Chapter 738: Separate Departures
And so, the debate over personnel assignments was settled—
Or so one might think.
Fujimaru and Gilgamesh—both were absolutely indispensable cores. One was the savior of humanity, the other the sustainer of Uruk. Losing either would be an unbearable blow.
And yet now, both were about to leave the safety zone and venture into enemy territory?
If Baal and Kingu were to hear this news, they would undoubtedly sneer coldly before drawing their weapons with murderous intent.
Have you all grown too bold, or have we grown too weak to wield our blades?
But no matter how much everyone tried to dissuade him, the King of Heroes remained as stubborn as iron, resolute in his decision to leave the capital. Even the earnest pleas of Siduri fell on deaf ears.
"Enough. My decision is final," Gilgamesh finally declared with an impatient wave of his hand. "Besides, with the chef around, I can always just run if things go south."
"But... Your Majesty, I must still urge you to reconsider," Siduri said, turning to Sakatsuki with a pleading look. "Sakatsuki, what do you think?"
Sakatsuki did not answer. Sakatsuki was lost in thought.
The morning light reflected in his emerald-green eyes as the white-clad youth stared blankly at the scene of the king and Siduri arguing. Memories of the past surfaced like fleeting dreams—
Bringing both bitterness and sweetness.
Almost unconsciously, he murmured softly:
"I have no objections."
"Even you...?" The high priestess placed her hands on her hips and sighed in exhaustion. Meanwhile, after careful consideration, Fujimaru also nodded.
"In that case, I'll act alone."
"Fu—ji—ma—ru—!" the doctor wailed. "Don't let these two reckless idiots influence you!"
"That's not it, Doctor," Fujimaru explained with a helpless smile to the fuming physician. "But as His Majesty said, Uruk is critically short on manpower right now. If Sakatsuki is the only one who can move freely, then it's better for him to protect the king, who is bound to encounter enemies."
"But what about you, Fujimaru? What if you run into danger? What if you face demonic beasts? Or—heavens forbid—those terrifying Divine Spirits?" The orange-haired man fretted like an overprotective mother. "You're just an ordinary human. Going out alone is too dangerous..."
Fujimaru chuckled ruefully. "Doctor, restoring humanity isn't child's play. Risks are inevitable, aren't they?"
"Besides," he added, raising the back of his hand where two Command Spells gleamed brightly, "if necessary, I can always summon my Servant."
"But—ugh!"
"Enough, Romani. If Fujimaru has made up his mind, let him do as he pleases," interjected a woman's voice—Da Vinci, who had been silently observing until now. "You're being so naggy even I'm starting to find you annoying."
"Of course not. I could never find the doctor annoying," the boy replied, his lips curling into a relaxed, cheerful smile.
"Then it's settled."
With the morning meeting concluded, everyone dispersed from the palace to prepare for their upcoming journeys. The King of Heroes doubled his workload, teetering between overwork and overachievement, while Sakatsuki assisted at his side. Meanwhile, Fujimaru sought out Siduri, who now had a moment to spare.
"You're talking about the city of Kutha? That was a city that vanished without warning after the appearance of the [Three Goddess Alliance]."
Siduri led Fujimaru to the archives and handed him all the information regarding Kutha.
"One day, all contact with Kutha was suddenly cut off. When the investigation team arrived at the scene, all they found were silent streets."
"No bloodstains, corpses, or signs of struggle... The entire populace seemed to have passed away as if they'd fallen asleep...?" Fujimaru read the records on the clay tablet with some astonishment. "This is... truly a bizarre incident. Could it have been caused by poison or something similar?"
"Unknown." Siduri shook her head. "There were no wounds on the bodies. The cause of death wasn't due to demonic beasts or Ishtar's celestial bow. But whatever happened, as the city fell into ruin, demonic beasts gradually occupied the area. Uruk frequently receives distress calls from the ranchers in that region."
"Demonic beasts, huh..." Fujimaru nodded. It seemed these would be the enemies he'd encounter next.
"If it's just demonic beasts, they're no match for Fujimaru at this point." Hearing this, the doctor finally relaxed. "In that case, as long as you remain cautious, you should be able to safely retrieve the Tablet of Destinies and return to Uruk without issue."
"See, I told you there was nothing to worry about, Doctor." Fujimaru smiled as he bid farewell to Siduri and returned to the Chaldea Embassy in Uruk.
The tavern was already occupied. The white-haired scoundrel of a sage sat behind the counter, acting as if he owned the place. But given how he was hugging a wine jar with a foolish grin, even the most oblivious customer would be scared off.
Yet, two loyal patrons remained in the tavern.
One was Miss Tia, dressed in a flowing white dress, looking every bit the young maiden.
The other was little Anna, who was being cradled in her arms and vigorously petted like a cat.
Anna was suffering, but Anna wouldn't say a word.
Who would've guessed she'd be lying in wait at the tavern? And... despite her delicate appearance, how could her grip be so strong?
Anna blinked her big eyes, filled with even bigger confusion.
Just who was the Servant here?!
"Ah, it's Fujimaru."
Seeing the door open and Fujimaru walk in with a bewildered expression, Miss Tia smiled and held Anna out toward the boy, extending an invitation.
"Would you like to join us?"
She really was treating Anna like a cat... Fujimaru's lips twitched as he looked at the girl's flushed, indignant face and the cat-eared hood swaying on her head. "Th-thanks, but I'll pass. More importantly, are you alright, Miss Tia?"
He'd already heard from Siduri that if not for Miss Tia rushing to the city walls to drive off the demonic beasts and repel the cloaked figure, Uruk would have been destroyed long ago.
After accomplishing such an incredible feat, surely there must have been some cost?
"Mmm..." Miss Tia gently shook her head, her hair flowing like water. "It's fine. Mother... is happy."
"Oh, Fujimaru's here." Merlin, thoroughly drunk, finally noticed the owner of the establishment had returned. He raised his cup with a silly grin. "So, during this brief respite, how about joining your big brother Merlin for a drink?"
"Merlin, just stay dead."
"Don't... corrupt... the child."
Faced with the simultaneous reprimands from Tia and Anna, Merlin let out an awkward chuckle while Fujimaru couldn't help but show a teasing expression.
Then he buried the thought deep in his heart, no longer intending to voice it.
He had originally wanted to ask for their help...
Glancing at Merlin who was nearly sliding off his seat and the pale-faced Miss Tia, the young man abandoned his idea. Instead, he advised Merlin to drink less and asked Anna to take good care of Miss Tia. After finishing all his instructions, he turned around and left the tavern without even returning to his room.
After successive shocks, Uruk's losses had become irreversible. So before everything collapsed completely, he would strive to fulfill his mission.
Patting his cheeks to dispel the creeping fatigue, the young man strode forward under the brilliant morning sun.
Like an ink stain disappearing into overly bright light.
Who could have imagined that what he carried on his shoulders was the entirety of human history?
"The most exhausted one is clearly you..." At some point, Merlin had propped himself up against the chair leg, watching the retreating figure with sober eyes.
Crooking his finger, he sent a pink magical glow from his staff into Fujimaru's body, where it vanished without a trace.
Then, under Anna's disdainful gaze, the sage raised his glass and laughed heartily:
"Come! Let the music and dancing continue!"
Dust particles bathed in the golden, cool sunlight fluttered about like fireflies as the tavern quietly watched its second master depart, gentle and serene.
Meanwhile, the Wise King and Sakatsuki had already completed their administrative duties at double speed. After packing up, they too prepared to set off.
"Hmm?" Gilgamesh looked up, noticing Sakatsuki's slight pause. "Don't just stand there, cook. Move it for your king."
"Ah... right." The young man lowered his head, responding absently while his mind was in complete turmoil.
"Wait, Master, what do you mean?" a voice asked blankly. "What do you mean by 'I'm washing my hands of this'?"
"Exactly what you think," another voice replied cheerfully. "From now on I'll completely relinquish initiative. I'm leaving this body to you, my dear Servant~"