"Do you know the Queen of Sheba?"
Diehauser Belial's question was met with a puzzled response from the Professor, who couldn't understand why such an obvious thing was being asked.
"Of course I know her. She was one of Solomon's consorts, right?"
But the reactions of Masaomi Yaegaki and Lint Sellzen, who were present, were different.
"The Queen of Sheba? Uh, is her name Shibano or something?"
"Huh, there was someone like that? Solomon had a ton of wives and lovers, so I don't know them all."
"What?"
It was strange that two former Church members, who should be well-versed in the Old Testament, didn't know of the Queen of Sheba.
To begin with, the Old Testament clearly describes the Queen of Sheba.
"So, Solomon's wife, huh? Sounds like she played a significant role in your world, this Queen of Sheba."
"Could it be she doesn't exist in this world?"
"I don't know."
Not here, not absent, just unknown. The influence of Truth distorts myths, affecting their legends and powers. But it doesn't alter the fact of existence. Multiple entities might be treated as one, but the fact of having been there cannot be erased. The Beast of Revelation, once unknown, being recognized worldwide proved that.
"My bloodline carried the will of the God of the Bible, not just commands but warnings: 'Ensure Solomon isn't swayed by the Queen of Sheba again.'"
"Again?"
If the God of the Bible was so wary, her existence was certain. It couldn't refer to the Queen of Sheba from the F world. Warnings about F would mention outliers like the King of Heroes instead.
"But I couldn't figure out who the Queen of Sheba was. I confirmed a kingdom called Sheba existed in Solomon's time, but details about its ruler were unclear. It's not just a lack of time—neither human nor supernatural records existed. It wasn't forgotten, erased, or distorted; it was as if she never existed."
"…The God of the Bible's warning under the name 'Queen of Sheba' makes it clear He wasn't involved. That leaves the true culprit unclear… or perhaps Solomon himself."
There are cases like Phenex, but only the King of Magecraft and the One God seem adept at wielding Truth. Maybe the Messiah too.
"I suspect the same. And the histories of F and this world are similar. If the Queen of Sheba was Solomon's wife, she was likely the decisive motive for altering the star. Given God's caution, it's highly probable."
"If she existed here and Solomon erased her records, that's a theory we can't ignore."
The Professor moved to contact Goetia urgently but recalled a hypothesis from the Star of Insight.
"If that hypothesis is correct, it's not a welcome development. As the charismatic villain, I don't want to be toyed with by some clichéd 'who's the real mastermind' joke."
Hearing Naberius' command, Cao Cao shook his head reluctantly.
"Time to go, Xenovia. …Still, a failure? With the Professor and Baal, what happened?"
"Don't grab my collar! I'm not a cat! Irina, our duel's on hold!"
Mordred answered Cao Cao's question, and Irina responded to Xenovia's parting shot.
"Sorry, but if you were targeting Agreas, my father's probably shot it down by now."
"Serves you right, Xenovia, you idiot! Next time we fight, you'll convert!"
"Shut up. …Agravain, that jerk, saddling me with weirdos."
Cao Cao, feeling a strange kinship with Mordred's irritation, teleported using a pre-prepared craft, followed by other Hero Faction members.
Meanwhile, the Evil Dragons, revived for their first major battlefield, were still exhilarated.
"Guhahaha! What's wrong? Die, you trash!"
"Didn't you hear the order? Retreat, Evil Dragons."
Sabnock's command was met with the dragons' characteristic ferocity.
"Huh? What's that? Things are just getting fun!"
"More, more fighting!"
"Agreas' strategy failed. Berserker's in combat, but Asia Argento is heading this way."
"Alright, time to go."
"Let's go."
Grendel's attitude flipped, and Níðhöggr's tone shifted.
"Need healing? In your state, you'll face her 'treatment.'"
"Yeah, please."
"Please."
Tiamat, battered by the two, was stunned by their transformation.
"What's with you guys!? You're not that obedient!"
"Shut up! You don't know how terrifying the princess is!"
They were crying. Dragons feared across mythologies, once utterly destroyed, wailed like children scared of a shot.
"Poisoned? Scales peeled off. Burned? Slathered with medicine. Bathed and left soaked? Slapped. Try eating a stray beast? Forced to vomit. Disobey? Shot at. Why's a dragon managed by a human's healthcare!?"
"Ugh, remembering it makes me nauseous…"
The Church warriors, hearing the Evil Dragons' lament, exchanged glances.
"Asia Argento, that 'witch,' right?"
"Y-Yeah. The former saint who heals even Devils, a big deal in the Church…"
"I heard she's a frail girl."
"No frail girl scares Evil Dragons."
"Must be a namesake. Has to be."
Grendel's voice carried murderous intent unfit for a dragon, laced with uncharacteristic rage.
"Who just called her a witch?"
The warriors froze under his deadly gaze. Dulio, the strongest exorcist, stood before them, his Longinus Zenith Tempest intact. Its wide-range, high-power kept Church casualties minimal against dragons and Demon Gods.
"Hey, if you're retreating, go. No point fighting anymore."
"Huh?"
"Grendel, I repeat: retreat."
"…Tch. Got it, Sabnock."
The Demon God Pillars and Evil Dragons teleported, leaving the Church warriors, the newly arrived Knights of the Round Table, Fallen Angels, and two Heroic Spirits.
Fallen Angel leaders Armaros and Tamiel faced the two warriors: a red-haired boy with a sword and a blonde youth with a spear.
"Who are you? Demon God Pillar allies?"
"Wait, Armaros. Look."
Tamiel pointed to the dragon's head the blonde carried—Tannin's, a top-class Devil. Both were bloodied, mostly from their foes.
"The retreat order was given. Aren't you going?"
"We're not with the Demon God Pillars but rather this Solomon's side."
"What… Aren't the Demon God Pillars Solomon's kin?"
"Nope."
"And we're here to take your heads. Arriving before the Demon God Pillars could kill you, and their retreat, was fortunate. Why? Simply put, killing you grants our wish."
They readied for combat. The Fallen Angels were exhausted from fighting the Demon God Pillars, their subordinates mostly dead or injured. The two Heroic Spirits were at their peak, minor damage aside, ready to fulfill their wish by defeating the Fallen Angels.
"Our pact with Solomon: 'Two Fallen Angel heads each' for a 'Holy Grail' that grants any wish. We've got it already, usable anytime, but taking the reward first isn't very honorable, right?"
"Lancer aside, my wish can't be achieved normally. Solomon's offer was too tempting."
"Foolish… Do you know what kind of king he is?"
"Exactly why."
Archer called that king a deceiver, but he was sincere about love. That's why he summoned these two. If it was just strength, hatred for the supernatural, or simple desires, other Heroic Spirits would've sufficed.
"Also, I killed Baraqiel."
"I took Sahariel."
"…You confess? For Baraqiel's daughter, I'll take you down!"
"This is personal."
Rama aimed his sword at Armaros.
"Not as a warrior against the supernatural, but as a man whose love was stolen by it."
The Fallen Angel, obsessed with tokusatsu, reminded him of that Rakshasa King.
"I won't forgive you."
Seeing the reactions to the Queen of Sheba's name, Lev nodded gravely.
"As expected. If you're truly Solomon, you couldn't not know her."
"…"
Hyoudou Issei-Solomon remained silent, his expression hidden by his armored helm.
"I just confirmed urgently: her record exists in this world. But humans and supernaturals here can't perceive it. It's written but unreadable, spelled but unseen. They don't even notice they can't notice. For three thousand years, people passed down her lore without recognizing her existence. This is the true curse of Truth—Solomon's checkmate against the mastermind."
"…"
Rias Gremory, in her hazy consciousness, struggled with the phrase "this world." Still, she was relieved Hyoudou Issei hadn't attacked her of his own will.
"If she doesn't exist here, it makes sense Devils don't know her. But Solomon must know. He's seen our world, where the Queen of Sheba stood by his side."
"…"
Archer agreed inwardly. He'd discussed this with Solomon. His yearning for that world drove him to birth the Beast of Humanity here. He envied that world's Solomon, so he should know the woman by his side—especially one the Demon God Pillars emphasized.
"Worn out and forgotten? Nonsense. You knew my name, Lev Lainur, even correcting to Flauros. If you're Solomon, you couldn't forget the woman closest to a man sharing your name."
"…"
Rizevim Livan Lucifer watched the events unfold, or rather, let them pass. Given his nature, he'd already received Solomon's reward upfront, a testament to Solomon's skill in ensuring compliance.
"Not interested in Solomon's associates? Rejected, for the same reason. Even my name, Lev Lainur, mattered to you. You'd need to remember her for balance."
"…"
Lev Lainur wove his words, pitying the Beast and feeling anger and disgust at its true nature. He'd reached the despicable truth of three thousand years ago.
"Thus, you're not Solomon. You're a multiple personality born from Hyoudou Issei under the mud's influence, believing you're Solomon. Only one ring held Solomon's soul; the others held his spirit. His personality best suited the Beast of Expectation, that's all. Proof: you know nothing beyond what Hyoudou Issei knows. What's your basis for claiming you're Solomon, besides your mad delusions? If you're Solomon, name your subjects and people from Israel three thousand years ago."
"…"
Yuuto Kiba was puzzled. Lev Lainur's words were contradictory. Hyoudou Issei knew this man, but when did he learn he was Flauros? Through the ring? Otherwise, it's absurd. Was Hyoudou Issei hiding it from them?
"If our theory's correct, your core isn't even Solomon. Your ideals, emotions—neither Issei's nor Solomon's—are delusions from a being that couldn't even become a Beast."
"Doesn't matter."
The Beast finally spoke.
"Fake or real Solomon, it doesn't matter."
No longer about love or evil.
"Even if I'm a fake, my ideals are real. My hatred for the supernatural is real. My expectations for humanity are nothing but real!"
"No, even those are false. Not even borrowed."
"Shut up! My ideals, hatred, expectations, convictions—how could they be fake!? If so, what were these three thousand years for!? Why has humanity suffered, amassed mud, raised a Beast!? It's all preparation for humanity's next stage! A necessary sacrifice! Otherwise, why would we endure this!?"
There is meaningless suffering, unnecessary sacrifice. That's why Beasts of Humanity are born. That's why the Human Order Correction Formula abandoned its role, aiming to rebirth the star. It's the same here. Knowing this, the Beast averts its eyes, repeating the true King of Magecraft's sin.
"I will become the hope, the god, of humanity!"
A Beast born from imposed obsession and enforced idolatry.
A girl rejected this Beast, straying even from the Beast of Humanity, and its irredeemable despair.
"No, you're wrong. You're not a god."
"You're a patient."
The disciple of the Iron Angel arrived.
***
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