| Author: Carrot Sauce | Original Source: SFACG | Word Count: 3097 characters |
| Translator: Yuki | English Source: Re:Library | Word Count: 1621 words |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | ||
Lily shared with Asuka that she had discovered the ores during an expedition in Tanba, accidentally stumbling upon an abandoned celestial battle maiden’s mine. Although unfamiliar with the Akitsu Continent, Asuka was aware that Tanba lay within Shuten Doji’s domain.
“Hmm, my Asuka Clan has never possessed the ore for Oborozuki Tamahagane; it was always delivered to us by celestial battle maidens. The idea that these ores originated from Tanba is a revelation even my ancestors were not privy to,” Asuka noted, visibly intrigued.
“Sister, will it be a problem that they’re still in ore form?” Lily asked.
“The secret to smelting this particular ore is known only to my Asuka Clan. Rest assured, I’ll summon the finest smelters and personally oversee the refining process,” Asuka assured her.
Reaching for a measuring tape, Asuka instructed, “Lily, please undress; I need to take your measurements.”
Understanding the gravity of the request, Lily complied, undressing down to her underwear for the measurements.
“Eh? Even my bust measurement?” Lily questioned, somewhat surprised.
“Absolutely. Every part of the body must be accounted for to craft the most suitable blade1,” Asuka explained, mumbling, “Ah, so big…2”
That night, Asuka studied Lily’s physique meticulously. “It’s astonishing. Every aspect of your body is so…so flawless. The corresponding sword must also reach the pinnacle of perfection. This blade will be the magnum opus of my lifetime.”
Asuka then elaborated on the complex and time-consuming nature of bladecrafting. Since Lily was concerned about her sisters on Akitsu Shima, Asuka reassured her that she could pick up the blade later or have it sent to her.
When Lily inquired about soul patterns and the incorporation of an anima, Asuka had an unexpected response. She told Lily to paint the back of her hands with her own artistic concept. “I’ll remember this sensation; it’s an expertise that other bladesmiths lack,” she stated. After the blade was forged, Asuka would apply this unique soul pattern, making it even more potent than anything Lily could create.
As for the anima, Asuka was straightforward. Incorporating an ordinary anima would tarnish the blade. Instead, Lily should wait for a truly compatible anima to integrate3. “Even without an anima, this blade’s power will far surpass any within the Heian Dynasty. I have no doubt,” Asuka affirmed.
The legend of Oborozuki Muramasa was revered in the Asuka Royal Family for generations, but they had lacked the means to forge it for millennia. Now, with these extraordinary conditions met, Asuka had the confidence to create a perfect replica of that legendary blade. Truly, she was the world’s greatest bladesmith.
“Madam Yoruko, the wish you spoke of that night can finally come true!” Lily’s voice trembled with emotion as she absorbed Asuka’s words.
The next day, before the sky lightened, Lily’s group readied themselves for departure. Asuka arrived, accompanied by Reika, Kazama, and a few other experts, to see them off.
“Princess Asuka, this voice transmission orb can’t reach Cherry Blossom Valley at the moment. But if you follow Sister Ayaka’s formation instructions, you’ll be able to contact us even from across the ocean,” Lily explained.
Accepting the orb, Asuka softly said, “That’s good to hear. I’ll be able to speak with you often. To say goodbye, truthfully, fills me with reluctance.”
Partings are inherently bittersweet.
“Your Highness, if fate allows, please visit us on the Akitsu continent,” Ayaka chimed in.
“Indeed, I will. Regardless, once this blade is completed, we shall meet again,” Asuka assured Lily.
Feeling a pang of sadness, Lily nodded gently. “We’ll meet again when Oborozuki Muramasa is finished.”
“Farewell,” Asuka said softly, her eyes following Lily’s ox cart until it vanished from sight. She vowed to infuse all her thoughts and emotions for Lily into the blade. Once it was forged, she knew her life would transform irreversibly. While Lily had saved her kingdom, Asuka planned not to repay her with physical affections, but with her most exquisite craftsmanship.
She understood that once the blade was completed, her relationship with Lily would be forever altered. Asuka vowed never to give herself to another for the rest of her life4.
Lily and her group returned to the beach, the very place where Fuyutsuki had previously left them. Although Fuyutsuki’s planned routes indicated that the ship would pass by between the 28th of every month and the 5th of the next, they were surprised to find the ship already anchored there on the 26th.
As they neared the ship, the cabins swung open, revealing Nishiya Riku. “Miss Lily, we have been awaiting your return,” he greeted.
“Brother Riku,” Lily reciprocated. When she inquired why Fuyutsuki had anchored prematurely, Riku revealed the upheavals in the Heian Dynasty had led to a pause in their regular commerce. This had left Fuyutsuki idling at the beach for nearly two weeks. Lily was touched.
“Lily, I’d like you to meet someone familiar,” Riku hinted.
“Someone I know?” Lily’s eyes showed curiosity as Riku led her to a bustling wine bar below deck. There, amidst the clinking of glasses and boisterous conversation, she recognized a robust samurai in disheveled white clothing. He was guzzling wine and emanated a wild aura.
“Brother Tenba?” she exclaimed.
“Little sister?” Tenba Goro looked up, sizing Lily up before letting out a sigh. “Ah, I’ve heard so many stories about you recently, all quite remarkable. But seeing you today… you’re still beautiful, yet not the little girl I remember.”
“You’re joking, Brother Tenba; it’s only been half a year,” Lily retorted.
“Maybe so, but you’ve changed, and it’s a good change; you’ve become much stronger,” Tenba Goro roared with laughter. His candid demeanor made it easy for him to accept the young woman who had surpassed him in such a short time.
Lily responded, “Regardless, you’ll always be my big brother.”
“Naturally,” he agreed, “I know you have great responsibilities now. Go on, but the next round of drinks is on you!”
Lily’s eyes twinkled. She poured him another cup, and raised a small one herself—a silent tribute to their shared history.
Fuyutsuki set sail, crossing the seas in days and eventually reaching the other side. They had returned to the Heian Dynasty. As Lily’s group stood on the deck, they watched the Akitsu coastline approach. A feeling of unease settled in; the land seemed abnormal, imbued with monstrous, incomparably dense, and horribly thorny eldritch energy. It was a far cry from the land they had left to visit Iyo Island just a few months ago. Now, the mountain peaks and coastlines eerily resembled the eldritch forests and mountains of Tanba.
Heavy black clouds hung in the distance, obscuring any glimmer of light. Suddenly, a mass of red light surged from the mountains, staining the clouds a blood-crimson hue. “What… what was that light?” Lily queried, leaning against the boat for a better look.
“It’s a volcano,” Ayaka replied.
While the continent was known for its many volcanoes, eruptions were an infrequent phenomenon, occurring perhaps once in a millennium. Lily had never witnessed one before. Now, as she observed, multiple mountains rose into the sky—evidence of land mass movement caused by the Earth’s volatile shifts. Mountain after mountain formed, a testament to the incredible power of nature. It made Lily feel insignificant, even with her formidable power of a quintuple-soul big dipper.
Fuyutsuki finally landed on the shore. The group descended into an environment pulsing with eldritch energy, where the air carried the stench of sulfur and the ground was blanketed in thick, hot ash. Occasionally, the earth beneath them trembled. The cataclysmic transformations left Lily in awe. “Is this a natural volcanic eruption?” she wondered aloud, but found no answers.
“Lily, I have a bad feeling. We should head back to Suno and teleport to Cherry Blossom Valley from there,” Ayaka advised.
“Mm,” Lily nodded in agreement, summoning the Azure Ox Cart.
The Azure Ox Cart glided effortlessly through the sky, soaring over landscapes that had undergone drastic transformations. The cart had flown past at least ten erupting volcanoes during the journey. Considering that most of the thousands of volcanoes on this continent had never erupted in recorded history, the sight was a grim portent. For the first time, Lily witnessed the violent spewing of volcanoes, as if they were keen on transforming the land into a hellish realm.
As they journeyed, powerful eldritch auras pervaded the air, primarily originating from the altered landscapes, similar to the erupting volcanoes. Along the way, they also encountered a gaping ditch—thousands of meters wide and unfathomably deep—filled with molten lava. From a distance, pitch-black creatures could be seen crawling out of this chasm.
“Heavens… I remember this used to be a city,” Lily muttered, her voice tinged with sorrow. With a ditch of such magnitude, it was evident that the city had been swallowed whole, and its inhabitants likely obliterated.
While Lily had always found a way to aid people hunted by demons, she was rendered helpless against this cataclysm. Even experts with the strength of the Big Dipper were powerless in such situations, capable only of protecting themselves. As the cart continued its flight, it became clear that a third of the places they passed had faced significant disasters. Furthermore, the demons and monsters they encountered were noticeably more powerful and numerous than before.
Finally, they arrived in Suno. Despite the potent eldritch energies that enveloped its outskirts and a distant volcano, the inner areas remained unscathed. As the ox cart touched down, Kimiko appeared to greet them.
“Lady Kimiko,” Lily called out, sprinting toward her.
“Lily, you’ve finally returned,” Kimiko greeted her.
Casting her eyes toward the distant crimson light that danced between the mountains and the sky, Lily asked, “Lady Kimiko, what is going on5?”
