Volume 5, Chapter 117 – First Prize

Volume 5, Chapter 117 - First Prize

Translator: Yuki

Wait...hadn’t she agreed to face someone in battle in the tournament? Either way, she no longer remembered.

“Miss Kagami, the first prize this time is really amazing!”

“So, what is so amazing about the reward?”

The miko took a deep breath before answering, “The champion gets the privilege and honor of a face to face meeting with the emperor himself, an official fifth rank military position, and a large amount of royal merits. You can exchange the merits for visiting the four shrines, or various treasures, materials, or secret manuals!”

“Oh?” Lily’s eyebrows lifted as if she was interested.

Lily cared not much about the emperor or the official positions, but Heian-kyo’s four shrines? That she had an interest in.

The miko continued, “There’s more!”

“More?”

“This has never appeared before as a prize, a prize valuable enough to attract the world’s participants——Izumo Mountain’s Invitation Scroll.”

“Izumo Mountain’s Invitation Scroll?” Lily asked, shocked.

“That’s right, that Izumo Mountain. The place where the gods met countless years ago, though the gods have all left, Izumo Mountain is still a celestial mountain and spiritual valley. Many legends say that Izumo Mountain is a relic left behind by the gods and contains uncountable profound mysteries and treasures!”

“Also, there are countless reclusive faction dojos, miko temples and celestial ninja temples on the outskirts of Izumo Mountain, even the birthplace of my Fujiwara clan’s onmyouji faction is there. Lady Ayaka trained at Izumo Mountain to become the world’s foremost onmyouji.”

“The world’s greatest Sacred Relic is also on Izumo Mountain!”

After hearing the miko’s introduction of Izumo Mountain, Lily came to understand what an extraordinary holy land it was. She really wanted to visit.

“If I want to visit Izumo Mountain, will it be difficult? What’s with that Invitation Scroll? Is someone actually selling admission scrolls?”

“Hehe, Miss Kagami, you should definitely not say that in public, the world would say that female samurai of the eastern land are all ignorant.”

“It’s not like I know about this.” Lily pouted.

“Miss Kagami, no one is selling Izumo Mountain’s Invitation Scroll. There are only so many of these scrolls in the world, use one and it’s gone forever, it will never appear again.”

“Izumo Mountain is a gigantic, mysterious mountain range. It’s separated into the outskirt valley and the main peak. The main peak is incomparably high, reaching the sky. Though Izumo Mountain is known far and wide, no one has ever climbed to the top of the main peak.”

“What? No one has ever climbed to the peak? What in the world is on that peak?”

“It’s beyond difficult to climb to the peak! Even our master Lady Ayaka, has only gotten infinitesimally close to the peak! It is said that if you climb the peak, you can pray to the gods in Takamagahara. It is the only place in this world where you can directly commune with the gods.”

“You can pray to the gods in Takamagahara?”

Lily’s chest heaved in excitement. The obsession within her, that determination to sacrifice everything for the desire within her heart, once again ignited.

The group left behind her, started whispering between themselves.

“I heard rumors saying that girl is the Lord Chief Advisor’s mistress.”

“What? No wonder the Lord Chief Advisor wanted to give the position to an outsider.”

“To want an outsider to represent our Fujiwara clan, Lord Chief Advisor is too arrogant, doing as she wants!

“But...if that Lily really marries Lord Chief Advisor, couldn’t it be said that she’s a part of our Fujiwara clan?”

“BÌ2uÌ2lÌ2lÌ2sÌ2hÌ2iÌ2tÌ2! There may be same-sex marriages in Heian-kyo, but how can our Fujiwara clan do something so disgraceful!”

“That Kagami Lily must have used her beauty to mystify others and create a name. She won’t get past the preliminaries!”

“That’s right!”

“Wait, I heard that Kagami Lily triumphed over the marial saint’s son in a duel on Ryu Island...”

“What? Impossible! It must be a rumor! Or she used some foul method, I heard that girl is very coquettish, maybe she sold herself for some treasure and manipulated the martial saint’s son to death.”

“Nn...women. It’s very possible she used some method, but this is the Yosh*tsune Memorial, cheating results in death! We cannot allow this Kagami Lily to represent our Fujiwara clan, even if we lose, we can’t allow our dignity to be besmirched!”

“Hmph, it must be that girl tempting Lord Chief Advisor at night, serving Lord Chief Advisor every night and begging for a spot!”

“That’s right, if Lord Chief Advisor insists on doing so, let her. But we can’t follow the example and give the Genji and Taira a target to mock.”

“Silence!” The patriarch commanded, “Uh... I say, shouldn’t we decide on a candidate already?”

The group of Fujiwara eldes nodded and stopped gossiping.

“How about we have Uma Family’s third son participate?”

“......Didn’t he have his leg broken by the Genjis? Why are you mentioning him again?”

“......”

Even after returning to the mansion, Ayaka’s scowl had not left her face. Those Fujiwara elders only desired to fight for fame and benefits, yet were so pedantic!

Hearing that Ayaka had returned, Lily ran out to greet her. Seeing Ayaka, Lily’s face blushed as she asked, “Lady Ayaka, that...I have a request to ask, that is, can I...”

“Lily!” Ayaka angrily ordered, “You will participate in the Memorial Tournament!”

“Eh!?!?” Before Lily’s request could come out, Ayaka had already returned the answer.

“Lady Ayaka, you, which Memorial Tournament are you talking about?” Lily couldn’t believe what she had heard.

“What other Memorial Tournament is there at this time! Of course it’s the Yosh*tsune Memorial Tournament! Go and train! Prepare yourself!” Ayaka was, for some reason, extremely fierce today.

Despite Ayaka’s fierceness, Lily was secretly happy.