"Your Majesty, this Lahmu invasion also brought a large number of Demonic Beasts." Adekate stepped forward, dropped to one knee, and reported to King Gilgamesh. "Although their numbers are not particularly great, the Lahmu may also possess the ability to create and control Demonic Beasts. We cannot overlook that."
"I understand. Ishtar, can this king borrow your Bull of Heaven, Gugalanna?" Gilgamesh first nodded to Adekate, then turned a hopeful gaze toward Ishtar.
"What did you say? Gugalanna?" Ishtar's eyes widened, though her gaze darted away. "W-Why would you want to borrow that?"
"Do you find the request offensive?" Gilgamesh frowned, leaning forward slightly as his gaze turned serious and sincere. "To be honest, this king only made this request after giving it careful consideration."
"Gugalanna would be a highly useful and reliable means, whether against hordes of Demonic Beasts or to briefly hold back Tiamat. So, can you lend it to this king, Ishtar?"
Gugalanna, the Bull of Heaven—a colossal divine beast that had long lived above the clouds, immensely heavy yet capable of riding the clouds and mist—had appeared before in the story belonging to the people standing here. Under the command of the great god Enlil, Ishtar had chosen to use it to destroy Uruk, to destroy this world.
Only—
She had failed.
King Gilgamesh, Annanu, and Enkidu had stopped Ishtar and the Bull of Heaven. They had slain the Bull of Heaven and bound Ishtar.
But now Ishtar stood on Uruk's side, and the great god had vanished without a trace. Under these circumstances, Gugalanna would become their greatest support against Tiamat and her tentacles.
Yet, faced with Gilgamesh's earnest voice, Ishtar panicked.
"Um, no, I..."
She took a step back, waving both hands.
—
Everyone in the front hall turned their eyes toward Ishtar.
Ishtar