Demon Sword Maiden Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 98 – Scheme

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 98 – Scheme

“A meal?” Lily considered the offer. With her strength, going without food wouldn’t normally matter. However, in this place where she couldn’t release her spirit power or cast spells, her physical fatigue was steadily building. Eating and resting might prove beneficial after all.

“Well… Brother Yanari, you’ve helped me despite being a stranger. I’m already deeply grateful. How can I let you spend money on me?” Lily replied politely. As they walked, she couldn’t help but wonder why Yanari was so eager to help her. Still, as a gentleman, it wasn’t unusual for him to a.s.sist a woman like her. Even if his actions stemmed from ulterior motives, there was nothing inherently wrong with that. Besides, Lily needed his help for now.

Whether or not Yanari had any intentions, it would be unusual for a man to have none. Men like Tenba, who seemed entirely without desire, were rare exceptions. Yanari wasn’t at that level—he likely wanted to impress her with his generosity, drawn to her beauty as most men would be.

As Lily had considered earlier, why would a complete stranger go out of his way to help her? If she were an unattractive older woman, would Yanari have done the same?

One shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but Lily couldn’t deny the likelihood that Yanari desired her. She was certain that in the Heian Dynasty, half the men would have acted the same way for similar reasons.

After all, having ulterior motives wasn’t inherently wrong. Without some level of interest, why would anyone go out of their way to help her?

Yanari persistently urged her to accept, insisting that it would reflect poorly on his hospitality if he didn’t treat her to a meal. After several polite refusals, Lily finally relented.

What choice did she have? Refusing any further would risk insulting him if his intentions were genuine. Besides, if they parted ways here, it was likely more demons would take advantage of her vulnerability.

Lily followed Yanari to a winehouse nestled along Hyakki Street. Its exterior courtyard lent it a quieter and more refined air compared to the bustling chaos outside. Yet, demons lingered in the courtyard, and she couldn’t help but wonder—if each one approached her with a request, how would she ever make it further?

“Right this way, Miss Lynne.”

The demon attendants appeared to recognize Yanari, bowing respectfully as they greeted him. Their envious gazes lingered on Lily, but none dared to voice their jealousy.

The main hall of the winehouse was bustling with demons drinking and carousing. One of them, bizarrely, was a living drinking cup that had ordered alcohol for itself. The liquor was poured into its body, only for a larger demon to grab it and drink the contents. The cup demon erupted into a furious argument, which made Lily stifle a giggle. If the demons weren’t so hostile toward her, she might have found them rather amusing.

Another demon, with multiple elongated arms, had ordered an entire table of sushi for himself. He devoured the dishes faster than the attendants could serve them.

In the corner of the winehouse, Lily’s eyes landed on a female samurai seated opposite a burly, bald demon. The demon was hideous, his black lips glistening with grease. The samurai’s discomfort was evident, but it seemed she had no choice but to endure his company.

Guided by the attendants, Yanari and Lily were led to a private room. Inside, they sat across from one another at a low wooden table.

“Serve the finest wine and dishes,” Yanari instructed.

“Yes, Lord Yanari,” replied the attendant.

Shortly after, a platter of exquisite Yomi sushi arrived, each piece glistening as though polished by light and emitting an irresistible aroma.

“This scent…” Lily’s expression flickered with recognition.

“Hehehe, you have good taste, Miss Lynne,” Yanari said with a hearty laugh. “This is sushi made from the legendary rice of Yomi Hirazaka, known as the culinary heaven of Yomi. They say this rice has been cultivated by generations of royal families in the mortal realm.”

“But I’ve heard that eating more than three rice meals in Yomi Hirazaka can bring trouble. Is that true?” Lily asked cautiously.

“That rule only applies to mortals eating directly in Hirazaka,” Yanari explained. “This rice was brought to Hyakki Street and paid for by me. There’s no risk here. And take a closer look, Miss Lynne—this wine is called Yomi Kiyoshi. Even in the rest of Yomi, you won’t find anything finer. Just one sip can significantly boost your strength.”

“Miss Lynne, please, have a drink.” Yanari offered her a cup with a broad smile, his large hands holding it out to her. While his gesture lacked the refinement of formal etiquette, Lily didn’t mind. Vagrants were often rough around the edges.

Lily accepted the cup, noticing that Yanari was careful not to let his hands brush against hers. This small courtesy warmed her heart, and for a moment, she wondered if he might truly be as honorable as Brother Tenba—a genuine gentleman.

Lily took a cautious sip from the cup. Meanwhile, Yanari began sharing stories about the peculiar happenings on Hyakki Street, his cheerful tone putting her somewhat at ease.

However, as Yanari continued talking, Lily noticed that his face began to blur, and his voice seemed to echo unnaturally in her ears. ‘There’s something wrong with this wine!’ she realized with a jolt of alarm.

The wine was undoubtedly tampered with—such a reaction from just a single sip was alarming, even for someone with her powerful const.i.tution. Feigning composure, Lily focused inward, using her Charm Intent to suppress and neutralize the effects.

“Come now, Miss Lynne, this wine is exceptionally rare. Have another drink,” Yanari urged with an easy smile.

“Brother Yanari, I’m not much of a drinker. One sip is plenty for me,” Lily replied politely.

“Hehehe, nonsense! Drink the whole bottle. Don’t waste my kind hospitality!” Yanari laughed heartily, his tone cheerful yet insistent.

“Well… I’m afraid I…” Lily hesitated, her discomfort growing. Though Lily spoke her refusal, her hands betrayed her. They reached for the wine bottle of their own accord, moving against her will.

‘What’s happening? Have I gone mad?’ Lily thought, panicked. She knew the wine was spiked, so why was she reaching for it? Why did a compelling urge to drink it overwhelm her the moment Yanari told her to? ‘It’s as if… I can’t refuse his request…’

Lily’s gaze hardened. She looked up at Yanari, his face still wearing the same heroic, honest expression as before—devoid of any obvious malice. Yet, dread pooled in her chest. ‘I can’t refuse his request… This man—he’s no human. He’s a demon!’

At that moment, the truth dawned on Lily—she couldn’t refuse to drink the wine because it was a direct request from a demon.

What could she do? Should she force herself to stand and leave? That would mean violating the rules of Hyakki Street. On top of that, dizziness was already setting in. After being hit by a pupil ability the night before and now consuming the spiked wine, how could she fend off the demons waiting outside if they swarmed her?

Would it be easier to simply drink the wine and handle the man in front of her? Or should she risk disobedience and face the wrath of the black-and-white demonic spirits while weakened by the wine’s effects?

Unless there was no other option, she couldn’t risk violating the rules.

It was just a bottle of wine, wasn’t it? Compared to Shuten Doji’s curse, it seemed trivial. Besides, refusing now wouldn’t make her situation any better.

With a carefree smile, Lily picked up the bottle. Skipping the cup, she pressed the bottle to her lips and drank. Some of the wine trickled down the corners of her mouth, reducing how much she consumed, but it was enough to comply with the demon’s request without breaking the rules.

Yanari seemed genuinely impressed as he watched Lily finish the bottle.

Afterward, Yanari continued his cheerful chatter, but Lily barely registered his words. The dizziness grew stronger, and soon her entire world began to spin. Her blurred vision narrowed until all she could see was Yanari.

‘No, I can’t let him figure this out,’ Lily thought desperately. ‘He’s already made his request

¹; he can’t force me into anything else. And he’s too possessive to let any other demons approach me. I just need to hold out until midnight.’

When she first entered the winehouse, there had been four hours until midnight. By her estimate, three hours now remained. But how could she endure the next three hours alone in a private room with this man?

As Lily struggled to maintain her composure, Yanari stood up with his usual cheerful laugh. He moved to sit beside her, his ma.s.sive hand casually reaching toward her back as he spoke.

Despite her spinning vision, Lily instinctively stood up, deftly evading his hand.

“What is it, Miss Lynne?” Yanari asked, his tone still casual.

“Brother Yanari, I just need to… touch up my lipstick,” Lily murmured, her slender finger brushing lightly against her lips.

“What? Miss Lynne, you’re already as stunning as a G.o.ddess. Why bother with makeup?” Yanari asked with blunt sincerity.

“Brother Yanari, I’ll… be quick,” Lily replied softly.

“Oh, I see now,” Yanari said, misinterpreting her excuse as a subtle indication that she needed to excuse herself. “The layout here can be confusing. Since you’re a bit tipsy, allow me to escort you.”

Lily didn’t object. She skillfully avoided his touch once more and allowed him to lead her out of the room.

“Miss Lynne, it’s this way.” Before Yanari could finish his sentence, Lily staggered into the main hall, appearing utterly disoriented, as though she had completely lost her sense of direction.

Yanari shook his head in mild disbelief. Watching Lily sway helplessly, he couldn’t stop a sinister grin from creeping across his face, his true intentions slipping through his carefully constructed façade.

Lily didn’t notice his grin. She continued staggering into the main hall, her movements deliberate yet convincingly unsteady. Spotting a fish demon attendant carrying a bottle of wine, she reached out and grabbed it without hesitation.

“Hey, woman! What do you think you’re doing?” the fish demon snapped impatiently.

“Hehehe, does it really matter? My brother will cover the cost,” Lily replied, her cheeks flushed as she flashed an intoxicatingly charming smile.

The fish demon sneered, “And just who the h.e.l.l is your brother?”

“How dare you!” Lily, feigning drunkenness, drew her sheathed weapon and lightly rapped the fish demon on the head. “Lord Yanari Onijimaru—don’t tell me you don’t recognize him?”

“Huh?” The fish demon froze in shock, hesitant to retaliate. After all, the playful tap wasn’t exactly an attack, but he wasn’t foolish enough to provoke her further.

Behind her, Yanari forced a strained smile. “I’ll pay, I’ll pay

². Drink to your heart’s content, Sister Lynne.” He couldn’t help but wonder if he had overdone the drugging, as her erratic behavior was far beyond what he had antic.i.p.ated.

Of course, the wine had been spiked from the start. Yanari and the establishment were clearly working together.

Lily moved gracefully through the crowd of demons, her swaying steps carefully calculated. She deliberately avoided escape, knowing it would compromise her act. Instead, she made her way to a corner table where a female samurai sat reluctantly drinking with an unsightly, bald demon.

“Drinking together should be a joyous occasion. So, sister, why do you look so miserable?” Lily asked as she slid into the seat beside them, casually pouring herself a drink from the bottle she had taken.

Both the female samurai and the bald demon stared at Lily, dumbfounded by her sudden intrusion.

“Why don’t I join you for a drink?”

Footnotes:

1. 
   

   Robinxen: Bold of you a.s.sume that he spoke the truth about that rule… or that he doesn’t have collaborators.

2. 
   

   Robinxen: This is gold, he’s being dragged along at her pace while expecting to reap rewards.