The same words kept echoing in my head. Tamamo's voice could be heard, as if a song was on repeat.
It's not that I don't know Tamamo's feelings. The affection she has shown me for a long time has gone beyond the simple category of filial piety.
Tamamo is kind and beautiful. She's talented and can do anything, and she learns new things with ease.
What could be more joyous than to win her affection?
But why am I hesitating?
A long blonde hair fell in front of my eyes.
"It's my turn now. Would you mind focusing a little more?"
"Ah, sorry."
"Really. That fox-san has given me a troublesome task. Like a main character, decorating the climax and all."
"I'll only focus on you now. I'm sorry."
The third time enjoying the amusement park in order.
Now it was Gilgamesh's turn. Wasting time thinking about other people was not polite.
Let's get a grip.
"Then what should we do? It's too dark, so roller coasters are out of the question, and Vikings?"
"That's good too, but it doesn't really appeal to me."
I suggested the two most popular attractions, but Gilgamesh's reaction was lukewarm.
My intuition, honed by long experience, advised me that Gilgamesh already had a ride in mind.
"A haunted house?"
"Hmm... not bad."
Not this one.
"Swan boats?"
"Pedaling might be a hassle."
Besides that, I mentioned all the other rides that could be seen with the naked eye in the amusement park, but Gilgamesh shook her head.
Perhaps Gilgamesh has no interest in the amusement park itself.
That means... it's in line with Gilgamesh's initial statement that she has no intention of getting close to anyone.
This is not an ordinary amusement park. It's a Singularity where the rides change at will.
We were letting go of our emotional baggage and raising our intimacy again while enjoying the amusement park.
Gilgamesh declared that she 'disliked' this action.
If I force her, she'll follow, but then she won't be able to open her heart.
"Then what do you want to do?"
"Well.... Would you like to have some cotton candy together?"
Gilgamesh pointed in the direction of the cotton candy machine we had left behind.
"Is that what you really want?"
Instead of answering my question, Gilgamesh asked a question in return.
"Marduk, are you the type of person who decides the fifth thing you want to do when you go out to play?"
"I might decide the first or second, but not the fifth."
"It's the same for me now. I've learned the secret of the Singularity, and I've also confirmed the changing rides. I've also seen the tear-jerking stories shown by the beast-san and the fox-san."
Gilgamesh smiled brightly, but her eyes were not smiling.
"Then isn't that enough? I've enjoyed myself enough just by watching Marduk have fun. After the witch-san and the pope-san's turns are over, this Singularity will end."
"Morgan said there would be a change in this Singularity. I hope it ends as you say, but there's a high chance it won't. ...Do you really think so?"
"Of course."
This has become troublesome.
The fact that the Gilgamesh in front of me is not a stubborn adult, but a brilliant little Gilgamesh is a huge obstacle.
The adult Gilgamesh has already confessed her true feelings to me. She has reflected on her mistakes and let go of her obsession.
But the little Gilgamesh is not. After she named me Marduk, our connection was severed when I left Uruk.
In fact, it's fine to consider the adult and the child as separate individuals.
"...It's a bit much to do nothing, so let's go get some cotton candy."
"Okay."
"It's broken."
"It was rattling so much, so it's not strange. I wonder if there's a place that sells cotton candy..."
"I've wandered around quite a bit with the witch-san, but unfortunately, there were no places that sold cotton candy."
"Then what should we do?"
Is this the end?
Of course not.
The ground shook with a rattling vibration. The street trees sank into the ground, and the grassy field shot up.
"The surroundings are changing."
"It's dangerous, so stay by my side."
"Yes."
I've tried a shooting racing game and a mountain climb.
I'm confident I won't be surprised no matter what comes out.
A bright halo of light enveloped us. When I opened my closed eyes, everything was sparkling.
The sparkling walls were mirrors. Mirrors, mirrors, and more mirrors blocking the front, back, left, and right.
"So the third one is a mirror maze. I hope it's just a simple mirror maze..."
[Find all the treasures hidden in the maze]
[1:59:58]
"Of course not."
This ride is a treasure hunt in a mirror maze.
I don't know the difficulty, but since there are two people, it shouldn't be difficult.
The height of the mirror walls is quite high, so I can't climb over them, but if I support her, Gilgamesh can.
I reached my hand back, but there was nothing there.
"Gilgamesh? Where did you go?"
Damn it.
Gilgamesh has disappeared.
"A treasure hunt. What a nostalgic game."
Gilgamesh walked slowly forward, her hand on the mirror wall.
In the mirror was a beautiful girl with bright red eyes. Even though she wasn't an adult, she was so beautiful that everyone would acknowledge it, and a faint dignity flowed from her.
But she herself felt no emotion even when she saw herself in the mirror.
That is 'me', but a 'me' who is destined to grow into another 'me'.
She will become an arrogant, dogmatic, and terribly greedy ruler.
What meaning is there in outer beauty?
When the inside of the beautiful apple is rotten.
"Thinking too gloomily is not good. Since it's a treasure hunt, shall we just get it over with and get out?"
Gilgamesh reached her hand into the air. It was a motion to take out a treasure that finds treasures.
But not to mention a treasure, not even a golden ripple opened.
"...Me too."
She had forgotten that it was a world where all abilities had disappeared. Gilgamesh walked faster to forget her embarrassment.
And she hit her head on the mirror in front of her.
"Ahaha... this is fun."
Gilgamesh, who never loses her smile.
She is facing an unexpected ordeal in the mirror maze.
"Finally, the first treasure. To make even the treasure chest out of a mirror, how cruel. So cruel!"
I almost passed by the treasure right in front of my eyes. It's amazing that I noticed the strange refractive index.
"Then what could be inside...!"
Creak. Along with the sound of the treasure chest's hinge, the treasure inside revealed itself.
A sword made of gold? A chest full of gold, silver, and jewels?
It was neither.
"It's a flower crown?"
I looked around, wondering if it was made of some special jewel, but I could only smell the pungent scent of flowers.
It's a very, very ordinary flower crown.
Is this really a treasure? I looked up at the sky, wondering if I had found a dud.
[Treasures Found 1/3]
Seeing the hologram's count go up, it must be a treasure.
If it were a simple amusement park, I would have let it go, thinking they had prepared a cheap treasure to reduce the risk of theft, but this is a Singularity.
This flower crown is by no means an ordinary flower crown.
"It's just that I don't know what it is. I've never seen a flower crown like this..."
Not me.
Then could it be Gilgamesh? Since she has all the treasures?
No. That's a ridiculous guess.
"No way. There's no way Gilgamesh would have collected such a plain flower crown."
For now, I put the flower crown on my head. It fit perfectly, which made my suspicion grow even more, but for now, finding the treasures in time is the priority.
The size of the maze is not as big as I thought. I'm starting to get used to the mirror maze, so it doesn't seem that difficult.
I found the second treasure.
"I'm not expecting much, but... maybe this time?"
I've already been had once. It wouldn't be strange if a rock came out.
And a real rock came out.
"I was just saying, but does a real rock have to come out?"
With a deep sigh, I picked up the rock. The hologram's treasure count increased by one.
[Treasures Found 2/3]
One left. Only 30 minutes have passed.
"I thought it would be difficult, but it's pretty easy. I'll clear it soon."
I'm clearing the mission quickly, but I still haven't found Gilgamesh.
Until now, we had always cleared the missions by joining forces, so it felt strange to be clearing it all on my own.
"Well, Gilgamesh could be clearing another mission."
I leaned my back against the mirror wall and sat down to rest.
I also took out the stone I had put in the treasure chest because it was heavy.
"Let's see what on earth this is."
Looking closely, it wasn't just a rock.
It was a slate-like object carved in the shape of a plate. The creator's skill was lacking, so it was a bit shabby.
"What's written on it...?"
It's cuneiform. My breath caught in my throat.
At the bottom of the center of the slate, which was a mess from being written and erased several times, three characters of a name were written.
"Humbaba."
It's me.