Ch-19: Seven Sisters
The Seventh Campione has been born!
According to the 'King' himself, his name is Roy Crowley. After investigating the people with the same name all over the world, there is no discovery about the new king's past, so this name is suspected to be a pseudonym.
The first person to witness the existence of the new 'king' was a magic user under the Greenwich Assembly, who met the 'King' at Mount Sinai, the heart of Ancient Jerusalem.
Based on the investigation of the surrounding of Mount Sinai, what was found in the magic workshop of a secret Jewish association in Israel concluded that the Heritic God killed by the new 'king' was the Saint Michael the Archangel.
Michael, the most famous Archangel of the Abrahamic Pantheon, has it's records in religious classics such as "Old Testament", "New Testament", "Book of Daniel" and many other religious classics and scriptures.
'The Right Hand of God', 'The supreme Commander of the Angel Army', The Angel of 'victory and war', 'Archangel of Faith and Justice'. The only Archangel with the title- 'Who is Like God'.
Because of Michael's achievements and, numerous titles, myths and epics, it is impossible to guess the Divine Authority usurped by the new king.
[Note: Never test the power of the new king. Degree of danger cannot be measured!!!]
—— "Seventh Campione•Roy Crowley• Compiled Investigation Report•Mage Association— Witenagemot"
...
Rome is the headquarters of only the Holy See. There were originally five Apostolic Sees in the early days of Christianity— Jerusalem, Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria and Antioch.
However, Rome remains the only one that was not overrun by invasions and escaped the decline that affected the other parts of Christendom.
So, Rome looks more important or even taken as the 'headquarters of Christianity'.
Roy was sitting in the main library of the Holy See, looking through the various secrets and magic books accumulated by the Religion of Cross in the past two thousand years.
As the heart of the most famous and popular religion in the world, the Vatican has an unimaginable collections of magic books than other mage association.
This is one of the reasons why Roy choose the Holy See, an organization with older history than other mage societies.
"Although there are mages among the other six Godslayers, there is no one who has dedicated their live for the mastery of the way of magic."
"Even among the Campione, some of them used to have a not so high or, even low status, before they became a Campione. Well, Luck is also a part of strength."
"...Although this proves that the mage who is not of the highest rank is the godslayer. It also proves that the godslayers are a group of ignorant people. It's a bunch of short sighted fools!"
Roy closed the book in his hand and said mockingly.
He is wearing a red cardinal robe with a silver cross emblem pinned on his chest. This cardinal robe was extremely ornate.
It is woven with threads of gold and silver, it also contains mysterious runes of the Religion of Cross.
Extremely delicate technique has been used with micro-carving to engrave the mythological stories from the 'Bible'. This cardinal robe has been specially custom made for Roy.
On the right side of robe, there is a pocket woven with the sacred cloth.
Roy usually puts his right hand inside this pocket to conceal the 'vision' on his right hand with the characteristics of sacred shroud. The cardinal's robe also gave Roy a more holy and sacred temperament.
"But I can still understand the thoughts of those other Campione. These mortal magic can't compete with the Gods no matter how much they master it..."
"Therefore, they treat the knowledge of the magic way as useless dregs."
"They don't even know that even Pandora's Authority is actually just a ritual magic that is complicated enough to involve the essence of this world."
Roy seems to be talking to himself, but he is actually chatting with Aiwass behind him.
However, Aiwass is not a good talking companion at all, she doesn't like talking all the time, she prefers to rather observe like a bystander.
Although she doesn't like talking, but whenever she opens her mouth, this 'Holy Guardian Angel' has a little 'poisonous toungue' characteristic mixed in her talks.
After leaving Jerusalem, Roy travelled all the way to the Holy See in Rome without any hesitation.
He thought that as the base camp of the Cross Religion with a history of more than two thousand years, the Holy See of Rome would firmly refuse to surrender.
Roy was even prepared to force them to surrender. After all nobody likes others to sit on their head, more true for the 'headquarters' of the largest religion in the world.
However, the actual situation was somewhat beyond Roy's expectations. After knowing Roy's true identity, the Holy See did not resist at all.
Instead, 'surrendered' with joyful smiles on their face as if they where waiting for him for centuries.
Especially, when they knew that the Heritic God Roy killed was Michael. These church personnel shamelessly named him with the title of 'Holy Son', even Roy felt a bit embarrassed.
Only then did Roy fully understand the status of a Campione in this world. For a mage association or mage society, it is not an insult to become subservient to a Campione but, it is instead a glorious event.
Even if it's the Holy See with the largest number of believers in the world, it is still same.
The Cross Religion of this world is not as powerful as he imagined, the main reason behind this is the presence of Heretic Gods and Campione.
For the Religion of Cross which believes in the doctrine of theism, the existence of uncontrollable Heretic Gods is the biggest heresy.
Especially those Heritic Gods are extremely powerful, even if the Holy See is one of the strongest mage organisations, they can't defeat even one of them.
It is the hard truth of this world- Only Campione can contend against Gods.
In this case, if a Campione is willing to take them under their rule, the Holy See naturally has no problem.
Moreover, Roy is Campione who possess the power of Michael, an Archangel of Biblical Mythos. In a way, he is also the 'Incarnation of Michael', so, the Holy See is more willing to come under Roy's reign.
By becoming a organisation under the Roy's rule, they will not only receive a Champione's Shelter but also still follow their theism doctrine.
Since, the Holy See possesses too much information and knowledge, he can better understand the power of other Campiones.
After Roy became the 'Holy Son' of the Holy See, he also came to know some secrets.
For example, about two hundred years ago, the Oldest Campione Marquis Voban had forcefully invaded into the Holy See.
If it wasn't because Marquis Voban didn't find anything interesting to take, maybe the Holy See would have been destroyed more than two hundred years ago.
This shows how sad the fate of an organization without the protection of a Campione is.
Especially the large scale organizations like Holy See, they have to tread every step cautiously, for fear of unknowingly annoying a 'demon king on earth' and being obliterated from the face of the earth the next minute.
Sound of footsteps echoed in the library. Roy was sitting on a luxurious chair in the library room.
He put down the book in his left hand and looked up at the warm sun shining high in the sky, through the transparent glass window at the top of the library.
He lowered his head in a rather lazy manner and asked: "...Is there something you have to say?"
This library is Roy's favorite place to stay, he has already warned others to not disturb him, so unless there is an important event, no one would dare to come here to disturb him.
"Holy Son, there is news about the Heretic Archangel Metatron."
The visitor was a young priest. He didn't dare to step too close, he stood at the junction of dappled sunlight and darkness, with his head lowered and said respectfully.
"Oh? Where is Metatron?"
Hearing the good news that he was waiting for, Roy got up from his chair, turned around and asked condescendingly.
The Holy See is indeed the religion with the most believers in the world, they have informers at every corner of the world.
If Roy went to find Metatron on his own, he may not be able to find him in a lifetime. However, using the power of the Holy See, he got the information he desired in just a few days.
"Your Eminence, according to intelligence sources, the Heretic Archangel Metatron was found in Italy."
The young priest said quickly.
"Ha, really bold! The supreme Angel of Judaism dared to come to the place where the faith of Christianity previals."
Roy sneered and continued: "...Tell me the exact location directly, Italy is so big, this is not the answer I want."
"this..."
The clergy already had cold sweat dripping from his forehead, his face filled with fear.
The personality of all Campiones are extreme, the 'Holy Son' in front him abides by the code of conduct of the 'devil king on earth' to the fullest, with no taboos.
This is Roy's belief, to use the things he has in his grasp to the optimum and if possible, even greater efficiency. Identity is a core and unavoidable part of all our lives.
Our actions shape our identity, and in turn, our identity shapes our actions. Trying to pretend that identity doesn't matter may make one feel better about oneself, but it won't affect how others see us, and how their perceptions shape their actions.
As long as it isn't something that doesn't suit his taste or feels contrary to his thoughts, he will use his identity to his leverage.
After all, one should be thoughtful, proactive, and rigorous about one's own identity to shape our own individual identity and thus our life to better meet the expectations we have of ourself.
"Don't be afraid, I am not the demon from hell. As long as you can tell me the reason for this blunder, I will not be angered."
Roy's comforting words did not calm the clergy's feelings. Being 'moody' is also one of the labels attached to a Campione.
Even though this clergyman knew that the 'Holy Son' was rather less 'moody' than other 'devil king on earth', but it is compared to other 'devil kings'! Nobody can accurately judge a Campione's mood.
"Although the Holy See is located in Italy, the information channel in Italy is more deeply grasped by the Mage Alliance called the 'Seven Sisters'."
"Your Eminence, to gather more specific location of Metatron, you may need to use the power of the Seven Sisters. The Holy See only knows that Metatron is now in Italy, we can't find the specific location."
Roy frowned. This is one of the flaws of Holy See. Although the influence is spread to every corner of the world, the depth of influence within each region is lower than the local mage associations.
Because there are too many magic associations in this world, it is difficult for the 'strong dragon' to suppress every 'snake'. As the 'snake' knows it's 'snake hole' the best.
"Since the 'Seven Sisters' can find Metatron for me, then you should inform them to come and see me."
"this..."
The clergyman wanted to say something, but when he raised his head and saw Roy's strangely calm, piercing double pupisl, he immediately held back his words and said:
"...As you wish, Holy Son! I will go now and notify the 'Seven Sisters'."