Ishtar's Invitation

"Hahahaha! Even I cannot help but feel excited!"

Such hearty laughter rang out within the royal palace of Uruk Royal City. In the spacious, magnificent hall, Gilgamesh sat high upon his throne, gazing at the two people seated in the newly arranged seats before him, his crimson eyes brimming with amusement.

Naturally—after driving away the gods' "eyes" in the Monster Forest, Gilgamesh had used a means of transport from the Treasury of Babylon to bring Rovi and Enkidu back here.

Now that he knew it had been a misunderstanding, he naturally would not do anything more to Enkidu.

He had left in a menacing fury,

but returned with his heart full of delight.

"In consideration of the splendid performance you presented to me, I shall temporarily refrain from pursuing your crime of concealing your whereabouts, your offense against me, and your grave crime of raising weapons against me—indeed, I shall even permit you the privilege of remaining seated before my throne!"

"Rejoice, and bow in praise of my magnanimity!"

They had not met for seven days, yet this guy still could not speak like a normal person.

Rovi, seated before the throne, shook his head. Then he met a pair of emerald-green eyes filled with confusion.

"Do not mind him. That is simply how this guy is," Rovi replied.

"Mm." Little En nodded. "Whatever Rovi says, goes."

"..."

It had to be said that although Rovi had taught Enkidu everything he knew during these seven days,

it had also, in a roundabout way, made this child incomparably dependent on him.

It was fine when he was not around,

but whenever he was, Little En would definitely obey his every word.

He somehow felt like he had led a perfectly good hero astray...

Rovi rubbed his forehead and said no more.

After being away for several days, not only Gilgamesh but this palace had not changed much. It was still spacious and grand, with pillars supporting the massive dome like Heavenly Pillars holding up the sky. The golden floor shimmered beneath sunlight streaming in from outside, while the throne atop ninety-nine steps stood far across from the main entrance.

The only difference... was probably the newly established seats for him and Enkidu at either side of the throne?

Still, it felt as though something was missing...

"Come to think of it, where is Advisor Siduri?"

Rovi suddenly remembered what was missing.

As Gilgamesh's advisor, Siduri normally remained here at all times. She even spent more time here than Gilgamesh did.

Yet now, she was absent.

"Siduri? Hmph, that woman thought she could hide it from my eyes, never realizing that my wise gaze had long seen through her weakened state—as punishment for deceiving me, I have forbidden her from setting foot in the palace for three days!" Gilgamesh waved a hand.

In other words, Siduri had collapsed from exhaustion after working for days on end.

Gilgamesh had ordered her to rest.

"I am saying, if you care about someone, just say it properly." Rovi spread his hands. "I told you already, men acting all twisted like that is disgusting."

"It seems that after all these days, you still have not changed your habit of barking like a wild dog!" Gilgamesh sneered.

"Idiot." Rovi rolled his eyes.

Gilgamesh flew into a rage. "You mong—fool!"

"Brain-dead."

"You insolent wretch..."

"Moron."

"..."

"See? You cannot even speak properly. You are even worse than me at insulting people." Rovi finally smiled. Rising to his feet, he said, "If you care about someone, speak properly—Siduri is not like you."

"Hmph, do I need your nagging?" Gilgamesh folded his arms and turned his face away.

Why was he acting like a child?

Rovi could not help laughing. "I have been tired for several days. I am going to rest."

The moment he took a step, Little En immediately sprang up from her seat and skipped after him.

"Rovi, wait for me."

Fine, there was another child at his side.

Watching Rovi and Enkidu descend the steps and leave through the gates, Gilgamesh sat upon his throne in silence for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes.

Siduri is not like me?

In truth, Rovi did not need to say it.

That young advisor had been left to him by his father. For more than ten years, ever since Gilgamesh ascended the throne, she had remained by his side.

Gilgamesh had long grown accustomed to Siduri's presence.

Until just now—

When he had arrived at the hall before Rovi and the others, and saw the exhaustion Siduri could not conceal in her eyes, he had suddenly realized.

No matter how capable she was, Siduri was still a mortal.

Unlike them.

"Change my manner of speaking... Hahahaha, that fellow truly underestimates both me and her!"

Gilgamesh laughed. "If I changed, then I would no longer be myself—Siduri would be the one disappointed!"

"I hope you truly can stand beside me... and welcome the coming of that day!"

"Rovi."

The king's shadow gradually faded from the throne.

He entered his treasury.

The vast hall gradually fell silent.

Elsewhere,

Rovi left the royal palace.

At the Present Moment, as Gilgamesh's nominal advisor, Rovi naturally could no longer live within the temple.

Instead, he lived in a quiet courtyard not far from the palace.

Enkidu temporarily had nowhere to stay.

It seemed that arranging for her to stay elsewhere was probably impossible as well.

Still, after Rovi brought Enkidu there once, he headed out again.

"Rovi, where are we going?"

"Rovi, are these the houses and palaces you mentioned?"

"Rovi, that smells so good. It seems much better than what you make..."

I know I cannot cook. Stop saying it...

Rovi felt a little troubled.

He really felt as though he were raising a child.

He looked ahead. It was already afternoon, yet the streets of the royal city remained somewhat bustling, with people coming and going in lively crowds.

Uruk's commerce was relatively developed for this era.

Coupled with the factors of the Age of Gods,

the scene it presented possessed a bustle future generations would never be able to verify.

Rovi took a skewer of roasted meat from the stall owner and handed it to Enkidu beside him. Seeing the curiosity appear upon her delicate face, he could not help smiling.

"Eat," he said. "Then go back and rest for a while."

The days ahead would probably not be peaceful.

Rovi took a bite of roasted meat himself, savoring the fragrance that spread across his lips and teeth. Its texture was perfectly tender and chewy. No matter what, eating was one of life's pleasures.

That was precisely why he had come out.

After spending several days in the woods, his mouth had been so deprived of flavor that he had nearly thought he had lost his sense of taste.

"It is delicious." Little En raised her eyes, tiny flecks of meat still lingering on her crimson lips. "But I still prefer what Rovi makes."

"It has Rovi's scent."

The Divine Construct Golem's eyes contained nothing but sincerity.

"..." Rovi swallowed the meat in his mouth. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly paused, as though sensing something.

It was the lingering divine presence in the air of the royal city.

The being connected to him was extending an invitation.

"Go back to that courtyard first. I have something to take care of. I will be back soon."

"Mm, all right." Enkidu had always obeyed Rovi absolutely.

With her strength, there was nothing to worry about anyway.

Rovi turned and left.

He already roughly knew who had come.

"That goddess... Ishtar, what does she want now?"