Something had descended again from the heavenly realm where the gods resided.
Rovi realized this.
Though he could not accurately guess what it was, as a transmigrator, Rovi possessed a perspective beyond this era.
He knew the stories that would be passed down in later generations about Uruk on the Mesopotamian plains.
He knew that Gilgamesh would become known in later ages as the oldest King of Heroes.
So Rovi also knew that Gilgamesh would not remain alone forever.
Later, he would gain a friend named Enkidu, a Humanoid Weapon made from clay by the gods.
Would it be her?
Or would it be the goddess Aruru, who had personally shaped Enkidu's body from clay to contain the gods' power?
In theory, Enkidu should indeed have appeared by now.
But this was not the time to dwell on it, because for the moment, whether it was Enkidu or not was of little importance to Rovi's plans.
For now, he still had another matter to deal with...
"You said that after I left, the gods bestowed a treasure upon me?"
Before night fell, Rovi returned to the Priest Temple. He had intended to pack his things and bid farewell to the elders who had cared for him so much, but the High Priest immediately told him this.
"Yes."
The bonfire illuminated the room where Rovi had previously inscribed clay tablets. In the space built from neatly piled stone blocks, the floor was carved with countless intricate images of gods. There, the gaunt old man looked at the young priest who had returned and nodded.
He said, "Rovi, your sincerity moved the heavens. The great and merciful gods took pity on your hardships and bestowed their treasure upon you—"
Though he wanted to say no, Rovi did not refuse at once after thinking it over.
He would first see what it was.
"I do not know what it is either, but the gods said that if it was given to you, you would naturally understand."
Seeing Rovi's puzzled expression, the old man immediately placed something in his hand.
And that thing was... a key?
Rovi held the crystalline object, no bigger than a finger, and could not help but freeze.
Without a doubt, the item the High Priest said had been bestowed upon Rovi by the gods was a key.
And the instant he touched it, a stream of information flowed from the key, letting Rovi naturally understand its name and purpose.
"The Key of Heaven?"
Gilgamesh was the Wedge of Heaven, maintaining the bond between the gods and mankind.
Enkidu, who would arrive in the future, was the Lock of Heaven, born to correct the relationship between Gilgamesh and the gods.
Now, what the gods had given Rovi was similar.
It was a key that broke through the boundary between heaven and humanity.
Without question, the gods intended to make Rovi, like Enkidu, an important bond to guide Gilgamesh back onto the path of wisdom.
"Those bastards... they really have high expectations for me!"
Rovi put away the key without refusing it.
Fortunately, it was not some Divine Tool that granted immortality. The Key of Heaven merely ensured that Rovi would no longer be suppressed by divine power and could move freely in any situation. That was still somewhat useful to him.
Besides, throughout history, many of those upon whom the gods placed great hopes had been tragic heroes.
Either they died spectacularly amid great events.
Or they vanished in an instant like shooting stars, leaving behind endless regrets.
Rovi could not have asked for more.
So he accepted this flag!
"High Priest, thank you." Rovi looked at the old man and solemnly said, "Thank you for taking care of me!"
The High Priest paused, then smiled.
"I had originally hoped that you would inherit my position and become this nation's High Priest."
He said, "But this is good too. The stage beside the king is greater than this place!"
"Work hard, go fulfill your ideals, hero!"
Rovi smiled and nodded.
No matter what the future held, these people had treated him sincerely, and Rovi would not disregard them.
Then next...
It was time to set out!
"Ahhh... what exactly counts as Beauty of the Heart?"
In Uruk, within a temple situated in a secluded place, gems in the forward dome reflected brilliant streams of light, illuminating the lavish hall.
The goddess with loose black hair sat on the floor. Her slightly rising and falling chest throbbed as she crossed her legs and gestured through the air with hands as pale as lotus roots.
Her exquisite face was filled with distress.
"Lady Ishtar... what is wrong?"
Beside the goddess, a Divine Attendant could not help speaking in concern, only to be met with the goddess's rebuke.
"Shut up. Do not disturb me!"
No matter how troubled or anxious she was, the dignity of a god was still something mortals could not question.
The Divine Attendant lowered her head, knelt, and trembled all over.
Seeing her like that, Ishtar pursed her red lips and fell into thought.
After barging into Gilgamesh's palace during the day and being scolded and mocked by Rovi, the goddess who governed beauty and naturally loved beauty had her competitive spirit provoked.
She wanted Rovi to be thoroughly convinced, to acknowledge her beauty, and to submit at her feet.
So after returning to her temple in the mortal world, Ishtar had continued pondering Rovi's words.
But this Beauty of the Heart...
She did not understand it.
"This goddess has a question for you." After pondering for a moment, Ishtar finally decided to speak.
Since it had been proposed by a mortal, asking a mortal should yield an answer.
Ishtar's crisp voice echoed through the temple, indifferent and lofty. "Do you know what Beauty of the Heart is?"
"Yes." The Divine Attendant shrank back again. "What a god says is beauty. Obeying the gods' commands and following a god's will is the beauty of the heart..."
"Wrong!" Ishtar cut her off.
Though she was a willful goddess, she was still a goddess. How could she fail to tell that the other woman was deliberately flattering her out of fear of angering her?
But...
"You understand. You simply do not dare say it."
Ishtar clapped her hands and instantly made her decision.
The Divine Attendant surely had some standard answer in her heart for the Beauty of the Heart Rovi had spoken of.
She knew it. Humans knew it.
Ishtar, as a god, did not understand it. Other than Rovi, perhaps no human would dare speak honestly to her.
Naturally, Ishtar could not ask Rovi either, because that would mean admitting defeat.
But being unable to ask others did not mean she could not ask herself.
This body in its Possession State was also a human shell.
If she could not seek outwardly, then she would seek within.
"Release the humanity possessed by this body, which has always been suppressed by divinity." Ishtar made her decision.
Let humanity rise up.
So long as she gained a human perspective, with her wisdom as a goddess, she would naturally soon understand what humans called Beauty of the Heart.
Then...
Rovi... soon, this goddess would make you submit at her feet!
She would make him take back
all the crude words he had said before!
A trace of confidence flashed through Ishtar's vermilion, jade-like eyes.
Before you continue