In Type-Moon, with a Hero Simulator — Chapter 14

A gift?

That luxury-loving Ishtar was going to give jewelry to humans?

It was hard to believe, but since Fujimaru Kyoya had said it, they had no choice but to believe. Cheers rose one after another, and bolstered by the people's faith, Fujimaru Kyoya felt his strength continuing to grow.

"Hmph~ Gods aren't completely useless after all."

Fujimaru Kyoya looked at the cheering people. He would not be foolish enough to promote his own ideals and make enemies of the Gods in this era. Instead, he intended to make good use of their power.

As he had said before, as long as they could be used by him, he could offer tributes to the Gods—as long as the Gods... behaved.

Chapter 24: If I Could Be Reincarnated...

"Guh~ Kill me."

Inside Fujimaru Kyoya's room: a Goddess, bound up, saying "Guh, kill me"... If this were somewhere else... Wait, why did that sound so familiar...?

"Then I'll gladly accept."

"No, I was joking! Don't kill me!"

"I know. That's why I was joking too."

Who the hell would believe that?

Ishtar looked at Fujimaru Kyoya's expressionless face. The next second, he might raise his hand and bring down the blade. Who would dare believe that his joke was actually a joke?

"In short, I came to cooperate with you."

Fujimaru Kyoya had no intention of making enemies of the Gods, nor did he want to make an enemy of Gilgamesh. But he had now occupied Gilgamesh's land and taken Gilgamesh's people. Their enmity was already set.

So, even if he could not win over the Gods, he could not become their enemy either. At least... not yet.

"I can give you jewelry. In return, have the Bull of Heaven reclaim wasteland for me and transform the surrounding land so it can be used to grow crops."

"That was originally something mortals should—"

"Hmm?"

"I... I understand."

One had no choice but to bow beneath another's roof. Under pressure from Fujimaru Kyoya, Ishtar had no choice but to follow his demands.

Every day, she and the Bull of Heaven rose earlier than chickens and went to bed later than dogs, while Fujimaru Kyoya seemed possessed by a capitalist, constantly thinking of ways to squeeze out Ishtar's remaining productive capacity.

After all, he was paying her wages. Ordering around a Goddess like this would ordinarily provoke retaliation from the Gods, but they could not do so now.

Fujimaru Kyoya had originally been a backup plan activated when Gilgamesh refused to cooperate.

Now that Gilgamesh was actively widening the distance between king and people, if they punished Fujimaru Kyoya at this time, this Spare might become unusable as well.

Then the Gods would have drawn water with a bamboo basket—for nothing.

[You commanded the Bull of Heaven to move mountains and carve rivers, turning barren land once unsuitable for cultivation into fertile fields. The people's worship of you increased, and the effect of Benevolent Dark Emperor was enhanced.]

[You commanded the Bull of Heaven to control the climate, bringing favorable weather to the area around the City of Ur. Gradually, many people unable to endure Gilgamesh's tyranny joined you, and the effect of Benevolent Dark Emperor was enhanced.]

[Gilgamesh has begun to notice you.]

"Bastards! How many times has this failed now? You can't even retake a mere small city. What use is there in keeping you?"

Gilgamesh no longer even had the mood to drink.

He had initially assumed it was nothing more than a petty thief, but it now appeared to be quite a troublesome problem. Had those Gods meddled again?

Gilgamesh did not know that, although he possessed EX-rank Clairvoyance, Wrath, frustration, and resentment had now clouded his eyes. The Clairvoyance that had once never failed him could no longer see the future.

Ever since he had set foot upon the path of a tyrant, he had been unable to see the future.

"Gather the troops. I shall personally suppress this insolent rebel."

The king's authority could not be affected. Gilgamesh would purge the rebels. So long as his was the only voice left in this world, whatever he said would be right.

"My king, they merely occupy a corner of the City of Ur..."

"Siduri, has your mind gone wrong as well? Even a plot of land no larger than a fingernail belongs to me. I will not permit anyone to defile it."

How could Siduri not know that her argument was inappropriate? Yet these past days, she had watched Gilgamesh ruin himself and ruin all of Uruk.

Out of absolute loyalty, she would not betray him. But she also hoped that those refugees could find at least a little respite in Ur.

"I have heard that the rebel has cooperated with the Goddess Ishtar. Please reconsider."

"Cooperation? That ill-tempered woman would cooperate with someone? They must have gotten hold of some weakness of hers. Now that I am going to quell the rebellion, she ought to be grateful to me. Say no more."

A king's dignity could not be challenged, and men were the most incapable creatures in the world when it came to enduring challenges.

"Ah~ Once war begins, how many more families will be torn apart?" Siduri sighed helplessly. As a subject, she could not guide her king back onto the proper path. This was all her fault—at least, that was what she believed.

[You commanded the Bull of Heaven to mine ore, then used the flames from its mouth to smelt bronze and forge weapons. The military strength of the City of Ur has increased.]

This thing was way too useful.

Fujimaru Kyoya stared at the Bull of Heaven with gleaming eyes. Even the Bull of Heaven could not help but clench up under that scorching gaze, silently swearing that it would never expose its rear to Fujimaru Kyoya.

"What a waste."

Fujimaru Kyoya glanced at that unreliable Goddess. To her, the Bull of Heaven was only good for one thing: "Gugalanna, ram him to death."

"Oh? Looking at me like that—have you been captivated by my perfect body too, Shadow?"

Everything Fujimaru Kyoya had done these past few days had also been watched by Ishtar. She had to admit that he had managed that tiny City of Ur quite impressively, and it was beginning to look as though he intended to build a second city here in the Rainforest.

It would not be so bad to use him as a substitute for Gilgamesh.

"I was merely marveling at how fair heaven truly is. It gave you such beauty and power, yet also gave you a brain like mush."

"You... insulting a goddess? Be careful, or you'll be reborn as a pig or dog in your next life."

Ishtar could only rage helplessly. Considering Ereshkigal, who ruled the Underworld, and Fujimaru Kyoya's relationship, even if reincarnation truly existed, there was no way he would become a pig or dog.

"If there really is reincarnation, then I definitely want to become a playground."

"Why?"

After thinking it over, Fujimaru Kyoya ultimately did not tell her the answer. After all, she was Ereshkigal's younger sister. Her personality might be a little awful, but the lessons she had received these past days were enough.

"What a pity."

Fujimaru Kyoya looked at the Bull of Heaven. If Gilgamesh had not personally led his troops here, he would still have had the energy to keep Ishtar restrained. But once that guy arrived, Ishtar would inevitably seize the chance to escape.

Then he would no longer be able to freeload off the Bull of Heaven's productivity. Thinking of such magnificent productive power being used by that crazy woman to wreck people's lives made Fujimaru Kyoya, as a Spiritual Capitalist, clutch his chest in pain.

Being unable to make money hurt even more than losing money.

A legend gradually began to spread across the land of Babylon. It was said that within the Rainforest, surrounded by wild beasts—

A king had established a nation amid the wilderness.

Within that nation, a goddess bestowed her treasures, a divine bull cultivated the wasteland for mankind, and a benevolent, wise king protected everything within that country.

Those unable to survive, those who had been oppressed, all began gathering toward the place called Ur.

And at the same time... Gilgamesh's army arrived as well.

Rather Than Martial Arts, It Was More Like a Dance

Gilgamesh had come.

When that news reached the City of Ur, the entire city fell into panic. Although Fujimaru Kyoya had previously defeated a goddess, they feared Gilgamesh even more.

[You sensed the people's unease. You hated those sounds, and you hated those emotions. Your disgust toward Gilgamesh deepened.]

That was right—disgust.

Fujimaru Kyoya gazed from afar at the blond youth clad in Golden Armor, and an inexplicable revulsion rose in his heart. Yet it was not the jealousy of a "copy" facing the "original," but something far more pure and primal.

The talent known as "Benevolent Dark Emperor" had granted Fujimaru Kyoya power, but it had also made him more sensitive to the hearts of the people.

Anxiety, panic, fear... these thoughts flooded Fujimaru Kyoya's mind and refused to disperse. They had already kept him from sleeping properly for several days.

So he was extremely pissed off right now.

"Who did I think it was? Judging by the timing, it was indeed about time for a bastard like you to make an appearance."

Gilgamesh looked toward Fujimaru Kyoya atop the city walls. He had learned something of this brother from different fathers and mothers when he had heard of the Heaven's Wedge plan.

A copied Heaven's Wedge—the sinful product of those gods wishing to remain in this world.

Now this king would bury that sinful plan and save humanity from the gods' grasp.

"Bastard, do you dare come before this king?"

Gilgamesh rose into the sky. Like Fujimaru Kyoya, he did not enjoy looking up at others. A king ought to look down upon all living things.

[You felt the Mana within your body boiling. The person before you gave you an intense sense of hostility. It seemed that only one of you could survive.]

[You felt the people's fear. You felt the disgust in your own heart. You felt Gilgamesh's hostility. The power of "Benevolent Dark Emperor" emerged within you.]

[You are the King's Enemy.]

A bone-deep chill made Gilgamesh's whole body shudder. It was the feeling of encountering a natural predator. He had not considered Fujimaru Kyoya worth his attention at all, but now his body was sounding every alarm.

Gilgamesh's instincts as a king, a warrior, and a wise man told him that he absolutely could not underestimate his opponent.

"I have no desire to be your enemy. You should understand that if we fight, it will only delight those gods sitting high above us."

Fujimaru Kyoya felt disgusted, dissatisfied, sickened. The moment he saw Gilgamesh's smug face, he wanted to punch it. But he restrained himself for the moment.

Because when the people wailed, those cries would be even harder for him to endure than their current unease and fear. If Gilgamesh was willing to negotiate, Fujimaru Kyoya could make concessions.

Everything was for the people—or rather, so that he could have a little peace.

"Let a bastard like you live, only to become the gods' pawn and become the Heaven's Wedge linking gods and humans? Then let this king make two things clear. First, this king does not like copies. Second..."

A golden blade light shot toward Fujimaru Kyoya, but at the critical moment, Fujimaru Kyoya blocked it.

"This king hates gods."

"I see. There is not enough trust between us. Naturally... who would trust someone they hate?"

Gilgamesh's sudden attack had been entirely within Fujimaru Kyoya's expectations. The ability of First Before First was meant to sense an enemy's attacks.

The instant Gilgamesh's intention to attack arose, Fujimaru Kyoya had already prepared to defend himself.

Now that the other party refused to cooperate, those gods would be the ones to benefit.

"Bang~"

In the instant before Gilgamesh could react, Fujimaru Kyoya struck his Golden Armor with a spear, sending him crashing down to the ground.

"How is this possible?"

Gilgamesh was astonished. Even without EX-rank Clairvoyance, he should not have been unable to sense the other man's attack.

"Thought Before Action is First Before First—an attack that absolutely cannot be foreseen in advance. Or is this all the strength you have?"

Fujimaru Kyoya said unhurriedly.

Even in the previous simulation, a knight as powerful as Lloyd had needed the intention to attack before he could do so. As long as one could sense that intent, one could defend in advance.

But the existence of "First Before First" allowed an attack to precede intent, making it impossible for others to sense it beforehand—and naturally impossible to defend against it in advance.

Gilgamesh was an exceptional warrior with powerful senses, but when those senses failed him, he could not help but be put at a disadvantage.

"You dared to let dust stain this king's body. Mongrel, you have some skill—but this ends here."

Streams of golden light emerged behind Gilgamesh. Originally, Gilgamesh had intended to use absolute strength to make this "backup" admit defeat wholeheartedly, but now it seemed he would have to reveal all his power.

Golden streaks shot forth, but they were completely ineffective against Fujimaru Kyoya, who possessed "First Before First." With nothing more than a sweep of his spear shaft, he sent them flying away.

"Weapons?"

Fujimaru Kyoya looked at the sword he had knocked aside. Though it was still crude at present, it already carried a trace of divine essence. It seemed to be the prototype of a Divine Weapon.

"Surprised? This is this king's Gate of Babylon, a crystallization of wealth formed by gathering every product of humanity's wisdom and offering it all to this king."

Gilgamesh proudly introduced his Gate of Babylon.