Multiverse's Holy Right

"King, do not listen to this man's deceitful words!"

At that moment, Erica suddenly appeared beside Roy. With a solemn expression and sword in hand, she stood firm as a knight guarding her lord. Her piercing gaze fixed upon King Solomon, unflinching even in the face of a Heretic God.

"This deity is Solomon the Wise, a man skilled in deceit and flattery. His power has always been wisdom, not martial might. He must lack the confidence to defeat the King, which is why he resorts to this delaying tactic, hoping to use these seven days to uncover the King's authority!"

"...King, your loyal knight Erica Blandelli advises you—slay Solomon the Wise here and now, denying him the chance to wield his greatest weapon!"

Erica knelt on one knee, one hand pressed to her chest as she shouted fervently.

"No... no! Young lady knight, I am not lying, truly, I am not lying!"

King Solomon frantically waved his hands, flustered, and tried to approach Erica to explain in detail.

"Stop! Do not come any closer to me!"

Erica's sharp rebuke froze Solomon in place, leaving him stunned and at a loss.

Erica cowered fearfully behind Roy, as if Solomon were some kind of repulsive trash. Only her delicate face peeked out as she glared at Solomon and declared, "...King, historical records state that Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines—a vast harem of a thousand women. The Bible, Book of Kings notes that aside from Pharaoh's daughter, Solomon loved many foreign women: Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites!"

"...Earlier, in Princess Alice's incantation, it was mentioned that he excels in magic. He must have deceived countless maidens with his sorcery, ensnaring their hearts! Erica's purity belongs only to the King. I beseech you to protect me from Solomon's defilement!"

Hearing Erica's words, Solomon was utterly dumbstruck. He wilted instantly, muttering under his breath, "...That wasn't me, that wasn't me. Solomon merely acted upon the Lord's revelation—he only did what 'Solomon' was meant to do."

"Hmph! You dare not take responsibility for your own actions and instead blame the Lord? Then how do you explain the Queen of Sheba? The Bible, Old Testament clearly states that she fell in love with Solomon at first sight, smitten with admiration. She even bore him a child on her journey home! Yet Solomon sent her away while she was pregnant—what kind of man, what kind of father does that make him? Solomon is utterly unworthy!"

"...Moreover, in his later years, Solomon grew arrogant, indulgent, and wasteful. He even worshipped many gods, abandoning the exclusive devotion to Yahweh that his father, King David, upheld. This provoked the Lord's wrath, leading to the division of his kingdom. If even the Lord he worshipped could be forsaken, how can the words of such a faithless man be trusted? King, I implore you to reconsider!"

Each of Erica's words struck deep into Solomon's heart, forcing the wise king to retreat step by step. The sheer despair on his face made Roy wonder—if Erica kept going, would Solomon simply take his own life right then and there?

Solomon had no rebuttal. After all, these were all recorded in the Bible, Old Testament. As a king bestowed upon humanity by God, as a ruler who earned a reputation for wisdom through divine grace, he was, in truth, the most devout of believers.

Roy looked at King Solomon with a hint of pity. If everything Solomon said was true—that he was an emotionless machine—then none of his actions had truly been his own will, merely what "King Solomon" was supposed to do.

After all, the teachings of Christianity clearly state: If you can defeat God, it is because God allowed you to defeat Him; if you betray God, it is because God allowed you to betray Him; if demons exist in this world, it is because God allowed them to appear.

The Lord is omniscient and omnipotent!

Thus, Solomon's entire life was ordained by God.

Roy raised his hand to stop Erica from continuing her verbal assault on King Solomon and said, "...I deeply feel your loyalty, Erica! It brings me great joy that you would go so far as to remonstrate for my sake. My heart is filled with happiness. However, Erica, there is no need for further words—I understand everything clearly!"

"Your Majesty!"

Erica wanted to say more, but when she saw the firm resolve in Roy's expression, she finally sighed and said, "...I understand. Then let it be as Your Majesty wishes."

Erica shot Solomon another glare before stepping back to stand a pace behind Roy. As a vassal, she could advise her king but could not make decisions for him.

"King Solomon, if you wish to live seven days as a human, I can grant that request. But I have one question for you: Do you still possess the Wisdom of God?"

Roy posed the question.

Solomon finally snapped out of his daze and nodded. "...Though I have now become human and gained human consciousness, I have not discarded the Wisdom of God. However, I have no desire to use that 'wisdom.' A man should live as a man and no longer associate with the divine."

"Then, if you are willing to use the Wisdom of God to assist me with one matter, I will grant your request to live as a human for seven days."

"You... are willing to trust me?"

Solomon asked in disbelief.

"Of course. Trust is essential between people. Since you are now human, I should place my expectations and trust in you."

Roy smiled, stepping forward and extending his hand. "...Roy Crowley—that's my name. Let's get along well for the next seven days, King Solomon!"

Watching Roy's outstretched hand, King Solomon nervously reached out with both hands to grasp it. "...Is this the proper way to shake hands? I didn't do it wrong, did I?"

His expression was anxious, yet his face brimmed with joy and emotion.

He was moved—moved that as a human, he was trusted by another; moved that as a human, he could interact with others; moved that he had finally become human.

No longer was he the emotionless 'King Solomon,' a mere machine existing without desires or feelings. Now, he was Solomon—a being with his own will, capable of laughing and crying as he pleased.

"Mr. Roy, though I have no wish to invoke the Wisdom of God again, to repay your trust, please come to me with any trouble you may have!"

King Solomon spoke with heartfelt sincerity.

...

"Why did I agree to this? Why am I working for you here?!"

A miserable cry from King Solomon echoed through the Jerusalem hotel.

"King Solomon, as the symbol of wisdom and sagacity, you mustn't go back on your word. Since you promised me, you must see it through."

In the hotel room, Roy lounged lazily on the plush sofa, holding a glass of iced cola with a straw between his lips, sipping leisurely. Like a wicked capitalist supervising his employees, he stared unblinkingly at King Solomon.

On the large table before them lay numerous documents. King Solomon was scribbling furiously, having activated the Wisdom of God, as he mournfully drew complex ritual diagrams on magical materials or annotated them with various mystical languages he commanded.

"Didn't you call yourself the King of Kings, Solomon the Magician? Then completing this grand magic should be easy for you, right?"

Roy's tone was leisurely, utterly devoid of any awareness that he was acting like a ruthless foreman forcing laborers to work.

"No, I was just boasting! Besides, the magic you're asking me to complete is far too difficult—even for me! This is practically reaching the realm of True Magic!"

King Solomon's head was buried in the pile of documents as he wailed.

"Keep at it, Your Majesty King Solomon!"

Roy said heartlessly.

"Ugh... I can't stand hearing that. But putting that aside, why must my work hours be from nine in the morning to nine at night, with only an hour's break at noon and in the evening?"

King Solomon grumbled.

"Aren't you here to experience life as a human? Well, this is humanity—a society of labor. Humans can't reap without sowing. You're eating my food, drinking my drinks, and living under my roof. I'm providing room and board, plus wages—what more do you have to complain about?"

Roy declared righteously.

"Don't lie to me, Roy! Making me work from nine to nine, six days a week—that's illegal, isn't it? I've learned about the modern world. Real jobs are supposed to be nine-to-five with weekends off!"

"'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. For six days, God labored to create all elements of existence, and on the seventh day, He rested.' See? Even the Lord worked six days before resting one. What grounds do you have for complaint? Or have you truly forsaken your faith, forsaken the Lord we both serve, as Erica said?"

Roy sat up straight and piously traced a cross over his chest.

"My faith is different from yours."

King Solomon argued—he followed Judaism, while Roy was a Christian.

"But our Lord is the same!"

"Uh..."

Roy's retort left King Solomon speechless.

"Alright, work hard. On your seventh-day rest, I'll take you around Jerusalem properly. Though this is no longer the kingdom you once ruled—not even the same world—in some ways, it's still the same, isn't it?"

Roy stood and walked over to Solomon, gently patting his shoulder.

The gentle tone even stirred King Solomon's heart.

"Besides, 996 is the blessing you've earned!"

But Roy's next words made his already dark face turn even blacker.

***

Hey readers!

Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.

🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹