"So this is the true nature of Solomon's Seventy-Two Demon Gods."
Standing on a hill far from Jerusalem, Roy gazed at the city as it was gradually bathed in lights. This ancient city, steeped in incredible legends and miracles throughout history, was now illuminated by the brilliance of humanity. The relics of ancient history had faded away, leaving behind only the radiance of mankind.
For a fleeting moment, Roy felt as if Roman was still by his side. He sighed softly, lowering his head and focusing his consciousness on the new authority he had acquired.
The Foundation of Human Order, named "Lemegeton," was the title of the new authority Roy had gained.
The Seventy-Two Demon Gods of Solomon were first introduced in the occult manuscript The Key of Solomon, also translated as Lemegeton. However, this manuscript was actually a handwritten transcription of Solomon's techniques for commanding demons. Over time, Solomon's intent had been distorted, giving rise to demonological interpretations that propagated throughout later generations.
What Roy obtained, however, was the true existence of Lemegeton, Solomon's Seventy-Two Demon Gods. This allowed him to finally uncover the authentic essence behind the legends.
In The Key of Solomon, due to the manuscript's distortions, it was believed that the Seventy-Two Demon Gods represented the heretical deities subjugated by Judaism and Christianity. In truth, these were merely names borrowed by Solomon to construct an elaborate magical system.
This authority was less of a simple authority and more of an intricate and expansive magical system. As the name Foundation of Human Order implies, it was a "system designed to effectively promote correct order," created by Solomon. It was a magic capable of repairing human order when they were threatened or destabilized.
When human order was intact, this authority—or magical system—could be used to harness that strength, drawing power from the very fabric of human civilization. In a world where human order was strong, it acted as a "blessing of humanity."
The term "human order" in this context referred to the magical concept representing all the factors that enable human civilization to flourish and advance. Every choice made by humans, every significant historical moment, and every correct sequence in history contributed to the flourishing of human order. The Foundation of Human Order functioned as a safeguard, deploying the Seventy-Two Demon Gods to repair and stabilize human order whenever they were damaged, whether by human or external forces, ensuring that humanity's progress would continue.
This was the true nature of the Foundation of Human Order.
…
"King Solomon truly deserves the title of the King of Magic," Roy remarked, marveling at the intricacy of the system. "To create a magical system this complex and astonishing, one that intertwines directly with human order… If I can fully decode this, it will be an enormous boon to the 'formula' I'm working on."
Roy's personal ambition was to develop a technique that could "transcend human evil." Human evil, after all, was an integral aspect of humanity. It existed as long as humanity did. Even if only one human remained, the concept of human evil would endure.
Just as Roman had said, this authority—this magical system—was the greatest gift he could leave to Roy. It was an invaluable source of esoteric knowledge, capable of elevating Roy's research and creations to unprecedented heights.
However, as Roman had warned, utilizing this magical system came at a cost.
Roman had deliberately placed a "lock" on the Foundation of Human Order. For Roy to fully integrate it into his arsenal and use it as the cornerstone of his developing "formula," he would first need to meet a specific condition.
To unlock and activate the system, Roy needed to do one thing—save humanity.
Even if the salvation pertained only to a minor branch of human civilization under threat, as long as Roy managed to save a part of humanity, he would earn the recognition of human order. This would allow him to activate the Foundation of Human Order, fully absorb the profound wisdom and knowledge embedded in the magical formula, and turn it into his own.
…
"Where in the world am I supposed to go to save humanity?!"
Roy exclaimed in exasperation. At that moment, he fully understood the meaning behind Roman's sly, parting smile. It was a trap all along.
Such a powerful authority capable of harnessing the power of human order, a culmination of Solomon's lifetime of strength and wisdom, now lay before Roy—yet he could only look at it, unable to use it. It was impossible not to feel frustrated.
["It's truly remarkable. The powers possessed by Solomon differ across worlds."]
At that moment, the Holy Guardian Angel Aiwass appeared behind Roy. The angel, often described as a patron of physics, let out a sigh of wonder:
["...In the world where I was born, there exists a magic book called The Key of Solomon. Based on the information I obtained from Aleister, the Key of Solomon in that world is purely a magical text about demon summoning. Yet, this Solomon's wisdom extends into the realm of human order, which is a mystery far beyond demonology."]
["...The same figures across different worlds wield vastly different powers. This is critical information and a foundational theory within the vast ocean of the multiverse."]
Aiwass's voice took on a slightly higher pitch, betraying excitement. It was clear she had encountered a new intellectual curiosity, which greatly satisfied her ever-present thirst for knowledge.
"Still, I can't help feeling annoyed that I was tricked in the end," Roy muttered, half-laughing, half-complaining. "Thinking about it now irritates me a little. King Solomon certainly lives up to his reputation. In just seven days in this world, he fully mastered the nature of the Heretic God. Even after his disappearance, he could still control the transfer of his authority. That's something I have to respect."
Aiwass offered her insight, ["The human named Roman did not abandon Solomon's power and wisdom. It's likely that he foresaw something, prompting him to design a key foreshadowing within the authority he left for you."]
Roy nodded thoughtfully, "That's just like Roman. If it had been King Solomon, he would've either said nothing or explained everything in great detail. But Roman? He leaves behind a puzzle and a key, expecting me to figure it out.
"...That guy Roman. In just seven days, he truly became human—and even developed a mischievous streak. Right now, I almost wish he had retained Solomon's decisiveness."
Roy's tone was filled with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"But no matter," Roy sighed, his mood softening. "In the end, I've already obtained the Foundation of Human Order and Solomon's 72 Demon Gods. This is a monumental gain. Since Roman left me a path to follow, as long as I keep going, I'm sure I'll eventually unlock the secrets of this technique."
Taking a deep breath, Roy worked to calm his thoughts. He trusted that Roman had a deeper purpose for his actions.
Roman might have been cowardly and prone to laziness, but he was anything but foolish.
"Let's head back to the hotel first. I want to see if he left me anything else there," Roy decided.
He hesitated for a moment before preparing to activate his authority. Though the Lord of Radiance could only be used once per day, it was an excellent way to cover large distances quickly.
["Hold on a moment,"] Aiwass interjected, her calm voice laced with anticipation. ["I retained Solomon's spiritual foundation or essence as you call it at the moment of his disappearance. There's an overlap between your authority and his. When you return, prepare to conduct a ritual. Let's see what results it yields."]
Aiwass's words were like a spark of hope, reinvigorating Roy. He now had another clue to follow, one that might unlock even greater mysteries.
********
{T/N: Here is the extra chapter for 180 PS goal. Next extra chapter will be at 240 PS goal. Anyway I hope you are liking the story as much as I do. If you want to chat with me on discord join my old server https://discord.gg/qd7PjmQkWr }