The thaumaturgical foundation that operated as a hive mind was being forcibly decoupled, scattering into individual parts.
"—Yes. I wanted to tell you that."
Aia's strike had brought change—a catalyst—to every Demon God. Within each of them, an individual "self" was being born.
With their newfound egos and passions, they each chose a path to follow in their final moments. Their answers were varied.
"Sovereign… Sovereign… We do not possess it. Lemegeton. That was a subject never granted to us—"
—One chooses self-destruction.
"—I want to know. I want to know, but… for the current me, the time, the circumstances… are too…"
—One ceases all activity.
"Absurd! Absurd, absurd! Lemegeton! Why did you reach that conclusion?! Why, why—?!"
—One continues to question.
"…Lemegeton. That answer you reached. If we converse with them, would it serve as material for our own solution? Commencing dialogue. Goetia. We hereby renounce being Goetia."
—One proposes its own inquiry.
"Unnecessary! Unnecessary! Unnecessary! More than your answer, I have this moment that sears my very being! I will kill, kill, kill!! I will slaughter every one of these heroes!! Lemegeton! Your answer is useless to us! Goetia, our Great Work requires no such conclusion—!!"
—One trembles with rage and chooses combat.
"Gratitude! Lemegeton! Gratitude for awakening our passion! So this is what it means to be needed! This is what it means to be rejected!"
—One rejoices, heart pounding.
"Report to the Coordination Line! Rotate the Light Band, commence the Great Work! A probability of 0.999999999% is within tolerance! No, even if we fail—! Like Lemegeton, we should leave a definitive answer behind in this universe—!!"
Every Demon God acquires a "self" and continues the fight in accordance with their own nature!
"Yes. My feelings, my heart. Goetia, I wanted to convey them to you."
The radiance of the Grand rank is gone from Aia. To nullify Goetia's omnipotence and make his immortality a thing of the past, she had offered up all the glory and light she held.
All that remained of Aia was her soul and her vessel. And…
—I am sorry. To use the King's Title in such a way…
"It matters not. It is a conclusion worthy of your answer. A Title is a cheap price to pay."
The absolute soul watches over the Princess.
"That Demon God will eventually perish. Go on. Give him your final gift."
She nods quietly at the King's affirmation.
"—You grieved for the state of life more than anyone. You lamented its imperfection and used your everything to reach for a hope born of the void. —For that decree, for that indignation, I offer my thanks as a single living soul."
[—...]
Goetia had despaired for all life.
It was not out of hatred or resentment.
He wished for the happiness of life, for an eternal ideal, and performed a miracle to achieve it.
That resolve, that soul, and the nobility of what he aimed for were undeniably brilliant things.
Therefore—thanks. From a version of myself from an outer world that you did not destroy—an impossible, yet very much alive self—I give you these words.
"—And, 'You gave me a name.' "
[—!]
The name "Lemegeton." The fact that she was able to keep this name was the source of her gratitude.
Even after being given this name, her soul suffered no interference, no curse.
On the contrary… it functioned as the very means to corner him.
…Because this name was an unmistakable blessing.
Not a malediction, not a curse. Simply a wish entrusted to a soul.
"So that you never forget innocence and longing." All wishes were entrusted to her.
"So that your nature is never marred." These thoughts were placed upon her.
That is why—until this very moment—she was able to remain healthy and unchanged, watching over the entirety of the world.
For that expectation and consideration, she felt a deep gratitude.
"I—will never forget you."
And… she would not let Goetia's end be in vain.
"Those who aimed for hope in the void. Those who stood against the nature of life. —Those who entrusted their wishes to me. I will not let your 'end' become 'nothing.' "
I will remember it forever. For all eternity, I will not forget.
"You gave me hope. —That is why I tell you this."
That was her beginning. That was her way of being.
…O Demon God. O Evil of Humanity who pitied life.
"—Thank you for giving me a name."
Respect and gratitude… that was her pride, which she would yield to no one.
"————"
Because this was the precious way of life that the King of Heroes had acknowledged…
[—You say you will not make us worthless. That you will not forget. That you will not let us become naught. That death is a ritual to connect to what follows. —Is that gratitude your answer?]
Goetia quietly ruminates on that truth.
['Death does not lead to the void. There is always something that follows.' —Lemegeton. Is this your solution?]
"—Yes."
[Then act accordingly. The seventy-two Demon Gods—remember them in your soul until their final moment.]
As he crumbles, he issues a final mandate to Aia.
[Lemegeton. Demon God who harbors innocence and longing. We who will soon collapse into nothing—in accordance with your answer, do not forget us.]
She nods silently and meets Fou's gaze.
"Let's go, Fou."
Fou becomes the 'Sovereign Guardian,' responding to Aia's wish.
『The finishing touch, then. We're together forever, Aia.』
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