Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 27 - Daughter of Bishamonten

The Celestial Maidens all glared furiously at Rei, unable to understand what right this woman had to say such things.

Meishin stared at Rei, feeling a strange sense she could not quite put into words. A thousand years ago, she had met Bishamonten a few times. Why did Rei’s features and bearing feel somewhat similar? But after all, it had been a millennium; her impression was hazy. Besides, even if there was a resemblance, what could that possibly prove?

“Ladies, I think you may have misunderstood me. It is not that I do not wish to rescue Lady Bishamonten and Miss Lynne. I ask you all to calm down and hear me out,” Rei said.

Although many of the Celestial Maidens muttered in disapproval, Asazora raised her hand. “Let her speak.”

Rei flicked her long hair back and declared, “In truth, Lynne deliberately allowed herself to be captured by the Yuten Army.”

“What!?” Asazora and the others exclaimed in shock.

“Yuten Castle is protected by a formation laid by the Great Imperial God. Not only you, but even if several beings at the level of the Supreme God joined hands, it might not be broken. Moreover, Ame-no-Tajikarao himself is stationed there. It is absolutely impossible to take the place by force,” Rei explained. “Lynne feigned defeat and allowed herself to be captured, while showing just enough strength to draw the enemy’s attention. In this way, the Yuten Army would certainly regard her as a high-value prisoner and likely confine her in the same prison as Lady Bishamonten, subjecting her to interrogation. At that moment, Lynne would have the chance to get close to Lady Bishamonten and look for an opportunity to free her. The risk is great, but it may still be possible without alarming Ame-no-Tajikarao.”

“If you sisters charge in recklessly, you will only ruin Lynne’s plan, forcing the Yuten Army to heighten their defenses. Not only will you die in vain, but the hope of Bishamonten’s rescue will grow even dimmer. Therefore, I beg you all to cooperate with Lynne, wait for her to act, and prepare an effective support plan.”

As she spoke, Rei bent deeply at the waist, bowing to the assembled Celestial Maidens.

“Just on your words alone, you expect us to do nothing, after we sisters have come here from every corner of Takamagahara at great cost and risk, only to sit idle?” one squad leader demanded angrily.

Asazora also pressed her, saying, “Miss Uesugi, even if we accept what you say, Lynne, though strong, is only at the Celestial Stage. Her strength is about on par with Meishin. What can she achieve alone inside? With so many of us together, is our chance of saving Lady Bishamonten truly less than hers alone? If we wait too long, Lady Bishamonten may well already have been violated multiple times by that interrogator!”

“Miss Uesugi, your Lynne’s courage is admirable, but in my eyes, her chances of success are far too slim. We cannot change our course for such faint hope!” Meishin declared.

“I believe in Lynne. If she says she can do it, then she will surely save Lady Bishamonten. No matter how slim the odds, that is the kind of woman she is! I ask you, sisters, to trust my judgment,” Rei replied, her voice brimming with unwavering faith and devotion to Lily.

The truth was, even she was uncertain in her heart. But if she did not speak this way, these Celestial Maidens would rush headlong into disaster, only making things worse for Lily.

“Who are you? Why should we trust your judgment?” the Celestial Maidens demanded.

“Miss Uesugi, both you and Lynne are brave and worthy of respect. But this matter concerns the future of all Celestial Maidens of Takamagahara and the dignity of Lady Bishamonten herself. We cannot gamble everything on your words alone!” Meishin said harshly. “If you will not go with us, then step aside.”

“Miss Uesugi, I believe you truly want to rescue Lynne and Lady Bishamonten. We trust your character, but we cannot accept your judgment. At such a crucial moment, we must follow the decision of the majority of sisters. Please do not obstruct us any further,” Asazora said coldly.

“Sisters, move out!” Meishin shouted.

The Celestial Maidens raised their voices together, preparing to soar into the sky and launch a direct assault on Yuten Castle.

The situation had become critical. Mere words could no longer hold them back, yet Rei could not allow them to act recklessly and place Lily in even greater danger. She leapt into the air and landed atop a towering ancient tree. Under the dark canopy of night, Rei stood poised and magnificent, her presence commanding awe.

Clang!

She drew her sword, and though the radiance it emitted was not overwhelmingly powerful, every Celestial Maiden instinctively felt its significance deep within their souls.

“This… Lunar Force!?” Asazora gasped.

“This is the Silver Lunar Force! The long-lost power of the Silver Moon, absent from Takamagahara for countless years!” Meishin exclaimed. As a former Lunar Palace guard, her knowledge surpassed most.

Though many of the Celestial Maidens did not recognize this power, they felt an instinctive reverence before it. Many had at least heard of it: the Silver Lunar Force, a legendary power that had once symbolized the Celestial Maidens’ most glorious era, a strength that inspired awe and yearning.

Asazora in particular stood frozen, her heart racing as her eyes locked on the gleaming blade in Rei’s hand. Something about that sword was too extraordinary. She could not shake the sense that, in her youth, she had once felt that same terrifying sword aura before.

“Miss Uesugi, who are you really? How can you wield the Silver Lunar Force?” Meishin demanded, shaken to her core. Even she herself had never mastered the Lunar Force.

“Miss Uesugi, the sword in your hand… what sword is that?” Asazora asked, her voice trembling.

Rei’s silver hair fluttered in the night wind, her icy gaze sharp as her raised sword. With domineering pride and a fierce presence, she declared, “I am the daughter of Bishamonten.”

“What!??”

The announcement exploded through the ranks of the Celestial Maidens, hundreds of voices breaking into stunned uproar.

“This… this…”

“How can this be possible?”

“Lady Bishamonten… actually has a daughter?”

The Celestial Maidens were in turmoil.

Meishin, Asazora, and the few others who had once met Bishamonten a millennium ago wore the most solemn expressions of all. Indeed, even without Rei’s words, they had felt something. Uesugi Rei truly did resemble Lady Bishamonten. Now that she had declared it, the resemblance was undeniable. Though her power was still far beneath Bishamonten’s, her bearing, temperament, and aura carried the same impression as Bishamonten’s youth.

None of them had ever seen Bishamonten at such an age, yet they could sense it now.

But even so, it was far too unbelievable.

Just as the Celestial Maidens faltered in shock and confusion, Rei brought forth a superior spirit treasure shield she had seized from the Yuten Army. The iron shield was massive and heavy, radiating an aura of indestructibility. Yet she swung her sword lightly and slowly, without exerting strength or speed. As if slicing through mochi, she smoothly cut the superior spirit treasure shield cleanly in half.

“Sisters, the blade in my hand is none other than the divine sword my mother wielded when she conquered the four corners of the world, the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.”

The Celestial Maidens gasped in awe once more.

She already resembled Bishamonten so greatly in appearance, and now she wielded the one and only Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi!

Other than the Kusanagi, how many swords under heaven could allow a warrior of the Big Dipper Stage to so effortlessly slice apart a superior spirit treasure shield? Whether or not Rei’s identity could be confirmed, this blade was beyond doubt, the genuine sword!

“You… you truly are Lady Bishamonten’s daughter?” Asazora’s eyes glistened with emotion. As one born of the Celestial Battle Maiden clan, Bishamonten—their leader—was the goddess she had worshipped all her life.

“Ladies, unless it became absolutely necessary, I never wished to reveal my identity. In Takamagahara, you know even better than I what such a revelation means. Lynne and I endured countless hardships to come here, all for the sake of rescuing my mother.”

Rei leapt down and landed before the Celestial Maidens. Dropping to one knee, she knelt solemnly before them, reverent yet unyielding in her dignity.

“Sisters, though my mother left me when I was still a child, can you understand my feelings when I heard she was here in Takamagahara, suffering the humiliation and torment of vile demonesses?”

Using her sword for support, her entire body trembled, silver hair streaming around her. “More than any of you, I long to cast aside life and death, storm Yuten Castle, and clash with those evil gods who oppress my mother! But above all, I must save her. With our strength, we cannot oppose Yuten Castle head-on. Lynne’s plan is our only chance. For this reason, I choose to believe in her. I ask all of you, believe in me as well!”

Rei bowed deeply, lowering her head until her forehead nearly touched the dirt.

Indeed, who could possibly desire Bishamonten’s rescue more than Uesugi Rei? She was her own flesh and blood!

The Celestial Maidens fell silent.

“To think… Lady Bishamonten already has a descendant…”

“Forgive me, Lady Uesugi. I take back my earlier words. It is true, you are more qualified than any of us to decide this.”

At that moment, Asazora drew her katana and stepped forward with commanding presence. Planting her blade into the ground, she too dropped to one knee before Uesugi Rei.

“Lady Uesugi, we of the Azure Squad are of the Celestial Battle Maiden clan. Though today we have not yet saved Lady Bishamonten, it is our fortune to witness the return of her daughter! From this day forth, until Lady Bishamonten is rescued, the Azure Squad shall obey your command!”

Dozens of Azure Squad Celestial Maidens knelt in unison.

Meishin gazed at Rei, her heart in turmoil. Though her instincts told her Rei’s identity was genuine, a sliver of doubt still lingered. Yet at this moment, she understood. The Celestial Maiden rebels were scattered and leaderless, fighting separately. What they needed most was a true banner to rally around.

And who could embody that banner more than the daughter of Bishamonten herself?

“Lady Uesugi! Our Celestial Maiden resistance has long lacked unified command. Now that Lady Bishamonten’s daughter has returned, we are willing to acknowledge you as our Supreme Commander! Please lead us in resisting this darkened Heavenly Way, and win back for our sisters a shred of dignity beneath the sky!”

With that, Meishin drew her blade, thrust it into the ground, and knelt as well.

“We pledge ourselves to follow Lady Uesugi, Supreme Commander of our cause!” Hundreds of Celestial Maidens from every squad dropped to their knees.

This mission had always been about rescuing Bishamonten. Who could be more fitting, more inspiring, to rally them together than her daughter?

“Whether we strike now or wait for the opportune moment, what we do next must come from your command, Supreme Commander!” Meishin declared, bowing low in sincere submission.

Though she was nominally the foremost figure of the rebel forces, her qualifications and status were still lacking. Only a fraction of the resistance had gathered here today. With Bishamonten’s daughter as their banner, they could summon tenfold, even a hundredfold more rebel forces. Perhaps even many Celestial Maidens forced into submission would find the courage to rise.

Meishin cared nothing for her own position within the resistance. Against such overwhelming odds, where failure meant shame and torment beyond words, leading the rebellion had always been too heavy and too difficult a burden. If this woman’s identity was indeed true, then she was more than willing to serve as a general beneath her, gladly yielding command to one with greater power to inspire.