The heavy rain outside the hall had ceased, the morning breeze had dispersed, and the awakened Gilgamesh felt sore all over.
'Strange, why does this inexplicable sense of familiarity feel like this? Have I experienced this before?'
Staring blankly at her heavily bandaged body, Gilgamesh pondered for a long time but couldn't figure out why it felt so familiar. She could only shake her head and call out Siduri's name as was her habit.
"Siduri, Siduri..."
"I'm here, my King."
Siduri hurried out in a few steps, seemingly having just finished some task, her face covered in sweat.
"Siduri, where is Ryuya?"
Vividly remembering yesterday's battle, Gilgamesh clearly recalled losing to Ryuya in the end. Even so, having given her all, she felt an unprecedented exhilaration, a bliss she had never experienced before.
Turning her neck, she relaxed her whole body and picked up the water from the table, drinking it in one gulp.
"Ryuya-sama? He..."
"Hey, Gil, you're awake."
Just as Siduri was about to say something, Ryuya's voice rang out.
He was holding a large stack of documents related to Uruk's affairs and government matters. This morning, he had summoned all of Uruk's ministers and instructed them to begin changing the state's policies.
With Siduri present, and although unsure why Gilgamesh, who hadn't attended for so long, was absent, the ministers still chose to agree.
After the morning court session, he returned with Siduri and happened to catch Gilgamesh waking up. Putting down the official documents in his hands, Ryuya looked at the fully bandaged Gilgamesh and deliberately put on a disdainful expression, "Go take a bath quickly, Gil. You smell a bit right now."
"Huh? Oh..."
Nodding subconsciously, Gilgamesh also felt her injuries were mostly healed, and the potion residue and sweat were indeed somewhat uncomfortable.
But...
Looking down at her current state, then at Ryuya sitting opposite her, and then at Siduri's conflicted expression beside them, Gil-chan's brain froze as she realized what had happened.
'What's going on? I've been seen naked? Siduri, quickly go to the kitchen and get me a knife! This king wants to chop up this guy who found out the secret...'
After taking a fresh bath and changing clothes, Gilgamesh sat before Ryuya without using her illusion magic this time.
Using her true face to look at Ryuya, contrary to Gil-chan's expectations, after learning that Ryuya had been the one to change her bandages and clothes yesterday, once the initial shyness and indignation passed, Gilgamesh didn't feel particularly angry.
It was as if she had experienced this before. Looking at Ryuya again, she only felt the man was very familiar, the same familiarity she felt when they first met yesterday.
"Ryuya, who are you? What do you want coming to this king's Uruk?"
Nervousness? Doubt? Or curiosity?
Numerous emotions swirled in her heart. Staring directly at Ryuya, Gilgamesh wanted an answer.
"Me? I suppose I'm the King of the Other Tribes now."
"What?"
The faint light filtering through the lush tree shadows outside the hall spilled into the room, illuminating Gilgamesh's golden locks.
Hearing that Ryuya was actually the recently emerged king of those other tribes, Gilgamesh tensely stood up.
"So you're the one who united the Myriad Races? You bastard..."
Her crimson eyes filled with tension and unease. Upon discovering Ryuya was actually her enemy, a trace of disappointment surfaced in Gilgamesh's heart.
It felt as if someone important had betrayed her.
"Don't be nervous, Gil. I'm not your enemy."
Knowing that Gilgamesh's efforts had always been for Uruk's sake, propping his chin as he looked at Gilgamesh, Ryuya thought his wife was really interesting, 'How come I didn't realize Gil was a woman in disguise when we first met?'
"Not this king's enemy?"
Ryuya's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a steadiness that made Gilgamesh feel reassured. Hesitating for a moment, Gilgamesh sat down.
In the hall with just the two of them, Gilgamesh recalled yesterday's battle, 'Yes, if Ryuya were truly this king's enemy, this king would have died in their fight yesterday. How could this king still be alive?'
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Gilgamesh's voice held some hesitation. "You say you're not this king's enemy. What do you mean?"
"Exactly what it says."
Being straightforward and honest with Gilgamesh, Ryuya believed that with Gilgamesh's personality and wisdom, she should understand his intentions.
He briefly explained the conflict between humanity and the gods, and the idea that only by uniting the Myriad Races and humanity could they resist the gods. Except for temporarily hiding the matter of Tiamat, he laid out almost all his plans.
Hearing Ryuya's strategy to bring the other tribes and Uruk together, Gilgamesh was utterly shocked.
Instinctively wanting to object, but the wisdom of the most ancient king was extremely intelligent. In just a moment, she realized Ryuya was right… perhaps only cooperation could bring hope.
"Fine, perhaps you are right, Ryuya. But can you guarantee the intentions of the various other tribes? This king cannot trust their loyalty."
Suddenly standing up, Gilgamesh only trusted Uruk.
"Gil, I understand your thoughts. But you don't need to trust them."
Nodding, Ryuya looked at Gilgamesh, this Female Gil who had sacrificed everything for him. The affection in his heart was unconcealed, "You don't need to trust the other tribes. You only need to trust me."
"You...!"
The intensity brought by words almost akin to a confession made Gilgamesh exclaim she couldn't take it. But alongside the shame and anger, Gilgamesh found it even stranger that she wasn't angered by Ryuya's 'insolent' words, but rather felt a sense of joy.
'Since when did this king become so sentimental?'
Secretly feeling disappointed in her own performance, she tried hard to maintain a serious expression on her stunningly beautiful face.
Suddenly standing up, abruptly closing the distance between herself and Ryuya, staring directly into his eyes, Gilgamesh swallowed before speaking tsunderely, "Fine, considering the threat of the gods, this king will reluctantly agree to your cooperation."
"However... let's be clear. This king trusts neither you nor the other tribes. It's only for Uruk's sake that this king is tolerating you slightly."
Forcing herself to calm down, feeling like she could barely stand, Gilgamesh sat down again, striking a casual pose.
"Thank you for the King of Heroes' trust."
Knowing that Gilgamesh at this moment was purely a bristling cat that needed gentle stroking, Ryuya smiled while pouring Gilgamesh a cup of wine.
"Hmph, knowing you have this king's trust, shouldn't you promptly kneel and give thanks?"
Taking a light sip of the fine wine, Gilgamesh, somewhat pleased by Ryuya's coaxing, was clearly out of control emotionally.
Slightly raising her foot, she wore an arrogant expression, "As one who pledges loyalty to this king, now demonstrate your devotion."
"This king permits you, as a subject, to kneel and lick this king's feet to show your loyalty."
Growing increasingly excessive in her speech, Gilgamesh, for some reason, blurted out words she had never spoken before. It was as if she remembered some novel she had read long ago.
Her tone was flustered, retaining only Gil-chan's tsundere pride. Her graceful figure, her legs beneath the long skirt, and her skin creamy white...
"Uh..."
Looking at the Gil-chan who was so nervous she could probably dig out a three-bedroom apartment, smelling the faint body fragrance she emitted, Ryuya hadn't expected such a turn of events.
'Had my foolish, tsundere wife finally had an awakening?'