"Shit...!"

The leader plunged with his knife on his hands with the tilt coming toward my stomach. ​​

I avoided the strike by jumping to the side causing my body to fall over the hard ground.

"Shit...!"

I cursed with the pain that I felt from my bottom. The leader looked at me, still smiling.

"Cursed you...!"

I gritted my teeth with my fist still curled up.

"Hehe, ~~ That's just a warning young miss."

"If you don't want to get hurt, hand over your belongings hehe~~"

"You think I'm a fool? Huh! After giving my money, I know you wouldn't let me off."

"Oh! You're smart. Hehe"

"That's why I hated quick-witted girls..."

I quickly rolled over when the leader jumps on me. I immediately stood and brought the hidden kitchen knife from my back and made my stance that Mr. Sheik told me.

Knife on my dominant right hand, the left clenched into a fist with a boxing style stance.

I know how to properly defend myself because in the past I also train with different kinds of martial arts such as taekwondo but because I'm a kid right now, I don't know if I can handle five adults.

The leader suddenly steps aside and look at his underlings, giving an order to come and charge me.

When I heard him, my blood boils on how shameless this person can be. Ganging up on a small kid to steal her money.

"Scumbag...!"

The four men encircled me, then one by one the attackers attack me with the intention of no mercy.

I grabbed the fist that was coming and use his force to flip him over.

The man went over my back with the intention to hold me while the other one was rushing to punch my stomach.

I struggled but the fist reaches me without fail. I curled my body down because of the pain.

"You shitheads... I'll fucking make you pay...!"

I flip my head over with force and the forehead of the adult came into contact making a collision with our heads.

He stumbles and steps back a distance from me. It gives me the opportunity to kick his groin and the man is now holding his treasure. I kick his head and his body a few times with the intention to make him blackout.

I return to face the one who punches me and runs to him with my knife on my hand...

Slash...!

He covered his left arm with his right, red liquid trickle down his arms and he gritted his teeth.

"This bitch!!"

"Tch..."

I clicked my tongue with the opportunity that was lost because he dodges quickly at my attack.

"I'll make you pay for punching me... bastard!"

I turned my whole body around to kick his head and he immediately faces the hard-cold ground. He was knocked down.

"Three to go..."

I use my magic to attack the three that were looking at me. I use my remaining energy to release water magic that will knock down the three adults.

I started to chant with a low voice and still attacking and defending at the same time. It was the skill that I discover when I was training with Mr. Sheik.

"Water I summon thee, gather in thy hands and attack thy enemies. Water Canyon!"

Water released by my mana had my attackers attack by my magic, they were sent flying a few distances away from each other.

I escape the alley with having a tremendous speed for running.

"I need to quickly get out of here."

When I saw the busy streets, I immediately run through the plaza where the people gathered.

"Haaa... I'm safe here... ha... need to take a breath"

I was still panting because of the adrenaline rush that quieted down when I get to the center of the market.

A young lady approached me where I was sitting.

"Oh dear... are you okay? You're sweating too much."

"Oh umm... yes."

I answered without thinking, my head is still processing what happened a while ago.

"Here..."

A white handkerchief was given to me by the young lady.

"Oh no! It's okay. I can just let this dry."

"You mustn't do that. You're a girl!"

I was scolded.

I reached out my hands to receive what was given to me.

"Thank you..."

"Your welcome."

She soon turned around to leave when I called her.

"Lady!"

"What is it?"

"Umm, I felt bad for using your handkerchief. If you give me your name, I'll send you a new one for compensation."

"Oh...! You don't need to. Bye!"

Her blue eyes looked at me with a smile, her pink hair sway when she turned around. She was walking further when I suddenly remembered someone who looks just like her.

"Wait... isn't that... isn't that the Heroine? What's she doing here in the Emsworth dukedom?"

"She's supposed to be in her estate until she comes to the St. Prisch Academy."

I stared at the back that's getting further away until I can't see her shadow anymore.

"I need to go back to the mansion."

Finally, I plopped down in my bed facing the warm soft blankets and pillows.

"Ughh. I don't want to change."

I cursed in my head at how exhausted my whole being after experiencing that... in the alley.

"I'm mentally exhausted too... why is the heroine here. Nevermind, I should prioritize myself first."

"The novel won't start until my engagement; I should still have time."

The next day, I started my class again.

"Mr. Sheik, can you teach me now how to properly wield a sword? A knife would do too."

I suggested as I remember what happened yesterday. I was clumsy as I'm new to holding a weapon.

"You're right. I should train you now with a sword, you've improved your stamina so we can proceed with our lesson."

"Yes sir!"

I smiled gleefully at Mr. Sheik.

'Ahh no more running around with big stones weighing me down.'

Yes... I said it right. This good-looking man is a demon and a Sparta when he trains me.

Running around in the estate fifty times with big stones at my back, and then squatting, push-ups, lifting heavyweights. I still have many things to say but for the sake of starting today's lesson, I will stop.

"First here... catch!"

"Ughh... A wooden sword? But why is it heavy?"

"It's made of special kind of wood, to let the beginners be accustomed to the weight of a real sword."

"Oh..."

"Now get on your stance and follow my lead."

He proceeds to teach me the proper stance of holding a sword and swinging it without hurting the arms but still giving a force.

Swish...

His sword swaying in the air makes it seems that he's cutting through it. It was astonishing.

Now I can say why he's a knight that made my stone face father recommend.

He's good.

"Now, did you see it?"

"Huh?"

I was busy admiring him swinging the sword around that I didn't notice he was looking at me weirdly.

"Sigh... if you don't pay attention, I'll double your running laps."

"Eh? Ughh... no. I'll do it!"

"Umm, can you... do it again? Haha"

A flicked came down at my forehead and the pain was immediately felt.

"Ouch... what was that for?!"

"That's for not listening to me..."

He suddenly chuckled that made my face crumpled like a piece of paper.

"What's funny?"

I glared at him who's still laughing at me.

"Your face... ha ha ha... you should have seen your face."

"Stop...!"

The glaring was still there but it made me laugh also, this knight laugh is contagious.

While laughing, a pair of cold sunset eyes were looking at them through the window. His silver-blue hair shines in the rays of sunlight.

"Is she always like that?"

"Tch..."