The Kitsune's Cursed Hero

Chapter 17 Fitoria vs. Filo

Y/n's POV

The next morning I woke up to big sis moving me just enough so she could get up. "Big sis?" I asked, sitting up as I rubbed my eyes. She smiled as me as I looked at her. "Sorry, did I wake you?" Big sis asked. I nodded as she smiled before patting my head. "If you're still tired, go back to sleep. But if you want to get up, we could use your help." Big sis said. I nodded as I got up from the ground. We started preparing food for the Filolials that were gathering around us. Big brother and I were working on the stock he had made to use for breakfast. "Kill all the cardinal heroes? Huh?" Big brother said. I looked at him, confused, before I heard big sis call him. He looked over at big sis before he looked away. "Oh, nothing. Don't worry about it." Big brother said. We continued making breakfast, but Fitoria wasn't with us, which confused me a little. "The Filolials really like you, huh?" Big sis asked, looking at Melty.

"Do you think so?" Melty asked. Fitoria walked up to the table, standing at the head of it, looking at us. She raised her hand, pointing her palm towards Melty. "Liberation. Wind Prison." Fitoria said. I felt the release of magic as I got up, ready-to-use mine in case we had to defend ourselves. A wall of wind forced us back as Melty was surrounded by it. "What's happening to me?" Melty asked before touching the wind. The wind swirling around her cut her finger as she looked at it. "She's my friend. What are you doing to her?" Filo asked.

"I'm sorry. But I'm going to have to claim her as my hostage." Fitoria said. Fitoria jumped up onto some ruins as the Wind Prison floated up to where she was standing. "Hostage? Why are you doing this?" Big brother asked. I raised my hand to cast some magic before Fitoria spoke up. "Kitsune Hero, Shield hero. I need you to promise me something. Promise me you'll reconcile with the other heroes." Fitoria asked. I looked at her, a little stunned, to hear her ask for that. "You're a meanie! You let Mel go!" Filo demanded. Big brother walked up and stood next to Filo as he looked at Fitoria. "What if we don't? Are you threating to hurt the princess?" Big brother asked. I lowered my arm as I looked at Fitoria. There was something about how she was talking that made me think she was doing this for a reason. "I told you, that's never going to happen." Big brother said.

"Nevertheless, I must ask you to reconsider." Fitoria said.

"Why are you so obsessed with making us work together, anyway?" Big brother asked. 

"Because I made a promise of my own a long time ago, to the hero who raised me, and because if this world is going to survive, the cardinal heroes must work together to fight off the waves. I beg you." Fitoria explained.

"No matter how many times you ask. I'm not going to make nice with those idiots." Big brother said.

"Then there's no choice. If you won't work together, then new heroes will be summoned. Which means all four of the heroes we have now must be removed." Fitoria said, glaring at us. Filo, Big sis, and melty all gasped as they looked at Fitoria. "You'd kill all of us just because we don't like each other?" Big brother asked.

"That is what's best for the world." Fitoria explained.

"But, if you can reconcile with the other heroes. I won't have to remove the four of you." Fitoria said. I heard big brother gasp as he balled his hands into fists. "I understand. But I still can't do it and taking melty hostage doesn't change anything. If you want to kill me, knock yourself out. Bring it." Big brother said. He raised his shield as I looked at Fitoria, confused since she said she'd kill four and not five heroes. "I promise. I'm not going down without a fight." Big brother said. He started to activate the Rage Shield before Fitoria raised her hand and canceled it with her magic. "No need." Fitoria said.  

"Not again." Big brother complained.

"I understand how you feel, shield hero. I'll give you a chance if you and your party prove to me that you can defeat the Waves of Catastrophe without assistance from the other heroes. I'll let you live." Fitoria said.