Episode 222: The First King's old friend from the past raids once again?
『 Yet, in the face of such overwhelming odds, her resolve to fight did not waver in the slightest.
"It's not over yet!" Ishtar immediately summoned her weapon, the Star of Gem Cutting, intending to launch a fresh offensive. Regrettably, mere moments after the Noble Phantasm materialized, it crumbled into dust and vanished into the ether.
Seeing this scene...
"Hahahahahaha… Don't even think about it!" Gilgamesh let out a series of cold, mocking laughs. It was evident that his covert interference was the cause of this failure, leaving the once-confident Ishtar feeling utterly dejected—and perhaps a little humiliated into a rage.
"Damn you!" Filled with righteous indignation, Ishtar bravely charged forward once more. Utilizing her chains, she bound the defenseless Mash, instantly incapacitating her combat capabilities.
"Did you think I only knew how to use brute force? You little dummy!" She hurled sarcasm at Fujimaru Ritsuka's party while her hands rapidly shifted signs, forming a firing stance. She aimed a concentrated laser blast directly at Anna. However, at the critical moment, Fujimaru Ritsuka threw caution to the wind, leaping in front of Anna to tank the hit. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Tohsaka Sakura (Type-Moon): "The other Nee-san… she's so amazing." ]
[ Tohsaka Rin (Type-Moon): "….." ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "I get the feeling… this goddess is kind of like a little kid." ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "That's what I'm saying! Nahida is way better." ]
[ Lumine (Genshin Impact): "Hey, did you forget? Nahida isn't a child; she's the God of Wisdom, you know?" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Hehehe, sorry, Nahida." ]
[ Nahida (Genshin Impact): "It's alright… (After all, that is technically the truth…)." ]
[ .....]
『 "Wait a moment!" he shouted, hoping to put an end to this meaningless conflict.
"To think you'd rush to the front lines yourself… as a Master, you really are unqualified!" Seeing this, Ishtar helplessly ceased her offensive maneuvers, descending to gaze closely at Fujimaru Ritsuka.
"I see… truly, this is karma. It seems it is time for me to change my mind about." After uttering these cryptic words, the look in her eyes gradually softened.
Hearing this, the other party provoked her: "What? Planning to tuck your tail and run?"
Although she spoke harsh words, she took no further action to stop or pursue them.
Throughout all of this, Gilgamesh remained seated upon his throne, not having moved a single inch.
"Goodbye! Naked King of Uruk! And Siduri! Once Gilgamesh kicks the bucket, I suppose I wouldn't mind coming to save Uruk."
With that, Ishtar called maana and soared into the sky, disappearing beyond the horizon.
"Hmph! That woman is nothing but trouble. She always brings endless trouble. Forget it, Siduri, let us continue with the work at hand." King Gilgamesh frowned slightly, addressing the secretary officer at his side. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Qingque (Honkai: Star Rail): "Wow, what a terrifying attitude towards work." ]
[ Kaeya (Genshin Impact): "+ 1+ 1+ 1" ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "Thinking about work every moment of working hours… is there something wrong with that?" ]
[ Yelan (Genshin Impact): "As expected of Lady Keqing, casually dropping such a terrifying sentence." ]
[ Beidou (Genshin Impact): "Right?" ]
[ Ningguang (Genshin Impact): "?" ]
[ Yelan (Genshin Impact): "Ahem, never mind." ]
[ .....]
『 While watching King Gilgamesh bury himself in work, Merlin gently consoled the visibly depressed Fujimaru Ritsuka.
"Forget it, Fujimaru-kun. Once King Gilgamesh has decided on something, it is very difficult to change his mind. Why not wait and see? Perhaps in a few days, there will be a turning point."
Naturally, this entire conversation reached the ears of Gilgamesh, who sat high upon his ornate throne.
He laughed coldly. "A bunch of fools. This King has no time to accompany you on your ridiculous field trip. However, if you truly insist on doing something useful, then swallow your pride and live in Uruk."
After delivering these words laced with a trace of mockery, Gilgamesh buried his head back into his official documents.
For the days that followed, life for Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash turned into a seemingly endless grind of working for Gilgamesh.
Whether it was the heavy, rugged labor of hauling stone and brick or the delicate, patient work of masonry on the city walls, these dirty and exhausting daily commissions were all assigned to the two of them…
Yet, unexpectedly, as time passed, these two brave young souls actually found quite a bit of joy in the grind.
And so…
Under these circumstances, the crucial task of managing the daily lives of these guests naturally fell upon Siduri's shoulders.
Her arrangements were impeccable. Under her meticulous care, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash not only met many new friends—such as the curious girl Ushiwakamaru, the majestic Spartan King Leonidas I, and the warrior Musashibou Benkei, who possessed a heroic spirit but a sensitive heart—but also spent many truly happy days together.
The city of Uruk was populated by industrious, kind, and warm-hearted citizens, and various mouth-watering local delicacies were waiting to be discovered.
More importantly, after days of interaction, they learned a key piece of intel from Siduri: the method to gain Gilgamesh's recognition as quickly as possible was to strive to demonstrate their capabilities and complete several arduous quests to prove their value.
After several days of close cooperation, the group had completely integrated into the rhythm of life in this city.
Time quietly slipped away. Several weeks passed. After helping to clear the mountain of backlog regarding the city's internal trivia, it was finally time to accept their first official commission from Gilgamesh.
Head to a small town not far from Uruk—the city of Ur—which had been shrouded by some unknown force, and investigate the strange phenomena occurring there.
Along the way, Fujimaru and his companions uncovered a shocking truth: the entire city was under the control of someone claiming to be the daughter of the Forest Goddess.
All the abducted innocent civilians had been turned into forced slave labor by the Jaguar Man tribe and driven to a place called the Eridu Temple to work.
Facing such a crisis, a fierce conflict inevitably erupted between the two sides.
Fortunately, relying on wisdom and courage, they defeated the enemy and successfully reported the situation back to the Uruk authorities. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "Senpai, you were amazing." ]
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "Hahaha." ]
[ .....]
『 Then, everything returned to the track of ordinary yet wonderful daily life.
During a routine daily quest, King Gilgamesh set out together with the pair.
"My King, you are conducting the water quality survey very seriously! Is it because water is extremely important in this era?"
"You fool. No matter the era, water sources are precious and vital."
Mash looked up and thought for a moment, realizing that indeed, under any circumstances, water is the foundational resource for human life. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "Indeed. Possessing a clean and stable water source is a necessary condition for a region's survival." ]
[ Sigewinne (Genshin Impact): "That's right! Only with clean water can people live healthy lives, right, Duke?" ]
[ Wriothesley (Genshin Impact): "Ah? Oh, yes, Head Nurse Sigewinne is correct." ]
[ Tokiwa Sougo (Kamen Rider): "Souka… so this is a prerequisite for being a King empathizing with one's people." ]
[ Woz (Kamen Rider): "My Demon King…" ]
[ .....]
『 In that sense, the King's actions were indeed beyond reproach.
Led by King Gilgamesh, the trio entered the facility.
"King Gilgamesh! To think the King himself would visit here!"
A passing resident was the first to notice the legendary presence.
Following his shout, the other residents put down their work, gathering around to gaze at the King before them with eyes full of surprise and awe.
"Are your political duties alright? Why have you come here personally?"
The golden-haired monarch stood with one hand on his hip, replying with a smile:
"It matters not. This King simply has some private matters to attend to."
"Eh?"
Standing to the side, Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had assumed this outing was purely a leisure activity, immediately widened his eyes. Wasn't the agreement that they were coming here to relax?
"What? You look as if you believe this King is merely killing time? Or do you take this King for a fool?"
Facing the question, the young boy hurriedly waved his hands in denial: "Of course not! I was just surprised, please don't misunderstand me…"
Watching this unfold, Mash quickly stepped forward to explain: "Senpai, I believe the King might be using 'killing time' as a pretext to actually attend to some rather important affairs."
Hearing her words, those golden eyes flashed with an even more brilliant smile as he turned to nod in agreement at Mash.
"Very good, Mash. It is excellent that you understand this. As my retainers, you must also learn how to better comprehend and follow this King's train of thought."
At this moment, a representative of the villagers stepped forward to speak: "That is only natural logic. But at least next time, if you come again, it would be good if you could let us know a little in advance, so we can be mentally prepared."
After this remark, the entire room erupted into bursts of laughter. "Hahahahahahaha!" Everyone laughed happily.
"Nice to meet you, I am Fujimaru Ritsuka." The boy extended his hand to everyone, exchanging friendly handshakes with each person present. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Mash Kyrielight (Type-Moon): "Senpai has already integrated into that era very well." ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Hehehe, just like Paimon! Making friends with people in no time." ]
[ Lumine (Genshin Impact): "You just went up and greeted them on your own accord, didn't you?" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Hehehe." ]
[ Gotoh Hitori (Bocchi the Rock): "That… that must be nice." ]
[ .....]
『 Soon… the busy day came to an end.
Mash and Fujimaru Ritsuka sat on the sandy beach by the Persian Gulf, feeling the twilight as the sun gradually sank.
The glow on the horizon dyed the seawater a golden-red hue, and the waves gently lapped against the shore, bringing a cool sea breeze.
They sat quietly, enjoying this tranquil and beautiful moment.
Now, they were still chatting about the happy daily occurrences, recalling various interesting events, sharing laughter and joy with each other.
But what they did not know was that at this very moment, a crisis was quietly approaching; a conspiracy in the dark was gradually unfolding…
"By the way, where is King Gilgamesh?" Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly remembered the powerful hero and turned to ask Mash.
"I heard there was something to investigate, so he stayed behind to continue working," Mash explained. "He really is a very serious and responsible King."
"Yeah…" Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded gently, his heart filled with respect for Gilgamesh.
The two continued to chat happily in the sea breeze.
The scenery under the setting sun was refreshing, allowing them to temporarily forget all their troubles.
Suddenly, the small creature Fou, who had been playing in the water nearby, instantly returned to their side, letting out anxious cries.
It jumped incessantly, seemingly having discovered something dangerous.
At the same time, Mash received a message from the Doctor. Her expression rapidly turned serious.
"Doctor! Nine o'clock direction! Something is flying towards us!" Mash hurriedly reported the situation to the remote support, Dr. Roman.
Looking at the unidentified object on the monitor, the Doctor quickly confirmed and responded urgently: "Confirmed here as well! Speed: 500 kilometers per hour, heading straight for your location!"
"Contact in 3… 2… 1…!!" The Doctor's voice came through the radio, filled with urgency.
"Mash! Prepare for combat!" Fujimaru Ritsuka issued the command without hesitation.
Upon hearing the order, Mash immediately summoned her Noble Phantasm. The shield instantly appeared in her hand as she stood firmly in front of Fujimaru Ritsuka, protecting him. Her eyes were filled with determination, ready to face the incoming threat.
"BOOM—!"
A powerful shockwave struck from a distance, kicking up a massive cloud of dust on the beach.
In an instant, sand and dust filled the sky, completely obscuring their vision.
The air was thick with the choking smell of earth, making it almost impossible to breathe.
"I'm impressed."
A cold, slightly mocking voice echoed from within the dust cloud.
"Your sense of crisis is truly weak. You dare to come to such a desolate place without taking any action."
"Is it because you've grown accustomed to your so-called strength? Or are you looking down on me?" The voice grew closer, accompanied by the sound of slow, approaching footsteps. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "This voice… it sounds so familiar." ]
[ March 7th (Honkai: Star Rail): "Exactly! It feels like we've heard this voice before." ]
[ Hiroko Asami (Ultraman): "Not just 'feels like'—we heard it just a short while ago, didn't we?" ]
[ Eriri Spencer Sawamura (Saekano): "Masaka! That voice is…!" ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "That guy dares to come here at a time like this?" ]
[ .....]
『 Fujimaru Ritsuka looked up to see a green-clad woman walking step by step toward them.
That familiar silhouette made his heart tighten involuntarily.
"Enkidu! You should be dead!" Fujimaru Ritsuka was filled with confusion.
"Master, he has the aura of the King of Mages on him. That shouldn't be Enkidu," Mash hurriedly warned. The enemy before them was undoubtedly exceptionally powerful.
"Hmm? You are correct. As Enkidu, I am indeed a fake." The woman in green smiled faintly, a trace of ruthlessness in her tone.
"Then… who exactly are you…" Fujimaru Ritsuka furrowed his brows, trying to unravel the mystery.
"Just a change of ownership. Humans are always hopeless." The woman's words were filled with contempt. "But that is not the crux of the matter."
As she spoke, countless halos of light rippled behind Enkidu. Blue lightning wrapped around her body, radiating brilliance.
The energy around her surged like a boiling ocean.
"I am an enemy of humanity until I break. That will not change, no matter what happens." Enkidu's words carried an unquestionable resolve. "Now, I will use your lives to prove this point."
In a flash, a dense swarm of chains erupted from the halos, flying toward Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash as if they possessed a life of their own.
The sharp metallic glint carved dazzling trajectories through the air, making the imminent danger impossible to ignore.
However, right at that moment.
Mash, wielding her massive shield, charged in front of Enkidu in an instant.
But countless chains continued to stab at her. Although the shield blocked the brunt of the attack, her body was still grazed by the chains.
Realizing that this strategy would not hold, Mash switched tactics. She held the shield high above her head, like a giant umbrella warding off rain falling from the heavens.
As for the chains attacking from the front, she relied entirely on her agile body to dodge them all.
"That tactic is the King of Heroes Gilgamesh's specialty!" The Doctor, observing the situation, hurriedly warned.
"That is only natural. Infinite creation of weaponry, ruthlessly raining them down upon the enemy—this is the combat style most suited to this body." By now, Enkidu was standing high in the sky, continuously bombarding Mash.
"BANG—!"
In a split second, countless chains slammed into Mash's shield simultaneously. The immense impact sent Mash flying directly backward, the shield slipping from her grasp.
"Mash!" someone cried out in worry. 』
『 .....』