Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 128 - The Takamagahara Masked Dance Maiden Beauty Pageant

Bishamonten nodded. “I see. It seems that after we escaped Takamagahara, the Celestial Maiden Rebels had an even harder time.”

Riyuki said, “Fortunately, the Celestial Demon Path suddenly opened, drawing large numbers of powerful figures from Takamagahara into it. At the same time, numerous powerful figures from Yomi-no-kuni stormed into Takamagahara, throwing vast regions into chaos and leaving Takamagahara temporarily unable to deal with us. That finally gave us a chance to catch our breath.”

In truth, the Celestial Maiden Rebels had also secretly established contact with some of the more honorable demon clans from Yomi-no-kuni, further intensifying the chaos. However, Riyuki did not consider such a desperate measure particularly glorious, so she said nothing about it.

“I never imagined it! Takamagahara is actually persecuting the Celestial Maidens so brutally!” Yanagihada said furiously. “Back then, weren’t we the ones who guarded the four corners of the realm and waged campaigns across the various worlds for those pleasure-seeking gods?!”

Riyuki looked at everyone and said, “Everyone, I risked passing through the Celestial Demon Path this time to reach Herikaku City. First, I wanted to form an alliance with Herikaku City so that we could face our common enemy together. Second, I have an important piece of news to tell everyone. As for how you wish to respond after hearing it, that will be entirely up to you.”

Bishamonten said, “Calling it an alliance makes things sound too distant. We are all sisters here. Many members of the Celestial Maiden Rebels once risked their lives to save me. We are all Celestial Maidens and belong to the same family. Naturally, we should stand united against our common enemy.”

“Mm.” The sisters all nodded in agreement.

They had already regarded one another as family, so there was no need to speak of forming an alliance.

Riyuki’s face brightened with delight. Perhaps she really had chosen the right path. She would never again have to serve the Kegaretsu Clan, endure humiliation, or suffer their indignities!

“Miss Riyuki, you said you had some important news. What is it?” Kaguya-hime asked.

Riyuki took a deep breath, looked at the sisters, and said, “Deep within Takamagahara, an ancient highborn house is about to pour the strength of its entire clan into holding a beauty pageant.”

“A beauty pageant?”

Every sister present was an extraordinary beauty capable of stunning the Three Realms, so they naturally had some interest in the subject.

“That’s right,” Riyuki said. “It is a grand event known as the Masked Dance Maiden Beauty Pageant. The event was originally a tradition in the territories of those decaying clans deep within Takamagahara, and it had been held once every thousand years. Although each occasion was grand, it had never been enough to stir all the beauties of Takamagahara.”

“But from the way you’re describing it, this year’s beauty pageant has stirred up all the beauties of Takamagahara?” Chiya asked.

Riyuki nodded.

“Although the chaos caused by the Celestial Demon Path has yet to settle, Takamagahara was never exactly peaceful to begin with. Moreover, it is incomparably vast, so the current turmoil is essentially no more than a large-scale bandit invasion. Its impact is limited. But now that this matter has emerged, the attention of countless Celestial Maidens, women from other divine races, and the Seraphim race has been drawn to it. After all, the matter of the Oborozuki soul is a closely guarded secret of the upper echelons, and very few can truly benefit from it. Most Celestial Maidens and other women have therefore not participated. But this beauty pageant has left every beauty in Takamagahara restless!” As Riyuki spoke, her chest rose and fell noticeably, making it clear that she was not particularly calm herself.

“Eh? What kind of beauty pageant could possibly attract so much attention?” Shimizu could not help asking.