Gilgamesh Was Like a Husky

The kiss across the space of a finger was long, yet fleeting as a dragonfly touching the water.

By the time Rovi came back to his senses, the girl before him had already left. In her place stood the Venus Goddess from before, whose pride was far more pronounced.

"Hmph, you really got off easy!" From several meters away, having once again put some distance between them, Ishtar crossed her arms over her chest, bared her teeth, and put on a fierce front.

Yet the lingering blush on her face seemed to prove that Ishtar's heart was anything but calm.

Of course she could not possibly be calm.

After all, she and Ereshkigal were possessing and using the same body.

After Ereshkigal's consciousness returned to the underworld, Ishtar, who had taken over this body, could naturally clearly feel the lingering impact of the Underworld Goddess's state of mind in that instant.

"Next time—" The more she could feel it, the more displeased Ishtar became. "Next time, I'll definitely let you see this goddess's beauty!"

"Wash your neck and wait for this goddess!"

After leaving those words behind, Ishtar vanished in an instant.

As though she were fleeing for her life.

She needed to calm the fluttering in her body, and even more so, the effects that fluttering had brought her.

Ereshkigal had already fallen.

Ishtar did not want to become like her.

That would be... utterly humiliating—but of course, she still had to leave behind a harsh parting threat.

Rovi stood rooted to the spot, staring at the deep alley that had become empty in the blink of an eye.

He touched his lips. The breath from that instant seemed to still linger there.

Night gave way to dawn. A streak of morning light gleamed in the distance, piercing the long night. He shook his head. It had been another night full of surprises.

But it had felt pretty good.

Although the Goddess of the Underworld's divine protection was no small trouble for Rovi... there had never been absolute immortality in this world. Or rather, throughout history, quite a few heroes blessed with Immortality Divine Protection had still met untimely deaths.

Rovi could even try using the Key of Heaven's ability to influence the divine protection's "on" and "off" states, turning that permanent effect into an active skill.

So Rovi was still in a fairly good mood.

"Mm, Little En is still waiting... I should head back first!"

With that thought in mind, Rovi took two steps forward, looked back, and only then finally strode away.

"Hahahaha! As expected of the talent discovered by a wise and great king such as myself!"

Before he even entered his residence, while he was still outside the gate, Rovi heard unrestrained laughter from within the courtyard. "Even the Goddess of the Underworld failed to escape your influence!"

Rovi looked around, somewhat worried that the neighboring residents might be disturbed. Fortunately, everyone living here belonged to Uruk's elite class. Their grand houses and deep courtyards had excellent soundproofing—though even if they were disturbed, no one would likely dare say anything.

He walked along the level path and pushed open the gate. The rising sun illuminated the spacious courtyard, while lush plants covered its corners. On the roof stood a figure high atop the eaves, radiating golden light as he spoke loudly.

Rovi rubbed his forehead and turned toward the side of the gate, just in time to meet the figure emerging from inside.

"Rovi, you're back?" Little En skipped over, her emerald-green hair swaying in the breeze, her plain white robes drifting like clouds as her bare feet stepped across the flourishing grass.

Rovi rubbed her head, then pointed at the figure above.

"When did that guy... get here?"

"Just now." Little En tilted her head and replied, "Then he climbed up there and started saying a bunch of nonsense. He's annoying, but he seems like a pretty interesting guy."

It seemed Enkidu was still rather hung up on Gilgamesh attacking her earlier.

All Rovi could say was that, because he had "stopped" their fight, Gilgamesh and Enkidu had not completely acknowledged one another through that battle.

At the Present Moment, the connection between lock and wedge could only pass through Rovi, the "key."

"Commoner... Hmph, you dare ignore the great me?"

Seeing that Rovi had paid him no attention, Gilgamesh instantly became displeased.

With a movement of his feet, he leaped straight down from several meters high and landed steadily on the grass.

Rovi glanced at him. "I have no interest in dealing with a lunatic who starts going crazy first thing in the morning."

"A stray dog is indeed only a stray dog. No amount of training can change its nature." Gilgamesh sneered.

"True. For example, there's no way to make one speak in a way normal people can understand." Rovi replied meaningfully, then looked over the King of Uruk's bare upper body and golden skirt armor. "You went to see Siduri?"

"She is, after all, this king's most loyal tool. If she truly fell, this king would lose many conveniences!"

Gilgamesh looked disdainful.

"Just keep acting tsundere, then!" Rovi clapped his hands and led Enkidu into the house.

Gilgamesh followed them inside.

Even with the influence of the Age of Gods, the furniture of this era was not all that convenient—nothing more than daily necessities like tables and chairs. Rovi poured a bowl of water from the water jar and handed it to Gilgamesh.

"Forgive the poor hospitality—but this should probably be enough for you to drink. You can also use it to wash that ridiculously foul mouth of yours first thing in the morning," Rovi said.

Gilgamesh did not refuse and casually accepted it.

"Considering that you, stray dog, just put on a splendid performance for this king, this king shall refrain from holding it against you!" Holding the bowl of water, Gilgamesh sat down on a stone chair and could not help laughing again.

His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.

He examined Rovi before him, as well as Enkidu standing close behind, looking entirely like a young girl.

An even more playful smile rose at the corner of his mouth.

Though he had not been at the scene, unlike before, when they had been so far apart, they were now in the same city. For Gilgamesh, who possessed Clairvoyance of the highest caliber, he could faintly make out Rovi's earlier actions—though the images were hazy, they were clear enough to observe directly without even needing to use Future Sight.

Never mind this Lock of Heaven before him, who possessed power of the same caliber as himself.

Even the Underworld Goddess could be influenced by him...

"Tell me, how did you do it?"

Rovi had just sat down across from Gilgamesh when he heard him speak.

Swirling the clear water in his bowl, the golden-haired king asked, "You toyed with that Venus Goddess—and made that Underworld Goddess so infatuated with and fond of you?"

"Even a blessing divine protection that such a goddess can only bestow once was placed upon you?"

Underworld Goddess? Infatuated?

For some reason, Rovi felt that the way Little En was looking at him beside him... had changed somehow?

"Rovi." Little En tilted her head, blinked her brilliant jade-like eyes, and smiled. "Who is the Underworld Goddess?"

Rovi: "..."

What was with this strange sense of déjà vu?

Gilgamesh was definitely doing this on purpose, wasn't he!?

He shot Gilgamesh a glance.

The king over there was grinning with immense delight.

That's right, this king did it on purpose—you thought this king would keep letting you, stray dog, bite at him?

Now, the chance to strike back has come!

"Fool!"

Gilgamesh spat out those two words, then burst into laughter all by himself.

Judging by his behavior, he looked just like a husky, only lacking the urge to prance around, dance, and show off.