The Excommunicated Saint Wants to Lose

“Focus. I’ll tell you what magic is.”

Woof-woof slightly tilted her head at Riella’s words.

“I already know.”

No explanation was needed.
She was already familiar with it.

“Tell me what it is.”
“It’s a power that sparkles and flashes!”
“Wrong.”

Riella shook her head firmly.

“You don’t know magic. You can only do body transformation.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Magic is much more profound than you think.”

She didn’t understand what it meant very well.
Still, she listened quietly.
Because Riella always says the right things.

“First, try changing your appearance like me.”
“Like Riella?”

Woof-woof thought for a moment and then became a human girl.

“Is this okay?”
“Well done.”

A gentle touch pinching her cheek slightly.
Deep affection was contained even in her single remaining eye.

Riella was kind.
She took good care of her and didn’t say harsh words.
Although her expression often frowned like a bad person.

“But why did you tell me to change?”
“Our tower’s magic system is based on the human body… No, never mind. Just because I like it.”
“You like it?”

A race that has to walk on two legs.
It was a bit uncomfortable.
She wondered what was so good about it.

“You’ll have to go around in that form a lot from now on. Do you remember the dream you said you had recently?”
“Yes. A dazzling person was saying something to me.”

The ceremony of being appointed as a sage.
To the ignorant hatchling, it was just a dream full of sunlight.

“From a few months later, you’ll have to travel with friends who had the same dream as you.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you later. For now, just know that you need to be very good at using magic.”

She was speaking faster than usual and her gaze was uneasy.
She seemed somewhat urgent.

“Don’t get distracted and listen carefully.”

Breni recalled the magic manifestation process Riella had taught her.
For some reason, the bad villain who had taken over Clitia’s body also waited quietly with arms folded.

‘I remember everything!’

Magic is a transaction with the world.
You must request what you want in accordance with the format.

When she first heard it, she just stuffed it into her head without understanding the meaning.
In fact, she still didn’t understand it properly.

But she had a rough idea of how to do it.
Knowledge sprouting naturally.
It was as if a guide was walking ahead, showing the way.

‘It starts with imagination.’

A rope appeared in the space inside her mind.
Something to tie up the villain.
She had to make it so he couldn’t do bad things.

Wouldn’t it be good to make it so he can’t move at all?
The rope became thick, long, and sturdy.

‘Next is the magic circle.’

A transaction proposal presented to the world.
Draw the imagined magic using pictures and letters.

Mana is both the cost and the paint.
The more you use, the more powerful and vivid magic is manifested.

‘Take it all!’

Mana surging from her heart left her body and drew a dense golden magic circle in the air.

A straight line representing the rope.
A sentence wishing to tie up the enemy.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s simple or complex.
The important element is the content, not the outward appearance.

The golden color deepened even more.
The magic circle was complete.

“Not bad. You have a talent for magic.”

Breni ignored the villain’s praise and proceeded with the finishing touches.

Magic manifestation.
The completed transaction document must be presented.

‘Beginners should say the name of the magic.’

Riella manifested it just by snapping her fingers, but that was too much for Breni.

“Tight Rope.”

A thick rope shot out from the magic circle and entwined the villain’s body.
With an ominous movement like a snake constricting its prey.

Magic was created in just a few tens of seconds.
A scene that would have made an ordinary human magician foam at the mouth.
It was a skill bloomed by talent with the depth of an ocean.
“Excellent. I’ll praise you even though you’re an enemy.”
The villain was relaxed despite his body being bound.
As if this much was nothing.

“You’re finished now!”
“It’s not time to be so confident yet.”

At that moment, an incredible energy was felt.
Power emitted by simple physical force, not mana.
Breni was startled and stepped back slightly.

“Such playful magic doesn’t work on me!”

With a loud shout, the rope burst.
As disappointingly easily as that.

“Are you prepared to die?”

The blackened eyes were scary.
Still, Breni stood firm and prepared magic again.

If she got scared and ran away, Clitia would be in danger.
She absolutely couldn’t allow that to happen.

“Clitia, hang on a little longer!”

“I’ll free you with magic!”

I held back the laughter that was about to burst out.
Her earnest appearance was lovely.

The emotion I had barely caught became disheveled.
I gathered my thoughts and recited the lines I had prepared with Riella.

“Impossible. Do you think I, Kvald of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord’s army, would be defeated by a child like you?”

In fact, the real Kvald who was one of the Four Heavenly Kings wasn’t this kind of character.
A taciturn and cold-blooded assassin.
He was a strong opponent that Liam and I had struggled to defeat.
This much was just a minor error in historical accuracy.
Isn’t history a record that’s slightly altered according to the victor’s taste?
“Hurting Hand.”

Magic was created again in a short moment.
A giant hand rose from the golden magic circle drawn on the ground and grabbed me.

“Isn’t this not much different from the rope magic?”

I easily escaped and ran towards Breni, who was serious in her own way.
“I’m invincible unless it’s mental magic!”

While saying that, I deliberately dropped a hint.
Our pure dragon didn’t seem to notice anything strange and her expression brightened as if she had found the answer.

“Stinging Sound.”

Magic created again.
Ultrasonic waves burst out and stimulated my ears.

“That’s an attack on hearing, not the mind!”

I extended my fist towards her pretty face.
Unable to dodge in time, Breni fell to the ground, hitting her head first.
“Ugh…”

Was that too much?
She got up quickly, but her face was on the verge of tears.

What if she loses motivation and gives up?
I glanced at Riella.

“Breni, don’t give up!”

Perceptively, she proceeded with the ‘gaining strength from encouragement’ development.

“Please save Clitia! You’re our only hope!”

Will this really work?
Just as I was having doubts, Breni wiped away her slightly welling tears and opened her eyes wide.

“Okay!”

Eyes filled with determination.
Although the appearance of cheering while lying down was a bit unnatural, it worked quite well.

“Indeed, you’re not an easy opponent.”

I also threw in some words to further strengthen her resolve.

“I don’t want to hear your praise.”

Breni gritted her teeth, showing anger.
In a low, serious tone.

“Pointed Dizziness. Cool Itchiness. Boring Darkness.”

Three magics manifested simultaneously.
The child who couldn’t even draw magic circles until just now had suddenly entered an advanced stage.

As expected of a dragon specialized in magic.
I didn’t know the effect of mental education would be demonstrated so immediately.

“Go away!”

Three different forms of magic flew and struck at once.
Unlike before, these were magics attacking the mind.
They’re quite powerful for being hastily created.

My head throbbed.
My vision spun and I felt dizzy, making it hard to keep my balance.
“Interesting.”
But it was still far from enough to bring me down.
I stepped forward forcefully and punched her young face.
Breni rolled on the ground and then stood up abruptly.
The same process as before.
However, the following action was different.

Far from crying, she smiled.
She didn’t even seem to be in pain and was drawing a magic circle.

Magic kept pouring in without pause.
My mind was being eroded, dulled, and becoming numb.
It was weaker than Riella’s offensive.
But it was an unbelievable power for a beginner who had just started using magic a little while ago.
“Why won’t you fall!”

Another punch landed on her face.
Even though it must hurt, she got up dignifiedly and sent magic flying.

I was moved.
She was truly trying her best to defeat me.

If she’s like this now, what would she be like after growing more?
How strong would she become when launching a joint attack with the hero?

My heart started pounding.
The talent I had expected when I first heard the word ‘ultra-genius’.
It was a capacity that easily surpassed limits.

I wanted to fight to my heart’s content and draw out her potential to the maximum.
Regrettably, we had to end it here.
Content for children shouldn’t drag on too long.

“Terrifying Wave.”

The brightest and largest magic circle so far.
It seemed suitable as an attack to decorate the finale.

A golden wave rushed towards me and crashed violently.
It was time for the villain to exit.

“To think that I, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, would lose to such a youngster…”

I trembled and fell to my knees.
Then Breni struck a triumphant pose.

“Disappear now!”
“Enjoy it while you can. I will return someday!”

Ending with a hint of a sequel.
One childishly brilliant play came to a successful close.

“…What happened?”

Acting as if I’ve come to my senses.
Riella’s magic that had been turning my eyes black also disappeared on cue.

“Clitia!”

Breni ran to me and hugged me.
I welcomed her with a puzzled expression.

“Breni?”
“I defeated the villain! I kept using magic and won!”

Her innocently joyful appearance naturally brought a smile to my face.
“Thank you. You saved me.”
“Hehe. Did I do well?”
“You’re my hero.”

My eyes met with Riella, who had quietly stood up behind.
We gave each other a thumbs up to celebrate our success.

“I can handle magic well now! It was super simple!”
“Keep practicing anyway.”
This should be enough for mental education.
It was very successful as she learned magic and also learned how to fight without giving up.
I sincerely hoped she would grow into a superior dragon-like powerhouse while acting as a sage.

Back in the Tower Master’s room, Riella fell into deep thought.

‘She’s easier to handle than I thought.’

Clitia desires defeat.
She’s ready to do anything to lose.

In a somewhat broken state.
She engages in strange behaviors that can’t even be called normal as a white lie.

But she was far from being evil that must be eliminated.
Rather, she had a kind heart that could become close to Breni in less than a day.
In other words, her infamy as a public enemy could be erased.
It would be a long road, but isn’t it worth trying?
First, she needed to be guided to do good deeds.
It was a matter of leading her in the right direction by using Clitia’s preferences.

‘I should make her take down other public enemies.’

The so-called Clitia Image Improvement Project.
A plan for her precious friend was being secretly formulated.