You Deserve A Fate Far Worse Than A Swift Death, You Swine

—Five years later—

In a room within a house in the heart of Elesia's capital, an intense scene was unfolding. A man, wearing nothing but a hastily draped cloth around his nether regions, found himself desperately backing away from the menacing figure before him.

"Stay back! Don't you dare come any closer!" he pleaded, fear dripping from his voice.

The mysterious figure wore a striking red and white fox mask, revealing only her feminine form through the contours of her body. In one hand, she brandished a gleaming knife, while the other held a silenced pistol. The man knew that his only chance of survival was to seize control of these deadly weapons.

"Stay away from me! Don't you dare get any closer!" he shrieked, desperately attempting to create some distance between himself and the woman.

With an air of grim determination, the woman addressed the man by name. "Drex Brownwolf, your time has come... to die," she declared, her voice cold and devoid of mercy.

Before he could utter another plea or protest, the woman swiftly executed her lethal intent. In an instant, Drex, a corrupt noble who had reveled in his power, was severed from life.

As the woman stood over Drex's lifeless body, her gaze shifted towards the bed where another woman lay unclothed. Evidence of the woman's demise was apparent in the hand-shaped bruises adorning her neck—an agonizing death by suffocation at the hands of Drex. Overwhelmed by the unbearable torment inflicted upon her, she had succumbed to her fate.

"You deserved a fate far worse than a swift death, you swine," the woman muttered, her eyes fixed on Drex's wide-eyed head. "I should have made you suffer unimaginably."

With deliberate intent, she placed a scarlet lotus, a symbol of their organization's presence, by the side of Drex's head. A silent message to all who would come to witness the aftermath. Having completed her task, she turned on her heels and made her way to an open window. With a fearless leap, she landed gracefully on the rooftop, rolling into a crouching position before rising to her full height. From this vantage point, she surveyed the sprawling landscape of the capital.

Heartia, the bustling capital of Elesia, lay spread out before her. A city teeming with nobles, among them corrupt individuals who abused their positions and trampled upon the innocent.

"....Hooo....Haaa..."

Taking a moment to catch her breath, she inhaled deeply, preparing to descend from the rooftop. However, just as she was about to leap, an unsettling sensation tingled in her instincts. Reacting swiftly, she dodged a projectile that narrowly whizzed past her. Without hesitation, another object came hurtling toward her. This time, she arched her back, bending her body until her hand grazed the rooftop's surface. Rolling back with lightning speed, she skillfully tumbled multiple times before coming to a sudden stop and springing back up.

Yet again, an attack was launched in her direction, but she deftly parried it with her knife. However, the force of impact shattered her blade, causing it to crumble into pieces. Miraculously, the object didn't manage to reach her; it simply clattered harmlessly onto the roof–it was a 9mm bullet.

"..."

Silently, she readied her silencer, a sense of caution gripping her. She keenly surveyed her surroundings. In an instant, she sensed three bullets being fired toward her position. Swiftly rolling to the side, she deftly maneuvered to evade the incoming projectiles. With a well-practiced motion, she swiftly raised her silenced weapon, aiming it toward the direction from which the bullets originated. A precise squeeze of the trigger sent her own retaliatory shots piercing through the air, directed at her unseen adversaries.

As three bullets tore through the air following her retaliatory shots, the masked woman swiftly sought to make her escape. However, her path was abruptly blocked by a figure adorned in golden armor, a member of the prestigious Knight's Order. The knight brandished her sword, poised to strike down the enigmatic woman. Unyielding, the masked woman swiftly unsheathed her own blade, intercepting the incoming slash just in time.

"Who are you?! And why are you causing all this chaos?" the golden knight bellowed.

A glimmer of crimson flashed within the masked woman's eyes as she met the knight's gaze. "I am here... to cleanse this tainted kingdom," she responded, her words laden with purpose. With a powerful swing of her sword, she attacked, only to be met by the knight's sturdy defense. Meanwhile, another bullet hurtled towards them, finding its mark as it struck the masked woman's calf. Remarkably, she didn't flinch or betray any sign of pain.

The knight, taken aback by the masked woman's stoic response, gazed at her in disbelief. Regaining her composure, she pressed on, determined to uncover the masked woman's motives. "What do you mean by 'cleanse' the kingdom?" she inquired as she delivered another forceful sword strike.

Matching the knight's strike with her own, the masked woman replied. "This kingdom is deeply corrupted, its very core tainted. And so, we, the 'Scarlet Lotus,' have taken it upon ourselves to rid it of the filth, one by one. The Knight's Order, the Paladins, even the Royal Family—they all turn a blind eye. That's why we have chosen to get our hands dirty, starting with the elimination of the corrupt nobles."

The revelation that the masked woman represented the Scarlet Lotus, an organization responsible for multiple killings in the capital, shook the Knight's Order to its core. Reports of seven deaths had already surfaced, but until now, the culprits had remained elusive. The realization that an entire organization was involved indicated that there were more individuals involved in their sinister plot.

"Why resort to killing? Do you truly believe that by eliminating them, the kingdom will be cleansed of corruption? Even we, the Knight's Order, recognize the flaws within the kingdom's system and the despicable nature of certain nobles. However, it is the royal family who should pass judgment upon them, not us or the Paladins, and certainly not your organization!"

The masked woman's red eyes gleamed with determination as she continued to engage in combat, her sword clashing against the knight's with a resounding clash. "If we don't take action, who will? The royal family may possess the authority to pass judgment, but when it comes to commoners, even a baron-ranked noble can condemn them. The royal family has deemed that commoners who commit crimes are to be executed immediately. Don't you find that excessively harsh?"

The knight acknowledged the imbalanced system and the flaws in the royal family's governance. "I, too, have recognized the inherent disparities within the kingdom's structure," she conceded, raising her sword. "But I believe that this is for the greater good! For the kingdom to prosper, educated nobles are necessary and deserve fair treatment!"

"And that's precisely why I claim this kingdom is filthy," the masked woman countered fiercely. "By allowing the nobles to wield their power over the commoners without consequence, by issuing mere warnings for their transgressions, the scales of justice are tipped heavily in their favor. However, when it comes to commoners, any wrongdoing is met with immediate execution. Doesn't that reveal a stark imbalance in the system, Ms. Knight?"

Countless commoners had suffered at the hands of corrupt nobles. While nobles were granted leniency and warnings for their misdeeds, commoners were denied the same treatment. The moment a commoner committed a crime, they were swiftly executed. True, nobles would face consequences for severe offenses like murder or human trafficking, but the harshest punishment they could receive was demotion. The only crime that warranted beheading was rebellion. This stark contrast in treatment illuminated the royal family's favoritism towards the nobility, exposing the deep-seated injustice endured by the common folk.

"Nevertheless, killing them is merely a means to an end! Even your organization wouldn't be capable of changing the entire system!" the knight exclaimed, her voice tinged with frustration.

"We aren't aiming to change the system, Ms. Knight. We are endeavoring to transform the entire kingdom, so that when 'he' ascends to the throne of the world, everything will be purged," the masked woman responded, her tone filled with unwavering determination.

Sensing the overwhelming power and strength emanating from her opponent, the golden knight took a step back, realizing the vast disparity between them. She removed her helmet, allowing her golden locks to cascade down, taking a moment to catch her breath. Raising her sword to a mid-level position, she faced the masked woman squarely. "And who is this 'he' you speak of?" she questioned, unwilling to dismiss the masked woman's words as mere ramblings. The mention of someone sitting on the world's throne had not gone unnoticed.

The masked woman, however, dismissed the inquiry, declining to provide an answer. Instead, she raised her sword to a mid-level position, signaling her readiness to engage. "No more questions. Let's bring this to an end," she declared, launching herself forward with her sword poised for a sweeping side swing. The golden knight swiftly retreated to evade the attack. Dodging the strike, she countered with a swift upward swing, only to have it deftly blocked by the masked woman.

Impressed by the masked woman's swordsmanship, the knight couldn't help but inquire further, her curiosity piqued. "You possess remarkable skill with a blade. Please, tell me... who are you?" she asked, hoping for a glimpse behind the enigmatic mask.

However, the masked woman remained silent, refusing to provide an answer. Instead, she raised her sword to a mid-level position, signaling her determination to focus solely on their impending battle.

"If you refuse to reveal your identity, then we have no choice but to confront you head-on! Knights, surround her!" the golden knight commanded, her voice filled with determination.

Following her orders, four knights emerged from the shadows, encircling the masked woman from all sides. Among them was a knight wearing blue armor, holding a pistol in her trembling hand. "I-I'm sorry. I hit you earlier!" she stammered apologetically.

"It's alright, Lia. She deserves it," a knight in red armor reassured her, a hint of boyishness in her tone. Although her armor concealed her figure, the masked woman discerned that this knight was indeed a woman. She unsheathed the sword strapped to her back and prepared a rifle for combat.

"You've certainly taken a toll on us, mysterious lady♪," chimed in a knight donning silver armor, her voice carrying a touch of amusement. She wielded her sword skillfully, readying herself for the impending clash.

"..." The knight in black armor remained silent, her intentions conveyed solely through her actions. She smoothly drew her bow and took aim at the masked woman, wordlessly indicating her readiness to engage.

Surrounded on all sides, the masked woman found herself facing a formidable force. However, she remained composed, her eyes locked on her adversaries.

As the knights closed in, their weapons raised, the masked woman prepared herself for the onslaught. Without uttering a word, she focused her gaze, ready to face their combined might.

The knight in blue armor, was the first to make her move. Her hands shook as she aimed her pistol, desperately trying to land a shot on the elusive figure before her. "I'm sorry... I missed," she mumbled apologetically, frustration evident in her voice.

Meanwhile, the red knight grew increasingly agitated as the battle raged on. Her attacks became more aggressive, fueled by her mounting irritation. "Enough of this! I'll take you down myself!" she shouted, her finger pulling the trigger of her rifle.

The silver knight, with a mischievous tone on her voice, marveled at the masked woman's strength and skill. "My, my, you're quite the formidable opponent, aren't you? This is turning out to be quite the exhilarating battle♪," she remarked, her voice laced with excitement.

The black knight, ever silent, launched a stealthy attack, utilizing her bow with deadly precision. Her arrows flew through the air, aimed directly at the masked woman's vulnerable spots, each strike executed with deadly accuracy.

As for the golden knight, she channeled all her strength and prowess into her attacks. Every swing of her sword was fueled by her unwavering determination to defeat her mysterious adversary. However, despite her best efforts, every strike fell short, unable to find its mark.

Amidst the chaos of battle, the masked woman remained silent, her focus unwavering. With astonishing agility and precision, she deflected their onslaught, dodging and parrying each attack effortlessly.