Sorry, You're a Good Person

As Gilgamesh reacted, dense golden ripples emerged behind him.

Blades, spears, swords, and halberds slowly squeezed out inch by inch, gleaming coldly and filling the entire hall with a grim, murderous air.

The chilling aura stirred Anna's instincts, making her instinctively tighten her grip on the divine weapon Hepal and take an attacking stance.

Surging purplish-red magical energy blew back her hood. Her purplish-red vertical pupils had shrunk to pinpoints, radiating an eerie beauty that could leave anyone dizzy and entranced after only a brief gaze.

"It seems this king will have to slightly defile this throne!"

"King Gilgamesh, please withdraw your test. This child meant no offense."

Just as battle was about to erupt, that figure stepped in front of Anna, his voice calm.

A test? The Purple Haired Girl could not help but freeze. Her hostility gradually faded, and the way she looked at his back gained an unfamiliar meaning.

It was like... the warmth of the older sisters who had stayed by her side.

Samael turned back and gave the distracted Anna a faint, reassuring smile. Then he faced the Heroic King, who stood with his arms folded and a stern expression as he waited for an explanation.

"My king, you should be able to see that this child merely wishes to help."

Gilgamesh curled his lips in a cold smile, his gaze brimming with pride.

"To help, one must know one's limits!"

"Uruk has not become so weak that it must place its hopes in the meddling of a little girl. Otherwise, those men who are not yet dead should slit their own throats!"

"This is Sumer's fate. If you wish to stand above others and speak of salvation, then you have neither reason nor qualification to fight for Mesopotamia!"

Anna bit down on her lower lip and could not help peeking out from behind Samael.

"But... the Beast Goddess's appearance... that was my responsibility..."

Gilgamesh brutally cut off the guilt Anna had been gathering in her heart, snorting without the slightest warmth.

"Enough! Can you not understand? Fool!"

"I do not care what connection you have with that thing in the Temple of Blood!"

"You are you! She is she!"

"If you seek revenge, if you wish to mend that pathetic self-esteem of yours, then make up your mind and fight for yourself!"

"Keep talking about guilt and pity, and you will only make me feel ashamed!"

Anna, who had trapped herself in a dead end, still wanted to argue, but Samael pulled her back.

"My king, if there are no further orders, permit us to take our leave."

"Get out! Do not come disturb me until you have thought it through!"

"I am very busy. I have no time to waste my energy on such trivial matters!"

The Heroic King turned sideways and waved them away impatiently, presenting his back to the two of them.

Only after seeing Samael and Anna walking farther away did he beckon the chief priestess at his side.

"Siduri, prepare supplies for two more people and send them to the embassy."

"If they need anything, satisfy it as much as you can within your authority."

"Uruk is not so poor that it would mistreat two foreigners who have joined us!"

The chief priestess bowed and nodded. A faint smile appeared beneath her veil before she rose and departed to carry out his orders.

As this trusted right-hand woman left, the Royal Palace Divine Tower, which had been bustling moments ago, unexpectedly became quiet for a time.

Gilgamesh returned to his throne and glanced toward the White Nightmare Demon standing in the corner of the hall.

"Merlin! Have you watched enough? How long are you going to pretend to sleep?!"

"Huh? It's already settled? Your methods for handling state affairs are truly swift, my king!"

Merlin blinked and offered a perfunctory compliment.

Even Gilgamesh could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth when faced with such a slippery old fox playing dumb. He leaned back on his throne and snorted coldly.

"Enough nonsense! What do you think of those two?"

"Though Anna is the innocent self cast off by that Beast Goddess, she is not evil by nature. She simply wishes too desperately to undo all this."

"For you to overlook her guilt and instead guide the child, my king, truly shows your magnanimity and wisdom!"

Merlin smiled faintly and nodded in praise, opening his mouth to deliver another string of practiced flattery, every bit the manner of a sycophantic minister.

Gilgamesh's face darkened. He took a shallow breath before barely suppressing the irritation in his heart and maintaining the bearing of a king.

"Then what about the other one?"

"Very ordinary, very normal. A heroic soldier who escaped from the ruined city of Babylon..."

"That's all?"

"If I had to say something, he is a little difficult to see through..."

"Even you feel that way? Then it seems it was not this king's illusion..."

Gilgamesh had finally managed to pry a few honest words from that old swindler. He furrowed his brow and leaned back on the throne in thought.

Ever since that blank Fate Tablet had appeared, the once-clear outlines of the future had become a chaotic fog of tangled confusion.

In this war that would determine the survival of Sumer's civilization, both his and Merlin's Thousand-Mile Eye seemed to have lost their proper function.

Without the advantage of foresight, every step had to be considered again and again.

Gilgamesh sank into thought, a dim light flickering in his eyes.

Just as the Heroic King's brow gradually tightened with doubt, a lazy chuckle sounded through the hall.

"I heard he crossed Mount Epiph and performed a Great Sacrifice to the War Goddess in order to avenge his comrades."

"Perhaps that uncertainty is because of... divine favor?"

Gilgamesh's expression gradually relaxed, and a pleased curve lifted the corner of his lips.

"Oh? That does sound like something that money-grubbing goddess would do. That explains it."

"Wouldn't you say so, Merlin?"

The White-Haired Succubus smiled subtly and bowed slightly.

"Every choice is acknowledged by the king, permitted by the king, and borne by the king."

"Making decisions is far too difficult for a half-baked mage like me to consider."

"Besides, how could Uruk, which preserves the embers of Sumer, possibly refuse a hero who risked his life to deliver a battle report?"

"A... good person who guided that child..."

As Merlin's voice lowered, Gilgamesh's expression turned strange.

"A good person? I did not expect an old fox like you to speak for him."

"My king, you misunderstand. Good people do not live long in this world."

Yet a teasing gleam flashed in the White-Haired Succubus's eyes.

"Someone has stolen my role as the understanding Big Brother. I am very saddened by that."

Gilgamesh waved a hand casually, clearly not taking Merlin's strenuous performance seriously.

"Get out! Bring in the soldiers waiting outside to deliver reports immediately!"

"That woman Siduri is becoming more and more presumptuous!"

The White-Haired Succubus nodded and withdrew. Just as he was about to step out the door, he paused slightly and murmured.

"My king, Siduri is also worried about your health. If necessary, please take some rest."

Gilgamesh, who had picked up a clay tablet to continue reviewing reports, raised an eyebrow slightly.

But before he could open his mouth to scold him, that slippery old swindler had already fled, leaving Gilgamesh with nowhere to vent his anger but to twitch violently at the corner of his mouth.

If this were not wartime, a slippery fellow like that should have his head chopped off!