"It's a pity this isn't an open area," Enkidu brought up out of nowhere.
Everyone was a bit confused. But Gilgamesh understood as a smile appearing on his lips.
"Though it's a pity, this place can serve as an area to catch our breath." The King of Heroes spoke with a smile, lacking his previous unrestrained arrogance.
The corners of Enkidu's mouth also curled up.
...
Gilgamesh changed his mind about going back.
He sat down once again.
Enkidu naturally sat on Gilgamesh's right side. There was an indescribable tacit understanding between the two.
Even just sitting down together, their movements subconsciously left room for each other.
Yuto looked surprised.
At the same time, he felt moved inwardly. He roughly knew Gilgamesh and Enkidu were friends, but this level of subconscious understanding... perhaps only the closest of people would have it.
Moreover, one of them was the proud King of Heroes.
Ever since he entered the restaurant, this was his first time showing such proactive yielding.
"Do you want to eat anything?" Yuto asked.
Both shook their heads at the same time, like twins.
"Hmph!" Gilgamesh scoffed lightly.
Listening to his tone, there wasn't any annoyance in it, instead, it carried clear joy.
Enkidu smiled softly at Gilgamesh, shaking his head in the exact same way.
"Alright, if you need anything, just call me." Yuto figured the current time should be given to these two. Enkidu nodded at him with a smile.
Yuto walked over to Iskandar and Ainz's side.
These guys were also observing Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Each had their own different feelings.
But the surprise was mutual.
"It's hard to imagine the King of Heroes would have such a normal side. His attitude is so different from before!"
Though Iskandar sighed quietly, his voice was naturally rough.
Even what he considered a whisper was actually the volume of a normal person speaking.
Gilgamesh naturally heard it. He turned his head and glanced at him.
He didn't say anything, just gave Iskandar a warning look. Then he moved his gaze back to Enkidu.
Iskandar looked awkward. "Was I loud just now?" He smiled sheepishly at Yuto, Ainz, and the others.
Everyone nodded in unison.
Iskandar scratched his head awkwardly.
Enkidu looked at Gilgamesh with a gentle smile on his lips. "Gil, it seems time has finally made you a bit more mature."
Hearing Enkidu's words, a clear look of pride appeared on Gilgamesh's face.
Enkidu's words pleased him!
He always enjoyed the admiring and reverent gazes of others. Among them, the one that brought him joy and satisfaction was solely Enkidu's praise.
If the praise of others brought him joy at +1, +1, +1.
Then Enkidu's praise gave him +10, +20, +30...
"Hmph! That's natural." Gilgamesh looked like a child who wanted to show off after being praised.
Enkidu smiled and shook his head lightly.
"It seems after becoming a Heroic Spirit, you've gained some self-awareness different from usual too, Enkidu." Gilgamesh looked at Enkidu pointedly.
Enkidu didn't say anything, just smiled calmly.
He reminded people of pure nature. The tranquil and beautiful nature was just like the posture he displayed.
Siduri standing behind them also wore a joyful smile.
Countless memories flashed through her eyes.
Those pasts that shouldn't be seen again had finally shed their illusionary nature and turned into reality.
"Kamisaka, I'm taking Enkidu to Uruk." Gilgamesh turned to look at Yuto, who was talking with Lucoa and the other dragons.
His words carried firm certainty. He didn't give Yuto any room to refuse.
Beside him, Enkidu smiled helplessly at Yuto.
"Of course, I'm not an unreasonable person. Consider this a gift for my request, and as an apology for my earlier behavior." Gilgamesh waved his hand, and a precious treasure chest was placed in front of Yuto.
Made entirely of gold, an inlaid clear ruby sat on top.
The box alone held immeasurable value!
Yuto opened the box.
It was full of gems.
This was much more than the treasure the King of Heroes had given just now. Even the others couldn't help but marvel at this chest of gems.
"Please be sure to accept this, Kamisaka, and please forgive Gil's rudeness." Enkidu bowed to Yuto.
His words drew dissatisfaction from the King of Heroes beside him, but the glare didn't affect him.
Yuto understood.
The King of Heroes before him couldn't just be described as "not lacking money."
Casually handing over a chest of gems... it wasn't something a mere rich person could compare to!
Yuto agreed to the King of Heroes' request.
Then the two left together as Siduri followed them. Before leaving, Siduri bowed to Yuto.
Yuto looked at this chest of gems, experiencing the worries of the rich for the first time.
'Where... should I put this?'
...
Outside the city of Uruk.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu stood together under the starry sky.
Their expressions were much more relaxed now than in the restaurant.
"As expected, a simple conversation can't express my joyful mood right now!" Gilgamesh opened his arms as if embracing the world.
Standing opposite him, the corners of Enkidu's mouth curled into a smile.
The person who was usually as gentle as nature now radiated a dangerous and violent aura.
"Hahahaha!!! That's it!!! Enkidu!!! Come and entertain me to your heart's content!!!!"
Hum, hum, hum—
In the sky, countless golden ripples appeared.
Countless magic staves protruded from them, all gathering dangerous magic blasts!
"I'm thinking the same thing! Gil!"
Accompanied by a loud shout, countless explosions erupted!
At this moment, the King of Heroes and his best friend were engaged in a life-and-death battle!
...
After Gilgamesh and Enkidu left the restaurant, Iskandar put down his wine glass and left.
Since Lord El-Melloi II and Gilgamesh left, the people Iskandar could chat with had all dispersed.
So it was better for him to leave as well.
After Iskandar left, Ainz and Rimuru went back to gaming mode.
The skeleton and the slime pulled out their handheld consoles and started tapping away at the rhythm game.
Watching Ainz nimbly tap the buttons with his bones and Rimuru split off slime to press the console... Yuto felt a bit weird.
This scene felt discordant!
Especially with Saitama, a normal human, watching from the side.
That sense of discordance only grew stronger.
"By the way, there's a new game recently. It similar to the game you played before, Ainz."
Watching them play made Yuto think of the game Asuna mentioned.
He figured since the trio liked gaming, he'd bring it up. The game he referred to was the one Ainz played before transmigrating.
Now Ainz had transmigrated as his game avatar.
Hearing Yuto's words, the trio got excited.
Ainz put down his console as he raised his skull head to look at Yuto.
"Kamisaka, please be sure to buy it! I'm begging you!" Ainz clapped his hand bones together.
His whole skeletal body bowed to Yuto!
Yuto sighed helplessly.
He hadn't even said what the game was yet.
'Is it really okay to be this decisive...?'
"Boss! Please!!!" Rimuru had never played a Vrmmo game.
He'd only heard of them before transmigrating. Now that Yuto mentioned it, the slime was excited!
"If possible, please buy one for me too." Saitama smiled at Yuto.
Even though he wasn't interested in manga or light novels.
When it came to games, he had his own pursuits!
"I say, you guys don't even know what game it is. Is it really okay to be so decisive?" Yuto said to the three.
"No, Kamisaka, you don't understand. Exploring and unlocking a brand new game is an interesting thing in itself! It's because it's unknown that we're full of anticipation! It's because it's unknown that we yearn for it! That's the passion a true gamer should have!" Ainz's passionate speech left Yuto stunned.
'Is this a veteran gaming otaku taking over?!'
"That's right, that's right! Exactly!!!" Rimuru felt moved.
Maybe Ainz's words hit a sweet spot for Rimuru, who was also an otaku.
Only Saitama remained calm, but he still looked at Yuto full of expectation.
"However, we still need to hear about the core game genre." Ainz changed his tune.
He dropped the impassioned tone and switched to a serious one.
If a passerby heard him, they'd think Ainz was about to conduct important research.
Yuto couldn't help but chuckle.
Ainz's serious demeanor was funny. In contrast, this terrifying skeletal body became the biggest punchline.
Yuto composed himself and told the three the info about SAO.
He didn't know much either. Most of what he knew came from Utaha.
After the trio finished listening, Ainz was silent, while Rimuru and Saitama were just excited.
After all, neither of them had played such a high-end game, it was normal to be excited.
Ainz was a veteran, so he wouldn't get that worked up.
"A game without magic... I wonder if that won't suit me." Ainz rubbed his jawbone with his hand bones.
He was thinking about this question seriously.
"It's fine! Let's just play it first and see." Rimuru said to Ainz.
Ainz nodded in realization. "You're right! Why think so much? Let's just play it first!"
This was a standard gaming otaku!
"Do we need to buy that VR equipment?" Saitama was the first to focus on a practical issue.
Although he liked playing games, he still had his reason.
Funds were a big problem bothering him.
"Yes." Yuto nodded.
"How much?"
"300,000 yen."
Hearing this number, Saitama's face fell.
300,000 yen.
Saitama had to think for a long time even for 3,000 yen!
Yuto remembered that Saitama was there when Asuna talked about SAO.
But looking at his reaction now, it was safe to say he hadn't paid any attention to what Asuna said at the time.