Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 13 - Marriage Proposal

Lily already felt deeply uncomfortable just being stared at by these two giant-like Heroic God soldiers. After all, to conceal her identity, she had dressed somewhat too scantily.

‘A body search? Dragged into a hut and groped by these brutes? Never. Do I have no choice but to cut them down here and now?’ Lily was not worried about what might truly happen to her, but if she were to fight here at the checkpoint, the trouble that followed would be far more difficult to resolve. ‘What should I do?’

Rei seemed to have noticed Lily’s dilemma. If it were up to Lily alone, she would have already cut the man down without hesitation. But because this involved Rei’s mother, Lily found herself wavering.

Yet in Rei’s eyes flashed a cold killing intent. These two Heroic God soldiers were merely at the Septuple-soul Big Dipper level. With the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi in her hand, she could kill one instantly.

Once she drew her blade, whether it was one kill or two, the result was the same. Lily would also naturally strike without restraint.

The many other Celestial Maidens who saw Lily being dragged toward the checkpoint all wore grim expressions, their faces filled with both fury and sympathy. Even the few young Celestial Maidens who normally envied Lily showed no trace of schadenfreude at this moment. Yet what could they do? To pass through, one needed proof; without it, things were never simple. To be taken advantage of a little—if it happened to them—so long as it did not cross the bottom line, they too could only endure.

Otherwise, how could they survive in this world where all Celestial Maidens lived under oppression and domination?

However, just as Rei’s hand nearly moved to draw her blade, a booming roar resounded from inside the checkpoint gates.

“Stop!”

A towering man nearly four meters tall emerged, his face flushed red, clad in black armor more ornate than that of the two Heroic God soldiers. He strode forward in great steps.

Seeing Lily being seized by the chubby guard, he did not bother to ask questions. With a loud “Bang!” he threw a punch that sent the guard crashing into the massive stone wall.

The other guard barely managed a word before he too was struck down by another punch.

Lily, feigning weakness to hide her true strength, deliberately allowed herself to be swept down by the force, her body tumbling softly to the ground with a delicate cry.

The red-faced man glanced at Lily, her long legs exposed without concealment, and for a moment even he was entranced. But quickly, he widened his eyes and clenched his teeth, suppressing his urge. Turning instead, he bellowed at the two fallen soldiers, “You depraved scoundrels! How dare you exploit your post to lay hands on this beautiful Celestial Maiden! Were it not for my timely arrival, would you not have ruined such a peerless lady?”

“Lord Moyemaru, we—” The fat guard, his face half mangled, whimpered pitifully in protest.

“Do you take yourselves for the corrupted Kegaretsu clan? We are the Yuten Army! If we spend our days oppressing and plundering Celestial Maidens, how will we ever fight wars? Such conduct only leads to corruption and decay! Lord Ame-no-Tajikarao himself decreed again and again—while serving in the army, it is forbidden to insult innocent Celestial Maidens! You dare defy a direct military order? If word reaches above, your heads will surely roll!” the red-faced giant cursed furiously.

The two soldiers turned pale with fright.

“Hurry and apologize to this Celestial Maiden!” the man barked.

With no choice, the guards knelt before Lily despite their injuries and bowed to her, offering apologies.

Rei helped Lily back to her feet, though she still appeared shaken and frightened.

The red-faced man stepped closer. “Miss Celestial Maiden, you truly are beautiful… ah, no! What I mean is, these two violated military discipline. I will see them punished. Forgive me for the fright.”

Lily shook her head slightly, feigning grievance. “I was not harmed. I thank you for your assistance, my lord.”

“Miss, you must understand,” Moyemaru said, “ahead lies Yuten Castle. Even if the army maintains discipline, there are other Heroic Gods and Kegaretsu who will still oppress and trouble you. That is beyond our control. With such beauty and such frailty, your journey will surely be filled with peril. Why not… become my woman instead?”

“What!?” Both Lily and the other Celestial Maidens were stunned. How could such abrupt words appear right after all that talk of discipline?

“Do not misunderstand!” Moyemaru declared earnestly. “I, Moyemaru, am the commander of this checkpoint, a direct officer under Ame-no-Tajikarao. I would never force you! Lord Tajikarao taught us that if we love a woman, we must pursue her openly and honorably. Never by force, never through coercion or vile tricks. Miss, I have wealth, rank, and strength! Perhaps I am a little ugly, but if you marry me, I will protect you all your life. You will never need to live in fear again. No one would ever dare bully you. How about it? To be my woman is far better than wandering adrift. Marry me!”

Lily was left speechless.

“I am sorry, Lord Moyemaru,” she replied calmly. “Your honesty and valor command my respect. But I have already pledged my heart to another, and I cannot accept your kind proposal.”

“Is that so… what a pity… hahahaha!” Moyemaru suddenly burst into hearty laughter. “Very well then! If the lady is unwilling, I shall not press further. Miss, you may all pass.”

“Huh?”

They had expected Moyemaru to persist, yet he accepted the rejection so straightforwardly. He truly was a rare breed of forthright and generous man. It was not an extraordinary quality in itself, yet within the Heian Dynasty, within the Three Realms, such men were scarce indeed, which made it all the more precious.

Lily bowed respectfully to Moyemaru, not in reverence to his strength, but in respect for his character.

Afterward, the Celestial Maidens together passed through the checkpoint.

“Lynne, you can only say you were fortunate to encounter such an upright officer of the Yuten Army. Though the Yuten Army as a whole was known for strict discipline, not every officer could truly resist abusing their authority when beauty was before them,” Asazora commented as they flew swiftly along the way.

The Celestial Maidens flew thousands of kilometers more through thunderclouds, during which they were harassed by a flock of thunderbirds. These creatures were darlings of lightning itself, their very blood composed of living current, and could soar freely through storm clouds without harm. They often burst out suddenly from the thunderclouds to ambush passing groups.

Yet these Celestial Maidens were clearly well-trained. Coordinating together with precision, they fought off the thunderbirds in an orderly fashion. Without even needing Lily to intervene, they managed to drive the flock away.

They soon arrived at the second checkpoint.

At the gates stood three Yuten Army guards.

“Look, a group of Celestial Maidens!”

“Heh, Yuten Castle is overflowing with men and sorely lacking in beauties! These Celestial Maidens are truly exquisite. My lord, why don’t we toy with them a little before letting them pass?” two of the guards suggested to their officer.

“Silence! Lord Ame-no-Tajikarao has issued stern orders once more. Any who insult a Celestial Maiden shall be judged by military law! Go check their passage documents, everything must be handled according to regulation! With Yuten Castle just behind us, who dares act recklessly?” barked a pale-faced officer clad in brocade-patterned armor, prayer beads hanging at his side.

Thus, the two guards could only sullenly check the papers. Finding nothing amiss, they allowed the maidens to pass. Yet, just as they were about to cross, Lily was suddenly halted by the pale-faced officer.

“Miss, you are truly beautiful! My name is Mohamaru, younger brother of Moyemaru who guards the previous gate. I have wealth, status, and strength… would you marry me?”

Lily fell silent. Another proposal? One at each checkpoint? Were all the Yuten officers truly this blunt and straightforward?

Naturally, Lily refused with polite words.

Mohamaru, however, seemed to find Lily’s group somewhat suspicious. He considered detaining them for further questioning. But since he had just rebuked his men for misconduct, if he now searched them after being refused in marriage, it would seem like petty revenge. Reluctantly, to maintain his image as an upright man, he let Lily and her companions pass.

Only after they had gone some distance did Mohamaru suddenly realize, “No, that’s wrong! Lord Ame-no-Tajikarao taught us to call things as they are, to uphold right as right and wrong as wrong. We must never abuse our power, but neither can we turn a blind eye for the sake of reputation! How could I let suspicious women go simply to preserve my own name?”

“Alas, too late for regret! It seems my discipline as a man of the Yuten Army is still lacking. I was ordered to guard this checkpoint, and cannot abandon my post to pursue them. I will have to report directly to Yuten Castle instead.”

Yuten Castle. As its name implied, though not the largest of Takamagahara’s fortresses, it was certainly the most imposing, grand, and masculine in its aura!

The colossal castle rose one hundred thousand meters high, spanning vast swathes of cloud. Amid the endless sea of mist, it loomed with a weighty presence. Rugged and formidable, the fortress was forged entirely in shades of dark iron-black. Towering pillars, massive beams, and thick stone blocks gave it a raw, unadorned ferocity, without a hint of gaudy ornamentation. It was like an ancient male beast, slumbering across the skies, emanating a power so immense it commanded awe without a single roar.

Lily and her companions finally emerged from the thundercloud belt, reaching a sweltering forested Hakanajima. Standing at its edge, they gazed toward the towering castle in the distance.

“So this is Yuten Castle…” Even from afar, Lily felt her heart tremble. The castle itself seemed to exude an ancient, boundless, and overwhelming force.

“Lily, even if Ame-no-Tajikarao does not act, within Yuten Castle contains a defensive formation left behind by the Great Imperial God of antiquity. You must never attempt to break through by force. The fortress formation alone is powerful enough to defeat you, or even capture you outright,” Rinne warned gravely.

Lily drew a sharp breath, her chest rising and falling. A formation left behind by an ancient Great Imperial God? No wonder it gave her such a chilling sense of dread.

“Miss Lynne, Miss Uesugi, there is no need for more words. Ahead lies Yuten Castle. Let us part ways here and each follow our own path,” Asazora said.

“Sister Asazora, may I ask…how might one enter Yuten Castle? Could you give us some guidance?” Lily asked.

At that very moment, within the colossal beast-like fortress of Yuten Castle itself…

Dark, square, and vast corridors stretched high above, while boundless clouds churned outside.

Striding along the passage was a tall, alluring matron. Her short, deep-violet hair framed an eyepatch that only heightened her mature, seductive air. She wore a luxurious dark and dazzling robe with long sleeves, her figure graceful and supple. Even among the Celestial Maidens accompanying her, Taira no Furaku stood out all the more. Her allure was undeniable, her femininity enhanced by that veil of mystery the eyepatch lent her.

“Lady Furaku, by order of Lord Ame-no-Tajikarao, we are to escort you to the deep prison where Bishamonten is confined,” declared a strikingly tall and handsome officer clad in black-gold armor, his thick brows and bold features radiating martial vigor. Several Yuten soldiers followed behind him as he spoke.