Demon Sword Maiden

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Lily carried out her punishment with the ruler her senior sister had given her, striking without hesitation or restraint.

Perhaps this was the only way to find peace of mind. Though it was self-inflicted, it had been her senior sister's command, and that alone made it feel as though her sister were delivering the punishment herself.

And somehow, that made it all the more embarrassing.

"As the one who protects my sisters, I must carry everything alone. I did nothing wrong. But I am a woman now, this is undeniable. Whoever I once was, I have no doubts anymore."

She still remembered the world she came from, where she had once been a frail, quiet boy. But that life felt distant now, as if it belonged to someone else entirely.

Not even sixteen years in her old world could compare to a single day in this one. Sometimes, Lily even doubted she had ever truly been a boy at all. Why had her senior sister never brought it up? Why had she recognized Lily without a moment's doubt when she first awakened?

Her senior sister claimed to know everything that had happened during Lily's slumber, yet she never once mentioned Lily's former life. On their final night in the old world, her sister had whispered that she loved her. But who was it she had truly loved… Lily the boy, or Lily as she was now?

No—Lily believed her sister loved her for who she was, no matter the form. But even so, who was her senior sister, really? It was hard to believe they had come to this world by pure coincidence.

Her memories of being a boy had grown dim, buried beneath years of vibrant experience. Aside from her feelings for her senior sister, that former life felt hollow, unimportant.

Lily had embraced her identity as a woman. She was proud to do feminine things, proud to wield strength to protect her sisters, and to savor life's beauty beside them. A single day here was worth more than a decade in the world she'd left behind.

And yet, on this day, part of her wished she were still a man. If she were, perhaps she could cast aside the restraints of worldly values and love her sisters freely, without guilt or hesitation.

Even in her conflict, she could never bear to hurt her sisters. Yet, being a woman made many things more complicated, even when she longed to act without caring for consequences.

A wave of ancient, inexplicable nostalgia swept over her. She trembled as sorrow and guilt surged through her. In her mind's eye, she saw the solemn gazes of Shimizu, Rei, Ayaka, Queen Kaguya…even her senior sister.

Why did this guilt weigh on her so heavily? She hadn't done anything unforgivable, had she? What was this guilt that seemed to echo from another lifetime, as if it had pierced through time itself?

"Sisters… What have I truly done wrong to you? I'm just a girl in my twenties. What kind of burden could I possibly carry from the past?"

She searched her heart for answers but found none. Still, the crushing weight of guilt refused to lift. It felt ancient, as though tied to something that happened long ago. "What did I really do wrong… What was it…?"

"Can someone just tell me… help me understand, so I never make the same mistake again…" Soft, rhythmic sounds echoed from Lily's room, enough to draw attention.

Shimizu, passing through the hallway, stopped in her tracks. Her senses sharpened. "What's going on in Lily's room? Could her senior sister be here?" The thought of that woman alone with Lily, possibly doing something intimate or punishing her again, stirred unease and jealousy deep within her.

Without hesitation, Shimizu moved to Lily's door and opened it. She paused, blinking. What she saw left them both frozen in embarrassment.

Though she had seen Lily in vulnerable moments before, this particular sight caught her completely off guard.

"Lily… what exactly are you doing?"

"I… I…" Lily flushed deeply, completely mortified. This was far worse than being seen fresh out of the bath. That had been an accident. This, however, was impossible to explain. She dreaded what Shimizu might think of her now.

"It's nothing! Really!" Lily threw the ruler aside, scrambled to fix her clothes, and dropped to her knees in a panic. "I was just—"

Shimizu chuckled softly, closing the door behind her. She approached and picked up the ruler. "You don't need to explain, Lily. I get it."

"You don't understand anything!" Lily cried out, her face burning with shame, her emotions in turmoil.

"Still, if this is what you need… just come to me next time. I'll help you. Isn't that better than doing it alone?"

"I don't have any such needs!" Lily protested, her voice cracking with embarrassment. Lily felt like she couldn't cleanse herself of suspicion even if she dove into Lake Biwa and stayed submerged for a week.

Knowing things would spiral if this went on, she quickly changed the subject. "Sister Shimizu, what brings you here this late?"

"You're acting so jumpy," Shimizu teased. "Don't worry, everyone has their secrets. I even have a few… unusual hobbies myself. Maybe we can try some of those games together sometime." She tucked the ruler under her arm with a smirk.

"It's not what you think at all! Give me back my ruler!" Lily reached out in desperation.

"Oh? So you'd rather play alone than let me help? How boring."

"That's not it! This ruler… my senior sister gave it to me. I can't give it away without her permission!"

"Senior sister?" Shimizu's expression stiffened. Realizing the ruler belonged to that woman, she couldn't help but imagine her using it to discipline Lily. Bitterness welled up in her heart, followed by quiet sorrow.

"Lily, who exactly is this senior sister of yours? You promised to tell me. Back in Hekiraku Realm, you avoided the question and said you were worried about the others. But now, surely you can be honest with me."

It was true that Shimizu would eventually have to meet this mysterious senior sister. Now seemed as good a time as any.

Lily took a deep breath, then turned and knelt gracefully in front of Shimizu. "Sister Shimizu, I would like to invite you to meet my senior sister."

"Oh? So it's finally time to meet her?" Shimizu's heart stirred with a mix of emotions. She knew how important this woman was to Lily, yet she couldn't help but feel bitterness. Anyone who could calm Lily so completely, who held such influence over her, felt like a rival… and one she instinctively wanted to confront.

"Please enter the Mirror Dimension, Sister Shimizu," Lily said softly.

"Very well," Shimizu replied, her expression growing serious.

With a single thought, Shimizu entered the Mirror Dimension, arriving in the chamber where Lily's other sisters typically appeared when entering from the outside.

The stone door opened, revealing an octagonal chamber carved from smooth stone. Lily didn't follow. Her senior sister had once told her that, if Shimizu ever came, she would speak with her alone.

Shimizu smirked. Lily's absence meant she could speak freely.

"You must be Shimizu. Come in," a calm voice called from the room ahead, which was softly lit in warm, golden tones. It was the room that normally served as Lily's dressing chamber.

The voice sounded faintly like Lily's, yet carried a tone far more composed and commanding. Lily's voice was sweet and unassuming, sometimes shy, sometimes bold, but always gentle. This woman, by contrast, spoke with a calm elegance that radiated wisdom and quiet authority. Shimizu found herself irritated by it instantly.

'That voice… she's nothing like Lily. She's not easily swayed or controlled. No wonder she always dominates her. And now she's taken Lily for herself? Unforgivable.' Shimizu entered the room, her emotions seething beneath the surface.

To her surprise, she saw a woman seated calmly in the softly lit chamber. Her face and figure were identical to Lily's.

Clad in simple white, without jewelry or embellishment, she radiated quiet beauty. Yet her bearing set her apart with a refined and composed presence, entirely unlike Lily's warmth and vulnerability.

She exuded the poise of someone who had seen far too much and still remained unshaken. A formidable presence.

"You… You…" Shimizu caught herself before blurting anything foolish. She wouldn't let this woman see her flustered—not when she already felt so outmatched. "So, you're the senior sister Lily keeps talking about?" she asked, her voice pitched just a bit higher than usual.

"Yes, I am," the woman answered calmly. "I've been watching you for quite some time, Miss Shimizu. I know how much you've endured… especially in Yomi-no-kuni. You've fought bravely." Her eyes were soft with compassion, yet behind them shimmered a quiet, immovable strength.

She spoke with the kind of grace that made one feel as if the world itself bent gently in her favor. That combination of humility and silent command put Shimizu on edge.

"I'm just a simple woman, so forgive my bluntness. But tell me… what kind of 'sister' are you to Lily? A mentor? A lover? Or something else entirely?" Shimizu's voice was firm, yet her gaze betrayed a flicker of unease. She needed to know the truth.

Rinne let out a soft chuckle, her fingers delicately covering her lips. "This question isn't easy to answer," she said, smiling calmly. "But I believe our relationship is exactly what you suspect it to be." Despite her gentle expression, her sharp and intelligent gaze remained locked on Shimizu.

"What? Just as I assumed? How could you possibly know what I'm thinking?" Shimizu narrowed her eyes, suspicion rising. "Are you some demon in disguise, here to seduce Lily? Or maybe you're another hidden personality within her?" Even as she spoke, uncertainty gnawed at her. She told herself that no matter who this woman was, she could never truly be Lily. Whether it was the gentle sister she knew now or the cold and distant goddess from her fragmented memories, neither felt like this enigmatic woman before her.

And yet, doubt surged from deep within her soul. 'Why is it that when I recall that distant goddess from my broken memories, so different in presence from the Lily I know, I still feel like she might be the real one?'