Boom! With a burst of white smoke, Yuuta turned into a huge human head more than two meters high. The head opened its mouth wide and spat out its tongue, displaying a very frightening appearance1.
“Ah!” The rat demon and his gang were terrified. With Lily’s katana in front of them and the sudden appearance of the big head further behind, they screamed while clutching their ears.
The big head bounced and bit towards the rat demon and others beside him.
“Damn! Help!” “Run!”
Several small demons ran desperately as they were chased by the big head and fled into the depths of the street.
“Yuuta…” Lily, who was standing in the alley, looked at Yuuta’s brave actions and nodded slightly in approval.
After another puff of white smoke, Yuuta reverted into a little raccoon and collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily with injuries all over his body.
“Yuuta!”
Lily hurried over and found that he had fainted. She carefully picked up the little raccoon.
“Yuuta, why do you choose to suffer…? But your courage has moved your sister2.”
Lily felt helpless in front of Yuuta’s grave injuries. Since she was not good at healing people, she summoned Kagura to check his wounds.
“The strength of this raccoon is too weak. Although I know some healing skills, they have limited effects on low-level creatures. Even if it was an ordinary person with these injuries, it would be impossible to heal them.” Kagura honestly said.
“I understand.” Lily nodded as she carried the little raccoon and walked along Suzaku Avenue, heading towards the direction of Kiyozawa.
When she arrived at Kiyozawa, both Kimiko and Nariaki were there.
That Kimiko really possessed great magical powers and seemed capable of doing anything. She personally healed Yuuta’s wounds, and after a while, his condition got much better, though he hadn’t awakened yet.
“Let him stay with me for a while to recuperate. It’s not a problem, just some nasty injuries.” Kimiko said.
Kimiko asked Nariaki to look after Yuuta while she and Lily went to the tea house.
“Lily, from what you said, that little raccoon seems to be interested in you, huh?” Kimiko laughed.
“No, not at all! He’s just a raccoon!” Lily blushed.
“Don’t underestimate raccoons; they are also very powerful! The guardian deity of the Taira Clan, the raccoon Mita, is the only living sacred relic in the world!”
“A living sacred relic?!” Lily was shocked. Unexpectedly, the guardian deity that the Taira Clan worshipped was the still-living raccoon Mita deity!
“Lily, do you want to worship the raccoon Mita? In addition to his strength, he is said to be very lustful. The Taira Clan selects beautiful noble maidens from their clan every year for his pleasure.” Kimiko said.
“I see…” Lily was grateful to Kimiko for reminding her. Otherwise, with her curiosity and eagerness for practice, she might have sought after the Taira Clan’s reward in the future and went to worship the Mita, the living sacred relic. His strength was most likely far above her own so she might suffer a loss.
“Lady Kimiko, there is something that Lily didn’t want to bother you with, but since I am already here, I would like to request Lady Kimiko to advise Lily.” “It’s about the sound of the biwa that caused people to go missing, right?” “Eh, Lady Kimiko knows?”
“This incident is all over the city, how would I not know? Those who can hear the sound of the biwa are usually lonely and wistful young girls, and it’s not uncommon for demons to use some tricks to abduct and play with a few girls in Heian-kyō. However, the empress’ sister has recently gone missing and things have become a big deal.” Kimiko took a sip of tea and said.
“Lady Kimiko, to be honest, Lily also wants to resolve this matter. I went to see Lady Ayaka this morning, but she still doesn’t want to see me. I think she will be impressed with me if I can solve this case and I also want the Fujiwara Clan’s reward.” “Do you want to join the Fujiwara Clan?” “Join?” “If you have such an idea, I suggest you choose to join the Fujiwara Clan. In this way, you can obtain additional merits.” “What are merits used for?”
“The three clans, namely, the Genji, Taira, and Fujiwara, are deeply rooted in the Heian Dynasty and each has benefits that cannot be bought outside, and can only be exchanged for using merits. In short, they are beneficial to one’s training.” Kimiko explained.
“I see, but I want to focus on the current situation for now.”
“Hmm,” Kimiko nodded, “This incident is obviously the work of demons, but to produce such a wonderful sound, I am afraid that there is a demon in possession of a very ancient and precious biwa. If I am not mistaken, it may very well be a treasure that was lost during the coup in the palace many years ago, the arcane biwa.”
“Arcane biwa?”
“Yes, if that is the case, this incident will be difficult to handle. Lily, to be able to possess such a treasured biwa, the strength of this demon is certainly not trivial. If you want to pursue this matter, be extra careful. Take my token, and in case of any danger, I will come to help you. There is no place in Heian-kyō where I cannot reach.” Kimiko said.
“Thank you, Lady Kimiko, for reminding me, but how do I find that biwa?”
“This can only depend on pure chance. That artifact is very fascinating and mysterious. If you can hear the mesmerizing music at night, you will be able to follow the sound and find the location of the biwa. However, whether you’ll be the hunter or the prey at that time is unknown.” Kimiko said, a bit creepily.
Lily heaved a deep sigh, “Lily understands that with such hefty rewards, there must be a lot of danger. I will be careful.”
“Well, you are not someone new to such dangers. There is no need for me to advise you more in this regard,” Kimiko nodded, “By the way, you have to pay attention to something else.”
“Lady Kimiko, please speak.”
“In this incident, I heard that not only a few big families, but the mirror girls who recently came to Heian-kyō are also very interested in this biwa. Therefore, your opponent is not necessarily just the demon that holds the biwa…”
“Mirror girls?!” Lily was taken aback, “Lady Kimiko, you know that I am also a mirror girl. I have also seen two mirror girls in Kanto, both of whom are my good sisters. Why do you say the mirror girls might become my opponents?”
“Hehe, mirror girls are mostly kind and gentle by nature, and of course, they don’t deliberately stir up conflict with each other, but there is only one biwa. Therefore, if you can really defeat that demon, the fight for the biwa is inevitable. It’s a really dangerous situation so you can use that token for me to help you. However, let me say this in advance. If you resort to that option, I will take the biwa as compensation.” Kimiko warned.
“Oh, I understand, Lady Kimiko. How many other mirror girls are there in Heian-kyō? Why do they want to get the biwa?”
“Since the implementation of Fujiwara no Ayaka’s new policy, openly persecuting and killing mirror girls has been forbidden. So recently, many mirror girls who fled have returned to Heian-kyō3. I’m not sure exactly how many there are. As for the biwa, I guess it’s related to the mission of the mirror girls.” Kimiko said meaningfully.
“Thank you, Lady Kimiko, for your advice. Lily is leaving now.” Lily bowed and got up.
“Eh? Wait, are you leaving so soon?” Kimiko also got up.
“Well, it’s the middle of the night and Lily wants to find the sound of the biwa. I’m afraid that if I delay for too long, Lady Amako will be in danger.” “Well, that’s true, but isn’t it too rude for you to leave just like that?” “Eh?”
Kimiko smiled sweetly and sauntered over to Lily’s side, “Sister, I told you so much useful information. How will you repay me? Hmm?”
“Eh? This…” This was another reason why Lily didn’t want to ask Kimiko for advice, but now that she was here, she might not be able to escape. With burning red cheeks, she asked, “Lady Kimiko, how do you want me to repay you?”
Kimiko whispered in Lily’s ear: “Since you are very busy today and I don’t want to delay your time, how about this? Lie down on the table, raise your hips, and then…”
Lily’s blush suffused her entire face, “This, this isn’t very appropriate, right?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, hurry up! If you squirm again, I won’t let you go today. What can you do? Hurry up so you can find your biwa after you’re done.” Kimiko didn’t back down.
Lily donned a helpless expression tinged with a bit of blush and resentment. Only, Lady Kimiko helped her so much and they were both females anyway; not to mention that this was for her own good. In the end, it was difficult for her to refuse.
Lily slowly walked over, bent down, and placed her hands on the short wooden table. As she knelt, her hips and waist under the kimono were tightly wrapped by the silky fabric, looking even wider. However, she had no way to hide it because of her protruding posture which forced her buttocks up high.
Behind her, Kimiko stepped forward and rested her hands on it before gently stroking back and forth.
“Sister Kimiko, this, is this really a massage that helps train the body? Why…only touch my butt?”
“Well, that’s because there are two other places which are very important, but you won’t let me touch them. Let me tell you, the buttocks are the center of a woman’s physical training. Allow your sister to help you relax and perform better with half the effort. Stop pouting and push it up higher so that your sister can rub it properly and increase the effect…Hehehe, hahaha!”
Lily forcibly endured Kimiko’s strange behavior. Although the massage was done with her kimono on this time, her current posture made her feel ashamed. As for physical training, Lily was still a beginner. Kimiko said that she was doing this for her own good, but at the same time, she wanted to do it as Lily’s repayment. Upon being touched by her, Lily’s mind went completely blank and her thoughts stagnated.
“But, is this okay? Sister Kimiko, if you continue to soften it like this… Lily is a bit overwhelmed.”
Kimiko didn’t really hurt Lily and tried not to overwhelm her mind too much. She touched for a while and upon noticing Lily’s weak and rapid pants, she smiled contently, “Okay, I’ll let you off for today. You should come over and play often, okay? By the way, your sister won’t take advantage of you. I will also give you three nights of enlightenment time with the Himemiya Sen-no-hana Painting. Just come over whenever you are free or ready. Rest assured that these three nights are without additional conditions.”
“Thank you, Lady Kimiko…” Even though she received a big opportunity, Lily was still displeased. She had a creeping suspicion that she was the one who suffered a big loss. As lustful as the raccoon mita might be, gaining enlightenment from Kimiko’s sacred relics wasn’t much better either.
Lily got up and straightened her wrinkled skirt. Despite her flushed face and unsteady breathing, she managed to say goodbye to Kimiko before leaving.
She did not return to the night market, but walked alone on Suzaku Avenue. It was late at night and there was no one on the streets.
Lily remembered that she had heard the sound of a stringed instrument the last time she went back and wondered if it was the mysterious biwa.
“I remember, I think I heard it in that area in front of me.” Lily looked towards the shadowy market ahead of the avenue.
At this moment, in the path ahead, two women, one short and one tall, walked across Suzaku Avenue in a direction similar to Lily.
“Why are there two women walking down the street at this late hour?” Lily was also surprised to see that the tall woman was carrying a sword.
