Gilgamesh sat upon his throne, his face still carrying a somewhat embarrassed gloom.
It had been a week since Annanu and Enkidu arrived in Uruk.
Gilgamesh was still wrapped up like a rice dumpling, and the majesty and domineering presence befitting a king had temporarily... receded.
Yes, receded.
Because King Gilgamesh looked so grim, the entire palace of Uruk had fallen into an atmosphere of dead silence.
There was no other reason for it. He was injured, after all; it was only natural for him to be in a bad mood.
But Gilgamesh was the king of Uruk. If he was unhappy...
Siduri, the newly appointed chief administrator, stood at Gilgamesh's side with some concern.
King Gilgamesh would not be issuing any decrees now. Policies for managing the disaster-stricken areas outside the city had already been issued several days ago. At the moment, he was merely sitting here and sulking.
The reason for his sulking was naturally Annanu—the culprit who had beaten him into this state and brought about the natural disaster...
That great lord was currently sitting blankly in one of the rooms within Uruk's palace.
Annanu looked at Enkidu, who sat across from him, and gently shook his head twice.
He and Enkidu were twin beings of clay, siblings who shared their hearts.
That day, beyond the wilderness outside Uruk, Enkidu had used his chains to stop Annanu, who had been determined to kill Gilgamesh. He had turned himself back into clay, exchanged information with Annanu, and at the same time...
Used his own hand to touch Annanu's heart.
And so, Annanu changed.
Just as Enkidu had changed the instant Shamhat touched his heart, Annanu underwent the same transformation.
Strictly speaking, Annanu should have begun undergoing this change earlier. But when he sensed that Enkidu was under "threat,"