Book 2: Chapter 50: Confrontation

s.h.i.+mizus eyes immediately turned cold as she pulled apart the tents hanging screen door.

Then she saw Lily standing upright with a flushed face and Uesugi Rei kneeling behind her as she tried to help her put on the armor. Scattered around Lilys white feet was the rope that had been cut into many pieces.

Rei continued to tighten the belt around Lilys waist and caused her to let out a moan even after noticing s.h.i.+mizu coming in.

Then she looked at s.h.i.+mizu with a tranquil gaze, Lady s.h.i.+mizu, you came just at the right time. When I arrived just now, I saw Lily being tied up and hung in an extremely shameful manner. I thought she was a.s.saulted by some evildoer and came in without permission to save Lil Lyn, I hope you dont mind, do you?

s.h.i.+mizu had a really dark expression as she stood near the entrance, she parted her slightly pale lips and said, Miss Uesugi, that evildoer youre referring to, thats me. I was the one who tied Lily up.

Oh? Hehehe, Lady s.h.i.+mizu sure likes to joke around. Since shes your sister, arent you supposed to pamper her instead? Why are you delivering such a harsh punishment? Uesugi Reis eyebrows twitched a bit, but she still maintained her smile.

Hmph, how I discipline my lil sis is up to me, its none of your business! Im merely punis.h.i.+ng her for being a fickle woman. If she casually goes and rides another womans horse, will Miss Uesugi be able to take it? s.h.i.+mizu asked back coldly.

Uesugi Reis eyes suddenly turned sharp as she held Lily closer to herself, Lady s.h.i.+mizu, are you misunderstanding something? Or did you perhaps overhear some unbelievable rumors?

What are you trying to point at?

Hmm, while I have no idea what Lady s.h.i.+mizu had heard, but since you are training sisters, I might as well let you know, Lily was with me last night.

Say what? s.h.i.+mizus expression immediately darkened evermore.

While being embraced by Rei at the waist, Lily felt that the atmosphere was getting heavier by the second. However, she didnt know what to say to break free from this situation.

Hehehehe, dont get it wrong, Lady s.h.i.+mizu. Lily was indeed with me last night, and I, on the other hand, had expressed my feelings to her, isnt that right, Lily?

As though trying to replicate the scene from last night, Uesugi Rei deliberately pulled Lily closer to her. She pressed Lilys waist to make her bent down slightly and drew her face closer like she was going to kiss her, but when she sensed s.h.i.+mizus gloomy spirit power spreading out, she finally stopped with a laugh, Its just that, Lil Lyn she has rejected me.

Huh? For a moment, s.h.i.+mizu blanked out.

If you find it unpleasant that I am too close to Lily, or that you dont want me to hara.s.s Lily anymore, you can come at me instead. Dont take it out on your kindhearted and innocent sister anymore. Of course, its up to me whether I agree with you or not.

Uesugi Rei! Do you always have to be so condescending?! The oppressive spirit power that s.h.i.+mizu had been suppressing burst out all at once, The date of our duel is quickly approaching, but since weve already met, I dont mind s.h.i.+fting it ahead of time.

What?! Lily shouted in surprise, Sister s.h.i.+mizu, ple oomph!

Before she could finish her words, Uesugi Rei covered her mouth and lightly pushed Lily away. Then she walked up to s.h.i.+mizu without any fighting intent and stopped right beside her, Minamoto no s.h.i.+mizu, you better treat your training sister with more care, just like how she is treating you with respect. Just now, when I put her down and asked her the reason, she told me that she voluntarily let you tie her up to train her escaping technique.

Is that true? s.h.i.+mizu was shocked to find that Lily hadnt told Uesugi the real reason and looked at her in disbelief.

Since you training sisters are working to better your secret arts, please continue as is, I wont cause any more trouble here. Im sorry for cutting your rope, I will be sure to repay you at a later date, see you again later, Uesugi Rei waved her hand and left.

Wait! You havent answered my question just now, s.h.i.+mizu chided, Our duel, why not do it in advance? Or what, are you scared?

Uesugi Reis slender figure stopped right in front of the entrance as she pushed the door curtain aside. She then continued to walk while shaking her b.u.t.tocks and said with a sarcastic tone, Thats right, Im oh so scared~

She walked out of the tent after that and dropped the door curtain.

As Lily watched Uesugi Reis back disappearing into the distance, a feeling of disappointment suddenly rose in her heart.

Just how did this happen, I only wanted to devote my body and heart to Sister Rinne, I have no intention of hurting Sister Uesugi or Sister s.h.i.+mizu, nor do I want them to fight over me!

Im sorry, Sister Uesugi. If I am just an ordinary girl from this era, I might have chased after you, pulled the hem of your s.h.i.+rt and begged you to take me along, to protect me, but sadly, Im not

I am already devoted to Sister Rinne! My heart is like a block of eternal ice that couldnt be thawed even by you.

Noticing that Lilys gaze was still lingering on the flapping door curtain longingly, s.h.i.+mizus mood sank even more.

From that gaze alone, s.h.i.+mizu could tell that Uesugi Reis position in Lilys heart was higher than hers, and not just by a little bit.

Lily, s.h.i.+mizus dainty voice carried a hint of indifference. Sister s.h.i.+mizu, I I wont force you to answer if its difficult to say it, but this question alone, you must answer. Its something you should be able to.

Lily nodded silently as she peered at s.h.i.+mizu.

Lily, do you have someone you love? I wont ask who that person is, just answer yes or no! Yes. As long as it was something she could answer, Lily wouldnt hide it from Uesugi or s.h.i.+mizu. There was no reason to hesitate at all. Then let me ask you again, that person the person you love, is it a man or a woman? Its a woman, Lily looked down in embarra.s.sment.

Hearing that, s.h.i.+mizu could almost be sure that the one Lily loved was Uesugi Rei. That was much better than hearing she was interested in men anyway, but in a certain sense, she would rather Lily tell her that shes straight. At the very least, she wouldnt have lost to Uesugi Rei that way.

Fine, you may leave now.

Mhm, Lily felt that it would get more awkward if she stayed any longer, thus she walked past s.h.i.+mizu and made her way towards the outside.

Lily, As she reached the doorway, s.h.i.+mizu called out to Lily so she turned around, but s.h.i.+mizu just showed her back with her head tilted down. Rather, she could see s.h.i.+mizus ears getting slightly red.

I like you.1

s.h.i.+mizu fanned out her long hair as she said that.

Ehhh?

A few seconds had pa.s.sed yet Lily remained silent, which could be counted as her answer.

You may leave, Im going to rest. Sister s.h.i.+mizu, take care

Lily dropped the door curtain and walked out of the tent with a complicated feeling.

The bright moon shone down on Lily as she trudged through the late-night camp alone.

Sister s.h.i.+mizu said she likes me Sister Uesugi asked me to become her woman why are the women in this Heian world so fond of me?

And yet I cant respond to their feelings.

As Lily continued to drag her feet back into her tent, she started to tear up.

Sister Rinne, Lily is so lonely. When I reject those gentle hands who reached out to me, I feel all the more lonesome without you giving me your a.s.surance by my side

Lily tried to suppress her tears and lifted her head to look at the full moon. She straightened her chest to pull herself together.

I must go to Heian-kyo as soon as possible, regardless of how dark and dangerous that path is!

However, Lily has a great burden, I cannot throw away my life irresponsibly. Going beyond the realm of sword saint once looked like an impossible dream, but now, I am only two steps away!

Those two steps might be gruelingly hard, especially since I also have not the slightest idea how to go beyond the sword saint, but at the very least, the path to high-tier sword saint is just right before my eyes. Once I get back to the dojo, I will keep challenging the ranked disciples to get more magatama fragments and redouble my training!2

Silva: ITS HEEEERE!! THE CONFESSION SCENE #2!!

Robinxen: She handled that situation so badly. Is it too hard to just go Look girls, Im flattered but theres someone Ive pledged myself to.