Chapter 1

"Shiena, I am disappointed in you. I will dissolve our engagement."

In front of me, a handsome man with golden hair and green eyes was saying something.

He’s cool, but not my type. I prefer someone a bit more solid. His face is too perfect to be real. His features are too delicate.

"Due to the attempted murder of Lady Cindyia Luluc, you are to be exiled from the country. Leave the Glass Forest extermination squad immediately! You may take your personal belongings, but you must return the holy robe and magic staff provided by the kingdom. These are the holy accessories passed down in the kingdom."

At the handsome man’s words, the soldiers around me took away the robe and magic staff I was wearing. The soldiers surrounding me were filled with hatred. It’s getting cold this time of year, and without the robe, it’s chilly. I’m only wearing a patched-up sleeveless dress.

"Get out of here quickly, you criminal!"

The handsome man said, almost spitting the words, and turned his back on me. He never looked back, instead, he embraced the waist of a blonde beauty standing a little away and hurriedly left. The blonde beauty, just before leaving, looked at me and twisted her lips into a sneer, but a moment later, she resumed her innocent expression. Oh, Miss, you can’t hide your malice.

"Get out of here quickly, you fake holy maiden!"

I was dragged to the tent I used as my bed by a burly soldier and pushed roughly. He even kicked me. Thanks to the body reinforcement I quickly activated, I didn’t feel any pain, but my body shook from the impact. Damn, men who are rough to women aren’t attractive.

"Milady Shiena!"

Kiri, my attendant, ran over and helped me up, glaring at the soldier who pushed me.

"Hmph. A dirty half-breed and a fake holy maiden. You two suit each other."

The soldier who said this was the second squad leader of the Glass Forest extermination squad, Jet or Jot? Which one was it? Even though I saved his life with my power. What an ungrateful person.

Kiri has silver hair and silver eyes, and is a slender beauty, but her skin is brown. The brown skin color indicates that she has foreign blood, which is not common in this country. In this closed society, foreigners are treated unfairly, and half-breeds are despised as those who have tainted the country’s blood. Kiri was also treated unfairly in the Glass Forest extermination squad.

Being my attendant improved her treatment somewhat, but now that I’m a fake holy maiden, her treatment will likely revert to the original. Worse, she might be treated even more poorly for serving a fake holy maiden. It’s a childish accusation, but they might say it. I don’t mind, but I’m worried about Kiri being treated unfairly.

"Kiri, I’m fine."

I got up and entered my tent. Kiri hurriedly followed.

I sat down on the futon that served as my bed and gazed blankly at the tent. It was a small tent like the others, only meant to protect from rain and wind. There was nothing to tickle a maiden’s heart. It was bleak and tattered.

I held my head.

Ah, the engagement is broken. The attempted murder of Lady Cindyia Luluc, from the way it looks, seems like a setup. Just because Lady Cindyia Luluc was pushed off a cliff and I had no alibi, I’m considered the culprit? That’s too shoddy. It’s like a two-hour suspense drama. The mystery-solving process is full of holes.

Two-hour suspense drama, yes, a two-hour suspense drama.

The moment the prince said the engagement was broken, various memories suddenly flooded my mind. I’m Japanese, 25 years old. But I also have clear memories of living as Shiena for 15 years. At 15, I’ve just reached adulthood. Adding my Japanese age, I’m 40. Midlife, huh? No, I’m still confused. No, I need to calm down. This isn’t the time to think about trivial things.

Let’s organize. I am Shiena, 15 years old. I was born and raised in a small village in the Daido Kingdom. When I was 10, the village was attacked by a horde of monsters, and my parents died. I was taken in by a larger town’s church. There, it was discovered that I had high recovery magic power. I was also a rare user of holy magic, and my power was apparently extraordinary, so I was recognized as the holy maiden of the Daido Kingdom and became the fiancée of the third prince, Lector Daido. For the past five years, I have worked on the front lines as a holy maiden in the Glass Forest extermination squad.

And yet, I was falsely accused and suddenly had my engagement broken. I’m about to be thrown into the Glass Forest, where dangerous monsters roam. That’s a summary of my 15-year life.

And my past life’s memories. Aoki Shina. My name was Shiena before too. 25 years old. I graduated from elementary, middle, high school, and university. I worked as a regular employee. Influenced by my mother, I loved two-hour suspense dramas. I often watched reruns. I knew the actors’ faces well enough to recognize the culprit just by seeing them.

No boyfriend for 25 years. Well, I had one for a moment in high school. Ryo-ta, a popular and charismatic classmate. He confessed to me, and we started dating, but five days later, he was confessed to by the most beautiful girl in the grade and quickly switched to her. We only held hands, but I had a boyfriend for five days. That was my only period of being popular. Incidentally, Ryo-ta was caught by the girl he switched to and was known as a “two-timing bastard” or “FutaKuso” throughout the school, and he fell from popularity. Technically, he wasn’t two-timing, but still.

Incidentally, the most beautiful girl in the grade apologized to me. She cried and said she was sorry for confessing to a taken guy, even though she didn’t know. She was a good person, and it’s no wonder she was popular.

But when did Shina become Shiena? This must be a reincarnation, right? Did Shina die? I don’t remember at all. I only have memories up to 25, so something must have happened at 25.

Part of the memories are missing, but Shina’s memories have returned and merged with Shiena’s. At first, I was confused, but I quickly calmed down and understood.

Oh no! I’m being exploited in the Daido Kingdom! Being a holy maiden is super, super, super, super black!

In this country, adulthood is at 15. I’ve been working on the front lines since I was 10. Don’t make children work in such poor conditions! It’s a violation of the kingdom’s common law!

Moreover, I haven’t left the Glass Forest since I was 10. The third prince, the squad leader, often returned to the capital for official duties, and the soldiers had regular breaks and long vacations, during which they took turns returning home. But the holy maiden, with no replacement, hasn’t had a single day off in five years. My magic power is apparently extraordinary, so while other mages get a day off after two days of work, I get no breaks! Is there no labor law? Guarantee at least 8 hours a day and 2 days off a week!

Plus, since the kingdom provides food, clothing, and shelter, there’s no salary. It’s free labor! I’m shocked. Shiena, you were so patient. Shina can’t be patient! But we are the same person!

Why was I so patient? Maybe because I wouldn’t have used the salary even if I had it, since I would have been working in the Glass Forest 365 days a year (or is it 365 days in this world?). I thought this was normal since I’ve been living this way since I was 10. Even Kiri, who grew up in an orphanage, had a better life. She got paid for her work! Shiena, wake up. Kiri worked without breaks to be with me. I’m the one who’s stupid for involving her. I’m sorry, Kiri.

Then, three months ago, a noble lady with the power of a holy maiden appeared and was officially recognized by the kingdom. She joined the Glass Forest extermination squad. She was a pure and delicate beauty (but with a generous chest), which boosted the morale of the soldiers. She was the childhood friend of Prince Lector, and they looked like a painting together.

The noble lady was in love with Prince Lector. Her sincere and devoted love made the soldiers swoon. From then on, the treatment I received changed.

From being treated like a younger sister (but overworked) by the soldiers, I was clearly treated as an obstacle. They said things like, “Your healing isn’t as good as the noble lady’s” or “Your healing leaves aftereffects.” These were baseless accusations, but as they piled up, they started to seem true. Gradually, I was said to have weaker holy powers, and I was yelled at and hit more often.

Moreover, I had hoped that with the noble lady’s arrival, my workload would decrease, but she returned to the capital six times in three months. She stayed for a while each time, so she was actually in the Glass Forest for only a few days. My workload didn’t decrease at all. She must think the holy maiden’s job is easy.

In this situation, the attempted murder of the noble lady (if it was an attempt) happened.

Prince Lector, upon hearing the noble lady’s attendants’ commotion, immediately broke off our engagement without hearing my side of the story. It was almost like a death sentence, being exiled.

No investigation, no chance to defend myself. I want to request a lawyer. I also want to sue for child abuse, overwork, and unpaid wages.

Prince Lector. I thought he was a good person. He comforted me when I was said to have weaker holy powers and treated me kindly as a fiancé. But behind the scenes, he was always cozying up to the noble lady. A two-timing, indecisive man. Just like Ryo-ta in my past life. Am I destined to be two-timed? Always the second choice, discarded when the main choice appears!

Moreover, he easily believed the noble lady and didn’t doubt that I was the culprit. She claimed I was harassing her, and he immediately declared me guilty. How could she harass me when we barely met, and she always had attendants and followers around? He’s so stupid. Can someone this stupid be in charge of the country? It would be invaded by other countries soon.

In the past, the prince would say, “You are still young, but I swear to love and cherish you. Let’s support the country together.” I used to swoon at those words. I used to dream of becoming his wife. I want to punch that past me. Falling for such a fool is a black mark on my history.

I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice Kiri calling me until she spoke. I could hear angry voices calling for me from outside the tent. It had been quite a while.

I put my belongings, which were just a tattered dress, into a burlap bag and went outside. So light. Moving is easy.

Outside, Deputy Squad Leader Dars was waiting. He, who is three heads taller than me, looked down at me with cold eyes. He often hit me. He hates commoners and is a noble supremacist. He hits women and children without mercy. But since I’m a holy maiden, I can heal myself, which is convenient. I healed myself instantly, hahaha.

Prince Lector, a royal, is the leader of the Glass Forest extermination squad, but in reality, Deputy Squad Leader Dars runs the squad. He’s a powerful user of wind magic, probably the strongest in the squad. His discriminatory and sadistic personality is the worst, though.

"This is my final act of mercy."

Deputy Squad Leader Dars pushed a paper bag into my hands. It contained a few days’ worth of food and water. After five years of unpaid service, this is my severance package from this exploitative country.

I silently turned my back on Dars. I need to leave this place as soon as possible.

"Wait, attendant, are you going with her?"

Oh? Kiri was following me as if it was natural. No, no, Kiri. I’m being exiled, so you can’t come with me. It’s dangerous outside with monsters everywhere. The treatment is bad, but you’re safer in the squad.

"My life was saved by Milady Shiena. It is only right to dedicate my life to her. I am not ungrateful like the others. My contract with the kingdom as a mercenary has also expired, so there’s no problem."

Kiri firmly stated and glared at the soldiers watching us. I remember saving Kiri with holy magic when she was near death. I’ve saved many soldiers over the past five years, so I had forgotten. You don’t need to be so concerned.

The soldiers, perhaps realizing what Kiri said, averted their eyes. Don’t worry, I saved the squad leader Prince Lector’s life, but he’s forgotten, so it’s fine. The soldiers can’t do what the squad leader can’t. Hahaha.

"Kiri, leaving the squad is like suicide, you know?"

I asked Kiri just to be sure. I’m a holy maiden, and I can use holy magic but not attack magic, at least for now.

"As you know, I am skilled in fire magic and can use a sword to some extent. I will protect Milady Shiena with my life."

Kiri has always been devoted to me. Even during the attempted murder of the noble lady, she didn’t doubt me for a moment. She defended me against everyone, saying I wouldn’t do such a thing, and it made me swoon. She’s my Kiri, of course. Yes, I’ll take her with me. I’ll protect my own!

I nodded to Kiri in an instant.

"Then, let’s go together."

Kiri’s face lit up. Oh, she’s so cute. If I weren’t a woman, I’d fall for her. She ran to me and walked by my side. Yes, she’s really cute.

"Then, thank you for your hard work."

I laughed at the stunned Deputy Squad Leader Dars and left the squad.

I had spent a third of my life in this place, but I only felt a sense of liberation, and I couldn’t help but laugh.