“Firstly, let me make this clear: I will not agree to abolish my own power, be trapped, consume some obscene drug, or any other ploy that would undoubtedly lead me into Shuten’s clutches. Your promises, both yours and Shuten’s, hold no credibility,” Lily asserted firmly.
“Ehehehe, Miss Kagami, you have indeed matured,” Momiji remarked with a smirk.
“Then tell me now, what are your conditions?” Lily demanded.
Momiji’s smile grew sly, her eyes tracing Lily’s figure. “Well, I won’t beat around the bush. The first condition is that Miss Kagami must agree not to seek retaliation afterwards and ensure my life and safety. Your strength is something I cannot contend with, after all.”
“As long as you disclose Shuten’s whereabouts, I won’t kill or harm you. I can promise you that. But as for the ‘afterwards’… what do you mean?” Lily inquired cautiously.
“Ehehehe, Miss Kagami, you are quite perceptive. Yes, the ‘afterwards’ refers to my second condition,” Momiji explained.
“……” Lily had a sinking feeling. “And what is the second condition?”
“That, Miss Kagami, is that you must come to my abode and assist me in my practice,” Momiji revealed.
“Assist you in your practice? I don’t have much time. You aren’t planning to stall until Shuten returns, are you?” Lily questioned with suspicion.
“Oh, Miss Kagami, aren’t you seeking His Highness? Isn’t his return exactly what you desire?” Momiji retorted.
Lily’s face tensed. “What kind of practice assistance do you require? Why me?”
“With your strength, surely you’ve heard of the concept of paired training?” Momiji insinuated.
“Paired training? Who, who would be paired with you… Yes, I have heard of it,” Lily responded, her face flushing. Despite her internal conflict, her rationality urged her to at least listen to the details before refusing outright.
“Ahh, this… is not something that can be explained in an instant. Please follow me. Don’t worry, it will take at most one night. You can at least afford this small amount of time, can you not? Besides, if you were to search for His Highness on your own, where would you even begin?” Momiji explained, trying to persuade Lily.
“I warn you, don’t push beyond my limits. I won’t agree! I have no trust in you!” Lily asserted firmly.
“Relax, Miss Kagami. I understand that you have no trust in me whatsoever. However, I believe in you. I believe that if I fulfill my end of the bargain, you won’t go back on your word and kill me, right1?” Momiji’s hand brushed against the hand gripping Yasutsuna, as if fondling some peculiar object.
“……” Lily remained silent, weighing her options. As expected, Momiji had no benevolent intentions, but Lily found herself with little choice.
“Fine, then lead me to your place,” Lily relented reluctantly.
“Ehehe, that’s more like it, my dear… Ah, no, I mean, lovely Miss Kagami. I find it hard to contain myself… Ahh, no, I am incredibly eager. I have an insatiable obsession with practice, ehehehe,” Momiji expressed with a mix of desire and anticipation.
“You placed the decoy on the throne, right? Since Shuten isn’t here, what’s the point?” Lily inquired.
“That is His Highness’s command. The place he went to is even more secretive. He doesn’t want others to know of his departure,” Momiji explained.
Lily sighed inwardly. Where did Shuten go? No matter where he went, he always brought disaster with him.
“Come, pay no mind to the guards. When His Highness is away, I am the master of Mount Ooe. You are my lov… my guest,” Momiji said, her words trailing off suggestively.
Lily remained silent as Momiji guided her through a concealed side passage, shrouded in shadows, leading them into a long stone corridor.
Exiting the corridor, Lily emerged into a deeper, darker cave illuminated by ancient, peculiar stone lamps emitting a dim, crimson-yellow light. Strange copper incense burners in the shape of monsters and beasts adorned the area, and inhaling the incense caused a reaction in Lily’s body.
“Hmm, it’s just some incense that heightens sensitivity in women. It may be effective against ordinary individuals, but for me…”
Lily possessed the celestial maiden physique, which made her more sensitive yet also bestowed her with greater resistance. She could easily resist the effects of the incense.
As her gaze swept across the cave, Lily noticed a wooden platform covered with hides. A lamp stood at its side, and there was a screen positioned behind it. It appeared to be Momiji’s sleeping area, permeated with the scent of a mature woman.
“We have arrived. So, how do you find my room, Miss Kagami? Do you like it?” Momiji inquired.
“Ah, it’s not particularly impressive.”
“Well, perhaps you’ll grow fond of it soon. You might even fall in love with it,” Momiji remarked, her words tinged with ambiguity.
“Don’t say things you don’t even believe in. So, how exactly do you want me to assist you in your practice?” Lily retorted.
“Alright, alright, you certainly are an impatient lady,” Momiji responded, pointing at a beast statue atop the cave. Nestled within the statue’s mouth was a ring. “First, I will tie you up and suspend you from that ring.”
“What?” Lily blushed, hastily covering her chest with her arms. “You intend to do something so perverse!? Hmph, you won’t deceive me. I won’t agree to that!”
Lily was no fool. Allowing herself to be bound in such a manner would render her helpless. If Shuten were to suddenly return, she would be in grave danger. Instead of saving her sister, she would be throwing herself into the depths of hell.
“Miss Kagami, don’t be so impatient. I understand your concerns. You worry that I will bind you, rendering you defenseless, and then betray my word. You think this is Shuten’s trap, don’t you?” Momiji acknowledged.
“…Is it not part of your plan?”
“No, no, I have no intention of harming you, Miss Kagami. Moreover, do you truly believe that Shuten, with his power, would need to set a trap to deal with you? However, I can understand your worries.” Momiji produced a rough hemp rope. “Take a look at this rope. At most, it can restrain a throned expert. Miss Kagami, with your strength, you can easily break free from it. It won’t restrict you in any way. It’s merely a form of practice. You must understand that pair training requires a certain artistic flavor and atmosphere, right?”
“…Give it to me!” Lily accepted the hemp rope and examined it. Without utilizing spirit power, she couldn’t break it. However, the moment she infused a bit of spirit power, the rope shattered with a snap.
“So, do you believe me now?”
“Even so, what’s the purpose of all this?” Lily questioned, her voice tinged with suspicion.
“This is an ancient pair training method I stumbled upon. Naturally, it holds great benefits for me. However, I didn’t want to share this ancient secret with you. Your progress is far too astonishing, and I dare not entrust you with this method unless… you kneel down, lick my feet, and beg me. Only then might I consider it,” Momiji explained with a mischievous grin.
“Dream on. I have no interest in your secret method. Fine, what else do you need?” Lily retorted firmly.
“Hehe, Miss Kagami, you agree then?” Momiji’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “And, um… about that, let’s tie you up first2 and then discuss it!”
“Wait, wait, wait! What are you planning?” Lily exclaimed, her voice filled with alarm.
“Relax, what I’m about to do won’t cross your boundaries or cause you harm. With your strength, you can intervene at any point. But I must warn you, if you stop this, our deal will be terminated. Even if you kill me, I won’t reveal where his highness has gone. So, think carefully,” Momiji whispered into Lily’s ear.
“I understand… as long as you don’t cross my boundaries, I won’t intervene,” Lily made her decision. She didn’t know what peculiar method Momiji had in mind. The fact that she was being taken advantage of was something she couldn’t avoid anymore. Perhaps there was no secret method at all, and it was merely an excuse to tease her.
Fortunately, Momiji was a mature woman…
They were all women3. Reluctantly, Lily realized that without paying a price, she wouldn’t be able to locate Shuten.
Kill? If she killed Momiji, would she be able to save sister Uesugi? As long as her boundaries weren’t crossed, she would endure.
Momiji’s breaths grew shallower, as if she were anticipating what was about to transpire. “Then… let’s begin… hehehehe.”
Leaning against Lily, Momiji inhaled the scent of her neck. “Mmm… Miss Kagami’s fragrance is delightful. With your celestial maiden physique, it’s truly… suitable for my practice.”
Saying that, Momiji grasped both of Lily’s hands and twisted them behind her back, proceeding to tie her up.
The rope passed through Lily’s armpits and clothes, emitting a soft rubbing sound. Momiji’s eyes held no malicious intent; instead, they gleamed with the appreciation of an artist admiring their masterpiece.
With precision, Momiji wound the coarse rope several times around Lily’s chest, securing it tightly. Then, she lifted one of Lily’s delicate white legs and skillfully entwined the rope through the torn stockings, wrapping it around the supple limb, causing Lily to stand on one leg. The posture was undeniably humiliating.
Next, the rope was intricately looped between Lily’s legs before being thrown upwards, passing through the copper ring suspended at the top of the cave.
“Mmm, impressive, truly impressive. Miss Kagami, you are breathtakingly beautiful. The regal red kimono perfectly complements this posture and the bindings,” Momiji remarked, her breath infused with the delicate scent of orchids, gently caressing Lily’s face.
“Shut up… Just shut up,” Lily murmured, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Momiji’s gaze as she resisted the overwhelming shame.
Completing the complex binding, Momiji gave a firm tug and hoisted Lily into the air.
“Nnnn…” Lily bit her lip, determined not to let any sounds escape. The position and her concerns caused a light sheen of sweat to form on her body. The captivating scent emanating from her skin possessed the power to seduce even the coldest and hardest of rocks4.
Robinxen: She’s definitely scheming something that will backfire on Lily if this is a condition. Robinxen: Ah yes let her restrict your freedom in a hostile environment. Yuki: Author uses this excuse far too much. Robinxen: This just in! Geology is seducible!
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