Divine Right of Various Anime and Manga

"Decided, I'll go to the Roman Vatican Curia in Italy and find the Crossists! The god I killed was the 'God-like Being' Michael, and now I count as Michael's earthly incarnation—the very one the Crossists should kneel to. In the name of 'Michael,' slaughtering pagan gods and heretical archangels should fit their doctrine perfectly, making them serve me with all their hearts!"

Roy clapped his hands and immediately settled on his destination—the Vatican in Rome, Italy.

As for whether the Curia would be willing to pledge allegiance, Roy never bothered to think about it. He was the wanton Demon King on earth, acting solely on his whims.

Roy had one life principle: he would always do what befitted his identity.

Just like in the Toaru Majutsu no Index world, where he was Laura's brother, he made himself the best and most excellent brother, perfectly fulfilling everything the role of 'brother' demanded.

And now, as a Campione, a Demon King on earth, he would act according to the Demon King's code: those who followed would thrive, those who resisted would perish. If the Curia was willing to serve him, excellent; if not, Roy wouldn't mind using his "Divine Right" to wipe out two thousand years of their history.

"Judging the Curia with the Power of Michael—people will only think it's the Curia's fall, their disappointment to God, because the righteous Archangel can never be wrong!"

Roy chuckled softly, quickening his pace as he spotted signs of human habitation.

Among his "Divine Right" was an Authority useful for travel, but since most of his Authorities had daily time or usage limits, using one for travel instead of combat felt wasteful. So Roy chose to walk until he found people, then use human transportation to reach Italy.

His right hand, wrapped in a red cloth, was tucked into his pocket. That cloth was the 'Shroud of Turin' he'd found in that desert cave magic workshop. He did this because his strongest Authority among the seven involved the 'Lord of Hosts' and 'King of Kings'—the one true god of Christianity, "Yahweh."

This Authority had many restrictions but was also exceptionally powerful and hard to control.

Without restraint, his right hand would manifest 'anomalies,' so he used the Shroud's divine effect to bind it, making those 'anomalies' vanish.

Before Roy appeared a hill shaped like a sand dune, not very tall, with many vehicles parked at its base. People were exploring the hill, seemingly engaged in archaeological work.

Among those busy with instruments at the foot of the hill, someone spotted Roy. Seeing his shabby clothes and solitary figure, they assumed he was a lost traveler. After exchanging a few words with a companion, they hurried over.

"Hey, friend! I think you might need some help!"

It was a Western male with blond hair and blue eyes, around his late twenties, greeting Roy warmly.

"Need a doctor? Or we could lend you a phone to contact the embassy in Jerusalem."

The man ran over, and upon getting closer and seeing Roy's face, he was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected Roy to be so young—only about fifteen or sixteen from the looks of it. Under the silver hair cut to ear length were a pair of eerie Double Pupils, and his aura felt strangely contradictory, like a man, a woman, a child, and an elder all at once, leaving one lost in a fog.

"...Uh, or do you need to contact your parents?"

The blond, blue-eyed man hesitated. Though Roy's clothes were shabby, his spirit was full, and he didn't seem like a lost traveler at all.

"Thanks, but I think all I need right now is a glass of water."

"Oh, sure! Wait a moment!"

The young man quickly ran off to get bottled water. Somehow, even though the boy before him looked young, this nearly thirty-year-old adult felt an instinctive fear, like encountering a wild beast in a jungle—a terror signal sent by his brain.

Roy also gleaned a piece of information: this was indeed Israel.

After seeing the magic workshop in the desert cave belonged to a Jewish Magician, he'd already guessed his location from the surrounding environment, and now this Western man confirmed it.

"What are you all doing here? Archaeology?"

Roy took the bottled water the man handed him, took a sip, and asked.

"Oh, yes, we're doing archaeology. I'm a doctoral student, out here with my advisor for an archaeological survey."

Hearing Roy's question, the man's eyes lit up, and he began chattering away. Maybe he wasn't very important in this team, so he got excited at the chance to talk about his expertise with someone willing to listen.

"Our subject is the Jewish 'First Temple'—the legendary Temple of Solomon. Though the Bible describes King Solomon and his temple, actual archaeological evidence about Solomon is scarce, leading many to doubt whether King Solomon ever existed."

"...Based on our study of ancient maps, this should be the heart of Ancient Jerusalem, Mount Murray. Traditionalists believe the Temple of Solomon stood on Mount Murray, and now we're searching for its ruins."

Listening to the man's words, Roy nodded inwardly, his interest piqued.

"The Temple of Solomon? Solomon the Wise? Now that's something interesting."

Roy looked up at the many people carefully digging on Mount Murray, their movements so cautious, as if afraid any big action might damage the ruins they were exploring.

But Roy didn't want to wait. He didn't care about historical value either. The only thing that intrigued him was the name 'Solomon.'

He lightly lifted his foot, infused it with Magic Power, then stomped heavily onto the ground.

"Boom——"

The earth trembled. The doctoral student in front of him stumbled and fell with a cry. At the same time, the dune-like Mount Murray began to shake. The Sand Sea collapsed, the peak shattered, and a crack split the ground. Amid the tremors, fissures spread across the main body of Mount Murray.

"What's happening? An earthquake?"

"Everyone, watch out!!"

"The mountain... the mountain's collapsing... Mount Murray is collapsing!!"

"..."

Roy watched the collapse of Mount Murray expressionlessly, waiting for the possible temple ruins inside the mountain.

This was the only Authority among his seven that had no time or usage limits—usable anytime as long as he had Magic Power.

This Authority was the ancient wrestling technique recorded in the Bible, the strongest method for grappling with archangels: "Jacob's Ladder"!

Chapter 10: Solomon's Divine Artifact

The man said: Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.

In the Bible. Genesis, a story is recorded describing Jacob wrestling with an angel at the ford of Jabbok on his return to Canaan.

And in the Book of Zerubbabel, Michael answered Zerubbabel: I am the one who wrestled with Jacob at the ford of Jabbok.

One of the seven Authorities Roy obtained from Michael, "Jacob's Ladder," came from this very tale.

Jacob is the ancestor of the Israelites, meaning "one who prevails with God," and "Jacob's Ladder" is an unparalleled martial art capable of defeating even an archangel, carrying the mythic power of the Bible!

Roy had once been a third-rate magician with no training in martial arts, but now, relying on this Authority, he had become a martial artist who had reached the pinnacle of "martial prowess," approaching the "Way."

This peerless combat art, born from wrestling with an archangel, was never meant for mortal hands.

A Campione was exactly that kind of exaggerated existence—everything a mortal might spend a lifetime striving for, tasting every bitterness and sweetness, shedding blood and sweat to obtain, was utterly beneath a Campione's notice.

The great feat of slaying a god was itself a miracle; over the millennia, only a scant dozen or so individuals had been granted this honor.

The Magic Power Roy had infused into the ground beneath him gradually dissipated, and the tremors shaking the earth slowly ceased. The heart of Ancient Jerusalem, Mount Murray, collapsed into a field of shattered rubble and broken tiles.

Archaeologists on Mount Murray groaned as they got up from the ground covered in fine sand and gravel, frantically beginning to search around. Their expressions seemed to fear that this inexplicable "earthquake" might have completely destroyed any potential ruins here.

"Th-this... this is..."

One archaeological expert suddenly cried out in alarm. Trembling, he used tweezers to pick up a pottery shard from a dune of debris, holding it close to his eyes for a careful examination.

"This is an artifact from the early Kingdom of Judah! This place really might be the site of the Temple of Solomon!"

The archaeologist's shout caused a commotion among the others. Many crowded around, and even the doctoral student who had been "hosting" Roy gave him a quick nod before excitedly running over.

"Aiwass, can you sense anything related to the divine here?"

Watching the archaeologists gather in animated discussion, Roy asked Aiwass, who stood behind him, invisible to ordinary eyes.

A Campione was not omnipotent, especially in terms of perception—they were quite mediocre. Unless facing a Disobedient God, where instinct would immediately identify them, two Campione could sit together drinking afternoon tea without ever realizing the other was their kind if neither displayed their power.

"I am not an angel good at searching, and I have no particular affinity for perception or detection."

Though Aiwass said this, she paused briefly before pointing Roy in the right direction. "...Seventy meters in this direction, underground, there is an existence with a mysterious aura. If you were to dig, it would likely take quite some time."

"You really are a capable angel."

Roy gave Aiwass a approving smile, then said, "...No need to dig. I am a Campione, a lawless Demon King. To me, mortal historical artifacts hold no value. Excavation is the work of ordinary people or magic societies. What I need to do is simply—"

Following Aiwass's guidance, Roy walked seventy meters away. He raised his fist and activated his Authority once more, swinging it down at the already shattered ruins of Mount Murray.

"Boom--------"

Fine sand burst into a misty veil, spraying a hundred meters into the air. Cracks spread across the ground beneath Roy's feet, and with a rumbling crash, the earth collapsed again, forming a crater as if struck by a meteor.

The cheers of the archaeologists around him abruptly cut off. Each of them swallowed hard, staring dumbfounded at Roy's inhuman, terrifying power.

As ordinary people, they would have been amazed just by seeing a magician's abilities. Now, witnessing a Campione—known as the "Demon King on Earth"—whose power far exceeded mortal imagination, their nerves were utterly shaken.

Only then did they realize that the "earthquake" earlier was no natural phenomenon; it was most likely caused by this terrifying young boy.

Ignoring the terrified gazes around him, Roy crouched down and swept his left hand into the sand sea beneath his feet. As the grains slipped through his fingers, a simple, ancient ring appeared in his palm.

"A Bronze Artifact? A Divine Artifact? Could it be the legendary ring of wisdom that Solomon used to command demons in his service? The occult demonology text Lemegeton records that King Solomon was an excellent demon summoner—maybe it's true?"

Roy weighed the ring in his left hand. It was indeed an immortal Divine Artifact, one connected to the divine.

However, Divine Artifacts were not usable by just anyone, especially this one tied directly to Solomon. Roy was not Solomon, so he could not harness it. But because of its deep connection to Solomon, it could serve as material for certain ritual magic.

Roy pocketed the ring. Some of the archaeologists nearby opened their mouths, wanting to protest that it was a valuable relic and ask him to put it down, but recalling the overwhelming power he had displayed, each wisely chose to shut up.

Among them, only one person showed shock and reverence. He had sensed the overwhelming, abyss-like Magic Power Roy emitted when using his Authority and boldly guessed his identity.

"I... is there anything I can do for you, 'King'?"

After hesitating and struggling for a long moment, the man who recognized Roy stepped forward tremblingly, lowering his head in deference.

Though stepping into a Campione's line of sight was dangerous, it also represented an opportunity.

The other archaeologists were astonished to see their benefactor suddenly become so humble, privately wondering if this youth was some kind of big shot.

No—someone with power nearly monstrous like that couldn't be anything but a big shot!

"A magician?"

Though Roy was a third-rate magician himself, he could recognize one at a glance when the other proactively revealed his magical aura without hiding his identity.

"Yes, 'King,' I am from England—"

"Stop. I have no interest in which country or which magic society you belong to. I have only one request: prepare a clean new set of clothes for me, and then arrange a ticket to Rome, Italy. As for identification and such, you handle it yourself."

Though he had never met this magician before, Roy commanded him as if he were a loyal servant.

The magician, in turn, found this perfectly natural. Seeing that the "King" did not wish to know his identity, he dared not say more and quickly agreed.

Before long, a chartered plane took off from Jerusalem, Israel, carrying its sole passenger to Rome, Italy.

Chapter 11: Dominating Christianity

The Seventh Campione has appeared.

According to the "King" himself, his name is Roy Crowley. After investigating all individuals worldwide with the same name, no past records of the New King were found; it is suspected to be a pseudonym.

The first person to witness the New King was a magician subordinate to the Council of Sages of Greenwich, encountered at Mount Murray, the heart of Ancient Jerusalem.

Based on investigations around Mount Murray and findings in the magic workshop of a secret Jewish sect in Israel, it is inferred that the god slain by the New King was Archangel Michael.

Michael, the most famous archangel of the Abrahamic Pantheon, is recorded in the Tanakh, the Bible (New Testament), and the Quran. He stands at the right hand of God, renowned for his deeds, symbolized by "fire," and serves as the Supreme Commander of the Angelic Host, the angel of "victory and war," and the only angel bearing the title of Archangel.

Due to Michael's illustrious achievements, the Authority gained by the New King cannot be guessed.

(Note: Under no circumstances should the New King's authority be tested—he is one of the Demon Kings who stands above us.)

—Excerpt from the Council of Sages of Greenwich's Investigation Report on the Seventh Campione, Roy Crowley

Northwest of Italy's capital, Rome, lies the Vatican—the stronghold of Christianity.

Roy sat in the library of the Roman Curia at the Vatican, flipping through two thousand years of Christianity's accumulated secrets and grimoires. As the heart of the world's most renowned faith, the Vatican housed a collection of knowledge books beyond the imagination of other Magic Societies and organizations.

"Among the other six Campiones besides me, there are magicians, but none who devoted their lives to the arcane arts as masters. In fact, some of the Campiones were once of lowly status, only completing the feat of god-slaying through sheer luck."

"...This proves the saying that 'not every top-tier magician becomes a Campione, 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, speaking with no small amount of sarcasm.

He wore a resplendent red Cardinal Robe, with a silver cross pinned to his chest. This robe was exceptionally ornate, woven with gold and silver threads, embroidered with mystical runes symbolizing Christianity, and intricately carved with micro-engraving techniques depicting mythological stories from the Bible in the finest details.

The Cardinal Robe was specially designed, with a pocket woven from the Shroud of Turin on the right side. Roy often kept his right hand in this pocket, using the shroud's properties to conceal the anomaly on that hand. The robe also lent Roy an even more priestly aura.

"But I can understand the thinking of those Campiones. No matter how much mortal knowledge they accumulate, it can't stand against a Disobedient God. So they dismiss this arcane knowledge as useless dregs, little realizing that even Pandora's Dark Offering is just a sufficiently complex Grand Ritual that touches the essence of this world."

Roy seemed to be talking to himself, but he was actually chatting with Aiwass behind him. Though Aiwass was hardly a good conversational partner—this Holy Guardian Angel could be sharp-tongued at times and didn't much care for constant chatter, preferring to observe as a bystander.

After leaving Jerusalem, Israel, Roy had charged straight to the Vatican in Rome without hesitation. He had expected that, as the two-thousand-year-old stronghold of Christianity, the Vatican would stubbornly refuse to surrender. He had even prepared to force their submission with violence.

But reality caught him off guard. Upon learning of Roy's identity, the Vatican Curia offered no resistance at all, instead elevating him on a pedestal. When they discovered that the god he had slain was Michael, these church officials shamelessly crowned him with the title of 'Holy Son.'

It was only then that Roy fully grasped the status Campiones held in this world. For a Magic Society, pledging allegiance to a Campione was no insult but an honor—even for a religious body as massive as Christianity.

The Christianity of this world wasn't as powerful as imagined, simply because Disobedient Gods existed. For the doctrine of 'The One God' in Christianity, the existence of Disobedient Gods was itself the greatest blow to its teachings. Especially since those pagan Disobedient Gods were immensely powerful—even the full might of Christianity couldn't defeat one. Only Campiones could fight Disobedient Gods.

Under these circumstances, if a Campione was willing to offer them protection, the Christian church was naturally eager to accept. Particularly since Roy's authority was that of the sacred Archangel Michael, not some pagan deity—to Christianity, this was undoubtedly the Lord's blessing.

Because Christianity held so much intelligence and knowledge, they understood better than most the inviolability and might of Campiones. After Roy descended upon Christianity as the 'Holy Son,' he too came to learn some hidden secrets.