The morning arrived swiftly.
A golden dawn rose over the land of Mesopotamia, and the people surviving in this city began another day of striving for their existence.
Ritsuka and Mash, freshly awake, searched the inn for Roy but found no trace of him.
Not only that, but Merlin and Ana were also missing.
It was Siduri who came to inform them that Roy had gone out with Gilgamesh the previous night and had yet to return.
This surprised them both.
The two, who had been at odds just yesterday, had suddenly grown so close as to spend the night together?
Recalling some less savory accounts in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ritsuka cautiously asked, "They… really stayed out all night?"
"Yes, Mr. Roy and the king went out together last night and haven't returned yet. But please, don't worry. I can tell the king is quite fond of Mr. Roy. At least last night in the divine tower, he was smiling happily, almost as if Lord Enkidu had returned…"
Siduri answered with a smile.
Since Enkidu's passing, it was the first time she had seen Gilgamesh get along so well with someone else. In the past, he would only go out with Enkidu. Had he found a new friend?
Seeing Gilgamesh no longer mired in the tragedy of Enkidu's death, Siduri felt genuine joy for him.
To grow so close in a single night, perhaps this was the unique bond between kings.
Siduri then briefly outlined the day's itinerary for Ritsuka and Mash before returning to the divine tower to tackle her own tasks.
Last night, the king had instructed her to have the tablets moved from the tower, and she had stayed up all night reviewing them.
From them, she understood the monumental task the two kings were undertaking.
Merging Ur's people with Uruk to form a greater city-state, humanity's final bastion.
With such a grand mission looming urgently, she needed to contribute and ease the burden on the two kings.
Watching Siduri hurry in and out, Ritsuka and Mash felt a bit puzzled.
"Everyone in Uruk is so busy, Mash. Roy-senpai and Gilgamesh must be working hard too."
"Yes, senpai. Let's start our day's work as well. Once we finish what Miss Siduri assigned, we'll head to the divine tower to report to Gilgamesh and Mr. Roy."
Though they hadn't yet earned Gilgamesh's approval, Mash and Ritsuka were brimming with determination, fueled by their clear goals and tasks.
"Oh my, seeing you two so spirited is wonderful, Ritsuka and Mash."
At that moment, the voices of Dr. Roman and Da Vinci came through the communication device.
"Dr. Roman! And Da Vinci-chan!"
Seeing Dr. Roman's image, Ritsuka felt a wave of reassurance.
"Yes, I waited until you were awake to contact you."
"Though Chaldea hasn't yet gained Gilgamesh's approval, according to Head Priestess Siduri, Mr. Roy has surely succeeded. Plus, with the Holy Grail already retrieved by him and more capable people supporting us, there's no need to rush."
"Perhaps Gilgamesh is right, Chaldea knows too little about this Singularity and Uruk's current state. So, follow his arrangements step by step. I believe you'll earn his recognition."
Dr. Roman offered his encouragement.
"Got it, Doctor! Mash and I will do our best!"
"Right, senpai. After breakfast, let's get to work."
Seeing their enthusiasm, Dr. Roman couldn't help but smile.
…
…
Meanwhile, at the western sector of the Demonic Front.
Soldiers, prepared for battle, polished their weapons, ready to face the next wave of beasts.
Roy and Gilgamesh, missing all night, appeared here.
"What do you think, King of Ur? Seeing the Demonic Front I personally organized and established, do you have anything to say?"
Leading Roy to the rear wall of the Demonic Front, Gilgamesh pointed to the towering defenses below and the Uruk citizens steadfastly fighting at their posts, his voice brimming with pride.
A vast battle line, valiant warriors, and an unyielding spirit of protection, this was the true Demonic Front.
Roy couldn't help but marvel.
"An impeccable defense, achieving the pinnacle of what humans of this era could accomplish. No wonder Tiamat and the demonic beasts haven't breached it after so long."
"Yet… even so, it can only delay destruction."
A trace of regret crossed Roy's face.
He knew the Demonic Front wasn't meant to prevent Uruk's fall, only to postpone it.
Though this line was formidable, it was steadily eroding.
Uruk's warriors were living humans with wills and lives, capable of injury and death. The demonic beasts, however, were not, mass-produced, they could be endlessly generated unless their source was eliminated.
This was no equal fight.
Even if they repelled the beasts' relentless assaults, Uruk's doom was sealed with the arrival of Tiamat, the Primordial Mother Goddess.
Hearing Roy's disheartened words, Gilgamesh neither refuted nor lamented.
With his Clairvoyance, he saw the truth more clearly than anyone.
He had dreamed of Uruk's destruction more than once.
But so what? Would he abandon resistance and surrender to fate just because destruction was inevitable? Such foolishness was beneath him.
Struggling against despair, defying so-called destiny, and letting one's life shine brilliantly.
Only by doing so could one be truly human, worthy of his protection.
"Hmph, who can say for certain? King of Ur, the future isn't set in stone. Everything we do now is to defy that future, isn't it?"
"Hahaha, you're right. I was being shortsighted."
Watching the Uruk citizens below, still fighting tirelessly for tomorrow's survival, Roy nodded.
The two locked eyes and burst into laughter.
After a night of conversation, they had truly come to understand each other.
Having handled Uruk's affairs, Roy accompanied Gilgamesh, carrying Enkidu's body, on a journey through the places where he and Enkidu had once spent time.
As they walked, Gilgamesh shared tales of his past with Enkidu and the changes that followed.
They wandered for hours, covering all of Uruk in a single night, as Roy listened to Gilgamesh recount the Epic of Gilgamesh in his own words.
Gilgamesh told him his life had three pivotal turning points. The first was in his youth, when he thought he understood the world, rebelled against the gods, and became a tyrant. The second was meeting Enkidu, finding a true friend, tempering his spirit, and embracing joy. The third was Enkidu's death, leading him to wander Mesopotamia, gaining and losing in his quest.
These three turning points marked his transformation.
From a wise young king to a tyrannical youth, and finally to the mature wise king he was now.
Looking back, it felt like a dream.
As he spoke, Gilgamesh buried Enkidu's body himself in a place they had once shared, planting a white flower atop it.
It was the flower Enkidu used to love picking for him when alive. Since his death, though Siduri would occasionally place such flowers on his desk…
After finishing, Gilgamesh brought Roy to the Demonic Front.
Though Gorgon was dead, he knew the ordeal was far from over.
His Clairvoyance couldn't see it, but he had a premonition that the true trial still awaited.
With no time to waste, he had brought Roy to the Demonic Front at dawn to find the best candidates to execute last night's plan.
___
If you're interested in reading more that 50 chapters, feel free to visit my pat reon,
https , // www .pat reon. com /XElenea