Chapter 1

"From this moment on, the public execution of the 'Rare Great Villainess' Rose Snow will begin!!"

The sound of the bell rang out, tolling, tolling.

Sitting on the scaffold, I looked up at the sky, and tears streamed down my cheeks.

The raindrops, cruelly pelting down, stole my body heat.

...Ah, how did it come to this?

I heard the frenzied shouts that drowned out the sound of the bell as if they were someone else's.

"– Kill the prostitute who calls herself a saint!"

"Bring the judgment of heaven upon the woman who betrayed the United Nations!"

"What saint, what blessing, it's all your fault!"

They say whatever they want, not knowing anything.

The words of people I've never met are quite moving.

I thought, did I really work so hard to save such people?

"Rose Snow. Do you have any last words?"

"...Your Eminence, the Cardinal."

I slowly raised my face.

A man in a long priestly robe looked at me with disdain.

"I have done nothing. It is all a frame-up."

"Still not admitting your sins? It is a well-known fact that you conspired with the demons!"

"It wasn't me."

"Then who was it?"

"Your Eminence, the Cardinal. The woman standing next to you."

"..."

The woman in the same robe as me covered her mouth with her hand.

She seemed shocked, but it was obvious she was lying.

Her cheek muscles twitched as she shook her head.

"Don't make a spectacle of yourself, sister."

"Eustia. How can you say such things?"

"Ah, sister, you've gone mad from years of service...!"

You're the one who's gone mad!

"Hah."

Even so, she used to be a cute and innocent little sister.

We grew up in different places and became saints, interacting a lot in our work. Yes, I didn't mind being called 'sister.'

At first, it was just a slight discomfort.

It felt like I had too much work.

By the time I realized this foolish sister was pushing all the work onto me, it was too late.

Because I was so efficient at handling work, the other saints followed my lead.

I ended up handling all the miscellaneous tasks outside the battlefield.

I slept for about two hours a day.

I ate twice a day, just dry bread and cold soup.

Of course, I tried to resist, but this girl was cunning, surrounding me with her own people.

"You increased my workload, didn't you?"

"I did it for the sake of my sister who doesn't go to the battlefield...!"

"You really say that?"

Indeed, I had overused sacred arts and was past my lifespan.

I had even broken the average lifespan of saints, earning the nickname 'Elder Saint.'

But who was overworking me?

"Everyone, listen!"

I'm going to die anyway. Let me have my revenge at the end.

I shouted to the square.

"You are being deceived! The one who betrayed humanity is the saint Eustia!"

"Huh?"

"The woman who is trying to kill me now is the big liar who caused the collapse of the capital and allowed the Eighth Demon King to invade! She recklessly broke the barrier device and is trying to pin her failure on me!"

How does it feel to have your lies exposed?

"You say I betrayed, but there's no evidence! Wake up!"

I won't die without a fight, Eustia.

"You are being deceived!"

I will expose your truth and ruin the church's credibility.

You will regret it. I won't die in vain—

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

I won't die... huh? What?

"Are you stupid! The church would never betray us!"

"The church that worships the Sun God has been opposing the demons for thousands of years!"

"Don't insult them for always finding saints! You're the liar, you dirty saint—!"

It felt like the world was upside down and my head was spinning.

—Even though I'm telling the truth, why doesn't anyone believe me?

—If you think about it, it's obvious, so why don't you use your own heads?

"Foolish sister."

The devil's whisper struck my ear.

"There's no one here who believes in someone like you."

"Yue...s..."

"Hey, foolish and dear sister. Will you die in my place?"

"..."

As I turned to Eustia, I was forced to press my head against the guillotine.

A collar was placed around my neck, and the chains on my hands and feet jingled.

During this time, unbearable curses continued to rain down on me.

I felt the taut string snap.

Ah, it's fine now.

It's starting to seem ridiculous.

I worked so hard to save these people.

In the end, they just want a villain. As long as they can comfort themselves, that's enough.

"Farewell, sister. I hope you enjoy the next life."

Is there even a next life?

If there is a next life... well, let's enjoy it.

I'll quit being a saint and make those who framed me suffer.

I'll refuse what I don't like and enjoy what I do.

I'll say what I want without holding back and do everything I want to do.

And... I want to see that person.

The only one who tried to help me.

The true hero who saved this capital. My favorite magician.

My death is my fault for not noticing my foolish sister's actions.

But I didn't want that person to die...

"I'm sorry, Sir Gil."

Wasting the life you saved.

Handing over the capital you wanted to save to the church.

"If I can, I want to be in the same place as you—"

I closed my eyes.

I don't want to feel pain, so I'll use a sacred art to numb my senses.

Toll, toll, toll—

...

...

...

...

"Zu"

"......Mmm"

"......Rose, wake up!"

"Ha! Rose is awake!"

I opened my eyes wide.

While looking at the familiar ceiling, I heard a disappointed voice.

"...Not just a response, get up properly."

"Yes, Bishop."

When I sat up, I was the only one left in the many empty beds. Next to me, the Bishop stood with his arms crossed, looking disappointed.

...Huh?

Didn't I just get killed?

Cold sweat burst out, and I touched my neck.

...It's still there.

What was that just now?

When I closed my eyes, I could vividly recall the scene of the execution square.

It was a very realistic dream. Was it a premonition?

No, I haven't been able to use the premonition sacred art for ten years...

"Bishop, am I alive?"

"Are you still half-asleep? I'll slap you."

"I seem to be alive."

Hmm, I put my hand on my chin.

"Bishop, what is today's date?"

"It's the third Wednesday of the Fire Month in the year 568 of the Solar Calendar."

I blinked.

"......I see. Then, has the Ornestia Kingdom already fallen?"

"The neighboring country? It's still standing, of course."

In my memory, it fell three months ago.

It's hard to believe, but I understand.

This is Rose, understanding with a groggy head.

I was so shocked that I couldn't immediately grasp it—

The date I heard from the Bishop is two years before my death in autumn.

For some reason, time has been rewound to before what I know.

Even though I was supposed to be dead.

"Stop asking strange questions and get to work. You're really lazy, aren't you...?"

"Work, huh."

In the dream—no, let's call this the 'first time.'

I was remembering the vow I made at the end of the first time.

The despair of being betrayed after working so hard for the human race.

The foolish sister and the church priests who laughed after pushing all the work and responsibility onto me.

So, does it make sense for me to work?

"No. It's impossible."

"...What?"

"Bishop, I don't want to work anymore."

The Bishop's eyes suddenly turned cold, sending a chill down my spine.

"A saint who doesn't work is subject to disposal, but that's fine, right?"

"..."

Just as I was about to speak—

"Sister! Can I borrow your dress?"

A blonde woman appeared.

The woman who killed me and betrayed humanity, Eustia.

Is this fate?

It's like a duck carrying leeks.

Let's start the counterattack.

New story started!

If you find it interesting and are looking forward to Rose's efforts, please bookmark it!