Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

Chapter 70: Pope

Naofumi: “The pope……huh”

Wasn’t that too much for just a greeting? The spell he casted earlier was just barely tolerable even with the shield of anger.

And Firo as well, why did she help Motoyasu’s group too?

The only ones you should have brought were Raphtalia and Melty.

Well, its fine I guess. But I’m curious as to the Pope’s real intentions.

Naofumi: “To use such magic at the two princesses of this country and the Hero of the Spear……What are you thinking?”

Pope: “Hero of the Spear-sama……You say?”

If I’m not mistaken, the Heroes of the Sword, Bow, and Spear are objects of worship for him.

I’m not sure what is going on but……

The Pope retains his wretched smile while looking at me.

I wonder what this is, I have a weird feeling about this.

Will it even be possible for him to keep this mask like expression when someone dies in front of him?

Is it even possible for him to change his expression?

That’s the kind of odd feeling I’m getting.

Pope: “I have faith in the Three Heroes. They will be the ones to save the people and the world from the incoming waves. The only problem is the fake that is pretending to be a hero.”

Naofumi: “What do you mean?”

The pope answers as this if it’s an everyday conversation.

Motoyasu watches the pope with a dumbfounded expression.

Pope: “The queen candidates have been killed by the devil of the shield. Also you don’t need bother worrying about your corpses, I will have them verified later.”

Raphtalia: “No way……”

Raphtalia was disgusted to the point that she cannot even feel angry.

The Pope who we met before seemed like a fair and unbiased person, but that seems to be a figment of my imagination.

Pope: “The devil of the shield has acted aggressively, but god has been kind and granted him mercy. Therefore today, I am here to represent god’s will to complete the purification.”

What an amazing reason. In other words, the reasonably priced holy water that he offered to us was only available because we could have been dealt with at a moment’s notice?

At that time I had no idea of the big picture……

Back then this wouldn’t have been considered a possibility either.

Malty: “Don’t joke around! I am the next Queen! I cannot be murdered by a shield!”

Pope: “No no, be at ease, princess Malty. That isn’t a problem. The person inheriting this country has already been chosen. All is as god’s will.”

Bitch’s face instantly became pale from that conversation, this seems to all be a conspiracy from the pope.

Motoyasu: “It’s a lie…..Right?……”

Pope: “Hahaha, No way.”

Motoyasu: “Stop joking around!”

Motoyasu yells at the pope and instantly points his spear towards him.

Motoyasu: “Were we not fighting to save this country and princess Melty?”

Pope: “Oh right. In the end this country will be used in the holy war for the world. After expelling the 3 fake Heroes and the devil of the shield our church’s authority and power will drastically strengthen.

Naofumi: “Fake hero……”

My face immediately cramps as the Pope’s answer is too rotten.

Pope: “Yes….. The Lord’s believers are waning far and near ever since the fake heroes began stirring up trouble everywhere. The fake hero of the Sword caused an epidemic, the fake hero of the bow does not bow to my authority, and the fake hero of the spear caused an ecosystem to go mad.”

Those problems were the ones I mended.

I now understand what Itsuki did. He banished a bad lord who raised taxes to contribute to the church.

Pope: “The sword and bow imposters have already been disposed of.”

The Pope answers in a calm manner.

Motoyasu: “What!?”

Pope: “I summoned the bow and sword to different locations to dispose of them, and the devil of the shield will be wiped from existence with [Judgement]. This will all be as god’s will.”

Ren and Itsuki……They were prying too hard into matter and got themselves in trouble.

But I expected Ren to at least be suspicious of them, but Itsuki too……

I didn’t expect to behave like this. But If Itsuki noticed the wickedness he would act immediately for justice.

No way……Does this mean they were ambushed?

That mean both of them are……

Motoyasu: “Did your murder them!? Everybody fought for the sake of this world!……Ren!……Itsuki!”

I can tell that Motoyasu is furious.

Were these guys all that friendly with each other?

I do feel bad for those two, but the only feeling I have for them is sympathy.

Pope: “Please, do not call it killing. We are merely purging the devils and imposters who hasdeceived us.”

Motoyasu: “Wha…..”

Pope: “We will inform the King and Queen like this. The fake Heroes were manipulating this country, although we purified them we suffered a great loss, the princesses were unfortunately……”

Wow~……That’s so unreasonable. Will they even believe that rubbish?

Hm……I understand that the trash will believe it. Then again he may co-operate with the plan solely based on the fact that I was killed.

Were all exhausted we’re unable to continue fighting.

Although I am despised of in this world– I will not become such a pitiful person after finally finding the truth.

In wars, the only thing that matters is victory not the way you achieved it.

The truth is, I don’t really understand either, but I can say this. I will not forgive ass-holes who are trying to destroy us for a selfish reason.

Motoyasu is at a loss for words and slowly turns towards me.

Motoyasu: “Naofumi, a truce please. I want you to lend me your power!”

Naofumi: “You sound extremely selfish. I’ll always remember what you said earlier don’t you forget.”

Making a situation where I was attacked one-sidedly and being unable to escape.

In the first place didn’t he believe the shield was capable of brainwashing just a little while ago.

Naofumi: “I beg of you! I……I want to have a funeral for those guys. I can never forgive this guy!”

Naofumi: “Whatever, only if we’re able to come out victorious from this situation.

There will be a large delay until the next strong spell is fired, however this will be difficult.

Motoyasu: “Will you lend me your power? Do you think nothing of that guy!?”

Naofumi: “I am thinking of many things right now. I was going to be made a chump. But Motoyasu, I have no obligation whatsoever to lend you my aid.”

The situation is, the cage was broken so we should be able to escape by riding on Firo.

Naofumi: “Rather.”

I smile at Motoyasu and give him a thumbs down.

Naofumi: “Die please?”

Motoyasu: “Yooooooooooou!”

Even while he is unsteady Motoyasu tries to punch me.

Naofumi: “Are you sure you want to hit me?”

If the Self-Burning Curse activates after he hits me, he will die.

Motoyasu: “Damn…..”

Well, I can control it because of Raphtalia, Firo, and Melty.

Pope: “As expected, the devil of the shield and his companions the fake heroes will fight each other.”

Naofumi: “Who the hell is this guy’s companion?”

Motoyasu: “Shut up! I won’t depend on you! I’ll take that guy down alone!”

Pope: “fufufu, I wonder if you’re even able to defeat me.”

The pope instructs his subordinate to bring him his weapon while laughing.

I wonder what this is. It’s an fairly large sword……

The sword is silver white and has been decorated with ornaments.

Is it similar to a game where in the second half they get a sacred sword that is able to talk?

There are such complicated decorations……It’s probably a fairly strong weapon.

The jewel that is buried in the middle gives off an unpleasant feeling.

Naofumi: “Wha…..That’s-”

Bitch and Melty face both pale instantly.

Motoyasu: “Naofumi! Take care, That-”

Pope: “First, the devil of the shield. You shall receive god’s judgement.”

Despite the Pope’s distance from me, he swings down the sword with a shout.

A shock-wave is produced from the sword and is heading through the ground and is coming directly towards me.

I ready my shield to receive the blow.

Naofumi: “Ugh……”

It’s damage rivals that of Motoyasu’s meteor spear, the impact was so intense that I was almost blown away.

After the attack a fissure was left on the ground

Wait, I currently have shield of anger equipped!

What kind of weapon can deal such insane amount damage that even Motoyasu’s skill cannot compare.

Melty: “Naofumi. That, is a replication of a legendary hero’s weapon.”

Naofumi: “A replication?”

Jeez just how strong was the original!?

Ren who also uses the sword……Motoyasu would surely be stronger, but they simply cannot compare to that.

I mean Motoyasu was completely ruined by Glass.

Her attacks should be around 5 times stronger.

But I was still able to defend against them with the shield of rage.

The attack just now clearly surpassed it by far.

Melty: “Why is such a thing……That weapon should have been lost hundreds of years ago……”

Pope: “It was not lost, it was stolen. The Three Heroes Church stole it.”

There was a bomb conspiracy theory in a certain country during World War Two that claimed they lost a large quantity of bombs, and to this day have never been found.

To think that it’s just a replica of the legendary weapon. Will Ren’s sword become that strong in the future?

Although I may be the Hero of the Shield, is it safe for an individual to be able to wield such power?

If you have that kind of power from a mere replica, is it even necessary to summon Heroes?

I am curious.

Naofumi: “If you have such a weapon why are you summoning Heroes? Can’t you just mass-produce those and defeat the waves on your own?”

Melty shakes her head at my question.

Melty: “To be able to have power that rivals the legendary Heroes……The weapon must have a huge fuel consumption.

Naofumi: “What do you mean?”

Melty: “For the weapon to be used just once, several hundred people’s worth of magical power must be sacrificed. Moreover, the weapon cannot be mass-produced because was made from the technology of the lost era. And it is a legendary weapon after all.”

Naofumi: “That’s great.”

I have seen the anime. A giant robot using all of Japan’s electricity to be able to shoot once.

Something similar to that I guess?

Pope: “Everyday believers have been devoting their energies and risking their lives. This is all for a crusade!”

Well they certainly are well prepared.

But bringing out the replica of a legendary hero’s weapon in such a place?

They said it was lost for several hundred years.

Does this mean the weapon has been accumulating magic for that many years?

Sh*t, to bring out something like this. This will be problematic.

……No wait. This is just evidence of how they have become cornered.

If were able to overcome this, then our counter-attack will finally begin.

Right now is a crucial moment for us all.