The seventy-two Demon Gods of Solomon are the seventy-two demons recorded in the first part of the grimoire The Lesser Key of Solomon, titled "Ars Goetia." Each of the seventy-two demons possesses its own rank, legion, and personal seal.
"Of course, the Demon God Pillars aren't the real Demon Gods. Guys like Baal, the enemy of God; Paimon, the King of Dominions; or Asmodeus, the King of the Nine Hells—how could beings like that ever be controlled by a human?"
Using his own blood, the boy finished drawing the summoning circle and placed the ring he had received from Romani at its center. He turned to Mash and explained, "The seventy-two Demon God Pillars are just magical formulas named after those ridiculously powerful demons."
"So, Li-kun, you're actually planning to summon a Demon God Pillar?"
Mash, having decided to revert to her previous way of interacting with him and her Master, hesitated for a moment before asking the question. She watched him place the single ring upon the complex array.
"Mm. I'll use Solomon's ring to lock onto a Demon God Pillar's position, strengthen the connection, and then turn it into my servant," the man, whose actions could only be described as an in-your-face taunt to Goetia, declared.
"You should go take shelter now."
"Take shelter?" Mash was stunned, not understanding why that would be necessary.
Then, a flicker of understanding crossed her face.
"Is it because you're about to steal a subordinate from King Solomon?"
The seventy-two Demon God Pillars were the underlings of the Grand Caster Solomon, the one who initiated the Incineration of Human Order. This was a fact the King of Mages himself, surrounded by his pillars, had admitted. Although she didn't know why Li Zihan suddenly wanted to summon a Demon God, doing so would undoubtedly incur Solomon's wrath.
"It would be wonderful if the seventy-two Demon Gods still took orders from Solomon," Li Zihan sighed.
That Grand Caster, who could obliterate every participant in a Holy Grail War overnight even when summoned in the most mundane of Saint Graphs, could forget about commanding Demon Gods. He'd be lucky if he could command a big white goose.
"The Beast of Pity, Goetia, is merely a collective of Demon Gods inhabiting Solomon's body."
The Beast of Pity, Goetia?
Mulling over the name, Miss Mash seemed to have a realization.
The title of the first volume of The Lesser Key of Solomon was "Ars Goetia."
Did that mean the man calling himself the King of Mages was actually an impostor?
Then where was the real King of Mages, Solomon?
The girl, unaware that the so-called King of Mages was in fact her own head physician, fell deep into thought.
The boy's voice broke her concentration.
"Alright, enough of that for now. After this is all over, I'll take you to a fragment of the Third Magic. We'll see if it can fix the defects in your body."
"Eh—eh?"
The girl's eyes went wide, having suddenly heard an absolutely incredible term.
A fragment of the Third Magic?
"Your body is in bad shape, isn't it?" the boy said, fully aware that Mash was unlikely to live past the age of eighteen.
Mash was one of Chaldea's A-rank Master candidates. However, her body was designed prioritizing Master aptitude and Magic Circuits, resulting in a drastically shortened lifespan. Her maximum operational age was only eighteen.
"If we don't use some special means, you're going to die."
"I know a scumbag like me, who forced myself on you through despicable means, has no right to talk about taking responsibility. But if possible, I would very much like for you to live a long life."
The boy, who had commissioned Aoko during the Fourth Holy Grail War to reverse the time of the black mud in the Grail and then seal the purified cup away, continued.
"The Materialization of the Soul is one of the very few methods that can save you."
"So, when all of this is over, you'll come with me to see the remains of the Third Magic. We'll implant its core into your body. That will absolutely allow you to live."
"With all due respect, something like that is far too precious," the girl, who knew exactly how valuable the Third Magic was, said, her eyes wide as she shook her head.
"There's no need to use it on me."
"It's precious, sure, but not as precious as you," the boy, who had never cared much for the Materialization of the Soul, said with a light chuckle, his tone carefree.
"A girl whose personality is as amazing as her figure is hard to find—"
Without warning, a flash of astonished fury crossed the eyes of the boy, who in his lewdness and untamable spirit was so similar to Cú Chulainn.
The girl, completely unable to comprehend what was happening, had no time to react before she was sent flying.
The boy, who was always gentle with girls outside of their rough nights together, acted with terrifying urgency. He shoved a longbow into her hands, grabbed her, and hurled her away.
What's happening?
The next moment, having been thrown clear of the temple, she understood why.
High in the sky, the light fueled by all of human history converged on a single point, erupting in a blinding flash.
Light and heat, carrying the scent of annihilation, descended from the heavens. In an instant, extreme temperatures and endless light fell upon the mortal world.
And its target was the temple.
"BOOOOOOM————!!!!"
A terrifying roar, like the cry of a thousand dragons, shook the very atmosphere.
The air boiled, the earth melted, and a searing pillar of fire shot into the sky. Everything seemed to vaporize in the scorching heat, vanishing without a trace.
An unnatural shockwave expanded without limit, and the resulting wind pressure ravaged the cratered landscape, blasting apart anything that hadn't been incinerated.
Everything within the temple of the goddess Ishtar was reduced to ash.
Including the person inside.
Then, a man robed in white stepped out of the void.
The sense of omnipotence from one who commanded all principles of heaven and earth, and the oppressive aura of one who hated all of humanity, warped the very space around him like a physical force.
Mash recognized him.
The King of Mages, Solomon.
No—it was the collective of Demon Gods that appeared in the guise of King Solomon—Goetia!
He walked indifferently to the edge of the pulverized magic circle. He bent down and, from a crack in the scorched earth, picked up the ring that had once rested at the circle's center.
He slipped it onto his own hand.
Then, he raised his head and surveyed the annihilated temple, a cruel, mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Demon God Goetia, responding to the summons."
"Now, where is the ant who summoned me, intending to become my master?"