Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 22 - A Battle of Wits and Courage

The tall young woman before her was the consort of Lord Shikikai. Lily could not fathom how that hideous lord had obtained such a wife, but husband and wife they were. Since it was Riyuki who had brought her into Takamagahara, then this woman must know that it was Lily herself who had slain her husband.

She had likely seen the wanted poster through Riyuki’s hand. Though only a sketch, a woman like her would never overlook the smallest detail. If Lily were recognized, it would bring disaster. She had to be cautious. Her demeanor must differ greatly from what it had been before.

“Who are you? Why do you reek so strongly of monsters?” Lily’s voice came sharp and haughty, brimming with arrogance, the posture of a domineering noble daughter. It suited her reputation as someone extravagant and rash in her actions.

Though Lily had sensed that, while this woman walked the path of the demoness, her essence was still human. From her body emanated the faint fragrance of a mature woman.

Furaku did not grow angry at Lily’s blunt accusation. Still, her sharp words disrupted Furaku’s train of thought about why the girl before her felt oddly familiar.

“Oh? How strange. Here in Takamagahara, even the most beautiful and powerful Celestial Maidens all bow their heads meekly before the gods. They display nothing but servility and repression. Yet, after all these years of subjugation, it seems there still remains a spoiled young lady who has not learned her place?” Furaku stepped forward until she stood before Lily.

Lily rejoiced inwardly. She had not recognized her. The disguise had worked. Then she must press further.

“Hmph, you know who I am, and yet you still have not untied me? Kneel down and lick my feet this instant!” Lily herself was astonished at how boldly and shamelessly the words slipped from her lips.

“My oh my, such a pretty face, but what a vile temper. Could it be that no one at home ever bothered to discipline you?”

“Discipline? All my life it has been I who disciplined others. Who would dare to discipline me?”

“Such boastful talk. And yet, who is it that now sits bound, helpless at my mercy?”

“Shut your mouth, old woman. Those Heroic Gods wield immense power. I fell to them and was captured, and I have nothing to say of it! But what does that have to do with the likes of you? True, I am tied up today, but what of you? You wear no chains, yet your disgrace is greater than mine, you are nothing but broken slaves!” Lily countered without flinching.

“Hehehe, those words might still sway the Celestial Maidens, and I admit there is some truth. But perhaps you have not yet realized who I am. I am no Celestial Maiden. I am a guest so revered that even the Heroic Gods you fear must show me deference.” Furaku leaned close, her breath brushing Lily’s ear. Unlike ordinary women, her body exuded a peculiar fragrance. Like Lily, her presence carried a bewitching allure, though of a wholly different kind.

That hot breath at her ear made Lily shiver. No matter how firm her will, her body betrayed faint traces of discomfort.

Yet she held herself still, lashes trembling, but she refused to yield.

“I know you are no Celestial Maiden. That stench of a demoness clings to you. But even among Takamagahara’s demonesses, you are filth! Lower than slaves! If you’re not pawns of the gods, then you’re nothing but their harlots. Tell me, those old hags running the courtesan district, are they your kin? Did they send you here to fleece money with your tricks?” In her urgency to protect Bishamonten, Lily’s tongue conjured words she herself marveled at, for never before had she spoken so crudely.

“You little girl, your mouth is sharp indeed. But no need to be nervous. Soon enough, I shall see just how sharp it truly is… and how much it can hold.” Furaku’s long fingers brushed lightly across Lily’s supple lips.

The gesture came suddenly, and Lily’s body jolted in spite of herself.

“W-what are you doing?”

Furaku blinked in surprise. Her fingertips naturally carried hints of the Maiden’s Command Technique, though she had not deliberately unleashed it. She had not expected this seemingly imperious young lady to react so strongly.

“Oh my, don’t tell me… your body is actually very sensitive?” Again Furaku whispered, her warm breath tickling Lily’s ear.

“Silence! Demoness! Stay away from me!”

Furaku shook her head with doubt. “Strange… you seem rather weak. Your resistance is far below Bishamonten’s. How then did those Dark Celestial Maidens fail against you?”

“Hmph. Even that Hirotake barely surpassed me, and yet you call me weak? And you, a useless woman, dare to judge me so?”

“Hirotake? What of him?”

With a wave of her hand, six censers appeared in midair. They floated to each corner of the cell, igniting to release curling threads of intoxicating smoke.

Against Bishamonten, Furaku had only used three. That had been a battle of endurance, wearing her down slowly, probing for weakness. After all, Bishamonten was no easy goddess to conquer.

But now, with six censers burning six kinds of incense at once, even Furaku herself would be affected over time. Yet before her stood a young girl. Furaku intended to break her swiftly.

‘She relies solely on her youth and beauty. No doubt she is wealthy and talented, which explains her arrogance. The other Celestial Maidens collapsed, she must possess hidden means of resistance. I must tread carefully. And yet… what troubles me most is, why do I find myself stirred by her presence?’

Gradually, Lily inhaled the drifting fumes.

‘So this is Furaku’s method? Impressive, yes, but it cannot rob me of my will to resist.’

Though her body’s tolerance was not strong, Lily’s will was harder than steel. She had resisted the Fragrance-Breaker Pill until the final breath, how could mere incense subdue her?

“All right, I will not waste time with small talk. They sent me here to make you confess. So I assume you do not intend to confess right away, correct?” Furaku stepped up to Lily and said.

“You are stating the obvious.” Lily sneered.

“Hmph. If you confessed right now it would be no fun.” Furaku moved closer to Lily, slid a hand to the bindings at Lily’s back, and then let her hand drift down until it landed on Lily’s rounded hip, which was sheathed in a thin, ragged green silk skirt.

“Don’t touch me!” Lily twisted, trying to throw Furaku off.

“Oh? Blushing already? How odd. I am merely interrogating you, why would you blush?” Furaku teased.

“Who’s blushing? It’s just hot in here. Why don’t you fan me?” Lily shot back.

“Hot? Then take your clothes off.” Furaku grabbed Lily’s collar and began to pull it aside.

“Stop!” At that moment Furaku’s fingers brushed the exposed skin of Lily’s heaving bosom, and an impossible surge of energy flowed into Furaku’s hand.

A powerful recoil knocked Furaku backward. She staggered several steps and even the eyepatch covering her eyes fell to the floor.

In that instant Lily saw Furaku’s face clearly. The tall woman’s expression froze. In her eyes lingered a strange mix; gentleness tinged with emotion, allure blended with sternness. To Lily, she seemed like the kind of woman who was difficult to deal with.

She was, undeniably, very beautiful.

“What’s the matter? Surprised to see my face? Do you think I’m not as pretty as you?” Furaku asked.

“No, I think you’re beautiful.” Lily replied.

“Eh?” Even Furaku had not expected this sharp-tongued young lady to compliment her. The remark shook her a little. After all, she already felt something for Lily, though she did not understand why.

“But tell me, a woman as beautiful as you, why marry that hideous man? Are you really that base?” Lily immediately struck at the softest point.

Furaku shivered all over. Mentioning why she had married that man was a line she would not allow anyone to cross.

“Shut up!” Furaku’s hand produced a scarlet whip. With a crack it lashed Lily’s chest, tearing a great rent in the green silk and exposing a patch of pale skin.

“What’s this? Upset already? Is that the shameful past you dare not mention?” Lily goaded deliberately.

Furaku understood Lily’s provocation, but she did not allow herself to be further enraged. ‘Hmph. Just a child trying to rile me. Does she not know what happens to those who anger me?’

Furaku approached Lily and gripped her collar. “Tell me. Who are you? How do you know my affairs?”

“Heh heh heh. It seems even a consort like you is not that clever. If we knew nothing about you, why would our rebel forces risk their lives to break into Yuten Castle?” Lily replied.

Furaku thought it through and realized Lily had a point. Furaku’s arrival as an expert interrogator had indeed panicked the rebels. They had rushed into Yuten Castle fearing Bishamonten might break and reveal Takamagahara’s deepest secrets. Furaku herself did not care for those secrets. She only wanted vengeance for her husband.

“That sounds like a reasonable explanation, but you must still be hiding some great secret from me.” Furaku looked down at her fingers, remembering the shock that had sent her flying. She was a Supreme God. This woman’s power had not been much weaker than Hirotake’s. She should be among Takamagahara’s upper tiers, yet she had somehow blasted Furaku back. If it were purely strength, Hirotake would never have captured her. The surge had been strange, as if it belonged to another branch of the Maiden’s Command Technique. Furaku’s skill in interrogation came from cultivating that very technique, yet this woman’s method was different, entirely unlike her own.

“Speak. Who are you? Name your tribe, your origin. The technique you used to repel me and put those Celestial Maidens to sleep, hand it over.” Furaku demanded.

“Tch. Are you stupid, old hag? Where did you get the confidence I would tell you?” Lily spat.

“Is that so? Won’t tell me? Fine. That suits me perfectly. Your little Maiden’s Command Technique will not be enough. Come then. I will take my time making you confess. Don’t bother begging later, milady.” Furaku produced a black collar in her hand.

The collar radiated a curious fluctuation that made Lily flinch. What startled her even more was that Furaku knew the Maiden’s Command Technique.

That was the very trump card Lily had planned to use against Furaku!