The Excommunicated Saint Wants to Lose

“Liam, please behave and play quietly without causing trouble.”
I suppressed the urge to punch him in the jaw and repeatedly implored him.
“Don’t worry.”
A sly tone and a grinning smile.
It was obvious he was only half-listening to my words.
“If there’s trouble again, know that you’ll really get beaten with a stick this time.”
“I’ve really changed. I’m telling you, I’m different now.”

I wonder how many times he’s declared “I’ve changed.”
In a way, it was a talent to not change at all despite constantly being nagged.

“Especially keep your dick in check. How much more seed do you need to spread before you’re satisfied?”
“I promise I’ll just drink and have fun today. I swear by the goddess.”
Invoking the goddess meant he was trying to convey that he was serious in his own way.
“Can I go?”
I’m tired.
Saying more would only hurt my mouth, so I had no choice but to nod.
“I’ll bring you a gift when I come back!”
Liam waved his hand and quickly disappeared to the other side of the village.
I couldn’t understand why someone called a hero was so frivolous.

“Oh holy sun, why did you choose such a guy as a hero?”
-Don’t be too angry, Clitia.
A holy voice echoed in my head.
The goddess answered me with a kind smile.
-He’s not a bad child. You know that well, don’t you?
“But he’s too dissolute. I’m afraid he might tarnish your honor.”
-Then can’t you guide him to live a righteous life? I believe in you.
I couldn’t complain any further when she spoke like this.
“I understand. I’ll lead him on the right path, even if I have to drag him by the collar.”
The other companions are too nice to say harsh words.
I was the only one who could give Liam a piece of my mind.
-Thank you. Always remember that you are my pride and joy.
The goddess’s warm words filled my empty heart with comfort.
At times like this, I felt that living as a saint in a strange world wasn’t so bad.
I hope this warmth lasts forever.

My eyes opened to the sunlight seeping through the gaps in the curtains.
It was an unintended early awakening.
A fresh morning.
Despite having my sleep disturbed, I felt good.
It felt as if the goddess had woken me up.
I got out of bed and stretched.
My physical condition was fairly good today as well.
Normally, I would have wanted to go find a strong opponent to fight, but not now.
The Holy Knight of Evil Destruction.
Thanks to the incident where I was deceived by his reputation and ended up with a foul mood instead of defeat, I learned a lesson.
You shouldn’t reach out carelessly without any suspicion just because something looks delicious.
You might get badly burned that way.
From now on, I need to choose my opponents carefully.
The saying “even a stone bridge should be tapped before crossing” was a truth that applied in this world too.
Let’s not just believe rumors but thoroughly investigate in advance to prevent the same thing from happening again.
For the time being, I planned to stay quiet and do some exploring.
Fortunately, Serda was a city where many strong individuals gathered.
There were many promising people.
However, I had already decided who among them would be good.
The hero.
The hero currently in Serda was my next target.
They could be said to be the most suitable opponent to defeat me.

After all, the role of a hero is to eliminate evils like the ‘Excommunicated Saint’.
First, I should gather information to understand what kind of person the hero is.
After organizing my thoughts, I picked up a small bell placed on the table and gently shook it.
A clear bell sound rang out.
Soon after, a child-like figure made of water appeared in the air.
“Guest, how may I help you?”
A water spirit.
This inn employed spirit employees.
Giff hadn’t made me stay in this shabby place for nothing.
A business policy that thoroughly respects guests’ privacy.
It was convenient in many ways as I didn’t have to hide my identity.
The spirit being very cute was a bonus.
“Please bring me breakfast and a newspaper.”
“Will you be paying later this time as well?”
“Yes. Giff will pay for everything.”
I casually sold out my friend’s name.
The two words ‘Giff’ were practically a cheat code for credit in Serda.
“Understood! Please wait a moment!”
The spirit employee dispersed into the air just as it had appeared, then reappeared.
“I’ve left it in front of your door.”
Their work processing was surprisingly fast.
It was just the right speed for a Korean.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Please call again if you need anything!”
I wiped off the water droplets that splashed when the spirit employee disappeared and carefully opened the door.
A moderately sized box placed in front of the door.
Worried someone might see, I quickly brought it inside and hastily closed the door.
I wanted to move around freely as usual, but.
If I wanted to continue staying in Serda, I had to endure.
How did I end up having to be so mindful of others?
I suddenly realized how much my personality had softened.
This was all because of Liam, who was the hero of our hero party.
I had to learn patience and social skills to clean up after him as he caused problems wherever he went.

Then, I suddenly remembered the last words Liam uttered.
‘I should have trained more and become stronger… I’m sorry.’
It was a memory hard to forget.
The image of him reflecting and even apologizing, which didn’t suit him, still lingered in my mind.
“…You should have done well normally.”
Unfortunately, the scene of Liam’s head being split by the Demon Lord’s hand also came to mind.
I had been living while avoiding it well for a while.
It seemed it would take some time to put it away out of sight again.
After waiting for a moment for my churning stomach to calm down, I opened the box.
A neatly folded newspaper and a steaming bowl of rice soup.
I lost my appetite, so I skipped the meal and sat on the bed to look at the newspaper.
[The Terror of the Excommunicated Saint, Serda Shaken.]
There was an article about me from the first page.
Curious about its content, I read it and let out a bitter laugh in disbelief.
[The hero called the Holy Knight of Evil Destruction, Derk, finally lost his life fighting to protect everyone.]
To think his political maneuvering would have influence even after death.
I could somewhat understand why his excessively exaggerated reputation was created.
Feeling disgusted, I didn’t read further and turned to the next page.
[Mud Goblin Dungeon Dyed in Blood. Where Has the Vanished Excommunicated Saint Gone?]
Another article about me.
Since it was probably written based on the reporter’s guesses and delusions, I skipped it without reading and continued turning pages.
After that, there was an endless stream of worthless gossip.
Serda’s media was of much lower quality and worse than I thought.

This is too much even so.
As I was about to close the newspaper in disappointment, I found the article I was looking for.
[Newly Chosen Hero Party. Who is Hero Selen?]
This is what I wanted.
I read it slowly, focusing.

[Selen was born as the daughter of a wealthy farmer and grew up in an affluent environment.]
[It is said that her hair is as red as flame and her eyes boast beauty like platinum.]

A series of trivial family history and overly detailed appearance descriptions followed.
This isn’t some novel.
Only after skipping all of it did helpful content appear.
[The teachers who taught Selen unanimously said that she has qualities surpassing the previous hero, Liam.]
Information that she has extraordinary talent.
I couldn’t help but be surprised.
Liam was the strongest in our hero party.
Not just at an ordinary level, but overwhelmingly so.
He could comfortably win even if he faced all the rest of us alone.
A hero who was more dependable than anyone in real battles, despite causing problems and worrying us usually.
Despite everything, my companions and I always relied on Liam.
But they say she has qualities surpassing that guy.
Truly an unfair level of talent.
I found it.
She was a talent capable of giving me defeat someday.
My heart pounded with excitement.
She’s still a novice now, but as time passes, she will eventually bloom brilliantly.
Perhaps into a hero that even the Demon Lord would fear.
Of course, she’s woefully lacking right now.
It’s been only two months since she became a hero.
In other words, it was still a period of insufficient learning.
‘…Wait.’

The importance of a teacher or mentor in improving skills cannot be overstated.
Especially during the period when one needs to gain experience.

If the hero receives help from someone, she could make her talent bloom even more brilliantly.
Now, when she doesn’t know anything, is just the right time.

But I couldn’t trust other people.
The teachings of ordinary people might damage her genius if not careful.

Then there’s only one way.
I had to step up.

Of course, I wasn’t a genius either.

But I knew well the right direction of growth that a hero should take.
Because I had the experience of watching over Liam at the goddess’s request.

I decided.
I will become a guide myself and show the way to the destination.

So that the hero can achieve ‘subjugation of the Excommunicated Saint’.
So that she can achieve victory over me.

There was no reason to hesitate.
Without delay, I immediately put on my robe and left the inn.

My still loudly thumping heart represented my feelings.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling ill?”
“No, I’m fine.”

Hero Selen spoke calmly, but slightly frowned her eyes.

Suddenly, she started feeling chills.
It was a cold filled with foreboding.

‘Is something bad going to happen?’

A sense close to precognition.
It was a sense that had developed since becoming a hero.

She had experienced it occasionally before, but this time was different.
A piercing cold like winter wind.
Some kind of ominous crisis was approaching.

‘Just how dangerous is it to be like this…’

Selen didn’t know yet.
The fact that someone was coming to teach her how to become stronger.