Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 14 - Bishamonten

The dungeon was dark, stifling, and damp, built of ancient timber and solid stone.

All the stone had been quarried from the depths of Takamagahara’s Hizan, incredibly hard, and the entire prison was reinforced with layers of sealing formations.

Inside the dungeon, the dim, flickering candlelight cast shadows upward from below, illuminating the figure of a tall, elegant woman whose lithe body still bore an alluring, proud curve.

Her long silver hair, like waves of the sea, cascaded freely down her body, covering the pale skin that was barely concealed by narrow pieces of armor glowing faintly with a bluish orchid sheen.

Even after so many years of imprisonment, her flowing silver hair retained its noble luster, smooth and radiant, trailing all the way down to her slender ankles. Yet the metal armor upon her was scarcely larger than one and a half palms in total, and her flawless body was draped only in tatters of once-transparent bluish veils, long since worn and ruined.

Her hands were forced high above her head, slender yet powerful wrists shackled by heavy, pitch-black chains forged from divine Takamagahara steel.

One leg was lifted slightly, her body tilted to the side, the raised thigh resting before the other leg. The straightened foot bore an ankle shackle inscribed with glowing blue runes, which ceaselessly drew a blue energy from her body.

The woman could no longer remember how many years she had been confined here.

At that moment, footsteps echoed through the corridor. To her, such sounds had long become routine.

Most likely, it was time once again for another round of questioning. But no matter what they did, there was nothing she would ever reveal.

The heavy door groaned open. Two black-armored Celestial Maidens of high rank pushed it inward, escorting a group of newcomers inside.

This prison was special, not only was it the deepest, most hidden, and most impregnable part of Yuten Castle, but also one guarded exclusively by Dark Celestial Maidens.

Even the Yuten army itself could not casually approach this place.

“Lady Taira no Furaku, this is the place. By the command of Ame-no-Tajikarao, I cannot remain here for long,” said a tall and handsome Heroic God.

“For the time being, this prison is entrusted entirely to you, Lady Furaku. Yuko’s squad and two full detachments of Dark Celestial Maidens are at your disposal. Should you obtain results, report them to Ame-no-Tajikarao at once.”

With that, the handsome god took his leave. In truth, he found it hard to part with such a chamber, saturated as it was with an intoxicating feminine aura. But this was a strict order of Ame-no-Tajikarao. How could he dare to disobey?

Once the Heroic God departed, Furaku swept her gaze around the cell. She deliberately circled the shackled woman, walking in silence, as though ignoring her entirely.

“This place is not so bad, is it?” Furaku finally remarked.

The woman gave no reply. She had never seen this Furaku before and did not know her identity, but from the aura this eyepatched woman carried, she could tell she was no ordinary person.

‘A Supreme God? And one from the Infernal Path no less? Why would such a demoness appear here?’ she thought inwardly.

But Furaku, after circling once, came to a stop behind her. Her eyes roamed up and down, and she praised openly, “What a flawless body. Powerful yet graceful. These thighs—long, thick, firm, and smooth… truly the form of a perfect warrior woman.”

As she spoke, Furaku slapped her body casually, as though appraising merchandise.

‘Who is this demoness, carrying herself with such crude audacity?’ the prisoner thought to herself.

Only after some time did Furaku finally circle to her front. The imprisoned woman was tall already, but hanging by her chains, her toes barely touching the ground as though she wore invisible heels, she appeared taller still.

Furaku studied her face, lifted her silky silver hair, and said, “Hair like silk, like clouds, so beautiful. It seems that although you are chained here, the Celestial Maidens still tend to your body from time to time, do they not?”

The woman did not answer such questions.

“Ah… to think you were once a War Goddess, Bishamonten, the very symbol of Takamagahara’s beauty and strength, who slew countless gods and demons, striking terror into all. And now, look at you—reduced to this. Even Dark Celestial Maidens can handle your body at will. How shameful, how pitiful…” Furaku’s voice dripped with scorn.

“If not for Ame-no-Tajikarao, your chastity would have long been thrown into the Boundless Abyss, wouldn’t it, War Goddess?” Furaku deliberately lifted her chin as she spoke.

The chained woman finally spoke. “And who are you, demoness, to spout such nonsense before me?”

“Me? I am Taira no Furaku. The heavens are powerless. Among the thousands of Heroic Gods, not a single man could break you, so they summoned me from afar.” With that, Furaku traced her thumb across Bishamonten’s soft pink lips and suddenly pressed it inside. “My task is simple… to pry open this proud and sensual mouth of yours.”

Bishamonten turned her head away with a sharp snort. “Hmph. Ridiculous! You are but a woman. What can you possibly do? I, Bishamonten, having fallen to this state, have long cast aside life and death. If I do not even fear death, what could you possibly make me fear?”

“Hehehehehe… hahaha!” Furaku let out a soft, mocking laugh. “The so-called first Celestial Battle Maiden of Takamagahara, already well past her prime, so mature, yet speaking such childish words?”

From beneath her eyepatch, a cold gleam flashed. “For women, there are far more terrifying things than death.”

“Absurd! I know well what kind of filth you demonesses mean. Such tricks may scare little Celestial Maidens, but do you think such methods will work on me?”

“You speak as though you know them well. Swordplay and battle are what you excel at, but the depths of Herikaku and Yomi brim with torments you cannot even imagine. Do you think the few you know are all there is? If that were true, would they have gone to such lengths to drag me all the way here from the distant Herikaku Realm? But count yourself fortunate…in refusing to confess, you will be made to experience many things unique across all three realms. To yield under such methods will hardly be a shame.”

“Utter nonsense! I will never confess,” Bishamonten declared without hesitation.

“Don’t speak too soon. For all your years, your beauty is still remarkable. That will make my interrogation far more entertaining. Bishamonten, we have no personal grudge. If blame is to be cast, it lies with that woman, she killed my husband! Were it not for my need to rely on Takamagahara to avenge him, I would never have gone to such lengths to interrogate you.”

“Today is only our first meeting, and I am already weary. I intend to bathe and rest. Tomorrow, I shall begin with a few measures.”

Furaku waved her hand, and three ancient, ornate censers appeared in the air.

She turned to the Dark Celestial Maidens guarding the chamber. “Place these three censers in the cell. Light them one by one, from left to right, each an hour apart. Yes… I shall return tomorrow to visit Madam Bishamonten.”

“Madam?” one of the Dark Celestial Maidens asked in puzzlement.

Furaku turned and glanced down at Bishamonten’s waist. “In my eyes, no woman has secrets. If you cannot even see this, no wonder you’ve had no success. This one may look young and beautiful, but she is a mother.”

“What?” Bishamonten trembled. “You… how do you know that?”

Though captured, she would never betray Tsukuyomi no Mikoto. Death itself mattered little to her. The only thing that could shake her heart was her daughter, torn away from her when she was still a child.

“Ah… I think I may have found your weakness,” Furaku said with a faint smile.

“What did you say?” Bishamonten’s voice turned sharp and cold.

“Hehehe… no need to rush. To uncover one weakness after another in a goddess such as you, that is its own delight. Until tomorrow then, Goddess.”

Although Lily sought guidance from the Celestial Maidens on how to enter Yuten Castle, Asazora and the others refused to reveal anything. Yet Lily could not shake the feeling that they knew more than they let on.

At last, they parted ways on that Hakanajima.

Watching the group of Celestial Maidens skirt around Yuten Castle and continue toward their own destination, Lily felt reluctant to part. After all, they had shared this journey for several days.

But Yuten Castle loomed ahead like a colossal beast, its atmosphere thick with murderous intent, its gates sealed tight.

From the floating island, Lily and Rei observed, but never once saw the gates open.

From time to time, merchant caravans or travelers emerged from the thundercloud gorge, yet none approached the city’s gates. All detoured around Yuten Castle and headed into the distance.

This puzzled Lily. She and Rei flew closer and spotted a caravan transporting wine. At its head rode a short, ruddy-faced, kindly-looking old man atop an ox cart. Lily descended before him and offered a courteous bow.

“Greetings, elder.” Lily’s voice was gentle and polite, but when she bent forward, the opening of her dark green bodice revealed a deep, surging valley that drew the eye.

“Hum—cough, cough.” The old man was a lowly celestial commoner, ranked even beneath Celestial Maidens. His caravan was humble and law-abiding. He dared not look directly at Lily’s cleavage, for such was sacrilege toward a Celestial Maiden. Flustered, he turned his head aside and said, “Big sister, what command have you?”

“Eh? Elder, why do you call me big sister, when you are so advanced in years?” Lily asked curiously.

“That is not the way of it,” the old man replied. “Though I have lived one hundred and fifty years, you Celestial Maidens, even the youngest of you are at least five hundred years in age, some nearing a thousand. To call you ‘big sister’ is already beneath your true seniority.”

“Not at all. To find such a venerable senior who still honors our Celestial Maiden lineage… allow me to bow once more.” Lily, in truth, was only in her early twenties, her appearance no more than seventeen or eighteen. For her to salute this old man was no mistake of propriety.

“No, no! How could a deity ever bow to a lowly mortal of Takamagahara? Big sister, whatever you command, speak it plainly,” the elder said in a panic.

“Elder,” Lily turned her gaze to Yuten Castle’s massive gate, a maw like that of a giant beast, “why is it that every caravan bypasses Yuten Castle, never entering? Do they not go inside to trade?”

“You may not know, big sister, but Yuten Castle is no place for commoners like us. It is one of Takamagahara’s most vital fortresses. Even in ordinary times, its defenses are severe. Now, the entire stronghold is on war footing. No one may enter, save for the Yuten army and the great gods of Takamagahara. Sigh… it is said that within Yuten Castle, a most formidable deity is being held captive.”