"You look like a dying mouse."
"Something like that."
"Were you played by the witch's tricks?"
"I was played by my own tricks."
To trust, or not to trust.
This binary thinking is getting in my way.
Morgan is doing this for my sake. Or she is trying to lead me in a self-righteous way.
Both are true. Morgan is both good and evil. I cannot choose just one.
But I wanted to choose. I wanted to think that either I was the bad person, or Morgan was.
It's easier that way.
"Stop making that face, no different from any other commoner. It ruins my mood."
"You look to be in a worse mood than I am."
Gilgamesh was radiating an aura of displeasure. None of the people strolling in the park came near us.
Normally, someone with Gilgamesh's beauty would attract people regardless of gender.
An innate charm. Gilgamesh was scowling so fiercely that it completely overshadowed even that.
"But of course. A ziggurat not built on a solid foundation cannot possibly be sturdy."
"Could you say that in a way that's easier to understand?"
"…You cannot even comprehend this much? Or do you intend to treat me as some convenient commentator?"
Gilgamesh's eyes flashed.
"I might misunderstand. I meant you should speak directly, instead of using metaphors."
"I may misunderstand you, but you may not misunderstand me."
"I don't think you were like this in life. You've changed, Gilgamesh."
"Had that been Tokiomi, I would have torn him to pieces ten thousand times over for that remark."
Then why don't you try tearing me to pieces?
I stopped myself before I could say it. There was no need to provoke her.
Instead, the name Tokiomi, which had come from Gilgamesh's mouth, piqued my interest more.
"Did you become a member of the Tohsaka camp?"
"Hmph. Nothing can bind me. Responding to their summons is nothing more than a form of amusement."
Gilgamesh smiled. It was an arrogant smile, to put it one way.
"Or did you think I would submit to them? Because of some paltry red tattoos?"
"You could probably ignore Command Spells with ease."
"Naturally. However, I find the concept of Command Spells intriguing. I intend to take them as one of the spoils of this ritual."
Should I clap for her?
If I clapped, she'd probably get angry, thinking I was mocking her. If I didn't clap, she'd probably get angry that I wasn't reacting.
What a pain.
"Alright. Good luck. I'm going to get going."
I forcibly ended the conversation and turned around.
I heard gasps from the people around us.
They couldn't approach because of Gilgamesh's aura, but many were watching.
They were watching the two of us as if it were a scene from a drama.
"You wretch. Do you intend to defy a royal command?"
"…You haven't even said anything."
"I was just about to."
"You're so damn selfish."
I turned back to face her again. And I was slightly taken aback.
She, who had been three steps away, was now right in front of my nose.
A dizzying fragrance. Gilgamesh's unique scent wafted strongly.
"Follow me."
"…And if I say no?"
"Do you have anywhere else to go?"
There was the hospital.
But I didn't want to go back right now.
I needed to see Morgan again only after the heat in my head had completely cooled.
The next day should be about right.
"If you have none, then follow. I shall teach you how to enjoy yourself."
"I look forward to it."
"Those words, at least, are true."
Though I wasn't fond of her all-knowing smile.
But at least she didn't seem to be plotting anything, so I followed Gilgamesh.
How to enjoy oneself. The meaning was quite literal.
Fuyuki City had a port and a massive bridge. It was a city… with an economy that could hold its own against any major metropolis.
What would people with a lot of money want to do? Naturally, they'd want to have fun.
There was a variety of entertainment that made it hard to believe it was the late 20th century.
An amusement park and department stores. Even water sports and swimming pools.
The scale itself was smaller than in the 21st century, but it had its own charm.
It was 1994. An old time, before I was even born in my first life.
"Now. Where shall we go next…."
"Just a second…. Let me finish this cotton candy."
"Huhu. What an adorable sight. I shall grant you special pardon for the sin of making me wait."
Isn't it the fault of the one who bought me cotton candy bigger than a person's head?
While we were looking around the amusement park, she never stopped buying me food, so my hands were never empty.
Sausages, sandwiches, drinks, ice cream, and even cotton candy.
"I'm too full, I can't eat it all."
"Hmph. It cannot be helped."
Gilgamesh snatched the cotton candy I was eating and devoured it herself.
"This is quite good. To think such a food exists."
"Are you planning to put it in your treasury?"
"I suppose I should have at least one. You there."
Gilgamesh called out to the cotton candy vendor with an arrogant and disrespectful attitude.
A man in his forties being spoken to so informally by a woman in her twenties. From a Confucian perspective, it was unacceptable, but the vendor himself didn't seem to mind.
"Hand it over. Keep the change."
That was because Gilgamesh had presented a gold bar to purchase the cotton candy machine.
Was it about 2kg? With this, you could probably buy at least a hundred cotton candy machines.
"Here you are~! Would you like a cart?"
"Excellent. Present that as well."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The corners of his mouth stretched to his ears.
The vendor, who had sold both the cotton candy machine and the cart, now just a middle-aged man, escaped the amusement park as if his feet had motors.
"I'm rich now!"
He looks happy.
As I watched his retreating back, Gilgamesh tapped my shoulder.
"What?"
"Try making one."
Cotton candy?
"What else would it be? Do not worry. It is not difficult to make."
And so, I ended up making cotton candy for the first time in my life.
Turn on the power, sprinkle sugar into the whirring, rotating center.
Then, slowly wrap the cloud-like threads of cotton candy around a stick, and you're done.
…but it was harder than I thought.
My first attempt was a failure. I couldn't properly get the rapidly forming threads to stick to the stick.
The result was a squashed-looking piece of cotton candy.
"The shape is ruined."
"This thing is surprisingly user-unfriendly. You'd know if you tried it."
"Hahaha. A king does not perform such menial tasks. That is the work of retainers and subjects."
The wiser you got much later, you had no qualms about doing chores.
Instead of complaining, I made another one.
I was feeling a little competitive. Determined to succeed on my second try, I sprinkled the sugar again.
I slowly turned the stick in time with the whirring machine.
I moved it up and down slowly to attach the threads evenly, and made a wide circle to catch any threads that failed to stick to the stick.
The result: a magnificent piece of cotton candy was made on only the second try.
I couldn't hide my pride.
"Could it be that I have a talent for cooking?"
"Hoh… Better than it looks. But still, you are unskilled."
Gilgamesh's evaluation was harsh.
It looked fine to me. How picky can she be?
"Well, I'll just eat it myself then."
"No, wait."
Gilgamesh blocked my hand as I was about to put the cotton candy in my mouth.
She took the cotton candy and then pulled out gold bars worth more than four times what she paid for the machine.
"Here, this is payment for the cotton candy. I have added extra to commend your effort. You have no complaints, I presume?"
What incredible generosity. It was even more surprising that she could spend money like this and still have plenty left.
I don't refuse money that's offered. Thanks to Morgan, the hospital's finances have improved, but we haven't turned a profit yet.
With this gold, I could probably afford to take it easy for a few years.
"What? I thought you didn't like it because it was unskilled."
"One cannot be perfect from the start. The talents of common mortals have their limits."
Gilgamesh's crimson eyes swept over me once.
It wasn't chilling. It was just… a little awkward.
"This is a tribute that contains your effort. As one who is king, I may disparage the result, but I cannot dishonor the process."
"So this gold was payment for my effort."
"Hmph. Do not grow conceited! You have not yet perfectly passed my test!"
Why is she suddenly shouting?
And what test is she talking about?
I don't even know when the test started.
It was so absurd that I laughed. That's Gilgamesh for you.
"You are far too selfish, Your Majesty."
"Naturally. All things in this world are mine. Nothing can restrain me."
"Indeed."
Clap, clap. When I applauded, Gilgamesh spun around abruptly.
"There is no time! Next, we shall go purchase attire."
"Alright. Sounds good."
I felt much better.
Moving my body like this was much better than agonizing alone with idle thoughts.
"Thanks, Gilgamesh. You did this to help me clear my head, right?"
I received some unexpected consideration.
Just as Merlin had said, it seems I had been mistaken.
I wish we could have communicated this well when we were alive. All that was left was regret.
Hearing my thanks, Gilgamesh gestured wildly, denying my words.
"Do not misunderstand. This is merely preparation to claim my treasure, which will one day be in my hands, in its finest condition. Do not get any strange ideas."
"I see. I understand."
"I do not care for that strange smile of yours. But I shall forgive you."
The lobes of Gilgamesh's ears were red.
Is she embarrassed? It was a truly unexpected side of her.
"What kind of clothes are you thinking of buying?"
"All of them, of course."
"If you had to pick just one?"
Gilgamesh glanced at me furtively, then looked ahead and spoke.
It took a while, as if she were about to say something she had been eagerly anticipating.
"…A suit. I hear the formal attire of this age is the suit."
"A suit? I already have one, so I don't need another."
"...…What did you say?"
I felt winter in her voice.
It was so chilly it made the late autumn weather seem like child's play.
"Who is it? What hussy made the first move?"
"…Morgan bought it for me."
"Burn it immediately."
I'd rather not.
Gilgamesh's eyes blazed. Her aura was overwhelming.
"Very well. I shall make that witch's declaration into a foolish boast. Tonight, you will stay with me, Marduk. I will not accept any objections."
"Speaking of which, we should probably standardize my name. Morgan calls me Kyle, and you call me Marduk. It's confusing."
Gilgamesh seethed like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
It seems I made a slip of the tongue.
"There can be no name other than Marduk. Kyle? Did you think I would acknowledge such a thing? Ha?!"
"Calm down. Everyone's staring."
"You brought this upon yourself. It seems this will not do. You are fated to cause trouble if left to your own devices."
Gilgamesh opened her treasury. Silver chains shot out in an instant and bound me.
Judging by her triumphant expression, she must have bound me tightly, but when I flexed, they came loose.
"Wha… What?!"
When I broke the restraints, Gilgamesh's expression crumpled into a foolish one.
"What is this, you mongrel…! Where has your Divinity gone?! A god cannot break free from Enkidu!"
"They're chains that bind divinity? Uh… maybe Morgan did something?"
Could she have erased my divinity when she made me a demi-Servant?
When I told her my guess, Gilgamesh froze, this time like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
She really shows a colorful range of emotions.
"This will not do. I will have our decisive battle tonight. You… you will go to your quarters."
"Are you going to fight Morgan? Don't…."
"Silence. This is a battle between kings that cannot be conceded."
I nodded meekly.
It seemed that tonight, either Gilgamesh or Morgan was going to be eliminated.