01x02 - May I Offer You the Taste of My Fist as the Ladylike Thing to Do?

[bunniefuu]

Scarlet

Oh, Brother.

It is a pleasure to see you, Prince Julius.

I saw the nobles fleeing

and inquired about the situation.

I must ask what inspired

this violent display.

You did have a reason, right, Scarlet?

They committed wrongdoings

of which I dare not speak.

Then, rather than show any trace of remorse,

they continued to act

in so audacious a manner

that I was forced to punish them on the spot.

More to the point?

They pissed me off,

so I punched their teeth in.

So you've shown your true colors at last.

Since the day we first met,

I've been wondering when you

might unleash those fists of yours.

The merciless thrashing you gave those fools

was probably quite a sight to see

It's unkind that you did it

when I wasn't here.

I reject your implication.

I had no choice in this matter.

Our family's reputation will

once more spiral down the drain!

After ten years of blissful peace

How will I explain this to Mother and Father?

Oh?

Don't worry, Leo.

Scarlet won't be charged for this.

But don't you think—

Their voices are growing

distant and I feel

Scarlet!

MAY I OFFER YOU THE TASTE OF

MY FIST AS THE LADYLIKE THING TO DO?

I hear a familiar sound of a bell.

It's the bell of the church

of Chronoa, God of Time.

Ah, of course.

I must have used too much of Chronoa's power.

And who might you be?

Scarlet Die!

Watch it.

It's not safe to point knives at people.

What was that boom?!

Are you all right, Scarle—

Good morning, Leo.

You wake up after three days,

and this is the first thing you do?!

Not even the doctor could

find out what was wrong.

I thought you might never wake up again.

You tremendous fool.

I apologize.

I shouldn't have been so reckless.

I hope you'll forgive me.

Yes, please.

Swear you'll never hit anyone again!

I cannot do that.

At least pretend to think about it!

I see our sleeping beauty

has finally awakened.

The royal family has finalized

the termination of your engagement.

Your father has also given his assent.

I see.

Kyle has been disinherited

for the trouble he caused.

Rumors have been circulating for some time

about ill*gal ownership and trading

of sl*ves in the second prince's faction.

This will provide an opportunity

to crack down on all of them.

Will I be punished?

Certainly not.

The royal family considers you indispensable.

I'm sorry to say, but you'll likely remain

single until domestic matters settle.

That will mean delaying your wedded bliss

for a time, but there is a bright side.

You've gained something

priceless in exchange.

Priceless?

It seems rumors of your deeds

have gotten around in the city.

The champion who sent a horde of evil,

self-interested nobles to prison

with just her fists.

As she stood alone, covered in blood,

beautiful and terrible

They've given her a nickname:

the Bloodstained Lady.

Just as people seemed about to forget

the "Mad Dog Noblewoman" nickname

Now, things will be rather busy

around here in the coming days.

Quite a few of the nobles you exposed were

important men in the national government.

There will likely be many replacements.

Most pressing of all,

the organizer of the fools

in the second prince's faction,

Prime Minister Godwin Bene Carmine

We need to find a way to deal with him.

His Majesty and Prince Julius

thought there might be someone

pulling the strings behind

the second prince's faction.

They formed a plan to deal with

all the corrupt nobles at once.

We formed an organization, the Crown

Investigatory Office, to carry it out.

Leo is currently head of that organization.

My brother has been acting

even more harried of late

Would that be due to his time

spent with Your Highness?

I resent the implication.

The more likely cause would be

all the trouble you've started.

It's both of you, actually.

I almost forgot.

Let me introduce the one who exposed

the prime minister's involvement.

An agent deployed by the CIO

to infiltrate the second prince's faction.

I believe you may already be acquainted.

This is Sigurd Forgrave.

Lady Scarlet. It's a pleasure

to see you, as always.

Oh, it's you.

I beg your forgiveness.

My behavior towards you in the past

has been utterly unacceptable.

It never actually bothered me, but

I was convinced that you had sworn

fealty to Prince Kyle, Sir Sigurd.

It was a most convincing performance.

I had no idea the knights

had such talented actors.

I-I beg your forgiveness!

Scarlet, if you still resent him

for how he treated you in the past,

you may do whatever you need

to put it behind you.

Prince Julius?!

May I clobber you?

Scarlet?!

I resign myself to your fists.

Sigurd!

Admirable resolution.

There.

It is all behind us now.

You saved me many times as well.

Only Prince Kyle is allowed to

lay a hand on this woman.

I was merely playing my role as a knight.

I don't deserve your mercy

Don't you?

W-Well I

My friends from the academy will

have heard what happened at the ball.

They'll surely be worried.

I'll need to explain myself to them soon.

I'll be able to spend as much time

with them as I like now.

It's just what I've always dreamed of.

I'm so glad I punched those people!

Still to think the prime minister

was behind it all

Which means the one who sent the maid

who tried to k*ll me this morning

Sit.

Unacceptable behavior.

The maids of our household

must be level-headed,

silent in step, and voiceless

unless called upon.

And they must always meet

their master's expectations..

Beastkin Nanaka.

I only came to speak with you.

If you prefer to dance, I must ask

that you at least assume human form.

I can more freely punch you that way.

Oh, I see.

You were a boy all this time?

So what if I was?

I'm gonna k*ll you!

It's the only choice I have!

That's a sl*ve crest.

Any who bear it must obey all orders

from their assigned master.

Is that because you're a sl*ve?

So what if it is?

If I were to free you,

would you tell me everything you know

about the one who sent you?

Fine. If you can do it, go ahead and try.

If you succeed, I'll tell you

anything you want to know.

Your terms are acceptable.

Forgive my reckless treatment.

What are you doing?!

Reverse Time.

All people are born favored

by one of our world's many gods.

Most people go their whole lives

never realizing which god favors them.

But some do, and it allows them

to manifest that god's power.

That power is known as a blessing.

It appears to have worked.

The sl*ve crest is gone?

Not gone, exactly.

I merely restored your body

to how it was before.

The power of "Reversal," part of

the blessing of Chronoa, God of Time.

This is the reason the royal family wishes

to secure my place in their kingdom.

But in practice, it has many limitations,

and it burns through my energy quickly.

I'll die if I use too much too quickly.

My use of Acceleration at the ball

is what caused me to pass out.

The power to turn back time?

I had no idea anyone—

It is a secret, of course.

If you tell anyone, I will punish you.

Okay, fine.

You saved me and released me from sl*very.

We beastkin never forget a debt.

I'll keep your secret.

You'll tell me all you know, then?

I was hired by Godwin Bene Carmine.

As I thought.

"Scarlet struck my son, Heine.

I want her torn limb from limb."

That was his order.

Heine?

One of the nobles you punched at the ball.

He was one of Prince Kyle's flunkies.

I didn't even notice.

That said, the reason he originally

sent me here wasn't to k*ll you.

He wanted me spying on House Vandimion.

Godwin's a really crafty guy.

He's sent spies like me

into all kinds of noble houses,

exploited their weaknesses,

encouraged them to participate

in the sl*ve trade and take bribes,

and did other stuff to get them on his side.

It's how he gets more people to support him.

I've made up my mind, then.

I shall now kick the a*s of Lord Godwin.

There's no time to lose.

H-Hey, wait!

Godwin's always surrounded by guards.

You should lie low and let your brother

and the first prince handle—

But that would be no fun for me.

I am determined to beat the tar out of

Lord Godwin before he is arrested.

Why are you so obsessed

with beating everyone up?!

I beat up those who annoy me.

It's the ladylike thing to do.

Not sure I've ever heard of a lady like you.

Godwin attends a sl*ve auction once a month.

Once a month?

I am uncertain that I can

restrain myself for that long.

The next auction is in a week.

I don't know where it's held,

but I can probably get you

in contact with a sl*ve trader.

So

Take me with you!

You would be betraying your former employer.

He forced me into service

with a sl*ve crest anyway.

If it means revenge on the man who deceives

my kind, enslaves us, and sells us off,

I'll gladly be a traitor.

I had meant to go alone,

but I've changed my mind.

Will you come with me

to the capital, Granhilde?

THREE DAYS LATER - THE SLUMS

Look, Nanaka.

I bought this mithril ore from a peddler child

for one gold just now.

I've never seen it in such

a drab color before.

Because it's just a rock.

That kid ripped you off.

That said, may I ask why you have joined us?

Prince Julius.

You're looking for a sl*ve trader

with ties to Godwin, right?

Indeed.

But should you not pursue your own avenues

towards exposing Lord Godwin?

It's educational.

Pardon?

After I graduate from the academy,

I'll be locked up in the palace

to learn about kingcraft.

So I wanted to see,

while I'm still free to do so

Wait for me!

what life is like in my kingdom.

I have no intention of being a figurehead.

If I must rule, I wish to do the best I can

to create the perfect kingdom.

If you are going to seek out

its dark underbelly,

it's crucial that I accompany you.

And what's the real reason?

How could I miss out on something

so potentially amusing?!

I happened to overhear your

conversation in the cabin,

and it set my heart aflutter!

I had a feeling that would be it.

Hey, you guys!

Would these be

The vicious hoodlums

I've heard so much about?!

Why do you look so happy?

Wait! Don't hit them yet!

Let's talk to them first.

They hardly seem amenable to discussion.

We're looking for a middleman named Junk.

We'll pay you if you take us to him.

Junk? Never heard of 'im.

And we wouldn't tell you if we had, as*h*le!

We'll get your money by kickin' your asses.

We heard there was a dumbass broad

who paid one gold for an old rock.

Turns out her attendants are just

a scrawny kid and a wispy guy.

It's too good to pass up.

We gotta thank the kid who told us.

Too bad you already beat him up

and took the gold!

Filth.

It was payment

for the good lesson I taught him.

Here in the slums,

the weak are prey to the strong.

Ah, I went and broke my precious mithril.

I'll have to buy a new one.

C'mon, guys! Let's get 'em!

k*ll the kid! Take the rich guy

and the woman alive!

Enhance Physique.

Shall I educate you

on the taste of my fists?

I'll want payment for the lesson, of course.

Blessing of Chronoa: Acceleration.

Whoa! What the

You little b*tch!

I'll beat the sh*t out of—

I do beg your pardon.

I know it's unbecoming to show my legs.

I feel so much better now!

She's a beast!

The silver hair, the monstrous strength

The merciless way she dishes out a beating

Those icy blue eyes

It must be She's

The Lady of Beatings, Scarlet!

It was you who professed that

the strong prey on the weak, yes?

S-Stay back!

If that's true

Then, as you are weaker than I,

I'm free to do whatever

I like to you. Correct?

I'll give back the money

I took from the kid!

P-Please, just let me go!

Others have surely begged you

for similar mercy.

Have you ever once granted it?

If you intend to trample on others,

you should be prepared

to be trampled on in turn.

Wait!

Junk, the middleman!

He hides out in a bar just past here!

Thank you kindly for the information.

Might I ask what you were doing while

I was fighting, my golden-haired prince?

I was watching closely

in case I had to step in.

Would you have preferred that I do so?

Certainly not.

Exactly.

Do you realize the expression

on your face right now?

It's the sour expression of someone

who wants to hit more people.

I find that quite unlikely.

Scarlet.

You don't have to lie to yourself.

The way you are now

is the most amusing thing I can imagine.

Now, when it comes to Junk

Please allow me to speak to him.

Nanaka, you used to work for Godwin.

He might recognize you.

I should go alone, just in case.

Don't worry.

Unlike the lady there,

I don't intend to use violence.

I'm back.

I have the name and location

of the sl*ve merchant.

How did you make Junk talk?

Did you break his arms? His legs?

I didn't break anything.

I just scared him a little.

"I know you're selling information

about your clients to other dealers."

You knew he was doing that?

I'm impressed that you fooled him

with such an obvious lie.

Are you aware you have talent

as a conman, Prince Julius?

That you thought I lacked talent in anything

shows a sad underestimation of me.

At the least, you lack empathy for others.

Now, our next step

How do we infiltrate the sl*ve auction?

I've got some ideas about that.

I CONSIDERED A NEGOTIATED RESOLUTION,

BUT MAY I BIFF AND POW THOSE NOBLEMEN INSTEAD?