A Certain Multiverse's Holy Right

On the bustling streets of Rome, a luxurious car cruised through the city. In its back seat sat a middle-aged man and a young, stunningly beautiful girl.

The man, nearing forty, had a perfectly chiseled face akin to Michelangelo's David. His aura exuded intellect and sophistication as he leaned against the car seat, his steady gaze fixed on the fleeting Roman scenery outside the window, deep in thought.

This was Paolo Blandelli, the leader of the Italian mage association Copper-Black Cross. Summoned by the "King," he had rushed from their headquarters in Milan. However, Paolo was not heading straight to the Vatican for an audience with the King. Instead, he was on his way to the headquarters of the mage association She-Wolf in Rome to hold a critical meeting.

Beside him sat a dazzling Italian girl. She appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, yet her figure was strikingly developed. Her long, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a crimson gown that revealed her snow-white shoulders and a hint of her delicate neckline. Her mature elegance and beauty were captivating, far beyond her years.

Sitting upright, the girl exuded an air of nobility. Her sharp yet composed expression was like a drawn sword, blending the poise of an aristocrat with a subtle fierceness.

"Uncle, aren't we supposed to be going to meet the new King? This doesn't seem like the road to the Vatican but to the She-Wolf headquarters," the girl asked, her melodic voice tinged with curiosity as she glanced out the window with a slight frown.

"Erica, before we pay homage to the King, the 'Seven Sisters' of Italy must convene a meeting. While you've met the other leaders of the six mage associations before, this will be your first time participating in such a formal alliance meeting. Consider this an invaluable opportunity," Paolo replied gently, his words laced with meaning despite their simplicity.

Erica Blandelli's frown eased, her expression hinting at excitement. For her uncle, the leader of Copper-Black Cross, to bring her to such a significant meeting was an acknowledgment of her importance. Perhaps the title of the Diavolo Rosso (Scarlet Devil) was finally going to be passed to her.

But Erica quickly suppressed her emotions. While the prospect of overcoming her rivals and receiving such an honor thrilled her, the deeper implications of this meeting intrigued her even more.

"Uncle, is this because of the new King and Lord Salvatore Doni?" she asked cautiously.

Paolo responded with a slight nod, confirming her suspicion. The air in the car grew heavy, and the two fell silent for the rest of the ride until they arrived at the She-Wolf headquarters.

Beneath Erica's crimson gown, her feet in white silk stockings stepped elegantly into matching red heels. Her shoes clacked sharply on the floor as she walked, drawing the attention of other young magicians in the headquarters. Whether their gazes were admiring, awestruck, or reverent, Erica ignored them. She strode confidently, head held high, following her uncle into the meeting room.

The headquarters was already filled with Italy's most prominent knights and magicians. In the center of the hall was a round table with seven seats—the designated places for the leaders of the Seven Sisters alliance.

Five of the seats were occupied. The seventh seat remained empty because that magical association was currently in turmoil and had not yet chosen a new leader. As a result, they were excluded from this meeting.

Erica scanned the room briefly and quickly spotted a familiar face.

Standing stiffly behind a woman dressed strikingly youthful was a silver-haired knight. Her posture was straight and unwavering, her beautiful features devoid of any girlish softness. Instead, her expression carried the solemnity befitting a knight.

This was Liliana Kranjcar, eldest daughter of the noble Kranjcar family and a member of the magical association Bronze-Black Cross.

Although Copper-Black Cross and Bronze-Black Cross were part of the Seven Sisters alliance, the two Milan-based associations had been rivals for centuries. Thus, Erica and Liliana maintained a cordial yet competitive relationship.

Upon seeing her acquaintance, Erica's elegant features lit up with a playful smile, and she winked at Liliana.

Liliana returned Erica's provocation with a glare before resuming her steadfast posture, refusing to rise to the bait.

Erica let the matter drop and composed herself, matching Liliana's solemnity. She stood behind her uncle with the same decorum. Everyone in this meeting hall was a heavyweight in Italy's magical world. As a junior, any lapse in etiquette would disgrace Copper-Black Cross.

"The esteemed Paolo Blandelli has arrived. Let us begin the meeting promptly. We wouldn't want to keep the new King waiting," said the leader of Capital of Lilies. This youthful man, likely under thirty, had abandoned his birth name and taken on the inherited title of Purple Knight, passed down through the generations of his association's leaders.

Torino, the leader of Olden Dame, added, "There's no need to waste time rehashing the purpose of this meeting. We're all well aware of it. I'll cut to the chase—does anyone have detailed information on the new King? This concerns the survival of our alliance, so I urge complete transparency."

The leader of Bronze-Black Cross—the youthful woman standing in front of Liliana—was Diana Milito. She immediately responded, "Oh, Torino, for you to leave your headquarters, the pressure from the new King must be immense. According to intelligence from the Vatican, the new King is said to be a sixteen-year-old boy, only two years older than Liliana here.

"As for his powers, we can only speculate they are related to Michael. Even the 'idle ones' at Greenwich have failed to uncover more. This King has no recorded battles, and the details of how he slew a god remain a mystery. But since the Vatican has acknowledged him as a Campione, we must treat him with the utmost seriousness. The Vatican's credibility is not in question here."

"Campione have never been powerful magicians…" Paolo interjected calmly. "I've encountered England's Campione, the Black Prince, many times and have seen firsthand the terrifying might of Heretic Gods. Even someone of my skill feels powerless before such beings. Never underestimate a Campione due to their age; they are incomprehensible entities beyond the grasp of knights or magicians."

The room fell silent. Paolo Blandelli, arguably the strongest magician and knight in Italy, had just admitted the futility of resisting Heretic Gods. His words only deepened the weight of the situation, leaving everyone with a profound sense of unease.

"Spare us your tales of glory, Paolo Blandelli! This isn't the time to reminisce about your golden years," Diana snapped sharply. "The information we have on the new King is too sparse. However, what little we know paints him as 'capricious.' We might chalk it up to youthful recklessness, but this meeting is to decide whether we continue supporting Lord Salvatore Doni, our local ally, or abandon him in favor of the new King."

"Pardon my interruption, Lady Milito," Erica said confidently, stepping forward. "May I speak? I have interacted with Lord Salvatore alongside Liliana. His temperament makes loyalty difficult, especially if the new King proves to be as erratic as suspected. Disobeying him might invite severe retaliation. Since our Seven Sisters alliance is not officially subordinate to Lord Salvatore, switching allegiance wouldn't be betrayal. My recommendation is—"

"Erica Blandelli, mind your place," the Purple Knight interrupted coldly. "You may be a promising junior of Copper-Black Cross and a candidate to be the next Diavolo Rosso, but this is no place for you to speak."

Blushing, Erica clenched her fists, swallowing the rest of her words. She took a deep breath and bowed respectfully. "Apologies for my overstep. I ask for your forgiveness, esteemed leaders."

Paolo was about to console his niece when the doors to the meeting room suddenly swung open.

All eyes turned toward the entrance, their brows furrowing in unison. No one else was supposed to join this gathering. Who dared to interrupt such an important meeting?

A young man stood in the doorway, dressed in the robes of a cardinal. His right hand was casually tucked into his pocket as he surveyed the room with an amused expression.

"My dear subjects, how convenient to find you all gathered here. You've saved me the trouble of seeking you out individually. I'm quite pleased by your thoughtfulness. However…" His tone darkened slightly as he continued, "I summoned you to meet me. So, tell me, why am I finding you here, holding a meeting instead?"

At his words, every magician and knight present turned pale.