Demon Sword Maiden

“Master!” Hyozuhi exclaimed with joy upon seeing Lily return safely. She rushed over and embraced her, affectionately rubbing against her.

“Hyozuhi… don’t be inappropriate,” Lily chided softly.

“I’m sorry, Master. I missed you so much and was worried about you,” Hyozuhi apologized. Once a powerful septuple-soul Big Dipper Stage expert, her defeat had left her shattered, clinging to Lily as her lifeline.

Lily felt a pang of sympathy and couldn’t bring herself to scold Hyozuhi.

“Hyozuhi, how did you return?”

“The Rakshasa Dojo sent word for all the sisters to leave the Female Queendom one by one. They arranged for earth dragons to transport us back, saying that the trial has ended and a new one will be announced soon,” Hyozuhi explained.

“A new trial?” Lily echoed.

Lily wasn’t sure what this new trial would entail, though she already had plans of her own. Whether or not she could act on them depended on the trial’s specifics.

“Hyozuhi, I want to take a bath first,” Lily said. Although purification spells had kept her clean throughout the journey, she hadn’t had the chance to truly relax with a proper bath for a long while.

“Master, I’ll help you bathe!” Hyozuhi eagerly offered.

“Eh? No, that won’t be necessary,” Lily quickly declined.

Lily made her way to the Rakshasa Dojo’s bathhouse, the one reserved for the hundred maidens. It paled in comparison to the luxurious baths of the Female Queendom’s palace. Before parting at the entrance of the Rakshasa Dojo, Queen Kaguya had mentioned taking a walk around the area. Though Lily was somewhat concerned for her, she trusted in the Queen’s strength and hoped she would be safe.

Still, a lingering worry gnawed at Lily. Over the next few days, the hundred maidens returned one by one, but Lily wasn’t permitted to leave the Rakshasa Dojo to check on the Queen.

Lily sought out Rakshasa-Onna to plead for permission, but she happened to run into Asura-Onna as well.

“Lily! You were disrespectful to me before and severely injured Exalted Sovereign Abi Banjo. Though we have no solid proof that you betrayed the Rakshasa Dojo, the matter remains unresolved. We should have called you to receive punishment! However, in light of your meritorious service and your valiant performance during the Hell of Torment battle, we’ve decided to cancel out your demerits. And since you’re still recovering, we will temporarily postpone your punishment,” Asura-Onna said as she approached, gripping Lily’s hand with a serious expression.

“Lily, since you’ve come to us today, do you feel your body has recovered enough to receive your punishment sooner? Or are you simply restless again?” Rakshasa-Onna stood as well, her tone carrying an unmistakable hint of punishment.

“No, no, no, that’s not it!” Lily quickly denied, her face flushing red.

“Oh? Then why are you here?” Rakshasa-Onna pressed.

“I…” Lily hesitated, not daring to bring up her desire to leave again. The Queen’s extended stay outside the Rakshasa Dojo had already irked the sisters. Rakshasa-Onna’s punishments alone were severe enough—Lily couldn’t imagine enduring the wrath of both sisters at once.

With sweat forming on her forehead, Lily quickly changed her words, “I came to ask about the Painting of Flowers Beyond the Shore that I didn’t finish embroidering. I have some free time over the next few days. May I return to complete it?”

“Hehe, how rare to find such a diligent woman. To put it kindly, you’re hardworking. But to be blunt, aren’t you always courting trouble? Just look at where you’ve been and the things you’ve done—have you ever known a moment of peace?” Rakshasa-Onna lectured.

“I’m sorry, I…” Lily stammered, finding it hard to argue, but surely, this wasn’t all her fault, right?

“Alright, the embroidery must be finished eventually. It’s an important task arranged by the Madam,” Rakshasa-Onna said. “Go to the backyard and continue working on it.”

“Yes,” Lily bowed quickly and hurried to the backyard, worried that if she lingered, she might end up punished for saying the wrong thing.

Over the next few days, Lily spent her time embroidering in the courtyard of the Rakshasa Dojo.

One by one, the hundred maidens who had been sent out returned—except for those who never would.

One morning, Renka gathered everyone together. As Lily followed behind, she noticed Renka dressed unusually in a loose long skirt and walking with a slight limp, as if in pain. Whatever had happened to her was unclear.

When the hundred maidens were assembled, only eighty had returned.

Members of the Asura Dojo had also gathered alongside the Rakshasa Dojo.

At the front stood Asura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna, side by side. Many of the hundred maidens had never seen Asura-Onna before, and after a formal introduction, they bowed in respect.

“Sister, please announce the results of the recent pleasure trial,” Rakshasa-Onna prompted.

Asura-Onna unrolled a scroll, glanced at it, and spoke. “During the pleasure trial in the Female Queendom, one woman repeatedly violated the rules, demonstrated a lack of discipline, and caused us to question her loyalty. Her reckless behavior led to numerous disasters. According to the law, she should be personally punished by us sisters.”

At these words, the crowd of hundred maidens gasped, exchanging glances as they speculated about who could be so foolish and unfortunate.

Lily’s heart sank at the ominous tone of the announcement.

“However,” Asura’s tone suddenly shifted, “while this woman committed many errors, she also achieved something that countless others have long dreamed of but never accomplished. She succeeded in pleasing both the Queen of the Female Queendom and the queendom’s commander at the same time.”

“This woman is certainly endlessly charming!” Rakshasa-Onna commented, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The hundred maidens were stunned, wondering who could be so audacious and capable. But there was one among them who felt ashamed.

Sure, being skilled in seduction might impress some, but is it really something to be proud of? Lily thought to herself1.

“She is Kagami Lily,” Asura-Onna declared.

“Eh?!” The hundred maidens turned to Lily in shock, while others, like Tamai and Masako, glared at her with resentment.

“Hmph, what’s so special about that? She just used some underhanded methods!” Tamai muttered bitterly.

“We will now enact rewards and punishments as deserved. First place in this trial goes to none other than Kagami Lily,” Asura-Onna declared.

The hundred maidens sighed in unison. Though most were unhappy, none could protest, as Lily had won the Queen’s favor. Little did they know, the Queen herself was still lingering near the Rakshasa Dojo’s entrance, concerned for Lily’s well-being!

“Second place in this trial is awarded to Takiri Rie.”

“Third place is earned by Masako.”

“Fourth place…”

“And in eighth place, Tamai…” Asura-Onna continued to announce the rankings.

“Tsk, only eighth place? Kagami Lily, just you wait. I won’t let this slide!” Tamai muttered to herself in frustration.

“Seventy-two participants successfully passed this trial. The remaining eight, though they’ve returned, failed to pass. According to the law, they may choose between being sold or sentenced to hard labor,” Asura-Onna announced firmly.

As they watched the winners receive their rewards and the losers dragged off to face hard labor, the remaining maidens felt the weight of the situation. In just half a year, a quarter of them had already been eliminated. The harshness of their reality was undeniable.

“Now, I shall announce the next trial. You will be sent to Okai Prison, located in the desolate wasteland of Yomi between the Rakshasa Dojo and the Asura Dojo. Your task is to subdue the evildoers imprisoned there. While inside Okai Prison, the hundred maidens are permitted to fight freely amongst yourselves2,” Rakshasa-Onna declared.

“Freely fight among ourselves?” The hundred maidens exclaimed in shock.

“This is the chance!” A sharp glint flashed in Lily’s eyes3.