Multiverse's Holy Right

Seitengou Palace occupied a sacred mountain graced with exquisite scenery beyond Kyoto. Long ago, Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto had lured the Heretic God Sun Wukong here through trickery, sealing him using the mythological "Horse-Taming" curse. They harnessed the divine monkey's power to repel other Heretic Gods, thus preserving regional peace.

"But this Great Sage Equaling Heaven is a deity of our land! To have him sealed here by these Japanese is an affront to my dignity," declared Luo Hao, her peerless beauty once again clad in masculine Han attire. During last night's drunken revelry, she'd confessed to Roy that wearing such bashful feminine garb had been her first time in over a century. Facing someone she deemed her equal—someone whose appreciation mattered—she'd felt petty hiding her true appearance.

Thus Roy became the sole fortunate soul in a hundred years to witness the Elder's genuine countenance.

"Today I shall break his seal and execute that shameless monkey... Thereafter, I'll seek out Takamagahara's hidden realms to dispatch Susano-o-no-Mikoto with my own hands."

"Two Seven Three" stood atop a peak of the Western Heavenly Palace, where Roy and the sect leader stood side by side, taking in the magnificent shrine beneath them. Their gazes soon settled on the deepest courtyard within the shrine, where an old monkey hunched over, scratching its head and ears as it lazily basked in the sun. Beside it lay a basket of peaches for its enjoyment.

Roy knew this was none other than the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong—a figure renowned throughout the Middle Kingdom, known by all. Though originally a character from fiction, its widespread legend and the devotion of the people had elevated it to the status of a Heretic God. However, this old monkey before them was no longer the rebellious Monkey King who once wreaked havoc in the heavens, but a mere minor celestial official, sealed by the Heavenly Palace's curse—the "Keeper of Horses."

Luo Hao, as the Campione who ruled over the ancient land of the Celestial Empire, felt a surge of anger upon seeing the infamous god of her homeland in such a disappointing state. Standing tall with pride, she sharply reprimanded the followers behind her.

"At the command of our Sect Leader!"

A group of devotees from the Five Holy Mountains Sect knelt in reverence. Roy took a closer look and noticed that the majority of these followers were actually Daoist nuns dressed in simple, elegant robes. In the Celestial Empire, Daoist nuns held the same status as shrine maidens in Japan or witches in the West.

Beside these Daoist nuns stood an equal number of shrine maidens clad in red and white robes. These maidens were familiar faces to Roy—they were the very same group he had taken to Jerusalem to conduct the Heretic God summoning ritual.

Upon seeing Roy and Luo Hao, the shrine maidens trembled with fear, standing meekly with lowered eyes, a stark contrast to the composed Daoist nuns beside them.

"Lord Roy, my younger sister Hikari is still inside the shrine. She serves as the shrine maiden to the Monkey God. I beg you not to harm her."

The leader of these shrine maidens was none other than Yuri Mariya. The girl's eyes flickered with fear and hesitation when she saw Roy. Over three years ago, she had been captured by Marquis Voban in Eastern Europe to participate in a Heretic God ritual, where she witnessed countless witches perish. Then, just over a year ago, Roy had taken her to Jerusalem to conduct yet another Heretic God summoning.

Though this ritual had no casualties, the then-fourteen-year-old middle school girl had been toyed with by the Demon King. Not only had she been forced to surrender her pure maidenhood for his pleasure, but she was also callously discarded back to Japan afterwards.

Though becoming Roy's concubine elevated Yuri Mariya's status in Japan far beyond her previous standing as a shrine maiden—her family and younger sister now lived in comfort—she had lost her freedom in exchange. Aside from a select few, she could barely interact with peers, especially boys her age.

Yuri Mariya gazed at Roy with complex emotions in her eyes. She could tell that Roy did not like her. Unlike the tenderness he showed toward his close knights, Erica and Liliana, when facing her, Roy acted purely on his own whims.

Yet, because of him, Yuri Mariya and her family had risen in status and gained respect in Japan. Seeing her parents return home every day with happy smiles, chattering excitedly about how well their small shop was doing—so well that they might need to open a branch—and watching them bicker affectionately over the new shop's location filled her with warmth. Her younger sister, Hikari Mariya, had also been entrusted with important responsibilities at a young age, standing out among the other young shrine maidens. Yuri knew exactly who had granted them these privileges.

Though she was a shrine maiden with decent talent, her standing in Japan's mystical world was not high—nowhere near the status Princess Alice held in Europe. Moreover, the History Compilation Committee was a semi-political organization, so it naturally wouldn't grant the shrine maidens under its jurisdiction much political influence.

Yuri felt gratitude toward Roy for the changes in her family's life. But at the same time, she harbored fear and a faint resentment toward him for the way he toyed with her body and heart like the tyrant he was.

Even now, the sight of this calamitous king made Yuri tremble so much she nearly fainted. But for her sister's sake, she clenched her teeth, stepped forward, and—though she couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye—mustered the courage to speak.

Before Roy could respond, the sect leader beside him sharply rebuked, her star-like eyes flashing with killing intent. She then turned to Roy and said, "...Is this woman also your concubine? If so, such a disrespectful, ill-mannered woman would have been drowned in a pig cage in ancient times. Why not let me help you dismember her? Among my Taoist nuns, there are many of peerless beauty. If any catch your eye, I'll gladly gift them to you."

In ancient China, concubines held little status. Exchanging them among friends was considered a mark of true refinement and sophistication—many great scholars did so, even offering their concubines to guests for entertainment. Luo Hao, being from that era, felt she had met Roy too late. The Taoist nuns under her command held high status within the Five Holy Mountains Sect and were untouchable, yet she was now willing to offer them to Roy for his pleasure.

"I appreciate the offer, Sect Leader, but I'm not the type to lust after women," Roy replied indifferently. It was the truth—given his status, he could have any woman in the world if he desired. Yet, he had only been intimate with a select few. For Roy, quality mattered far more than quantity.

"This woman is Japan's most spiritually powerful shrine maiden. Her abilities are necessary for the upcoming unsealing ritual, so I ask you to forgive her this once, Sect Leader... However, Yuri Mariya," he continued, his tone turning cold, "just because I'm letting this slide doesn't mean you can continue speaking out of turn. Remember—there won't be a next time."

Roy's fearsome double pupils fixed upon Yuri Mariya, his murderous intent permeating the air. The terrifying aura froze the surrounding earth in place—floating blades of grass stood rigid, birdsong in the valley gradually faded, and the gentle spring breeze turned into the biting cold of midwinter. Even the lazy monkey in the Western Heavenly Palace remained motionless, as if pierced by this killing intent.

The followers of the Five Great Mountains Holy Sect, the shrine maidens from Japan, and members of the History Compilation Committee all wore expressions of terror. Lu Yinghua, who had accompanied the sect leader, was utterly horrified. Previously, Roy had always appeared gentle and kind, giving people a feeling of basking in spring warmth. But when he truly revealed his wrath and unleashed that brutal killing intent, Lu Yinghua finally realized—this was indeed someone who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his master, a merciless Demon King of the mortal world.

The prodigious young master of the Five Great Mountains Holy Sect was already drenched in sweat, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Yuri Mariya had initially been overwhelmed by Luo Hao's imposing presence, her fearful heart quivering. Then, with just a few words, Roy absolved her of her crimes, filling her with gratitude toward him. But in the end, Roy transformed into the Demon King of Slaughter, terrifying her once more and sending her emotions on a rollercoaster that nearly shattered her spirit.

Yet through this repeated cycle of torment, Yuri Mariya inexplicably developed a sense of dependence—because the only one who would speak up for her before Luo Hao was the King she had pledged loyalty to.

"Asherah, come here. Let us begin the ritual now."

Roy called out to the Serpent Goddess. The Heretic Serpent approached expressionlessly, gave a slight nod to Roy, and then transformed directly into her white serpent form.

As the dragon-serpent's body manifested, the old monkey in the courtyard below contorted its face in agony and fury.

***

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