Multiverse's Holy Right

"Ha, just made it in time to prevent the disaster from escalating."

Roy was no altruistic do-gooder who'd exhaust himself saving a city. However, having learned about Lady Aisha's authority and its potential consequences through the Greenwich Assembly and his 'Clairvoyance', he had no choice but to intervene personally to quell the disturbance—if only to avoid getting entangled in greater troubles.

Using his own authority Face of God, Roy took control over Lady Aisha's Charm or Curse, thereby converting the citizens who had fallen under her spell into his own followers.

This ability to forcibly distort others' faith was inherent to Face of God, though it proved ineffective against Campiones or Heretic Gods. Nor had Roy ever employed it before, as he had no need for such fanatical devotion from ordinary people.

Yet now this power served its purpose magnificently. Unlike the erratic nature of Lady Aisha's authority, Roy wielded his with perfect control, thus resolving the crisis.

'This is just exchanging one crisis for another,' thought the local Athenian magician, watching the scene with horrified chills. Campiones were indeed demon kings, so casually warping human will. And judging by King Roy's attitude, he seemed utterly nonchalant about it.

As a magician, he could discern that this authority didn't just affect ordinary people—it held terrifying potency even against magicians like himself. The thought of losing his free will to become a mindless zealot filled the head of Athens' magical association with dread. Campiones truly stood beyond mortal opposition. A single word, a mere glimpse of his face, could strip away everything.

"My faithful, return to your homes and pray there to the Lord we worship! For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son—that is, me—that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life!"

Roy shamelessly equated himself with the Messiah, and those under his authority genuinely accepted him as God's only begotten Son, the Christ incarnate.

The crowds in the streets knelt once more, cheering from their hearts before rising to depart—each step backwards taken with reverent bows, their faces alight with fervent obedience as they returned home.

In the blink of an eye, the streets stood empty.

"Money!"

Roy extended his left hand with this single word. While the Athenian magician stood baffled, Erica flashed a sly smile and swiftly produced a 500-euro note from her purse, placing it in Roy's palm.

Roy felt deeply gratified. After over a year together, their tacit understanding had grown remarkably. This exceptionally clever girl had truly become his most valuable assistant.

After obtaining the high-denomination euro note, Roy slowly walked over to the stall where Lady Aisha had eaten without paying. The stall owner had also fallen under his authority and gone home. He placed the 500 euros in the cash box and said to Lady Aisha, "...Eating without paying isn't a good behavior, madam!"

Lady Aisha's face flushed red. Although she hadn't intentionally eaten without paying—it had been beyond her control—from the outcome, she did indeed appear suspicious of doing so.

"Thank you so much for helping me out, sir!" Lady Aisha said gratefully, though it wasn't clear whether she was thanking Roy for releasing her from his authority, paying for her meal, or perhaps both.

Roy took this moment to carefully observe the mysterious queen. Although Lady Aisha was referred to as 'Lady,' she had never been married—the title was merely a respectful honorific from the world. She was a typical Indian woman with olive-brown skin and a slender, delicate frame. However, the ample swell of her chest left Roy with no doubt that, much like Erica, she could fully envelop a certain part of him with that decadent softness.

Her features were sharply defined, not stunning at first glance but remarkably enduring in their appeal—the kind that grew more captivating the longer one looked. Like many Indian women, she possessed a unique charm.

What stood out most was that despite appearing no older than seventeen or eighteen, Lady Aisha exuded a benevolent compassion that easily evoked the image of a 'holy mother.' Even though she had been a Campione for over a hundred and fifty years—suggesting she was far from young—she still retained the innocent exuberance of a girl, a woman who seemed eternally free from worries, living in perpetual happiness.

At the moment, Lady Aisha looked rather disheveled, her clothes dirty and unkempt. The fact that the shopkeeper had allowed her to dine earlier spoke to his kindness—she looked almost like a beggar.

Born into India's lowest caste, without even a surname, she had once been treated as little more than a slave in the past. Gentle and kind by nature, she had worked as a maid for an English noble family. Beloved by them, she was taken from the chaos of India to England. The exact circumstances of her becoming a Campione remained obscure, known only through rough estimates. Rumors even claimed she had once left Marquis Voban and Luo Hao humiliated, making her an exceptionally enigmatic Campione.

Roy recalled the reports from the Greenwich Assembly while using his Clairvoyance to glimpse into Lady Aisha's past. In an instant, he had pieced together most of the puzzle surrounding this mysterious woman.

"A-Ah—G-God! A Heretic God!"

Only now did Lady Aisha belatedly notice Athena. She stumbled backward in panic, even hiding behind the food cart. Her expression held neither the murderous impulse typical of a Campione encountering a Heretic God nor the terror of an ordinary person facing one. Instead, she simply looked flustered—utterly at a loss.

"Hmph. That look, as if I were some cockroach, is truly detestable," Athena snorted, displeased with Lady Aisha's reaction.

Indeed, her reaction was identical to that of a woman suddenly spotting a cockroach.

"Goddess, I don't want to fight... Please, I really don't like fighting. I don't even know how. In the past, I only killed gods out of necessity—they were the ones who kept chasing me down, forcing me to fight back."

Lady Aisha spoke with a sorrowful expression.

This was no lie, but the absolute truth. Though a Campione, Lady Aisha had no desire to battle Heretic Gods. Becoming a Campione had never been her intention. From her demeanor alone, one could see that so-called Campiones relied entirely on fortune to slay gods.

"Though the stench upon you disgusts me, my freedom no longer belongs solely to me. Until Roy gives the order, I shall not strike at you."

Athena merely cast a disdainful glance at Lady Aisha, showing no intention of attacking.

Roy looked at Athena with surprise. For this proud goddess to openly admit she would follow his commands in such a setting was truly giving him face. Could it be that Athena also understood the secret of preserving a man's dignity in public?

"Do not look at me so. I am a goddess who understands righteousness. Be grateful for this."

Noticing Roy's astonished gaze, Athena slightly turned her head away and spoke in a haughty tone.

Roy didn't expose her pride, simply smiling as he said, "...As Athena says, as long as you don't attack her, Lady Aisha, she won't attack you either. Of course, if you truly cannot restrain yourself from striking, then as one aligned with the goddess, I would have no choice but to regrettably kill you here."

Roy casually took the side of the Heretic Gods, the enemies of Campiones, issuing a declaration of slaughter against his own kind.

At this, an unconsciously beautiful smile appeared on Athena's lovely face, clearly pleased with Roy's proclamation.

"Eh? Sir, are you... friends with this goddess Athena?"

Lady Aisha looked at Roy in astonishment. Though Campiones couldn't sense each other, when Roy had earlier activated his authority, she had already discerned his identity.

"You could describe it that way, Lady Aisha."

"Friends! How wonderful! So Campiones don't necessarily have to be enemies with Heretic Gods after all. In the past, I've met several Heretic Gods. Each time I enthusiastically tried to befriend them, but these gods would immediately try to kill me upon sight—utterly unreasonable! In the end, I had no choice but to slay them to protect myself."

Lady Aisha's expression became one of relief, as if her long-held wish had finally been fulfilled. She looked between Roy and Athena, her blue eyes brimming with excitement.

"Madam, this commotion has already drawn the attention of ordinary people. Shall we continue our conversation elsewhere?"

Seeing how this not-so-young lady was as gullible as a country girl visiting the city, Roy tempted her with the suggestion.

"Of course! I have many questions I'd like to ask you, sir."

Completely unaware of city folk's tricks, Lady Aisha nodded vigorously with joy.

***

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