Lily didn’t sleep, at her realm staying up had no side-effects, in addition she was originally an energetic and tireless type.
Lily returned to the study room and sat on the balcony to watch the moon. She compared her understanding of Lunar Energy with what she had previously understood and was delighted. She had improved significantly.
Unknowingly, Lily spent the entire night watching the moon. Though the sun had not risen yet, it was already noon. To Lily, this was not strange. She considered taking a bath and going to sleep, but when she looked up and saw the dark sky, she saw a scenery different from the usual sky.
“This is……”
In that dark, far off dark sky, there seemed to be an unbelievably large image formed by multiple discoloured airflows. The multiple clouds rapidly flowed by each other causing random flashes, it was like the dark sky had a massive rift. These images covered the eastern skies, that unimaginable image was not man-made.
“Looks like it’s a natural phenomenon.”
Though Lily had become used to the extended nights, this was her first time seeing such a phenomenon.
“Is this just a coincidence, or perhaps an indicator of something?” Although Lily had no idea, she had a hunch this was not a good sign.
At that moment, not far away, the old man carrying a lantern just happened to be patrolling around the study room entrance, Lily chased and asked, “Has Lady Ayaka returned?”
“She returned last night, but was summoned to the palace when the extended night began.” He replied.
“Ah, thank you old man.” Lily nodded in thanks.
Since Ayaka wasn’t available, Lily had nothing to do and returned to the study room. There was a small hot spring in the backyard, it seems that Ayaka rested and relaxed here when she was tired from governmental issues. Lily took the chance to wash up, and while waiting for her hair to dry, looked up the ancient history of Heian-kyo. In the end, she fell asleep there.
This night, Lily did not sleep peacefully. She tossed and turned uneasily, her body unusually tense, unknowingly she was soaked with sweat.
“Ah!” Lily woke up, she had felt a sensation that chilled her soul. “What? What happened?” Lily looked around, but the elegant room had not changed one bit. “What is this worrying feeling in my heart?” Lily mumbled, clutching her chest.
“Have I… Have I been too tired lately? Or… too isolated…?” Lily thought of Uesugi Rei and Shimizu, she didn’t know how they were and couldn’t help but feel sad. Lily looked at the sky, the moon had not come out yet, so she decided to clean up and dress up a bit, then start refining her physique. She continued to merge her charming intent into her body, slowly and gradually strengthening herself.
After practising to a point, Lily got up and considered what Lady Kimiko had said. Wearing high grade undergarments would increase her sensitivity towards charming intent. She thought of the Fuyutsuki, since the extended night was active, then that ship should be active now. Perhaps she should visit tonight and shop around. Lily put on a red kimono, and got on a carriage bound towards the night-market.
Arriving at the night-market, she travelled toward the deep ditch. She saw many people waiting for that gigantic ship when she arrived.
While waiting, Lily took a look around. Towards the ridges of the ditch and saw sheds with lights, she had no idea that people lived there.
“Look! The Fuyutsuki is coming!” Someone shouted.
In that ditch, an ancient ship decorated with lanterns travelled slowly, the ghost head on the bow of the ship was rather frightening. What type of existence would be able to create such a gigantic floating structure?
Fuyutsuki floated to a stop at the night-markets, two bulky blue and red demons in kimonos came out and put down the bridges allowing a pasty white faced beautiful female wraith to welcome customers.
“What? The hostess changed?” Lily wondered.
For some reason, there were many demons on the ship today, all of them with claws and fangs and strange shapes, all looking full of interest and excitement. There was also a group of rough and dirty samurais embarking on the ship. They looked just like bandits, their clothes and equipment all old and tattered. It looked like today was a day of fun and enjoyment for them, the money they used, most likely stolen.
Lily followed behind two well dressed onmyouji, but when the tall handsome onmyoji took off his robe, a pair of fox ears and tail appeared.
A male fox, Lily had never met one before.
The bandits may have been fierce and unbridaled, but when they saw the two receptionist devils they lost their nerve, they obediently paid one gold a person. After entering they ran around looking left and right, it was obvious this was their first entry into the Fuyutsuki.
Only, the two handsome men didn’t pay, they went directly. This made Lily feel something strange.
As she placed a gold coin into the blue demon’s hand, she ignored their perverted gazes and asked the wraith. “Miss, why can those two men enter without paying?”
That wraith looked Lily up and down and responded, “Hmm, is the lady interested in those two? If the lady rents a room, we can make arrangements for them to accompany you. That service is available, however the lady will have to pay for their time.”
“Eh??” Lily’s face colored crimson, “What nonsense are you talking about!” Lily entered the ship in anger.
The wraith followed behind Lily, “This is the lady’s first time here? Don’t be angry, those two work here. They are responsible for welcoming and serving noble ladies.”
Lily didn’t respond but scoffed mentally, “Tsk, what working here, aren’t they just doing shameful things? Such tall outstanding men, and they were betraying themselves like this… but in this Heian-kyo, men, women, geisha, kabuki, all of these are ways of earning a living. Though I won’t contemplate it, I don’t need to disdain others for their ways of living, perhaps they have some troubles. Only… that wraith, she actually asked if I wanted to play, what kind of person is she taking me for?”
Lily lowered her sight to her cleavage, though Lady Ayaka had requested that she tighten her neckline, her metabolism was high and she sweated easily. If her neckline was too tight, then the feeling of her towering breasts rubbing against her clothes was not too pleasant.
“Looks like I really need something bralike.” Lily concluded, but in this Heian-kyo, bras were items of the treasure level, afterall, only celestial maidens from Takamagahara wore them. They were considered a very rare, high quality treasure1.
Lily walked in the ship, though she was walking on a lower cabin aisle, it was still lit brightly by an array of lamps. The lamps were like stars, the number and position forming a beautiful illusion.
Lily suddenly realized, many of these lanterns became eyeballs watching Lily as she passed. To think that there were so many demons here.
Suddenly a lantern in the corner jumped up and stuck out a long long tongue, “Slurp~” it licked towards Lily’s thighs. Shocked, Lily blushed and dodged in a flash. Though she was too late to defend her skirt, she prevented her legs from being licked.
Lily really wanted to kick in retaliation, but she saw a cat fish lugging a wine barrel walking past, the two whiskers waved as it snickered at her. Lily reconsidered, she shouldn’t cause trouble here. Lily hurried and rushed off while the lantern monster bounced behind and taunted her.
Walking out of that dark somewhat weird aisle, she came to the central hall. This hall was enormous, it spanned from the lowest floor to the very top, rectangle in shape, towering and auspicious. On each floor’s railings were brightly lit lanterns creating a strange atmosphere within the magnificence. There were numerous demons, human VIPS, samurais and the demon attendants in between, it was very lively.
Lily saw a strange demon with gorgeous feathers, a body of a dragon and head of a dragon bird hybrid, possessing more than ten claws, each claw holding a dish, or wine cup. It was curled around a poles hanging from the ceiling. It was like a dragon climbing the heavens decorated with dishes.
Pale white wraiths walked through the crowds, sometimes revealing their original forms to frighten the human customers and created messes.
To the side, a gigantic sumo wrestler used his huge palms to play a taiko drum while a demon dressed as a Kabukimono played as a noh. Also within the great hall and the many corridors and floors, were uncountable bizarre events, Lily was surprised by all that she was seeing.
“To think that it’s actually so exciting!”
This ship was so big and there were so many floors. Though what floors were playing what and what floors were selling what, Lily had no idea.
In the crowd, a big handsome graying man wearing a work cloth saw Lily’s dazed expression and approached her, “Miss, do you need any help?”
This man was handsome, even more than Seimei. He had a pair of blue gold heterochromia eyes, he could be described as exceptionally extraordinary.
“Ah……” Lily wasn’t attracted to men, however he caused her to take a few glances before replying, “Hello, do you perhaps know where things are sold here?”
