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That night, Lily was swept into a dream. In the endless darkness, a young girl appearedâa mirror image of herself, yet with a starkly different demeanor. The girl stared at her, unblinking.
"Senior sister⦠Is that you? Senior sister?" Lily called out hesitantly.
Clad in only a thin white bathrobe, Lily wandered barefoot through the void. Her senior sister moved ahead of her, always close yet just out of reach, her figure fading into the distance as Lily tried desperately to catch up.
Lily reached out, yearning to grasp her senior sisterâs hand, but no matter how fast she ran, the distance between them never closed.
"Senior sister, where are you? Where are you really?" Lilyâs voice trembled with desperation. "How can I wake you up? Tell me, please! No matter how dangerous or difficult it is, Iâll do whatever it takes! Just donât leave me, senior sister!"
But instead of answering, her senior sister turned toward her, her eyes filled with a profound, heart-wrenching sorrow.
"Senior sister!" Lily cried out, her heart aching as though it had been torn apart by the sorrow in her sisterâs gaze. She couldnât bear to see such pain and sprinted forward, desperate to reach her. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her senior sister faded into the shadows, vanishing entirely.
"Senior sister! Senior sister!" Lilyâs cries echoed helplessly through the infinite darkness.@@novelbin@@
Suddenly, she felt the warmth of a body pressing against her back.
"Lily, remember, you belong to me." The voice was gentle yet commanding, radiating a warmth as intense as sunlightâcomforting yet imbued with an undeniable authority.
"Senior sisterâ¦" Lily whispered, her voice trembling.
Her senior sisterâs hand slid around her waist while the other reached for her lapel, the gesture both intimate and overwhelming.
"No, donât⦠Donât do this! Senior sister⦠I⦠Iâ¦" Lily stammered, her thoughts spiraling in confusion.
They say a womanâs heart often succumbs to emotion. It was merely a touch, a gentle caress, but because it was her senior sister, it sent shivers coursing through her, leaving her breathless.
"You are mine," the voice whispered, its heated breath brushing against Lilyâs ear and sending a jolt through her.
Though Lilyâs body trembled with deep embarrassment at the bold declaration, she found herself unableâor perhaps unwillingâto resist.
Slowly, Lily turned, her gaze meeting her senior sisterâs dazzlingly beautiful face.
"Senior sisterâ¦" she murmured, but in that instant, her senior sisterâs face transformedâbecoming Shimizuâs.
"Huh? Sister Shimizu?" Lily gasped, startled by the sudden change.
But this Shimizu was different. Her gaze was darker, more domineering than ever, as though she commanded the very depths of this hellish realm. Her piercing eyes regarded Lily not with affection, but with a possessive intensity that sent chills through her.
Lilyâs body shook as she stammered, "Who⦠who are you? Who are you really?"
"Lily, youâre mine! Iâve loved you for so long!" Shimizuâs voice rang with both passion and dominance.
"Ah! Who⦠who are you?" Lily cried, her voice trembling with fear and confusion.
In a haze of confusion, Lily jolted awake in the small hut.
The hut on the mountainside, nestled within the mysterious domain of the Madam, surrounded her once more. Through the swaying curtains, she glimpsed the courtyardâs serene pond and the distant twinkling lights of Hyakki Street.
A thin sheen of sweat clung to Lilyâs skin as her wide, panicked eyes darted around the room.
"Was it⦠a dream?" Lily whispered, her voice barely audible.
Why had she experienced such a strange and unsettling dream? And why had her beloved senior sister transformed into Sister Shimizu? Could it be that she was overcome with suppressed desires? While it felt shameful to dream of her senior sister in such a way, she couldnât deny her deep affection for her. But why, in the end, had her senior sister become Shimizu? ÈáÎоðÎá¹¥
And yet, the Shimizu in her dream had been nothing like the one she knew. She had been terrifying.
At that moment, a glowing purple butterfly projection fluttered into the wooden hut, its delicate wings shimmering with ethereal light.
"Could this be a summons from the Madam?" Lily wondered aloud, her gaze following the butterflyâs graceful movements.
Knowing the Madamâs unparalleled status as well as her role as Lilyâs godmother, Lily understood the importance of appearing presentable. She bathed meticulously and dressed carefully, spending an hour preparing herself. She finally emerged wearing a light green blouse adorned with golden leaf embroidery and delicate blue-and-white floral stitching, ready to meet the Madam.
Walking through the dark yet mesmerizing cave passage, Lily soon arrived at the Madamâs mystical domain, its beauty otherworldly and serene.
As always, the Madam lounged on the platform, her posture graceful yet commanding, her smoking pipe resting lightly in her hand. She wore a luxurious long white ribbon dress, intricately embroidered with vibrant floral patterns that accentuated her regal presence.
Kneeling respectfully beside her were two familiar figuresâAsura-Onna, draped in elegant red and white robes, and Rakshasa-Onna, clad in deep purple and white attire, their demeanor solemn.
âAsura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna? Theyâre here too?â Lily thought, startled by their presence.
Lily knelt gracefully and greeted them. "Greetings, godmother. Greetings, Your Highnesses, Asura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna."
The Madam nodded serenely, exhaling a thin plume of smoke before casually remarking, "Lily, you look as beautiful as ever today."
"You're too kindâ¦" Lily replied humbly, lowering her gaze.
To Lilyâs surprise, Rakshasa-Onna and Asura-Onna turned toward her with solemn expressions, bowing deeply until their foreheads nearly touched the ground.
"Lyn-hime," Asura-Onna said, her tone reverent yet humble. "As the Madamâs goddaughter, you are now the Princess of all Yomi-no-kuni. We could never dare to have you address us as Highnesses."
"Indeed," Rakshasa-Onna added, her voice tinged with a playful coyness but lacking any sign of defiance. "From now on, you are our Highnessâthe Princess of Yomi."
"No, I wouldnât dare," Lily replied hastily, lowering her head. She knew she had been made goddaughter by the Madamâs whim, and these two were Supreme Godsâtrusted assistants to the Madam. Lily had no intention of letting this honor make her arrogant.
"You are certainly polite and sensible," the Madam said with an approving nod. "But, my daughter, I wish youâd be a little more arrogantâperhaps even unreasonable."
"Huh?" Lily blinked in surprise, unsure how to respond.
"In that case, Iâd have more reason to discipline you properly," the Madam added with a playful yet serious laugh.
Lilyâs cheeks flushed deeply at the comment. Though she was now a grown and mature woman, the idea of being threatened with disciplineâespecially in front of othersâwas mortifyingly embarrassing.
"Forget it," the Madam said, her tone softening. "Iâm relieved to see youâre this intelligent."
"Princess," Asura-Onna began, bowing low with unwavering courtesy. "During the Night Parade training, my sister and I may have offended you many times. Please forgive us, Your Highness."
"Thatâs perfectly fine," Lily replied warmly, bowing deeply in return. "Everything you did was for my own good. Without your guidance, I wouldnât have made it through the competition. Iâm truly grateful to both of you."
Asura-Onnaâs gaze momentarily lingered, and a fleeting thought crossed her mind: âMy sister and I have far more strength and have served the Madam for countless years. Yet, she chose Lily as her goddaughter. Could⦠this be the reason?â
"By the way, Asura-Onna," the Madam inquired, her tone shifting to seriousness, "whatâs the current situation in the Boundless Abyss?"
"Madam, the situation is⦠not favorable," Asura-Onna said, turning toward the Madam with a solemn expression.
"The Boundless Empress has ruled the Abyss for over a thousand years," Asura-Onna explained gravely. "She commands an army of powerful Dark Celestial Maidens and has subjugated every major faction within the Boundless Abyss, uniting them under her control. Sheâs now the undisputed overlord of the region, wielding immense power and influence that far surpasses any other faction in Yomi. She poses a grave threat to the peace of Yomi-no-kuni."
"Since time immemorial, the Boundless Abyss has been a haven for the most dangerous and violent ancient demon gods in Yomi," the Madam said, her expression darkening as she took a slow drag from her smoking pipe. "When I first arrived in Yomi, I faced and defeated several powerful enemies who then sought refuge in the Abyss. It took great effort to subdue them. Yet now, this Boundless Empress has managed to unite the entire Abyss under her rule. Itâs⦠deeply troubling."