The Excommunicated Saint Wants to Lose

“Saint!”

A girl with twin tails ran to me and hugged me.
Ever since we became close, she would cling to me whenever she saw me and wouldn’t let go.

Honestly, it was a bit burdensome.
I wanted to push her away, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“Today was tough…”
A weak voice and slumped shoulders.
Her whole body was saying she was exhausted.

I’m not a kind person, but I’m not ill-tempered either.
At times like this, comforting rather than pushing away was the polite thing to do.

“Rest a little.”

When I gently patted her back, her hug tightened slightly.

“Thank you. Can I call you ‘sister’ from now on?”
“……”

Sister?
It tickles my insides somehow.
It was a word I didn’t want to hear yet.

“Let’s do that when we become closer later.”

Maybe it’ll be okay after about 3 years.
For now, a gentle refusal was the answer.

“But what did you do that was so tiring?”
“I got scolded badly by my sister. You know how she nags about how I can act as a sage when my basics are lacking?”

Erin complained as if she had been waiting for this.
“She gets angry like fire whenever she sees me. I’m really trying my best…”
“That does seem too much.”
“Right?”
When I agreed halfheartedly, her bright smile that had been hidden by gloominess appeared.
“How nice would it be if you were my real sister, Saint?”
Erin continued to pour out various complaints while hugging me.
“By the way, what’s your schedule for today?”
Then she suddenly asked a question.
“I’m just going to space out.”
“If you have nothing to do, would you like to come see the magic library with me? There are a lot of interesting books.”
It’s cheating to ask while making her eyes sparkle.
Unable to turn her down, I accepted.
“Let’s go quickly!”
Erin took my hand and started leading me.
“Where are you going?”
But then a troublemaker appeared and blocked our way.
“Ah, sister…”
“Have you memorized all the magic circles?”
“I was going to do it later.”
“Do it now.”
“Okay…”
Erin, who had become gloomy, eventually trudged back to her room.
“Clitia.”
The arrow of nagging was now aimed at me.
“Don’t indulge her whims.”
“Erin is trying hard too.”
“That’s because she’s still far from enough. She’s not as strong as you or the hero.”

Riella glared at me with fierce eyes.
While unable to hide her trembling anxiety.
“Are you that worried?”
At my words, Riella flinched and then let out a deep sigh.
“How can I be at ease when I have to send her off soon?”

Is this how it feels to leave a child by the water’s edge?
It was understandable to be anxious as the day for her to act as the sage of the hero party was right around the corner.
“Please watch over her well. The hero doesn’t seem reliable at all. I have no one else to ask but you.”
“Just trust me.”
I promised with confidence to reassure her.
Not knowing that I would helplessly watch Erin die.

I stared at Riella in the middle of the brightly lit auditorium with magic circles.
Her single remaining eye sent a cold gaze.
Her face was frowning as usual, but the atmosphere was heavier.
She’s seriously trying to break my will.
I can feel hostility not much different from when she poured down the bombardment.
I needed to face her with all my strength.
Since I have no intention of bending my will either.
“How about the losing side keeps their mouth shut?”
When I casually suggested a bet, her frowning face filled with anger.
“Are you confident you’ll win?”
“You know well. You’re weak.”
“……”
Psychological warfare targeting pride and mental state.
Still, I toned it down as much as possible because we’re friends.
“I’m different from before. Do you think I became the Tower Master for nothing?”
“Earlier when I approached you, you couldn’t even respond properly. Should I tell you how many chances for counterattack you had while I was being bombarded?”
“…Enough!”
Riella shook her head vigorously and pointed at me.
“I’ll accept it. If I win, don’t even go near the sage.”
“Alright.”
I won’t lose anyway.
I nodded exaggeratedly, conveying that meaning.
“If I win, actively participate in the sage’s mental education.”
“As long as you don’t cross the line.”
“Of course.”
The betting conditions were all set.
Now all that’s left is to determine the winner.
“You attack first.”
Strong ones usually give the right of first attack to the weak.
“Clitia, don’t regret this.”
At that moment, the light emitted by the magic circles went out all at once.
“I’ve already figured out all your weaknesses.”
Chains shot out from multiple magic circles and rushed towards me.
There were too many to dodge, so I watched the chains bind my body without wasting energy.
I can just break free with strength anyway.
“You think this will work?”
“Just watch.”
The chains were pulled all at once.
The restraints tightened, limiting my movement.
“Your body is monstrous, but your mind is ordinary. Right?”
That’s correct.
It’s a weakness that’s practically nonexistent in normal situations, but it’s different when facing a magician.

There are countless magics that damage the mind.
Especially Riella, as the Tower Master, must be skilled in magic development and application, so it’s even more so.
“It’ll feel completely different from earlier.”
Current flows through my entire body via the chains.
My consciousness becomes slightly dazed.
It’s not my body, but my mind that’s being electrocuted.
The toughness of the body is meaningless without mental control.
My vision blurred from the indescribable pain.
“It’s not over yet.”
A long black rod appeared and stabbed into my left shoulder.
There’s no pain, but instead, a nauseating discomfort washed over me.

A feeling of something rummaging through my body.
Eventually, the rod vibrated greatly and something flowed in.
“It’s a curse I personally selected. Do you know what happens when it’s injected into the body through a medium?”
The performance of the curse increases dramatically.
Strong enough to leave aftereffects for life.

“Are you really going to go this far?”
“I have no ill feelings. Please understand.”
Ferocious curses press down on my body.
My vision is blocked, sounds are muffled, and I can’t exert any strength in my body.
How many curses did she put in?
With all senses completely blocked, it feels like my body and mind are completely isolated.
Only my consciousness is left alone in darkness.
Meanwhile, the current from the chains keeps flowing, and now even continuing my thoughts is difficult.

A situation like being trapped in a dark torture chamber and suffering.
A sense of helplessness overwhelms and presses down on me.

As expected of the Purple Magic Tower Master.
She moved me to a place with magic favorable to her and cornered me.
She didn’t even give me a chance to exchange blows.
Like a true magician, her relentless offensive was vicious and cruel.
At this rate, I’ll definitely lose.
A smile involuntarily leaked out.
I thought about just taking it for a moment.
But in the end, my heart leaned towards giving it my all.
Giving up is not an ideal form of defeat.
Isn’t the mental education I’m trying to implement for the hero party kids about fighting without giving up till the end?

Let’s break out.
I shook off the temptation and drew up mana.
The drawn mana filled the void left by my lost senses.
Stage 3 aura.
Power overflowed and flooded.
Strong enough to break down all barriers and transcend the limits of physical force.
“Riella, 80 points.”
I raised both hands and grasped the air.
The flow of mana filling my hands.
I poured all my strength into breaking it.
Distorted mana.
The world shaking.
Space itself was torn apart.
My senses returned.
Sparsely grown trees and a gentle breeze greeted me.
It was the middle of Mount Elpub.

-Clitia-nim! You’re back! I was worried!
The Sun Catcher chattered noisily.
It was a welcome no different from fireworks.

“I won, right?”
I approached Riella, who was staggering.
Looking closely, her whole body was drenched in sweat.
“…When did you notice?”
Illusion magic.
I had been seeing a fake reality created by Riella’s magic all this time.
“From when you showed me the old memory. Why did you do that?”
It was too sudden.
It felt good to meet Erin after a long time, but still.
“I thought I could change your mind by invoking guilt. I didn’t expect you to not care at all.”
Riella bit her lip.
Her face contorting intensely.

“I’m disappointed. I who entrusted Erin to you was pathetic… Ouch!”
I gave her a flick on the crown for talking nonsense.
“Riella, Erin died smiling.”
“What do you mean…”
“Even as she was dying, she smiled so that I wouldn’t be distressed.”
That child was dignified till the end.
“She begged me not to be sad. It was her last wish, so I had to grant it.”
So I’m not sad.
I’m sorry I couldn’t protect her, but I don’t cry.
Because that’s what Erin wanted.
“……”
Riella couldn’t say anything and collapsed on the ground.
“Riella.”
I sat down next to her and carefully spoke up.

“If you really hate it, I’ll look for a more moderate method.”
My belief that my argument is right hasn’t changed.
Only by facing and breaking against enormous trials can one learn to fight without giving up.
But I didn’t want to push my argument to the point of troubling one of my few friends.
A compromise positioned somewhere between our two views.
That should be enough.
“This is why Erin only followed you.”
Riella smiled faintly.
The sunset light that had been hidden by the mountain range finally appeared, adding warmth to her smile as it fell on her face.
“Thank you for being considerate.”
“In return, cooperate with the mental education.”
“I’ll help even using my authority as Tower Master.”
I obtained her consent.
It was worth overexerting my body and mind.
“What kind of kid is this sage?”
Seeing that she had calmed down somewhat, I asked casually.
“The hero was an unbelievable genius. Is she like that too?”
“No. She’s an ultra-genius.”
What’s that supposed to be?
It’s too serious to be a joke, but too absurd to be the truth.
“Say that again.”
“An ultra-genius.”
She was still serious, so it wasn’t a joke at least.
“What exactly is she like?”
“Don’t even ask.”
Riella shook her head.
“In terms of talent alone, she’s someone who could surpass me within a year.”
“……”
I let out a hollow laugh and clasped my hands together.
“Oh noble sun, it seems you’re really determined to kill the Demon Lord this time?”
Anyway, the future of the hero party was bright.
My future, which would face such a hero party, also shone brilliantly.