Chapter 750: The Marvelous Uruk
Facing these soldiers who defied all logic—or rather, these vigorous and spirited men—Gorgon found herself utterly stunned. Yet, what she couldn't comprehend was that her reaction wasn't anger or reprimand, but... shyness?!
Me? Shy? What kind of joke is this?!
Suppressing the urge to curse herself, Gorgon glared fiercely at these absurd soldiers, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and indignation. But instead of deterring them, the faint blush on her cheeks only fueled their excitement.
Forgive Miss Gorgon—she was merely a three-hundred-year-old spinster who, in her past life, had endured daily emotional abuse from her two elder sisters. Even now, as a monstrous goddess, she couldn't escape the fact that her romantic experience was precisely zero.
What? You mention Fate/stay night? That was Medusa's love life—what does that have to do with me, Gorgon?
Regardless, Miss Gorgon had completely misunderstood the soldiers' intentions and severely underestimated her own bewitching allure. For the increasingly depopulated Uruk, marriage and childbirth had long been designated as strategic priorities by both the royal palace and the ziggurat. Any unmarried woman of childbearing age who appeared would instantly become the target of fierce competition among countless men.
And if that woman happened to be an incomparably beautiful enchantress? Well, that was just double the joy.
Seeing Gorgon remain silent, and with a captain having set a bold precedent, the soldiers erupted into chaos. Amid the jeers, a young and reckless man stepped forward, shoving his superior back into the crowd before dropping to one knee, his gaze earnest:
"Ah, my beauty, you are my everything! For you, I would lay down my arms and return to a peaceful life. Let us go home, far from the strife. I can till the land to support us, and we'll raise five children together."
"What nonsense are you spouting, you fool?!" A booming voice cut through the crowd as a man strode forward and delivered a resounding slap to the young soldier's face.
"Ah, Big Brother..."
The youth clutched his reddened cheek, shame coloring his expression.
He knew how irresponsible it was to abandon the fight at such a critical moment.
How deeply he was betraying his comrades.
But he couldn't deny the truth in his heart.
"Big Brother, this is my final request in this life!"
"Look!"
"She's smiling at me!" the youth declared passionately. "She holds me in her heart!"
"Ridiculous!" His elder brother smacked him upside the head before grabbing him by the collar and roaring, "After all the faith our father placed in you!"
"You dare harbor such improper thoughts toward your sister-in-law?!"
"Big Brother, I'm sorr—huh?! Sister-in-law?"
The young man froze, his shame replaced by bewilderment as he looked up at his brother.
The older man's face was stern, bearing the marks of a seasoned warrior who had weathered countless battles. Ignoring his brother's shock, he tossed him back into the crowd before turning his devout gaze toward the aloof, violet-haired beauty before him.
"Ah, my fair one, you are like a delicate blossom blooming in the valley—the white moonlight and crimson mark upon my soul. Let us wander, leaving our traces in every corner of the world, and raise seven children!"
The warrior's eyes burned with conviction as he emphasized, "Seven! As for the army's affairs..."
Before the words could even finish, the sound of a blade being drawn echoed through the heavens and earth. His foolish younger brother unsheathed his weapon and shouted, "Draw your sword, you bastard! This is the obsession of my life! Today, I will fight you for her sake, even if you are my elder brother—I will never yield her to you!"
The iron-willed and valiant elder brother pulled out a spiked club and sneered:
"Brothers we may be, but today, we sever our bond!"
"Damn it, can't you just let me have this one thing?!"
"Bullshit!"
Before the fraternal conflict could escalate into an all-out brawl, their still-sane comrades rushed in and dragged the two embarrassing figures away. From start to finish, Gorgon stood frozen in place—not out of restraint, but simply because she couldn't process what was happening.
In Greece, gods walked the earth, and people revered them, placing them upon lofty divine thrones.
Even if she didn't claim to be a deity now... she had never experienced such fervent pursuit before. Under Athena's relentless chase, humans either saw her as a monstrous scourge to be driven away or fled from her in terror.
Who would have imagined she'd now be fought over like some prized treasure?
As if to compound the absurdity, Anna, who had been silently observing from the sidelines, was also dumbfounded. After a long pause, she finally managed to mutter:
"I must be dreaming..."
The one being so passionately pursued was actually the ugliest, most evil version of herself?
Just look at those overly developed breasts, that tall and cumbersome frame, and that shamelessly large backside... What about any of that was remotely attractive?
The men of Uruk must all be out of their minds!
She could almost hear the mad laughter of a certain king echoing in her ears... But when Anna snapped back to reality, she realized it wasn't just her imagination—a deep, resonant sound was rising from the distance.
It was the sound of war horns, the call of the battlefield, carrying the scent of war and a warning.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of clashing metal filled the air. When the handsome suitor who had failed in his courtship raised his spear and roared, the chaotic noise suddenly unified into a single, thunderous cry.
"All troops—advance!"
No more laughter or curses. As the naive younger brother and the valiant elder brother sheathed their weapons and returned to formation, their synchronized footsteps struck the earth with a rhythm that shook the very ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In that fleeting moment, the loose and unruly suitors vanished. What stood before Gorgon now were warriors.
Warriors who stood tall and fearless!
They had heard the call of their homeland, and they were returning to the place they had sworn to defend with their lives.
As if sensing Gorgon's bewilderment, the leading chiliarch lifted his helmet and flashed her a grin.
"Seems ordinary sweet talk won't sway you. I always said the king's lessons were useless—so instead, why not stay and witness our valor?"
"Valor?"
"Indeed. Witness our bravery—that is what we truly take pride in." The chiliarch donned his helmet, raised his arm high, and bellowed:
"Only the man who slays the most enemies in this battle and returns alive will earn the right to win the lady's heart!"
"Ooooh—!"
"Now that's something worth fighting for, Chiliarch!"
"A woman is only fit for the strongest!"
The warriors erupted in cheers. They bid farewell to their brief respite and charged toward glory—or their graves.
Just like that, they cast aside the woman they had sworn to pursue mere moments ago, without a second thought.
Gauguin silently watched them leave. Compared to the cringeworthy pickup lines that made her brain cells short-circuit, the charisma they displayed in that final moment left a deeper impression on her mind.
"What the... turns out they were all pretty handsome after all."
Anna, who was walking toward Gauguin, twitched her lips upon hearing this, pretending not to catch the woman's muttering.
Have you lost your mind too, Gorgon?!
At that moment, Gauguin raised her head, clearly sensing Anna's arrival.
"Hey, little one... is that place called the Demonic Beast Front over there?"
"...What are you planning?"
Moments later, Gauguin stood rooted to the spot like a wooden stake, ignoring Anna's 'vengeance served' glare as she stared at the graceful figure atop the frontline walls, profoundly realizing just how miraculous Uruk truly was.
"Mo... Mother?!"
"Hmm?" The young Tiamat stopped singing and turned her head in surprise. When the tall, stunning figure of Big Sister Gauguin came into view, she beamed with joy as if seeing her own child.
—Even though that very smile sent a violent shiver down Gauguin's spine.