It wasn't that Roy was overly cautious, or that a Campione inherently distrusted a Heretic God, but Solomon was renowned in history for his "wisdom." The words of such a person naturally carried a sense of unease.
For instance, if Zhuge Liang suddenly claimed he wanted to surrender, those who knew him would not immediately celebrate. Instead, they'd be suspicious, wondering if someone so brilliant and cunning had some hidden agenda.
This was exactly the state Roy found himself in.
"So, my words are that difficult to trust?"
King Solomon's previously solemn face suddenly showed a trace of distress, even appearing somewhat aggrieved—an expression entirely at odds with his earlier majesty.
"To show my sincerity, I will cease resisting. However, I hope you will allow me to finish what I wish to say."
As he spoke, King Solomon slowly released the grip on Roy's fist and even dissipated his magical energy (divine power).
Roy hesitated for a moment before stepping back cautiously to avoid a potential sneak attack. Then he took the opportunity to examine the king in front of him more carefully.
When Solomon had first been summoned, Roy had only taken a cursory glance at his appearance and attire before engaging him in combat. Now, with the immediate battle paused, Roy finally took a closer look at the man.
And then Roy's expression shifted to one of surprise, as he finally recognized which version of Solomon stood before him.
"The Solomon from Fate/Grand Order? Does this mean the new world my right hand connects to is Nasuverse?"
Memories from sixteen years ago resurfaced in Roy's mind. Back when the game was wildly popular, he had tried it out himself. As a professional photographer specializing in cosplay shoots, he needed to not only live in the real world but also immerse himself in otaku culture. If he didn't understand the characters from anime and games, his photos would lack the essence and atmosphere required to convey their personalities—a critical flaw for any photographer.
Roy had never harbored the arrogance of someone from a so-called "real world." In fact, he had long doubted the true nature of his "reality." After traveling to the A Certain Magical Index world, learning magic, and experiencing its reality firsthand, he knew that these people weren't mere fictional characters or NPCs—they were living beings, flesh-and-blood individuals with their own thoughts and emotions.
"If it's that Solomon, he should be trustworthy… right?"
Roy still hesitated. He wasn't a devoted fan, nor was he deeply familiar with the intricacies of the setting. In this tangible and dangerous world, relying solely on past knowledge would be an egregious mistake—a lapse in judgment born of overconfidence in his own memory.
…
"This… is what it feels like to be human."
A flicker of joy appeared on King Solomon's previously solemn and dignified face. He attempted a smile, but it was awkward and stiff, as though he had never smiled in his entire life.
Roy even thought it looked more like a grimace than a genuine smile.
"Apologies, apologies. I've never experienced what it's like to be 'human' before, so my behavior may seem a bit off."
King Solomon no longer resembled a fearsome Heretic God opposing a Campione. He scratched his head, his smile sheepish and tinged with embarrassment. His commanding presence had completely dissipated, leaving behind a figure who seemed almost frivolous. Faced with such an unmotivated demeanor, even Roy found it hard to muster hostility.
"You… aren't human? As King Solomon, weren't you the third monarch of the ancient Jewish kingdom, renowned throughout history as a great ruler?"
Roy studied the man before him, whose demeanor was now entirely reversed. He no longer carried the air of a "king," but rather that of an "ordinary person."
"Ah, I wasn't really planning to discuss this topic," Solomon said, scratching his cheek in mild discomfort. "But since I have a favor to ask, and you've brought it up, I suppose I can explain. The entity known as King Solomon isn't a person—it's a natural-born 'king,' a 'nothingness' devoid of substance. My existence is akin to a preprogrammed machine, fulfilling a symbolic role rather than possessing individual agency. I am merely the final bridge between God and humanity.
"…King Solomon accepted God's blessings, governed his nation, established laws, and earned the love and respect of his people. Once his mission was completed, he quietly awaited death, returning God's gifts to heaven. That is the entirety of King Solomon's purpose. Everything unfolded according to a script written long ago. There was no 'will' of Solomon, for he lacked 'humanity.'"
The king's expression grew melancholic—not out of sadness for his life, but simply because he seemed to embody pessimism itself.
Roy recalled Princess Alice's earlier words during the spirit chant: "He has no emotions inside him and is an inhuman entity deprived of the ability to empathize with the joys and sorrows of others."
In that moment, Roy finally understood what Solomon truly was. He wasn't human; he was a mechanism, a divine intermediary. His mission had been to lead Israel to greatness, then oversee its division, becoming an integral part of the Old Testament's narrative.
Put bluntly, he was a "king" bestowed upon humanity by God to assert divine authority.
Reflecting on this, Roy's gaze toward Solomon changed. There was no trace of pity—he understood that pity could often be the cruelest evil. Instead, he simply remarked, "You're truly unfortunate."
"Your Excellency's words make me feel even worse. Is this what humans call discomfort? It's a feeling I've never experienced before, so I'm not entirely certain."
The king in front of him hesitated, clearly still struggling to grasp the nuances of human emotion.
Then, Solomon glanced at Roy and then at the space behind him, speaking thoughtfully:
"...This world is not the one I originally came from, nor is it any parallel world. How fascinating... could it be that there exist worlds outside the ones I know? My current form is referred to as a Heretic God? Was it you, Your Excellency, who summoned me, or was it the being behind you who brought me here?"
"Can you see Aiwass?"
Roy's surprise was evident. Solomon was the first person Roy had ever seen who could discern the presence of Aiwass, something even Pandora could not achieve.
"If Aiwass is what you call the angelic figure behind you, then yes, I can see it."
King Solomon's tone carried a reserved curiosity, as though he was gradually familiarizing himself with the emotions and nuances of humanity.
"Not only can you perceive Aiwass, but as a visitor from another world, you immediately recognized yourself as the Heretic God upon arrival. I'm genuinely amazed. Is this the wisdom of Solomon?"
Roy marveled aloud. After all, the summoning ritual for the Heretic God did not convey knowledge of this world to the summoned deity. For Solomon to deduce all this independently was extraordinary and fully justified his reputation as "Wise Solomon."
"You are too kind, Sir Roy. The wisdom of Solomon is but a gift from the Lord. It does not belong to me."
King Solomon's voice was sincere, his humility striking. Without hesitation, he acknowledged that his wisdom was divine in origin, bestowed upon him by God, and not an innate attribute.
"And yet, I cannot comprehend why I now possess humanity."
Roy regarded Solomon in silence for a moment, then sighed:
"...I can now confirm it. Solomon's wisdom is indeed God's wisdom, not man's wisdom."
"As for why you now have 'humanity,' I can hazard a guess. The so-called Heretic God is a being freed from the constraints of myth. When the constraints are removed, the meaning of the myth is distorted, allowing the god to manifest on Earth. A benevolent god from legend might become a malevolent force upon its distortion."
"And since you described Solomon as a machine devoid of 'humanity,' then during the summoning ritual of the Heretic God, the mythological concept of Solomon must have been twisted. Freed from the constraints of myth, you transformed into a 'human.'"
Roy explained this, and then he fell into deep worry.
The powers gained by a Campione after defeating a Heretic God were uncontrollable.
"If I kill Solomon and gain the wisdom of 'God,' that would be fine," Roy thought to himself. "But if I gain the wisdom of 'man,' wouldn't that... make me less intelligent?"
In Roy's opinion, King Solomon in front of him did not have any aura of a "king" from his attitude and tone of voice when he was a human being. It was not an exaggeration to say that he was a "waste."
What if I kill him and get infected with his useless temperament?
Just as Roy was struggling, Solomon spoke with a tone of quiet pleading:
"...Sir Roy, I have an unwelcome request. I know the purpose and fate of the existences called the Campione and the Heretic God, and I also know the inevitable end of me as a person from another world, but please, please let me live in this world as a 'human' for seven days, just seven days, and please kill me after seven days!"