Chapter 43: Scurrying Like a Twin-Tailed Pixie

An Unexpected Escape

Rita sprinted far before realizing no one pursued her.

This wasn’t right. Shouldn’t a mob have chased her, like in the black market?

Then the poor girl could’ve slipped away while Rita distracted them.

Why she chose to flee instead of fight? Don’t ask.

It wasn’t because she panicked seeing burly thugs charging!

In truth, those men combined couldn’t match her. But, like in the black market, the sight of a menacing gang barreling toward her was so jarring that fighting didn’t cross her mind.

Maybe it was her pre-transmigration instinct to steer clear of trouble. Getting mixed up with thugs never ended well.

Those who, post-transmigration, saw a glance as a death wish? They were the crazy ones!

Still, she worried about the surrounded girl. As a rescuer, leaving her behind felt wrong.

Perhaps her clever brain could devise another plan.

A Failed Ambush

“So, now what?”

The lead man chased a few steps but stopped, seeing Rita wasn’t turning back. He rallied the group around Kross.

Stared at by several pairs of eyes, Kross’s embarrassment matched their confusion.

One blurted out, “She ran. Plan’s busted, right?”

He was right—it failed.

But it shouldn’t have! How could a strong, righteous Holy Knight abandon a damsel in distress? So spineless!

Where was the knightly spirit? The fourth-ranked candidate? The hero-saves-beauty trope? Scared off by small-fry villains?

Were all Holy Knights like this? Was the kingdom doomed?

Kross knew some knights were corrupt, but Rita set a new low.

Her mind reeled, yet she couldn’t show it. These men, nominally her allies, might turn on her if she admitted failure.

Lowly as they were, the Lady’s lackeys could drag her back to face unknown consequences.

The leader’s words pressed her subtly. “We shadowed her all day, staged this act. If it’s a flop, let’s report to the Lady.”

“Don’t rush. She’ll return.” Kross kept her tone steady, praying Rita had a shred of conscience to save her.

“No way. She’s gone…” Another kicked her while she was down, cut off by approaching footsteps.

No retreat signal from the lookout—Rita, no doubt.

“Quick, stick to the plan!” Kross seized the moment as their skeptical looks turned admiring.

The men surrounded her, sneering, reaching to resume the act.

A Surprising Counter

As they posed, a dozen armed soldiers stormed the alley, Rita at their front, pointing.

“There they are!”

“Lady Rita! Well done!” The nearest captain saluted, waving his hand. “Go! Don’t let them escape!”

Soldiers charged, brandishing spears and swords.

“Time to shine!”

“Protect the city! It’s our duty!”

What? What’s happening?

The nearest thugs, caught off guard, were floored by spear butts, pinned down swiftly.

They carried weapons, but drawing them seemed pointless.

Well, almost. One hothead pulled a knife, earning two holes in his thigh, now writhing in pain.

Others, realizing they were no match for trained soldiers, raised hands, shouting surrender.

“Wait! I surr—oof!”

Cut off mid-sentence, one was decked by a soldier yelling, “I don’t care!”—faring no better.

Rita strode past the fray toward a stunned Kross.

Kross was floored by the twist.

Who calls reinforcements for a hero-saves-damsel act? Weren’t you worried I’d be done for?

“You okay? Sorry about that,” Rita said.

Kross yelped, her hidden dagger slipping from her sleeve.

Clang. The blade hit the ground, its metallic ring echoing.

Silence fell over the chaotic alley, all eyes on the dagger at Kross’s feet.

Done for!

Rita, under everyone’s gaze, picked up the dagger, pressing it back into Kross’s hand.

“It’s good to have protection, but lucky you didn’t use it.”

Kross’s heart nearly leapt out.

A warning?

No—Rita’s mind wasn’t that complex.

She thought: if those thugs got mad, who knows what they’d have done to this poor girl.

Despite Rita standing before her, despite Kross holding the dagger, despite her urge to strike, Rita’s invisible pressure quashed any defiance.

Kross was here to kill Rita to survive. Surrounded by soldiers, even success would mean capture.

No! She wasn’t loyal enough to trade lives!

Where was the lookout? A whole squad arrived, and no signal?

“Report!” A soldier ran in, breaking the eerie quiet. “We nabbed the lookout! Seems tied to some brothel!”

“Good! Forcing innocents, huh? Beat ‘em hard, then take ‘em in lightly!” The captain glared at the grounded thugs, kicking one.

“Hit ‘em!”

“Hard!”

“Teach these scum a lesson!”

Soldiers roared, their weapons sending the thugs scrambling like twin-tailed pixies across the floor.

“Don’t look.” Rita gently pushed Kross toward the alley’s exit. “You’re safe now. Go home.”

At Rita’s words, Kross felt pardoned. Ignoring the thugs’ pleading looks, she clutched her dagger, quickened her pace, and left the alley’s wails behind.