Volume 2, Chapter 69 - The Duel Between Girls Of The East
Translator: Myuu
The Musashi Province was quite far from the Izu Province where Kamakura City was located. The distance of about 200 to 250 kilometers in between mostly consisted of mountain roads. Not only that the provinces were also separated by the northern part of the Sagami Province. ÚpTodated novels on no(v)el()bin(.)com
The road that led to Musashi Province was surrounded by lush pine trees and overgrown thickets. Although it was autumn, the green five-needle pine trees showed no signs of a harsh winter ahead. However, the wind blowing from the gray sky was already chilly.
Lily’s white kimono which was covered with green pine branches pattern matched the scenery around her on this mountain. In fact, her outfit was planned before she set off. It was quite fun to change into a new custom-made kimono whenever she traveled to different places.
These custom-made clothes cost her a few hundred kan, but she didn’t really mind it anymore. There was a tailor in Kamakura City who would often visit Lily’s residence with new fabrics and make her clothes. Lily considered them as small rewards for her arduous training.
Lily walked through the forest and arrived at an open space on top of a hill. An ancient and gloomy gust of wind blew against her long hair and skirt.
T-This powerful and sinister aura...
Lily turned around and gazed into the north.
Behind the hills in the vast wilderness, a mighty volcano that nearly covered half of the sky stood towering between the gray sky and the black soil.
Lily estimated that the volcano was at least 500 kilometers away through her Spirit Sight. Even so, it still managed to obscure the sky. Its gray peak was huge like a screen and it was covered by white snow. Plumes of dense smoke swirled around the summit and bursts of fiery light could be occasionally seen in its eye. It was a menacing sight to behold.
“W-What is this mountain? How can it be this lofty and terrifying...?”
Lily took out her map and checked.
“Could this be the legendary Mount Fuji which stands impressively atop the endless mountains?”
“So that is the heart of the Land of Hundred Demons...?” Lily couldn’t believe that the lair of those demons that threatened the entire Land of the East was pretty much just before her eyes.
An overwhelming sense of fear welled up in her heart. Lily couldn’t help trembling as she stood there, unable to shake off the feeling that Mount Fuji itself was a formidable demon that laid dormant in this word as it silently watched her.
Lily subconsciously held up her Sakura Parasol, feeling a little more at ease with a shield between her and the demonic mountain. She lowered her head and quickly made her way across the open space on the mountain.
Lily could have chosen to travel quicker with a horse, but she felt that walking through the forest was an opportunity to relax and learn. By taking small strides, she could relish the marvels of this diverse world; a sight that would otherwise be fleeting had she chosen to swiftly ride past it. This was greatly beneficial for her intent and perception of this world.
Traveling at this speed, it was estimated it would take three or four more days to pass through Sagami Province and reach the Musashi Province. Lily wasn’t in a hurry either, she was just taking a leisure stroll.
On Lily’s third day of walking leisurely along the road in the wilderness under her umbrella, the sun above the main road in Kamakura City was obscured by rolling gray clouds. And crowds had gathered on both sides of the street.
The time had yet to come...
They continued to wait...
In their eyes, the street and the crowds had vanished. All they could see was each other.
A fallen leaf came fluttering down out of nowhere, blocking the final ray of sunlight from their line of sight.
It was at that moment, Uesugi Rei and Shimizu both moved!
Poof! Shimizu turned into a white haze and carried with her a gust of faintly discernible wind. Just when everyone else was still lost in the quiet and unchanging world, she had rushed a few dozens step forward. She pointed her bamboo scabbard downward and she gripped onto the hilt of her sword tightly, looking as though she would pull it out at any time!
Uesugi Rei unleashed the inner rebellious War Goddess in her too. Her slender legs parted as she strode like a graceful kirin, conjuring up a gust of gale so powerful that the spectators almost couldn’t keep their eyes open!
Before the fluttering leaf could even flip over in the air and as soon as the ray of golden light from the sky reappeared...
It was at that moment!
The two girls standing at the peak of East had crossed swords.
Shring! Tranquil Bamboo in Shimizu’s hands flew out of its sheath with a cold arc of light!
Boom! Uesugi Rei’s Nameless broke through the wind noisily and landed heavily!
Everything turned dark.
The powerful gale ceased and everything turned still again. By the time the spectators recovered their senses, Uesugi Rei and Shimizu had switched positions. They had their backs facing each other and their swords raised.
Neither moved, it was as though everything that happened was just a dream.
Silence permeated the air, it was brief but stifling.
Then all of a sudden... Pfffff!
Shimizu’s clothes burst into pieces. She let out a lovely yelp and instinctively dropped the Tranquil Bamboo in her hand. She kneeled down as she self-consciously covered her chest and between her thighs. Even so, she could barely cover certain parts of her delicate body.
Her pale face was immediately tinted red from both humiliation and shock. Countless shreds of pure white fabric that were still warm with her body heat fluttered weakly in the air before her eyes, like fragments of her dignity that was shattered by Uesugi Rei’s attack...