The people of Uruk were gaunt and hollow-eyed.
Famine, plus Gilgamesh's grand projects, pushed them to despair.
Their strongest young workers were drafted away.
Some gone a week, some months—none returned.
Now the king wanted more construction.
The people were at a boiling point.
But their king was chosen by the gods.
They could only endure his tyranny.
Yet at last, the people's wails reached divine ears.
A goddess responded.
The mother goddess Aruru, disgusted by the king's cruelty, created a weapon to restrain him.
"Go. Your destined rival is there. Bind him and bring him back."
The goddess pointed toward Uruk.
"Mother, I understand."
The divine weapon bowed and wandered toward Uruk, killing beasts for food and drinking from rivers.
In Uruk's palace, the king laughed wildly.
"Hahahaha! Interesting. My rival has appeared. Siduri, bring that thing here. I want to see what can restrain me!"
His arrogance left Siduri helpless, but she went.
[This king is even worse than I thought. Damn.]
[Walls were right, but he drained the people. Those young men are probably dead.]
[Wrong timing. In famine year? People are starving.]
[Why ruin my image of this king?!]
[Someone punch him already.]
[The goddess' weapon must be Enkidu. Please punish Gilgamesh.]
[Wake up. History says Enkidu was sent because Gilgamesh was a brutal tyrant. But Enkidu later sacrificed himself to bring Gilgamesh back to the right path.]
[What?! Enkidu dies? He's just a kid! Can't he live this time?]
[Maybe. The last video changed history too, and still ended well.]
"Ha! He's exactly like that arrogant king. Same mold!"
Mordred slapped the table, laughing hard.
She dragged Lancelot over.
"I want to see them meet. Will they fight? Which 'Hero King' wins? I'm dying to know."
"Mordred, quiet!"
Lancelot hissed, mortified by everyone's stare.
Why drag me into your madness?!
He had struggled for forgiveness since manifesting.
Artoria's forgiveness was easy.
Other knights' forgiveness was not.
He'd only just fixed relationships, and now this?
"You don't think Hero King vs Hero King is funny, Sir Lancelot?"
Mordred grinned, unfazed.
Lancelot sniffed and caught a strong scent.
"This is… You drank, didn't you? And expensive liquor."
"Drink? Me? No. I heard chocolate helps wake you up. I ate a few from the gifts. What's wrong?"
Her dimples deepened.
"Mordred, do you not know what 'liquor chocolates' are?!"
Knights loved wine… but had terrible tolerance.
Royal palace liquor chocolates were certainly strong.
"Father, I—"
Before she could finish, Mordred toppled face-first onto the table.
"Take her down. Let her rest in her room. She's been overworking."
Artoria sighed.
As the secretary tried to lift her, Mordred suddenly sprang upright and shouted:
"I really admire you, Father…!"
Then she collapsed into the secretary's arms.
"…Wait. Cover her. Don't let her catch cold."
Artoria removed her blue blanket and draped it over Mordred.
To the others, that small act symbolized succession.
Their hearts echoed one thought:
King Arthur is finally preparing to step down.
Artoria rose, armor clanking.
She scanned the room and fixed her gaze on Mordred.
"Don't let today's events spread… Continue playing."