Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

Tamamo-no-Mae recalled that among the many treasures she had collected in Heian-kyo was one crafted by a great Onmyoji. The artifact contained the soul of a Southern Outlander firearms merchant who had lived out his life in Port Sakai. It was a treasure that allowed its user to understand the various languages of the Southern Outlanders.

Thus, Tamamo-no-Mae borrowed and used it. Sure enough, she could now understand what the natives were saying.¹　

“&……%￥&%￥@!” (The woman with tails is a monster!)
“&%￥￥!” (A demon! Kill the demon!)
“*&……%￥&&!” (The elder said demons bring disaster to the village!)

Using the treasure forged with the Southern Outlander merchant’s soul, Tamamo-no-Mae spoke to the natives. She was not actually speaking their tribal language. Rather, the merchant’s soul embedded within the artifact understood their speech and translated it, while her own words were rendered into the standard language of the Southern Outlander Kingdom.

“I am not a demon. I am a goddess,” Tamamo-no-Mae said with a sly smile.

Most of the natives could not understand the Southern Outlander standard language, but among them was an elderly hunter who could. He gestured for everyone to hold back, then translated Tamamo-no-Mae’s words. Naturally, none of the natives believed her and continued shouting angrily at her.

Tamamo-no-Mae merely said, “I am a goddess. If you refuse to believe me, divine punishment will befall you. Fireballs will descend from the heavens and burn you all to death.”

After hearing the hunter’s translation, the natives were visibly startled. Tamamo-no-Mae’s bizarre appearance and her nine tails already filled them with caution and fear. Driven by terror, one of the natives hurled his spear at Tamamo-no-Mae.

These were true island natives. They were somewhat taller and physically stronger than the ordinary people of the Heian Dynasty, but that was all. None of them possessed even the abilities of the lowest-ranked samurai apprentice.

“Hmph, this will be a perfect chance to scare them.”

With a casual wave of her hand, Tamamo stopped the spear in midair. It hung suspended, spinning endlessly above the ground. The sight frightened the natives into retreating. Several more panicked villagers launched spears, arrows, and poisoned darts at Tamamo-no-Mae, but every weapon came to an abrupt halt the moment it approached her. One after another, they rose into the sky and began circling overhead.

Tamamo smiled faintly and casually recited a line from a Southern Outlander mythological incantation.

The airborne weapons suddenly ignited with foxfire, transforming into enormous blazing fireballs.

“You have angered a goddess. I shall bring calamity upon you and burn down the forest where you hunt!”

Controlling one of the fireballs, Tamamo-no-Mae sent it soaring into the sky. It grew larger and larger, becoming like an orange-red meteor as it streaked toward a nearby forest.

The fireball crashed into the woods, and an ocean of flames erupted instantly. The natives were horrified. Weapons slipped from their hands as their legs went weak, leaving them too terrified to even run.

The old hunter shouted in broken Southern Outlander speech, “Goddess! She truly is a goddess!” As he spoke, he dropped to his knees before Tamamo-no-Mae. “Divine One, spare us!”

The other natives immediately followed suit, kneeling and prostrating themselves before her, desperately begging for divine forgiveness.

Speaking in the Southern Outlander tongue, Tamamo declared, “I was sent by the heavens to save this island. I came so that the people of this land may enjoy favorable winds and rains every year, abundant harvests, and freedom from disaster. Your ignorance is not a crime for which I will punish you.”

As she spoke, Tamamo performed a spell. A great waterspout rose from the sea, and countless streams of seawater transformed into rain that poured down upon the natives. Within that rain, fish swept up by the whirlwind fell from the sky as well, flopping and bouncing across the beach.

The natives’ eyes lit up with delight at the sight of the fish. One after another, they rushed forward to grab them.

Having received what they believed to be a blessing from the sea itself, the natives became utterly convinced that Tamamo-no-Mae was a divine being. They repeatedly kowtowed in worship, while some hurried back to the village to inform the elders.

Before long, great numbers of natives arrived on pilgrimage. Elders and chieftains adorned with all manner of exotic feathers led the procession, kneeling before Tamamo in reverence. They placed her upon a crude palanquin decorated with animal bones and seashells that the natives considered exceptionally beautiful, then carried her back to the village.

There, she was enshrined upon the village altar and worshipped as a goddess. The villagers presented her with all kinds of local fruits and delicacies, gathering around in circles as they prayed and paid homage.

“Ha… hahaha… hahahahaha…”

Within her heart, Tamamo let out the triumphant laughter of a queen. Though she had drifted to the legendary Nanban Island by pure accident, she found herself thoroughly enjoying the sensation of being revered as a goddess by the island’s natives.

***

Within the Celestial Demon Path, more and more powerful figures from various worlds continued to arrive.

In fact, aside from the Three Realms, certain minor worlds also possessed entrances connected to the Celestial Demon Path. These took the form of branching passages. In those lesser worlds, legends had long circulated about forbidden lands that must never be entered, places where terrifying sword energy would instantly kill anyone who ventured inside.

Yet there were always those willing to risk their lives for adventure. Recently, some who had entered returned to their worlds with astonishing news: the forbidden lands had become passable.

As for what lay beyond, no one knew. But adepts had always been endlessly curious about the outside world. Most adepts emerging from these minor worlds were relatively weak. When they encountered powerful figures from Yomi or Takamagahara, they usually ended up as prey.

At this moment, inside a cave beneath an immense sky-piercing stone pillar in the middle region of the Celestial Demon Path…

“Mmm…” A sound rang out that could easily have been misunderstood by anyone passing by.

Lily had her eyes closed as she lay face-down inside the cave. A wide-sleeved robe had been spread beneath her as padding. Her full, fair breasts pressed against the uneven fabric where it covered the hard rocky ground. She wore only a white camisole on her upper body and a pair of black string shorts below. From behind, they appeared to consist of little more than a few thin straps.

Nanako sat astride Lily’s thighs in a duck-sitting posture, using both hands to massage her. Her hands moved from Lily’s back to her waist, then gradually down toward her hips…

“I’m going to apply the secret oil now, Sister.” A mystical art rotated within Nanako’s hands, forming two golden spheres of liquid. She inserted her hands into the floating globes, coating them in a layer of crystalline, silky oil before pressing and kneading Lily’s snow-white hips.

‘Even though I know this is a secret massage technique meant to stabilize my fluctuations, why do so many of these twenty to forty massage techniques focus on my backside…? No, I mustn’t think strangely about it. Otherwise, wouldn’t my little sister think I’m some woman with improper thoughts?

‘She’s being completely serious, yet I feel as though something strange is being done to me. I’d be betraying her sincerity and dedication if I kept thinking this way.’

“Alright, Sister. Next, please get onto your hands and knees, then raise your hips.”
“Huh? I-I have to do that too?”
“Don’t lift your face. Support yourself with your hands and rest your face against them. Just raise your hips. This is the required posture for the recipient of the secret technique.”

Nanako spoke with complete seriousness.

Judging by her expression, she was entirely focused and sincere, showing no signs of joking. To maintain her condition and avoid being affected during battle by the resentment that had accumulated within her, Lily could only comply.

Yet the moment she assumed the posture, she became acutely aware of how it looked. Her cheeks burned hot. Embarrassed and unable to back out now, she could only bury her face between her hands and close her eyes.

‘I should never have worn this style of underwear if I knew I’d be asked to pose like this…’ Lily inwardly regretted her choice.

“Next, besides using my hands, I’ll also use the Sakura Parasol to help massage you, Sister.” As she spoke, Nanako picked up the handle of the Sakura Parasol.

“Huh?” Lily’s entire body trembled. “Y-You’re going to use the parasol while I’m in this position?”²　

“What’s so strange about that? Have you forgotten what happened back in Kamakura, Sister?”

Lily could not help recalling that shortly after arriving in the Heian world, she had already experienced being massaged with the Sakura Parasol’s handle in Kamakura. Thinking of that, she could only leave herself in Nanako’s hands.

After all, having assumed such a posture, she had already placed herself in a position where the girl behind her could do as she pleased…

At last, the secret massage technique came to an end. Lily’s vigor returned completely, her condition fully restored.

“It’s a good thing I brought Nanako along. Otherwise, who knows what I might have become under the influence of that endless resentment.”

More than a thousand kilometers away from the cave where Lily and the others were staying, a wounded Yomi demon limped dejectedly toward the direction of Yomi.

It was a crimson oni whose entire body was red, with a massive golden horn protruding from its head. A deep sword wound marked its arm, barely healed. Clutching the injured limb, the oni still felt lingering fear.

He was considered a powerful member of the Red Oni race, possessing Mid Infernal Stage strength. Half a month earlier, he had entered the Celestial Demon Path seeking opportunities. Fortune had smiled upon him, allowing him to find two Oborozuki Souls.

Unfortunately, a day ago, both had been taken from him by a woman.

At that moment, strange sounds of bells, drums, and music drifted from ahead. The oni was startled and instinctively hid himself. Anyone bold enough to travel through the Celestial Demon Path with such fanfare had to possess Supreme God-level strength.

Peering from behind a boulder, he saw two vast processions approaching side by side. One consisted entirely of beautiful women, the other of handsome men. Various exotic banners fluttered above them.

Unfortunately, the Red Oni was not skilled at concealing his aura. Creatures like him rarely devoted themselves to disciplined training. They relied on naturally powerful physiques, growing stronger with age and further enhancing themselves by devouring other powerful beings in battle. As a result, controlling their presence was not their specialty.

Both processions suddenly came to a halt. From within a grand palanquin carried by eight tall, imposing, and extraordinarily handsome men, a voice emerged. “You may come out now, the one hiding behind the rock.”

Knowing he had been discovered, the Red Oni could only emerge. Fortunately, this was a force from Yomi, one he had encountered before. “Red Oni Domuru greets the Sanzu Demon Queen. Red Oni Domuru greets the Lord of Oblivion.”

As he spoke, the oni repeatedly kowtowed before the two processions.

The curtain of the palanquin remained closed as the Sanzu Demon Queen spoke from within. “So it’s Domuru. How did you end up in such a miserable state? And why were you hiding when you saw me?”

“It wasn’t that Domuru wished to hide from Your Majesty. I came here hoping to seek opportunities, but I nearly lost my life instead. I was fortunate enough to find two Oborozuki Souls, only to have them stolen from me. I simply have no face left to show anyone.”

“Oh? Among the demons of Yomi, you’re considered rather strong. Who beat you into such a spiritless state? As I recall, even when facing stronger opponents, you were always willing to fight to the death.”

“It… it was that woman!” The Red Oni still looked shaken.

“Which woman?”

“T-That woman from the Abyss Wedding… the one hailed as the most beautiful woman in the Three Realms… the woman who fought all ten Abyssal Demon Gods by herself!”

“Kagami Lily?” The curtain lifted by itself. The Sanzu Demon Queen’s expression changed slightly as her slender fingers began calculating heavenly secrets. “I can’t determine it. I actually can’t calculate that woman’s whereabouts.”

She shook her head inwardly. Then she said, “So Kagami Lily has come to compete for the Oborozuki Souls as well. That woman truly has no limits when it comes to her obsession with treasures. I’ve never seen a woman love treasures as much as she does. She’d rather give up men than give up treasure!”

Seeing the Red Oni still kneeling there, she continued, “You may rise, Domuru. Where exactly did you encounter Kagami Lily?”