Is That Really My Big Sis?
Is that really my big sis?
While Elysia and I were in the middle of our classes.
Inside the church, high-ranking officials and saintesses had gathered to discuss a certain matter. It was about Elysia.
"……What do you all think?"
"This is heresy. An unacceptable act. We must deal with it."
"I, the Saintess of Extreme Poison known as Viper, agree as well."
Most of those inside were leaning toward punishing Elysia.
From the church's perspective, it was only natural.
A saintess was a position that embraced the world with pure, noble love.
Knowing that and still sharing her body and heart with a man was defiance against the Lord God… in other words, heresy.
"It would be best to handle it, wouldn't it, Your Holiness?"
In any normal case, the Pope would have dispatched heresy inquisitors to punish her.
But he didn't. And the reason was simply because the target was Elysia Atradain, the Saintess of Purity.
The church's seventh saintess, the Saintess of Purity, Elysia Atradain.
The Pope, who had participated in the Ma-shin War eleven years ago, had once witnessed her power firsthand. No—witnessed was the more accurate term.
In the midst of the battlefield, she had mercilessly cleaved through hordes of demonic beasts with her sword of light. And in the end, she had even slain Avidon, the one called the Demon God by the demons themselves—the saintess now known as one of the Academy's Five Stars.
"…Who here possesses two or more Authorities?"
Out of the thirty people seated at the round table, only six raised their hands.
It was only natural; there was no other choice.
An Authority was the power of God. It was something a mere human body typically couldn't withstand.
Yet Elysia bore five such Authorities within her single form.
"I still remember it clearly. The power of the Authorities she displayed."
Even if the entire church mobilized, the losses would be immense if they could barely punish her.
The Pope had no desire to take on such risks. He'd already received one headache-inducing piece of news before this.
"So, we'll just let this incident slide…."
"I have a rather good idea, Your Holiness."
Someone interrupted the Pope and stood from their seat.
The church's sixteenth saintess, Viper, the Saintess of Extreme Poison.
"Yes. Let's hear it."
"If we can't touch Elysia… then we touch something precious to her. Like, say, that boy she hangs around with."
Viper activated her Authority of Heavenly Poison over the photo of Kyle.
The photo melted away, dissolving into liquid form and vanishing. A satisfied smile spread across Viper's face.
"This way, she'll never even think about a man again."
"…It's a good plan, but do you have confidence you won't get caught?"
"Pfft… You already called me here, so doesn't that mean you've already decided to go through with it?"
The Pope said nothing in response to Viper's words—an affirmation.
"Perfect. Then I'll head to the Academy and take care of that kid."
"Make sure you succeed. The moment you fail, the church is finished."
"Yesss. Everything according to God's will."
Viper spun her dagger once in her hand and licked the blade with her tongue. Green-tinted saliva laced with extreme poison clung thickly to it.
"I'll be off❤"
After a somewhat dizzying lecture wrapped up.
Elysia sis had decided to head home first since she'd finished all her classes.
"Come straight home after class ends. Got it?"
"Yeah. I'll head right there, so don't worry."
"Then I'll be waiting, my cute boyfriend❤"
Mwah.
Elysia sis gave my cheek a quick peck and waved. I waved back until she disappeared from view, then turned around.
There was a bit of a gap until the next lecture.
As I pondered what to do in the meantime.
Someone tapped my shoulder.
"Hey, um. You're Kyle, right?"
A woman with dark green hair and light green eyes.
I'd never spoken to her before… but I knew her face.
"Hello, Senior Viper."
"You know me?"
"Of course. You're a saintess active in the church."
Senior Viper flashed a satisfied smile, her snake-like tongue flicking out long.
"Hehe, a famous junior knows me. I'm pretty thrilled."
"So, what brings you to find me?"
"You're super famous. They say you're the best swordsman among the holy knights in your year."
"That's embarrassing. It feels like too much praise…."
"Means you've got the skills to back it up. So, wanna spar with me?"
Senior Viper grinned, twirling the dagger in her hand.
Of course, I had some time since there was no lecture right then….
But a saintess versus a holy knight? No matter how I thought about it, our levels seemed way off, so I tried to politely decline.
"Sorry, but I don't think I can. Our levels are a bit too different…."
"Heh. You think I'd lose right now?"
"As the Saintess of Extreme Poison, that's unlikely…."
"Then just do it. You said you don't think I'd lose."
I tried my best to dodge the spar, but Senior Viper clung persistently.
"If it's no good, we'll stop. Just once. Please?"
"…Alright. If you're that insistent."
Unable to resist her relentless pleading, I ended up agreeing to spar with Senior Viper.
Since there was time until the next lecture anyway, I figured I'd use it to warm up against a saintess.
And so, we arrived inside the training arena.
Senior Viper tapped her dagger against her shoulder and asked.
"Well then. Shall we start?"
"Sure. Let's go right—"
Whoosh!
Before I could finish, Senior Viper's figure vanished.
Soon, I felt killing intent from behind. I swung my sword backward, and a sharp clash of metal rang out.
Claaang!
"Oho, you blocked that?"
"I'm somewhat used to attacks like this."
"Right… mind if I pick up the speed a bit?"
Senior Viper smirked faintly, then disappeared again.
Followed by sharp strikes targeting my vitals.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each fast, fierce attack carried real weight.
…She didn't come find me for nothing.
Even as a saintess, one who'd fought on the front lines was on another level.
Senior Viper seemed highly experienced in combat. She was pressing me this hard even against a holy knight.
But….
I'd been training nonstop too. To become a holy knight worthy of Elysia sis.
Kaaang!
I pushed back with force on my sword, lifting Senior Viper's feet off the ground.
Now floating midair with no way to dodge. I didn't miss the opening and swung at her.
"As expected of Elysia's holy knight?"
I was sure it'd hit.
But Senior Viper spun in midair, stabbed her dagger into the ground, and bent her body backward using it as a pivot to evade.
"Such a talented one, but what a shame."
Having barely dodged, Senior Viper drew a hidden dagger from her sleeve and thrust it forward.
The blade flew straight for my heart. But my sword was already committed to the attack—no time to defend.
I can't dodge this….
Just as I thought I'd be stabbed.
Clang!
Someone stepped in front of me and deflected Senior Viper's dagger.
"Who said you could touch my boyfriend?"
It was Elysia sis.
Her hair turned pure white from activating her Authority, fluttering as she glared at Senior Viper with a furious expression, standing protectively in front of me.
"Tch. Didn't you go home earlier?"
"I didn't ask you to speak."
Rumble rumble rumble!!
The ground began to shake from the holy power Elysia sis had unleashed.
"Answer me. Why were you swinging that poison-laced dagger at Kyle?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Senior Viper grinned and stomped the ground. Thick smoke erupted from her sole, enveloping Elysia sis.
"You pissed off the church. You breathing in my poison mist now? That's why. Let's see you writhe in agony…."
"……The church stirring up shit again, huh."
A brilliant light burst from within the dense poison mist.
At the same time, the mist rapidly condensed. Soon, it was sucked into Elysia sis's hand and vanished completely.
"Wh-what…? I even used an Authority for that poison mist…!?"
Senior Viper's face filled with panic as her creation disappeared without effect.
But in the center of the arena, Elysia sis kept her stern face, sword in hand, and slowly approached.
"Stay back! Stay back, you monster!! If I used an Authority, you should at least be paralyzed!!"
Senior Viper backpedaled, trying to flee from Elysia sis.
But the door was locked from our spar, and with her back to it, Elysia sis grabbed her by the scruff of the neck.
"G-guhk…!"
"Yeah. Seeing trash like you calling yourselves saintesses, it feels like discipline's gone to hell."
Elysia sis's silver eyes gleamed murderously as she spoke.
"Guess I need to beat some sense into you."
…Is that really my big sis?