Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 124 – Inferior Female Status In Carefree City
Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 124 – Inferior Female Status In Carefree City
The female samurai cried out in anguish, “Why? Why are you doing this to me? I only wanted to study swordsmanship in the city—I even paid the required fees! So why am I being cast out?”
“Shut up!” the demon spat. “Your swordsmanship is mediocre at best! Did you really think that paying a fee would grant you the right to train here? You humans are all the same—coming to Yomi to leech off our spirit power, stealing our techniques, and then returning to the mortal realm to reap the benefits!”
His expression twisted in disdain as he sneered. “And you—a woman—daring to demand a place among warriors? You haven’t even fulfilled your duties as a woman in the dojo! You may be hopeless with a sword, but it seems you’ve mastered the ways of a s̲l̲u̲t̲!”
The black-bearded demon hurled curses as he struck the frail female warrior, his fists landing mercilessly. She had no choice but to endure, her cries of protest drowned in the crowd’s jeers.
“That’s it! Kill this worthless woman!” someone from the crowd cheered.
“Human women are all the same! They come to Yomi, desperate to learn our arts, yet they still look down on us demons! Kill her!” another voice roared in agreement.
The demons erupted into wild cheers, relishing the spectacle, while the few humans present could do nothing but swallow their anger, too powerless to intervene. After all, this was a city ruled by demons.
“Enough! Stop this at once!” A clear, melodious voice rang out from the crowd, carrying both authority and allure.
The demon was about to seize the woman’s sleeve and resume his assault, but the sheer allure of the voice made him pause. His hand froze mid-air as he turned to see who had dared to interrupt.
His gaze landed on two strikingly beautiful women standing among the spectators. One was dressed in a crimson kimono with a short skirt, while the other was draped in a translucent Celestial Maiden jacket.
His eyes gleamed with interest. In all his years in Carefree City, he had never seen women as breathtaking as these two. But in the end, a woman was still just a woman. Humans already held the lowest status in Carefree City, and among them, women ranked even lower—practically the bottom of the social hierarchy.
“And just who do you think you are?” the demon growled, dropping the battered female warrior as he turned to face them. Towering at three meters tall, his hulking frame loomed over Lily and Ayaka, casting a long, oppressive shadow.
“What crime has this woman committed?” Lily asked coolly. “Why are you beating her so mercilessly? Is she your slave?” Even as she spoke, a thought lingered in her mind, Even if she were a slave, I could not stand by and watch this demon torment her.
“I am not a slave,” the woman said, her voice weak yet resolute. “We are both disciples of the Onidake Dojo. He is my senior brother.” Bruises marred her delicate features, and blood dripped from her split lip. Her hair was disheveled, her complexion pale from pain and exhaustion—yet beneath the injuries, she still possessed a quiet beauty.
“If you’re both disciples of the same dojo, why would you attack her?” Ayaka asked, her tone calm yet firm.
“Feh! You think a human b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲ like her is worthy of being my equal?” the black-bearded demon sneered. “I carry the noble bloodline of the Blue Demon royalty! In Carefree City, only the master of the city himself stands above me!
“This human woman joined our dojo recently, but she has no real interest in our ways—she only wants to steal our sword techniques. I took a liking to her and thought I’d have some fun, but not only did she refuse me, the wretch even had the audacity to complain to our master!”
“Unfortunately for her, this foolish b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲ didn’t realize that Onidake Dojo is the greatest dojo in all of Carefree City. We have an unwritten rule—female disciples exist for our amusement!
“When our master heard her complaints, did he punish me? No! He ordered me to throw her out! And yet, this disgraceful woman refused to leave, clinging to the dojo like a parasite, wailing and moaning at the gates. If she wanted attention so badly, I was more than happy to give it to her. That’s why I dragged her here and gave her the beating she deserved! Hahaha! Teaching a woman her place is always entertaining.”
As he spoke, the black-bearded demon clenched his gauntlets, causing the leather to creak and crackle under the pressure of his grip.
“You threw her out simply because she refused to sleep with you?” Lily asked, her voice laced with cold fury.
Ayaka stepped forward, gently helping the injured woman sit up before channeling a soft glow of healing energy over her wounds. “Miss, why would you insist on staying in such a despicable dojo?” she asked softly.
“You don’t understand, sister,” the woman sobbed. “I spent two centuries wandering Yomi, scraping together everything I had, only to use it all as tuition fees for their dojo. But when I refused to submit to the male disciples, they denied me training altogether.
“They threw me out and refused to return my money. Now, I have nothing left. Nowhere else to go. Where else can I possibly learn?”
“Shut up, you worthless woman!” the demon snarled. “Do you even understand where you are? You dare ask for a refund? Keep dreaming! Now get lost before I make you regret staying here any longer!”
“What a disgraceful set of rules,” Lily muttered, crossing her arms. She turned to the woman. “Miss, do you truly believe a dojo like this has anything worth learning?”
“What?” The demon had been poised to strike the female warrior once more, but Lily’s words made him pause. Slowly, he turned, his heavy footsteps thudding against the ground as he approached her.
“You b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲, what did you just say?” he growled.
Lily met his glare with a calm, unwavering gaze. “I said your Onidake Dojo is nothing more than a pathetic, uncivilized cesspool. If your morals are that low, I can only imagine how worthless your swordsmanship must be.”
“What?!” The demon’s forehead bulged with thick, pulsating veins as rage overtook him. He raised a fist, prepared to strike Lily down, but then stopped. No, merely hitting her wouldn’t be enough. She was too arrogant, too ignorant. He wanted to break her. To make her understand the sheer depth of her mistake.
A cruel smirk twisted the demon’s lips. “Since you’re so quick to insult our dojo, you must be quite confident in your own swordsmanship, aren’t you?”
Lily sighed lightly, shaking her head. “Hmph. My swordsmanship? It’s nothing extraordinary.”
“Hahahaha! Hahahahahaha!” The demon burst into laughter before turning to the gathered crowd. “Brothers, look at this! She may be pretty, but she’s clearly a fool! She openly admits her swordsmanship is unremarkable, yet she has the gall to mock the greatest dojo in Carefree City!”
The surrounding demons erupted in jeers and boos, their voices echoing through the chaotic streets.
“Woman, do you think this is some kind of Female Queendom where you can do as you please just because you’re pretty?” one of the demons mocked.
“This is Carefree City! Strength is everything here! No matter how beautiful a woman is, she is nothing without power. At best, her status is only slightly higher than livestock!”
“Really? I don’t see a difference! Hahahaha!” another demon sneered, drawing laughter from the crowd.
The crowd roared with laughter, their ridicule directed squarely at Lily.
The black-bearded demon thrust a thick finger at Lily, his grin widening with sadistic delight.
“Woman, apologize! No—kneel! No, better yet, strip before you kneel and beg for forgiveness!” His voice was full of contempt. “Otherwise, I’ll have you arrested for insulting an upper-class demon! Once I drag you back, I’ll make sure you learn what true punishment means!”
Yet, Lily did not move. She simply stood there, calm and unmoved. To her, this demon’s fate had already been sealed—by his own arrogance, not by her.
“What’s wrong? Frozen in fear?” the demon taunted, stepping closer. “Weren’t you acting so arrogant just now? Where’s that confidence? Why don’t you go ahead and kneel already?”
“I only said that my swordsmanship is nothing remarkable,” Lily replied smoothly. “That being said, it is still slightly better than that of your dojo’s so-called masters, grandmasters, and ancestors—combined.”
A soft breeze stirred her long hair, but her expression remained indifferent, as if she were merely stating a simple fact.
“What?!” The demon’s face contorted in rage. “The audacity… I’ll kill you!” With a roar, he lifted his massive fists, ready to strike.
“Wait.” A deep, commanding voice cut through the chaos.
The crowd instinctively parted, revealing a demon stepping forward. He was clad in pristine white robes, his bluish-purple skin contrasting sharply against the fabric. His body was powerful and well-built, a single horn jutting from his forehead.
His gaze was piercing, radiating a deadly sharpness—one that carried the unmistakable presence of sword intent.
“Senior Uncle!” the black-bearded demon yelped, suddenly flustered.
The blue-skinned demon strode forward, his eyes sweeping over Lily from head to toe before letting out a quiet chuckle. His eyes flickered with disdain.
‘Hmph. This woman is most likely some spoiled heiress from a wealthy clan. Someone like her—so arrogant, so naive—won’t understand her place until she’s utterly humiliated. Just look at her—she’s pathetic compared to a real swordsman.’
‘That gentle gaze of hers—utterly powerless. Her arms are too thin to even wield a sword properly. Her accessories? Purely decorative. That ridiculously short skirt of hers—it’s practically inviting disaster.’
‘Her thighs, smooth beneath those black stockings, lack the powerful muscles of a true warrior. And that sword—luxurious, but impractical. Even her long, flowing hair, meant to enhance her charm, serves no purpose in battle. No matter how I look at her, she’s completely unsuited for swordsmanship.’
‘This woman… she’s no warrior. Comparing her to the true swordsmen of our dojo would be an insult.’
‘Still… she is stunning. And naive. The perfect combination. I’ll play to her ego, lure her into the dojo. Once she’s there, we’ll humiliate her—defeat her over and over until her confidence shatters. By then… she’ll be ours.’
The senior demon swiftly raised a hand, halting the black-bearded demon just as he was about to strike. He turned to Lily with a calculated smile. “Miss, since you hold such a low opinion of our Onidake Dojo’s swordsmanship, why not come with us and spar against our disciples?”
Lily’s brows furrowed slightly as she hesitated.
“What’s wrong? Scared?” the black-bearded demon sneered. “Was all that talk just for show?”
“Enough. Mind your manners,” the senior demon chided, waving his hand dismissively. “A dojo challenge is no trivial matter—it concerns both her reputation and her safety. Let her take a moment to decide. We are in no rush.”
Just then, Madam’s voice echoed in Lily’s mind through a silent transmission. ‘Go. We came here to assess the true state of this city, after all.’
Lily gave a small nod. “Fine.”
“Hahaha! You are bold, Miss!” the senior demon laughed before his tone turned slightly more ominous. “However, since we are in Carefree City, I must clarify something in advance. If you lose, you won’t simply get away with an apology. This is about the honor of Onidake Dojo, the greatest dojo in Carefree City, after all…”
“I understand,” Lily replied, her voice laced with impatience. “If I lose, do as you wish.”
“Huh?” The demon senior blinked in surprise before his lips curled into a sinister grin. “Wonderful! It seems you understand how the world works after all, Miss. This way, please!”
And so, Lily and Ayaka followed them toward Onidake Dojo, accompanied by a growing crowd of eager spectators. The injured female warrior trailed behind as well, unwilling to miss what was to come.
The dojo loomed ahead—an ancient and imposing structure, its entrance flanked by ominous demon statues. Large bonfires crackled at either side, casting flickering shadows over the worn stone pathway.
As they stepped through the courtyard, the scene before them was one of ruthless training. Demons sparred aggressively with human disciples, clashing with ancient wooden swords.
Among them, a few female disciples stood off to the side, their expressions hollow, their shoulders tense. Fear clung to them like a second skin—an unspoken testament to the torment they endured in this place.
The group moved into the dojo’s main hall, a colossal wooden structure with towering ceilings and vast open space. The chamber stretched over a hundred meters in width, its thick wooden pillars adorned with eerie demonic masks. Flickering torchlight danced across the walls, casting grotesque shadows that gave the space an even more oppressive aura.
Word of the challenge spread like wildfire.
Within moments, demon disciples from multiple generations gathered, their towering forms pressing in as they formed two imposing lines. Together, they encircled Lily and her group, sealing them in the heart of the dojo.
A heavy presence filled the hall as a demon warrior stepped forward, his very aura radiating sharp, unyielding sword intent. He was clad in deep red robes, his purplish-blue skin accentuated by the firelight.
His square jaw was covered in a thick gray beard, rough and unkempt like a coarse broom. Two dull-gold, curved horns protruded from his head, giving him a fearsome, battle-hardened appearance.
“Who dares challenge the honor of Onidake Dojo?” his voice boomed across the hall.