188 Goldie

As Roy and his group trekked along the main road to Uruk, elsewhere, atop the highest tower in southern Uruk, the golden king on his throne suddenly snapped open his crimson eyes, sensing something.

Unlike the exhaustion of prior moments, his gaze now brimmed with excitement and intrigue, a faint smile curling his lips.

"My king, what's wrong? You've only rested two minutes—there's still time before the full ten. Should I…"

The king waking before his break was over was so unusual that it immediately caught the attention of Siduri, the high priestess. She asked with concern, "My king, has something happened again?"

"…"

Gilgamesh didn't respond right away, his crimson eyes fixed on the vast Mesopotamian plains stretching before him.

After a long stare, he rose slowly from his throne and addressed Siduri's question.

"Nothing major—just something quite amusing. For certain reasons, it seems things have shifted…"

"Something amusing? Has Lady Ishtar agreed to protect…" Siduri ventured cautiously.

Recently, Ishtar had visited Uruk, offering to graciously protect the city as its guardian goddess—provided certain conditions were met.

But faced with her outrageous demands, Gilgamesh had flatly refused, berating her soundly and ending the talks on a sour note.

The mere thought of that useless goddess irked Gilgamesh. Hearing Siduri mention her nauseating name again, his smile vanished, replaced by a stern glare as he snapped, "Siduri, how many times have I told you not to mention that worthless goddess in my presence?! If Uruk ever needed her protection, it'd be no different from ruin."

"That incompetent fool—good for nothing, troublemaker extraordinaire—only gets by because of Anu and Enki's indulgence. Without that, she'd have been dealt with a hundred times over!!"

Hearing Gilgamesh so sharply criticize Ishtar, Siduri flinched, though she knew his words held truth.

Lady Ishtar was indeed overly reckless, causing plenty of chaos across Mesopotamia, but…

This was…

Boom!!!

"Damn you, Gilgamesh! You're openly badmouthing me in my own tower again?!"

As Gilgamesh vented, the tower's dome shattered. A dark-haired, red-eyed woman in revealing Uruk-style garb descended from above, crashing through the wall into her own tower.

Though slightly different, Roy would've recognized her instantly: Ishtar, possessing Rin Tohsaka's body.

Unlike Taiga, who'd dominated the jungle goddess, here Ishtar's personality held sway over Rin.

Even so, Rin's influence tempered Ishtar, softening her former cruelty.

Otherwise, Gilgamesh and she would've come to irreconcilable blows on sight.

For now, though, for Uruk's sake, Gilgamesh swallowed his rage over his dear friend's death at her hands, steadying himself for a civil (polite) exchange.

"You useless waste of a goddess—what are you doing here instead of digging for gems in some Mesopotamian pit?!"

"What am I doing?! You've got some nerve, you gilded prick—cursing me out in my own tower! Think I wouldn't hear?!"

Gilgamesh's words lit Ishtar's fuse. This wasn't his Uruk palace—it was her divine abode! This golden jerk had taken over her home and insulted her to her face.

Was there no justice?

Though, technically, he was the king.

"Hmph, your tower? Uruk's overcrowded, the Beast Front needs materials—even my palace has been stripped for parts. This building's the biggest left. It's better suited as my palace than your tower. In short, you're fired from Uruk—go cool off wherever you like!"

Gilgamesh snorted, pointing at Ishtar's nose with unrelenting scorn.

"Not to mention, you're useless in times like this—can't lift a finger to help, yet you shamelessly demand the tower? Uruk doesn't feed freeloaders. Who's got time to keep pampering you?"

"You miserable!!"

Proud Ishtar couldn't stomach such humiliation. She raised a hand, firing a barrage of gemstone projectiles at Gilgamesh.

But such petty attacks were nothing to him.

Leaping up, he drew a massive golden axe from a shimmering portal, effortlessly slicing through her magical volley without a scratch.

Joking? The King of Uruk doesn't mess around.

She was just a vessel, not her true self—why should he fear her?

"You asked for it, Goldie—take this!!"

As Ishtar's temper flared, Siduri, the priestess, stepped in, halting their escalating clash.

"Please calm down, Lady Ishtar! And, my king, stop insulting her—neither of you can afford to fight now! Uruk's people need your salvation!"

"Hmph, for Siduri's sake, I'll let you off this time, you wretched Gilgamesh."

Seeing Siduri intervene, Ishtar huffed, turning away without pressing the attack.

Unlike a certain gilded jerk, she had patience for this priestess who treated her kindly and held genuine respect.

Siduri was right—Uruk and the Beast Front's crisis left no room for her tantrums.

Uruk was her city to guard—her property. Ishtar wouldn't ruin her own holdings.

Though, if this golden prick could drop dead, that'd be ideal.

Before leaving atop Maanna, Ishtar glanced back at Siduri below, asking, "Siduri, why not serve me at my temple? It's safer than staying in Uruk."

"…"

Her words stilled even Gilgamesh, mid-retort, as he glanced at Siduri, falling silent.

"I'm sorry…"

Siduri bowed slightly to Ishtar, shaking her head before replying respectfully, "Thank you for your kindness, Lady Ishtar, but Uruk and the king need me. As high priestess, I can't leave—so I must decline…"

"Fool… what's so great about this gilded idiot?"

Unfazed by the refusal, Ishtar gave Siduri a long look, then left a parting word before speeding off on Maanna.

"Siduri, think it over. My offer's always open. If you change your mind, reach me through the tower—I'll come get you."

"And if you'd ditch this arrogant Goldie, I'd gladly step up as guardian goddess to protect Uruk~"

"Mongrel! Who needs a useless goddess like you?! With you around, Uruk would only get worse!!!"

Gilgamesh roared after her departing figure, unsure if she heard, then sank back into his throne, resuming his review of unfinished clay tablets.

The lively interlude over, he returned to work.

Compared to that useless madwoman, the matters ahead held far more weight.

___

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