Under Sovell's threats and inducements (scratch that)-threats alone, Merlin coughed up the truth about Sovell's physical condition:
His body, soul, and personality had been tainted by divinity.
As a result, his circuits were showing signs of developing personalities.
"Circuits... developing personalities..."
Sovell repeated those words under his breath. Beside him, the bruised and battered Merlin cast a healing spell on himself and explained:
"Simply put, your circuits are gradually becoming an intelligent device you can operate through commands.
If I had to compare them to something, the closest thing would probably be that fellow Solomon's Seventy-Two Demon Gods."
According to legend, King Solomon had asked God in a dream for omniscience and received it, along with the Ten Rings as proof of his wisdom.
But the Ten Rings were more than mere ornaments. They contained magecraft that only gods and phantasmal creatures could wield.
Through those Ten Commandments, he could also command seventy-two demons.
Solomon sealed them all within his own body, thus obtaining omnipotence.
He then inscribed their names upon seventy-two pillars. These were the familiars of King Solomon in later legends-
The Seventy-Two Demon Gods.
Back to the present.
Only after a good deal of gentle persuasion did Sovell convince Artoria to abandon the idea of ambushing him.
After her usual morning stretches, Artoria took Sovell back to her room.
Looking at the girl before him, her eyes shining, Sovell naturally understood what she wanted.
Sovell reached into his cloak and pulled out box after box of pastries. He could feel a burning gaze following every movement of his hand.
He did not even need to think about it. It was definitely Artoria.
He slid open a wooden box, and the sweet fragrance of pastries wafted toward them. For an instant, Sovell thought he saw stars twinkling