The conversation between the King and the Goddesses continued—a rare dialogue between different faiths and different worlds.
"It's all very fascinating... but let's get back to the main point. The Axe of Marduk behind me—"
"RAAAAAWR!! I think this blatant ignoring of my presence has gone far enough, nya!"
The entity known as Jaguarman finally protested at the top of her lungs.
"Oh my? Do I hear the voice of a fairy?" Quetzalcoatl said, looking around blankly. "In ancient times, the world was full of them. A voice with no body—this is what humans call 'the wind.' Yes, let's ignore it. None of us see anything, right? Right?"
"Are you a demon?! I'm right here! I did a great job as a referee, even if my screen time was a bit low! Stop ignoring me, nya!"
"¡Adiós, adiós!" (Quetzalcoatl made a 'I see nothing' gesture.)
—So Jaguar-san was a forest spirit all along...
"This is cruel! Ever since we met in the jungle, I've worked myself to the bone! And what do I get?! Kukul-un (that's my nickname for Quetzalcoatl-nya) tries to kill me if I slack off, tries to kill me if I boycott, and tries to kill me if I'm just having fun! Do you... do you actually hate me, nya!?"
"Yes, I hate you! Perish, you mangy cat!" Quetzalcoatl smiled brightly while making a throat-cutting gesture followed by a thumbs-down.
"That's a shockingly direct rejection... not very Quetzalcoatl-like at all."
「Well, it's understandable...」 Olga Marie sighed. 「Jaguarman is a divine spirit from the Olmec and Aztec regions. The jaguar symbolizes war and death. Jaguarman is often linked to an aspect of Tezcatlipoca, one of the supreme gods of Central American myth.」
"Oh, the tank that fires interdimensional missiles."
「Exactly. And Tezcatlipoca is Quetzalcoatl's eternal rival. The pinnacle of Good versus the pinnacle of Evil. In myth, Tezcatlipoca actually killed Quetzalcoatl. As a result, the civilization she had nurtured so carefully vanished.」
Rikka nodded solemnly. "No wonder Sis hates her. She's the boss of the villains..."
"I wish Rikka-chan were my rival instead of that spider-excrement bastard. Dragons are way cooler!"
"Death and rebirth are a set! Just because I'm a jaguar doesn't mean I'm the bad guy!"
In an instant, Quetzalcoatl's face shifted into a mask of divine wrath that made everyone's blood run cold. She glared at Jaguarman.
"————Hah? I will actually kill you. Right now."
"I'm sorry, please stop! Kukul-un's serious stare means I won't be able to go to the bathroom at night, seriously... anyway, that's the story of the pitiful jaguar spirit who has been abused by her boss, nya..."
"Jaguar... Tiger Grail... what is this memory? I know nothing of a 'Tiger Colosseum.'" Gilgamesh muttered, clutching his head as if receiving a strange transmission.
(Just remember: the only world where you spend your daily life with Saber is that one.)
—A world where you can be friends with Saber-san! I'd love to see that!
"I can't even eat the hearts of the sacrifices I catch... Kukul-un gets so mad..."
"Naturally," Quetzalcoatl snapped. "I will not tolerate blood sacrifice in my presence. A symbolic offering for the sake of legend is one thing, but actual ritual sacrifice is unnecessary. Tezcatlipoca's love for the ritual itself is something I will never accept. Now, if I keep talking to this cat, I'm going to strangle it, so let's move on ♥."
Everyone stood in silent, terrified agreement.
"Leave the transport of the Axe to me. I'll fashion ropes from jungle vines and have my pterosaurs carry it to Uruk. Three teams of three hundred. We'll rotate them. It'll take about three days—will that work?"
"Mmm. Being able to move that thing is enough. It means we can preserve Marduk's strength without overtaxing him. It seems our fortunes continue to rise. Fuhaha!"
With a sharp whistle from Quetzalcoatl, a swarm of pterosaurs filled the sky, beginning to form a transport formation.
"The only problem is the anti-divine stone statues placed there to guard the Axe from other gods..."
"—Oh, don't worry about those. I just finished clearing them out."
Enkidu appeared with a breezy smile. He was carrying an 'effigy' made of a dozen Spriggan heads tied together by chains. He looked very pleased with himself.
"As expected of my friend. Quick work."
"I had a reason to hurry. I realized I hadn't accounted for the 'Mapo incident' in my calculations. I hope he's only fainted." Enkidu stuck his tongue out playfully. It would have been cute if he weren't holding a bundle of severed monster heads.
"Excellent work! My children will work through the night to get started!"
"Good. I'd say we should return immediately, but it's already late. We shouldn't disturb the people of Uruk at this hour. We'll sleep here and fly back at dawn!"
(My heart is racing, but I can't rush. It'll be fine. Death in this world is 'nothingness.' Eating Mapo Tofu can't possibly shatter a soul. Stay calm, Ea.)
—Right. Let's stay calm.
Ea offered a prayer to the starry sky, hoping the King hadn't fallen too deep into the abyss.
Late Night – Eridu
"...It's not time for the guard shift change yet."
"Gah... your intuition is as sharp as ever. It's a bit rude to start talking without even turning around, though. Or did my presence just catch your fancy?"
"It's a lovely presence."
"—...I-I see. ...You have a very smooth way of putting things, don't you?"
"You think so?"
"I do. ...I came to check on you today. I see you've brought another goddess into the fold. Well done. I suppose I should praise you. It's truly impressive. But for some reason, I feel... restless. Let me pinch your cheek for a second (squish)."
"Ow, ow, ow..."
"...The restlessness is gone. What a strange effect. I should record that. 'Attacking the subject cures the feeling.' ...Anyway. Quetzalcoatl is, despite her appearance, the strongest of the Three Goddesses. ...Did you know that?"
"I know it in my very bones."
"I-I see. I don't know what you're planning next, but you should continue to use her strength. Gorgon is already at death's door and can do nothing, and the Grail is gone. ...Your power is becoming the hope of all Mesopotamia. If that's the case, then surely..."
"?"
"—Wait, what happened to your body?! You're covered in scars! Burns, cuts, bruises... some are old, but the marks are everywhere!"
"Mmm, oh. Well, I've been through a lot."
"You fought Quetzalcoatl while carrying all these injuries...!?"
"These are old wounds. I'm fine, really."
"You don't look fine, so I'm worrying! Oh, for heaven's sake... such beautiful skin, and it's..."
"—..."
"This is unacceptable treatment for a girl! Rest! Right now! Just rest! I'll stay here with you!"
"Okay."
"The night is long. If you want to talk, I'll listen. Tell me... tell me about those Singularities."
"—Then, I guess I'll start with Fuyuki."
"—That golden idiot... he's actually that amazing when he tries? And not just that Spartan man... everyone else was smiling at the end? He was in such a good mood... normally, unless you're a legendary hero or a total airhead, he's an impossible tyrant!"
"Haha. We all think of Gil as a wonderful, dependable King."
"Did you hit your head? Or did you get thrown into a spring? ...Ah, sorry. I shouldn't have kept you talking so long. But... I enjoyed it!"
"Do you like adventures?"
"—I do. I love them. Everyone in your journey was smiling. No matter how unfair the world was, you kicked those obstacles aside. You... even when the world forced its unfairness on you, you never ran away."
"...?"
"...I think your life must have been full of pain. It must have been so difficult. Others might praise you or call you a hero... but I want to say this."
"..."
"Truly, thank you for your hard work. Even if it feels normal to you, what you've done is truly, truly amazing. A person who can keep moving forward in a straight line is a wonder. —I understand now why Gilgamesh is in such a good mood. You're like the perfect model of human progress."
"...You think so?"
"I do. I guarantee it. You're a hard worker who won't lose to anyone."
"Then, let's go together someday."
"Eh?"
"Let's go on an adventure together."
"...I don't have that kind of freedom..."
"..."
"...No, there's no single 'correct' way to live, is there? Someday... I think I'd like to try living like that, too."
"When that day comes, we go together."
"Yes! I want to see you again, Rikka!"
"Yeah. See you again, 'Ishtar'."
"...Again, huh..."
In Front of the Gates of Uruk
"Ah, you've returned! But... oh, how could this happen...!"
"—? What's wrong, Tomoe-san?"
"...Please, steel your hearts and listen. ...King Gilgamesh has passed away."
—...—
"Snap out of it, Ea! He ate Mapo Tofu at his age; this was a foregone conclusion!"
—The Wise King... dead... just like that...
"To think he actually died... I feel like I've done something terrible—"
The Throne Room
The King sat perfectly upright, his hand still frozen, gripping a porcelain spoon.
"What even is this situation..."
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