"Kingu?"
"You just said his name was Kingu? The legendary son of Tiamat?! The Progenitor of Humanity?!"
In the faint light of dawn, somewhere in the Reed Plains, the Soul Cage shook violently atop a patch of slightly drier ground. The Holy Prostitute Shamhat let out an incredulous murmur.
"Yes. More precisely, Enkidu's body was the vessel, while Kingu's soul held dominion."
Samael sat alone atop the corpse of a Soul Eater Beast. He glanced at the wounds still healing across his body, then sighed softly before answering.
Shamhat drifted out from the cage, mockery and sorrow surfacing on her face.
"He awakened a fragment of the Progenitor of Humanity's soul and stuffed that hatred into Enkidu's body."
"The Chains of Heaven, who once brought prosperity and peace to Uruk, became a demon that slaughtered Sumerian city-states."
"How ironic..."
Then, the Holy Prostitute who had guided Enkidu toward humanity pressed her cherry lips together.
"Perhaps Kingu, as a god who was harmed, has the right to take revenge upon this land."
"But he should not use that child's body to do all this!"
"Enkidu was clearly a hero who saved Uruk. She should not have to bear such infamy..."
Samael plucked a reed leaf, wiped clean the berries in his hand, and shook his head while eating. A strange gleam flickered in his eyes.
"You can't quite put it that way..."
"The real Kingu, Tiamat's son, ceased to exist long ago. Even if his soul fragments were gathered, they probably could not fully reconstruct his consciousness."
"In other words, although she can control this body, she may be affected by Enkidu's lingering memories, as well as replenished by scattered pieces of soul..."
Shamhat's brows rose sharply as she shot the ancient serpent a cold glare.
"Don't slander her!"
"Enkidu is a good child. She would never casually harm humans!"
Samael rubbed his forehead and rolled his eyes slightly.
"Teacher, I told you, Kingu is the one in control."
"The scraps of Enkidu's soul preserved within that shell would, even if they wanted to resist, likely be nothing more than powerless unconscious instinct. She shouldn't be the one taking the blame."
"Of course, since she appeared wearing that face, I have no idea what the Sumerians whose cities were destroyed will do."
"Besides, you seem to have missed the important point!"
The ancient serpent raised a hand and tossed the fruit pit into the reeds, his gaze deep.
"Souls, memories, emotions—these are things even gods cannot fully fathom..."
"For example, Ishtar's descent involved seventy percent divine will and thirty percent humanity. The host's consciousness even altered Ereshkigal's originally gloomier nature..."
"Right now, Kingu can indeed control Enkidu. But in the future, who will influence whom? Who can say?"
Could it be?!
Shamhat's eyes burst with radiance as she stared eagerly at her beloved student.
Samael leaned back on both arms and stretched his waist. Turning his head, he revealed a faintly comforting smile and murmured softly,
"Kingu's hatred should have been directed at the gods. She may not hate humanity all that intensely."
"Conquering cities and destroying settlements may simply be her way of reclaiming the Divine Foundation that was once divided from her and inherited by these bloodline descendants."
"Hatred not directed at one's true target for revenge is ultimately too weak. How could it compare to the conviction to protect humanity unto death?"
"The more she experiences, and the more harm she brings to this land, the more likely she is to provoke the instinctive resistance of this body's lingering consciousness."
The ancient serpent looked up at the red light breaking over the horizon, anticipation spreading through his slit pupils.
"One is the hate-filled Progenitor of Humanity. The other is a guardian hero born for humanity."
"Kingu's appearance may be an opportunity for Enkidu..."
"Will Kingu fall completely into madness for revenge, or will Enkidu awaken her instincts and use that incomplete humanity and kindness to reclaim control of her body?"
"Nothing is certain yet..."
According to the history that had once existed, Kingu had always been affected by memories continuously surfacing amid the slaughter. In the end, she fully awakened her human side and stood against the god Tiamat.
This time, he hoped that kindness could truly dispel hatred once more, without leaving any further regrets or scars upon the world of Mesopotamia.
"It definitely can!"
"That child could even resist a god's will. How could a mere mass of resentment possibly taint that pure kindness!"
Shamhat clasped her hands before her chest, pacing back and forth as she muttered excitedly. An unusual brilliance filled her face.
"I'm telling you, Teacher, this is only one possibility. Don't get too excited."
"For now, Kingu is still our enemy. Any lapse in caution could be fatal!"
The ancient serpent could not help pouring cold water over her fantasies, though a faint bitterness rose in his heart.
We're both students. Isn't the difference in treatment a little too great?
Mm, Tiamat is still the best!
Amid his resentment, Samael sent a trace of resonance along the thread within his mind.
"Mother Goddess, she is only a tool that was used. There is no need for her to vent that hatred upon innocent humans."
"Don't you also want to free her from this suffering?"
An invisible hum traveled along the anchored thread, reaching the sea of consciousness within the ancient serpent's mind and spreading in ripples.
Samael nodded slightly. His gaze toward the distant red sun grew more solemn.
Then let me bring this grudge to an end, so that the destiny above the world would no longer play only tragic songs.
Then, the ancient serpent stroked the clay tablet inscribed with information about the Temple of Blood, his heart surging with emotion.
One was a false Mother Goddess and a true divine child.
One was a true Mother Goddess and a false divine child.
One wallowed in hatred and launched revenge upon the world.
One faced her true heart and was willing to give both sides a chance to choose again.
These two pairs of mothers and children, false and true, real and illusory, were heading in opposite directions, gradually drifting farther and farther apart.
Destiny? Let me try deceiving it!
The ancient serpent raised one hand toward the red sun, slowly clenched his fist, and seized that light within his palm. A playful curve touched his lips.
"Someone's coming!"
Sensing an approaching presence, Shamhat immediately slipped back into the Soul Cage, not forgetting to warn Samael.
The ancient serpent casually lowered his arm. After waiting a moment, he turned toward the distance, stretched his limbs, and rose to greet the visitor.
At that moment, Anna, the purple-haired little girl carrying a large bundle of dried reeds, suddenly felt the weight in her arms lighten. Her vision gradually cleared.
The companion who had unexpectedly joined them outside Kutha was smiling faintly at her, displaying goodwill.
"Th... thank you..."
The little girl only appeared reserved and aloof on the surface. Once someone truly got to know her, she was shy and gentle.
"What are you saying? You saved me twice, and I still don't even know what I can do for you..."
Samael's tone carried a hint of reproach, easing some of the distance between them. He invited Anna to sit and rest in the clearing, then handed the child some berries he had gathered nearby to quench her thirst.
The sweet-and-sour flavor and abundant juice made the little girl, who had accepted the berries hesitantly, narrow her eyes after a few bites. Unconsciously, she began eating faster.
Hearing the crisp crunching sounds, Samael smiled gently and handed all the remaining berries to Anna as well.
Among their group, no one was more familiar with the Sumerian era than the Holy Prostitute Shamhat inside the Soul Cage.
Finding berries and distinguishing poisonous ones from safe ones was child's play for her.
"By the way, where's Merlin?"
Seeing that the figure of a certain great sage had yet to appear anywhere nearby, Samael could not help asking curiously.
"He's fishing in the marsh. He said he wanted to make up for our hard work last night, so he wanted to use local ingredients and cook us something nice..."
Anna answered casually while hugging the berries and nibbling on them.
"Fishing in the marsh? Where did he get a fishing rod?"
"With that staff of his, making fishing line and a hook isn't difficult for someone skilled at creating tools."
"Uh, I don't know what to say..."
Samael looked toward the swaying reeds, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"That guy is really slacking off and fishing! Is there any mage more unserious than this?"
"Ah-choo!"
At the same time, the great sage sitting beside the marsh and fishing suddenly felt an itch in his nose and sneezed heavily for no apparent reason.
Strange. Could some beautiful woman be thinking about me?
Ara ara, Big Brother is just too popular. It's rather troubling.
The incubus raised a hand to rub his nose, then stroked his chin and muttered narcissistically.
Before you continue