A Certain Multiverse's Holy Right

Behind Roy, the Holy Guardian Angel floated in midair. Her long golden hair shimmered faintly, her bare feet dangling weightlessly. A subtle glow enveloped her form as she gazed at Roy's upraised right hand.

At that moment, Aiwass's presence flickered like an unstable signal, her form giving off a transient, snow-like static that threatened to dissolve entirely. Gradually, her figure stabilized again.

Seeing Aiwass on the verge of vanishing, Roy paused in alarm. "...Are you okay, Aiwass?" he asked, concern threading his voice.

For Roy, Aiwass had become indispensable. The thought of something happening to her was unthinkable.

["It's fine,"] Aiwass replied, her voice steady but slightly delayed. ["My 'spirit' momentarily lagged in thought."]

Her eyes fell upon Roy's right hand. For a fleeting moment, she wore an almost human smile, uncharacteristically irritable compared to her usual ethereal detachment. Her tone, too, carried an uncharacteristic sharpness, bordering on contemptuous amusement. ["…Those foolish Magic Gods—the ones who have spent their entire existence pursuing and yearning for this—they would lose their minds if they knew I attained it so effortlessly. I can hardly wait to see the looks on their faces."]

Roy had grown accustomed to Aiwass's unpredictable moods. Despite her angelic status, she was far from an emotionless entity. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that she once had been, but her interactions with humanity had drawn her closer to human sensibilities.

Still, "close" was all it would ever be. Aiwass would never be truly human.

"Hmm, I can sense it. The mysterious space we traveled through earlier—it's now housed in my right hand. My hand has become its carrier." Roy lowered his hand slightly, scrutinizing it as if trying to unravel the secrets hidden within. "Aiwass, what do you think would happen if I cut this hand off? Would something absolutely terrifying burst out?"

Roy's question was delivered in a half-joking tone, but his caution was genuine. He wasn't about to test such a theory. Losing his Campione authority because of a moment of curiosity would be catastrophic.

Aiwass remained silent for a moment. Even she, with all her vast knowledge, had no way to fully comprehend or explain the nature of the enigmatic space now residing within Roy's right hand.

["If you wish to return to the world where Aleister resides, you must tread carefully,"] Aiwass finally said, her tone imbued with a rare hint of seriousness. ["If the Magic Gods were to discover what lies in your right hand, they would pursue it with a madness beyond reason. They would stop at nothing—expend everything—to obtain it."]

Her words hung in the air, heavy with a sense of forewarning.

"This is the second time you've reminded me, Aiwass… Speaking of Magic Gods, I recall Aleister mentioning them in his writings. He used the term 'the ultimate in magic' to describe them. While I can imagine the power of such beings, I can't quite comprehend it."

Returning to the A Certain Magical Index world was a must for Roy. Laura and Aleister's presence awaited there. However, if going back meant becoming a 'tantalizing prize' in the eyes of the Magic Gods, then Roy had no choice but to treat them as hypothetical enemies and prepare a countermeasure ahead of time.

["The only ones who can understand Magic Gods are other Magic Gods. If you ever reach their level, you'll naturally comprehend it—it's unnecessary knowledge that becomes necessary at that stage… Still, you needn't worry too much. Even Magic Gods have their limits."]

"Oh? How so?" Roy raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

["Are you familiar with Island Theory?"] Aiwass asked.

"Somewhat. It's a hypothesis explaining why humanity hasn't discovered extraterrestrial life. The gist is that while the universe is boundless, human exploration and understanding are limited. Each civilization exists as an isolated island, separated by insurmountable distances. Thus, what we call 'the universe' is merely the portion we can observe," Roy replied after a brief pause, summarizing concisely.

["This theory also works to explain the relationships between 'different worlds.' If all universes and dimensions are seen as an infinite ocean, each world is an isolated island in it. The limit of the Magic Gods lies in their inability to cross that ocean or detect other islands. However, the mysterious space residing in your right hand acts as a 'ship' capable of navigating the ocean. Naturally, this makes it a target of the Magic Gods' greed. Their deepest dream and desire is to leave their island and witness the greater expanse beyond."]

["…And the existence that built this 'ship' must be far beyond the Magic Gods. You've obtained this vessel, capable of far-reaching journeys. Whether you reverse-engineer its structure to gain power or use it to explore different islands and acquire new knowledge and treasures, you are freer than the Magic Gods, trapped as they are. This is where you surpass their limits."]

Aiwass' attempt to frame the explanation in simple terms was as much for Roy's confidence as her own interest. As a guest aboard this ship, her own ability to traverse worlds was tied to Roy's well-being as the captain. If he faltered, her journey would end too.

"So essentially, you're telling me to use the thing in my right hand to explore other worlds and gather enough strength to contend with the Magic Gods," Roy said with a laugh, stretching lazily.

Looking down at the runes and spells he'd written on the desk, he added in a tone of mild frustration, "...These are from the knowledge I exchanged bodily with Erica. Her knowledge base isn't large, so it was easy to absorb, but it's far from sufficient to complete this ritual."

Roy glanced back at Aiwass. If he could tap into the immense reservoir of knowledge possessed by this Holy Guardian Angel, his capabilities would increase exponentially, far faster than learning bit by bit through traditional methods.

Noticing Roy's intent, Aiwass chuckled softly. ["…I wouldn't recommend trying to use the witch's 'sex magic' on me to gain knowledge. Just a fraction of what I know could overwhelm your current mental capacity. Besides, as a 'spiritual form,' I lack a physical body and am incapable of performing such magic."]

Pausing briefly, Aiwass continued, ["...Another part of my consciousness remains with Aleister. He's executing a certain plan. Should it succeed, I will gain a physical form. If you can bear the weight of my knowledge by then, I can transfer what is necessary to you."]

Aiwass displayed little resistance to the idea of passing knowledge through intimate contact but was more concerned about Roy's mental and physical ability to handle her toxic, overwhelming insights.

"Your consciousness remains partly with Aleister? And you can still sense what's happening in another world from here?" Roy asked, his curiosity shifting. Compared to physical interaction with a corporeal Aiwass, the mechanics of inter-world connections interested him more.

["Think of it this way: split a particle in two, place each half at opposite ends of the universe, and they still resonate. That's my consciousness. If you'd like, I could even report Aleister's actions and thoughts back to you… Let's call it being an undercover agent."]

Aiwass betrayed Aleister without hesitation. To her, Aleister was a curiosity—a fascinating project to observe. However, Roy represented something essential to her own pursuits, making him far more critical. Her priorities were crystal clear.

"I find myself increasingly interested by your nature, Aiwass! As the Secret Chief, what sort of position do you truly hold?"

Roy regarded Aiwass' faintly glowing form, not with the eyes of a man appraising a woman, but as an explorer contemplating the unknown.

["The Kabbalistic theory of the Four Worlds divides existence into the Archetype World, Creation World, Formation World, and Material World. I am an angel of the Material World. I preside over all that is closely connected to humanity. %$*$%"]

Aiwass' voice became ethereal again, layered with electromagnetic undertones, indicating that parts of her explanation were automatically blocked by Roy's mind.

"So… you're actually a Physics Angel? But the knowledge and powers you use seem to belong to the domain of 'magic.'"

Roy appeared stunned. In his imagination, a Physics Angel should be metallic and machine-like, perhaps wielding positron cannons or generating sophons, light-speed engines, and the like with a wave of their hand.

Perhaps sensing Roy's mental image, Aiwass let out a laugh—a mixture of sacred mystery and devilish allure. ["...What you are thinking about belongs to macroscopic physics. Humanity has already begun to dabble in the microscopic world. In the quantum realm, many phenomena defy human scientific understanding, appearing more like magic."]

Hearing this, Roy shrugged. "…This really is a case of 'when in doubt, use quantum mechanics.' But you're right—quantum phenomena are so bizarre they seem magical. Even paradoxes, which are contradictions in human logic, are permissible in the microscopic domain."

He exhaled, glanced at the electronic screen on the wall, and waved his hand dismissively. "…Forget it. These matters are still too far off. I'll move forward step by step. We've arrived in Jerusalem. After a few days of rest to recover all my authorities, I'll perform the summoning ritual for the Heretic God."

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(T/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter.)