Chapter 529

Huh? So it really is because of Shirou's Inherent Barrier... the "Unlimited Blade Works" Imaginary Number Space?

Ritsuka! You absolutely must complete the summoning of Shirou when you get back! I really want to investigate his body thoroughly!

"Leave it to me, Da Vinci!"

"Hey... you two!" Shirou rolled his eyes.

"Excuse me, Miss Siduri, what did you just say...!?"

Mash let out a trembling, hoarse voice.

"Currently... there are 306 citizens remaining in Uruk."

Of these, 212 are military dependents, and the rest are ordinary citizens.

Although the citizens initially refused to seek refuge, thanks to His Majesty's wise persuasion, they have now agreed to take refuge at the Northern Wall.

Of the citizens who fled to the Northern Wall, 157 survived.

After Lahmu's attack at noon, only thirty-eight soldiers remained on the Northern Wall.

Siduri said sadly, "A total of five hundred people. That's all the lives left in Sumer."

"You're kidding me..." Ritsuka covered her mouth.

Gilgamesh said calmly, "What she said is true."

After two raids by Lahmu and the encroachment of the sea, the First Dynasty of Uruk had collapsed.

Even if the current predicament is overcome, this small population is insufficient to sustain the kingdom, and it can only gradually decline.

"How could this be...?"

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry."

Even if we perish, as long as Sumer culture survives, successors will surely emerge.

That's it.

"It would be terrible if Ritsuka and Mash lost their morale here, "Shirou comforted them.

"As long as Goddess Tiamat is defeated, the Mesopotamia civilization, represented by Uruk, still has the possibility of continuing."

Human History will not end, the King of Magecraft's ambitions will not succeed... We still have hope.

"..."

Siduri lowered her eyelids silently, calmly considering the practical issues.

Even if Goddess Tiamat is defeated, is there really any possibility that Uruk will continue to exist?

Of the remaining 500 people, only 38 were male soldiers and less than 100 were male civilians; the remaining 300-plus were women and children who were related by blood.

Such a scarce and limited gene pool is simply insufficient to support the continuation of a civilization; it will likely perish after at most two generations due to various genetic diseases.

If we could supplement it with genes that aren't native to Uruk, at least... wait?

Siduri suddenly raised her head and looked at the red-haired boy who was talking to the girls.

Shirou... isn't he precisely the young, foreign man who can expand Uruk's gene pool?

"What's wrong, Siduri? Your face has suddenly turned so red," Ishtar asked curiously.

"N-nothing!"

Siduri swallowed hard as she covered her burning cheeks with a black veil.

What am I thinking...?

Shirou is a hero who protected Uruk.

That person is a companion recognized by Enkidu...

I actually wanted to use him for this kind of thing... How shameless!

Siduri was deeply ashamed of the astonishing idea that had crossed her mind.

But no matter how much she shook her head to try to clear her mind, the heat emanating from deep within her lower abdomen could not be calmed.

As the high priestess bearing the future of Uruk, and as a woman serving the earth goddess Ishtar—

Should I... get pregnant with Shirou's child?

Siduri believed that this might be the reason (mission) for her existence.

--

Volume 7: Chapter 338 Ishtar: I am an incompetent goddess t_t

An hour after Goddess Tiamat's true form surfaced, Dr. Roman completed his analysis report and handed the data to everyone present.

Gilgamesh: "I see, very well done. Oh, quite capable, Romani Archman..."

Damn it, are you on Tiamat's side?! There wasn't a single thing about weaknesses mentioned!

"Of course I'd like to write one or two tips and tricks! But that's just reality!"

Dr. Roman protested loudly, "That's a perfect being, flawless both physically and mythically! We simply cannot contend with it!"

It is impossible to expect the Mother of Origin to have any fatal weaknesses.

Since scientific methods don't work, we can only rely on our wild Instinct.

"Vine... cough, Jaguar Man."

"What's wrong, Shirou? Just rely on your big sister!"

What are your thoughts on Tiamat?

"Wow, it's huge! It's incredibly huge! And I think the dragon's body is super cool! No wonder it's a mother!"

As expected, even Sister Fujiwara couldn't have any expectations. Sigh, what am I thinking...?

Although Uruk built the defensive fortification, the Nabistine's Fang, it could only delay Goddess Tiamat for a few tens of minutes at most; it couldn't possibly repel her.

"Speaking of which, why is Tiamat invincible?"

Gilgamesh asked the question, Shirou answered.

"When Ishtar attacked my mother, I glanced over and realized that my mother didn't actually have a 'concept of death'."

"What?"

Why wasn't such important information mentioned sooner!?

"You didn't ask either?" Shirou muttered under his breath.

As they approached Tiamat, Shirou Projection the "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception"—

And then, very sadly, there wasn't a single black graffiti symbolizing "the end" on the mother's mature limbs and fair skin.

Although Shirou's Projection Eyes of Death Perception are not biologically specialized, this is the first time he's ever been so blinded that he still can't see the death line...

But considering that the other party is the mother of life, this doesn't seem so strange.

Dr. Roman interjected, "Ah, about that, although it's just my personal opinion..."

Tiamat... no, I think the characteristics of the beast vary from person to person.

Tiamat, in particular, is born without the capacity for "death".

No matter what is done to her, she will not choose death.

This has already been proven by the fact that Tiamat's mind was once breached at sea.

Gilgamesh frowned. "Is it the kind that involves rebirth after death, not just simple resurrection?"

"No, that's not right. It's less about regeneration and more about going against the grain."

Shirou suddenly realized. "So that's how it is, is it a retrospective process at the level of causality?"

Since the "effect" exists, the "cause" can never be eliminated.

Dr. Roman nodded and said, "That's right, Tiamat is the mother of all life that exists."

As long as we humans are alive, this in itself automatically proves her existence—so she will not be destroyed.

Although it is a paradox, as long as there is "alive" life on Earth, Beast II (Tiamat) will not die.

She is the daughter of Origin and end.

Perhaps only by making her "the last to die on earth" can she be made to accept the Physical Laws.

Mash exclaimed in astonishment, "Then... wouldn't that mean we really can't defeat them? No, it's pointless!"

In order to defeat Goddess Tiamat, humanity must first... and all life on Earth must first perish!

That's why Dr. Roman stated in his report that Goddess Tiamat was invincible.

As long as life exists in this "world", the mother is an absolute being that is neither dead nor indestructible.

"Wait a minute... a world without life?"

Shirou and Gilgamesh's eyes lit up at the same time.

"Ereshkigal!"

"That's right! Ereshkigal! Hey, Gilgamesh!"

"Okay, okay, don't grab my collar!"

"???"

Ritsuka and Mash looked puzzled.

Gilgamesh snapped his fingers, and a mirror emerged from the golden ripples on the ground.

What has happened to the ground?!

A female voice, similar to that of the goddess Venus, echoed from within the divine tower.

In the mirror, a blonde girl is holding her head and crying.

"Waaaaah, souls are pouring into the Underworld in an endless stream..."

Thanks to this, this place has fallen into chaos unlike anything seen in tens of thousands of years!

I'm so busy taking care of my soul that I'm even considering borrowing a crocodile's tail!

The girls' eyes lit up. "Queen of the Underworld!"

"?"

Ereshkigal in the mirror turned his head. "Eh... Fujimaru? Mash? Shirou's here too? Whoa!"

Ereshkigal hurriedly grabbed his messy golden twin tails.

"Wait a moment, just a moment."

The girl stepped out of the mirror and reappeared a few seconds later.

"Ahem, Ereshkigal, the goddess of the Underworld, makes her grand entrance...!"

She twirled gracefully as if nothing had happened, then winked at the red-haired boy.

"Ereshkigal, it's been a long time."

"Shirou?... Hmm, cough! What brings you here, King of Uruk?"

Gilgamesh rolled his eyes. "It wasn't me who sought you out; it was you who contacted me without permission."

The countless humans who perished because of Lahmu have become souls and entered the Underworld, a situation that Ereshkigal is currently struggling to resolve.

Gilgamesh briefly explained the situation to the goddess.

"Now, Goddess Tiamat is coming toward Uruk."

If she is not defeated, Mesopotamia will perish.

However, as long as life exists on the earth, Goddess Tiamat cannot die.

After hearing the King of Heroes's explanation, Ereshkigal shrugged helplessly. "Sorry, there's nothing I can do about it either."

"I have a favor to ask of you, Goddess," Shirou said.

"!"

Ereshkigal replied without hesitation, "Of course... Tell me about it?"