"Thank you, Caster. With this, I am complete."
"No need for thanks. It's mostly thanks to Solomon's magecraft. Besides, in your case, being complete makes you less dangerous as a Beast of Humanity."
"Fou!"
"Well then, Tamamo-chan's off for an elegant UK trip!"
"Give my regards to Hakuno."
"Of course. Farewell, Beast who inherited original sin from the King of Magecraft. We'll likely never meet again. By the way, human interpretations often see you as a metaphor for the Roman Empire. What's your take on that?"
"Rome must die. There's mercy. Solomon's Truth likely influenced it, so Solomon must die. Three times over. No mercy."
"Fou? Foufoufofofo?"
"I see. Oh, feel free to use that cat and monkey as errand runners."
"Nya? What about our say?"
"Huh?! Hold on, nobody told me!" .
"Fou!"
"If you insist. Then I shall join Assassin's errand."
I, Azazel, sat uneasily at the World Mythology Summit's venue, flanked by Sirzechs and Michael. Both were visibly irritated, and for good reason: just before the summit began, the Demon God Pillars appeared. The radar detected fifty-six signals.
Normally, Sirzechs and I would handle it ourselves, but we couldn't leave the summit. The timing was too blatant—a diversion, no doubt. The question was: for what? Their true aim eluded us. Stranger still, it wasn't an attack—just an appearance.
They emerged near the venue, conveniently in remote mountains or pocket dimensions, avoiding human eyes. They're baiting us, mocking us. They likely plan to draw us away and target Kingu or the VIPs here, but that won't happen.
Even knowing it's a diversion, we had to act—both for defense and sentiment. Serafall was sent to the point with the strongest signal: twenty-eight Pillars. Sirzechs and I had to stay for the summit. I sent Rias to the weakest signal, accompanied by Tannin, a former Dragon King. With only one Pillar there, they should manage.
The damage from the Pillars is beyond tolerable. Their unknown nature and Solomon's likely involvement forced us to react late. If I'd considered that bastard sealed his soul in a ring, maybe… No, too late for that. Still, the thought that we could've saved Barakiel and Sahariel gnaws at me.
Speaking of rings, all ten in Heaven's custody were fakes.
Michael could've lied, claiming the real ones were fake—possible, given God's revival. But that feels off. If Heaven had nine real rings, God's revival would've happened already. It's not about timing, and a being like the God of the Bible reviving would shake the world. Michael's despair when reporting the rings' status confirms it.
But what about the God of the Bible? I'll admit Solomon was brilliant, but could he fake all the rings and fool God? More likely, after Solomon's return, God swapped the real ones for fakes. Why, though? It circles back to square one.
The rings' whereabouts are unknown. This must be disclosed—it's too dangerous otherwise. It'd be a hassle if questioned later, and all mythologies should unite to find them. There's a decent chance Solomon's soul is sealed in another ring.
Our forces against the Pillars include Serafall as the lead, other Satan peerages, High-Class Devils, Fallen Angel leaders, Seraphim, and top exorcists.
"We now commence the World Mythology Summit. I, Shiva, will oversee it. A pleasure to meet you."
The Pillars, our current enemy, have appeared. The summit should pause until their intent is clear. But the gathered gods and buddhas pressed on, likely to spite us. The Pillars are almost entirely our burden. Other mythologies barely contributed forces, probably planning to deploy theirs only if we take losses. Is this the time for that? All gods and demons should unite to thwart Solomon's schemes! This summit's outcome could decide the world's fate!
"Formalities aside, we have no time. It's hectic outside, so let's clarify the main issue: countermeasures against the King of Magecraft Solomon, who knows only wrath and built the accursed Truth. Before revisiting his calamities, let's hear from him about the Demon God Pillars."
Shiva said with his gaze on Kingu in the Kyoto yokai faction.
"Though he's bound by a contract not to reveal their identity, knowing his will clarify things. I've heard it, and it's astonishing—potentially pivotal. Let's begin—"
"There's something to address first."
Hey, don't derail this! All eyes were on Kingu, who was bracing himself, but the interruption threw him off. Kingu looked awkward, comforted by Kyoto's yokai princess patting his back.
Shiva addressed the god. "Something more pressing than the Pillars? I can guess."
"It's obvious: the international sanctions the Three Factions deserve, specifically regarding Solomon."
The venue stirred.
"Not informing us of his revival is… fine, perhaps. Understandable. He's that kind of being, and proof was uncertain. I have words for Heaven's ring mismanagement, but more so, I protest to the Satan and Fallen Angel Governor."
His gaze pierced us.
"Why did you kill Solomon?"
What's this guy saying?
"You know his danger. When he appeared, killing him was the only—"
"If the King of Magecraft who built Truth had lived, he might've undone its magecraft!"
Solomon's Truth—its nature unknown, its mechanics incomprehensible, a system only he understood. Some say the Vase incident was part of its construction, but there's no proof.
Scholars and institutions have studied it, but found nothing. It's known only to steal the past and future of non-humans, even altering their memories. Creation gods are desperate to counter it. Naturally—they remember creating the world, but there's no evidence they did.
"Because of you, that cursed spell, which we might've finally undone in this era, was ruined!"
Tch! Spouting nonsense. Solomon babbled about loving humanity while spreading violence. He'd never reveal Truth's secrets, no matter how we asked.
"Calm down, I have thoughts on this, but Kingu's testimony ties into it. Hear him before pursuing the Three Factions' responsibility."
The god sat reluctantly. Many in the crowd seemed to agree with him. Tch! It's your fault for falling for Solomon's tricks that Truth was built!
With the mood soured, Kingu finally spoke.
"Greetings, gods and buddhas. I am Kingu, now with Kyoto's yokai, but not one myself. I am the offspring of a creation goddess from another world, a successor to the Chain of Heaven."
His revealed truth literally reshaped the world's perspective.
I, Saji Genshirou, stood trembling at heart in this place.
For the World Mythology Summit, the Three Factions deployed significant forces: Fallen Angel leaders, Seraphim, Satans, and their peerages. Not everyone, of course—current Beelzebub and Asmodeus stayed behind, likely guarding the Underworld.
As predicted, the Demon God Pillars appeared. Thanks to the Fallen Angels' detection device, we caught them before an attack. Serafall-sama headed to the point with the strongest signal. President Sona, our peerage, and I joined as support, to avoid hindering her and to defeat any subordinates interfering.
Honestly, I'm scared. But I'll shine in this fight—for President Sona's dream, our dream. Success here will outweigh Rating Game victories, bringing us closer to that dream.
We infiltrated a pocket dimension likely created by the Pillars. Creating it near the venue? Gutsy. No trap locked us in, at least.
"This space is likely from Dimension Lost, a top-tier Longinus. I expected a trap, but nothing's happened."
A top-tier Longinus—one of the thirteen strongest Sacred Gears, surpassing even Hyoudou's Boosted Gear, capable of killing gods or controlling weather.
That's what we're facing.
"I've been waiting, vermin listed in the Bible!"
"Manifest. Remember. We are the seventy-two Demon God Pillars!"
A monstrous entity appeared—grotesque, like a giant tree or tentacled beast, defying description. A kaiju movie? The scale's insane!
"A fusion of twenty-eight Demon God Pillars: Clan Calatin! Fear us. Cower. Fall to Hell's depths before the Underworld's lives. But first, a dialogue."
Dialogue?
One of its countless eyes fixed on a figure: Serafall Leviathan, President Sona's sister and a Satan.
"Serafall Leviathan, what do you think of magical girls?"
Everyone—myself included—nearly collapsed. Even those flying stumbled. Wasn't Glasya-Labolas like this at the Kuoh summit, ranting about magical girls? Are all Pillars like this?
"Hold on."
Another eye interrupted glaring at the first. The voice was similar but distinct.
"You're asking that now?"
"What's wrong with my love for magical girls?"
"Pick your time and place!"
President Sona looked distant. Vice-President spoke to her, but got little response. What's fun about mentally attacking my master?!
"Wait, Andromalius. I understand Glasya-Labolas' passion. All humans have equal value, but girls are mentally unique. Their libido is magically valuable."
"Shut up, Zepar. I'll kill you."
"Why so hostile?!"
…Did I hear that right?
"Hold on!"
"What, dragon-mimicking boy? I'm not exploiting magical girls. I once used humans, but we discarded that. We—"
"Zepar and Glasya-Labolas? Weren't you both defeated?!"
Glasya-Labolas fell at the Kuoh summit to the top brass. Zepar was taken down by Hyoudou's desperate fight. That's how it should be. Same names, maybe?
"You're still there?"
"Thinking one defeat kills us? Laughable."
Confusion and fear gripped us, but the Pillars sneered.
Wait. What? Are they saying the top brass' beatdown at Kuoh was a feint? That we—and the world—danced in their palms? Who do they think they are?!
"To destroy us completely, you'd need to take down forty-four Pillars per second!"
"Paimon! Buer, Gusion, even Phenex!"
"That's why control towers suck!"
"Don't dig up old wounds! It's trauma for all of us!"
"Melting, sinking, endless pain—shut up, scum! For our wish to not die—argh!"
"Quiet, you fake poet!"
Why are they doing a comedy skit before the enemy? Forty-four per second? That'd wipe them out in two seconds! Do they multiply unless destroyed instantly?
"Everyone, focus! Don't forget they can defeat High-Class Devils!"
Her voice steadied us, but the tentacled monster didn't even mock our resolve.
"Again, Serafall Leviathan, lazy Satan: what do you think of the tragedies that befell magical girls due to your sloppy governance?"
***
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