Leave a comment ⇐ PreviousNext ⇒
“Madam Yoruko!” Lily called out, her voice trembling with emotion. The demons around her recognized Yoruko as one of their own—a fellow Sword Demon and companion. Several of them exchanged suspicious glances.
“Fayumi no Yoruko, do you know this woman? If you do, we can spare her,” said a red-haired demon with grayish-green skin, gripping a crude blade in his clawed hands.
Yoruko’s gentle yet sorrowful eyes rested on Lily, but she remained motionless. Her expression soon grew vacant, as though she were retreating into herself.
Then, as if awakening from a trance, she asked, “Who are you?”
“Huh?” Lily’s body trembled. “Madam Yoruko, it’s me! Lily! Don’t you remember? You taught me swordsmanship, the Heavenly Path. I’m your Lily!”
“Lily?” Yoruko’s sorrowful eyes glistened with unshed tears. She tilted her head, as though trying to recall something, but eventually shook it. “I’m sorry, miss. I don’t remember. Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I don’t know you1.”
A mistake? Could there possibly be another person who shared Yoruko’s name, appearance, and unparalleled skill in swordsmanship? No—it was impossible!
Could it be...
Lily’s heart sank as she realized the truth: Madam Yoruko had died after all.
Powerful beings who committed great sins were usually condemned to hell, where they endured endless torment. Most retained their memories so they could properly repent.
Those spared from severe punishment and destined for reincarnation would cross the Bridge of Oblivion, losing all memories of their previous life. It was clear Yoruko hadn’t reincarnated but had instead ended up on Hyakki Street, stripped of her memories.
“Madam Yoruko, you’re from an illustrious clan in Heian-kyo. You were the leader of the Sword Mikos, Fujiwara no Ayaka’s closest friend, and my mentor. Have you forgotten all of this?” Lily’s voice quivered, her eyes brimming with tears.
Yoruko shook her head slowly, her expression dazed. “I... I don’t know what you’re talking about. My name is Fayumi no Yoruko, and I’m here to perfect my swordsmanship. Beyond that... I don’t know anything. I’m sorry, miss...”
“Madam Yoruko!” Lily stood frozen, unsure of what to do or say.
“So, Fayumi, it seems you don’t know her after all,” the red-haired demon growled, turning his piercing gaze toward Lily. “Woman, the Hundred Sword Demons value only swordsmanship. We have no interest in deceit or lust. You wield a blade and dare to wander here after midnight—clearly, you’re strong. Join us. Spar with us under the moonlight. Wouldn’t that be enjoyable?”
With Madam Yoruko among them, the idea of joining the demons to hone her swordsmanship was tempting. But Lily’s destiny lay elsewhere—her path did not allow for such detours.
“I’m sorry,” Lily said firmly. “I must keep moving forward. I cannot join you.”
“That’s unfortunate,” the demon growled, his voice turning guttural and menacing. “Swordsmanship is rooted in bloodshed. We avoid unnecessary killing, but you know the rules of Hyakki Street. If you won’t join us, we have no choice but to kill you.”
What could she do? Every member of the Hundred Sword Demons was a master of the blade—a genius or a lunatic in swordsmanship. On Hyakki Street, nothing mattered more than skill with a sword.
While Lily could manage a few opponents, facing a hundred at once was perilous beyond measure. And with Yoruko among them—her memories lost—how could Lily bring herself to attack her mentor?
Madam Yoruko had lost all memories of her past life. Being already deceased, another death here would mean total annihilation—no hope for reincarnation.
The thought of killing her was unbearable; Lily couldn’t even fathom causing her the slightest injury.
“Can we avoid this? I don’t want to fight you,” Lily pleaded.
At the sight of these faceless entities, Lily’s strength drained away, leaving her paralyzed and unable to move.
It wasn’t just Lily; every demon, including Yoruko, stood frozen in fear.
The black and white Onmyoji spirits glided closer to Yoruko, their hollow voices merging into a single rasping tone. “Fayumi no Yoruko, you have violated the rules of Hyakki Street. You will face Yomi’s judgment. Come with us.”
The spirits flung two heavy chains toward her. One coiled tightly around her neck, while the other shackled her wrists. In a daze, Yoruko silently followed as they dragged her toward the street’s distant end.
Lily screamed Yoruko’s name over and over in her heart but couldn’t find her voice. She yearned to rush forward and fight the spirits to the death, but her body refused to move. Silent tears streamed down her face as she trembled helplessly3.
Then, Yoruko turned to look back at Lily. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came. Her expression was one of profound sorrow and unspoken affection, as though something had surfaced in her memory.
The black-and-white spirits tugged sharply on the chains, pulling Yoruko away. With a faint, shimmering light, they vanished into the deepening mist at the far end of the street.
Lily knelt on the ground, utterly powerless. Her long hair fell in disarray around her, and her expression grew blank with despair. “What is this? What kind of path is this supposed to be...?”
The demons began to move again, their paralysis lifted. One by one, they closed in on Lily, drawing their weapons with grim determination.
“Woman, you’ve seen it for yourself. This isn’t personal. If we don’t kill you, the curse of Hyakki Street will condemn us all.”
“You must have realized by now. There’s no other way. Accept your fate and die.”
The demons encircled Lily, their weapons poised to strike. They swung with practiced precision, as if repeating a ritual they had performed countless times before.
“Why... Why must it be like this?!” Lily’s fury erupted into a piercing cry as she drew the Oborozuki Muramasa with a flash of silver steel.
Her blade met their strikes in a single sweep, parrying multiple weapons at once with a sharp, resonating clash of steel.
“What is this?”
“She’s... unbelievably strong!”
The demons redoubled their efforts, gripping their weapons so tightly that veins bulged along their muscular arms. The pressure mounted, forcing Lily’s slender shoulders to tremble under the strain.
Lily gritted her teeth, her voice trembling with rage. “Madam Yoruko is already dead! Why must she still endure this torment? To hell with the rules of Hyakki Street!”
With a fierce surge of strength, Lily pushed back, flinging the attacking weapons aside. The force of her counterattack sent the powerful demons staggering backward.
Lily leaped into the air, her blade arcing downward in a single, devastating strike that felled the red-haired demon leading the charge.
As she landed, Lily planted her foot firmly on the red-haired demon, pinning his wounded body to the ground. Without hesitation, she turned and launched her next attack.
A nearby demon lunged at Lily from the flank, but before he could strike, her blade flashed and severed his arm cleanly.
The pinned demon beneath her tried to lift his weapon, but Lily shifted her stance, firmly stepping on both his arms. With a deft flick of her blade, she plunged it downward, piercing his Spirit Sea with deadly precision.
“You said it yourself—swordsmanship is about killing. If you’re so obsessed with it, then be ready to face its price!” Lily’s crimson eyes glowed with unrelenting killing intent as she spoke.