"Yes." The woman named Nora answered without a flicker of shame, her voice ringing like steel struck on stone.

"Oh?" Medith's amusement curled like smoke. "Then do you know who I am?"

"You are Medith Waheit, the war-god who shattered twenty thousand with three thousand under a no-way-out siege.

Called the [Bandit-Slayer] and the [White-Haired Witch].

And a [Wind Sprite] of the mountain thickets. Believe me, my lady, I know you better than you know you." A handsome man spoke, tone cool as a winter stream.

His face bore a red hexagram brand too. Medith leaned in; it wasn't a Lawbreaking Brand at all, just a six-point scar burned in by iron.

"Yet you dare announce yourselves? If this is a joke, best don't play it." Wearing the Crimson Sun colors, Medith drew the Blood Drinking Sword in one smooth motion, a smile like a knife at her lips as she stood on the hard-packed earth beyond the gate, eyes cold on the crowd.

At her words, three women and two men straightened like pines and stepped as one to stand before her, gaze set like stone.

Sais snorted. "Heh. Trained 'proper folk,' huh? Even your walk and stance scream [Southern Kingdom style]."

Her mind flashed to Southern Kingdom soldiers—heads up, chests out, eyes above the world, everything else ants underfoot.

Especially their marching. Heels lifted high, then stamped down hard.

Ordinary heels rise only twelve to fifteen degrees. Theirs start at seventeen or more—stride wider, easy to spot.

They make the street echo when they move.

The five who called themselves members of the Southern Kingdom Hunting Corps didn't argue. They held Medith's gaze, hard as flint.

The women around Medith looked baffled and bitter. In their memories, the Hunting Corps had left only scars.

"You’re Nora, right?" Medith sank the blood-hungry greatsword into the soil before her. "Tell me how this came to be."

Nora sealed her mouth. She lowered her head, thought like clouds gathering, then looked up. "If it's not your order, then I refuse to answer.

We've cut our ties with them. The scar on our faces is proof enough."

"Bull. Medith, they're spies from the Southern Kingdom, here to sniff our depths. One stroke and be done with them.

Dreams breed rot overnight." Sais didn't hide the killing intent; two slivers of Dark Blade flicked out at her wrists, gleaming cold.

Except for Nora, the other four showed a flicker of shock, then settled like still water. "We deserve it. Frankly, we can't forgive ourselves.

To die by the Green Fairy's hand would be fitting karma.

Do it."

Their faces were calm, as if they'd read their ending long ago.

Medith pressed both palms on the Blood Drinking Sword. Fox-eyes narrowed. After a beat, she smiled. "I don't care, for now, why you're here, or why you want to come under my banner.

Go back first. If there's news, I'll let you know."

The five traded looks, disbelief rippling, then in one voice said, "In that case, we'll take our leave. If you are as generous as the tales say,

accept us, and in time, we will repay you a thousandfold."

...

"Medith! You really plan to let them join?!" Sais stormed in the inn, anger crackling like dry twigs.

Lina pinched her chin. "Emmm... odds are they're telling the truth. I mean, who in this city doesn't know Medith's name?

And who doesn't know the Southern Kingdom Hunting Corps has feuded with the Elf Clan for years.

Before, the Southern Kingdom's pressure kept us swallowing 'small things.'

Now the Elf Clan's momentum has risen. At least for us in the Eastern Domain, we're safe.

If they were spies, why announce themselves?"

Melia nodded. "My thoughts exactly. Whatever their purpose, the fact they gave Medith their origins means they're honestly seeking her approval.

They could've stayed masked. They chose to speak because they feared future mistrust when Medith found out, so better to put the name down now."

"But... what if it's a self-wound ploy? To bait the captain into sparing them, even recruiting them..." Iling glanced at Medith, who sat quiet, and dared not finish.

"Hmm? Keep going. I like hearing you all chew on it." Medith looked like she was settling in for a show.

"What’s with you! Haven't had a beating in days, your skin itching? Dare you mess with your elder sister?!" Sais flicked a hard knuckle to Medith's forehead. One look at Medith’s deadpan face and she knew Medith had laid the board long ago.

And here Sais thought Medith had gotten carried away by love of talent.

Medith rubbed her sore skull. "C’mon... think about it. What kind of spy opens with—Hey, I'm from your enemy state, please trust me.

Everyone has a past they'd rather bury. If he digs it up and hands it to you, that's a big trust in itself.

True or false, I can tell. If they're faking, I'll take the blame."

"The big boss said so. What else can we do?" Iling spread her hands, already hearing the lid shut on the pot.

The women still held a bit of grievance. Sharing a room with former enemies made the skin crawl.

"Alright. Let's get to the guild business. We’ve got a lot to do." Medith sighed with a helpless smile.

....

"Uncle Serpent, quick question. If I want to found a guild, what do I need? Can I just requisition, or...?" Medith asked the shopkeeper.

Uncle Serpent had his back to her, arranging bottles on the shelf. Medith noticed a sigil at the nape—like a Lawbreaking Brand. A blue snake, tongue tasting the air, danger coiling off it.

"I can't decide that. General, best you try it yourself.

Take this to the biggest building in the city center. Thirteen meters high. A flag of the Free Dominion on the roof:

nine humans raising long swords, a demon crushed underfoot." He finished and pressed a coin into Medith's palm, black with a serpent insignia.

"What's this..." Medith studied it. It looked forged from Impado and rich with it. Even without magic, a chill threaded her fingers.

"Find a woman named Olivya there. She's the one in charge of founding guilds in our city. With her, things go smooth. Otherwise..." Uncle Serpent let the words trail off.

"Olivya?" Medith thought of the noble-bred lady she'd seen at the restaurant days ago.

"Oh?" Uncle Serpent smiled, amused. "Seems the fox and the sprite have already met, haven't they?"