The King's voice catches Siduri as she turns to leave.
"Yes, my King?"
"No… nothing. Only that I am glad you survived. Your devotion has been a fine thing to behold."
"…It is a bit early for such words, sire."
"Hmph. Quite right. Then run, Siduri! Hurry! Time is a luxury we do not possess!"
"Yes, sire!"
As Siduri departs, a flood of soldiers rushes in to take her place.
"Pardon the intrusion, King Gilgamesh! A message from the Dingir battery barracks!"
"Sire! A petition from the East Market!"
"Pardon me! A report of a grievance from the brothel district!"
"Your Majesty! A request from the Research Institute of Rites!"
"A report from the Shrine Maidens regarding today's ceremonies—"
"Line up! I shall deal with all of it! This is a fine opportunity to clear the slate before we slay Tiamat! I am the 'Refreshed King,' reborn through the underworld's massage! A task or two is nothing to me! What?! The map of the Underworld doesn't match the current phase? The Institute should have mountains of data! Go and gather it! Don't make me repeat myself! The faster we work here, the lighter the burden on Chaldea! If you want an easy fight, don't stop moving! Hm? What is this idiotic partition? Give the fruit to the soldiers, don't let them tire! Leave the transport of the lapis lazuli to Tomoe; she works harder than a hundred men! Leave the extermination of the monstrous birds to that loyal hound without brakes—it's better than letting him run wild! Is this the report from the Chief Priestess of Girsu? Hah, what a mercenary woman—joining the fray the moment she sees a chance of victory! The reserves from the Temple of Bau are arriving? Issue the receipt stamps! They are a bit late, but I shall acknowledge their resolve! Deploy the elite among the soldiers to the sea-facing Dingir batteries! Only those born for war shall stand in the jaws of death!"
The King processed an unimaginable workload with even more unimaginable efficiency.
(For the past six months, I have waited with the taste of lead in my mouth. From here on, even I cannot see the path of the true battle. Will we bow before a god, or will humanity achieve its independence? —At the end of it all, will we be worthy of leaving behind proof that we lived?)
"All shall be revealed at the end of this struggle! —Now, let us show this Beast of Disaster the collective strength of the people of Uruk—!!"
Until the sun rose and the stars blinked out, taking only the briefest of rests, the Wise King pushed his "rejuvenated" body to its absolute limit.
IV. The Hero's Send-off
At the Chaldea Embassy.
"Step right up, everyone! Food, flowers, wine! Let us begin the party provided by the generous citizens of Uruk!"
The first-floor lounge was a chaotic swarm of Uruk's people, all gathered to celebrate the heroes of Chaldea.
"Hey, good work, Rikka! I heard you rescued the King from the Underworld this time? Thank you! I'm thanking you on behalf of everyone in Uruk! …Man, since we met your 'Staff-tribe,' it feels like it's been both an eternity and a heartbeat. It all went by so fast. We only made it this far because you all lent us your strength. Truly, thank you. I tried to set up a celebration at the market, but it turned into this. —Let's give Tiamat hell!"
"Thank you!"
Rikka and the citizen shared a firm, lingering handshake.
"Ah! A handshake! That's the thing you guys do, right? Let me in on that! Consider it a morale boost before the big mission! You guys never cease to amaze us. Like that time with the hundred crocodiles in the river!"
"Those crocodiles were delicious…"
"That's nothing compared to the bee extermination at my place. I thought the world was ending—there were enough bees to turn the room into night. When Rikka stood up to them, I felt a physical chill. Well, it was actually the bee venom."
"You actually got stung!?"
"Hey, did I ever tell you the story about Masked Lamassu and the beer delivery? No? Then listen up, it's incredible! Three different brews from Nippur, Girsu, and Uruk got mixed up without labels. Sorting them would have taken three days, and the flavor would've spoiled. Then Masked Lamassu swoops in and sorts the alcohol in a flash!! Now the kids won't shut up about it—'I want to be a kind hero like Masked Lamassu!' Oh, and Rikka, you're popular too. The kids say, 'When I grow up, I'm gonna team up with Masked Lamassu and defeat Rikka!'"
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