Chapter 62 - 71: Replica (2/2)
The spear shines even brighter and the pope smiles at us. His attitude is just like he completed an exorcism.
”Mel-chan!”
Firo instantly covers Melty. Raphtalia grasps my hand.
”So this is it...”
Motoyasu mutters as if he has given up.
”I-I am going to become the queen of this country. How dare you be so rude-”
The bitch is screaming before death.
Motoyasu's companions lose their composure and break down crying.
Is there any possibility that I can withstand this?...
It's sink or swim, with nothing to lose I step forwards.
Of course I would rather not defend those guys.
I just want to protect Raphtalia, Firo, and Melty, they are the ones who believed in me.
I ready my shield and step forward.
”I'll accompany you.”
Raphtalia follows me as I step forward. Her hand on mine.
We've gotten this far together.
I was brought to this world against my will and become the devil of the shield, I was forced to buy a slave to become my fighting force.
Of course even to now there is no sense of guilt.
Still, even in those days she believed in me.
”I'm sorry...To bring you to such a place...”
”No, Naofumi-sama I believe you can protect us all.”
”...That's right. I don't know how the previous Hero of the spear was, but this is definitely one of his skills.”
Not yet. I will not be finished in such a place.
The chance to finally counter-attack the mastermind is right in front of me.
Brionac...I don't know which Celtic Myth it is from, but I will stop it.
The Pope raises the spear towards the sky–
”Hundred Sword!”
”Meteor Bow!”
Suddenly, a wave of swords and arrows rain down on the Pope.
”What's going on!?”
Since I broke the Pope's barrier,he had to stop casting his skill and twirl the spear around to deflect all the swords and arrows.
I turn my gaze to where the voice came from. There I see-
”Oh my. You two should have been purified by the judgement of god, why are you here?”
Ren and Itsuki are standing in a line with their parties.
”Don't just kill me off without my permission. Did you even confirm our corpses?”
”That was a close call. I bȧrėly made it in time.”
Ren and Itsuki call out to us while preparing for battle.
”Oh dear, if there was a need to confirm your bodies, there would have been no reason to use that magic.”
I look at where the attack landed.
Certainly, there is bȧrėly a chance of finding a corpse within that crater.
Not even a trace would remain.
I endured it though.
When looking at Ren my body feels heavy.
The shield makes a commotion about who I should be directing my hatred at.
The rage of the dragon is producing anger meant for Ren.
Endure it... I cannot act violently now.
”You guys, how did you...”
Motoyasu is looking at Ren and Ituski like he's looking at dead people.
Well Motoyasu isn't wrong, it is definitely strange that all the heroes have gathered in such a remote place.
The last time I saw them was in the opposite direction towards Silt Welt.
”A group called shadow helped us.”
”Yeah, it was a close call.”
”Eh? Did a guy called shadow tell you Naofumi's whereabouts? He said he was on the church's side.”
If I think about it, it is strange that they were able to predict our escape route and lay an ambush.
In other words, Motoyasu was able to pinpoint my location thanks to the shadows on the Three Heroes Church.
We also met a shadow while escaping.
That reminds me...
”... I was told the shadows are splintered.”
”Yeah, the shadows who saved our lives said they worked for the queen.”
I see, the queen's shadows are collaborating.
I ȧssume the shadows that helped Itsuki and Ren are from the queen's faction.
Is it because the queen is in a hostile relationship with the pope?
At least now the queen, and us four heroes are hostile against the Pope and his Three Heroes Church.
However...These guys look like they came from an old weekly manga.
It's like they were waiting for this timing to appear.
The leader of the heroes side is Motoyasu.
The Arch-enemy position is me...? I'm not kidding.
Would it be possible to clear up that misunderstanding if I had a companion character there? Like in the manga.
Unfortunately, I have no intentions of becoming a companion of Motoyasu or any of them...
”A punitive force will arrive soon! Quietly surrender!”
Ren declares as if he already won.
However, the pope does not seemed worried at all.
”Our victory is certain no matter how many you bring. No matter what armed forced come, numbers are meaningless!”
The pope gets in position for the his skill again.
”I wonder about that”
”Of course.”
The two heroes both shoot a skill at the pope.
”Meteor Sword!”
”Metero Bow!”
Arrows and Swords made of light head towards the Pope—