Demon Sword Maiden

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After finishing her bath and wrapping herself in a soft robe, Lily turned to Ayaka with a quiet request for a massage.

Lily recalled that during her time with the Fujiwara Clan, Ayaka had studied various medical techniques, including specialized massages that eased fatigue and restored the body.

So far, the massage was purely practical, aimed at helping Lily recover. Nothing unusual had happened—at least, not yet.

Ayaka understood the urgency of Lily's training and chose to assist her without hesitation. Though she wasn't sure how much she could contribute, she kept her doubts to herself.

"How does that feel?" Ayaka asked, gently pressing into Lily's shoulders. She wore the same simple white robe, matching Lily's.

"Mm… it feels amazing. Sister, your hands are incredible," Lily replied, her voice soft with relief. She lay sprawled across a floor mat, finally able to unwind.

"I know a technique that's even better than this one. Would you like to try it?" Ayaka whispered close to her ear.

"Even better?" Lily asked, her voice hesitant. Something in Ayaka's tone made her uneasy.

For Lily, strength had always come first. Any method or tool that could enhance her power—no matter how risky or forbidden—was something she instinctively pursued. Her past was filled with tales of stealing Magatama and forbidden treasures, stories that had become part of her legend.

"Guiding the flow of inner energy?" Lily repeated, intrigued. Though she had the physique of a Supreme God, she knew that even among gods, physical strength varied greatly. Compared to others, she might be stronger than most women but still far from the peak. There was plenty of room to grow.

The moment she heard Ayaka's words, her interest deepened. "If this technique can really strengthen my body, then please, help me with it, Sister."

Ayaka smiled. "I only recently unlocked this ability from the Heavenly Charm Bell. Unfortunately, I can't use it on myself, or I would've already tried it out."

"Then try it on me first," Lily offered. "Teach me how it works, and I'll return the favor later."

Ayaka didn't answer right away. "Hmm… then let's begin." She helped Lily sit upright and knelt behind her. "Now, raise your arms and place your hands behind your head."

"Okay…" Lily complied without understanding the reason, but before she could ask, Ayaka's hands slid around and firmly cupped her chest.

"Wha—? Sister! What are you doing? I thought this was just a massage!"

"This is the conditioning technique used by Celestial Maidens," Ayaka replied calmly, continuing the motion without pause.

"Sister… Please… stop…" Lily gasped, her voice shaky with confusion and embarrassment.

"Lily, you have to take this seriously. This massage promotes the flow of Charm Heavenly Path energy, keeping your life force balanced. You've been suppressing your Charm Energy for too long, that's why your face is always flushed, and you feel restless. If you don't let it circulate, it will build up and affect your mind and body. If you keep treating this like something indecent, I'll get upset," Ayaka whispered beside her ear.

Lily was clearly being fondled by her sister, yet somehow it felt like she was the one in the wrong.

Speechless, Lily wondered if she was just inexperienced. Ayaka was a Celestial Stage expert, and this technique came from ancient times. Maybe it really was legitimate. She tried not to think inappropriate thoughts, but it wasn't easy at all.

After nearly two hours, the conditioning session finally came to an end.

Lily quickly excused herself and rushed back to her room. She couldn't bear another moment of that intense so-called conditioning.

Ayaka's whisper echoed faintly in her mind, "Next time, you'll need to remove your clothes. The effects become stronger the more we escalate. I've only used the first stage so far."

"Next time…" Lily mumbled, her cheeks still flushed. She leaned against the wall in her room, hair slightly tousled. "What am I even doing…"

As she gradually settled, Lily realized how much lighter she felt. Her chest no longer felt tight, and the tension in her body had melted away. The Charm Energy and her inner essence seemed to have returned to balance.

"Regardless of Sister Ayaka's intentions, that technique really was effective…" Lily couldn't deny it. Her body felt more responsive, her core steadier. It hadn't boosted her power outright, but it had made further training far easier.

Just then, her senior sister's voice echoed gently within her mind. "Come, Lily."

"Yes…" Lily answered softly as her consciousness entered the Mirror Dimension.

Rinne sat quietly in Lily's dressing room inside the Mirror Dimension. The space was vast and simple, lined with tatami mats and illuminated by soft lamplight. Painted murals adorned the screen walls, casting gentle shadows.

"Did you enjoy yourself, Lily? With Shimizu in Hekiraku Realm?" Rinne asked, her voice cool and unreadable.

Lily froze, her face turning crimson. Of course, the mirror had been with her even in Hekiraku Realm. Her senior sister must have seen everything.

"Senior sister, I…" Lily lowered her head. Rinne had always told her to be honest with the ones who gave their hearts for her. Even so, saying it aloud felt unbearable.

Sensing Lily's hesitation, Rinne spoke firmly. "Come here, and accept your punishment."

"Huh?" Lily was caught off guard. She knew she had acted boldly, but hadn't Rinne been the one who encouraged her and even gifted her that perfume? "Senior sister?" she asked quietly, her expression a mix of confusion and hurt.

"I know you feel confused and perhaps wronged, Lily," Rinne replied gently. "But I have my reasons for this punishment."

"Miss Shimizu is utterly devoted to you. She would give up everything, perhaps even her soul. She doesn't follow the rules, but her heart is sincere. If you rejected her, it might have pushed her beyond recovery. And… I believe you care for her too. Considering everything, you made the right choice." Rinne's expression softened into an approving smile.

"Then why punish me if I did the right thing?" Lily asked. Deep down, she still felt guilty, like she had betrayed the one person she looked up to the most.

Rinne's tone turned more serious. "Your actions served the greater good and aided the Heavenly Path, and that deserves recognition. But as a woman, some of your choices—while effective—were not exactly proper, were they?"

"…I suppose that's true," Lily murmured after a pause. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she knelt down respectfully. "Senior sister, I admit my mistake."

"Oh? Then tell me, what is it that you believe you've done wrong?"

"My mistake is simply that I was born a woman."

Rinne raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"When it comes to the Heavenly Path, my honor, my feelings, and the well-being of my sisters, I believe I did what was right. The only mistake is that I am a woman. If a man had done the same, he would be praised for weighing all sides and acting for the greater good. But when a woman does it, she's called reckless and shameless. Senior sister, you once told me not to let my sisters suffer just to uphold worldly values. Ignoring their pain would only bring more harm. Still, I can't change that I'm a woman, nor the way this world judges us."

"Even if I am only a woman, I will do everything in my power to protect my sisters and help them live happy lives. I will carry the burden, face the consequences, and bear the blame on my own. I don't intend to change the world's values… I was raised under them, after all. I know what I did may be seen as wrong. But I don't regret it. I won't make excuses. If I am guilty, then I will accept the punishment."

"If I was wrong, then I deserve to be punished." Lily knelt before Rinne, her voice steady. "Please, Sister. I accept whatever punishment you see fit."

Rinne gazed at her silently before a soft smile formed on her lips. "Lily, you may appear delicate, but your spirit is stronger than any I've known. As a person, you did what was right. But through the eyes of this world, as a woman, you made a mistake."

"But you've misunderstood something. We are not ordinary mortals, we are Celestial Maidens. We do not follow the rules. We create them." Her eyes gleamed with quiet resolve.

"Senior sister…" Lily whispered, her thoughts racing. Was she saying that once their power surpassed everything, they would no longer be bound by worldly expectations?

"Go and fetch the ruler," Rinne said plainly.

"Huh?" Lily looked up in confusion. "Sister, didn't you just say we're not bound by those values?"

"I did. But your heart still is," Rinne replied. "Until you shed that burden from within, it will cling to you. That's why this punishment is necessary."

Blushing, Lily fetched the ruler and knelt, offering it with both hands. Her heart raced as Rinne took the ruler, only to hand it back.

"Take it with you. It would drain too much of my soul energy to appear outside. You'll return to your room and carry out your punishment there."

"…Alright," Lily replied softly, taking the ruler with reddened cheeks.

Shimizu walked through the corridor, fully recovered after several days of rest. Yet her expression remained unsettled.

A certain question had weighed on her mind for quite some time, one Lily had always managed to avoid. But today, Shimizu had made up her mind… she would ask again. She needed to know the truth about that mysterious senior sister.