To Become a King and a Magician 746-750

Title: No One Here Doesn’t Like You

After kicking Merry out of Avalon, Naoki sat on one of the sofas in the tower and sighed helplessly.

“Haaah... that idiot, I shouldn’t have trusted her to do anything truly serious.”

“Indeed. Only Merry, whose mind is full of perverted trash, could think of something like that.” Aoko, sitting beside Naoki, laughed.

Incubus and Succubi are fundamentally a race extremely skilled in that regard. Legends clearly state that they live by sucking essence from the opposite sex. Even that old pervert Merlin often visited brothels in Uruk.

“So, what’s your opinion? Want to do it? Or not?”

Riddell asked: “You need a lot of Mana to recover. Otherwise, you won’t make it for the next battle.”

Naoki propped his chin: “Originally, I already got the Holy Grail from Gilgamesh. With the Holy Grail’s power, two days would be enough for me to recover most... Tch, I should have grabbed that Holy Grail first when kicking her earlier.”

“With my knowledge of her, she probably already hid the Holy Grail in a place you definitely won’t find in two days.” Aoko spread her hands. “So, what’s your decision? I’ll state my opinion first... If done separately, I’m fine with it.”

“Separately?”

“Don’t you have Imaginary Manifestation? Creating multiple separate rooms inside it is possible too.”

Meaning separating each person into different rooms using multiple spaces?

Aoko, who had become an ‘auntie’ (adult woman), said with slight embarrassment: “If it’s many people, it would be quite troublesome in various ways, right?”

“I’m fine with it.” Riddell answered firmly.

Among leading Magus, having relationships with multiple women is commonplace, especially for declining Magus families. Though some reject outsiders for lineage purity, currently many Magus families are spreading their nets wide. After all, if the family declines, the difficulty to reach the Root increases drastically.

Moreover, Magus who feel superior don’t care about emotional debts. In fact, to them, it’s the women who should be grateful.

Listening to the opinions of the two flanking him, Naoki propped his chin and pondered for a moment, then looked at the other four in front.

“If Aoko and Riddell think that way, I’m also fine with it. But, are you all really sure?”

Ciel, Ayaka, Artoria, and Mordred.

After exchanging glances, Ciel smiled first: “I already stated my opinion earlier, I’m also fine with it. Consider it repayment for your kindness in picking me up ten years ago and raising me for ten years... Well, if you want to say this would be emotionally unfair to me, then my answer is it’s okay.”

“Though I don’t dare say my feelings for you are romantic love between man and woman, I certainly don’t hate you. For this stage, this level is enough. You don’t need to take it too seriously with me.”

After Ciel said that, Aoko shook her head: “Ciel, I dare guarantee, after today, this man will definitely bind you tightly. You won’t be allowed to leave. He’s quite responsible in this regard. You definitely won’t be able to get off the ship.”

“That’s also a kind of limitation.” Naoki laughed. “Though currently I tend to love whoever I meet and become a scumbag rowing many boats, but unless that woman initiates, I’ll never act. Once I act, I’ll be responsible to the end.”

Honestly, without this limitation, Naoki would have long become a modern Rasputin, even an enhanced version.

“I understand Ciel’s opinion too. Sorry, you got dragged in because of Merry’s antics.”

“It’s fine.”

Meanwhile, seeing Ciel voluntarily declare herself, Mordred immediately raised her hand: “King Father! I’m also fine—Ouch!”

A Gandr shot hit Mordred’s forehead and cut off her words.

Naoki smacked his forehead: “Why are you joining in.”

“I’m not joining in, I’m serious, King Father!” Mordred held her forehead. “Rather, King Father, what are you worried about? No one here doesn’t like King Father, and King Father likes everyone here too. So, it’s fine!”

“Hmm, Mordred is right.”

Artoria approached Naoki: “I’m the same as Ciel, Master. My liking for you isn’t purely romantic love, but in this abnormal time, that distinction doesn’t matter... Besides, when you confessed love to Souji earlier, actually all of us here heard it.”

In the Imperial Capital Singularity, Naoki once said, “I love Souji, and I also love all of you, Lia and the others.” Considering Merlin said earlier he set up Maguscraft in Avalon to observe Singularities...

“Well, we all can guess what you’re worried about, Naoki.” Ayaka reached out and ruffled Naoki’s head. “You like us, but don’t know if we like you, so in this situation, you’re worried this would be coercive for us.”

“But actually, like Mordred said, no one here doesn’t like you. Me too, and so does everyone in Chaldea.”

“Moreover, the people here are those you’ve saved. Now that you need help, we’re very happy to repay your kindness and give you the Mana you need.”

Up to here, Ayaka looked at her big sister: “Lend me Naoki for a bit, Big Sis.”

“Ayaka... Hah~~”

Rei sighed, then laughed: “Seems pointless to say anything. Over a dozen years, Ayaka, you’ve held back long enough too.”

“Besides, Big Sis has enjoyed alone for so long, it’s time to share a little with me.”

Listening to the declarations from the group of women on the sofa, Naoki took a deep breath: “You all... How many marriage certificates do I have to get later?”

Riddell smiled: “The Archelot family can help you handle it. Whether a dozen or dozens, if Naoki wants, we can make it happen.”

“Seems it’s already decided...”

Aoko rubbed the little boy beside her: “Then—who goes first?”

“Let me decide the order. Though in the end it might get chaotic, but it’s good to set the initial order... But wait until everyone arrives first.”

“Eh? There are more people?”

“Merry who was kicked out by Master—she seems to have run to Chaldea.”

Hearing Rei’s words, everyone in Avalon instantly fell silent.

(That perverted trash Dream Eater bastard, how many more people does she plan to drag in!)

As the only man present, Naoki for the first time felt the shadow of death enveloping him.

Could he really come out alive after this?

Time remaining until Tiamat arrives in Uruk: Forty-nine hours.

-

Title: Arcueid Awakens

In a semi-conscious state, Arcueid’s awareness gradually recovered from the chaos. After opening her eyes, what appeared in her view was an endless beautiful sea of flowers, and a pavilion standing not far away.

“This... a dream?”

This wasn’t reality, but inside a dream.

Arcueid could still distinguish it. She had just regained consciousness now, but her body hadn’t awakened yet.

“My dream... shouldn’t it be inside the Millennium Castle?”

All this time, Arcueid only dreamed one thing: she confined herself in the unchanging Millennium Castle, sleeping for centuries.

That was the only thing she dreamed of.

The sea of flowers in front of her was an impossible scenery for her to dream.

(Sea of flowers...)

“Is that you, Merry?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Inside the pavilion, countless flower petals gathered, gradually forming Merry’s figure. She made a heart gesture to Arcueid and smiled: “This is the Magical Merry loved by all and blooming everywhere.”

Indeed.

Only Merry could turn someone else’s dream into something like this.

Arcueid approached and sat down: “You woke me up.”

“Correct.” Merry nodded with a smile. “It was pretty exhausting, you know. Your Vampiric Impulse accumulated over a dozen years might mean nothing to you, but for us outsiders, it’s immense mental pressure, like pulling you out of a whirlpool.”

Merry felt her arm nearly break, though whether it broke or not didn’t matter; she could recover just by thinking about it in the dream.

“I see. I feel fine, much lighter than before. But thank you so much, Merry! Otherwise, it might have taken me a long time to struggle out on my own.”

“Actually, nearly a day has passed in the real world, and I needed about half a day to pull you out—well, the main reason was to resolve your Vampiric Impulse.”

“I see... Eh?”

Realizing certain information Merry uttered, Arcueid was stunned for a moment.

Resolve the Vampiric Impulse?

“Merry, did you manage to suppress my Vampiric Impulse again?”

“No, no, I’m not that strong. If it were Shiki, it’d be easy, but I can’t resolve it permanently. I just helped you trick your body and instincts—for now, what you crave isn’t blood anymore, but sucking Mana.”

Merry briefly explained the plan she and Naoki had decided on.

Changing the Vampiric Impulse into an impulse to suck Mana—abbreviated as Mana Drinking Impulse—combined with Arcueid’s constitution that continuously receives Mana from the planet, this resolves the Vampiric Impulse in a relatively semi-permanent way.

Literally, it changed from sucking living beings’ blood to sucking the planet’s blood.

“When you wake up, your body will start craving Mana. Since it’s just converted, the initial craving will be very strong. Naoki is already prepared to recharge your Mana. After the first wave of replenishment, the situation should stabilize through the planet.”

“That way, you won’t have to worry about the Vampiric Impulse issue until this planet truly withers.”

Merry explained.

“Or, if you want a permanent solution, Shiki will come later and she can help you kill that impulse. Actually, using this method can also restore your shrunken body.”

“My shrunken body? What’s wrong with my body?” Arcueid frowned.

After a pause, Merry slapped the table, and the smooth table surface suddenly displayed Arcueid’s situation in the real world—she, about eight or nine years old, was sleeping soundly on the sofa, like a sleeping princess waiting for a prince to wake her.

“You and Naoki used too much power to stop Tiamat. And to stop you who was rampaging at that time, Naoki chose to subdue you with a mutual suicide method—resulting in both of you turning into children, and needing a lot of Mana to return to your original form and power.”

“So that’s what happened...”

Arcueid realized.

“So Naoki is also a child now?”

“Regarding that...”

Merry slapped the table again, and the image on it suddenly dissolved into ripples, and after stabilizing, what was displayed was Merry pinning Naoki on the bed and deeply kissing him.

Scratching her face slightly embarrassed, Merry laughed: “Actually, I’m doing two things at once. While explaining to you here, in the real world, I’m also giving Mana to Naoki. It’s my turn by coincidence, so it’s unavoidable if it overlaps.”

“Giving Mana?”

“Yes, with a large amount of Mana to shorten your recovery time. Mucosal contact is the most efficient.”

As Merry here said that, the Merry there moved even more restlessly, her cheeks flushed, looking truly immersed in pleasure.

And Naoki seemed to respond to her too. His arms and legs wrapped around Merry’s neck and waist, locking her body tightly.

*SMACK!*

The image suddenly stopped here, and the Merry sitting in front of Arcueid suddenly shivered.

Arcueid frowned: “Merry, what’s wrong with you? Your body... No, this is a dream. So, your mental state isn’t good?”

“No, I just suddenly received a little surprise, a bit startled eek—!”

Startled eek?

Hearing Merry’s somewhat odd final sound, Arcueid frowned even more.

After struggling to stabilize her mental state, Merry hurriedly instructed Arcueid as if in a rush: “A-anyway, after you wake up, find Naoki. He knows what to do, then just follow your instincts ugh!”

Before finishing speaking, Merry’s body suddenly turned into an illusion for a moment.

“Seriously, it’s been a day, why is she still so energetic. That’s why this fairy with unlimited stamina setting is really... N-now, then, I have urgent business, I’ll go first—“

Even before her words finished, Merry directly vanished in front of Arcueid.

Arcueid tilted her head in confusion: “What’s really going on... Whatever, after I wake up and meet Naoki, I’ll surely understand. Merry said I’ve slept a day, so it’s indeed time to wake up.”

Thinking that, Arcueid began trying to hold her breath.

Several minutes later.

“Ugh...”

Opening her eyes again, seeing Avalon’s dome filling her view, Arcueid slowly rose from the sofa.

“Hmm, this time I’m really back... Ugh!”

Suddenly, for a moment, a strong impulse erupted from within Arcueid’s body.

It was the Vampiric Impulse!

Arcueid, who had felt it once or twice before, immediately understood her condition, but when she prepared to forcibly suppress it, this impulse oddly gave her a sense of incongruity.

It wasn’t an impulse for blood, but a craving for the ubiquitous Mana.

(This... this is what Merry called the Mana Drinking Impulse?)

Feeling Mana flowing little by little into her body, and the impulse slightly subsiding under the Mana’s influence, Arcueid probably understood what Merry meant—but this method was too slow!

If relying only on sucking Mana like this, it would take a very long time until the impulse weakened to the point where she could suppress it all at once.

“Oh right, Naoki. Merry said I have to find him.”

Arcueid immediately looked around for Naoki’s figure. She remembered in the earlier image, Naoki was with Merry on a big bed.

Coincidentally, right as Arcueid turned, a big bed appeared in her view. Merry lay half-covered on the bed, looking limp as if all her strength was drained.

And near the head of the bed...

“Gulp~~~~”

Seeing Naoki emitting a strong Mana aura, about twelve years old, Arcueid unconsciously swallowed.

Delicious, Tasty, Smells good, Want to eat his Mana... Thoughts like that started surging in Arcueid’s mind, as if Naoki in front of her was a delicious dish prepared specially for her.

“Ugh... Naoki...”

“Eh, you’re awake?”

Turning and seeing Arcueid who had unconsciously arrived at the bedside, Naoki remembered Merry’s message earlier, then reached out and pulled Arcueid onto the bed. Instantly, he kissed Arcueid’s lips.

*BOOM!*

Instantly, Mana, like a volcanic eruption, flowed from Naoki’s body to Arcueid’s through the touching parts, filling the huge void in her heart.

Instinctively, Arcueid strongly gripped Naoki’s arms, pressing him down little by little.

“Give me more, Naoki, give me more Mana...”

“Yes, all of it is yours.”

-

Title: I’ll Be Back Soon

Naoki spent two days in Avalon. No, it should be said that from the external time flow’s perspective, it was two days, but in reality, because Merry set up a Barrier that altered the time flow, when Naoki fully recovered to his original form, it was already ten days later.

“Ugh... Hmm~~~~~”

On a bed so large it nearly filled half the area in Avalon, Naoki stretched his body strongly, feeling the power in his body that had fully recovered, and sighed in relief.

“Huf, finally I’m recovered too.”

In ten days, without reinforcement from the Holy Grail’s power, and only relying on Mana obtained from others, Naoki finally returned to his original form and power. He could have recovered three days earlier, but because he had to ‘feed’ Arcueid, who was a massive Mana consumer, Naoki gave all the accumulated Mana at the start to her, causing him to have to gather it from zero again. In the process, he also had to rest for a while due to stamina issues from some people.

“Well, they all really worked hard.” Seeing the others lying on the bed, Naoki also felt it was a bit excessive when thinking back.

Originally, following Aoko’s suggestion, to avoid troubles in various ways, Naoki divided several rooms for separate Mana replenishment, but unknowingly, the people who were initially scattered in various rooms gathered back together. As Rei said, though the order and schedule for each person was initially set, in the end, it would definitely become chaotic. Back in the Camelot Apartment, the schedule was messed up countless times because Merry often ‘stole’ turns first.

This time was the same. Lying beside Naoki, as one of the few still awake, Aoko gave an annoyed glare to her ‘little man’: “You know how hard it was... I lost consciousness several times; only Touko and Rei, those two dolls, could keep you company until the end.” While saying that, Aoko also kicked her big sister lying at her waist.

Under Merry’s persuasion and her personal tastes, that Miss Master Puppeteer finally ‘devoured’ her disciple completely, inside and out, without leaving a scrap. “I think after this, it’s better to just send her to prison so she doesn’t tarnish the Aozaki family name everywhere.”

Hearing Aoko’s ‘family rebellion’ words, Naoki just smiled: “Then, I guess everyone here should go in to keep her company, especially you, Aoko.”

“Ugh... Blame your child form that perfectly hit my tastes!”

“Wait, wait, don’t kick me.” Naoki hurriedly held back Aoko’s pair of smooth white legs.

Meanwhile, Rei also sat up: “Master, Aoko, please lower your voices and movements a bit. Ayaka just fell asleep.” Stroking her sleeping little sister’s hair on her lap, Rei looked at Naoki: “With this, we sisters are Master’s, Aoko and Touko too... Master is truly sinful.”

“Yes, yes, yes, my fault. I was too greedy.” Naoki said while approaching and kissing Rei’s forehead.

Seeing that man’s skilled actions, Aoko recalled their early days of meeting—such a good kid, how did he become like this now?

Glancing at Merry near her feet, Aoko stepped on her face several times.

Aoko continued looking at the figures sleeping around her.

(Arcueid, Lia, Mordred, Riddell, Ciel... That one over there, if I’m not mistaken, is the active Lord of the Astronomy Division? Atalanta, Souji, Angelica... Jeanne d’Arc Alter is there too, meaning Gray is... Right, I need to step on this Dream Eater a few more times.)

In the last ten days, people who had ‘forbidden’ desires toward Naoki, under Merry’s persuasion, the situational urges, and atmospheric support, one by one ‘conquered’ this man who only knew to be passive.

Naoki was indeed like that; if the woman didn’t take the initiative, he would never act. If the woman took the initiative, he would accept it immediately. He was like a candle that doesn’t light unless ignited, or shampoo that only moves if touched.

The only one that made him hesitate was Gray. After all, Gray was a child Naoki watched grow up from young. Their relationship could be said to be the deepest besides Merry, and had long ceased to be just brother-sister affection. In the end, the thick-faced and impatient Jeanne d’Arc Alter turned into a suicide truck, dragging Gray and Naoki into [mutual destruction].

Thinking of this, Aoko kicked Naoki’s back again: “What a huge mess... So, do you plan to take responsibility for all of us, like you said before?”

“Yes, otherwise I’d disappoint you all.” Naoki smiled. “However, from Riddell’s family side, for some reasons, on the surface, she has to be first. This one...”

“No one cares about that. If it has to be ordered, the one you easily defeated is last.”

“Then I’m first.” Rei laughed.

Aoko gritted her teeth: “You, doll, still dare to speak! You and Touko are truly Out of Specification. Count separately! Professionals are prohibited from competing.”

“What’s the problem? After all, there’s no point in us fighting over order. In Master’s eyes, we’re all the same, right?” Rei looked at Naoki: “Time is almost up, Master. Tiamat should be nearly arriving in Uruk.”

Naoki nodded: “I know... Though I wanted to bid farewell to everyone before leaving, but it seems impossible.”

“It’s the same after everything ends. We’ll all wait for Master to return here.”

“I actually wanted to go with you... Tch, but still so sore.” Aoko frowned.

Stroking her hair, Naoki said: “Don’t force yourself. The combat power there isn’t lacking. If you really want to be with me, wait until later against Goetia.”

Final Singularity, Grand Temple of Time: Solomon. The enemy to face then was the entirety of the 72 Demon God Pillars. To break through that number, Aoko’s AOE prowess was greatly needed. That was her stage. For now, rest well first.

“Then, I’ll leave the Singularity matters to you. I’ll sleep a bit too.”

“Yes, sleep soundly.”

After kissing Aoko’s hair, Naoki got off the bed, changed clothes with Self-Modification, then looked toward Arcueid—because of the massive Mana infusion, she was now in a satiated and sleepy state.

“Huf... Then, I’ll trouble you here, Rei. I’ll be back soon after finishing things there.”

“Understood, safe travels, Master.”

-

Title: Farewell, Mother, and Our Youthful Past

World’s Surface.

Above the walls of Uruk.

*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*

Dingir continuously fired Noble Phantasms, taking down the flying Lahmu one by one in the air.

With no more suppression from Naoki and the others, the freed Tiamat had reopened the Sea of Life. In just two days, waves of dark chaos had submerged much of the land. From those chaos waves, billions of endless Lahmu flew out, like siege weapons crashing into Uruk with their own bodies.

If not for the Barrier erected by Morgan to protect the entire city of Uruk, Uruk would surely have suffered massive losses by now. Besides the Barrier, the Servants holding out in Uruk, as well as Ritsuka and Mash, had also plunged into battle against the Lahmu.

However, facing Lahmu that were each stronger than Ugallu and now evolved with flight capabilities and rapid regeneration, even Servants struggled to handle them. Only Quetzalcoatl, Ishtar, Kingu, and Nobunaga could smoothly deal with groups of Lahmu.

Therefore, over these two days, Uruk had repeatedly organized defenses against the Lahmu, centered around these four. Even so, as Tiamat continued approaching, the number of Lahmu had become too vast to fully exterminate.

Outside Uruk’s Barrier, Lahmu covered the sky and earth, their numbers so immense they blocked out the sunlight. Day and night had truly lost meaning; it was hard to distinguish between them.

In essence, Uruk now was like an isolated island amid a storm.

“About two hours of travel remaining?”

At the top of the god tower, gazing at Tiamat slowly approaching Uruk surrounded by infinite Lahmu, Gilgamesh let out a faint sigh: “In the end, we’ve reached this point, huh? No... Should I say, we’ve managed to reach this point?”

In the future Gilgamesh saw through Clairvoyance six months ago, Uruk should have been destroyed by now, with only him surviving. That was a future full of despair.

Gilgamesh absolutely refused such a future. Therefore, he voluntarily became a Mage, pouring all his power and Uruk’s into fighting that inevitably doomed future.

And now—

“The future has changed, that Holy Sword Bearer...”

Gilgamesh knew Naoki had connected with the Root, as some had bluntly said it more than once. Perhaps he knew about Uruk’s future from the start.

(With that knowledge, he made nearly every effort to change the future.)

Naoki’s role in keeping Uruk standing here was undoubtedly the greatest. If not for him, the Absolute Frontline Demon Beast line would have been untenable, and Servants would have fallen one by one.

And now, the situation had reached the best possible outcome imaginable by everyone.

“King Gilgamesh.”

Ritsuka’s voice sounded from behind.

Gilgamesh turned, looking at the people gathered behind him.

—Ritsuka, Mash, Hinako, Xiang Yu.

—Ushiwakamaru, Benkei, Tomoe, Nobunaga, Leonidas.

—Ishtar, Quetzalcoatl, and... Kingu.

Except for Morgan and Merlin who had to maintain the city protection Barrier, Uruk’s remaining strongest forces were now assembled.

“The time has come!”

Gilgamesh declared.

“Though the most important person hasn’t arrived yet, we have no more time to prepare. With Tiamat’s power, the Barrier won’t hold her at all. So, we must attack before she reaches Uruk!—Preparations are complete, Ereshkigal!”

A treasury gate opened in the ground, and a mirror connected to the Underworld emerged from it. Ereshkigal’s figure appeared in the mirror. Responding to Gilgamesh’s question, she nodded: “Underworld transfer is complete. It’s now right beneath Mother’s feet. We just need to open a hole in the ground, and Mother will fall into the Underworld.”

In the Underworld, Tiamat would become the only life, losing absolute immortality, and turn into a state that can be wounded.

Gilgamesh looked at Ishtar: “Then, the task of dropping Goddess Tiamat is entrusted to you, Ishtar! Just this once, exert your full power as a Goddess!”

“You don’t need to tell me, I know! And why are you the one ordering me!” Ishtar scoffed. “After that, I’ll keep exterminating Lahmu on the surface. After all, I’m useless in the Underworld.”

In the Underworld, Gods and Servants would lose power. Therefore, in this battle, Ishtar wouldn’t descend to the Underworld. The same for some other Servants. Though there was Underworld protection from Ereshkigal, it wasn’t something to use lightly. According to information from Naoki, it was an authority that would sacrifice Ereshkigal’s own life.

So, those descending to the Underworld would only be the necessary combat forces.

For example, Kingu, who was the Chains of Heaven.

For example, Ritsuka who must deliver the final blow to Tiamat, and Mash to protect her.

For example, Nobunaga who could deal Super Effective damage to Tiamat.

Everyone else, if entering the Underworld, would only hinder allies and weaken Ereshkigal’s own power. And Ereshkigal’s suppression of Tiamat via the Underworld was also the most crucial point.

As for Quetzalcoatl, who was also one of the Three Goddesses—

“After Goddess Tiamat falls into the Underworld, the first strike is entrusted to you. Swing Marduk’s axe from the surface into the Underworld, inflict serious injury on Goddess Tiamat, South American Sun Goddess.”

“OK~~~ Leave it to Big Sis.”

Quetzalcoatl responded to Gilgamesh’s words with a smile.

Marduk’s Axe.

The weapon from mythology that split Tiamat’s throat. After Tiamat falls into the Underworld, this weapon would be used to further weaken her divinity and power, continuously increasing their side’s victory chances.

That was Quetzalcoatl’s only task. After all, such a massive weapon could only be swung by her.

Once again sweeping his gaze over everyone before him, Gilgamesh took a deep breath: “This is the final battle. Whether we defeat the Creation Goddess, or the Goddess annihilates us, let’s prove it in this battle!”

“Prove that we, humanity, already have the power to break free from Mother!”

-

Title: Consecutive Noble Phantasm Assault

After Gilgamesh’s final speech ended, everyone dispersed again.

However, only one person remained.

“It seems this is our last meeting, Gilgamesh.”

Kingu looked at his not-so-familiar friend.

Gilgamesh was silent for a moment: “Hmm. After this, we won’t meet again, Kingu.”

Kingu’s body belonged to Enkidu. Through the King’s Magecraft Holy Grail, Enkidu’s body buried in the Underworld was resurrected, giving birth to a new soul named Kingu.

And now, that soul had become Naoki’s, along with the Chains of Heaven which also belonged to Naoki.

Previously, when discussing with Naoki about how to deal with Kingu, Gilgamesh had foreseen this situation. However, even though he could predict it, when actually meeting the real Kingu for the first time, his feelings were still unsettled.

“You stay behind; is there anything you want to say to this King?”

“No, just a subconscious reaction.”

Kingu walked closer to Gilgamesh, and together, they looked down at Uruk.

He had no memories of Enkidu. He knew nothing about Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s past experiences or their past feelings. Standing here was only due to his body’s subconscious reaction.

Though his soul and body had become someone else’s, deep within his body, instincts still held a part that belonged to Gilgamesh. That was the deepest trace left by two close friends in each other’s hearts, unchangeable by any curse no matter how strong.

Seeing Kingu approaching, Gilgamesh recalled the past when Enkidu was still around. Long ago, after defeating the monster disturbing Uruk, the two also stood here side by side, watching Uruk celebrate victory below.

“AAAAAaaaaaaaaa—!”

Tiamat’s cry echoed from afar.

Kingu gazed at his mother: “Truly extraordinary. Though I was born as Mother’s child, humanity’s enemy, now I must fight for humanity, against Mother.”

“Feeling reluctant?”

“No, I don’t have such thoughts now. After all, I am merely a weapon, a tool. Master’s command is the principle and purpose of my actions.”

Kingu’s answer made Gilgamesh fall silent.

Again, an answer like this.

From Enkidu’s birth until now, he always saw himself as just a tool, a weapon. The original Kingu might not have thought that way, but after being subdued by Naoki, his mindset must have been influenced.

Last time it was like this, this time too. The Chains of Heaven until the end never became human.

Ripples from the treasury shone beside Gilgamesh’s hand. Taking a gem-shaped artifact from the treasury, Gilgamesh threw it to Kingu: “Though not comparable to the Holy Grail, this is also a fine core. Take it and use it. Consider it a farewell gift from this King to you.”

This was their last meeting, and also Gilgamesh and Enkidu’s last meeting. Therefore, he had to give a gift containing his feelings to the friend he was parting with.

[See you again]

[Safe travels]

—What is called feelings, perhaps something like that.

Looking at the gem in his hand, Kingu frowned: “I’m not your Enkidu. Is this okay?”

“Yes, this King certainly knows you’re not him, but even if your inner self is different, your soul is different, your body remains the unique Chains of Heaven on this land.”

Gilgamesh said seriously.

“If by your thinking, you are just a weapon, then you are the successor body to the weapon most trusted by this King. What’s wrong with giving you one or two treasures? If this King’s Holy Grail hadn’t been given to the Holy Sword Bearer, this King would give it to you now too.”

“I can’t understand.” Kingu shook his head. “But my body truly feels joy. So now, I will accept your kindness, Gilgamesh.”

【King Gilgamesh! Tiamat has reached the designated location!】

Ritsuka’s voice sounded in both their ears via Magecraft Rite.

“Then, farewell here, Gilgamesh. Goodbye.”

Integrating the gem into his body, Kingu shot into the sky, flying at full speed toward Tiamat’s direction.

Gazing at Kingu’s figure far in the air, Gilgamesh let out a faint sigh.

“Saying foolish things, fool.”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Three kilometers south of Uruk.

Above the land already swallowed by the Chaos Tide.

Sitting on Vimana and staring at Tiamat who felt so close, Ritsuka, who could hardly breathe due to the pressure from the immense magical energy continuously emanating from Tiamat, finally truly felt what kind of enemy she would face.

Even though Tiamat did nothing but advance step by step, the Mana pressure already made his body stiff and hard to breathe.

(Department Head... fought against an enemy like this for two days?)

Ritsuka’s hands and feet trembled uncontrollably. Her body instinctively felt fear.

The enemy in front was too strong; even she could see it. When imagining herself having to fight such an enemy, and being the key person to deliver the killing blow, Ritsuka couldn’t hold back her nervous trembling.

【Take deep breaths. Though it won’t reduce the fear, the muscles will relax】

The method once mentioned by Leonidas during the Northern Wall battle suddenly came to her mind.

“Huu... Haa...”

After taking deep breaths several times and calming her body, Ritsuka clenched both fists: “This is the final battle... Are you ready, Mash?”

“Yes. I will definitely exert all my abilities, Master.”

Gripping her shield tightly, Mash answered firmly.

Beside them, Ishtar also flew closer: “My preparations are complete. Can start anytime, Fujimaru.”

“Alright, then I entrust it to you, Ishtar!”

“OK—!”

Ishtar rode Maanna and flew high, pointing the golden spear in her hand to the sky.

“Fly, Maanna. Open the teleportation gate!”

*WUSSSH!*

As if a huge hole opened in the sky, a massive void suddenly appeared above Ishtar’s head. A brilliant starry river scenery was projected from within, accompanied by unmatched golden radiance.

That was Venus, or more precisely, the concept of Venus.

“From the infinite sky! To the vast earth!”

The shining celestial body shrank, solidified, and compressed. The conceptual celestial body that dazzled finally turned into a light arrow, filling Maanna’s ammunition space.

This was Ishtar’s Full Power attack.

The Noble Phantasm manifesting the legend of Ishtar destroying the feared Mount Ebih peak, causing the entire mountain to die.

“Destroy the Underworld gate!”

Ishtar called the true name of her Noble Phantasm.

“—Angalta Kigalshe!”

The light arrow manifested from the conceptual celestial body directly fell like a meteor!

The Mana accumulated for nearly half a day poured out at this moment!

*BOOM!*

The attack from the sky shattered the earth!