Book 3: Chapter 107: Nighttime Talk Between Haihime and Lily

By the way, Master. I also heard that the painted incarnation cant be summoned if the main body of the monster painted on the scroll is nearby, Kagura added.

Mhm, Lily nodded and rolled the scroll back up before touching the wide roll gently, simply refusing to put it down.

Although this Record of One Hundred Demons holds an incredibly bizarre power, its also a money-squandering item. It takes four magatama to summon the monster cat once, and even though one hundred monsters can be drawn on this ancient scroll, just how many magatama would be lost to summon a true night parade of one hundred demons? Lily wondered internally.

Youve worked hard, Kagura. Put these treasures away properly and rest well after that, all right? Lily said.

Yes, Master.

Lilys consciousness returned to the outside world and saw that Yumi was actually holding up the parasol for her now.

She had switched with Yuki-Onna at some point in time.

As for Haihime, she was standing within the snow with hands folded to the front and seemed to have changed into a new dress already, actually wearing a decent, light purple kimono this time.

She then bowed to Lily deeply.

Lily and Haihime walked through the corridors of the temple as snow fell from the skies.

Ill have to request Lady Haihime to guide me with regards to collecting the flames, Lily stated.

P-Please dont use the appellation of lady, I dont have the qualifications to have it in front of you, Miss Lily. If you wish to collect the flames of Mt. Fuji, I can guide you to the spot anytime you want.

Lily and Haihime arrived at the latters bedroom after that. The snow-capped courtyard was visible from outside the rooms door since it hadnt suffered much damage from the battle.

Ive arranged for my clansmen to live inside the temple for the time being, so please dont worry too much, Miss Lily. Ill send them to the provinces of Kanto and do my best to look for a region where they can live once the weather turns for the better. Although the monsters of these Endless Demon Mountains serve me now, I believe that my clansmen cant survive in these monster-infested mountains, Haihime stated.

Lily nodded faintly.

Yoriko came into the room at this moment while holding ancient martial arts books in her hands, and Haihime presented them to Lily.

Arent these your clans legacy? Ive gone through them already, so Im pretty grateful for that. However, why are you giving these to me? Lily questioned.

Haihime looked at Yoriko, Yoriko, why dont you return first and rest together with the clansmen?

All right, Yoriko gave Lily a somewhat longing glance and retired from the room.

Haihime closed the door after seeing Yoriko leave and turned around to kneel before Lily suddenly, Miss Lily. I said that Ill give my everything to you if you help me kill that demon.

Eh?

Haihime bowed her head so low that her forehead was almost in contact with the tatami floor and even though her cheeks were just slightly flushed, her tone was far from playful, I am just a useless woman who made the wrong choice. In the end, I was neither able to obtain vengeance nor protect my clansmen, and it nearly ended up with me and my mothers hope getting tarnished. If it werent for you, Miss Lily, I wouldve been living a life worse than death for sure. Moreover, I even treated you like that previously. I know a woman like me is unqualified to serve you, but since I have some of the Endless Demon Mountains monsters under my control now, I believe that I still have some value to you.

Haihime. Please dont mention things like value and such to me. I only acted because Amanojakus brutal and evil deeds pushed my patience to the limit. It wasnt to demand anything from you.

A promise is a promise, Miss Lily. Furthermore, now that my mother has been avenged and my clansmen are safe, I am actually lost about how to live from now on. I feel like Im utterly empty, so please let me follow you. If youre worried that my position as a former loyal aide to the monsters would affect your reputation, I can just serve you in the dark, Haihime stated unhesitantly in a seemingly imploring tone.

Ive never cared about reputation and such things. As long as youre willing, Ill treat you like a sister of mine from now on, Lily stated politely.

No, I dont have such qualifications. Please let me act as your retainer. I-I want you to become my master

Well

Miss Lily, I-I really dont know what to do from now on. Ive gone against the Land of East and cant return to it along with my clansmen with all the crimes Ive committed. Furthermore, even if we live together, well still be somewhat estranged because of the misunderstanding between us in the past, and Ive also become accustomed to living on this mountain.

Lily recalled something suddenly, Haihime, I get what you mean. However, I obtained a pretty incredible treasure from Amanojaku after killing him. Its an item that far exceeds his abilities, so even though this spot seems safe for now, Im worried that his backer might come to avenge him if you continue living in this temple. What would you do then?

Well Lilys words made sense and Haihime also began to worry. If the adults of the Golden-Horned Tribe and Amanojakus father were to really arrive at the surface, they would undoubtedly catch and torture her. Just the thought of it made Haihime s.h.i.+ver.

Haihime, I actually have a proposal for you. Just set the monsters free and move to my territory along with your trusted kunoichi and clansmen, Lily suggested.

Eh? But wouldnt that end up implicating you? After all, Lord Kamakura wont

Lily shook her head, Lord Kamakura wont know about it. I own a valley between the Kai and s.h.i.+nano provinces. Its environment is quite beautiful, and its also hidden pretty well. Its called Cherry Blossom Valley, and its divided into the inner valley and the outer valley. You can just let the clansmen live in the outer valley where they can engage in farming. Ill ask Madam Kotoka to prepare the seeds and equipment required for that. As for you, you can just live in the inner valley. How about it? Yumi will also accompany us. She doesnt want to part from you as well, doesnt she?

Eh, is that true? Is there really such a location in this world? Haihime gave Lily a somewhat excited and longing look.

Its true, Lily nodded wistfully.

Haihimes eyes glistened after finally seeing a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and her mental and physical vitality also recovered because of this glimmer of hope.

She seemed to regain that charming look of hers gradually and leaned aside, undoing the front of her kimono subconsciously while exposing her slim and pretty legs out of the kimono by stretching them to the side, her nebulous aquamarine hair cascading down to one side in the process.

Ill trouble you from now on then, Master.

Huh? Youre much older than me, Haihime, so theres no need to call me master.

Haihime, however, leaned forward meekly and lied down on Lilys thighs directly, Is my age not to your preference, Master? Im not just older, but also a virgin isnt that quite the loss

D-Dont say such a thing. By the way, are you not going to take the name Keiko back?

No, I always want to remember that Im the loser in front of you, Master, while you are the victor, Haihime hugged Lilys waist and pressed her cheek against Lilys underbody.

It was impossible for Lily to feel nothing after such intimate contact and her breathing turned a little rough as well.

Fine, then, so be it. Just get up now, alright?

Lily yielded with a show of reluctance and helped Haihime up.

I have something to ask you, Master. What is it? Uhm. Did you see a key among the treasures you obtained from Amanojaku, Master? A key? Yes, its a little bra.s.s key.

Lily didnt pay much attention to the items, so she couldnt recall it, Which treasurys key is it?

A treasurys key, you say. In a certain sense, you could call it one, I guess, Haihime replied charmingly.

Thus, Lily asked Kagura about it.

Theres really such a key, Master. I planned to throw it away tomorrow since I found nothing special about it after appraising it, Kagura replied from the mirror s.p.a.ce.

Eh? Dont throw it away. Give it to me instead, Lily stated.

The key naturally wasnt a grade 6 treasure or anything and was just a tough key made from grade 4 bra.s.s, thats all. However, Lily had found a way to allow an item lower than grade 6 inside the mirror s.p.a.ce, which was to let her s.h.i.+kigami carry it on them. Kaguras dress, undergarments and underwear, for example, werent grade 6 treasures for certain, but they werent ejected out from the mirror s.p.a.ce, so Lily took advantage of this loophole.

There was also no obstruction at all when taking it out from inside.

Hence, Lily took the key out and waved it in front of Haihime, Is it this?

Kyah. I hate you, Master How could you ask me such a thing intentionally? Haihime turned her head away and covered her blus.h.i.+ng cheeks with her hands.

Eh, its just a key, isnt it? Whats so embarra.s.sing about it? Lily asked puzzledly.

Haihime then got up and raised the bottom of her kimono towards Lily, exposing her fair and warm underbody as well as the humiliating T-shaped black strap fastened to it.

P-Please help me unlock it, then, Master Or do you want to keep the key with you and make me continue wearing this contraption Haihime stated in a deep, mature, and submissive tone.

A feminine scent so intoxicating that it could even bewitch Lily a little was mixed in with the odor of leather emanating from the contraption.

Lily noticed a lock at the center of the contraption.

O-Of course not. I dont have such strange hobbies. But cant you unlock it yourself?

Haihime flexed her hips in front of Lily, Dont you feel that its more meaningful to have you unlock it for me, Master?

Fine, I got it. Ill unlock it for you, then.

Lily also planned to remove Haihimes fetters originally, so she stopped acting shy and held Haihimes hip with her fingers while the key-holding hand pushed the key into the keyhole on the leather belt.

Ngh Its inside Master Haihime blushed wholly and quivered all over, producing a gleeful voice from the excitement of obtaining freedom.

I really dont get it. Does obtaining freedom really please you that much, Sister Haihime? Lilys hip-holding hand circled to the back and held Haihimes plump and warm b.u.t.tocks as the whole key went in and rotated inside the keyhole.

Ngh Freedom feels the best. After all, its the freedom that youve given me, MasterKyah!

Haihime let out a high-pitched squeal as the lock unlocked with a click.

Lily turned her head away and helped Haihime take off that humiliating contraption with one hand while supporting her body with the other. Haihime had gained freedom at this moment.

Her body lost strength and fell towards Lily who was forced to accept her into her embrace as she was seated in seiza.

Thank you, Master, Haihime held the front edge of Lilys kimono, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with the charm of a mature woman post-submission as that hand of hers reached into Lilys cleavage in a probe.

Y-You dont need to thank me like this, Lily was also pretty tensed up, so she ended up grabbing Haihimes hand to stop her, Sister Haihime. All of you have gone through a lot today, so why dont you rest a bit earlier? You can guide me to fetch the flames of Mt. Fuji tomorrow, alright?

Mhm Alright, Lil Master, Haihime answered in a lonely and empty tone with glistening eyes.