handful, and the loyalty of the Dark Celestial Maidens left little room for betrayal. For now, the secret would remain safe.