Credits: daxterdaxter
"The situation is rather complicated. I wasn't able to meet the Beast Goddess Gorgon; instead, I encountered someone else. Oh, and this is Ana, a Servant we met along the way. She's now one of our companions."
Before explaining the events to Leonidas I, Alaric first introduced Ana, who stood beside him.
Leonidas I, who had already recognized Ana as a Servant, nodded without showing any particular emotion and continued, "You couldn't meet Gorgon because you ran into someone else? Who did you encounter?"
What piqued Leonidas I's curiosity was the reason why Alaric couldn't meet Gorgon.
In Leonidas I's view, failing to meet Gorgon was within the realm of possibility. However, if external interference was involved, it was worth investigating.
Alaric didn't hide anything. "It was Enkidu, the former companion of King Gilgamesh—or rather, Kingu. In any case, it's the Chain of Heaven."
He added, "Enkidu has joined Gorgon's camp and is a major threat to the defensive line against the Beasts. King Leonidas, in my opinion, it would be better to move the citizens of Nippur to the northern wall as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will be difficult to handle an attack."
"So that's how it is—"
Leonidas I nodded immediately upon hearing this. "If that's the case, I'll contact Lord Fuuma and the others as soon as possible, and then report this to King Gilgamesh."
"I'll handle King Gilgamesh's side," Alaric said. "I need to return to Uruk anyway. Stopping here at the northern wall was just to inform you.
Relocation cannot be rushed, but the real threats to guard against are Kingu and Gorgon. I won't be able to assist you for the time being, so I'll have to rely on you, King Leonidas."
"When Lady Ushiwakamaru and the others arrive, things should get much easier."
"Hahaha! Why say such a thing? Since King Gilgamesh summoned us, this is our duty and what we were meant to accomplish!"
Leonidas I laughed heartily and patted Alaric on the shoulder with great force. "And you, Sir Alaric, have more important tasks to handle, don't you?
As for the northern wall's defense, rest assured. As long as I, Leonidas, am alive, it will not be breached!"
Hearing this, Alaric smiled as well. "Then let's both do our best!"
After bidding farewell to Leonidas I, Alaric, Merlin, and Ana left the northern wall and boarded the Heavenly Vessel, speeding toward Uruk.
...
A few minutes later, the Heavenly Vessel landed steadily outside the ziggurat. The scene that had played out at the northern wall repeated itself.
This time, however, Merlin had learned his lesson and jumped off the Heavenly Vessel before Alaric could make a move.
Ann, on the other hand, didn't react to Alaric's actions. To her, it was just routine—a simple physical interaction.
"King Gilgamesh, we're back!"
As soon as they entered the ziggurat, Merlin ignored the fact that Gilgamesh was busy handling administrative work and said with a smile, "We have a lot to report!"
"Merlin, so you've brought back another guest—"
Seeing Merlin and Alaric, Gilgamesh quickly finished the task at hand and gestured for Siduri to pause.
Siduri silently stepped back, standing quietly to the side as she observed Gilgamesh and the others.
As for the new addition, Ana/Medusa, Gilgamesh didn't seem to have any particular reaction.
To him, it was just another unimportant Servant joining the group.
Merlin merely chuckled at this, knowing there was no need to introduce Ana to Gilgamesh.
The main event began when Alaric stepped forward. "King Gilgamesh, I wasn't able to meet the Beast Goddess Gorgon this time, but I can confirm that her stance is one of absolute hostility toward humanity."
When Alaric mentioned Gorgon, Ana instinctively glanced at him.
Sitting on his throne, Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? And what else?"
The fact that Alaric hadn't met Gorgon didn't bother Gilgamesh. In his view, the Beast Goddess was fundamentally different from the other goddesses. She was a being who despised and ignored humanity.
"Well, to put it simply, your old friend has come back to life."
After some thought, Alaric decided to use the simplest method to inform Gilgamesh about Kingu.
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, even Gilgamesh let out a puzzled sound, seemingly confused by Alaric's cryptic statement.
Seeing that Gilgamesh didn't understand, Alaric elaborated, "Your one and only friend, Enkidu, has returned from the dead. However, the soul within the body is different now. It's the offspring of Tiamat—Kingu.
Their goal appears to be freeing the primordial goddess Tiamat from her cradle."
"..."
Gilgamesh fell silent upon hearing this. Beside him, Siduri gasped in shock. "What?? Enkidu—revived?"
Siduri, who had accompanied Gilgamesh throughout his life, had deep respect and affection for Enkidu, the king's one and only true friend.
Enkidu, who had brought Gilgamesh the bond of friendship. After defeating the Bull of Heaven, Enkidu was punished by the gods and lost his life, buried by Gilgamesh in the underworld.
Death was supposed to be final, yet Enkidu had been resurrected—partially, at least.
His body had returned, but the soul inside was no longer the same.
As Siduri expressed her shock, Gilgamesh finally spoke. "So, Enkidu's body has been turned into Kingu, the offspring of Tiamat?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "And how do you recognize the Chain of Heaven so clearly?"
Alaric didn't lie. Gilgamesh could tell, which meant the story about Enkidu's resurrection was undeniably true. Still, Gilgamesh wanted confirmation.
"I remembered. My eyes have seen many things, and I've committed them all to memory," Alaric said with a smile, pointing to his own eyes. He spoke candidly about the existence of his mysterious vision.
Having witnessed the accumulated knowledge of humanity across millennia, Alaric could see through countless mysteries. Unless something was removed from the timeline itself, nothing could escape his sight.
Although he couldn't actively recall everything without a trigger, the knowledge stored in his mind was akin to that of the Hermes—a repository of all events, the ultimate database.
At this moment, Alaric himself was the greatest mystery.
"Very well. So, Enkidu's body was repurposed by the goddess Tiamat to create Kingu. Is there anything else to report?"
Gilgamesh's expression remained unchanged as he casually accepted the news of his friend's body being stolen.
"There's one more thing—"