Chapter 4

"Saint Rose Snow. I am reassigning you to the front lines."

In the office, His Eminence the Cardinal said this to the older sister who had been summoned.

I stood beside her, watching as she was taken aback.

Ah, no. I have to hold it in, but I can't stop smiling.

"The front lines, you say?"

"Yes."

"But I can no longer use sacred arts..."

The older sister's expression was tinged with despair.

"Even without the sacred arts, you have experience. Show the dignity of an 'Elder.'"

"Right, right. The older sister is so reliable! You have to have confidence!"

Hehe. Ah, she's shaking so pitifully, it's ridiculous!

Grabbing the hem of her dress like that, does she think it's cute?

The older sister looked up with tears welling in her eyes and pleaded to His Eminence the Cardinal.

"Please. I'll do anything here..."

"No can do. This is an order."

"But that's not fair. Why all of a sudden!?"

"Because you're useless."

His Eminence the Cardinal said it bluntly.

"I hear that you've been pushing all your work onto the High Saint here and spending your days leisurely reading in your room. Do you know why we keep you around even though you can no longer use the sacred arts? It's to make you do the menial tasks. A Saint who abandons her duties is of no use to our church!"

His Eminence the Cardinal doesn't know the truth.

He's always at balls and political gatherings, never setting foot in the cathedral.

If I lean in a bit and whisper in his ear, look what happens.

Men are so easy to handle; I really love them.

Actually, I'm the one who's been pushing the work onto the older sister.

"I'm not pushing work onto my sister. I'm working hard..."

"Shut up! The words of a useless person are always the same! It's never your fault. It's always someone else's fault, someone else's doing! I'm sick of it! Your words are not worth hearing!"

Poor older sister, saying the truth but not being believed. How pitiful♪

What can you do? You've gone against me.

Actually, the dress incident was a real blow.

I thought I could soil the dress, which was a keepsake from her mother, to harass her, but I didn't expect her to tamper with it to make it tear.

For that timid and gloomy older sister to defy me...

Thanks to her, I was utterly humiliated.

The prince I was targeting looked at me with pity, and everyone around me snickered. It was a crucial ball for me to establish myself in society as the High Saint...

"Older sister, if you say it's a lie, why don't you ask the priests?"

"...Eustia"

"They'll all say the same thing. That you're a wicked woman who doesn't work and just plays around!"

I've already spread the rumor that the older sister is a 'wicked woman' at the ball.

I blamed the dress incident entirely on her to minimize the damage.

Serves you right. I'll make you regret defying me.

"Or are you going to defy His Eminence the Cardinal?"

"..."

Hehe, that's right. You can't defy him, can you?

I know your character all too well.

The older sister, looking frightened and resigned, said in a trembling voice,

"I, I understand... I'll go to the front lines."

"Hehe. You should have said that from the start."

Ah, what a relief! The best! I win!

But it's not over yet. I'm not letting you off that easily.

"Hey, Your Eminence? Where will the older sister be assigned?"

"Ah, that is—"

"How about that place! Look, the 'Reaper's' unit!"

I'll drop her into even deeper despair, older sister.

"I think the squad of the one who holds the toughest position on the front lines will allow you to fully utilize your abilities."

"...Indeed."

"Wait, please, not that, not that!!"

The older sister clung to me pitifully.

She knelt awkwardly, pulling at my clothes and pleading.

This is the best feeling ever!

For this noisy, experienced old hag to show such a face!

"P-please, Eustia. No, no, please, I beg you."

"Hehe. No way♪"

I said with a bright smile.

"The older sister will be assigned to the Reaper's unit. Yes, it's decided!"

"Aaah...!"

The older sister let go of me and placed her hand on the floor in despair.

Well, it's no wonder she's despairing.

The place I've chosen for her is that harsh.

– The 'Reaper' Gultia Harkley.

A rare magician and a cold-blooded hero, a once-in-a-thousand-years genius.

He has even defeated the third of the Eight Great Demons, 'Gluttony,' and made his name known throughout the world.

Once he is assigned a mission, he kills every demon he encounters.

But that's not the only reason he's called the 'Reaper.'

The death rate for new recruits is 100%!

Everyone who joins his squad dies without exception!

Moreover, he's said to be a pervert beyond the norm, a lecher who changes women frequently, and has had over ten fiancées.

No doubt the nobles were eager to get his genius offspring.

I've heard that the power of a magician depends on lineage.

"Good luck, older sister♪"

I've always found her annoying.

She's been pampered as a High Saint since birth, and I don't know which predecessor, but she's been nagging me. I know she's after my position.

She probably wants to reclaim her position as High Saint, but unfortunately for her,

I'll crush the place she wants to return to completely.