The Kitsune's Cursed Hero

Chapter 19

Y/n's POV

The sword the pope was holding began to glow as Pope Balmus raised it above his head. "Be careful, Naofumi and Y/n! The sword's bad news." Melty shouted. Pope Balmus pointed the sword towards us as a beam of magic shot out of it. Big brother rushed forward, raising his shield as I raised my hand. "Zweite Kitsune Barrier." I called, setting a barrier up in front of big brother as he blocked the attack from Pope Balmus. After a few moments, the attack stopped as Pope Balmus brought the sword up to his chest again. "I must say, even for a devil, you're pretty tough and that blasted cursed hero keeps impeding things." Pope Balmus said. Big brother's breathing was labored after taking the attack as I moved up next to him. "You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. My arms feel a little numb after that attack." Big brother answered. I nodded as we looked towards Pope Balmus. "The time of testing has come to an end. I look forward to exacting god's judgement." Pope Balmus said. The sword began glowing again, but this time, instead of attacking, it changed to look like a spear. "What's he doing?" Myne asked.

"Is that a..." Melty started. 

"So that's what it's capable of." I said, looking at it.

"Wait a second. Did he just turn his sword into a spear?" Motoyasu asked, walking up next to big brother and me.

"There's only one possibility. It's a replica of the cardinal weapons." Melty said, looking at the spear Pope Balmus was now holding.

"How can there be a replica? Where'd he get it?" Big sis asked.

"A long time ago, someone tried to duplicate the four weapons of the legendary heroes for personal gain. They wanted to make a weapon that could change forms to use the skills of each. I was taught that it was lost centuries ago." Melty explained. I sighed and shook my head. "Of course, the church would find it and use it. Why do religions want power when all they talk about is being nice to everyone?" I asked, not shocked to see the church had it.

"If he uses that weapon, isn't that cheating? Myne, tell me, is this true?" Motoyasu asked, looking at Myne. I face palmed as I heard Motoyasu asked Myne for the truth. "What... How in the world should I know?" Myne asked.

"It's the stuff of legends. Anyone familiar with the history of Melromarc or the church's history should know the stories. Finding it should've been big news." Melty pointed out. 

"But the three heroes' church kept it a secret." Big brother started.

"And if that's the case, maybe it was never lost to begin with." Melty said.

"If you have a weapon like that thing. You wouldn't even need to summon the four heroes." Big brother said.

"I don't think that's true." I commented.

"What do you mean?" Big brother asked.

"Y/n's right. It's a powerful weapon, but it requires a tremendous amount of mana for anyone to use it. Just taking that test swing earlier must've drained dozens of all their energy." Melty explained.

"It is no wonder that to anyone that you are the first in line to take the throne, princess Melty. You've educated yourself well. Too bad the same cannot be said for your conniving sister, who was always far too busy with her conspiracies." Pope Balmus said. I almost laughed as he said that about Myne, but managed to keep it to myself. "The mana required by this legendary weapon will be given willingly by all the believers that have followed god here today! My brethren! The war we wage now is between our lord and the devil of the shield and cursed hero! It is a holy crusade which we fight in the name of the god of the ages! Offer your prayers, all of you, to the legendary weapon imbued with divine power! Then we shall purge this world of the false spear hero, the cursed hero, and the devil of the shield!" Pope Balmus called. I could hear the people whispering as they offered prayers to charge the weapon. "Are you insane? You could kill everyone who follows you if you have them do that!" I shouted.