Mother and Child

She genuinely didn't know.

While the ability to see Clairvoyance is useful, it is not omnipotent. Some beings, whether they are elusive or too powerful, can conceal their tracks. Goetia is naturally one of them. Therefore, if he does not wish to appear, no one can find him.

Rovey was somewhat disappointed upon hearing this answer.

However, she quickly composed herself and then inquired about other matters, such as Gilgamesh's plans and Tiamat's return date.

Merry was very clear about these two issues.

--There are about three days left to prepare for Tiamat's return.

As for Gilgamesh's arrangements for you, they are naturally very simple: as always, resolve the issues concerning Kingu and Gorgon.

To this, Rovey simply nodded.

After all, we've just experienced a new wave of challenges, and this is only the prelude to Tiamat's return. But even in the face of such difficulties, the other partners are all working hard in their own ways, fulfilling their duties and missions. Naturally, I can't let them down in the slightest at this time.

"I see."

Rovey nodded. Now was indeed not the time to keep looking back and forth. Everyone who had supported him to get to where he was now was working hard in silence, and some poor, kind-hearted fool was still waiting for him to save him. Naturally, he had to do his best as well.

"Thank you, Merry. Let's get started."

Rovey nodded and said, "Anyway, I'm going to find Kingu first. Gilgamesh said that to achieve victory, all five Holy Grail need to be collected. Although I'm not quite sure what he needs so many Holy Grail for, I'll go get them first. You should also go back to Uruk to find Anna and call her along. After all, she's Gorgon; she shouldn't be absent from this campaign no matter what."

"I see."

Looking at Rovey, who had only been awake for less than ten minutes and had emerged from the vortex of Tiamat's departure and the impending battle with Tiamat, a beautiful smile, uniquely her own, appeared on Merry's face.

"I understand. I'll go back to Uruk and wait for you then. Please be back before noon tomorrow. I'll be prepared."

"Although I would very much like to contribute, I am needed here more right now, so I can only wish you all the best, Lord Rovey Wei."

Nitocris smiled and then slowly stepped forward to give Rovey a warm hug. During this time, she became bolder because of Merry's behavior and actually hugged Rovey from behind, making the atmosphere between the three of them awkward.

Although Merry wanted to take things further, Rovey stopped her with a chop to the neck, and after saying goodbye, he went out to find someone.

"Lord Rovey Wei, please stay safe!"

"Honey, come home soon!"

The two stood in front of the door, watching Rovey walk away into the distance.

--

--

"Although we're supposed to be searching, upon closer inspection... it seems like we're completely clueless?"

Having understood his mission, he left the house with a dashing air, leaving only a handsome silhouette for the two of them, before setting off to find Kingu's Rovey, who was currently wandering aimlessly across the wasteland.

Because Kingu was using Enkidu's body, as a child of the earth, her aura was almost blended into the earth, making it impossible to find any trace of him. In the end, all that could be done was for Rovey to wander aimlessly in the places where Kingu often appeared.

However, after searching for a long time without any results, he began to think about what he should do now.

"Oh, right, Tiamat left behind a scale amulet in a wooden box. It has a very strong Tiamat aura on it. If we use that to fish, Kingu will definitely come looking for us..."

After a frantic search, Rovey suddenly remembered the scale amulet that Tiamat had left him.

Although he didn't know what the skincare effect of the scale was, given its strong Tiamat scent, Kingu, whose nose was more sensitive than a dog's and who couldn't resist the Kingu of Tiamat, would definitely rush over immediately. So he prepared to try and lure Kingu out with this, but just as he was about to take it out, he was interrupted by a very familiar voice behind him.

"That thing was indeed left to you by your mother, but it wasn't for you to use to find me. That amulet has a much more important purpose."

Behind them, a neutral voice, neither clearly male nor female, came from behind.

"Kingu..."

Following the sound, Rovey turned around to look.

The figure that appeared behind him was a familiar face with long green hair, and Rovey, who had met her before, immediately recognized her.

"What a pathetic sight you are, human—the way you're forcing yourself to endure the pain now makes you look like a wild dog chasing after the stars. It's laughable, but I have to admit, your old, foolish self suited you much better than you do now."

Upon their first meeting, the other party made no attempt to hide Kingu displeasure with Rovey. Her disdain and sarcastic tone were evident on her face. Aside from not directly swinging the chains at Rovey, she acted exactly the same as when they first met.

However, this time, Rovey did not argue or fight with Kingu, and he was too lazy to even refute her. Especially when he heard her mention Tiamat, he took a step and covered several meters to stand in front of Kingu, then reached out and grabbed Kingu's wrist.

"What... what are you doing!?"

Kingu hadn't expected Rovey to act this way. She tried to pull her hand back, but it wouldn't budge. So she looked at him with growing disgust as hundreds of weapons made of mud at her feet locked onto Rovey's body.

"If you want to fight or are looking for a beating, you're welcome to join in anytime. Even if you just want to vent your anger, that's fine too."

Surrounded by hundreds of earthen weapons, Rovey did not immediately dodge. He still held Kingu's wrist and continued to press, "In short, tell me quickly, where did Tiamat go?"

"If you like self-torture, go find Ereshkigal in the Underworld. I don't have that fetish. Anyway..."

Upon hearing this question, Kingu disgustedly disarmed himself and then withdrew his hand from his palm.

Just like Rovey in front of her, Kingu wasn't in a good mood either. That's why she immediately expressed her displeasure and sarcasm upon seeing Rovey. Although she sometimes acted this way when she was in a good mood, but--

"--"

Looking at Rovey behind her, Kingu recalled her mother's instructions. She adjusted her expression, forcibly calming herself down, before speaking.

"Anyway, if you really want to know the truth, then you'd better come with me now."

"Although I'm very unhappy that I have to rely on someone like you, there's no room for me to complain anymore."

After saying that, Kingu turned around and walked into the depths of the forest without looking back.

Rovey: "..."

Watching her departing figure, Rovey frowned slightly. Although Rovey didn't know what had happened, at this moment, Kingu, as the head of Tiamat's offspring, was the only clue he had that could connect him to Tiamat. He was sure he could get some useful clues from her, so he quickly followed after her.

Similarly, although Kingu, walking directly in front, almost instinctively disliked Rovey following behind her, she also clearly understood that this guy was closer to her mother than she was, and that he also possessed miracles that she could not replicate. These were qualities that she currently lacked. If she really had to answer who else in this Singularity could help her save her mother, then the only person she could think of was the guy in front of her.

Disgusting guy...

The Root of the trouble was precisely because of him that his mother went to such lengths.

However, the person she should never forgive, the one she should tear to pieces, was precisely the one her mother protected, and also her mother's last hope.

That damn guy--

Kingu silently turned around and glanced at Rovey, who was following behind him, his feelings gradually becoming more complicated.

They walked in silence; Kingu simply led the way quietly, and Rovey followed in the same quiet manner.

Finally, after the two entered the forest and arrived at a place that Kingu considered relatively secluded, Kingu slowly stopped in his tracks.

"This will do."

"Tiamat, is she here?"

Seeing Kingu stop, Rovey immediately asked, "Is she... still in this world?"

Despite the slim chances, Rovey still held onto a sliver of hope.

"... Did you receive the things your mother left you?"

However, Kingu did not answer his question directly. Instead, he first asked Rovey if he had received the things Tiamat had left for him.

"Blackened bread, and an amulet?"

"Good, at least you didn't lose it."

Hearing Rovey's answer, Kingu nodded and then said, "I still don't understand why Mother valued you so much, to the point that it was as much as my love for her. She even wanted to leave you a child for me to raise. However, my brothers and sisters stopped her because of the turmoil caused by another aspect of Mother's life."

She was referring to Tiamat's attempt to force herself on Tiamat that night, which was thwarted by the Eleven Children's beast tide, since Kingu was also one of the Eleven Children.

"Give me a piece of bread made by my mother."

After making a remark, Kingu suddenly reached out to Rovey and said, "You couldn't possibly have eaten it all, could you?"

"Um."

Rovey nodded, then handed the charcoal-flavored black bread to Kingu, who unceremoniously stuffed it into his mouth with a "crunch!" sound.

"Hmm, as expected of Mother's food, it tastes just like the stones in the forest, it's delicious."

Kingu offered his praise.

Rovey: "..."

He didn't know how to comment on this.

And should I tell her that she shouldn't use such language to describe how delicious the cake is?

Seeing her genuine expression, Rovey seemed to understand who Tiamat had tasted for her cooking. It was all because of this tasteless person that her cooking skills had gone so astray. It was only natural for Kingu, in his current clay doll-like body, to eat stones.

"In short, besides the bread, the most important thing is that amulet. That amulet is not just a simple souvenir; it was specially left for you by your mother. It contains her last bit of power, and it is also a weapon."

"... arms?"

"That's right, a genuine divine artifact, and it was even made by Mother herself. That amulet was created using the heart-protecting scales of Mother's dragon body and her magic power, possessing her highest authority. In other words, because that stone contains the power to counter Mother's Nega-Genesis, it also has the ability to seal Mother again, or even kill her. It's her trump card left for you."

"...?!"

"Why are you giving me this? Are you implying that she was already prepared to be sealed away again, or even to die?"

"That's right, Mother... she's not coming back."

Kingu slowly turned his head, his purple eyes calmly looking at Rovey in front of him.

"They're not coming back?"

"Ah, it depends on how you interpret it. If it's Tiamat herself, then Mother is naturally still lurking in the Imaginary Space, preparing to return to Earth and cleanse everything with her rage. The previous Eleven Children, including one of my imposters, were the embodiment of her anger. But if you're referring to the mother who clung to you, loved you, and spent sweet moments with you, then she has completely fallen into slumber. As a constraint of [Beast], she has been suppressed by her beastly side."

This time, Kingu's tone was unusually cold, completely devoid of her usual joking demeanor. She had fulfilled her mother's request and told Rovey the truth—

Tiamat intended to use this to make Rovey give up on the idea of redeeming her and kill her with his own hands.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Rovey clenched his fists and remained silent, a reaction that surprised Kingu somewhat.

She thought that, given human nature, Rovey would also lose control of his emotions after hearing this news, but she didn't expect him to remain calm.

"It seems you're not so foolish after all. You hadn't considered this before, but now you understand. You realize what your mother's appearance meant. That's right—the reason your mother revealed her sealed-off side, her reason and love, was her final farewell!!"

"She wasn't out there to see the scenery or enjoy the world; she used her last bit of will and strength to deliver the key to victory for you lot! She wanted you to personally put an end to her story! So—why are you here?! Why did you contact Mother?! Are you satisfied with this ending, you stranger?!"

"Because of you, everything is ruined now!!"

At this point, Kingu suddenly turned around, and his chain-bound fist slammed into Rovey, falling through the air and creating a shower of sparks.

Clang!!!

As the golden chains collided with the red palms, a dazzling spark illuminated their eyes. They were both gazing intently at each other, their different colored eyes reflecting their distinct emotions.

Have you made enough of a scene?

Having blocked Kingu attack, Rovey also asked in a restrained tone.

What do you think?!

As if to reflect his state of mind, the light in Kingu's hand became even more dazzling the moment he finished speaking.

Chapter 267 Mother and Child

In a forest not far from Uruk.

"You damned human! It's all because of your interference that things have turned out this way—you're poison to Mother!!"

A blinding golden light mingled with a blue halo, and Jingu, his hands wrapped in golden chains and his body radiating terrifying Kingu power, roared furiously at Rovey in front of him.

Swish!

Accompanied by a golden arc of light, an attack imbued with powerful magic swiftly struck towards him.

"..."

Rovey did not answer, but calmly summoned his crimson right hand to catch the attack launched by Kingu, and then met her eyes quietly.

As the red and gold lights collided, the resulting sparks briefly illuminated their faces.

--

Kingu vaguely remembered that it must have happened not long ago, during the day.

Because of her mother's request, she stayed in the city called Uruk. However, to avoid the woman who always called her Enkidu and whose name was Siduri, she continued to walk away from the crowds and observed the world from above in her own way, as well as this human city that had once rejected her mother but was now admired and loved by her mother.

I don't understand, I don't understand, I don't understand...

"How foolish..."