Demon Sword Maiden

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"Your Highness, is something wrong? You seem… off," Yanagihada asked gently. Tall and composed, she carried a mature air. As she supported Shimizu, she quickly noticed the subtle irregularities in her behavior. Her experience told her something wasn't quite right.

"I'm fine," Shimizu replied tersely, unwilling to say more.

Yanagihada leaned in and whispered, "Shall I send for two Celestial Maidens to assist you? A bit of alleviation often helps the body recover more quickly."

Shimizu stiffened. She hadn't expected Yanagihada to read her condition so quickly. Under normal circumstances, she would've denied it outright and offered a flimsy excuse. But doing so now would only make her seem more suspicious.

Letting her body soften, Shimizu draped her arms around Yanagihada's neck and leaned into her chest, rising onto her toes to murmur by her ear.

"Sister Yanagihada, you're so perceptive. You saw right through me. I keep getting bullied, and nothing I do seems to go right. Why bother calling those inexperienced girls? You're strong, experienced… Why don't you comfort me instead?"

As she spoke, Shimizu's hand trailed along Yanagihada's waist, firm and toned from years of combat. Without hesitation, her other hand slid up, brushing across Yanagihada's chest.

"Huh?" Yanagihada froze. She had only meant to test Shimizu's response, but the princess had leaned in with full intent. Now, Yanagihada found herself second-guessing everything.

She held only respect for figures like the Shadow Maiden or the Imperial Princess, but never any romantic interest. That included Shimizu. She had only hoped to uncover Shimizu's secret, but ended up involving herself far more than intended. She gently, but firmly, declined.

"Your Highness, please… don't joke like that. You have many beautiful sisters around you. I'm not the one who should comfort you, nor do I deserve that role. Let me take you back to your room. If you need any medicine or spiritual aid, I'll bring it."

Yanagihada turned her down gently while guiding her forward. Shimizu allowed a faint smirk to slip through. She didn't dislike Yanagihada, but had no real interest either. She had only been teasing to keep her at a distance, and to avoid exposing her current state.

'That senior sister… She's truly unfathomable.' Even so, Shimizu had discovered at least one of her weaknesses; she couldn't leave the Mirror Dimension easily. With that in mind, Shimizu resolved to avoid entering the mirror again unless it was absolutely necessary.

Lily picked up the ruler and stepped into the Mirror Dimension to visit her senior sister.

"Oh, Lily, it's best if you keep this," Rinne said, gently taking her hand. "As the one your sisters naturally look to in times of crisis, it's important to treat them kindly. But at the same time, you must uphold your authority."

"Someone they look to? I never thought of myself that way, senior sister. We're all just sisters supporting one another. I don't want to be above anyone."

"If this were a peaceful time, that sentiment would be enough. But in a crisis, unity is essential. You can only lead effectively when everyone follows a clear direction. Without a structured chain of command, you place not only yourself but all of your sisters, and me, in danger. Being too detached or overly accommodating is just as harmful. Excessive kindness can ruin everything. I won't go into details now, but keep this in mind."

Lily didn't believe she had ever indulged her sisters to that extent. She could be firm when needed. Still, the part about being emotionally distant puzzled her. Had she come across that way? Or was this simply a warning for the future?

"I understand, senior sister. I don't wish to hold power over anyone, but I will take responsibility for what's been entrusted to me," Lily said with quiet determination.

Lily had always been willing to do anything for the sake of her sisters.

Her senior sister likely said all that after witnessing her fight with Lord Shikikai. If Lily had noticed Shimizu's unstable mental state sooner, perhaps things wouldn't have escalated. She had nearly placed her senior sister in danger again.

Good intentions alone were never enough. Courage without capability could still lead to disaster. She had to grow stronger, not just for herself, but for everyone she loved.

Though Lily had never wanted to become the kind of woman who commanded others, she knew now that she had no choice, not if she wanted to protect her senior sister and all the others who relied on her.

"It's good that you understand, Lily. But for you, learning the Maiden's Command Technique will be far more difficult than ordinary combat or training."

"Huh?" Lily blinked, confused.

"It's because of your nature… perhaps what people call karma. You've always tried to overcompensate," Rinne said with a layered tone.

"Senior sister? What do you mean? I don't understand," Lily asked earnestly.

"It's nothing. You'll understand in time. The Maiden's Command Technique is about earning your sisters' love, respect, and loyalty in a way that leaves them fulfilled, not resentful or hurt. It is difficult for someone like you to master, but are you willing to learn?" Rinne smiled gently.

Lily didn't hesitate. "If it means making all my sisters truly happy, then of course I want to learn it. That's something I've always longed for." Gripping her senior sister's hand more tightly, Lily added, "Not just my sisters. I want you to be happy too, senior sister. Truly happy."

A soft laugh escaped Rinne. Surprised, she turned her head slightly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, a rare and precious expression.

"All right, Lily. But don't get too ahead of yourself. For now, focus on your training. Your top priority is reaching the Celestial Stage."

"Yes," Lily replied with conviction.

"As for the Maiden's Command Technique, I'll begin teaching you after your breakthrough."

Lily nodded. She knew this was something she had to do and was determined to try. But deep down, uncertainty still lingered. Could she really master it? With her senior sister guiding her, maybe—just maybe—it was possible.

After Lily departed, the blush on her senior sister's face lingered, deepening rather than fading.

"I still don't understand how you became like this… But maybe it's better than what you once were," she murmured to herself.

Steadying her thoughts, she shifted her focus. "Yes. Given Lily's training path, the Maiden's Command Technique should be used with Ayaka first. That will be the most effective approach."

Although the demons' attacks had become increasingly rare in recent days, Lily found no relief in the silence. Each time she gazed into the vast abyss, it felt like an ominous calm before a devastating storm.

"I have to grow stronger… quickly. The Maiden's Command Technique and everything else are secondary. My strength is what truly matters. If I can't defeat those abyssal monsters, then my sisters and I will be reduced to slaves. In that case, what's the point of learning to lead them?" Lily remained clear about her priorities.

She still had many unanswered questions about her senior sister's true identity, Shimizu's mental state, even her own. But Lily possessed a resolute will. If she chose not to dwell on something, she would cast it aside completely.

She seated herself and closed her eyes. With a few steady breaths, she slipped into a deep meditative state. She had all the materials and insight required to reach the Celestial Stage. All that remained was the right opportunity.

That elusive moment…

"What form will it take…?"

Without realizing it, she slipped into a trance, an ideal state of enlightenment. Within this boundless void, she saw a veiled goddess dressed in white, obscured by a shroud of mist. The woman's masked gaze was distant and unreadable.

Who was she? Why did she seem so sorrowful… so distant? Her senior sister had recently spoken of detachment. But Lily had never thought of herself that way. She had always been warm, kindhearted, and guided by emotion rather than aloofness.

It didn't suit her nature at all. She lacked the disposition to be emotionally distant.

"Huh?"

In that moment, a realization dawned on Lily. Perhaps no one else would be struck with sudden inspiration simply by reflecting on their personality and inner nature, then linking it to their advancement path. But this was it. This was exactly what she needed.

Emotional distance and detachment.

Her path was the [Lunar Blossom], and what she truly needed to grasp was the essence of the Lunar Heavenly Path. What was the moon? It ruled the night from above, suspended in the sky alone. Its height made it distant and solitary. And if she walked the Lunar Heavenly Path, how could she not come to understand that same solitude?

Lily envisioned herself striding through the vast night sky, her fingers brushing the cold stone pillars of the Lunar Palace. She gazed upon the world with serene detachment, wrapped in quiet solitude.

She saw the past and present unfold across all three realms, as she immersed herself in the path of the moon.

Loneliness and detachment formed the heart of the Lunar Heavenly Path. In that instant, Lily reached a true understanding. She may have shone brighter than the moon itself.

The moon was solitary and cold, but never emotionless. It dwelled alone in a sky filled with stars, yet carried warmth deep within. Because it lived in a desolate palace high above, it took on the form of a woman without warmth, a figure who had to seek comfort and connection in the world below.

That made it even more vital for her to protect the ones she loved.

A brilliant surge of light burst forth from Lily's room in Hekiraku City. Nearby, the patrolling Dark Celestial Maidens shielded their eyes, temporarily blinded by the sudden brilliance.

"What is that light? It looks like the sun!" Ayaka, studying divine texts in her room, stared in disbelief as the light streamed through the window. For a moment, it felt as though the entire city had ascended into the heavens.

"What… What is that?" Rei was deep in sword training inside the dojo beneath Hekiraku City's stone foundations. The space was completely sealed from the outside world, yet the brilliant white light still managed to pierce through the cracks in the floorboards and stone seams, flooding the room with beams of silvery radiance.

"Huh?" Shimizu had been focused on channeling divine energy, still battling the lingering effects of the senior sister's technique. Suddenly, her body was wrapped in a pure white glow, and an overwhelming sense of peace washed over her. It was as if the elusive longing she had chased for countless years had finally come to rest within her grasp.

"Agh…" Shimizu gasped and lost control, her body going weak as she collapsed, cheeks flushed and hair disheveled across the floor.

"Master?" Nanako, polishing the Sakura Parasol nearby, turned toward the window. Her eyes widened, entranced by the brilliant light that now bathed the night sky outside in pale illumination.

In the world beyond, the Boundless Abyss, once consumed by eternal darkness, was suddenly bathed in hazy lunar light. Within moments, the cliffs and peaks of that desolate realm were flooded with a glow that cast long shadows across the rocky terrain. The horde of demons that had gathered there stood frozen, their astonished expressions reflected in the pale gleam.

"What… What is that light?"

Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the demon ranks. Not one among them had ever witnessed the moon's radiance. Not once in all their lifetimes had they understood that the true ruler of the night was not the abyss, but the silent moon above.