I climbed to the open, scenic rooftop with Liam, not just the two of us but also Young Dragon and Zhang Yao.
It wasn’t so much that we needed an audience; it was more about bringing along two tough guys who could withstand a minor cut from a legendary sword.
“Step closer.”
“Sure.”
Zhang Yao casually replied, slowly walking forward, enveloped by a blue barrier.
One step, two steps.
And the moment he took his third step, the swords reacted.
Whoooosh.
Three swords suddenly flew toward the enemy, starting to dance. But since Young Dragon’s barrier was protecting him, Zhang Yao wasn’t scared and kept moving closer.
Then the swords launched an even fiercer assault.
No fancy tricks, just an all-out slashing style. It was like a child wildly waving a weapon.
“Somehow… it feels like Haoran.”
“Must be because that guy used it for too long. His self is weak, so it can’t be helped.”
Somehow, it’s unfortunate.
If Haoran can keep up with all the knowledge and information from the xianxia novel world, it must be a pretty amazing weapon.
But because it met the wrong master, it turned into a little delinquent. No, it seemed closer to being ‘a little monster.’
But it’s fine now. I’ve got the authority of a rapscallion by my side.
“Liam, what will you do?”
I asked casually, and Liam, with a relaxed expression, provided a solution.
“It’s simple. Since you’re the master, just dominate it strongly so that it submits to you. Then, regularly inject Sacred Power, and it’ll become a good ‘pet sword.’”
Pet sword, after pet dragon. We had no ordinary pets like dogs or cats, just quirky ones piling up.
What will we add next?
A pet cyborg one-eyed giant? Or a pet great demon?
I asked while lost in such absurd thoughts.
“How do I dominate it?”
“Prove that you’re in a superior position by force. I would do it, but since you’re the master, it’s up to you.”
“Hmm…”
His vague explanation left me puzzled, but I didn’t show it. Liam was looking at me with clear eyes, believing I could pull it off easily.
Even the other two felt the same way.
“Well, for a Pope, it’s a trivial matter. It’s a pity. I wanted to stomp it for revenge!”
“The Pope will definitely handle it within five minutes.”
…Why is it that I’m the only one who doesn’t know anything? Thinking back, there were reasons.
Liam, the hero, had handled countless weapons and even made one himself.
Hekatrith, before its corruption, made countless magical tools that could defeat itself and spread them throughout the world.
And I heard Zhang Yao dealt with various weapons while struggling as a possessed person.
In other words, I was the only one here who had zero experience with weapons.
It had been a long time since I felt so far behind everyone else. I was essentially back to square one.
“I’ll just have to try.”
After all, not knowing the method doesn’t mean it’s too hard.
As a Pope leading an entire Order, I couldn’t dilly-dally over such trivial matters, so I resolved to try immediately.
“I’ll start, so everyone step back a bit.”
“Understood.”
“Be careful, just in case.”
Young Dragon and my husband quickly moved away from me, and Zhang Yao suddenly pulled out his smartphone and asked.
“Can I film this? My manager asked.”
“Do as you wish.”
“Okay.”
After making sure the observers were at a distance, I silently watched the swords buzzing around me. It seemed deliberate and serious.
Actually, I had no thoughts at all.
Maybe a method would pop into my mind if I let it go like this?
Just as I entertained such naive thoughts, Zhang Yao spoke again.
“By the way, the names of those swords are ‘Sun Master,’ ‘Moon Master,’ and ‘Star Master.’”
Are they the masters of the sun, moon, and stars? Quite impressive names.
I particularly liked Sun Master. Since it contained the sun in its name.
If I bestow blessings well, it could become a sacred object in our Order.
‘But what’s Sun Master?’
I needed to firmly distinguish them, so I examined the three swords closely.
Three swords shining in five colors, looking almost identical. But there were slight differences.
Those differences were the Chinese characters used near the sword tips.
[日]
[月]
[星]
Each had the character corresponding to its name embossed on its side.
I gently grasped the hilt of the sword inscribed with ‘日.’
It fit perfectly in my hand, almost as if it was made for me. Holding it like this, I felt my mind clear up like the blue sky.
It really is a legendary sword.
As I marveled and slowly examined Sun Master’s blade…
– It hurts…
Suddenly, a frail voice of a little girl echoed. It was coming directly from the sword I was holding.
Wondering if it came from somewhere else, I glanced at my companions, but they were just staring at me blankly.
‘Guess it’s only audible to me.’
Did it develop speech because a weak self existed within? Then why didn’t Liam know?
With several questions, I asked the sword.
“Where does it hurt?”
– Everywhere…
Everywhere?
It seemed more likely that, rather than truly feeling pain everywhere, the immature and young sword couldn’t express itself properly.
If so, the reason for their violent behavior might not be just because they were tinted by Haoran, as Liam analyzed.
It looked similar but felt different.
To me, it seemed like the weak mind was pierced by Haoran’s misdeeds, losing its rationality and ruthlessly attacking those who approached.
– I’m hurting too…
– Me too…
Eventually, the other two joined in, speaking to me in endlessly painful and struggling voices.
“I understand. Please wait a moment, and I’ll make sure you won’t feel pain.”
I promised sincerely.
As a Pope, it was my duty to heal those in pain. To help them escape suffering and grasp serenity was a heavy responsibility I had to fulfill.
Even if the target was an inanimate object, it didn’t change.
“Merciful Sun, please shine your rays upon these pitiful beings.”
I poured out my Sacred Power, forming a sphere around me.
Sacred Spell, Sunlit Sanctuary.
An area healing spell that restores all allies near the caster.
While it didn’t have the capability to restore broken parts of inanimate objects, I decided to use it for now, knowing that it could heal psychological damage.
“How do you feel?”
– I don’t know…
Seems still in pain.
However, compared to before, the voice emanating from it reflected less agony. This meant the effect of ‘Sunlit Sanctuary’ was applying.
Continuing this way should work.
“Just do what you did.”
I once struggled with healing activities aimed at children. Children with hurt hearts didn’t care about a pretty pope or anything.
I too had spent my childhood amidst tears, loneliness, and sadness, yet didn’t know how to care for hurting children.
What helped me tremendously was none other than the Archbishop.
– You can’t just say, “I’ll heal you, so hold on tight.” Children with deeply carved emotional trenches won’t open their hearts like that.
But what should I do then?
In response to the question from the inexperienced pope, the Archbishop replied with a gentle smile.
– Your Holiness, the important thing is sincerity. Approaching gently and patiently providing warmth to the crushed heart is where the essence lies.
Following that teaching, I gathered the swords, including Sun Master and the others, into a warm embrace. Gently, so they could feel the warmth.
Then I softly whispered.
“You’ll be okay now.”
Just like handling real children, I had to approach cautiously, treating them as if they were my own.
“The person who troubled you is no longer here.”
So they wouldn’t be afraid of my words and actions.
And so they wouldn’t close their hearts out of fear.
“I am with you.”
No matter how much of a mere weapon they are, my attitude and method wouldn’t change. The warm sun must shine equally on everyone.
– Ah…
Did my sincerity shine?
The pain echoed in Sun Master’s voice decreased a little. Thankfully, it was working.
With a relieved heart, I continued to hold the swords. Until these fellows no longer felt pain.
How much time had passed like this?
– Thank you.
Finally, after a while, Sun Master expressed gratitude on behalf of the others.
The voice was much clearer and refreshed compared to earlier. It conveyed a hot dignity befitting the master of the sun.
I smiled softly and caressed its blade.
“From now on, please listen to me.”
– Okay. Please take care of us.
To call such a good one a delinquent. Even though I had little familiarity with the background, I overreacted with my expression.
Feeling sorry, I continued to stroke the blade and casually asked.
“By the way, is your voice only audible to me, the master?”
– It’s also audible to the one holding our bodies.
“But why can’t my husband hear it?”
– That person… is scary like our previous master.
“Ah, I understand.”
Even though he had mellowed out, he was still enough of a rascal for it to be justifiable.
But since he might feel a little sad if he hears it, I decided to keep quiet. I’m truly a kind wife.
Clap, clap, clap.
At that moment, a slow clapping sound came from somewhere, towards my companions.
What’s with the sudden applause?
Confused, I turned around and discovered someone familiar mixed among my companions who hadn’t been there until just now.
And that person was an old man with a very familiar appearance.
“Well done. You seem to remember what I taught you.”
“…Archbishop?”
A burly, bearded old man.
He possessed an immense Sacred Power comparable to a vast lake, but his pure faith was so profound that I could hardly sense it without focusing.
The Archbishop, Kelaout, bowed gracefully toward me.
“Bright light to the weak. Glory to meet you, Holy Father.”
Then he smiled kindly and started to speak.
“By the way… I just spoke with the Guardian Dragon over there, and I heard that you hardly wear formal robes these days. How can that be? As a Pope, you must show dignified demeanor and noble character to everyone, no matter when or where. Knowing that, how can you wander around in casual attire? I even heard that you’re wearing revealing clothing? Oh my, what a thing to hear. How can you, who once regulated the indecency of dresses against the priestesses, make the same mistake as them? It’s simply abominable. Are you listening to me?”
I tightly hugged the swords in my arms and briefly closed my eyes.
“Please, spare me…”
My mind was already starting to feel hazy.
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