Until now, Rovi had spent some time away, wandering the lands beyond Uruk.
But the deeds he'd accomplished had long since transformed him—alongside Gilgamesh himself—into another banner of Uruk.
The King, the Sage, and the god-forged Weapon.
On the surface, Uruk remained a kingdom ruled by one alone. But anyone walking its lands knew: the throne had, in truth, grown to three seats.
It was akin to the "separation of powers" known in ages yet to come.
The King sat at the heart, overseeing all, guiding the nation with his prestige. The Sage traveled abroad, handling diplomacy, his wisdom and strength deterring other lands. The god-forged Weapon commanded war, his unmatched might guarding the frontline since the great wall had risen seven days before.
And now, with the Sage's return, Uruk's three "kings" had finally gathered once more.
The effect upon this nation—no, upon this vast settlement uniting all mankind—was plain to see.
Morale, stability, order… all were clearer, firmer than ever before.
...
That night.
Stars filled the sky, their radiance casting gentle light over Uruk, now greater in scale than ever.
Near the palace, in a quiet courtyard, moonlight fell softly upon three figures.
"Hmph, Bwahahaha… Yapping mongrel, do try not to be frightened by the vintage hidden away in my royal cellar!" The golden-haired king laughed boldly, triumphantly.
"It was En who brought it, yet you shamelessly claim it as yours." Rovi lifted a golden goblet from the stone table before him, snorting lightly.
"All things under heaven flow from this king's hand—"
"So, does that include all the filth lying around? Was that produced by you alone as well?"
"…"
Damn it, this one never sticks to the script…
Seated quietly beside them, Enkidu cupped a goblet in both hands, took a small sip, then tilted his head toward Rovi, smiling with that ever-tranquil expression.
"Hmph. This king is in a fine mood today, so I won't bother arguing!" After a short pause, Gilgamesh emptied his wine in one gulp.
"Good, because I don't want to argue either—how childish can you be at your age?" Rovi shook his head.
Gilgamesh glared.
Wasn't it usually this one who started things?
But then even he laughed.
"Thinking about it… It feels like it's been a while since the three of us just sat like this." Rovi swirled his cup, raising it toward the bright moon above.
"From now on… We must all live."
Those words came out strangely heavy.
Gilgamesh paused, studying the man's serious expression. Rarely, his own face grew solemn.
"But of course—those mongrels could never harm this king who rules all creation!" His arrogance undimmed, he nonetheless raised his cup as well.
"Yes. We will live… Wherever Rovi is, I will be there too. I won't leave." Enkidu licked the wine from his lips, cheeks faintly flushed, and gently raised his own cup.
The cups touched lightly, droplets spilling.
Rovi smiled, satisfied.
Here and now, each of them knew clearly—their plan against the gods was at its critical point.
On the eve of war, such words…
For the one who spoke them, it was undeniably a flag raised for death.
"…Sleepy… Mm… Rovi, Gil, I'll sleep first…" Not long after, Enkidu swayed, then toppled softly over.
"Hmph, Bwahahaha! Is this your limit? Clay doll, for one who is friend to this king, your tolerance is woefully lacking…" Gilgamesh laughed grandly.
"Don't push yourself." Rovi glanced at him flatly. "If you're tired, just sleep."
"Mongrel… you dare look down upon this king—hic—" Gilgamesh's eyes widened, mouth opened, then he too wobbled and fell.
Truth be told, this wine that Enkidu had brought from Humbaba's hoard truly was excellent—surely a vintage of the gods.
Even Gilgamesh and Enkidu, with bodies like theirs, succumbed easily to it.
As for Rovi, as the [Key of Heaven], he could channel the wine away through a "door" within himself. So he felt slightly tipsy, but not truly drunk.
Nor did he wish to be.
Because he was waiting—
Waiting to raise yet another, even greater flag of death.
"Hmph, hmph, hmph! All asleep, sprawled like pigs in slop? To greet this great goddess in such disgrace—truly disrespectful!"
A crisp voice came riding on the evening breeze. Rovi lifted his gaze.
Atop the courtyard wall stood a figure clad in scarlet, hem falling just past thighs to reveal pale, slender legs—Ishtar, in Rin's form.
Hands in pockets, she flicked her long black hair, then leapt down.
The goddess glanced at the unconscious Gilgamesh and Enkidu, then at the one man still awake and composed. She snorted.
"Someone wants to see you—" Who else could it be?
And then, like a mirage shifting, the figure transformed before Rovi's eyes.
Black hair became golden.
Red coat turned to crimson cloak.
Her slender, pale legs stayed the same, but the figure above became even softer, fuller, swaying visibly as she moved.
"Rovi."
Red eyes opened. Crimson lips curved into a gentle smile.
Ishtar and Eresh had exchanged places in an instant.
Though Ishtar disliked it, even she knew—at a time like this, on the eve of a decisive battle, when none could say who might live or die—it was right for them to meet.
"I told you—I'd come see you again!"
The goddess of the underworld waved lightly.
Rovi nodded, rising to step forward—just as Eresh stumbled, pitching forward.
"Eh—!?" A startled cry escaped her lips.
He glanced down to where she had tripped.
A cup, rolled aside.
And—the hand which had tossed it.
"Hmph, Bwahahaha… Mere goddess, daring to trespass in the courtyard ruled by this king? Never—" Gilgamesh's eyes stayed tightly shut, drunken laughter still ringing.
Rovi: "…"
Even in sleep, this arrogance. Truly impressive.
At this moment, all he wanted to say was—
Well done.
He opened his arms, and the stumbling Eresh fell directly into his embrace.
"…Mmn?" The goddess blinked in confusion, cheeks instantly burning red.
To steady her, Rovi's hands rested firmly upon her slim waist. The warmth seeping through her robes made her breath catch.
"So… so improper…" Eresh stammered, face flushed deeply.
"Who's improper?"
"You are!"
"Then I'll let go."
"Eh—!?"
And so he did.
Still leaning forward, Eresh tipped fully into his chest, the strong heartbeat against her ear stealing her words away.
"You're the one who told me to let go," Rovi teased, smiling brightly.
Damn him—Eresh fell silent.
Yet after another quiet moment, she felt not calmer but more flustered, heart racing faster.
This intimacy, this mutual embrace—it was too much. Far too shameful—
"Eresh," Rovi finally broke the silence. "You know what we're about to do, don't you?"
She froze, then slowly nodded. "…Mm."
Her voice barely rose above a whisper, yet Rovi heard clearly.
He wanted to say more, but the girl in his arms moved, raising her delicate face beneath golden hair.
"That's why I came." She had already heard everything from Ishtar.
"No matter what… I'll stand by you."
Despite her flushed cheeks, her voice was firm: "I'll help you."
"I hope… the next time we meet, it will be beneath this sky—not in the underworld."
Slowly, she raised her hand, fingers gently slipping into his, intertwining tightly.
"And I hope… we'll always keep meeting."
"Don't worry." Rovi nodded softly. "We'll win. For certain."
"And I'll live—to see you again."
A new flag, raised.
Rovi had lied. Yet also hadn't.
Because to him, death had never been a true end.
The night felt endless, yet passed in a breath.
And soon…
Eresh returned to the underworld. Ishtar departed too.
And soon…
The sky brightened with dawn. Rovi sat alone in the courtyard. Enkidu lay peacefully sleeping across the table. Gilgamesh sprawled on the ground, snoring, occasionally letting out a wild laugh even in his sleep.
Rovi lifted his gaze, looking toward the distant heavens.
There—
Thunder roared. Lightning shattered the sky and fell.
The wrathful decree of Anu, god of the heavens, had begun.
Gilgamesh's eyes snapped open.
Enkidu slowly rose.
"So, it's finally here…" Rovi quietly set down his cup, and smiled.