"People are limited by what they see. What one perceives or imagines can't be shared. Even when described, others' interpretations make it different."
"You're right, Roman. Honestly… I'm tired of my state. The moment I see something, I know everything about it. What I don't know is only because I'm not supposed to yet. Following calculated paths, always choosing the optimal route—nothing surprises me when I gain, nothing saddens me when I lose. My subconscious already knows it all. It's like… my fate."
"But I'm not about to 'defy fate.' Obsessing over fate makes you its puppet. Those who swear to fight it are the ones it controls most."
"What do you think, King Solomon?"
"…"
Roman fell silent, recalling his past. He was meant to be God's pawn, reinforcing divine authority, keeping humanity kneeling. Yet he avoided using God's power, watching tragedies unfold that divine might could've prevented, and witnessing mortals achieve miracles through human will.
Divine power could erase tragedy, but it would stop humans from surpassing themselves to reach miracles.
Humans, given a safe shortcut, won't take the dangerous long road.
What he saw shaped Roman and "Solomon" as two sides of the same coin.
Looking back, were his choices… just part of a destined mission?
Wishing to become human, dying for humanity—perhaps all orchestrated by the "omniscient, omnipotent" God of Christian doctrine.
But…
"You're right! Maybe my life was God's design, but… the God who shaped my fate is me!"
No longer "Solomon," Roman remained a devout Christian. Yet, in that moment, he uttered the most blasphemous words against Christian doctrine.
In Christianity, "God" is supreme, singular; any challenge to His glory is sin.
Roman, once a "divinely granted king," now Doctor Roman, the staunchest believer, spoke those words.
Scriptures like the Old Testament and the Book of Enoch flooded his mind.
In the Bible, most battles pitted archangels, led by Michael, against demons led by Lucifer, Hell's king.
The supreme God, however, often sat on the sidelines.
If Genesis were a person, God would be their consciousness. Archangels embodied "mercy, kindness, justice"—humanity's "good" emotions. Demons represented "pride, lust, wrath, sloth"—humanity's "evil."
In biblical battles, angels and demons won and lost. God favored angels but didn't maliciously target demons.
The Book of Revelation states:
[Revelation 12:3: Then another sign appeared: a great red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns.]
[Revelation 12:4: Its tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, hurling them to earth.]
[Revelation 12:7-8: War broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought the dragon, and the dragon and its angels fought back but were defeated, with no place left for them in heaven.]
[Revelation 12:9: The great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who deceives the world—was hurled to earth with his angels.]
[Revelation 20:2-3: He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, the devil, Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, casting him into the Abyss, locked and sealed, so he could no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were over. Then he must be released for a time.]
Michael, with God's aid, defeated Satan but didn't kill or seal him forever—only imprisoned him for a millennium before his release.
Following this, if Genesis is a person, good defeats evil but can't destroy it, because God forbids it, or can't… or won't.
"I see…" Roman gave a self-deprecating chuckle, his fingertips glowing. Words drawn by mana appeared in the air.
Mastering one's emotions, balancing them at the right time—self-discipline… that's your own God!
It may lack world-shattering might or omniscient wisdom, but… you become your own God!
Ancient symbols lingered in the sky, forming a book from mere hundreds of words.
It represented Solomon—no, Roman's ultimate understanding: a grimoire named Man and God.
"Was this in your calculations, Master?"
Roman gazed at the floating grimoire, a bitter smile on his face.
A truly rough experience.
"I don't know… but… thank you, Roman!"
Samuel didn't know, just as Solomon, as King Solomon, didn't know he was a tool.
Samuel didn't know now, but he knew one thing!
He was fed up with this life—being himself yet unsure if his actions were his nature or calculated behaviors.
"Am I you, or are you me? Or am I you, but you're not me? I don't care anymore. Time to give you something to do, 'me'! Keep you from being so idle!"
Maybe this was calculated too?
Does it matter? No need to fight it—just be yourself.
"No need to thank me, Master! We're… friends, aren't we?"
"…Heh, yeah! Friends!"
Clap!
Their hands met, the sound crisp and clear.
***
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