Chapter Fourteen: I Am the Devil King of the Earth! / Chapter Fifteen: "Sodom's Sin" ...

When his voice fell, all the magicians and knights present changed color.

Chapter Fourteen: I Am the Devil King of the Earth!

He was a remarkably young boy, appearing no older than fifteen or sixteen. He wore a complex and gorgeous Cardinal Robe that had been modified without hindering movement. His excessively androgynous features made it difficult to discern his gender at a glance. A chilling light radiated from the Double Pupils in his eyes, contrasting sharply with the gentle smile at the corners of his mouth.

He seemed both man and woman, child and adult. His very appearance held an ambiguity that made him impossible to identify. This did not come from the authority granted by slaying gods, but from the inherent presence of the man named Roy Crowley himself.

Although it was their first meeting, everyone recognized his identity.

The seventh Campione, the being who stood at the pinnacle of the world after achieving the great feat of slaying the archangel Michael.

"'King'..."

The complexion of the Purple Knight, commander of the City of Lilies, turned pale. Cold sweat unconsciously trickled down his forehead, and his dry lips parted slightly as his body trembled. Unlike the arrogance he had shown when facing Erica Bluntree, he was now filled with fear.

Roy had not used any of his Authorities, but the immense Magic Power he had gained by slaying a god—so vast that it could almost be described as "alien"—was enough to make these knights and magicians tremble.

Simply existing, this profound and immense Magic Power was enough to nullify most of the magic used by ordinary humans!

The young magicians and knights felt varying degrees of fear. Only the commanders of magic societies such as the Old Lady, the Bronze Black Cross, and the She-wolf could remain composed before Roy, thanks to their life experience. Even so, the ever-gentle commander of the Bronze Black Cross, Paul Bluntree, Italy's strongest knight, gradually restrained his expression and grew serious.

Although these commanders of the various magic societies might not have personally witnessed a Disobedient God in their lifetimes, most of them had come into contact with Campiones. Compared to the Disobedient Gods, whose ways of thinking differed greatly from those of humans, Campiones were ultimately still within the realm of humanity. Even with their overwhelming power, communication with them remained possible.

Thus, when facing a Campione, understanding their personality and avoiding crossing their bottom line out of ignorance was the basic strategy for facing a devil king.

Among the Campiones still alive, the most difficult to deal with was said to be the Demon Sect Leader of the Ancient Eastern Kingdom, who recognized only herself as supreme. The other was the king of Eastern Europe, the "merciless and cruel" Marquis Voban.

Although the Italian Seven Sisters Magic Society Alliance had never had contact with Roy, the New King, they knew from the limited information available that his personality was actually quite similar to Marquis Voban's. He was highly self-centered, and such a personality made him the most difficult kind of superior for subordinates to deal with.

"Everyone, why are you not saying anything?"

In the strange, silent atmosphere, Roy walked down the passage leading to the round table. Under everyone's gaze, he pulled out the last chair and sat down as though it were only natural.

He propped his cheek on his left hand atop the table, sweeping his gaze across all the leaders of the magic societies present. His eyes paused briefly on Erica Bluntree and Liliana Kranichar, two fourteen-year-old girls with very different charms, before turning toward the entire meeting hall.

Although Roy's memories of the Campione story were no longer very clear, he knew the importance these two girls held in the original story. They truly lived up to being girls blessed by the world, gifted with the essence of heaven and earth. Whether Erica or Liliana, both possessed astonishing talent and beauty.

In this oppressive silence, Roy waited for a long while. Only after giving everyone enough pressure did he finally speak. "...I understand why all of you have been wavering between me and Salvatore Tony. No matter how you look at it, Tony the Great Wood—no, Lord Tony—is my fellow Campione and senior. Though he slew a god less than two years before I did."

"...He is the leader of the Southern European Magic Alliance. Though you have not sworn allegiance to him, you are nominally his subordinates. Humans instinctively seek advantages and avoid dangers, choosing to rely on the stronger side when taking a position. I completely agree with that, because it is a display of wisdom. You are hesitating over which of Lord Tony and me is stronger, and whether choosing one side will expose you to retaliation from the other. That is only human nature."

"Moreover, if you choose to obey me and place yourselves under my banner, rumors of 'betrayal' may arise. That would be highly detrimental to your reputations."

Seeing that the New King did not seem as willful and reckless as the reports claimed, and that he was even quite rational—capable of putting himself in the weaker party's position and considering matters from their perspective—many people breathed sighs of relief. They felt that this New King was someone they could communicate with properly.

Dianna Milito, commander of the Bronze Black Cross, straightened her body and respectfully said, "...Thank you, 'King,' for understanding us. We—"

"Shut up!"

Before Dianna Milito could finish, Roy interrupted her with a low shout, forcing the rest of her words back down her throat.

"I have not finished speaking. It is not your place to interrupt me, madam! I remember ordering you to come quickly to Vatican and meet me. Yet after arriving in Rome, you did not come to see me. Instead, you held this so-called meeting here. Do you intend to defy my orders? Or perhaps you simply do not care about my existence?"

Roy suddenly revealed a cold smile. Although his memories of the original story were unclear, he still knew that the protagonist of that story, Kusanagi Godou, was a Campione who was used by others again and again, even ordered around at their convenience, utterly failing to resemble a Campione.

He would even be subjected to a so-called combat test by these magic societies under the pretext of an "examination." That was practically an inferior challenging a superior, an insult to a Campione.

When had a Campione ever needed others to prove his title? Since a Campione was the devil king of the earth, disputes should naturally be resolved through the methods of a devil king.

Roy's conduct was based on acting in accordance with his position and status. In his eyes, the only people who truly lived up to the name of Campione devil king were Marquis Voban and Sect Master Luo Hao. Before these two oldest Campiones, who would dare harbor even the slightest disrespectful thought?

The mysterious Lady Aisha could also be considered one of the qualified Campiones. She was a devil king who acted entirely according to her whims, imposing her will on others regardless of whether that will was good or evil.

As for the Campiones born in the New Era, none of them were qualified in Roy's eyes.

Roy's sudden change in temperament made all the magicians present withdraw their earlier thoughts. A Campione was indeed a Campione, and the New King truly was as temperamental as the reports had claimed.

The previous moment had been filled with mutual understanding; the next, he was demanding an answer that touched upon life and death.

"Do you doubt my power? Or do you doubt my identity as a Campione? Is that why you have been paying lip service while disobeying me? I have no interest in performing my Authorities for you like a monkey in a circus, but you can experience them with your own bodies."

Roy suddenly looked toward the commander of the Bronze Black Cross and activated his second Authority.

This was Roy's blatant show of force!

Chapter Fifteen: "Sodom's Sin"

Roy was not someone who bullied the weak with his strength, nor was he the sort of person who became arrogant and lost himself after gaining power.

At heart, he was actually a rather gentle man, as well as one with the ability to think and make decisions.

To be fair, he was not some great man. Otherwise, before crossing into this world, he would not have made a living merely as a photographer.

However, Roy possessed a talent beyond imagination. It was both his code of conduct and his way of acting: he would perfectly embody the position and identity he occupied.

When he was an ordinary person, this way of acting made him even more ordinary. But as he gradually became extraordinary, it would make him even more extraordinary.

If he became a knight, he would strictly hold himself to the principles of knighthood.

If he were a magician, he would spur himself onward in pursuit of truth and the Root.

If he were the Messiah, he would sacrifice everything he had to Save the World.

Roy was such a simple yet complicated person.

Unfortunately, he was currently neither a knight nor a magician. He was a Campione, and he would act in the manner of a Campione!

Those strange, demonic Double Pupils turned toward Dianna Milito, commander of the Bronze Black Cross. Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, the young-looking woman began at her feet and slowly transformed into a pillar of salt.

"Marquis Voban's Authority?!"

"Sodom's Eye!!"

"Dianna, don't move!"

"..."

The entire meeting hall descended into chaos. Everyone panicked. Several commanders of magic societies rose from their seats and anxiously shouted at Dianna, telling her not to move.

Although the Italian Seven Sisters might have been organizational enemies, the commanders had excellent private relationships. It was precisely their alliance that allowed the Italian magical world to develop steadily.

Otherwise, given Italy's peculiar situation—with the headquarters of Christianity, Vatican, stationed there—the country would have fallen into chaos long ago.

Dianna Milito's expression was terrible. Following the others' instructions, she sat motionless in her chair, her face deathly pale as she watched her feet turn to salt. The pillar of salt slowly rose, transforming her calves and thighs into salt.

At this point, anyone who touched the parts of her body that had become salt would cause this powerful magician to lose part of her body.

As the commander of the Bronze Black Cross, Dianna's strength was naturally impressive. She ranked among the strongest figures in the entire Italian magical world. Yet even such a powerful and intelligent magician could lose her life at any moment under a single glance from a Campione.

"Marquis Voban's Authority? No, no. I do not know which god Marquis Voban slew to obtain such a demonic eye, but I do know that his Authority is merely a crippled imitation, a counterfeit. What I possess is the original form of this Authority. It recreates the myth of the destruction of the sinful city of Sodom recorded in the Bible. This is precisely one of my seven Authorities!"

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

The Bible's Genesis recorded that Sodom was one of the five cities of the plain of Moab. It had become notorious before Yahweh for its sinful depravity and indulgence in lust for men. The Lord sent two Angels to destroy the city. Because Sodom contained a righteous man named Lot, whose wife and daughters were also innocent, the Angels rescued him and his family.

Yahweh burned the sinful city to ashes with heavenly fire and sulfur. The Angels had warned Lot and his family to run forward and never look back at Sodom.

But Lot's Wife ignored the Angels' warning. She looked back at Sodom out of concern for it, and thus transformed into a pillar of salt.

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

It was precisely this myth that granted Roy the Authority "Sodom's Sin." Its limitation was that it could only be activated once every three days. But once activated, heavenly fire would descend from above and sulfur would surge up from hell, annihilating an entire city in an instant. It was one of Roy's seven large-area AOE Authorities.

Other Campiones, such as Marquis Voban, possessed Authorities that controlled large-scale natural disasters. But in terms of power, they were absolutely inferior to Roy's Authority, which could be used only once every three days. It could be said that most of Roy's Authorities were of the "instant-kill" variety. Though they had various restrictions, they were all exceptionally powerful.

"Sodom's Eye" was more like an additional state of this Authority. It recreated the divine punishment inflicted on those who disobeyed the Angels' warning. It was a supreme-grade Magic Eye comparable to Medusa's petrifying gaze, capable of turning any living creature into salt. It could even be called the strongest killing move against ordinary magicians and knights. Anyone watched by both of Roy's eyes would die without exception. It was truly killing with a glance.

"Seven Authorities?!"

"How could this be? How could killing a single god grant him seven Authorities? Such a thing has never happened before."

"..."

Roy's words caused another commotion. By then, Liliana was already horrified.

She was a member of the Bronze Black Cross, and Dianna Milito, its commander, was also her magic teacher. Seeing her teacher nearly transformed into a pillar of salt by a single glance from Roy, Liliana knew that the salt had already reached Dianna's abdomen. Once her head became salt, it would be the moment of Dianna's death.

In her panic, Liliana hurriedly recited a spell toward Dianna and cast magic to dispel curses.

"Teacher!"

When she saw that her magic had no effect on the salinification, Liliana panicked.

"Do not waste your effort, Lily... This is the Authority of a god. Ordinary magic cannot dispel it."

Although Dianna was facing death, she could barely remain composed as the commander of the Bronze Black Cross. Seeing that Liliana intended to continue using magic to dispel the curse, she stopped her.

"How could this happen?!"

Seeing that three-quarters of her beloved teacher's body had already become a pillar of salt, tears gradually gathered in Liliana's clear, upright eyes, turning her eye sockets red.

If Dianna had not been an exceptionally powerful magician with potent resistance to magic, she probably would have already been completely cursed into a pillar of salt by the divine punishment.

Looking at her teacher's pale face and despairing eyes as she struggled against the curse, the string of Liliana's reason snapped. Without realizing it, she drew her beloved sword, Silver Master, and pointed its tip toward Roy.

At that moment, a gorgeous scarlet figure flashed past the corner of Liliana's eye. Erica instantly rushed to Liliana's side and seized her slender sword-wielding wrist.

Then a flash of sword light appeared in Erica's left hand. Lionheart was already in her grasp, and with a surprise attack, she knocked the longsword from Liliana's hand, whose reaction speed had fallen sharply after losing her reason.

At the same time, Erica's fingers tightened around Liliana's wrist. When Liliana staggered, Erica drove her knee viciously into Liliana's abdomen, forcing her down onto one knee. The pain brought Liliana's reason and thoughts back.

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

Erica shouted sternly. She then swiftly turned around, planted her sword on the ground, knelt on one knee, and lowered her head toward Roy. "'King,' I am the Great Knight Erica Bluntree of the Bronze Black Cross. We deserve death for offending Your Majesty's dignity. I dare to plead before you and hope that you will forgive our offenses and allow us to retain our useful lives so that we may atone for our transgression!"

After finishing, Erica urgently gestured toward Liliana with her eyes.

Liliana froze for a moment before understanding. She gave Erica a grateful look and hurried over to kneel on the ground as well. Unlike Erica, however, she was not good with words. Her face flushed red, and her eyes were filled with anxious tears.

Chapter Sixteen: King of Italy

"Oh? Lord Erica, are you saying that you intend to atone for your crimes through meritorious service?"

Compared with the inarticulate Liliana, whose face was filled with embarrassment, Roy was more interested in Erica.

"That is precisely what I mean, 'King.' Rather than letting us die, we who remain alive can serve you better and bring you what you need. Thus, I dare to plead before you and hope that you will forgive our offense and pardon the disrespect of the Bronze Black Cross."

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

The other young magicians nearby were filled with admiration at Erica's bold plea. They all knew that Erica and Liliana were close friends, while the Bronze Black Cross and the Bronze Black Cross had been enemies for centuries. Yet even so, for the sake of her friend and the survival of an opposing magic society, Erica had set aside all prejudice and dared to plead before the "cruel" king.

Only the more experienced magicians and the higher-ups of the various magic societies could better understand Erica's intentions. They glanced at Paul Bluntree and secretly envied him. The Bronze Black Cross had already found an excellent heir!

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

Hearing Roy's words, Erica did not hesitate. She raised her pretty face and boldly met Roy's gaze.

She had an exquisitely beautiful face, and her azure eyes were filled with a young noblewoman's dignity and pride. Her splendid golden hair fell loosely around her, forming a sharp contrast with her fair, delicate skin. Most eye-catching of all was the expanse of pale flesh revealed by the wide opening at the chest of her dress, making it difficult to look away.

"Let me ask you a personal question. How old are you this year?"

"Reporting to the 'King,' I am fourteen years old this year."

"Fourteen, huh..."

Roy sighed. In his memories, Erica seemed to be two years younger than she had been when the original story took place. Even so, this girl, who should still have been in junior high school, already possessed the charm of a noblewoman, along with a mind that, though still somewhat immature, was already perceptive and profound.

Roy's sigh over Erica's young age caused the other magicians to grumble inwardly.

Fourteen? What was wrong with being fourteen? According to the reports, this "King" was only sixteen himself.

Yet this sixteen-year-old "King" had seized the perfect opportunity to pressure Italy's magic societies, forcing them to swear allegiance without exerting the slightest effort.

No one had expected this "King" to leave Vatican and personally appear. He had caught them in the middle of their meeting, with both witnesses and evidence present, making it impossible for them to deny having defied the "King's" orders. He had effortlessly claimed the moral high ground.

The Italian Seven Sisters had originally intended to agree upon a unified course of action at this meeting. They would retrieve the King of Swords, who was searching for a Disobedient God in distant Africa. After that, the New King and the Old King would clash. The magic societies merely needed to wait for the two kings to determine the victor, then swear allegiance to the stronger side.

Now Roy had seized upon their defiance of the "King's" orders and was forcing them to swear allegiance directly. If they refused, Roy would have an excuse to execute them all. But if the Seven Sisters Alliance agreed, they would be committing themselves completely and would have to support Roy forever.

Their oath this time was not like the allegiance they had shown Salvatore Tony, in which the rights and obligations remained unclear. Once they took this step, all possibility of betrayal would be cut off. Regardless of who won the future struggle between Roy and Salvatore, the Seven Sisters Alliance would have to stand firmly behind Roy.

This profound wisdom and these methods are hardly befitting a Campione. To be favored by the emperor and accompany the ruler like a tiger... He truly is a terrifying "King."

The leaders of the various magic societies were all skilled manipulators of power. Thus, they understood the deeper meaning of Roy's move: he was forcing them onto a path from which there was no turning back.

"Lord Erica, you may not be very old, but your mind is remarkably clear... You appear to be speaking on behalf of the Bronze Black Cross and personally facing enormous risks, but in truth, you knew from the start that there was no danger at all. If I forgave the Bronze Black Cross, that magic society would owe you a favor. If I did not forgive them, your Bronze Black Cross would suffer no harm either. Instead, you would have used my hand to eliminate an enemy."

"...Hahahaha! Lord Erica, you saw through it long ago. You knew I had no intention of killing you. I was merely giving you a show of force and forcing you to state your position. By taking the initiative to swear allegiance to me at this moment, your status as the 'first to swear allegiance' will give you and the Bronze Black Cross a favorable impression in my eyes. You can then use that goodwill to secure greater benefits and a higher position for the Bronze Black Cross within the Seven Sisters Alliance, throughout Italy, and even among the magic societies of the entire world."

After a pause, Roy continued, "...Is that not so, Lord Erica? Do not lie to me. Tell me what you truly think."

Erica had intended to argue that she was genuinely loyal to the King and had not harbored so many calculations. But after hearing Roy's final words and meeting those strange, mysterious Double Pupils, she opened her mouth, yet could not bring herself to voice her defense. She could only lower her head and say bitterly, "'King,' your insight is as sharp as a torch. You have seen through all my petty thoughts. Trying to guess the mind of the 'King' is disrespectful of me. I ask that you punish me."