Biggest thanks for Ace-Triad for fixing my SPAG problems, and Angel Wraith for beta-reading the chapter and providing feed backs.
As always, I will blabber some more in my end note.
The Shield Hero barrels forward, every step leaving a dark, burnt mark on the very ground he steps on. Despite his diminished size compared to Roger of Ajax, his charge hits Mein's weakened heart much more severely than the battle saint ever did. Watching the giant thug clad in full armor coming at her was like seeing a fortress become unrooted, and then coming at her. Naofumi's current state reminds her of staring into the black sun. The simple act of looking at it for too long is already harmful enough. But what can one do when the sun itself becomes your enemy? That's a question Roger of Ajax is currently facing, and he apparently had no answer.
Naofumi doesn't seem to notice he has gained his shield back. In fact, he doesn't seem to recognize anything except for the hulking flesh standing before him as he punches the battle saint in the guts, one fist after another. His fist looks laughably small compared to the size of the giant, yet every punch leaves the hulking monster flinching. The muscles the battle saint clearly was so proud of seemingly shrivel and become scorched with each punch Naofumi inflicts on him.
The people of church call this dark fire the Chief God's blessed fire, born out of his indomitable and righteous wrath. Yet the first princess of Melromarc failed to see anything holy, or divine in it. Not helped by how Naofumi, a normally compassionate, gentle soul seemed to have lost all his senses or his usual intelligence. Entering into a completely berserk state that makes Pyrrha's fury after witnessing Jaune's murder look calm and collected by comparison. The Shield Hero screams and roars more like a rabid animal. Reminding Mein of Siltvelt's infamous King of Rape in some of his worst stories.
Yes. The entire ordeal reminds Mein of the previous Shield Hero more than anything else. Particularly, the part where he was betrayed by those animals who claimed to have served him. There is definitely a sense of irony to the situation on how the people of glorious Melromarc did the same thing to the Shield Hero after Mikage Mikami. Siltvelt claimed that their great Conqueror was able to master all seven deadly sins. Seeing Naofumi's current state, Mein very much doubts it.
"What is going on here!" A commanding voice behind her suddenly cut through the noise of battle. It sounds familiar enough that the first princess knows who is behind it without trying to turn herself around. Before he was mercilessly run down by the gluttonous devil bird, Jaune did mention that Pope Balmus is also coming with the rest of the Three Heroes' Church expedition forces. And unfortunately for the Shield Hero and herself, he caught up with them before Naofumi's fellow heroes. "Why are our vanguard forces frozen in ice?!"
Chapter 123: Fight as One
"Your Eminence!" Pope Balmus' voice was enough to shake Pyrrha out of her enraged berserk state. She stops her assault on Raphtalia, allowing the raccoon girl enough respite to change into her animal form and quickly scurries away. The voice of the ex-gladiatrix tearing up. "I-it's Jaune. He's been killed by the Shield Demon!"
"WHAT?!" The expression on the usually unflappable supreme leader of Three Heroes' Church changes. Showing a raw and genuine emotion like the time when he witnessed the dead body of Inquisitor Emon and his retinue back in the village of Lute. It seems like for all his manipulation and political play, he did truly care about Jaune. Makes sense, that he would spare some real emotion towards the son of the man he nearly gave his own life to save back in The Great War. Or perhaps, he is simply that great an actor and he is milking this situation for all its worth. The princess can't tell which one is the truth.
The Pope rides forward, leaving most of the forces behind in their battle formation. About a dozen followed behind him. Balmus rides over to the crumbled form of Jaune and slowly dismounts himself from his steed. The supreme leader of the strongest organized religion of Melromarc still cut an imposing figure with his height, and broad shoulders underneath the elaborate robe of a pontiff. Yet, as he knelt down and cradled the lifeless body of Jaune, he looks old and fragile like his age suggests. His voice shakes as he addresses Pyrrha again. "How did this happen? Jaune had a good relationship with the Shield Hero. He should have been safe. Tell me everything, Pyrrha, and spare no details!"
"It's that Chief God damned devil bird raised by the Shield Demon. The one Consevatie taken as a slave after the Third Wave." Pyrrha turns on her heels and looks around, seemingly trying to find Firo to no avail until she crawls out of the crater Roger of Ajax threw her into. The eyes of the ex-gladiatrix turns red with anger and hatred once again, a small trail of blood runs down from the corner of her lips. "We found the Shield Demon and his followers being chased by Consevatie's men and Roger of Ajax. Jaune tried to arrest Roger of Ajax parlay for the Shield Demon's safety with Consevatie to stop the fight. And then his devil bird ran him down and snapped his neck like he was nothing!"
Pope Balmus' hands glows golden, setting Jaune's neck right even if the action would not bring his life back. Now, the fallen form of Archduke Wales' son looks like he is resting peacefully, rather than being the victim of a brutal, cold blooded murder. He hands the body over to one of the men who followed him. "Take care of Jaune's body, Cain. So he may receive a proper service and burial back home. One that befit his station."
"As you wish, Father." The first princess of glorious Melromarc somewhat recognizes the face of the much younger priest. It was one of the two members of the Three Heroes' Church taking care of Janne right after the Third Wave. The one who Cromwell used the punishment of the slave seals on. The younger cleric takes the body of Jaune in his arms, his eyes shift over to the battle between the Shield Hero and the fallen battle saint of Romalia (or rather, the savage beating Naofumi is giving to Roger of Ajax). "The Shield Hero appears to have awakened the holy fire of the Chief God, father. What should we do?"
"That is not the Chief God's holy fire, my son. It is the same profaned curse used by Mikage Mikami, the King of Rape." Balmus' immediate response finally revealed his real intention to be the first princess of Melromarc. Not that she hasn't come to the same conclusion a little bit earlier. But the Pope of Three Heroes' Church had a choice. Doing the 'right' thing and only blaming the murder of Jaune on Naofumi's monster bird, or using this opportunity to antagonize the Shield Hero. He chooses the option that allows him to condemn the Shield Hero while making himself look righteous. Not to mention how he publically goes back on his statement he made to her in private about respecting all Shield Heroes by associating Mikage Mikami to something horrible (not that the bastard didn't deserve it). He really is an actor who sees the death of Jaune as nothing but an opportunity, and is milking it for all its worth. She really shouldn't be this surprised, considering the Pope is still a major player in The Game.
"Leave the Shield Demon to me, Your Eminence!" One of the knights that rode forward with Pope Balmus leaps out of his formation and charges at Naofumi. His bulky armor, and more importantly, the large saber on his back with a golden disk embedded in the spine of the blade. This is the second time the first princess had seen Tirion Fordring after she became the Shield Hero's companion. And ironically, the veteran paladin is now trying to strike down Naofumi when he had somewhat helped the Shield Hero during their first encounter. "You finally showed your true color, Shield Demon! In the name of Chief God's light, your reign of brutality comes to an end!"
Naofumi didn't pay the brazen paladin any attention as he continued to pummel the body of Roger of Ajax. Making the fallen battle saint spew out blood and spit from his mouth with every single connected fist. He didn't pay any attention when the paladin charged at him on the back of a raptor much more muscular than its usual breed, or the moment when Fordring brought the sword down on his head. Whatever the state Naofumi is in clearly robbed him of any rational thought, and much of his perception.
With a loud bang, spider web shaped cracks begin to coat the top of the Shield Hero's helmet, but the protective gear managed to hold and prevented his head from being smashed. Naofumi's feet stumble, giving Roger of Ajax a moment of reprieve as the thuggish giant falls to his knees panting heavily. The berserk Shield Hero turns on his heel, and faces his new opponent. His eyes completely glow with the same black flame that coated his body, his lips split apart, showing barred teeth that makes him look more like an enraged animal than the usually humble, kind man he was. He lets his fists fly at the paladin commander just as Fordring brings his giant cleaver down once again.
The first princess can't tell if it's merely a coincidence, or if the Ashbringer was aiming at the shield. But the sword forged with a shard of a previous legendary sword's incarnation meets the profaned shield head on. Two brilliant lights, one golden and the other black erupt out of their clash, forcing her to close her eyes in fear of going blind. But even with her eyes covered, she still feels like everything glows brighter till it reaches its peak with a loud booming sound. The princess opens her eyes, just in time to see the shattered form of Naofumi's shield whisking out like dying embers.
"Your demonic power is no match for Chief God's li-ACK!" Tirion Fordring's victory declaration is apparently premature. As Naofumi's fist continues to travel till it collides with his fist. Despite the destruction of his shield once again, its effect still clearly lingers on the Shield Hero as the unholy dark fire continues to lick his body. Or how the Shield Hero punched the Ashbringer right off his mount despite his naturally lacking ATK rating. Naofumi throws Fordring's steed away, jumps atop of the downed paladin commander, and begins to rain his fist down in a brutal shower of savagery that isn't out of place for someone like Roger of Ajax.
"Assist Lord Commander Fordring in subdue the Shield Hero, my children." Pope Balmus calmly orders. His fellow riders leaps off their steed and charges towards where Naofumi is laying his savage beating on the elder paladin. All of their armor have additions like curved up bones, or monster hides on them. Revealing their identity: the War Pigs, the Three Heroes' Church's enslaved demi-human fighters. Among the slave warriors, the one leading them in the front by over ten paces is an androgynous looking child with violet hair that wouldn't have looked out of place for one of the monarchs.
Akitsu waves her hand, a glacial wall erupts out of the ground once again in front of the advancing War Pigs. It managed to cut between them and the Shield Hero except for the child in the front. By now, Firo seems to have shaked whatever cobwebs that's in her head from her impact on the ground, as she dashes out of the crater and charges at the violent haired child. "Firo won't let you hurt Master Naofumi!"
For whatever fault the gluttonous, vindictive and petulant devil bird has (which leads to Jaune's death, the first princess of Melromarc winces at remembering it). She truly is loyal to the Shield Hero. Her attempt at kicking the violet haired child falls miserably short, as the child easily ducked under Firo's unskilled flailing and strikes the devil bird with a palm strike. Firo flies back into her crater faster than she jumped out of it, her body cutting a trench through earth. The devil bird burst out of the ground a second time, face contorted with much greater anger than before as red flame began to coat her body. "Bad girly boy hurt, Firo! Firo kicks you! [Akashic Buster]!"
Firo's body turns into a flaming bird as she charges at the androgynous child once again. The fingers of the child of Balmus begin to flicker, forming into a series of hand gestures as a glowing, violet peacock. The flaming pheonix and ethereal peacock clash together, resulting in an explosion of fire and spiritual energy exploding outward. It immediately sends Roger of Ajax, Naofumi, Tirion Fordring and even the unconscious body of Sir Oersted flying away. The first princess can only hope that their last Gallian companion isn't killed by this residual energy clash... or the fall that comes with it. To her surprise, the demi-human slave priest who is currently carrying the body of Jaune grows three pairs of glowing, lime colored dragonfly like wings, takes to the sky and catches the body of Sir Oersted in the air before the knight could suffer a nasty fall that could have snapped his neck like Firo's charge did to Jaune.
The wave of destructive energy continues to expand outwards, soon Consevatie's men, Sister Amelia and Pyrrha all suffer the same fate of being launched into the air on account of them standing much closer to where the Shield Hero and the fallen battle saint were fighting. The shockwave between their clash finally stopped when they toppled down the ice wall brought up by Akitsu. As for the two combatants directly responsible for the display of power, Pope Balmus' child was the first to recover. The ethereal peacock had disappeared, but the brilliant, violet tail feathers of a peacock remained on the androgynous child's back carrying Balmus' son high into air. The peacock spread the tails, letting it open into a full bloom as the 'eyes' at the tip of each tail feather let up in bright purple, raining down pellets of energy blast at Firo. "My name is Abaddon Abel. Vengeful son of Pope Biscas Balmus! Child of Shield Demon, you were allowed to rampage for long enough, and it ends here! [Starlight Caravan]!"
To Firo's credit, she managed to recover from her tumble fast enough, and she immediately went into evading the attack launched by Abaddon. The first princess of Melromarc did see how Firo fared when the same attack was used by Towair the Deceiver against her on account of already being unconscious, but it probably didn't end well for Firo considering Naofumi's kidnapping was the result. But she was the victim of the same attack when she attempted to rescue Naofumi by infiltrating the Bitch Lord's castle alongside Shiltfreeden agents, so she knows the attack isn't something one wants to be at the receiving end. Yet now, the devil bird is managing to dodge all attacks launched at her by the peacock, showing that Firo did also grow in her own strength despite her wild nature.
"Firo is sending you to a diet! [Cosmo Nova]!" Between dodging Abaddon's energy barrage, the angel-faced devil bird crosses her arms in front of her body in a X. She gathers green elemental power into four spheres, having them collide together into a massive beam that launches up against the androgynous peacock child in the sky.
"Useless! [Cosmo Illusion]!" The tail feathers of the peacock collect together, until there's only one massive eye floating above the child-like demi-human's head like an ominous halo. A massive purple eye glowing with ethereal spirit energy is launched downward by Abaddon, cloaked in a violet mist. The green beam collides with the massive eye sphere, resulting in an even greater explosion of shockwave than before raining downwards. The Three Heroes' Church force brought by Pope Balmus quickly conjures up a golden barrier over their heads, and Akitsu throws up an ice wall over herself and the princess.
"Raphtalia! Where is she? She's out there, defenseless-" The first princess of Melromarc can barely hear her own desperate wail over the echoes of blast and the ringing in her ears. Through the prism of Akitsu's ice dome and her panicked state, the princess is somewhat aware that the massive eye sphere launched down by Abaddon had broken apart by Firo's beam. But instead of whisking away, they continued to rain down on the ground, covering the land Firo was standing in with a series of blasts. The princess isn't as worried for the bird who brought this upon herself (and everyone with Naofumi) as she is for Raphtalia.
"We don't know where Lady Raphtalia is. We can only hope for the best for her." Akitsu's airy voice comes from the side. While the princess knows that Raphtalia is a survivor and that she wouldn't throw her life away for no reason. She still can't be sure how the little raccoon child would survive the massive clash between Abaddon and Firo.
"I hope you didn't fault me for my actions, father." Through the fractured view of the ice, the princess saw Cain landing on the ground. Considering she didn't see any shadow dropping off him, he presumably has both Jaune, and Sir Oersted's body in his hands. "It doesn't feel right to let someone unconscious perish in the aftermath of Abaddon's clash. Even if, no, especially since he was one of the Shield Hero's companions."
"You did well with your initiation, Cain. Now..." Balmus' voice can be heard as a set of heavy steps grow closer. His body can be seen through the jagged glacial wall, until it completely shatters in front of the princess. The imposing figure of the Pope stands before them, one of his fists slowly pulled back to his side. Akitsu throws half a dozen ice spikes at him, but the Pope simply flaps them away. His attention was barely even on the wounded filorial queen as he turned his face towards the downed princess. "You have also done me a great service by delivering the Shield Demon onto me, Princess Malty. And for that, you have my thanks."
"You haven't taken Master Naofumi yet, you two-faced liar." The princess looks up from where she lies. Her left hand clenched her chest. There's not much left to do, other than hoping that Yomi brings Naofumi's fellow heroes here before the Three Heroes' Church takes down both Naofumi and Firo... and hope they'll be strong enough to force the Pope from backing down. A long shot, but she's not going to show weakness to her enemy.
"I suppose we shall see it, won't we? Now... you stay down." Balmus turns his face to Akitsu next, who launches a wave of ice spikes that rumbles towards the Pope on the ground. He stomps his feet, crushing the ice summoned by Akitsu with the shockwave of his feet generated. The supreme leader of the Three Heroes' Church opens his balled up fist, and sends a golden sphere of light into the wounded filorial queen. When the miracle touched Akitsu's skin, her entire body freezes with a brilliant shine, almost like the filorial queen raised by the Spear Hero had turned into a golden statue. Yet her legs set themselves straight even against her restriction. It seems like the Pope had both restrained Akitsu, and healed her broken legs at the same time. Such is the skill at manipulating complex effects of the miracle school of magic, by the one people call 'The Miracle Maker'.
With the filorial queen taken care of, the Pope turns his back on the downed princess and looks at the raging battle. Balmus is clearly confident that she wouldn't be able to do anything against himself in her current state, which he isn't wrong. Abaddon descended into the ground that had been covered by both dust kicked up by the series of explosions, and the mist of the purple spiritual energy with the force of a fallen star, making another cloud of earth erupt into the sky as the sound of clashing can be heard. Presumably between the peacock, and the devil bird. On the other side, the rest of the demi-human slave warriors had recovered themselves from the two clashes between Abaddon and Firo, and they surrounded Naofumi in what looked to be some kind of battle formation. Individually, none of them were more dangerous than either Roger of Ajax, or Tirion Fordring Naofumi had already faced in his mad state. Yet, fighting in tandem as they cover each other in defense, and they charge forward in their strike like a raging tide, they are slowly pressing themselves closer and closer to the Shield Hero. Leaving him with nowhere to run... not that he looks ready to do it.
The Shield Hero lets out another roar as he brings both of his arms up, and then slams both fists onto the ground. The dark fire that wrapped around him rages outwards, like a massive eruption that managed to push the demi-human slave fighters away. But before he has a chance to do anything else, a dark figure suddenly jumps down behind him and brings a battle axe on Naofumi's head. The Shield Hero's helmet finally breaks apart, as he falls forward. The dark fire completely receded from Naofumi's body as he lost his consciousness... or worse. From the distance, the first princess can't tell if he's still alive, or if the back of his head was already split apart from the attack.
How did this fool even manage to stand up after she hit him with a full force of her [Rising Heat] spell? The first time when she slammed him into a tree with [Hydro Sphere], it might have only temporarily disabled him thanks to whatever powerful and expensive armor Consevatie's father bought him. But a spell such as [Rising Heat] which uses intangible, boiling hot steam to push and cook the target should by design not be affected by armor. In fact, metal armor should make its effect even more deadly as the armor pieces designed to protect its wearer gets heated into the very tool that roasts the person inside alive. Perhaps the armor he is wearing has anti-magic enchantment woven in, but it doesn't explain when he was hit by [Rising Heat], the arrogant and delusional little shit screamed as someone was being cooked alive.
"YES! It was I who felled the Shield Hero! Not anyone else! I, Siegmar Isaac Octavia Consevatie! I'M FUCKING INVINCIBLE!" The mad incarnate doesn't know the puzzlement of the first princess, and clearly has no intention to explain the method of his survival. He flails his arm in the air, looking even more deranged than usual. "I am the real protagonist! The shield loser along with the rest will fall tomorrow!"
"Should we not stop this idiot, father?" A voice comes from the side, makes the first princess turn her head, and sees Abaddon walking over to Pope 's presumably unconscious body on the peacock's shoulder. The downed princess didn't notice Raphtalia anywhere on Abaddoon's body, and considering the destruction brought about by the peacock and the devil bird that's not a reassuring sign. "Idiots like him give people the wrong impression of the Three Heroes' Church."
"Let Marquis Grima's foolish son have his moment, for now. It won't be long till retribution comes." The Pope's statement is more prophetic than even he realized it. As soon as his voice draws to a close, a ruby red beam hits the back of Consevatie The Younger like a javelin, knocking him sprawled down on the ground.
"Who dares to hit m- BURF!" Consevatie The Younger quickly crawls up to his knees using his hand. Before he even had a time to react, a figure leaps at him through the setting dust Abaddon and Firo's battle had kicked up. Said figure tosses out a second silhouette, who twists in the middle of the air, lands right in front of the mad reincarnate and sends him flying with an energy blast at his gut.
"[Kamehameha]!" Katarina immediately bends over and grabs Naofumi's unconscious (and hopefully still alive) body after she send Consevatie The Younger flying with her energy blast. The body of the Shield Hero and herself gets pulled back, yanked by the ethereal looking chain on her arm as the Spear Hero Motoyasu catches both of them. As the dust around them falls down, more figures on the raptor appear behind them. The Sword Hero Ren and the Bow Hero Itsuki among them. The battle between Abaddon and Firo had managed to cover the approaching figures of the Three Heroes and their allies. "Shield Hero is badly hurt, Master Motoyasu!"
"Is Naofumi still alive?! I swear there's hell to pay if-" Motoyasu immediately bends over the Shield Hero. Either to check his breathing or heartbeat. His fearful expression quickly turns to relief. "He is! Help him, Yuki!"
"Of course, Master Motoyasu!" A silver blur jumps out from behind Iris, as Yuki kneels down besides Naofumi. Her hand growing white as healing light envelops the downed Shield Hero. Naofumi's sworn shield Yatsuhashi is also with her. The giant Miyamoto clan survivor stands over the two of them like a faithful sentry, and three orange spheres jump off his back as they bounce around the fallen Shield Hero. Despite the dangerous situation she herself is in, the first princess feels as much relief as the Spear Hero. At least Naofumi will be safe among his friends, unless Pope Balmus decides to go against... and triumph over the remaining heroes and their companions.
She noticed how in spite of them having multiple filorial monarchs (and likely more than she recognized, if Akitsu and Yomi was an indication), the Three Heroes and their allies all rode atop of raptors. All of which barely manage to stay on their feet with how tired they all look. It seems like when Yomi brought the news of them to the Three Heroes, they (or whoever was in charge of Stormwind) decided to forget filorial's long distance stamina for raptor's short range speed as their transportation. And they rode their steed over like their tails were on fire.
Their arrival clearly had more effect than physical threat to the forces of the Three Heroes' Church. The monster bones and hide decorated War Pigs managed to keep quiet and disciplined despite their wild appearances. But the formation of the more uniformly dressed regular church troops begin to falter as people start shuffling around, and quietly murmuring with each other. Clearly, they are having a crisis of faith when the 'True' Heroes of their religious belief had just saved the life of the Shield 'Demon' from one of their own.
"What are you idiots getting all torn up about? Are you scared of these three stupid losers?!" Once again, Consevatie The Younger managed to stand up despite his previously well decorated armor starting to crumble around his body like scrap metals. How many more times will this clown get back up again? It's getting ridiculous at this point! He waves his ax at the faltering church troops, somewhat seeming to rally them with his words. "The shield loser is the only one who can do something worth a damn. And I just took him down like he's nothing. These three clowns? They can't dress themselves without messing things up! And I'll show you how easy I take them down... BY MYSELF! I'M INVINCIBLE!"
The insane incarnate holds his axe above his head, and charges at the Spear Hero in a straight line from the front. Maybe he was expecting his own act of madness would somehow intimidate Motoyasu into not doing anything. Or perhaps more likely, the sheer idiocy of his own action would take his enemy aback so much that they don't know how to react to it? Regardless, that's not the case as the Spear Hero proves to be smarter than the princess ever gave him credit for. Or maybe he was simply too stupid to be affected by whatever tactics Consevatie The Younger was hoping to achieve. As the incarnate charged into Motoyasu's range, the Spear Hero immediately brought the shaft of his weapon down on his head before Consevatie had a chance to bring down his axe. The range of a long spear was much greater than that of a battle axe, after all. People could almost literally hear the sound of a gigantic 'WHAM O!' as a metal shaft collided with (an apparently very thick) skull. Even from the distance, the princess could swear that she sees Consevatie's eyes bug out of his eye socket.
The Spear Hero wasn't finished yet. He takes a step forward, feet sinking into the earth with how hard he stomps ground. And he twists his body, and his weapon around. Two more loud boom echoes above the plain of their battlefield (or perhaps, stage, as what happened between these two idiots look like a pre-choreographed comedy act): 'SLAP!' 'SPANK!' Consevatie's face, and behind both get a hard clap by the shaft of his spear as the fool is swatted aside like a fly, and quickly gets tied up tighter than a ball of yarn by one of his allies... was that Gaston? The Spear Hero eases his much lower battle stance and stands up to full height as he glares at the gathered Three Heroes' Church riders, making them flinching with his sight. "Who's next?"
"Don't get carried off, Motoyasu." Ren steps forward and reaches his hand up to grab the Spear Hero's shoulder. His face, and eyes look through the gathered forces on Pope Balmus' side. "They have Akitsu... and Princess Malty. Remember your promise to Melty."
Of course, with how everything that could have gone wrong, had gone wrong after Cromwell's machination, there's no longer any more points to her pretense. Iris already knew who she was from the start, and she would have told the Three Heroes who she really is.
"What is the meaning of this, honored heroes?" Pope Balmus takes a step forward. His voice is calm in a way that betrays no real emotion, yet sounds clearly artificial. It's clear that the Pope of the Three Heroes' Church is feeling something to see the three heroes his faith worship had sided with the Shield 'Demon'. Of course, he doesn't reveal what that something is with his words. "Why are you all siding with a murderer?"
"Who are you calling a murderer, you four eyed old ass! Are you old and stupid?!" The Spear Hero by contrast is very easily provoked, as he waves his legendary spear at Pope Balmus using curses and profanities that wouldn't sound out of place from Consevatie The Younger, or Roger of Ajax. Motoyasu, the Spear Hero, had never been someone who is good at finer things in life. "This is Naofumi we are talking about! He wouldn't have hurt a fly unless that fly turned into some giant hornet monster and tried to attack his companions. And he's the Shield Hero! He couldn't kill anyone if he wanted to!"
"You dare to speak of the meaning behind the heroes' action, when you yourself is the one who broke agreement between all the nations on Medea?" To the surprise of the first princess of Melromarc, the one chastising Pope Balmus after Motoyasu isn't one of his fellow heroes. In fact, the young man around his age with short raven hair wears an overly decorated jacket that speaks of his noble heritage. Something only a long line of aristocrats would have. Someone... from the very much not noble Faubley. He pushes forward, alongside Iris' younger brother Barn. He is accompanied by another young man with shorter, and less well groomed hair that wears a knight's plate armor, and a young man with long blonde hair and a priestly robe with the cross of the four heroes. "How dare you attempt to harm the Shield Hero, when your nation shouldn't have summoned all four of them to begin with?"
Pope Balmus turns his head towards the young noble from Faubley. Presumably, the first princess doesn't recognize him personally. And he's speaking with too presumptuousness to be a minor noble. "Lord Edward Tasmeria, second to your name, of the most ancient and noble Princely House of Tasmeria, was it? If you simply have patience for a brief moment, you will find that there is a reason why we are trying to subdue Shield Hero."
"As for your question, Master Spear Hero. You will find there are ways for the Shield Hero to dodge the no ATK growth rating and weapon restriction rules, and kill someone when he really wants to. But I'm ahead of myself, honored heroes. Let me rephrase that." Pope Balmus still looks perfectly collected in spite of any childish insult thrown at him by the Spear Hero. In fact, his androgynous-looking child looked much more furious than he himself, and he had to put a hand firmly on Abbadon's empty shoulder. Probably in an effort to both calm and restrict the peacock. "You are right, in that the Shield Hero himself was not directly responsible for any murder. But one of his companions, the filorial he raised, had killed Jaune while he was parlaying for them."
"What?! Is it true, Malty? Did one of Master Shield Hero's companions break parlay and kill someone?!" The princess can't meet Iris in the eyes as her childhood playmate and 'friend' asks the simple question. She can't answer the question with a half-truth that'll sway the situation to their favor. A flat out lie would do her no good, as Pyrrha, or anyone Consevatie brought with him that's still alive would easily debunk a lie told by her. All thanks to Firo, and her impulsive, callous nature and spoiled attitude towards everything around her. Something that the first princess realizes rather belatedly, was also a flaw she herself used to share with the devil bird.
"Yes! It was true. Consevatie, his band of sycophants, and that brutish charlatan of a battle 'saint' from the Four Heroes' Church cornered the Shield Demon and his little band of monsters at the foot of this mountain. Jaune, after smashing through the Siltvelt army besieging Fort Wolf's mouth, led our vanguard forces here just in time to stop them from attacking the Shield Demon. And Jaune ... too kind and noble for his own good, tried to force Consevatie back off from the Shield Demon. He was trying to defend his killers because it was the right thing to do!" Pyrrha's voice breaking with each syllable uttered. Malty steals some glances at her childhood playmate, and sees that Iris' eyes also can't meet Pyrrha. The red headed ex-gladiatrix points the tip of her shaking spear at Firo's unmoving body atop of Abaddon's shoulder. "And that little monster, no, little devil! She just ran Jaune down like he meant nothing, breaking his neck and killing him when he was trying to defend the life of the Shield Demon!"
"You think I care about some random asshole from your damn cult who gets killed?! You know how many of you fuckers we knocked around when we- OW!" Motoyasu's rather self-incriminating statement is interrupted by both Iris and Ren, when they smack him on the head with their folding fan, and the flat side of the legendary sword respectively. The Spear Hero whips his head around and glaring at Ren, either because he has a habit of not faulting women for anything, or maybe he didn't even feel Iris' slap. "What the hell, Ren?!"
"You be quiet, Motoyasu! Grow ups are talking here." The Sword Hero crosses his own arms in front of his chest and glares right back. His statement is rather ironic, since he is one of the younger heroes. Only being a teen rather than a young adult like Naofumi and Motoyasu. The Spear Hero listens to him and shuts up regardless. "What were you saying, Iris?"
"What Lord Shield Hero... or more specifically, his companion did is unforgivable. They broke the sacred parlay. And more importantly. They killed the person who parlayed on their behalf." Iris bites on her lips in a show that is not befit of her station, something Malty would expect Katarina to do. Not that the first princess could blame her. "An act of parlay during a war, where both sides can negotiate without fear of harm and prosecution must be held sacred. Or else nobody would be free to enter into it without the other side catching them off guard. That's why someone who breaks them must be made an example of, in the most severe way possible."
Both the Sword Hero, and Bow Hero (who is being curiously silent, considering how vocal he usually was about his... ideology) seemed to be taken aback by Iris' explanation. But before they even have a chance to agree that Firo, and by extension, Naofumi was actually wrong in the situation. The Spear Hero steps in with his usual childishness. "I don't care if Naofumi is wrong this one time! Have you, ALL OF YOU! Forgotten what kind of people we are facing?! These are the shitty people who enslave people, and do other bad things because of religion! They are the bad guys! So what if Naofumi is wrong this one time? You don't give your friend to a bunch of bad, evil dudes just because he made one mistake! That's stupid, even for me! And for that guy who got killed by Firo trying to defend Naofumi. If he's such a nice guy, why didn't he try to do anything to stop all the bad people in this cult, huh?! If he did, maybe he would have been killed before Naofumi or Firo had the chance! Bottom line, we are NOT giving Naofumi to these fuckers! All that fuckery about punishment breaking a parlay? We'll worry about it after we deal with these bad dudes!"
Malty's heart is still beating too irregularly for her to say anything. But even if that's not the case, she would have been stunned to silence by the Spear Hero's outburst. She is too conflicted about what Motoyasu just said. On the one hand, it followed an extremely childish, naive philosophy of basic good versus bad. And he is of course, assuming both he himself and the Shield Hero are in the right despite the serious crime committed by Firo, the Shield Hero's companion. On the other hand... he was correct in that Three Heroes' Church is the bad guy, despite Naofumi's most recent mistake. Their actions since Cromwell's take over (very possibly before it) had caused harm to everyone and only benefitted themselves and the most amoral sycophant closely allied with them. Despite his usual idiocy, this kind of quick resolution could only be reached by his child-like mentality that sees everything in black and white. Yet at the sametime... if the rest of the Heroes followed his logic, it would have given Balmus the perfect excuse to cast them down as fallen, or false heroes.
"Hmph. Can't believe I'm saying it. But Motoyasu is right. We shouldn't overthink this, Ren." To Malty's... relief, horror? She can't decide which. The Bow Hero gives a small nod to the Sword Hero, showing whose side of the argument he is taking. "I think this will be the most straightforward act of justice I'm dealing with since my summoning."
"Yeah. We'll worry about punishment for Firo, and Naofumi later. For now, we will not leave Naofumi behind." Ren's grip on his sword becomes tighter as he spreads his legs, holding himself lower in a full battle stance. He turns his face at Pope Balmus, and the members of the Three Heroes' Church around and behind him. "If you still want to get Naofumi. You'll have to get all of us. Because he won't be alone anymore. We'll fight as one!"
"I see. Then there is nothing to negotiate. Such a pity. All of you had such great potential to be great heroes." The face of the Pope of Three Heroes' Church becomes grim as he takes one step forward, pointing his hand towards the three heroes and their allies. "Followers of true heroes. Cast these false heroes down, so we may summon the true ones!"
End Note:
Motoyasu activates his character trait: [Weaponized Stupidity], grants him +99 saving throw against any enemy attempt at persuation/manipulation and have himself stays his original course.
Anyways. Motoyasu's action in this chapter is me homaging a classic anime story telling trope where a villain tries to logic, or philsophical debate the heroes down with some kind of circular logic and it works on all the smart heroes. And then that hot headed idiot jumps out and say 'why are we listening to bad guys in the first place? Let's kick his ass!'
This trope is such a classic, even Clive Barker tried to use it in the story climax of his Jericho game without properly understanding what made it work first. I hope I had a bit of a better result here. Stage is set for the final clash between the heroes and Pope Balmus. Three years and a hundred chapters later, we finally arrive at the final battle with the big bad of Three Heroes Church Saga. The good part (relatively speaking... it's still pretty terrible) of Rising of the Shield Hero. Play the opening theme song for Avenger Earth's Mightest Heroes ladies and gents.
Oh... also. SIOC get spanked by Motoyasu without any effort. All the healing effect Avalon give him meant jack when Motoyasu just wacked him in a single swing.
P.S.
I'm honestly surprised that nobody hated that I just killed off the most popular RWBY character (and one of the most popular male characters as the author/reader's self-insert shell in fanfictions alongside Trashruto and Mary Sue Potter) in my RotSH fanfiction.