The Underworld – Enkidu's Cenotaph
"As expected, the body is not here. That 'Kingu' fellow... his vessel is undoubtedly Enkidu's, and yet..."
The Wise King, Gilgamesh, stood in the gloom. I know not if he was truly struck down by the Heroic God, but there have been no sightings. If he still lives, my judgment is already decided.
「Galula Spirit!」
"Ngh...!"
The Wise King scrambled behind a stone pillar, holding his breath.
Calm yourself. Even if I have technically perished, Ea will surely come for me. She is the literal manifestation of mercy, curiosity, and tolerance—she would never abandon such a pitiable version of myself! I must believe! I must trust in the craftsmanship of that fool who prevented my death by overwork through sheer physical therapy!
"There isn't much time, Ea...! Do your best to save me! (Whispering) And make sure to keep your soul tucked inside the vessel! The Underworld is freezing! Don't let your stomach catch a chill...! (Whispering)"
Nearby...
「Hafu, hafu...」
"Is it... good?" Enkidu asked, watching.
「It's hot... but... delicious.」
"I see... so humans can create such things. It makes me feel a bit... inadequate."
(Enkidu-san, I hope I made it right... I'm sure he'll find it delicious! After all, I made it for a friend!)
"The goldie who ate it died, by the way."
"WHAT?! NO WAY!?"
Uruk
"Tomoe-dono! The number of citizens reporting weakness and spiritual malaise is skyrocketing!"
"I see. It is the 'Call of the Underworld' we've been fearing... Open the storehouses! Distribute the special supplies! Benkei-san, Ushiwakamaru-san!"
[A Massive Quantity of Mangoes]
"Feed everyone these mangoes—blessed by the sun and grown in massive quantities! It will ward off the gloom! Move quickly!"
"Understood!"
The Shrine
"...Just as I thought. The summoned deity was not alone..."
"Kotaro-kun. Did you find out? I finally managed to coax the truth out of my favorite girl. Let's go report to the Heroic King immediately."
"At once."
"Old lady...!"
"It looks like my time has finally come, child. Give my best... to that energetic little girl, Manimo..."
"Don't give up!"
"Little miss?"
"You... you mustn't die yet!"
"Ah..."
"...?"
"You... you're going to be the most beautiful woman in this town someday..."
"The soul-less remains! Carry them with the utmost care!! Gently! Treat him with the respect due to a King!!"
"King Leonidas is certainly energetic today."
"Isn't he always?"
The culprit was Enkidu (Dhu). For now, the rigid corpse of the Wise King was placed in state, handled with reverence, and preserved under a strict security detail.
—Sniff... ugh... hhh... Wise King... King Gilgamesh...
Ea was weeping openly. The King (Archer) patted her head gently, while Fou licked away her tears.
(He was so full of life just a moment ago...)
"Normally, I would laugh this off with a booming roar," the King mused, "but I find myself unable to smile. It hits a bit too close to home."
"Yeah. Especially since he died with his eyes rolled back in his head."
"Yes... the Heroic King was clearly in immense agony."
It was a bizarre and somewhat undignified way to go, but the Chaldean party knew the truth. They knew the terror of the Saint's Mapo Tofu. They had both nearly died from it themselves, so they didn't dare joke.
"So... the cause of death was this... crimson dish? The King passed away because this food was just... too...?" Shiduri trailed off.
"He may have looked youthful, but he was in his later years—spiritually, he was a wizened old man," Gilgamesh (Archer) said, looking wise. "His stomach and intestines must have been fragile. To consume such a toxic substance... death was the only logical outcome."
He nodded to himself with a smug expression.
—Old man! You're just making it sound worse!
「...It was my mistake. I should confess. Shiduri, the truth is—」
Enkidu, still disguised as a charm on Fou, prepared to step forward, but—
"No. Stay back, my friend."
The King (Archer) silenced him with a subtle gesture and a wink. A smirk began to spread across his face.
(Eh?)
—King?
It was the smile of pure, unadulterated Yoretsu (Enjoyment).
"Do you all not see? My eyes have already pierced through to the truth!"
The Uruk staff gasped, while the Chaldea group, sensing the shift in the air, wisely shut their mouths.
"What do you mean, Heroic King?!" Shiduri asked.
"Listen well. A 'Censer of Death' currently permeates Uruk. These are the arts of the Underworld, plucking souls from the weakened. My city is drowning in this miasma. And then, this dish—like a blossom of blood. Shiduri, as the High Priestess of Ishtar, surely you have realized the connection?"
(Pfft—hahaha!)
The 'charm' on Fou began to vibrate violently with suppressed laughter.
—? King, what are you doing...?
"Gilgamesh, what on earth are you—" Ishtar began.
"Don't you see, you useless goddess?! This was no mere shock-induced heart failure! This was a cold-blooded assassination! A despicable goddess converted her own divine authority into a culinary trap to snatch the King's soul and drag it into the abyss! This is the work of the final member of the Three Goddesses Alliance! Ereshkigal!"
The King declared it with grand, sweeping gestures. Fou, now vibrating like a massage chair due to Enkidu's laughter, rolled around in ticklish agony.
"I-I see...! If it is Lady Ereshkigal, it all makes sense! This dish was a reproduction of her divine authority!"
—Wh-What a massive leap in logic! King! What is your true intent?!
"Hmph. I simply needed a grand justification to invade the Underworld. While we're down there retrieving the souls of our 'club members,' we might as well pick up the soul of my wiser self along the way."
The King "spun" the truth into a convenient narrative.
"The facts (probably) go like this!"
[The King's Imaginary Reconstruction]
"Oh?! Rikka has gained height! Splendid! Now, show me your pride!"
"Gilgamesh, I offer this to you (hehehe)."
"Out of my way! This is the best part, don't interrupt! Ngh! A collision! Who went down?! (Chomp) Coun—"
"All according to plan..."
"Curse you, Ereshkigal! How truly despicable! To think a goddess would stoop so low!"
—I have just witnessed the most flagrant shift of responsibility in history—!!
Ea put her head in her hands as the King continued his dramatic tirade.
—H-How can you be so sacrilegious... wait, I know you don't fear the gods, but still!
(I know he's ruthless to his enemies, but this is something else...)
(...I should at least bring her a flower as an apology...)
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