Southeastern region of Castalll kingdom.

A small wagon is being pulled by two horses along a lane with two plebeians driving it. 

"Hoi. Hoi. What is that thing?"

A titanic wolf is blocking their path. Its height is as high as a human male while its body is three times thicker than cows.

"Could it be that people fell prey to this monster?"

The giant wolf scurries fiercely towards them.

"Nooooo. We die!"

Suddenly the monster crashes to the woods at their side with blood splashes on the road. 

"W..what happened?"

"Look."

A horse is beside their cart. In front of their horses, a young woman just lands on the ground with her sword pointed forward. 

Her longsword is drenched in blood. 

"Oh, no. The monster.."

The giant wolf rises furiously and turns its attention to the female attacker but she remains confident.

While smiling, she positions the sword with both hands and says,

"A giant wolf? How rare...Hmm.. it sounds upset.."

It leaps at her but she swiftly jumps to the side.

"It's over."

She slashes its left leg and neck. 

"Amazing, young lady!"

"You single-handedly took down that monster!"

The two men rush to her and praise excitedly.

She puts her left hand on her slim waist while her right hand still holds the sword that its edge rests on the ground.

"That's for sure. My goal is to ensure the people of the kingdom live peacefully."

The two villagers look at each other cautiously before speaking to the beautiful girl with snow coloured hair. 

"You must be an outsider if you don't know what's happening in this kingdom."

She furrows her snow coloured eyebrows.

"It is about the recent invasion and war?"

They shake their heads.

"You can fight but you are also a beautiful young woman. The demesnes and towns are not safe places for someone like you." The left man says.

The right man adds,

"Because the local lords are worse than monsters."

Her expression turns sour for a moment but then she smiles and turns away from them.

"I appreciate your concern but I can't turn back on the people. And your words are unbelievable."

She mounts her steed and gallops away.

The men only shake their heads with pitiful looks.

***

Already in the most eastern town in south Castall, Scarlet boasts happily on her steed.

"I have never been here. It's such a prosperous town!"

"Lady. Horses are not allowed inside the town. But you can pay the guard to take care of it."

There seem to a stable at the entrance of the town.

Guards approach her while showing their palms as if insisting her to pay them.

She jumps to the ground and gives them two silver coins. She asks while her eyes indicate the sword attached behind her.

"Is weapon allowed?"

"No problem."

She walks casually into the busy street.

"Hi. Girl. Do you mind if I guide you around the area?"

The townspeople possibly avoid Scarlet due to the sword in her back, but this young woman casually approaches the unique girl.

Scarlet scrutinizes her from head to toe. The young woman has a good facial look although a far cry from Scarlet herself. In contrast to Scarlet's fair skin, her skin is tanned and her palms have calluses possibly due to doing chores or sword training. Scarlet herself had a fair share of intense sword training since childhood but as she wore expensive gloves, her palms are smooth. Although both girls have about the same height and probably about the same age, Scarlet is surprised by the counterpart's muscled body. Scarlet's childhood friend, Demia doesn't have such muscles despite being good in martial arts. 

Her breasts are not small in size but Scarlet's breasts are bigger.

In contrast to Scarlet's well groomed hair that reaches her nape, the girl before has messy red hair that almost looks like bird nest. Having said that, she purposely cut it short.

"Well, if you don't mind to tag along."

Scarlet doesn't reject her offer as she is interested to know this girl.

"But you need to buy me a lunch first."

"What."

They go and dine in a tavern.

"Nothing beats an afternoon drink!"

She happily gulps booze from a big mug.

Although she said to buy her lunch, she doesn't eat at all. The happy go lucky girl just drinks booze from the beginning.

Feeling irritated, Scarlet punches the table,

"You only drink, when you are going to show me around?"

"The guards in the area are cautious. Someone like you with such weapon won't wander around in ease. But I have a friend in the noble family. If we can give him money, you can get a free pass."

"I get it." Scarlet's expression turns serious and puts a pouch of coins on the table.

"Is this enough?"

She immediately takes the pouch and walks to the door.

"I am meeting my friend. I am glad I met you, lady. This should be a good life experience for you."

As she left, Scarlet ponders that weird girl's words.

She waits. Time passes. An hour. Then, several hours until night arrives.

"Young lady. It is closing time!"

The tavern owner, a man calls her.

"I am waiting for someone."

Surprised at her innocent words, the bartender sighs and says,

"Sorry to break it to you, but you have been cheated."

"Eee. But she promised.."

"Times are tough now. Everyone is doing everything for money."

"Then, I am reporting to the lord."

"It's useless. The fault is with you for being easily tricked. Furthermore, nobles are a lot more dangerous. You will not only lose money."

Scarlet lifelessly exits and walks to the stable.

The guards are gone. Her horse is also gone.

Feeling helpless, she sits on the ground. 

"Do average citizens live their life like this?" She mutters to herself.

She hears galloping sounds approaching her position. 

A luxury coach stops near her.

"Milady. Are you sure?" The driver asks.

There is a gentle voice comes from inside the coach.

"You know I'd like to help people."

A noble teenage girl with honey coloured hair descends from there and walks politely to the sitting girl.

Scarlet looks upward.

"If you have nowhere to sleep, would you like to stay in my home?"

"Lady Aria can't ignore someone in trouble." A man who looks like a knight stands beside the noble girl, Aria.

"I guess it's better than sleeping outside." Scarlet smiles.

"It's settled then." Aria seems very delighted.

***

Scarlet is brought to a very big mansion and has a luxurious dinner with Aria's family.

"Aria has brought someone again."

"It's her habit after all."

Aria's parents chat during the dinner. 

Her family, the House if Skanderberg is the despot of the area. Scarlet notices the guards are knights and they seem strong. 

Scarlet is very happy as she has finally met people with a good hearts in this region. The kingdom is not that bad after all, she thinks.

"Thank you very much for taking an outsider like me in your honorable house!" 

The father asks,

"But it is unbelievable for a young woman like you to come here alone."

"No. Actually there are other two. They came here several days ago. I was occupied and quite late."

Aria's expression changes when Scarlet mentions that.

Before she could ask, Aria's father interjects, "Then, we shall command our knights to search for those two."

"Really?"

Scarlet stands happily.

"I daresay you will meet those two very soon." Aria consoles her with a sweet smile. 

***

At night, Aria's mother walks along the corridor that oversees the garden beneath the mansion. 

She holds a book and smiles sweetly,

"I have written what I did today in my diary. This hobby of mine, I can't really stop it." 

"Good night, Scarlet."

"Good night, my lady."

Those two pass each other on their way to their bedrooms. 

After many steps, suddenly Scarlet feels a bloodlust. 

She hears the sound of a body being cut by a sword. She is familiar with that sound after all. She turns back.

Aria's mother.. her head is decapitated. 

"Milady!"

A nearby knight tries to cut the attacker but is being killed instead.

She runs towards the attacker.

The murderer is a woman. She doesn't even cover her face.

A cute face with a ponytail pointed upward. Her left hand holds a dagger and her right hand holds a weirdly curved sword.

Scarlet left her sword in the bedroom. 

The assassin seems not interested in her. 

"You? An outsider?"

Scarlet jumps from the first floor corridor to the garden.

"Eee. She is very capable." The assassin mutters.

Scarlet dashes towards the other building where her bedroom located. The assassin chases after her.

She is even faster than her.

Several knights notice those two.

"Guards. That woman just killed the lord's wife!"

"What?"

The three guards surround her.

Scarlet takes that chance to continue her run towards the other building. 

Finally, she enters her room. She changes from her night gown into the day's outfit and picks up her sword.

She hears fast footsteps approaching her.

When she comes out of the room to the space around the garden, the assassin is standing and looking at her fiercely.

"She is strong. She killed the three knights just that fast." Scarlet thinks and prepares her fighting stance.

"Milady, hurry up. This way!"

A knight is pulling Aria's hand while jogging towards Scarlet. 

"Scarlet. Follow us!"

Those two run towards another building at the other end.

Two knights attack the assassin. Scarlet takes the chance to run after Aria.

Finally, they reach a building that looks like a large storehouse. 

"Please fend then off!" The knight tells her while escorts Aria close to the building.

The assassin is already here.

"This woman is not the target."

The assassin runs past Scarlet towards the two behind her.

"No!"

She pushes Aria away and runs at the incoming assassin. He makes three combination attacks that are barely dodged by her. His final attack is blocked by her dagger. As his raw strength is above her, the assassin is forced to kneel down. His blocked blade is pushed towards her body as her left hand is being overpowered. However, her right hand holds a weirdly curved sword. She skillfully cut his belly with her free hand. 

Flame comes out from the curved blade and burns his wound.

"Aaaaarggg!"

As his sword is released, her left hand is free and stabs her dagger on his neck.

"Enchanted blade?" Scarlet mutters and walks between Aria and the female assassin.

"You are not a target but if you get in my way, I have to kill you."

The assassin says in a matter of fact tone.