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Volume 11 - Yamata no Orochi: Chapter 21 – The Fourth Stele

“My sisters and I have fought to the death against Minamoto no Yoritomo in Heian-kyo. We were rescued by Racoon Mita, and Lord Taira no Kiyoshi has sheltered many of my sisters. Miss Shizuru is also one of my sworn sisters. Having received the Taira clan’s aid numerous times, it’s only natural for me to kneel before a Taira ancestor,” Lily explained.

“You’ve met ancestor Mita and father?” Shigemori’s face betrayed a mix of surprise and sadness. “How are they?”

Lily narrated the Taira clan’s choice to remain neutral and Mita’s current circumstances. Shigemori’s face turned pale, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

“Then they are well… I am relieved. My Taira clan’s foundations remain intact. Since Miss Kagami knows my elders, I will not obstruct you. But why are you here? Minamoto no Yoritomo is not in these waters.”

“I seek something on that island,” Lily revealed.

To come all the way to these treacherous waters to find something? Naturally, it implied a treasure hunt. Shigemori, who had initially not planned to impede Lily’s group, suddenly became intrigued upon realizing the nature of her quest. “What treasure is on that island?” he asked, his demeanor shifting at the prospect of a hidden treasure.

“This… is vital for me to confront Minamoto no Yoritomo. It holds no value for you, senior,” Lily asserted.

“Really? I find that hard to believe. Lead me to it,” Shigemori insisted, his giant moray eel form undulating in the water. “If it indeed proves useless to me, you’re free to have it. However, if I find value in it, you cannot claim it. As you’re pursuing Yoritomo, I’m inclined to offer assistance, but not at the expense of a treasure that could be beneficial to me.”

The Tsukuyomi swordstyle’s stone steles held no value for males. Lily understood that a confrontation might be inevitable if Shigemori insisted on claiming the stele. Nonetheless, she agreed to his request.

Observing the Sedan, Shigemori commented, “Miss Kagami, your sedan is quite extraordinary.” His long neck stretched out from the sea, eyeing the magnificent treasure.

The entire group landed on the coral reefs of the island, where the dark night and violent seas stripped away any semblance of beauty from the environment. Within a short span, Lily discovered the stele. Submerged in the shallow sea, this imposing structure was visible amidst a few sparse islands – it was the fourth stele of the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle.

“Indeed, it’s quite extraordinary,” remarked Lily’s group, gathered under an umbrella on the terrace of the sedan, their eyes fixed on the corner of the stele. For most of them, it was their first encounter with an authentic Tsukuyomi Swordstyle stele.

Shigemori, unaware of the stele’s existence until now, protested, “What? This stone is peculiar. I’ve never noticed it before. You cannot take it away!”

“Lord Shigemori,” Lily interjected, “this stele records a swordstyle that is exclusively for women. It’s not something you can use. Why do you insist on taking it?”

Unconvinced, Shigemori retorted, “This boulder is unique. How can I be sure it’s worthless to me? It must be a treasure, and it’s mine!” He hastily attempted to store the stele but found it immovable.

Incredulously, he exclaimed, “What!? I can’t store it? It must truly be a treasure!” Despite his formidable strength as a quintuple-soul big dipper arch-demon, and his efforts that churned the sea and skies, the stele remained fixed.

“Impossible!” Shigemori gasped in shock. His body, over a hundred meters in length and capable of crushing islands, was powerless against the stone.

Gathering all his strength and demonic energy, he caused a tumultuous uproar, yet the stele stood unyielding.

Observing this, Lily shook her head. She levitated above the stele, her garments drenched by the sea, and gently placed her hand upon it. With a mere thought, the colossal stone stele vanished, secured within her mirror space.

Caught off balance, Shigemori’s body contorted awkwardly as the stele disappeared. “What? Where’s the stone?” he bellowed in confusion.

“I have secured it,” Lily announced.

Perplexed, Shigemori queried, “How is that possible? My storage artifact, a low-level spirit treasure, can contain entire houses, yet it failed with this stone. How could you store it?”

“Senior Shigemori,” Lily explained, “this treasure is crucial for me but holds no utility for you.”

Doubt flickered in Shigemori’s eyes as he scrutinized Lily, searching for deceit. Yet, her calm, unwavering gaze dispelled his suspicions. After a moment of reflection, he conceded, “It seems this treasure is not fated for me. Keep it. I shall not contest.”

Taira no Shigemori, having transformed into a sea monster, was accustomed to a life of solitude, surrounded by the ever-changing moods of the sea and winds.

“Then, I extend my gratitude for your benevolence, senior,” Lily said respectfully.

“Right, Miss Kagami. If you happen to meet my father, please convey to him that I am well and he needn’t worry,” Shigemori requested, his gaze laden with a mix of emotions.

“I understand. I’ll pass on your message,” Lily assured.

“Wait. Tell him… there’s no need to search for me. And, you… don’t tell him about my demonization.”

“…Understood,” Lily nodded amidst the rain and wind. Before departing, she offered a respectful bow to Shigemori.

With the fourth stele now in their possession, Lily and her group made their way back to Owari. En route, Lily delved into her mirror space to examine the stele. Beyond the ethereal and mysterious Tsukuyomi sword techniques it detailed, ancient text adorned its surface, reading, “Path of the Heavenly Dance.”

“Tsukuyomi Swordstyle’s fourth form, Heavenly Dance Path,” Lily mused silently. Unlike the Thousand Sakura Path, this name provided a clear indication of its nature. However, the intricate sword carvings on the stele evoked a mix of profound, bewildering, and mesmerizing feelings.

Circling to the stele’s rear, Lily found herself facing tiny, ancient script accompanied by guiding techniques. A sense of bewilderment washed over her as she read the small text. “What? To practice the fourth form, it requires two celestial maidens as dance partners

¹?” The realization caused Lily’s heart to flutter. The thought of engaging in pair training with one celestial maiden was daunting enough, but with two? The idea filled her with a blend of anticipation and embarrassment, making the prospect both alluring and unnervingly intimate.

The road to Heian-kyo was long, and the army’s march was slow, prompting Lily to originally plan practicing the fourth form during the journey. Achieving success in this form would bolster her confidence against Yoritomo. Otherwise, her advantage lay primarily in attacking alongside Ayaka and little Kimiko.

Opting not to return to Kiyosu Castle, they crossed the Mikawa River, arriving at a chaotic Suruga. As it turned out, Yoritomo’s flags were merely a bluff, a ruse executed by two Hojo throned saints leading several thousand black armored troops in a surprise attack, managing to conquer Suruga entirely. Lily’s group swiftly defeated these attackers, but remained cautious. While the flags turned out to be fake this time, there was no certainty that Yoritomo wouldn’t target Mutsu next.

The assault on Suruga seemed futile on the surface. Yoritomo’s tactics either aimed to distract or delay Lily’s army’s march. Despite the urgency to reach Heian-kyo, they couldn’t afford haste or negligence towards potential threats to their rear.

The Ashikaga clan from Musashi and Sagami provinces communicated their readiness to dispatch troops to Mutsu and Dewa, once Lily’s forces had neutralized the black armored elites and secured the battlefield. Though only two provinces, Mutsu and Dewa’s combined expanse rivaled the entirety of Japan’s eastern side, including Chubu and Kansai. The vast, desolate land lived up to its ancient name, Mutsu, meaning ‘large and deep’.

The journey from Kanto to Mutsu’s capital was formidable. Even utilizing the sedan, it would take a full week of travel, a distance longer than from Cherry Blossom Valley to Heian-kyo. From their vantage point atop the sedan, Lily’s group surveyed the land, where mountains, though not towering, stretched endlessly like a dark tapestry.

Since retrieving the fourth stele, Lily had been strategizing on mastering the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle’s fourth form. Instead of solitary practice, she decided to first identify suitable dance partners.

Within the mirror space, Lily and Ayaka’s spirit body studied the stele. “Lily, the text on the stele’s back appears differently to me,” Ayaka noted. “It outlines a dual dance method and even a triad coordination practice. Who will be your third partner?”

Lily pondered. The third partner required a Celestial Maiden Physique, which narrowed it down to either Rei or Shimizu. After approaching them, Rei responded with a chuckle, “Celestial Maiden Dance? I’d love to watch you dance in scanty attire, little sister, but dancing myself? Not quite my thing.”

Lily had anticipated this reluctance but still felt disheartened. The prospect of asking Shimizu as the third dancer caused her further anxiety; Shimizu’s unpredictable nature might lead her to take undue liberties during their training

². Nevertheless, Lily found herself with no other option but to approach Shimizu. True to Lily’s concerns, Shimizu accepted the proposal with unsettling eagerness, intensifying Lily’s sense of unease.

A stormy night enveloped them, with distant green lightning and a crimson sky casting an eerie glow. Amidst the desolate landscape, marked by deep lava pits exuding a heavy yomi aura, Lily, Ayaka, Shimizu, Rei, and Shizuka gathered in the sedan’s hall, sipping tea while listening to the wind and rain.

“I’ll practice my swordsmanship while you three train,” Rei declared.

“Understood,” Lily replied.

Lily, Shimizu, and Ayaka retreated to the upper levels of the sedan, ensuring privacy by closing the windows and blinds. They then entered the mirror space to become acquainted with the sword techniques and dance routines.

Meanwhile, Rei practiced her sword skills alone on the terrace, enveloped by the storm. The rain-soaked her completely, and thoughts of Lily training intimately with Ayaka and Shimizu filled her with a sense of solitude.

Seeking solace, Rei visited the open-air hot springs. She undressed, tied up her hair, and submerged herself in the warm waters. The rain caressed her face, shoulders, and exposed skin, a comforting contrast to her inner loneliness.

Footnotes:

Silva: How convenient that she has Shimizu, Rei and Ayaka. Who wanna bet the 5th stele will require 3?

Robinxen: Ironically I feel like Shimizu might be the most strict though…