Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 217 - Negotiation

The Boundless Abyss, ancient and immeasurable, revealed its full form for only a fleeting moment, an event unseen for countless eons. Whether the demons who witnessed it were blessed or cursed remained uncertain.

Now, the darkness had reclaimed everything, as if that moment of revelation had never occurred.

A lone Dark Celestial Maiden appeared before an immense mountain cliff, its base swarming with grotesque abyssal demons. Their eyes gleamed with hunger and malice, sizing her up like a feast. Yet she stood calm and composed.

“I wish to meet your leader, Kuroyodai-Okutsukokami,” she announced.

“Hahaha, even if you are a Dark Celestial Maiden, you’re still a fine woman! Want to meet Kuroyodai-Okutsukokami? Have a little fun with us first!” A massive, shadow-drenched tentacle demon slithered forward, its appendages lunging greedily toward her.

But she didn’t resist. She allowed the tentacles to wrap around her body and even slip into the gaps of her armor. The surrounding demons stared, bewildered by her lack of resistance.

Yet, after a brief twitch, the tentacles recoiled, shriveling as if scorched by unseen fire.

“You… You’re not even a woman! I sense nothing! No essence, no allure! What in the abyss are you?” the creature hissed, its bioluminescent tendrils thrashing in the air.

“This is the power of the Boundless Imperial Princess. It’s far beyond your comprehension. If I dared to come here alone, I came prepared. I carry a message from Her Highness. If you wish to avoid death, then take me to your leader immediately,” the Maiden said coolly.

The moment they heard the name of the Boundless Imperial Princess, their arrogance crumbled. Fear gripped them. Without delay, several demons turned to report. Shortly after, the Maiden was led to a colossal canyon not far from Hekiraku City. It was home to tens of thousands of demons, including Kuroyodai-Okutsukokami himself and several ancient abyssal gods.

Kuroyodai’s massive form loomed over a quarter of the canyon, like a mountain of writhing shadow and malice.

“Pathetic little Maiden. You dare approach me alone? Do your kind no longer fear death?” Kuroyodai’s voice rumbled through the canyon.

“Maybe she doesn’t fear dying,” another grotesque, bloated demon sneered, saliva dripping from his jaws. “But what about endless torment?”

Unmoved, the Maiden raised her head. “I came alone because I was prepared. But before you act, shouldn’t you hear Her Highness’ decree?”

That single word struck like thunder across the canyon. Kuroyodai’s roar echoed through the abyss, shaking the very ground.

Though the Boundless Imperial Princess had ruled for millennia, never once had she used such a term when addressing Kuroyodai. To declare a decree now was not just bold, it was a direct assertion of dominance.

“Decree?” he bellowed, his voice laced with disbelief and fury.

The Maiden’s voice remained level. “Yes, and it may be her final decree.”

“What did you say?” Kuroyodai’s fury surged, and his massive hand twitched as if he were about to crush the impudent Dark Celestial Maiden on the spot.

“Her Highness intends to depart from the abyss. All of its dominion will be relinquished to you and the other demon gods,” the Dark Celestial Maiden declared, her voice composed and unwavering.

“What?” Shock rippled through the horde of demons. Could it truly be possible that the Imperial Princess, sovereign of the Boundless Abyss for countless millennia, was giving up her rule?

“Her Highness will disregard everything that transpired after her entry into the Hekiraku Realm,” she continued calmly. “She intends to leave this place with her wife, Lyn-hime, and settle far away. The Dark Celestial Maidens will also withdraw from the Boundless Abyss completely.”

Kuralan-Chiyu, a towering demon god near Kuroyodai stepped forward, his voice rumbling. “Hekiraku Realm? What realm is that? What is the Imperial Princess planning now?”

Kunhiza, the shrewd and slippery demon god, sneered. “And why should we believe her? This sounds exactly like one of her schemes. Perhaps she has grown weak, so frail that she can no longer defend herself. Is she simply trying to run away?”

Unshaken by the hostility, the Dark Celestial Maiden replied steadily, “I am only a messenger. These questions are not mine to answer. Her Highness invites you to a meeting three days from now, just outside Hekiraku City. Kuroyodai-Okutsukokami, and the rest of you, may ask her directly.”

“Oh?” A flicker of light gleamed in Kuroyodai’s cavernous eyes. “So the Boundless Imperial Princess plans to show herself at last?”

“That is correct,” she replied. “I wonder…are you and the others willing to face her in person?”

Kuroyodai let out a low, guttural laugh that echoed like grinding stone across the abyss. “Of course we will. If Her Highness wishes to forget the past and meet with us peacefully, we will be there.”

The surrounding demon gods joined in, their laughter rising like a cacophony of madness. Malicious gleams flickered in their eyes as they vanished into the shadows.

The Dark Celestial Maiden remained composed. “Then, in three days, Her Highness will await your arrival outside Hekiraku City. My message is delivered. Farewell.”

“Wait,” growled a voice behind her as two towering demon gods surged forward, blocking her path.

Kunhiza’s serpentine hair writhed as he leered at her. “You’ve delivered your message, but don’t think you can leave so easily. Kuroyodai, permit me to scour her soul to confirm her claims. After that, I’ll reshape her into a plaything for the abyss. A gift for us all, what do you say?”

“Excellent,” Kuroyodai laughed, his voice like thunder. “I doubt Her Highness will abandon her deal over one mere Celestial Maiden. We can return her later, as long as she’s still intact.”

Still unshaken, the Dark Celestial Maiden replied, “Just as Her Highness predicted. Your behavior is exactly as expected. Unfortunately, I am merely the messenger. I am not here to indulge your fantasies.”

As she finished speaking, a scroll materialized in her hand. It unfurled to reveal lurid illustrations of scantily clad women engaged in obscene acts with men.

“Her Highness suggests you entertain yourselves with these for now,” she said dryly, tossing the scroll forward. With that, her body dissolved into a swirl of black ink and vanished into the air.

A stunned silence fell over the gathered demons, their anticipation giving way to outrage and disbelief.

Kunhiza seized the scroll, and with a flare of divine energy, incinerated it on the spot. “Curse you, Celestial wench! You dare to mock us?”

“Three days…” Kuroyodai muttered under his breath, his expression dark. “Boundless Imperial Princess, we shall see what game you are truly playing.” A low, chilling laugh followed, reverberating through the gloom.

Within Hekiraku City, the sisters remained assembled in the main hall.

“They agreed,” Ayaka said, her eyes fixed on the dissipating cloud of ink that had hovered in the center of the hall. Moments ago, it had displayed the vision of the Dark Celestial Maiden acting as their messenger.

“Lyn-hime, Your Highness, just as you predicted,” Yanagihada said with a trace of lingering dread. “Had we sent a real messenger, we would have lost another sister.”

Lily retrieved the painted scroll, a treasure akin to the Record of One Hundred Demons, though of even higher quality. It was a peak-tier Spirit Artifact she had acquired from Lord Shikikai, and of all similar relics she had obtained throughout her journeys in Yomi, this one was the finest. Six sorrowful women were illustrated within, likely victims of Lord Shikikai’s twisted use. Rather than summon them, Lily created a new image of a Dark Celestial Maiden and dispatched it as their messenger.

As the artifact bore no official name, Lily had dubbed it the “Record of One Hundred Maidens.”

“In that case, let us prepare for the meeting three days from now,” Queen Kaguya said. “Still, those demons were ready to violate even a mere messenger. They are utterly without honor. We must approach the meeting with extreme caution.”

“Those demons are consumed by lust and madness,” Rakshasa-Onna spat. “They never had any honor to begin with. I fear this meeting may end in disaster.”

“We should attempt negotiations if possible, and resort to battle only if forced,” Ayaka said. “A full-scale conflict would result in a drawn-out war with devastating losses. Even if talks fail, we can still plant seeds of doubt between the abyssal demon gods and the Yomi forces. That alone would be a gain.”

“Given our current strength, escaping without harm is unlikely,” Asura-Onna added with resignation. “This plan is our best option.”

All the sisters nodded in agreement.

“Then let us begin our preparations and see how things unfold in three days,” Lily said. “Offering the Boundless Abyss should be a tempting enough condition for those demon gods who have suffered under the Imperial Princess for more than a thousand years. Let’s hope it proves effective.”

Despite her words, Lily held little confidence deep down. Even so, if negotiations failed and battle became inevitable, it would be no worse than launching an attack from the start.

Rei had remained silent throughout. Negotiation was indeed the wiser course, as it might fracture the enemy alliance. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with their plan, though the specifics eluded her for now.

Until then, all she could do was move forward one step at a time.

Eventually, the sisters went their separate ways to prepare. The Dark Celestial Maidens, numerous as they were, required careful coordination, and their commanders departed to oversee the arrangements for the meeting in three days.

Lily and Shimizu stepped into a corridor near the castle tower, gazing quietly at the night sky.

“Sister Shimizu,” Lily said, “the key to the upcoming meeting is making them believe that you are still the Boundless Imperial Princess. Whatever schemes they may devise, none of them will act boldly as long as they remain unsure.”

The abyssal denizens had lived under the Imperial Princess’ rule for over a thousand years. Though many resented her, they never dared rebel, knowing they couldn’t win. That fear still lingered. As long as they remained unaware of her true state, they would not dare make a move.

“Don’t worry,” Shimizu replied. “This body was originally mine. They won’t suspect a thing. Yanagihada and the others have already explained every major and minor interaction the Imperial Princess had with the demon lords. I’ve memorized it all.”

Lily observed Shimizu’s calm demeanor and realized she herself was more anxious than her companion. Shimizu’s mental resilience defied logic, wavering between extreme fragility and unshakable strength, depending on the situation.