Demon Sword Maiden
Book 12: Chapter 148: Body

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A soft, stifled gasp escaped Lily’s lips.

"This can't be happening…" Lily panted heavily, knees buckled beneath her as she pressed her trembling hands against the cold, dark floor. Her long hair veiled her flushed cheeks, and beads of sweat trickled down her delicate chin.

"This isn't possible… Why? Why now? I can’t break through the third stage of my Charm Heavenly Path—it feels impossible. This isn't how it was before… Just days ago, when I was with Sister Ayaka, my comprehension still improved. But now… I can’t focus, I can’t clear my mind."

Lily struggled to her feet and staggered toward the door. But before she could take more than a few steps, her legs gave out, and she collapsed. Disheveled and breathless, she reached out with trembling fingers, gripping the wooden door handle and tugging it weakly.

Burdened by Yoritomo's trap, Shuten Doji’s lingering curse, and the torment of the Fragrance-Breaker Pill, not even Lily’s fierce will could withstand the onslaught. She kept her mouth shut, fearing that if she made a sound, something indecent might escape against her will. Uncontrollable, shameful sounds she couldn’t bear to let anyone hear.

Speaking now would only make it seem like she was trying to seduce someone—and that wasn’t her intention at all. Even if she was at the peak of her beauty now, she understood—if no one helped her soon, this might be the last moment of her life.

With great effort, Lily crawled forward, dragging her body to the edge of the platform where she collapsed, gazing into the boundless abyss below. It was a marvel—this Rinpeki Stage, a feat of divine construction, would soon be completed within ten days. And when it was, the grandest wedding Yomi-no-kuni had ever witnessed would commence.

And on that fateful night, Lily would either be defiled… or die.

Death? Perhaps that would be the most merciful escape. But if she died… what would become of her senior sister?

Her mirror still protected the sleeping soul of her senior sister. If Lily died, the Imperial Princess would surely inspect it. Her sister’s soul would be exposed—helpless and vulnerable. That must never happen!

And what of her sisters? If Ayaka returned and found this horror, she would charge into battle without hesitation. That would only lead to tragedy. What of Sister Uesugi, who had entered Yomi for her sake? And Shimizu… Still missing. Even if the Imperial Princess shared her face, they were not the same. Not in the slightest. And Saionji Nanako, what of the promise they shared? What would happen to them all? Grief, suffering, disgrace—would they all be dragged into the same fate as hers?

“It’s not that I’m afraid to die. But… I don’t have the right to.”

Lily gazed at the slowly rising Rinpeki Stage—dark, lavish, and ominous. Her eyes brimmed with sorrow that seemed to have no end. There was no agony greater than humiliation that cut deeper than death itself. Yet, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and endure it.

“I have to live!” Her trembling hand pressed instinctively against her lower abdomen. The unbearable heat, the cravings—it was enough to drive her mad. She knew what awaited her on that night… if she wanted to survive.

“Even if I must betray my senior sister… I will never let her come to harm. No matter the disgrace I endure, she must remain untouched!”

A pained, involuntary whimper escaped her lips. Tears streamed down her face, and even her mouth trembled, her sorrow so great she couldn’t control her own body.

“What a disgrace…” she whispered, but her voice quivered with an unbearable tremor. Her body betrayed her, hips moving with shameful instinct, as if mocking her will. Still, she endured. She had to. If she wanted to live… she had to withstand everything.

“In this condition… what’s the point of reaching the fourth stage or the Celestial realm? I can’t even take ten steps without collapsing… Just like a weak, helpless woman. So powerless… They don’t even need guards to watch me. I couldn’t escape if I tried.”

“That cursed Fragrance-Breaker Pill… It’s monstrous… I’m scared… I’m so scared… I’m afraid I’ll become something shameful… Sisters… where are you? I’m freezing… and burning… all at once… I’m losing my mind…”

Her sisters in the Mirror Dimension had tried to reach her, calling through their Shikigami. But Lily refused to answer. She couldn’t bear to let them see her like this. To any onlooker, she would appear no better than a disgraceful woman, writhing in shame.

If the Imperial Princess had only hurt her body, Lily could have withstood it. But she hadn’t just done that—she had utterly, completely humiliated her. She was being violated by someone she could never accept, yet her own body betrayed her. Her soul felt as if it were about to shatter.

“Please… Someone… anyone… help me…”

But who could she possibly turn to?

She unsheathed Oborozuki Muramasa and slowly turned the blade toward her neck. Death would be painless—a single moment of steel, and it would all be over. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

No…

The door creaked open behind her. The Boundless Imperial Princess stepped inside, draped in her usual black attire, one shoulder bare, marked by ominous demonic tattoos.

Lily quickly sheathed Oborozuki Muramasa, but with her overwhelming power, the Boundless Imperial Princess noticed everything at once. A cold sneer curled silently in the princess’ heart.

She moved beside Lily, knelt down gracefully on one knee, leaned in, and pressed her cheek gently against Lily’s trembling neck.

“Mmm… you still smell divine,” she whispered. “I have to admit, you’re quite impressive. Even after taking the Fragrance-Breaker Pill, you haven’t begged me for release. You know… if you had, I wouldn’t have made you wait for the wedding night.” Her voice dripped with mock affection.

Lily said nothing. She turned her head away, lips tightly sealed, refusing to give her enemy the satisfaction of hearing her voice. She knew that if she spoke, her weakness might slip through—something she used to loathe in others and feared now in herself.

But the Boundless Imperial Princess’ eyes gleamed with dark intent. Without a word, she slipped her hand beneath Lily’s skirt, fingers brushing against the delicate ribbon tied at her hips.

A sudden surge of energy pulsed from her fingertips, rushing into Lily’s body like a violent current.

“Ah…!” A gasp escaped Lily’s lips before she clamped her hand over her mouth, her face burning in shame.

“My, my… so eager,” the princess whispered into her ear. “I’d love nothing more than to make you mine right now—imagine having a child of our own. But no, the finest delicacies should be savored last, don’t you agree?”

“What… what did you just do?” Lily’s voice trembled with dread.

“Heh, you little fox. Smarter than I gave you credit for. So I took precautions—just in case you thought about doing something drastic before our wedding night. Like summoning one of your Shikigami… or worse.”

Her eyes flicked toward the spot where Lily’s cursed blade had once rested.

“So, I sealed your undergarments with a divine barrier. Only a Supreme God could remove them now. But don’t worry—day to day, they’ll feel just like your usual attire.” Her smile was cool, unbothered.

“What…?” Lily’s eyes widened in horror. “What have you done to me? How could you be so cruel?”

“Oh, and you dare speak of humiliation? Have you forgotten how you embarrassed me before the eyes of every demon god in the abyss?” Her voice turned deceptively soft. “Still, I’m not without mercy. If you need to… relieve yourself, speak to the Dark Celestial Maidens. There’s a bathhouse and a washroom under their supervision. They’ll allow you to remove it—but only there. Special curtains will shield your modesty. I have no desire for my subordinates to see what belongs to me.”

“There are still ten days until our wedding. Until then, you’ll wear only that. Don’t worry—the Celestial Maidens will clean it for you during your baths. You won’t have to lift a finger.”

Lily was stunned. Was the Imperial Princess truly mad? She hadn’t even considered those options, yet the woman had already imagined them—and laid down bizarre countermeasures in advance.

‘Despicable… this woman is utterly despicable!’

“Now then, be a good girl and stay put. I won’t tease you anymore—for now. We should avoid seeing each other before the wedding… keep a little mystery, hmm? I’m really looking forward to our night together.” Her voice was a low, sultry chuckle.

With a soft laugh, the Imperial Princess turned and left the room.

She left behind Lily, who knelt in silence—flushed with shame and humiliation, unable to lift her head. But just moments after stepping beyond the doorway…

A sudden, violent coughing fit overtook her. The Imperial Princess grabbed the doorframe for support, glaring at Lily’s room with clenched teeth. Blood dripped from her lips as she slumped against the wall and dropped to one knee.

“How long… how much time do I even have left?” she muttered hoarsely. “Lying with you may worsen my condition—but even so…”

She brought her trembling hand to her face and inhaled Lily’s lingering scent. “So intoxicating… No, I don’t regret it. Even if it kills me, I won’t regret it. You’ll bear my child—your perfect body, my power. Together we’ll create a child stronger than even I am. My bloodline is far too potent… only someone like you could carry it. No ordinary woman would survive it.” She let out a giddy, broken laugh, before coughing again, blood now painting her lips crimson.

Meanwhile, high atop the cliffs overlooking the Boundless Abyss, Queen Kaguya and Chiya quietly watched the construction of the Rinpeki Stage from afar. They were unaware that Lily had been forced to ingest the Fragrance-Breaker Pill. Kaguya-hime lacked both the strength and boldness to scan Hekiraku City directly. If she had known, she would’ve stormed in, no matter the cost.

But even if she did take that risk, the demon gods stationed within the Boundless Abyss were too powerful. Facing just one would be suicide—let alone several. The Imperial Princess wouldn’t even need to lift a finger.

Many of those ancient demon gods possessed strength beyond that of even Supreme Gods.

“Your Majesty, what now? Are we just going to stand by and watch that woman take Lynne for herself?”

“Absolutely not,” Queen Kaguya replied firmly. “But we’re among the few in Yomi-no-kuni who can still help her. If we act rashly and fail, Lynne will have no hope left. We must bide our time and strike only when the moment is right. When that time comes, we’ll save her—even if it costs us our lives.”

Queen Kaguya’s gaze was sharp with conviction. “The powerhouses of Yomi are starting to gather. I’ve seen their eyes—too many are harboring hidden agendas. When chaos breaks loose during the wedding, that will be our chance!”

“All these fools are intoxicated by Lynne’s beauty,” said Chiya with disbelief. “I still can’t believe how easily your rumor spread, Your Majesty—about her possessing the Ice-warm Jade Physique. Now they truly believe that bedding her each night would boost their strength, hundreds or even thousands of times faster than usual!”

“Hmph. It’s true that being near Lily seems to enhance one’s power. So it’s not completely baseless. And beyond her beauty and gentle nature, countless rumors have taken root—about her divine fragrance, her body being a source of nourishment, and other fantastical claims. They sound so plausible that many now share the same desire as we do. That’s what makes this situation so dangerous for her.” Queen Kaguya let out a weary sigh, shaking her head with both sorrow and helpless resignation. “Still… we have no other option. Desperate times demand desperate measures.”

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