Multiverse's Holy Right

The Seventh Campione has appeared.

According to the 'King's' own words, his name is Roy Crowley. Investigations into individuals sharing this name worldwide revealed no trace of the new King's past, suggesting it may be an alias.

The first witnesses to the new King were magi subordinate to the Greenwich Council of Wise Men, encountered at the heart of ancient Jerusalem, Mount Moriah.

Based on investigations of Mount Moriah's surroundings and discoveries in a secret magical workshop belonging to an Israeli Judaic association, it is speculated that the deity slain by the new King was the Archangel Michael.

Michael, the most renowned archangel of the Abrahamic faiths, appears in religious texts such as the Tanakh, the New Testament, and the Quran. Positioned at God's right hand, with illustrious achievements, his symbol is 'fire.' As supreme commander of the angelic host, he is the angel of 'victory and war,' the only angel bearing the title of Archangel.

Given Michael's radiant accomplishments, it is impossible to guess what authority the new King has obtained.

"Under no circumstances attempt to test the new King's authority, for he is one of the Demon Kings who stand above us."

—Greenwich Council of Wise Men's Investigative Report on the Seventh Campione, Roy Crowley.

...

Vatican City, in the northwest corner of Rome, Italy's capital, serves as the stronghold of Christianity.

Roy sat in the Vatican Library, poring over the accumulated secrets and magical texts of two millennia of Christian history. As the heart of the world's most renowned Christian institution, the Vatican housed knowledge beyond the imagination of other magical associations and organizations.

"Among the other six Campione besides myself, though some are magicians, none have devoted their lives to the magical path as adepts. Indeed, several were once of lowly status, achieving the great feat of godslaying only through extraordinary fortune."

"...This proves that 'the highest-ranking magicians are not necessarily Campiones, and the relationship between magicians and Campiones is merely superficial.' But it also shows that Campiones are a bunch of ignorant fools, short-sighted idiots!"

Roy closed the book in his hand, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

He was dressed in a crimson cardinal's robe, a silver cross hanging from his chest. The robe was extraordinarily ornate, woven with golden and silver threads, adorned with mystical symbols representing the Christian Faith. In the finest details, intricate micro-carving techniques depicted mythological stories from the Bible.

The cardinal's robe was specially designed with a pocket on the right side, woven from sacred shroud fabric. Roy often kept his right hand in this pocket, using the shroud's properties to conceal the anomalies on his right hand. This attire further enhanced his aura of a religious charlatan.

"Though I can somewhat understand the Campiones' perspective. No matter how much mortal knowledge they acquire, it's useless against the Heretic Gods. So they dismiss these arcane arts as worthless dregs. Little do they know that even Pandora's Circle of Usurpation is just a sufficiently complex grand magical ceremony involving the essence of this world."

Roy seemed to be talking to himself, but in reality, he was conversing with Aiwass behind him. Though Aiwass wasn't much of a conversationalist—this 'Holy Guardian Angel' could be quite sharp-tongued at times and preferred observing as a silent spectator rather than engaging in prolonged dialogue.

After leaving Jerusalem, Israel, Roy had marched straight to the Vatican in Rome without hesitation. He had expected the Vatican, as the two-thousand-year-old stronghold of the Christian Faith, to stubbornly resist surrender. Roy had even prepared to force their submission through sheer might.

But reality proved otherwise. Upon learning Roy's identity, the Vatican not only offered no resistance but instead enshrined him as a figure of reverence. Especially when they discovered that the god Roy had slain was none other than Archangel Michael, the clergy shamelessly crowned him with the title of 'Holy Son.'

It was then that Roy fully grasped the status Campiones held in this world. For magical organizations, pledging allegiance to a Campione wasn't an insult but an honor—even for a religion as massive as Christianity.

The Christian Faith in this world wasn't as powerful as one might assume, primarily because of the existence of Heretic Gods. For a religion preaching monotheism, the very presence of Heretic Gods was a direct blow to its doctrine. Especially since many pagan Heretic Gods were immensely powerful—even the combined might of the entire Christian Faith couldn't defeat a single one. Only Campiones could stand against them.

Under such circumstances, having a Campione's protection was more than welcome within the Christian Faith. Particularly since Roy's authority stemmed from the sacred Archangel Michael rather than some pagan deity—this was nothing short of divine providence for them.

Because Christianity possessed vast amounts of intelligence and knowledge, they understood all too well the inviolable might of Campiones. After Roy descended upon Christianity as the 'Holy Son,' he also uncovered some of their deepest secrets.

For example, about two hundred years ago, the most ancient Campione, Marquis Voban, once wreaked havoc in the Vatican. If he hadn't left out of boredom after finding nothing useful for a Campione there, the Vatican might have been destroyed over two centuries ago.

This illustrates how pitiful organizations without the protection of a Campione are in this world, especially massive ones like Christianity. They can only tread carefully, fearing they might inadvertently offend one of the Demon Kings.

Footsteps echoed in the quiet library. Roy sat in a luxurious chair, setting down the book in his left hand before raising his head to gaze at the warm sunlight streaming through the transparent glass ceiling. With a lazy tone, he asked, "...Something the matter?"

This library was Roy's favorite place to stay, so unless it was an urgent matter, no one would dare disturb him here.

"Your Holiness, we have news about the heretical archangel Metatron."

The speaker was a young clergyman who didn't dare look up at Roy on the elevated platform. He stood at the boundary where dappled sunlight met shadow, speaking with reverence.

"Oh? Where is Metatron?"

Hearing the good news at last, Roy stood up from his chair and turned around, looking down as he questioned.

Christianity, as expected of the religion with the most followers, had extensive intelligence networks. If Roy had searched for Metatron on his own, he might never have found him. But with the power of the Church, it took only a few days to locate the heretic god.

"Your Holiness, according to our sources, the heretical Metatron has been sighted within Italy," the young clergyman quickly replied.

"Ha, how bold! The supreme angel of Judaism dares to set foot in the heart of Christian faith."

Roy scoffed before continuing, "...Just tell me the exact location. Italy is vast—that's not the answer I want."

"W-well..."

Sweat beaded on the clergyman's forehead, his face filled with trepidation and even fear.

Campiones were known for their extreme temperaments, and the "Holy Son" before him embodied the very essence of the term "Demon King"—capricious and utterly unrestrained.

This was Roy's greatest principle: to act in accordance with his identity. If he were a magician, he would hold himself to a magician's standards. But now, as a Campione, he naturally followed the whims of a Demon King.

"No need to be afraid. I'm not some demon from hell. As long as you give me a satisfactory reason, I won't take my anger out on you."

Roy's words of reassurance did little to ease the clergyman's nerves. "Unpredictable" was another label often attached to Campiones. In fact, this clergyman couldn't help but feel that his "Holy Son" bore some resemblance to the oldest and most infamous of Demon Kings—Marquis Voban.

"Although the Vatican is located within Rome, the most influential force in Italy is the alliance of magical societies known as the 'Seven Sisters.' To pinpoint Metatron's exact location, you may need to utilize their network. The Church can only confirm that Metatron is in Italy but cannot determine the precise spot."

Roy frowned slightly. This was the most troublesome aspect of Christianity in this world—while its influence was far-reaching, its depth within each nation was insufficient due to the myriad magical societies present. It was difficult for a powerful dragon to suppress the local serpents.

"Since the 'Seven Sisters' can locate Metatron for me, go and inform them to come see me."

"This..."

The clergyman wanted to say something more, but when he raised his head and met Roy's eerily calm heterochromatic eyes, he immediately swallowed his words and responded, "...Yes, Holy Son! I will notify the 'Seven Sisters' at once."

***

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