Uruk, Chaldea Embassy.
After returning here, Rozen and Mash had a quick meal to satisfy their hunger and then prepared to depart.
Gilgamesh had already issued a travel permit, allowing Rozen and Mash to freely enter and exit Uruk and proceed to Kutha.
Thus, Rozen and Mash were ready to set out, heading directly for the Underworld.
Anna and Merlin came along as well.
However, the two of them wouldn't be able to accompany them further.
"After all, we are Heroic Spirits—neither humans nor living beings. Even if we go to the Underworld, we won't be of help to you. In fact, we might become a burden. So, this time, only the two of you can go."
Merlin said this helplessly, as Fou, perched on his shoulder, let out a couple of chirps.
"I'm sorry I can't be of help."
Anna also spoke up, full of guilt and apology.
"Don't worry about it, Miss Anna. And Mr. Merlin—you've already done so much for us."
Mash quickly responded to comfort them.
Rozen simply shrugged.
"To be honest, I'm not all that confident this time either," Rozen said to Merlin and Anna.
"In a place like the Underworld, where even gods are rendered powerless, I don't even know how much of my remaining strength I'll be able to use."
After all, the Underworld was a realm that even the gods found suppressive.
In such a place, even Kinu and Gyokuto might prove ineffective.
Worse, if Heroic Spirits were affected by the laws of the Underworld, then neither Mash nor Altera might be able to use their power effectively—unable to oppose Ereshkigal.
On top of that, Rozen was still in recovery, making this descent into the Underworld a perilous journey for him as well.
In short, Rozen was taking a huge risk; he was not undertaking this journey with absolute certainty.
And since even Rozen himself was in that state, he had no right to ask anything more of others.
Merlin stroked his chin.
"The Underworld is the realm of the dead. Even my Clairvoyance can't reach it. In such a situation, I can't really give you any advice."
So said the Magus of Flowers from Britain.
However...
"Since your opponent is Ereshkigal, maybe you could try finding someone who might be willing to help. She might prove useful."
Merlin offered this suggestion.
"A helper?"
Mash was taken aback.
"Someone who might be willing to help?" Rozen raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"Do you really think she'd help me?"
Clearly, Rozen knew who Merlin was referring to.
And because he knew, he found the suggestion hard to believe.
"Who knows?" Merlin smiled meaningfully. "Maybe it'll work out. Either way, you're going to Kutha, which happens to be her turf. There's a good chance you'll run into her—might as well give it a shot, right?"
Hearing this, Rozen rolled his eyes.
This unreliable guy really did like giving advice from a safe distance.
Rozen knew all too well—asking that person to help descend into the Underworld would probably feel worse to her than being killed.
Still, Rozen didn't argue.
If they did run into her, it wouldn't hurt to try.
He was just curious whether she already knew that Ereshkigal had manifested as well.
If she did—her reaction would be something worth seeing.
Thinking that, Rozen smiled slightly.
"I'll do what I can."
He gave that response, then turned to Merlin and Anna.
"I'm leaving things here to you two. If anything happens, just give orders to the familiars stationed in Uruk. They'll cooperate obediently and relay any important information to me via mental communication."
"Understood." Merlin nodded and gave Fou, still on his shoulder, a light tap on the head. "I'll take care of this little beast for now."
But Fou let out a cry, shook his head, and instead jumped over to Mash, using her face as a springboard before landing on her shoulder.
His actions made it clear who he wanted to follow.
"You want to go to the Underworld with Rozen and Mash?"
Anna asked in surprise.
"Fou!"
Fou tilted his head up and chirped in affirmation—clearly expressing his desire to go through hardships alongside Rozen and Mash.
"Traitor. You never showed this much concern for me."
Merlin commented with mock bitterness.
"Fou! Fou!"
Fou looked at Merlin with disdain, as if to say, "Why would I waste my time worrying about you?"
The Chaldean mascot's grudge against Merlin was still as strong as ever.
"Thank you, Fou."
Mash smiled and gave Fou's cheek a gentle poke.
Rozen didn't object to Fou tagging along either.
Now that he knew Fou was the magic beast from the legend of King Arthur, perhaps this little creature could unexpectedly come in handy in the Underworld.
"Then, we're off."
Rozen bid farewell to Merlin and Anna.
The two of them nodded firmly.
"See you later, Miss Anna, Mr. Merlin."
Mash bowed and said her goodbyes as well.
Then, Rozen and Mash, with Fou on her shoulder, left the embassy and headed toward Uruk's north gate.
Merlin and Anna stood at the entrance, watching them leave.
"Worried?"
As their figures faded into the distance, Merlin suddenly asked.
Naturally, the question was directed at Anna.
"...A little."
Anna had initially wanted to deny it, but seeing Merlin's knowing smile, she knew she couldn't fool him. So, unwillingly, she admitted, "In a place like the Underworld, even they might not come back. Honestly, I wanted to stop them."
"Oh?" Merlin was surprised. "Seems you've grown close to them. No—more accurately, to Rozen, right?"
"...What's that supposed to mean?" Anna asked irritably. "Are you teasing me?"
"Not at all," Merlin waved his hands in denial, smiling wryly. "It's just surprising that someone who once claimed to hate humans would care about them this much."
"Then what about you?" Anna fixed her gaze on him. "Didn't you once say that, though half-human, you're still not quite one of them—more of a half-incubus? That you don't really care about the life or death of humans?"
"That's true." Merlin nodded candidly. "I don't concern myself with the life or death of individual humans. But when it comes to the survival of all mankind, that's a different matter."
After all, Merlin was a incubus, one who needed human dreams to grow and survive.
If humanity perished, he probably would too.
And in truth, Merlin had great fondness for human history and the human order. He did care about the fate of humanity as a whole.
"That man represents humanity's hope. Isn't it only natural that I'd take an interest in him?"
Merlin acted entirely based on that logic.
"So, what made you change your attitude toward Rozen?"
Merlin asked, half curious, half probing.
Anna remained silent for a long while.
Then...
"Because… aside from my sisters, he was the first person to care about me. To try and understand me."
With those words, Anna turned and went back into the embassy.
Merlin watched her retreating figure with a soft smile, then followed her back inside.