Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 155 – The Beginning Of The Night (Part 1)

“Survive.” On the final night in that world, the last words her senior sister spoke still echoed softly in her ears.

“Senior Sister, I will hold on to this promise and protect you.” When consciousnesses touched, there was no warmth, no physical sensation—only emotions and the subtle rhythm of the soul were shared.

The depth of that bond brought tears to Lily’s eyes.

“Senior Sister…”

Lily gently pressed her crimson lips against her senior sister’s. Aside from their clothing, they were nearly indistinguishable—both with flowing black hair. In the dim stone chamber, their strands tangled softly, mirroring the entanglement of their hearts and souls.

In the realm of consciousness, the young woman could no longer shed tears. Yet Lily’s heart overflowed with quiet joy. If she could, Lily would have hidden within the mirror forever, never emerging—just to remain by her senior sister’s side, holding on to this fragile happiness. Together, they would dance eternally beneath the night sky.

It was a happiness steeped in loneliness.

She felt as though she drifted through clouds—her spirit dulled, yet brimming with emotion. But… No matter how high she soared, she could never break through the heavy veil of clouds above her.

“As expected of me… utterly useless.” Lily slowly lifted her head, gazing at her senior sister—still lying in that unchanging, comatose state. With delicate fingers, she brushed through her senior sister’s hair. “As I thought, your hair is beautiful too, Senior Sister.”

She straightened her posture.

“Senior Sister, do you think I’m beautiful?” Lily whispered, caressing her own hair as a blush crept up her cheeks.

Her senior sister wouldn’t wake up—not now, not yet. From a helpless girl, Lily had grown into someone with the power of a half-step Supreme God. And yet, when it came to what truly mattered, she still felt powerless.

She would never show such vulnerability before anyone else. These emotions—this softness—were reserved solely for her senior sister. Had her senior sister truly been awake to witness it, she would probably be flustered. But in this moment, Lily allowed herself to fully indulge in her feelings.

Yet the more beautiful she appeared, the more profound her loneliness became.

“Senior Sister… this is the first and last time I’ll allow myself to be like this with you. After tomorrow night, my body will no longer be pure. And with that impurity, even my soul will lose the right to reach for you.”

Lily collapsed, powerless, leaning into her senior sister’s shoulder. Her thoughts scattered as quiet sobs escaped her.

“After tomorrow…?” Lily didn’t dare to imagine what awaited her beyond that night.

“Will I truly become a woman? No—I won’t allow it! After tomorrow, I will cast aside the life of a woman. I shall become a pure warrior, living solely to protect Senior Sister and all my sisters!”

“As for this woman’s body… whatever it may be—no matter how beautiful—it loses all meaning if I’m stripped of my dignity. Even my alluring scent… wouldn’t it only repulse you? Won’t the others look down on me? Even so… I will still protect all of you!”

Tears streamed down Lily’s face. With firm resolve, she rose to her feet, then dropped to her knees before her senior sister. Oborozuki Muramasa materialized in her hand.

“Cursed Blade… they say that when a Blade Maiden reaches her final stage, her soul is devoured by the sword, turning her into a true demon. But… is that really so terrible? I will become a Blade Maiden. I will abandon my womanhood and devote myself entirely to protecting you—for all eternity!”

“Look at me, Senior Sister. This is my final moment as a woman. From this point on, I shall become a demon—a lowly creature who no longer values her own flesh, no longer worthy to stand at your side. From now on, see me only as a tool of war. Use me solely as a weapon.”

“A weapon cannot feel a woman’s shame. This is the only path I can think of. I don’t even know if doing this means… I’ve given my first time to you? I really don’t understand it… But this is all I can offer—on my own…”

Lily leaned gently against her senior sister’s body. Her form was soft and graceful, yet her eyes brimmed with sorrow. A flash of light shimmered as the blade rang out—Lily unsheathed Oborozuki Muramasa, the Cursed Blade.

“Oborozuki Muramasa… Madam Yoruko’s final masterpiece. You’ve never consumed a single Anima, have you? Do you truly believe no soul in this world is worthy of you?” Lily’s spirit form began to glow with a faint, misty lunar light. The gentle radiance slowly intertwined with the waves of Resentment Energy emanating from the Cursed Blade.

Her gaze turned piercing, resolute.

“Then what about my soul—the soul of Kagami Lily?”

Her final decision was made.

A surge of unwavering determination erupted deep within her soul, merging with the blade’s seething Resentment Energy. A frigid, violent force gripped her spirit, threatening to tear it apart and shatter her feminine identity. But her resolve—to protect her senior sister and the others—burned even fiercer.

“Come, let my soul become one with the Cursed Blade. I have no regrets.”

Lily’s slender wrists tightened as she tried to draw the blade with all her strength, but it refused to move. A gentle yet unyielding force pressed against her hand—a warmth like sunlight, soft and familiar, resting atop hers.

“Huh?” Lily froze in disbelief. Looking down, she saw her senior sister’s sleeve slipping back as her hand slowly rose—to press against Lily’s own.

“S-Senior Sister?” Lily gasped, stunned. Though she’d been comatose all this time, her arm was rising—blocking Lily’s hand that clutched the blade.

Trembling, Lily followed the line of her senior sister’s arm, lifting her gaze upward—toward her face.

On that goddess-like face, framed by tousled black hair, the long-closed eyelids trembled, her brows faintly twitching, as if awakening from an eternal sleep. Then—slowly—they opened.

At that moment, Lily stood frozen in absolute shock.

At that moment, Senior Sister’s lips regained their rosy hue, and the pallor in her complexion faded. Her eyes, as beautiful as Lily’s, shimmered with a tranquil stillness—like the calm of a silent, moonlit night.

“S-Senior Sister… Rinne… Sister Rinne…”

Lily’s Cursed Blade slipped from her trembling hand and struck the floor with a dull clang. Her eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at the awakened goddess before her. Her thoughts froze—numb and overwhelmed, she could only repeat that one beloved name.

“Lily.” Rinne’s newly revived lips parted, her voice soft yet laced with subtle authority. It sounded both unfamiliar and achingly familiar—like a voice carried from a distant dream.

“Senior Rinne? Sob… sob…” Lily wept uncontrollably, her words tumbling out in sobs. “Are you… really speaking to me? Senior Sister, is it truly you?”

But Rinne said nothing. Instead, she took Lily’s hand and gently pulled her into an embrace. No one could explain where she found such strength after so long in slumber, but her touch was both tender and unyielding.

“Ah!” Lily gasped in shock. She had imagined heartfelt words, long conversations, questions, even complaints. But instead, her senior sister said nothing—she took Lily’s hand, stroked her hair softly with the other, and, without a word, pressed her lips to Lily’s in silent declaration.

“Mm…” Before Lily could respond, her newly awakened senior sister kissed her. No hesitation, no words—only her name, followed by a reckless, heartfelt kiss.

This kiss was entirely different—worlds apart from when she had kissed her senior sister while she still slept. A moment ago, it had brought her joy. But now, Lily’s mind went blank. All she could feel was the warmth and pressure of their lips.

“Senior Sister… have you truly awakened? Is this not a dream?” Lily whispered, her tears flowing with joy.

Suddenly, Rinne rose and pressed her slender fingers to Lily’s shoulder, giving her a soft but deliberate push. Lily felt the world spin as she fell backward. Silvery moonlight and strands of soft golden radiance enveloped them, lifting them weightlessly into the air.

In that moment, Lily felt as though she were soaring, head tilted back as her long dark hair streamed like a waterfall. Her chest rose, her back arched with grace—her feminine form fully revealed, held gently in her senior sister’s embrace.

The two equally stunning women spun through the air—one clad in a plain white blouse, the other in a vivid red wedding gown. Trails of lunar silver and golden light swirled around them as they floated out of the chamber.

Golden and silver radiance shimmered within the octagonal stone chamber. Every lantern flared to life, casting a warm, misty glow across the space.

A gentle rush of air swept through.

In Hekiraku City, inside a dim room thick with the scent of a young woman and tinged with sorrow, the ancient octagonal mirror began to levitate. Brilliant golden and silver light flared from within.

From the heart of the light emerged two radiant spirits—both breathtakingly beautiful, their sleeves billowing behind them, trailing an ethereal shimmer. The spirit clad in red was gently pushed by the one in white—until she fused with the body kneeling before the mirror.

Lily’s eyes opened wide as her hair fluttered like ribbons in the wind. She tumbled backward, knocked down by the glowing female spirit in the white blouse, bathed in faint golden light.

The table, teacup, and her carefully arranged makeup were all sent flying—spilled and scattered across the floor.

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