Demon Sword Maiden-Chapter 91Book 12: : Sword, Demon

"Merge into one?" Lily jumped out of the carriage and stood at the front where the driver would sit, gazing at the white Hachiwan that pulled the chariot.

This Hachiwan was already incredibly strong—its physical body could compare to the mightiest warriors in Yomi or Takamagahara—but it had no soul. It could only follow its owner's orders and pull the chariot; it couldn't do anything else.

However, at this moment, the Hachiwan had a soul!

It radiated a faint aura of light, and then it spoke, "I never thought I'd see the day when my body and soul would reunite. Master… I am indebted to you, and I will repay you with everything I have."

"You… are you the Demon Hound or the Hachiwan? What's going on?" Lily asked, perplexed.

"I am an Inugami from Takamagahara. In an ancient battle, my body and soul were torn apart. To escape a terrifying dark demon blade, my soul fled through the depths of the abyss and into the mortal realm. After exhausting my divine energy, I fell into a deep sleep. A thousand years later, I awoke by chance, finding myself inside the body of a white dog that had just died by the roadside on a snowy night."

"I was found by Fujiwara Ayaka, who had a scent that reminded me of something. I stayed by her side until later, when I drifted to the Eastern Land… The rest, you know."

"However, I slept for so long that I had forgotten my past. Today, when you took control of the Hachiwan Chariot, I, as a spirit under your command, felt everything. It turned out that the Hachiwan was my body. I should have died a thousand years ago, yet today I've been reborn—all thanks to your guidance!" The large white dog spoke with excitement, tears flowing from its red crystal-black eyes.

"I never imagined this…" Lily marveled at the white dog's power, even greater than that of the Infernal Realm. "Your injured body was saved by Queen Kaguya, who drifted with you in Yomi. Back then, your body had no soul, only a simple will to pull the chariot for the queen. But I never thought today would come. I'm happy for you."

"If not for someone stealing the tamahagane I was carrying, I wouldn't have chased so desperately, leading to our meeting. This was destiny, brought about by your exceptional courage. Since I've recovered, I can handle ordinary Empyreans with ease. It's you who found everything for me, and I would follow you to the ends of the earth. Just give me an order, and I will follow."

"Ah… haha… But you should still pledge loyalty to Queen Kaguya since she lent you to me," Lily said, without a hint of greed.

"The master's… uh, your heart is so generous, I admire you greatly. If you want me to serve Queen Kaguya, I will do so."

"So, what should I call you? Hachiwan, Demon Hound, or Inugami?"

"Inugami is my divinity, but call me Hachiwan."

"Alright, Hachiwan. Since you've regained your memory as the Inugami, would it be improper to have you pull the chariot?"

"No, no, it's an honor to pull the chariot for you. Please guide me as you always have."

Lily nodded, "Hachiwan, follow the directions I gave you before and continue on."

"Understood, master." With his soul fused, Hachiwan moved even faster. More importantly, Hachiwan, now with the strength of an Empyrean, was a valuable protector and ally, nearly as strong as Lily herself.

Having the Inugami pull the chariot made the journey smoother. Most demons flying in the sky were scared off by the Inugami's might and dared not approach.

Hachiwan traveled about a million miles, taking eight or nine days. During that time, when some overconfident demons tried to interfere, Lily didn't have to lift a finger. Hachiwan would either tear them apart or scare them away.

Thus, Lily's identity remained hidden.

At this point, Lily was sitting sideways on Hachiwan's back, looking down at the endless underworld. In the distance, there was a dilapidated village, half buried by sand and dust.

"Master, why not sit with your legs apart? It's more stable that way." Hachiwan suggested in an odd tone, though it seemed like he was trying to be serious.

Lily frowned slightly, "You don't need to worry about my balance. Just pull the chariot."

"Whine…"

On this journey, having Hachiwan's soul and body merged was a great thing, but Lily noticed that it might be because his soul and body had been separated for too long. Hachiwan's personality was a bit strange; sometimes, he would say things that didn't make sense. Over time, Lily's attitude towards him became less tolerant