51 I'm a saint. I always knew it.

Is Joker having a hard time finding talented people or something?

I looked down at Kuro who was staring up at the ceiling blankly in disbelief.

I beat him down in just a few moves. He's definitely stronger than those thugs but still leagues below my level. Looks like being a Rook isn't a big deal.

"....who are you?" He finally whispered. "No way you're a normal girl...."

I shrugged and sat down in a chair.

When Kuro looked at me in suspicion.

"I won't accept my defeat until you unveil yourself!"

Weirdo. Whether you accept it or not, you still lost.

I promptly ignored him.

"I have to say, Tania, I never knew that your state was so terrible. Good thing I decided to come personally...."

"....That voice.....M-master...?" Tania managed to ask in a state of shock. "W-what.....?"

Kuro widened his eyes and looked visibly confused at this sudden development.

"Ugh, I'm not your master. Dammit, I told you not to call me that in public...." I retorted with a grimace while cringing inside. "In the first place, isn't that only used to address your superior....?"

Tania seemed like she couldn't believe her eyes and slowly walked towards me in amazement.

"....Master.....I thought you were good at fighting after seeing you in the game but that was a major understatement....." She muttered.

I think I was just ignored.

"No wonder Sia keeps calling you a monster...I thought she was exaggerating...."

Huh? I couldn't hear her properly, she's talking too quietly.

"Oh, you look really different huh, Tania."

She flinched back and lowered her head.

"I wanted to be stronger...so I changed myself in the game. It's as if I can become someone else in Sapphire....."

Hm, relatable. That's a pretty common case.

"B-but Mast-"

"Don't call me that."

"...B-bu-"

"..."

"...What are you doing here?" She asked in confusion.

I looked back at her with a confused expression as well.

"Weren't you the one who asked me to help? I've already wiped your criminal history so I came to deal with your debt. I also paid for your sister's medical bills. I'm even willing to help you move if you want."

Her face went blank for a moment.

Then she slowly sank to the floor while trembling.

I just watched her with a neutral expression.

Poor girl. Must have been through a lot of stress dealing with run-away parents and a sister in a coma all by herself. She's still my age.

"R-Really? Why would you do such a thing for a stranger....?"

I just shrugged.

"Cause we're not strangers but friends of course. I rarely make friends, but I promise that I do treat them nicely when I do."

She seemed pretty touched, considering she started crying.

I got flustered. What the hell are you supposed to do when a girl starts crying?! I have no clue!

It was true that I rarely make friends though. In the past, I was always too proud, and now I'm currently being bullied.

Or wait, I'm not being bullied anymore. I forgot.

I don't really feel like making friends at my current school after everything that had happened though.

Sia's a different case.

"Wait! You can't just do that! Tania is mine, she's still in debt!" Kuro suddenly jumps up and shouts. "You can't take her away! I can't give her to someone who doesn't even dare show their face!"

His previously defeated atmosphere immediately disappeared and he glared hatefully at me.

Wow. Possessive much? Bro, at this rate you're going to make her hate you. I bet she already does.

I was wondering why a Rook would care about a few loan sharks. Looks like they were just what connected him to her.

He seemed to have forgotten that I had just beaten him up and recklessly lunged towards me.

I just threw him down again to remind him.

"Seriously, you look pathetic."

He shook in humiliation, probably at being beat by some mysterious highschool girl.

Yeah, I would have been pretty embarrassed if that happened to me too.

"Y-you won't get away with this. I won't allow myself to suffer from this humiliation....!"

He's starting to sound like another average thug...

"Just wait....! I'm going to tell Lord Damian, he rules this entire territory, you won't get away!"

I facepalmed. Lord Damian? Isn't that one of the kings? So I'm going to be skipping straight from a Rook to a King? I feel like the order is a bit messed up.

However, before I could advise him not to look for this 'Lord Damian' of his he had already picked up his coat and run away.

Not before shooting Tania a fervent gaze of course. I got the shivers from that.

Seeing that only me and Tania were left, I took off my mask and flipped off my hood. No need to wear it any longer. My face needs to breathe.

I shook my head disappointedly. If only Kuro had decided to help Tania instead. She would have possibly fallen for him. But instead, he decided to try and take control over her life and keep her chained to him.

That's just being a bastard. That's disgusting.

I hate people who think others are like property.

Hey. I'm not being a hypocrite, at least I always treat people like humans.

Uh, the people who deserve such treatment at least.

Also, who said I can't recognize romance when I see it? I'm an expert at these things called relationships.

Saying that I'm dense is a lie.

Okay? Okay? Okay.

Good.

I'm not dense. Fight me.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice Tania's worship like gaze until her face was literally right in front of me.

"As expected of Master! Not even afraid of a gang leader! Sia was also telling the truth when she told me that you look the same as your avatar and if not prettier in real life."

Sia? I have a bad feeling about this.

I backed away a little from the overly-excited girl.

She inched closer as a result.

What happened to the timid girl hiding around the corner?! What did you do to the innocent and shy Tania from before?!

"Please take me as your disciple! I admire your amazing martial art skills with all my heart! I will repay your acts of kindness towards me for the rest of my life!" She kept rambling on with a passionate gaze much like the one that Kuro had looked at her with before he left.

I'm getting shivers again.

"W-well....I don't really have disciples so I'm not sure....." I hesitantly said.

The few people back in America don't count.....I think.

Although Tania is seriously reminding me of them right now. They used to look at me the same way too. They didn't leave me alone until I did what they said and created a mini group for them.

So creepy. I'm almost glad that I left.

Like c'mon, I was only seven. It seriously traumatized me.

"Really?!" Tania's eyes lit up brightly and filled with sparkles as she stared at me. "Then! I have the honor of being your, no, Master's first disciple?!"

Hah.....I can't believe I have to deal with another person like them.....this is going to be tiring.

".....Fine, if you want." I reluctantly said. "Here's my contact info, save it on your phone. My real name is Yuri Mizuki."

I held up my phone number and she scrambled to copy it into her own phone.

Tania's face flushed up as she stared at her screen.

What is wrong with her now?

Whatever, not my problem. She doesn't seem hurt so it should be fine.

"By the way, your name is Tania Yotsuba, correct? Do you mind if I just call you Tania?" I asked.

"Of course, you can call me anything you want!"

"Alright, Tania it is."

I put back on my mask and hood and walked downstairs. There was nobody there anymore. The thugs most likely ran away with their companions.

Hm...I have a feeling that Kuro's not done yet.

I opened the door and was greeted by an encirclement of men all staring at me with caution.

Oh, here they are.

"HAHAHA! You caught me off guard last time, but I'll get revenge now!" Kuro laughed at the back of the circle.

Right. You're standing pretty far away for someone trying to get revenge.

But seriously Kuro, you were really fast at gathering reinforcements...

How long has it been since he ran away? Around 5-10 minutes? Damn.

I noticed another mysterious man standing next to him with a neutral stance.

Oh? He gives off a domineering aura, I can even tell from here. This man must be 'Lord Damian' then?

Pffffft. His name sounds like some demon lord.

Even the clothes he's wearing are all black.....!

I held back a chuckle after seeing him but Damian noticed and frowned slightly.

"Who are you? What do you want from my men?" He asked with an incredibly serious face. "I do not wish for conflict."

I couldn't help but laugh from the tone he was using. Seriously, he's acting exactly as I imagined!

Damian frowned deeper after seeing me ignore him.

"If you continue mocking my wishes for peace then I'll have no choice but to use force." He threatened.

Kuro seemed really excited after hearing that.

"Lord Damian! She's attacked me and my men without warning! She even forced my woman to leave me!" He rambled on.

I rolled my eyes. Tania, who heard everything from behind me, gasped in disbelief.

"M-master, I promise what he says isn't true....!" She hurriedly said. "I would never...!"

She said it loud enough that everyone heard her. Kuro's face twisted in embarrassment after being mentally slapped.

"You bitch! I've been treating you nicely all this time and this is how you repay me?!"

Uh? What? Nice?

How is forcing her to pay off a large debt while her sister is stuck in a coma and both parents are gone....nice?

"You're a useless nobody who depends on your 'Master'! You should be honored I noticed you!"

Tania shook with anger but she couldn't do anything.

Yeah, I'm not putting up with that guy anymore.

"I wouldn't do anything if I were you. You're just looking for another beating." I chuckled.

Damian froze for a moment, but Kuro didn't notice.

"Lord Damian! Please punish those two bitches! They dare to disrespect you-"

"Shut up. Everybody leaves. Now."

"L-Lord Damian.....?" Kuro squeaked in confusion. "W-wha-"

The entire group went silent and nobody moved.

"I SAID NOW." He repeated with a tinge of impatience. "SCRAM."

The men immediately snapped out of their dazes and dispersed. Everyone except for Kuro left silently without looking back and soon disappeared from the scene.

I guess discipline is a priority among the Chessboard. That's good.

"Lord Damian! What about those two sluts?" Kuro protested. "I don't doubt your strength to deal with them alone but more people-"

Damian ruthlessly slammed his face into the pavement in an instant.

Ouch...that looks painful.

"I made a mistake when appointing you as a Rook. Apologize or be exiled."

Kuro struggled to look up with a bloody nose.

Wow, he's not knocked out after that?

"Apologize?! To those bit-"

Damian smacked him again to shut him up.

"Then you are no longer a Rook. As for your replacement...I'll decided that later. Bastards like you aren't accepted in the Chessboard." Damian stated before glancing at Tania and then looking at me.

I grinned and met his gaze. It's obvious he did that as an apology. What a nice guy. Sorry for making fun of your outfit before.

Kuro paled and scrambled to his feet before running away with his face in a mess.

Not after shooting me a death glare though. He probably thinks it's all my fault that this happened huh.

Sigh. For some reason, it's always my fault.

After Kuro left, Damian approached me. Tania shrunk back a bit in fear but he simply gave her a resigned smile and bowed deeply towards us.

"My deepest apologizes for the disrespect my ex-subordinate has shown you. I've made sure to punish him accordingly."

Tania's eyes went wide in shock. She probably didn't expect him to apologize so sincerely.

I chuckled at her obvious surprise. This girl doesn't hide her expressions at all.

"How did you recognize me?" I asked while taking off my mask.

It feels rude to talk with my face covered.

"Milord has ordered all Kings to memorize not only your face but also your voice." He answered with his head still lowered. "I apologize for not recognizing you earlier."

"It's fine, it's not like you could have known." I brushed it off lazily. "I just had some business to deal with. I didn't know it would cause so much trouble."

"No no! No problem at all. In fact, it's my honor to meet you first. The other two Kings will probably be jealous."

Huh? Why?

Damian seemed to have read my mind and grinned.

"Milord praises you a lot and tells us about your potential and fighting prowess. We've all been looking forward to meeting you. Now that I have, I can see why Milord would act in such a way. You are indeed as beautiful and as strong as he says."

Wow. That's a lot of praise all of a sudden.

"Who is this fine young woman next to you, Milady?" He asked while peering at Tania with curiosity. "She is quite beautiful as well. As expected of Milady's friends."

Tania blushed lightly and I snorted. This guy sure has a way with words.

"Tania, that's Damian. Damian, she's called Tania. Treat her well okay? Your 'ex-subordinate' was harassing my friend. I don't want something like this happening again."

"Of course. I will ensure to harm comes to her within my territory, I will also spread the word to the other two Kings. She will be safe." Damian nodded his head seriously while Tania looked at me with a mixed but grateful gaze.

"So Master is actually so powerful...."

"Indeed! She's the only woman fit for Milord!" Damian stated with pride. "She will rule Japan by his side!"

Tania turned to him in shock and I facepalmed.

"MASTER?! You have a boyfriend?!"

"It's a misunderstanding. I rejected him."

"WHAT?! Milord was rejected?!"

"No, well, yeah. But I mean, he didn't seem to mind though?"

They both stared at me with admiration.

""As expected of Master/Milady...."" They said in sync.

Just as I was about to retort, my phone started ringing.

It was a call from Eugene.

Ah.....shoot, I forgot that I'm supposed to be in school.