Demon Sword Maiden-Chapter 129Book 12: : The Queen’s Decision

Inside the grand palace of the Female Queendom, Queen Kaguya sat in silence.

Ever since she heard whispers of the Princess of Yomi’s marriage, and Lily hadn’t reached out to her, a sense of unease had lingered in her heart. Now, the truth had been confirmed—the one being married was Lily, newly named Princess of Yomi.

She remained seated in the rear hall of the palace, staring blankly ahead, lost in a fog of sorrow and disbelief.

“Your Majesty, there’s no way Lady Lynne agreed to this. This must be a scheme from the Madam and Rakshasa Dojo. She was surely forced,” said Chiya, standing beside the Queen with a solemn and steady gaze.

The Queen sat motionless on her knees, cradling a teacup that had long gone cold. She murmured absently, over and over, “How could this be…”

Seeing her sovereign in such despair, Chiya’s concern deepened. “Your Majesty, this marriage may have been arranged by the Madam, but it is a blatant insult. She knew full well that Lynne belongs to you!”

“No… She was originally sent here as a spy—to gather information. But because it was Lynne… I was willing to overlook that. In the Madam’s eyes, she never truly gave Lynne to me.”

“That may be,” Chiya said in frustration, “but we paid five thousand Blood Spirit Magatama to bring Lynne here—for you, Your Majesty. How could the Madam of Yomi be so utterly unreasonable?”

“But she’s the Madam of Yomi. Can we truly challenge her?” the Queen whispered bitterly.

“Even if Lynne can’t stay by my side… I could accept that, if she finds happiness. But that Boundless Empress—she’s infamous for her volatile and cruel nature. Even the ancient demon gods of the Abyss fear her! How could I allow Lynne to fall into hands like that? After all she’s endured… after winning the Night Parade of One Hundred Maidens… must she become a mere pawn in a political game?” Tears welled in the Queen’s eyes1.

“Your Majesty!” Chiya offered her a handkerchief, her tone urgent. “You’re not just any ruler—you’re a respected force in Yomi-no-Kuni. How can we stand by and watch as the future consort of our Queendom is stolen away? We should mobilize the army, intercept the procession mid-journey, and bring Lynne back ourselves!”

The Queen dabbed her tears and sighed sorrowfully. “How could I send my sisters to die for the sake of my own selfishness?”

“Our Female Queendom survives because of the Abyss of Parting Sorrow. That’s the only reason we remain among the top powers in Yomi. If we march beyond its shelter… how could our forces stand against the Madam and the Boundless Abyss—those two supreme rulers?”

“Your Majesty, our latest intelligence shows that while the marriage procession looks grand and ceremonial, it’s not heavily guarded. Only a few hundred escorts and three Infernal Stage captains—no Supreme Gods, no full military protection. And their path to the Boundless Abyss is long… and already leaked. We still have a chance. If we act before they enter the Abyss itself, we can take her back.”

The Queen lowered the handkerchief from her face. “Truly…?”

Her tear-stained eyes began to shine with determination. For a moment, Queen Kaguya sat in deep thought, her chest rising and falling as conviction stirred within her.

She suddenly came to a decision.

“I won’t just stand by and let Lynne be sent into a monster’s den. But I also can’t drag the Female Queendom into this. If the Madam chooses to punish someone later, I’ll take full responsibility—I’ll abdicate and surrender the throne. That way, the queendom and its women will still be protected. As for me… I’ll take Lynne and disappear from the world.”

The Queen, always composed and calculating, had now lost herself to emotion—for the first time, overcome by love.

“Your Majesty, I’ll go with you.” Chiya knelt down, voice steady. “We created the Female Queendom to build a world where women could live free from fear and hardship. But now? The court is fractured. Factions rise and fall, and everything is political strife. Protecting this queendom has become an obligation that weighs us both down. If you’ve made up your mind, then I will follow—without hesitation.”

“General Chiya… your words move me,” the Queen replied softly. “But if I rescue Lynne, I will surely elope with her. Why would you follow us? Wouldn’t that only bring you pain?”

“I want nothing more than to follow you, Your Majesty,” Chiya replied, her head bowed. “So long as I can witness you and Lynne living happily together… that’s enough for me.” She hid her expression behind lowered eyes, but her loyalty needed no explanation.

“General Chiya… how could I let you suffer alone?” the Queen whispered. “If we succeed in saving Lynne, the three of us can vanish from the world—live quietly, intimately, as sisters. Wouldn’t that be enough?” She gently pulled Chiya into her arms, pressing the woman’s face into her lap.

“Your Majesty…” Chiya’s voice trembled as tears welled in her eyes. If she could live peacefully, side by side with the Queen and Lynne—what more could she wish for?

Once her decision was made, the Queen didn’t hesitate. She placed Yoshiya Seki in charge of the military. Though she distrusted the Prime Minister, she allowed her to retain partial authority—counterbalanced by four other ministers.

The Prime Minister was clearly displeased, but the Queen didn’t care. She even sent her a private warning to ensure silence.

And so, the Queen and Chiya set out alone—determined to intercept the procession mid-journey, steal the bride away, and vanish together. But with details of Lyn-hime’s marriage procession now circulating across Yomi-no-Kuni, the Queen knew—others would come for her, too2.

Wakarai and Lord Umashi—old enemies who had long harbored lust and obsession for Lily—moved the moment they learned the truth.

Lily’s journey would take her across half of Yomi-no-Kuni. Along the path—and even from afar—countless powerhouses stirred. Naturally, those lacking the power of a Supreme God would never dare make a move—unless they were reckless fools or desperate scavengers hoping to snatch crumbs from chaos.

Even the ancient factions led by Supreme Gods watched with caution. None wished to offend the Madam or the Boundless Empress—yet few could resist the lure of such a rare opportunity. Many chose to observe, waiting for the perfect moment to strike—if one came.

They likely wouldn’t succeed in claiming Lily—but a great battle was inevitable. For some, it was a once-in-ten-millennia chance—to protect the procession and earn the Madam’s favor, abduct women amid the confusion, eliminate rivals, or plunder treasures from those caught in the chaos.

Where there is risk, there is opportunity. With an event of this magnitude unfolding, how could the powerhouses of Yomi choose to remain idle and let others seize the rewards?

Meanwhile, the grand procession continued along a vast, desolate path, its splendor drifting beneath the endless skies.

Lily wore the wedding gown she had stitched with her own hands. Adorned with intricate embroideries of Higanbana blossoms, it was hailed as the most exquisite garment in all of Yomi-no-Kuni. Yet even as she journeyed in this masterpiece, she remained unaware that countless forces across Yomi had already set their sights on her.

Her thoughts were consumed not by the threats lurking beyond, but by the marriage itself—and the Boundless Empress awaiting her at the journey’s end.

With a long journey still ahead before reaching the Boundless Abyss, Lily removed her wedding dress and carefully hung it in the corner of her chamber. It served as a quiet reminder: this was the fate she had stitched for herself, thread by thread.

Besides, such elaborate garments only hindered her training efforts.

"Ah…" Now dressed in a simple light-blue robe, Lily exhaled softly. A fine sheen of sweat clung to her fair skin, glistening under the soft light.

She brushed the sweat from her brow with a slender finger, lightly shaking her head as her long hair tumbled over her shoulders.

The past few days had been filled with anxiety. Without the Madam’s guidance, her progress in the Charm Heavenly Path had stalled. She lingered at the peak of the second stage, unable to find the inspiration needed to ascend to the third—let alone the fourth, or even approach the Celestial Stage.

Her hand drifted unconsciously to her lower abdomen, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks. The pulse of desire that simmered within her body was growing more intense. While it helped deepen her Charm Intent, it also brought distraction and unrest, unsettling her focus and impeding her training.

“I must suppress these urges… refine myself… and train harder.”

Yet, the more she tried to resist, the more agitated she became. Though Lily possessed remarkable mental resilience and adaptability, the intensity of these desires was beyond reason. Had she been an ordinary woman, she would have long since succumbed—her will, dignity, and clarity devoured.

Meanwhile, Ayaka had made remarkable progress. Her Charm Heavenly Path had already advanced to the third stage, her Dance Heavenly Path followed suit, and even her Lunar Heavenly Path had reached its first stage. Though her overall strength remained that of a septuple-soul Big Dipper, her combat prowess had grown significantly.

Still, defeating opponents at the Empyrean Stage remained beyond her reach—survival was the best she could manage. Yet aside from Lily, Ayaka was the most formidable among all the Big Dippers.

Ever since Lily had mastered the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle and absorbed a hundred Lunar Crystals, she was no longer a point of comparison. She stood in a realm of her own. An average Big Dipper could absorb, at most, three Lunar Crystals—if they were lucky enough to find even one. Such treasures were beyond rare.

“I need to reach the fourth stage in both the Lunar and Charm Heavenly Paths—and then ascend to the Celestial Stage. Only by harnessing both paths can I achieve the strongest effect possible. After all, the Boundless Empress is one of the pinnacle beings among the Supreme Gods. A conventional breakthrough won't be enough to stand against her. And the Boundless Abyss… it’s home to ancient, unknown demon gods. Danger lurks in every corner.”

Lily steeled her resolve. She had no right to curse fate. She could only move forward. Not every storm bore a silver lining. Until now, Lily had relied on her will to fight—and the occasional stroke of luck. But she knew better than to place her future in the hands of fortune.

She would give everything she had, risk everything she was, and seize every opportunity with her own hands.

“If mastering both proves too much… then I must at least succeed in one. Let’s see which offers greater clarity in the days ahead—Lunar, or Charm.”

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“My Sword Heavenly Path… it’s still only at the peak of the first stage. I’ve got a long road ahead.”

Day after day, Lily trained in each of her Heavenly Paths, rotating between them and using their synergy to sharpen her growth. She knew there would come a time to focus on just one—but now wasn’t the moment. None of them were quite ready.

Lily also kept up her physical training, though her body was already honed to its peak. These days, her focus had shifted to channeling her internal desires into charm energy—an effort that helped tame her urges while slightly enhancing her physique. But progress was slow… almost imperceptible.