Divine Right of Various Anime and Manga

As his words fell, every magician and knight present changed expression.

Chapter 14: I Am the Demon King on Earth

It was a rather young youth, appearing to be only fifteen or sixteen years old. He wore a modified Cardinal Robe—complex and ornate yet not hindering movement—and his features were so androgynous that one could hardly discern his gender at a glance. His double-pupiled eyes radiated a chilling light that made one's skin crawl, forming a stark contrast with the gentle smile at the corners of his mouth.

Like a man, like a woman; like a child, like an adult—his very appearance held a quality that defied categorization. This was not a power gained from slaying gods, but the innate aura of the man named Roy Crowley himself.

Though it was their first meeting, everyone recognized him at once.

The seventh Campione, one who had achieved the feat of slaying the Archangel Michael, an existence at the pinnacle of the world.

"The 'King'..."

The commander of the City of Lilies, the Purple Knight, turned pale. Sweat beaded unbidden on his forehead, his dry lips parted slightly, and his body trembled faintly. Gone was the arrogance he had shown toward Erica Blandelli; now he was consumed by fear.

Roy did not activate any of his Authorities, but the sheer, almost aberrant Magic Power he had gained from slaying gods was enough to make these knights and magicians tremble.

That deep, vast Magic Power alone sufficed to nullify the vast majority of magic used by ordinary mortals.

The younger magicians and knights felt varying degrees of fear. Only the commanders of magic societies like the Old Lady, the Bronze Black Cross, and the She-wolf, with their life experience, could maintain their composure before Roy. Yet even so, the ever-gentle and affable commander of the Bronze Black Cross, Italy's strongest knight, Paolo Blandelli, gradually tightened his expression, turning serious.

These commanders of various magic societies might never have witnessed a Disobedient God in their lifetimes, but they had all had some contact with Campiones. Unlike Disobedient Gods, whose ways of thinking were alien to humans, Campiones remained within the bounds of humanity. Even with their immense power, communication was still possible.

Thus, when facing a Campione, knowing their temperament and how to avoid offending their bottom line out of ignorance was the basic strategy for confronting a demon king.

Among the Campiones currently in existence, the most difficult to deal with were said to be the 'Supreme and Sole' sect master of the Ancient Eastern Kingdom and the 'Ruthless' Marquis Voban of Eastern Europe.

Although the alliance of the Seven Sisters magic societies in Italy had never interacted with this new King Roy, limited information told them that his personality was quite similar to Marquis Voban's—a highly self-centered individual. And such a temperament was the most difficult for subordinates to handle in a superior.

"Everyone, why is no one speaking?"

In the eerie, silent atmosphere, Roy walked down the aisle leading to the round table. Under everyone's gaze, he pulled out the last chair and sat down as if it were his due.

He rested his left elbow on the table, propping his cheek on his hand, and swept his gaze over all the magic society leaders present. His eyes paused briefly on the two fourteen-year-old maidens, each with their own charm—Erica Blandelli and Liliana Kranichar—before turning to the entire assembly.

Though Roy's memory of the Campione story was hazy, he knew the importance of these two girls in the original tale. It had to be said that they were truly favored by the world, blessed with heaven's grace and beauty. Both Erica and Liliana possessed astonishing talent and loveliness.

In the oppressive silence, Roy waited for a long while, letting the pressure build, before finally speaking: "...I fully understand your hesitation to choose between me and Salvatore Doni. After all, Doni Daimu... no, Doni is my compatriot and senior, even if he only slew his god less than two years before I did."

"...He is the leader of the Southern European Magic Alliance. Though you have not sworn fealty to him, you are nominally his subordinates. Humans have an instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm, to proactively choose the stronger side to rely on. I approve of this—it is a sign of wisdom. Your struggle over whether I or Doni is stronger, and whether choosing one side will invite retaliation from the other, is only natural."

"Moreover, if you chose to submit to me and place yourselves under my banner, rumors of 'betrayal' might arise, harming your reputations."

Seeing that this new King seemed not as willful as the records suggested, and that he was even quite rational, capable of putting himself in the shoes of the weak, many breathed a sigh of relief, believing he was someone they could reason with.

The commander of the Bronze Black Cross, Diana Milito, straightened her posture and spoke respectfully: "...We are deeply grateful for Your Majesty's understanding of our position. We—"

"Silence!"

Before Diana Milito could finish, Roy cut her off with a low shout, forcing her to swallow her remaining words.

"I haven't finished speaking. It's not your turn to interrupt, madam! I recall my order was for you to come to the Vatican to see me immediately. Yet after arriving in Rome, you did not come to me but instead held this so-called meeting. Does this mean you intend to defy my command? Or perhaps you do not care about my existence?"

Roy suddenly let out a cold sneer. Though his memory of the original story was vague, he still knew that the protagonist, Kusanagi Godou, had been used and ordered about by others as a Campione, lacking the dignity a Campione should possess.

He had even been subjected to a so-called 'test' by these magic societies, forced into a battle to prove himself. That was an act of insubordination, an insult to a Campione.

Since when did a Campione need others to validate his name? Since a Campione was a demon king on earth, disputes should naturally be settled by a demon king's methods.

Roy's code of conduct was to act in accordance with his status and identity. In his view, the only ones truly worthy of the title 'demon king' among Campiones were Marquis Voban and Sect Master Luo Hao. Faced with these two most ancient Campiones, who would dare harbor even a shred of disrespect?

The mysterious Lady Aisha was also a qualified Campione—one who followed her whims and imposed her will on others without restraint, regardless of whether that will was good or evil.

As for the Campiones born in the New Era, in Roy's eyes, they were all unqualified.

Roy's sudden shift in demeanor made the magicians present retract their earlier thoughts. A Campione was indeed a Campione. This new King was as capricious as the records suggested.

One moment he was showing understanding; the next, he was pointing directly at life and death.

"Do you doubt my power?! Or do you doubt my identity as a Campione, that you act with such duplicity? I have no interest in performing my Authorities like a circus monkey for you, but you can experience them with your own bodies."

Roy suddenly turned his gaze to the commander of the Bronze Black Cross and activated his second Authority.

This was Roy's naked show of force!

Chapter 15: "Sodom's Sin"

Roy was not a man who 'bullied the weak,' nor one who became arrogant and lost himself upon gaining power.

In essence, he was a rather gentle man, thoughtful and decisive.

He was no great man—before his transmigration, he had merely made a living as a photographer.

But Roy possessed an extraordinary talent: his code of conduct allowed him to perfectly embody the actions befitting his status and identity.

When he was an ordinary person, this behavior made him more ordinary. But as he grew greater, it made him even greater.

If he became a knight, he would strictly adhere to a knight's code.

If he became a magician, he would drive himself to pursue truth and the Source.

If he became the Messiah, he would give everything to save the world.

Roy was a simple yet not-so-simple man.

Unfortunately, he was neither a knight nor a magician now. He was a Campione, and he would act as a Campione should!

Those eerie double-pupiled eyes fixed on the commander of the Bronze Black Cross, Diana Milito. Then, under the horrified gazes of the crowd, this youthful-looking lady began to turn into a pillar of salt, starting from her feet.

"Marquis Voban's Authority?!"

"Sodom's Eye!!"

"Diana, don't move!"

"..."

The entire venue immediately fell into chaos, panic spreading among the crowd. Several leaders of the magic associations rose from their seats, their faces anxious as they shouted at Diana, telling her not to move.

Even if the Seven Sisters of Italy might be hostile toward one another in terms of organization, these leaders had a good relationship in private. It was precisely their alliance that allowed the Italian magic world to maintain steady development.

Otherwise, given the peculiar situation where the Vatican, the headquarters of Christianity, was stationed in Italy, the place would have long descended into turmoil.

Diana Milito's expression was extremely grim. Following the others' instructions, she sat motionless in her chair, her face pale as she watched her feet turn into salt. Then the salt pillar slowly rose, creeping up her calves and thighs, transforming them into salt as well.

At this moment, anyone who touched the saltified parts of her body would cause the powerful magician to lose that portion of herself.

As the leader of the Bronze Black Cross, Diana was by no means weak; she ranked among the top figures in the entire Italian magic world. Yet even a magician of her wisdom and strength could lose her life at any moment under a single glance from a Campione.

"Marquis Voban's Authority? No, no, no. I don't know which god the Marquis Voban killed to obtain such a magic eye, but I do know that his Authority is nothing more than a castrated imitation. What I possess is the original form of this Authority, recreating the myth of the sinful city of Sodom's destruction from the Bible. This is one of my seven Great Authorities!"

"Sodom's Sin"—this was the second Authority Roy had obtained.

The Book of Genesis in the Bible records that Sodom was one of the five cities on the plain of Moab. Its sins of indulging in male lust and depravity reached the ears of Yahweh. The Lord sent two angels to destroy the city. Because there was a righteous man named Lot in Sodom, along with his wife and daughters who were without sin, the angels rescued the righteous man and his family.

Yahweh burned the sinful city to ashes with heavenly fire and brimstone. The angels had warned Lot and his wife and daughters to run forward and never look back at Sodom.

But Lot's wife, ignoring the angels' warning and yearning for Sodom, turned back to look—and was instantly turned into a pillar of salt.

In the Book of Zerubbabel, Michael once said: "I am the one who rained down brimstone and fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah."

It was this myth that granted Roy this Authority. "Sodom's Sin" could only be activated once every three days, but once activated, heavenly fire would descend from the sky and brimstone would surge from hell, annihilating an entire city in an instant. It was a large-scale AOE Authority among Roy's seven.

Other Campione, such as Marquis Voban, possessed large-scale natural disaster-type Authorities, but in terms of power, they were absolutely no match for the might of Roy's Authority, which could only be used once every three days. It could be said that most of Roy's Authorities were of the "lethal" type—though they came with various restrictions, they were extraordinarily formidable.

"Sodom's Eye," on the other hand, was more like an additional state of this Authority, recreating the Divine Punishment of ignoring the angels' warning. It was a top-tier magic eye comparable to Medusa's petrifying gaze, capable of turning any living being into salt. In fact, it could be considered the ultimate killing move against ordinary magicians and knights—anyone Roy laid his eyes on was doomed to die. Truly, killing with a glance.

"Seven Great Authorities?!"

"How is that possible? How can killing one god grant seven Authorities? This has never happened before."

"..."

Roy's words once again stirred up a commotion, and by now, Liliana was utterly horrified.

She was a member of the Bronze Black Cross, and Diana Milito, the leader, was also her magic teacher. Seeing her teacher turned into a pillar of salt under Roy's gaze, the salt already creeping up to Diana's lower abdomen, Liliana knew that once her head turned to salt, Diana would die.

Panicked, Liliana quickly chanted a spell at Diana, casting a curse-removing magic.

"Teacher!"

Seeing that her magic had no effect on the saltification, Liliana was frantic.

"Don't waste your strength, Lily... This is a god's Authority, not something ordinary magic can dispel."

Though facing death, Diana, as the leader of the Bronze Black Cross, managed to maintain her composure. Seeing Liliana about to continue with the curse-removing magic, she stopped her.

"How could this be?!"

Seeing that three-quarters of her beloved teacher's body had already turned into a salt pillar, Liliana's clear, upright eyes gradually filled with mist, her rims turning red.

If Diana herself were not an extremely powerful magician with strong magic resistance, she would have long been completely cursed into a salt pillar by the Divine Punishment.

Looking at her teacher's pale face and the despairing eyes struggling against the curse, Liliana's rational thread snapped. Unconsciously, she drew her beloved sword, the Silver Master, and pointed its tip at Roy.

Just then, a flash of fiery red caught Liliana's eye. Erica rushed to her side in an instant and firmly grasped her slender wrist holding the sword.

Then, with a flash of sword light in her left hand, Erica gripped the Lionheart in her palm. With a surprise strike, she knocked the long sword from Liliana's hand, whose reaction had dulled due to her loss of reason.

At the same time, Erica pressed down hard on Liliana's wrist with her fingers. As Liliana stumbled, Erica drove a knee viciously into her abdomen, forcing her to kneel on one knee. The sharp pain brought Liliana's reason and thoughts back.

"Liliana Kranichar, if you dare raise your sword to the 'King' again, I will personally cut off your head!"

Erica shouted sharply, then quickly turned, planted her sword on the ground, knelt on one knee, and bowed her head to Roy. "...'King,' I am Erica Blandelli, a Great Knight of the Bronze Black Cross. We have committed a mortal sin by offending your majesty. I humbly beg an audience, hoping you will forgive our sins and allow us to keep our useful bodies to atone for our offense!"

After speaking, Erica shot Liliana an urgent look.

Liliana was stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality. She shot Erica a grateful glance and quickly walked over to kneel as well. But compared to Erica, she was less eloquent, her face flushed red, her eyes filled with anxious tears.

Chapter 16: The King of Italy

"Oh? Lord Erica Blandelli, are you saying you wish to atone for your crimes through service?"

Compared to the tongue-tied and shame-faced Liliana, Roy was more interested in Erica.

"Exactly so, 'King.' Rather than letting us die, we alive can serve you better and bring you what you need. Therefore, I humbly beg an audience, hoping you will forgive our sins and spare the Bronze Black Cross for its disrespect."

Erica bowed her head deeply, pleading for Roy's mercy.

The other young magicians nearby couldn't help but admire Erica's bold plea. They all knew that Erica and Liliana were close friends, and that the Bronze Black Cross and the Red Copper Black Cross had been rivals for centuries. Yet, for the sake of her friend and the survival of a rival magic association, Erica set aside all prejudice and dared to petition the 'cruel' King.

Only the more experienced magicians and the high-ranking members of the various magic associations could truly grasp Erica's deeper intent. They glanced at Paul Blandelli, silently envying him—the Red Copper Black Cross had found an excellent heir!

"Lord Erica, lift your head and speak to me!"

Hearing Roy's words, Erica didn't hesitate. She raised her delicate face and boldly met Roy's gaze.

She had an exquisitely beautiful face, her azure eyes brimming with a maiden's nobility and pride. Her gorgeous blonde hair cascaded down, starkly contrasting with her fair, tender skin. Especially the expanse of pale flesh at her chest, revealed by her open gown, made it hard to look away.

"Let me ask you a personal question—how old are you this year?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, I am fourteen years old this year."

"Fourteen years old..."

Roy let out a sigh. In his memory, Erica seemed to be two years younger than when the original story took place. Even so, this girl who should still be in middle school already possessed a charm like a noble lady, along with a mind that, though still slightly raw, was already agile and profound.

Roy's lament over Erica's youth drew silent complaints from the other mages.

Fourteen? What of it? According to the records, this 'King' was only sixteen himself.

And this sixteen-year-old 'King' had skillfully seized the perfect opportunity to pressure Italy's magic associations, forcing them to swear fealty with almost no effort at all.

No one had expected this 'King' to leave the Vatican and take the field personally, catching them red-handed during their meeting. With both witnesses and evidence laid bare, they were pinned with the charge of defying the 'King's' orders, allowing him to easily claim the moral high ground.

The Seven Sisters of Italy had originally planned to unify their course of action at this meeting, then seek out the King of Swords, who was far away in Africa hunting a Disobedient God. After that, it would be a clash between the new king and the old king. These magic associations only needed to wait for the outcome between the two kings and pledge allegiance to the stronger one.

But now Roy had seized on their defiance of the 'King's' orders to force them into direct fealty. If they refused, Roy would have an excuse to execute them all. If the Seven Sisters alliance agreed, they would have to walk a path with no turning back, forever bound to support Roy.

Because this oath was not like the vague pledge of rights and obligations they had given Salvatore Doni. Once they reached this point, the possibility of betrayal was sealed. No matter who won or lost in the future clash between Roy and Salvatore, the Seven Sisters alliance would have to stand firmly behind Roy.

'Such deep, shrewd thinking and tactics are hardly like a Campione... "The monarch's mind is inscrutable, serving a king is like facing a tiger"... Truly a terrifying "King."'

The leaders of the major magic associations were all masters of playing power games, and thus they could grasp the deep meaning behind Roy's move. He had driven them onto the stage with no way back.

"Lord Erica, though you are young, your mind is truly sharp and clear... On the surface, you spoke well of the 'Bronze Black Cross,' facing me directly at great personal risk. But in truth, you knew long ago that there was no risk at all. If I forgave the 'Bronze Black Cross,' that magic association would owe you a favor. If I did not forgive them, it would bring no harm to your 'Copper Black Cross'—instead, you would use my hand to eliminate an enemy."

"...Hahahaha!! Lord Erica, you saw long ago that I had no intention of killing any of you—I was only putting on a show of force to force your hand. You stepped forward proactively to pledge allegiance to me, and being the 'first to swear fealty' would earn you and the 'Copper Black Cross' a favorable impression in my mind. Then, with that goodwill, you could leverage your 'Copper Black Cross' to gain greater benefits and status among the Seven Sisters alliance, throughout Italy, and even among the world's magic associations."

Roy paused, then continued: "Is that not so, Lord Erica? Do not deceive me—speak your true thoughts."

Erica had intended to refute him, claiming she was truly loyal to the King and had no such schemes. But upon hearing Roy's final words and meeting his strange, mysterious double pupils, she opened her mouth—yet the words of self-defense would not come. She could only lower her head and say bitterly: "...Your Majesty, your eyes are like torches, seeing through every little thought of mine. To presume to fathom Your Majesty's intentions is Erica's disrespect. I await your punishment."