Episode 221: Another world's 'Best Thighs'/ 'Play-for-years' Goddess? Ishtar
『 After an indeterminable amount of time, King Gilgamesh suddenly addressed Siduri, who stood by his side: "I hear Tabbad's daughter is due to give birth soon. Dispatch a shrine maiden to attend to her, and send along a selection of nutritious fruits. Relieve Tabbad from his duties at the northern wall and grant him three days of leave. The face of a newborn should fill him with renewed drive, should it not?"
Still waiting in the queue, Fujimaru Ritsuka whispered to his companions: "I had steeled myself for a tyrannical despot… but it seems that isn't the case at all…"
Mash turned her head to Fujimaru Ritsuka, replying: "However, he feels incredibly difficult to approach. He appears so high above us, and we lack any legitimate pretext to draw near him."
Fujimaru Ritsuka clenched his fist. He bore the weight of Human Order's hope on his shoulders, and he knew it well.
Now, he had to summon the courage to speak to the King. Otherwise, their entire operation would grind to a halt.
As if seeing through his thoughts, Merlin, standing beside him, suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Exactly. Dealing with that King requires more than just reading the room. We must be brave."
With that, Merlin strode forward. At this moment, it was finally their turn.
"The Mage Merlin has brought guests," a soldier announced.
Merlin responded, "You're busy? I can tell, but I don't mind."
King Gilgamesh replied, "Merlin."
King Gilgamesh, who had been keeping his head lowered to read a clay tablet, finally raised his gaze to look at the man before him.
Crimson eyes, golden hair—that overwhelming aura unmistakably declared his status as King. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Tokiwa Sougo (Kamen Rider): "Is this… the world's first King?" ]
[ Tokiwa Sougo (Kamen Rider): "Truly handsome." ]
[ Woz (Kamen Rider): "My Demon King, you are also exceptionally handsome. There is no need to praise another." ]
[ Tokiwa Sougo (Kamen Rider): "This is different." ]
[ .....]
『 "Who are those people? They certainly do not look like citizens of Uruk," Siduri asked from the side.
"No matter." Gilgamesh, who had been resting his chin on one hand, suddenly stood up.
"King Gilgamesh… surely you don't mean?" Siduri wore a look of utter disbelief.
"Just as you surmise. I shall sully this throne momentarily. This King is busy; I have no time to understand you through words. Thus, I shall use combat to verify your authenticity," Gilgamesh stated with absolute finality.
As he spoke, a grimoire materialized in Gilgamesh's hand. Siduri shook her head helplessly.
"Battle, Mage of the Observatory," Gilgamesh issued his challenge.
"Ana, please…" Merlin sighed.
"Damn Merlin, making me do unnecessary fighting again." Despite her complaints, the scythe in Ana's hands manifested into reality.
"Mash!" Fujimaru Ritsuka shouted Mash's name, and she immediately readied herself for combat.
As Gilgamesh spread his arms, six glowing halos appeared behind him.
"Melammu Dingir!" he shouted, and waves of light erupted from the halos, pinning the two firmly at a safe distance, making it impossible for them to approach.
The duo advanced while defending, seizing the brief intervals between Gilgamesh's attacks to close the gap instantly.
"BANG—!"
The shield slammed into the wall. Gilgamesh ceased his offensive, switching instead to what seemed like maxed-out evasion stats, leisurely dodging their attacks. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "Why is this happening? Why start fighting all of a sudden?" ]
[ March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "Aren't they here to help?" ]
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "How should I know?! Why is he attacking me out of nowhere?" ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "Perhaps he wishes to test your strength?" ]
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "Huh?" ]
[ .....]
『 And so, the two launched a fierce assault on Gilgamesh within the palace, but every single strike was deftly evaded without exception.
Ana swiftly wrapped the chain of her scythe around a stone pillar to the side, utilizing the immense tension and her ability to shift instantly to teleport to Gilgamesh's left. In a flash, she formed an effective pincer formation with her companion, attempting to flank him from two sides.
However…
"BANG—!"
With a thunderous crash, various weapons suddenly emerged from two radiant portals, forcibly blocking their sharp offensive completely. Gilgamesh did not sustain even a scratch.
"BANG—!"
"BANG—!"
"BANG—!"
Those mysterious and blinding waves of light roared forth once more, blasting the two challengers away again.
At this point, Gilgamesh looked as though he had completely lost interest in the battle. He waved his hand lightly, and the grimoire radiating strange power vanished into thin air, returning to the space above the throne.
"Boring!" Gilgamesh tossed out the word coldly. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "So strong! He defeated them instantly." ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "What was that thing behind him just now?" ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "So many powerful things popped out at once, and they were all sparkly. So pretty." ]
[ Cyno (Genshin Impact): "Golden, and twinkling… wouldn't that make him… 'Goldie' (Kin-pika)?!" ]
[ Tighnari (Genshin Impact): "…" ]
[ Gilgamesh⦍Chūnibyō⦎ (Type-Moon): "…" ]
[ .....]
『 "Retrain yourselves and return!" he added, his tone dripping with contempt and impatience.
Gilgamesh rested his chin on one hand, while the other waved dismissively in the air, his gaze indifferent as he looked upon the group before him.
"My King, are those the foreigners you spoke of?"
A guard standing nearby inquired, "Since they were brought specifically by the Mage Merlin, their identities must be genuine."
At this moment, Gilgamesh appeared even more aloof, as if he no longer held any interest whatsoever in the two who had dared to challenge him.
Seeing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka summoned his courage and stepped forward, his face a mixture of apprehension and urgency.
"King Gilgamesh, please listen to me. This is important."
"There is no need for explanations."
Fujimaru Ritsuka was ruthlessly cut off by Gilgamesh before he could finish. The King continued to look down upon everyone beneath him with that haughty demeanor.
"This King is omnipotent, and likewise omniscient."
"I am already fully aware of Chaldea's purpose and mission. There is no need for further words."
"Then please, you must listen to my explanation!"
This time, there was a note of persistence and desperation in Fujimaru Ritsuka's voice.
"If we do not find and recover the Holy Grail in this era immediately, the Human Order will face inevitable destruction! We truly have little time left; we must act with haste!"
However, the second those words fell, something happened that shocked Fujimaru Ritsuka to his core.
Miraculously, a Holy Grail—one that should not have existed there—suddenly manifested from the soft glow surrounding Gilgamesh, eventually landing steadily and securely into the King's outstretched palm. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "WHAT?!!!" ]
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "Why?! Why was that Holy Grail produced so easily!!" ]
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "We struggled so hard to find these things before, so why did it just appear right in front of us here?" ]
[ Tohsaka Rin (Type-Moon): "Is that… the thing we've been chasing? He just took it out so casually?" ]
[ Tokiwa Sougo (Kamen Rider): "Although I don't understand what this Holy Grail you're talking about is, or what use it has." ]
[ Tokiwa Sougo (Kamen Rider): "But, he is a King. It's only natural for him to possess such treasures, right?" ]
[ Gilgamesh⦍Chūnibyō⦎ (Type-Moon): "Hahahaha, excellent, excellent. Speak more." ]
[ Woz (Kamen Rider): "…" ]
[ .....]
『 "What is the matter… were you not searching for a Holy Grail?"
"That is… the Holy Grail? But why? Why would the Holy Grail appear here?"
Seeing this scene, Mash could no longer sit still. She rushed forward, desperate to understand the situation.
"Naturally! No treasure in this world does not belong to this King." Gilgamesh's words were filled with unquestionable power. "The objective of that Three Goddess Alliance is likely this Holy Grail as well."
"Otherwise, they would have no reason to attack Uruk. After all, those deities have always shown considerable wariness toward the lands I rule."
Fujimaru Ritsuka still wanted to fight for the possibility of cooperation. "Um… I would like to know if we could…"
Gilgamesh interrupted him immediately. "Tread carefully… Do not suggest that this King should yield the Holy Grail to you. There is no reason for me to gift such a precious item to another for free."
This sentence brought the conversation to a screeching halt. An unsettling atmosphere permeated the air.
Indeed, logically speaking, King Gilgamesh had absolutely no sufficient reason to hand the Holy Grail over to Chaldea for safekeeping.
"Then… what if I offered the defeat of the Three Goddess Alliance in exchange?" Fujimaru Ritsuka took a decisive step forward, looking at the King with eyes full of unshakeable determination.
As one of the last hopes of humanity, he knew that now, more than ever, he had to demonstrate sufficient courage and responsibility.
However, upon hearing this, Gilgamesh showed not a shred of interest or approval;
On the contrary, the King erupted into earth-shattering laughter.
"Hahahaha! You lot actually delusionally intend to defeat those goddesses? Siduri, come record this immediately! Today's scene is enough to become a joke passed down for a millennium! It truly makes this King's stomach ache from laughter."
After a long while, the King of Heroes, having finally suppressed his wild laughter but still wearing a face full of mirth, did not forget to tease:
"That proposal just now was indeed quite creative. Remember to record it properly in the palace logs later—regarding a certain Master who attempted to discuss a god-slaying plan with the King, bringing the King great amusement."
Just then, the young Mage, who had maintained a serious expression, could no longer suppress his agitation: "But, Your Majesty! We believe your stance is not entirely accurate…"
Facing this voice of doubt, the King of Uruk, ever arrogant and incomparably dominant, slammed his hand against the armrest of his throne.
"Silence!" he bellowed. "Uruk is the city I built with my own hands. It is only right that I alone am responsible for defending it to the end! There is absolutely no need to rely on external assistance like your Chaldea!"
As this scene unfolded, the other two present instantly lost their confidence and strategy for further negotiation.
Suddenly, the heavy doors slowly pushed open, revealing a figure. "Though I know your conversation is at its climax, I must presumptuously intrude, my respected King."
Hearing the sudden voice, the King of Heroes immediately turned his head to glare at the newcomer.
"Who permitted you to interrupt my important council without authorization? Can you not see that this King is in a state of high spirits?"
The other party did not answer the question directly but explained tactfully: "It was not my intention to interrupt your chat, but the King's laughter just now was simply too loud; almost everyone within the palace heard it clearly."
"Nonsense!" Gilgamesh roared in anger. "What do you take this King for? A child? Sometimes, even simple things can be found amusing!"
After a brief pause, the courtier finally gathered the courage to speak again: "Then… in that case, there is an urgent matter that requires your immediate attention."
The guard remembered his duty and hurriedly reported: "Yes, intelligence has just come in—a member of the Three Goddess Alliance, Ishtar, is advancing towards Uruk."
Upon hearing this, a look of helplessness appeared on the King of Heroes' face. "Sigh… It's her again, is it? …Does that woman never learn her lesson?"
Just as he finished speaking, a deafening sound erupted from the sky.
Immediately following it, Ishtar appeared before everyone in a blaze of dazzling light, her arrival even causing part of the temple walls to collapse with a thunderous boom. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "Isn't this person… the one from before?" ]
[ Tohsaka Sakura (Type-Moon): "Another… Nee-san?" ]
[ Tohsaka Rin (Type-Moon): "W-What is happening here?" ]
[ Tohsaka Tokiomi (Type-Moon):"??… ?…" ]
[ Nobi Nobita (Doraemon): "Is this also a different person from another world?" ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Is this the god from earlier?" ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "But, this god… doesn't seem like a god at all." ]
[ Yuri Nakamura (Angel Beats): "…" ]
[ Tanya von Degurechaff (Youjo Senki): "…" ]
[ .....]
『 At this moment, Mash and Fujimaru Ritsuka finally recognized her.
"Uh… we meet again."
Fujimaru Ritsuka scratched the back of his head, smiling awkwardly at the woman before him.
"Move. The only one I'm looking for is that Goldie (Kin-pika) sitting over there."
Her tone was filled with resolve, seeming to brook no obstruction from anyone.
"That is truly a rarity. The mighty Goddess Ishtar, actually worrying about others?"
Gilgamesh's words carried a hint of teasing, as if mocking her meddlesomeness.
"Huh? Huh? Huh?"
Ishtar revealed an expression that was a mix of shock and tsundere defensiveness, clearly not expecting such an accusation.
"I-I don't care at all! What I care about is Uruk!"
She retorted urgently, her voice betraying a stubborn emotion, wanting to prove she wasn't concerned about a specific person, but rather the city itself.
"No… It's not mine anymore."
As she said this, Ishtar shook her head incessantly, completely lacking the arrogance and majesty a goddess should possess.
"I don't care about some Uruk!"
In this moment, when Ishtar raised her head and realized the person standing before her was Fujimaru Ritsuka, it was as if she had only just realized her loss of composure.
The atmosphere… suddenly became incredibly awkward. Neither spoke; an indescribably uncomfortable mood permeated the air.
"Why… did what I just said sound so angry! But it doesn't matter now! I'm going to blow it all to smithereens!"
Ishtar announced loudly, firing a glowing sphere toward Gilgamesh's location. Yet, Gilgamesh remained seated quietly, not moving a muscle.
"BANG—!"
In this critical moment, Mash appeared just in time, intercepting the incoming light sphere and effectively averting a disaster.
Ana also seized the moment of Ishtar's distraction to close in rapidly, preparing to attack. However, Ishtar deftly blocked the blade with her Noble Phantasm and followed up with a kick that sent Ana flying.
Fortunately, Ishtar reacted quickly, using the chains in her hand to catch the falling Ana and gently placing her on the ground.
"Let's talk this out!" Fujimaru Ritsuka tried to de-escalate the situation, hoping to find a more peaceful way to resolve the conflict. 』
『 .....』