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CHAPTER 12 – YORUKO’S LAST WISH
“Oborozuki Muramasa,” Lily couldn’t help but mention.
The ghost was also taken aback, his expression turning solemn. “Lady samurai, you actually know…”
Although Madam Yoruko didn’t have much interaction with Lily, she imparted a great deal of wisdom about swordsmanship and life. Lily had made a promise to fulfill her final wish: to create Oborozuki Muramasa. This was the ultimate dream of every female samurai.
Coincidentally, Lily had already obtained Oboro Tamahagane. However, no one in this world possessed the skill to handle such an extraordinary material. But now, Lily realized that the legendary Asuka Tribe’s royalty were still alive. Furthermore, their princess was a prodigious weaponsmith. Perhaps she was the only person in the world capable of forging Oborozuki Muramasa.
“I understand,” Lily said solemnly. “As long as time allows, I will definitely go!”
“Lady samurai!” The phantom samurai immediately kowtowed. “Lady samurai, your bravery is the stuff of legends. Perhaps the Princess could be saved! Perhaps our Asuka Tribe could be saved! My family and I have protected the Asuka royalty for generations. Yet, it seems like everything ends with my generation. Lady samurai, please don’t let my sacrifice be in vain! Lady samurai, please!”
As he spoke, the phantom gradually became more translucent. “Lady samurai, I must remind you. Since you defeated those people, you should have the Lunar Crystal. It naturally belongs to you since you slew those evil demons. However, perhaps you didn’t know, non-Throned Sovereigns cannot absorb any Lunar Crystals. Throned Sovereigns can absorb one, while Big Dippers can absorb two. I’m uncertain about the others. Just something for you to bear in mind.”
“Understood, thank you for the reminder.”
“Then, our nation, and Princess Asuka… Please… Thank… You…”
As his Resentment Energy dissipated, he was no longer bound to the mortal world and was about to ascend to heaven.
“Senior Samurai, please leave your name!” Lily suddenly remembered something. At the very least, she wanted his nation to know of his brave sacrifice.
“My name is… Kazama…”
The samurai disappeared.
“You still didn’t tell me your personal name, though?”
The grave of the nameless samurai evoked a sense of sorrow and heroism.
Perhaps, for this world, this name was fitting enough.
In order to forge Oborozuki Muramasa, for her own sake and for Madam Yoruko’s, Lily knew she had to undertake this task sooner or later. However, at this moment, time was not on her side.
“Respected samurai, someday, I will definitely journey to Iyo Island,” Lily declared with determination.
She double-checked her loot, but there were no other unique items to be found. If the head had still been alive, it would not have been allowed into the Mirror Dimension. Lily speculated that in the heat of battle, she hadn’t noticed the head’s demise, leading to its storage.
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Turning towards Ayaka, Lily spoke with concern in her voice, “Sister Ayaka…”
Ayaka’s gaze seemed vacant, as if she were lost in a daze. This was a new and unsettling sight for Lily.
“Sister Ayaka, what has happened to you? You haven’t said a word since earlier…” Lily inquired, worried for her sister’s well-being.
“Oh…” Ayaka let out a sigh. She appeared to be perspiring, and her breathing was uneven, causing her chest to rise and fall noticeably. Even her beautiful legs1, covered in black stockings2, emanated a warm heat.
“I’m fine, Lily,” Ayaka insisted, her voice carrying a hint of reassurance.
Lily’s concern deepened, and she refused to let it go. “Are you absolutely sure? Sister Ayaka, if there’s anything you need or if you’re feeling uncomfortable, please don’t hesitate to tell me…”
“I assure you, Lily, I am fine,” Ayaka responded, shaking her head. “Perhaps my previous injuries are affecting me…”
Lily couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. Ayaka had never shown this level of fear, not even when she faced execution on the platform.
Lily sensed that Ayaka was keeping something from her.
“Let’s continue,” Ayaka said, glancing briefly at the grave of the nameless samurai.
“Mmm…” Lily nodded, her worry for Ayaka evident in her eyes as they moved forward together.
Ashikaga Kiyoshi awakened in a dimly lit bamboo hut, his body tightly wrapped in bandages. He attempted to sit up but quickly realized his immobility.
“I…,” Kiyoshi’s voice came out raspy and deeper than usual. “I’m still alive?”
A woman’s voice responded from the shadows, her figure obscured by a cloak and an eerie smiling mask. “Your Highness, you have finally regained consciousness.”
Confusion filled Kiyoshi’s eyes as he looked at the mysterious figure. “Who are you? Where am I?”
“Your Highness, please remain calm. My master instructed me to care for you. We discovered you by the river, and you have been unconscious for a month. We are currently in a safe location within Iga-ryu.”
“Iga… I remember fighting to the death near the Tange River. Have I truly drifted to such a distant place? And who is your master? Why did you save me? Are you loyal to the Ashikaga Clan?”
“The Ashikaga Clan? Hehehehe,” the woman chuckled, her voice tinged with amusement. “Your Highness, you underestimate my master.”
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Confusion and caution mingled within Kiyoshi’s gaze. “Then… who is your master, truly?”
“Hehehehe, Your Highness, focus on recovering from your injuries. You hold great influence in the future. If you require anything, simply inform me. Even… when you have regained your strength, your desires…” Her slender arm traced along the bedsheets, inching toward an inappropriate area.
“Hey, show some respect! Do you know who I am?” Kiyoshi’s body may have been immobile, but his indignation remained steadfast. Other than Lady Kagami, he harbored no romantic interests towards anyone in this world. He was not a man driven by base desires. His admiration for Kagami Lily stemmed from her inner strength, not mere appearances.
“Hehehehe, just wait and see. We understand the reason for your current condition, Your Highness. In time, you will come to realize… actually, I am far more deserving. Hehehehe.”
With a sinister smile, the woman exited the hut, leaving Kiyoshi to his helpless state. He yearned to escape this place as soon as possible, but his immobility prevented any action. He could only gaze at the ceiling in frustration.
“Lady Kagami, I wonder what has befallen you after being surrounded by enemies… If only I were stronger and more powerful, if I could protect you. I wouldn’t have allowed this… Sigh! Oh, Ashikaga Kiyoshi3. You are… worthless! A disgrace to all men! What right do you have to admire her?”
“This place…” Lily and Ayaka cautiously approached the remnants of a temple.
“The residual energy fluctuations here indicate that a fierce battle took place not too long ago,” Ayaka observed, scanning the area with caution.
“Who could have fought here?” Lily expressed her confusion.
“Hmm? Corpses.” Ayaka pointed out three unrecognizable bodies. “Their auras resemble those of our recent attackers. What could have happened?”
“It seems that this battle occurred before we were attacked, right? Judging by the state of these bodies, it appears they endured great suffering. Perhaps they were forced to flee after confronting a powerful entity here and stumbled upon us on their way back,” Ayaka hypothesized, sharing her confusion.
“They got what they deserved. Surviving a crisis only to continue engaging in evil deeds!” Lily expressed her disdain.
Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of Resentment Energy emanated from the mountain above them.
“What is that?” Lily and Ayaka were shocked. They looked up and saw a colossal monk standing on the slope, towering at least twenty meters tall.
The giant monk possessed an entirely black body with glowing, ominous eyes. In its hands, it gripped a rugged Naginata.
“The Resentment Energy is incredibly strong!” Lily and Ayaka sensed the imminent danger in unison.
This Resentment Energy was unlike anything they had encountered before. Its intensity was overwhelming.
“Who dares trespass upon the Ascending Road? Who?” The thunderous voice of the giant monk reverberated, causing Lily and Ayaka to tremble.
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Ayaka furrowed her brow, contemplating the nature of this being. Could it be a celestial guardian sent from the heavens?
She realized that, even if she exerted all her strength, she would be no match for the giant monk. However, she also recognized that it was not a physical entity but a Vengeful Spirit. While victory might elude her, Ayaka had once possessed the means to counter such adversaries. Even if she couldn’t defeat it, she could at least force it to retreat.
Yet, all her precious treasures were gone now. She found herself powerless against the giant monk.
Lily quickly realized that the giant monk’s strength far surpassed her own. Instead of immediately attacking, she decided to engage in dialogue, hoping that a respectful and honest approach might persuade him to let them pass.
With utmost respect, Lily bowed before the giant monk. “Honorable senior, my sister is in grave danger. We have come here to harness the divine energy and strengthen ourselves, all in an effort to save her. We harbor no ill intentions or desire to intrude upon the Heavenly Gate. If we have offended you in any way, we humbly ask for your forgiveness and request permission to proceed, so that we may rescue our sister.”
The pitch-black giant monk lowered his head, his glowing eyes fixed upon Lily with an overwhelming sense of oppression.
“Rescue someone? Lies! All I have heard from humanity are lies. You cunning women believe you can deceive me with such tales. Those who trespass upon the Heavenly Gate must harbor sinister intentions. If you were not a woman, I would have ended you already. Leave at once!” The giant monk dismissed any notion of reasoning. His inherent contempt for all living beings in the world was insurmountable.
“Senior!” Ayaka interjected, “Who are you? Are you the guardian of the Ascending Road? We simply wish to remain at the foot of the Heavenly Gate. We have no intention of entering. Please grant us passage. If we do attempt to sneak inside, you may then execute us!”
“Just be quiet!” The giant monk erupted in a fit of rage, releasing an intense surge of energy. He leaped down from the slope, brandishing his colossal Naginata and swinging it towards Lily and Ayaka!
“Sister, watch out!” Lily shouted, realizing that Ayaka might not be able to dodge in time. She swiftly pushed her sister away and propelled herself upward. Drawing both of her blades, she attempted to intercept the monk’s attack.
Unfortunately, the Sakura Parasol was nowhere to be found, which would have been more effective for defense than her current weapons.
With a resounding impact, the strike, deadlier than that of Minamoto no Yoritomo, collided with Lily’s blades, sending forth a shower of sparks that illuminated the entire area.
“Ah!” Lily screamed as the force threatened to shatter her arms.
The giant monk was overwhelmingly powerful!
Had Lily not absorbed the Lunar Crystal4, doubling her strength, this strike alone would have severed her bones and tendons, leaving her incapacitated.
References
Robinxen: Mmmm legs~Keissen: Why so oddly specific?Robinxen: Honestly could not work out who this guy was a moment.Robinxen: Good thing that was handed to you.