On the bustling street, four stunning figures were attracting countless glances from passersby.
"Are they celebrities? They're way too beautiful."
"Not sure, but I feel like I've never seen them before. Are they a new debut group?"
"Their skin is so flawless, amazing."
"I want to take a picture... Huh? Why did my camera break?"
Long accustomed to the stares of the crowd, Enkidu glanced at Sola, the woman with hair as fiery red as blood. A sense of incongruity reminded Enkidu of those former 'rivals' back in Uruk.
That's right, rivals. Like the former princesses, empresses of the myriad races… all people who competed with her for her husband.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Enkidu felt a hint of threat from Sola. She could sense this woman was far more troublesome than those from the past.
"Sola-san, even if you follow Gil and me out like this, my Master and I will not join your alliance with Irisviel."
Out shopping with Sola, Female Gil, and Caren, Enkidu's primary purpose for this trip was to accompany Caren, letting the young girl familiarize herself with Snowfield City.
As Enkidu's best friend, Female Gil spent her free time with Enkidu. And Sola, the Master who summoned Female Gil, had tagged along.
Enkidu was wearing an off-the-shoulder blouse and light-colored jeans, a rare occasion where she also wore a hat.
Although her attire seemed relatively ordinary compared to the other three women, their ethereal aura and peerless beauty still drew much attention from pedestrians.
Seeing right through the little schemes in Sola's heart, Enkidu did not like this woman.
Or rather, she couldn't feel any fondness for any human, unless they were someone Ryuya loved.
Her sharp gaze swept over Sola. Enkidu respected the wishes of her Master, Caren. Since Caren wanted to fight alone for her beliefs, Enkidu would naturally follow her Master.
Sola looked at Enkidu, feeling pressure emanating from the depths of her heart towards this legendary Chain of Heavens.
Unlike Irisviel or Blue Artoria, although Enkidu couldn't compare to the pressure of Planetary Singularity like Crimson Moon or Hope, her status as the undisputed King of Uruk for thousands of years was undeniable.
Pressed almost breathless by the aura Enkidu carried, Sola began to understand the gap between herself and Ryuya's lovers.
It wasn't a distance stemming from external factors like figure or appearance, but a difference in will from the depths of their hearts.
"Enkidu-san, although I would very much like for you and Caren to join my alliance, this shopping trip is just shopping. At most, I'm curious about your and King Gilgamesh's daily lives, which is why I came along."
"Rest assured, I wouldn't go so far as to use your relationship with King Gilgamesh to do anything unnecessary."
As the daughter of the Sophia-Ri Family, successive heads of the Department of Spiritual Evocation at the Clock Tower, Sola knew what she should and shouldn't do. Smiling at Enkidu, she genuinely had no designs regarding the alliance matter.
After all, she just wanted to get along well with Ryuya's lovers now, not seeking deep familiarity, just hoping they wouldn't reject her.
"Hmm..." Crossing her arms and looking at Sola, Enkidu's eyes narrowed slightly. She held no fondness for this woman.
Unlike the innocent and romantic Irisviel, Enkidu could see that this woman named Sola had many schemes in her heart.
She didn't dislike people with many thoughts, but she didn't want to associate with such individuals.
Fortunately, Sola also understood that Enkidu didn't like her, so she maintained a proper distance. Shopping together briefly was barely acceptable.
Turning around, she caught up with Female Gil and Caren ahead. They had a purpose for going out today: to buy a gift for Ryuya.
"King Gilgamesh, regarding what my Lord likes, do you have any useful suggestions?"
After coming to Snowfield City and meeting Ryuya, Caren had decided to rely on her own strength to prove herself.
So, like Hayasaka who was with Vivian, she was a third party separate from the main groups.
Unclear about Ryuya's preferences, her main idea for this outing was to buy a gift for Ryuya and Irisviel, her nominal adoptive parents.
She softly inquired to Gilgamesh, hoping to get some reference answers from the oldest King.
"A gift? This king has said, the important thing about a gift is the sentiment behind it. As long as the sentiment is there, no matter what you give, Ryuya will like it."
As she spoke, a rare blush tinged Female Gil's cheeks. She recalled the last competition in Snowfield City, where the women competed in talent displays and wore clothes characteristic of themselves.
The clothes she had bought back then were ruined because of the Golden Gil's appearance... Afterwards, she didn't get to wear them... Cough...
Pushing those random thoughts aside for now, Female Gil indicated that Caren should just buy whatever, the main thing was to be happy.
"The important thing is the sentiment?"
Seeming to have thought of something, Caren looked up at the shopping mall and walked inside.
…
Although the battle had begun, staying by Ryuya's side at this moment, Sakura and Rin didn't feel particularly tense.
The reason was simple: their beloved father was right beside them. As long as Ryuya was there, they were at their safest.
"Ryuya-sama, since the battle has begun, I shall take my leave now."
Knowing that it was absolutely impossible to destroy Sakura and Rin's wristbands under Ryuya's protection, although Manaka very much wanted to stay with Ryuya, it clearly wasn't appropriate now.
'The chance encounter today is enough. Let me just replenish a bit more energy before leaving.'
Standing up to bid farewell to Ryuya, Manaka's eyes sparkled as she looked at him, seemingly expecting something.
Ryuya: "Sajyou, is there something?"
Manaka: "It's nothing."
Smiling at Ryuya, Manaka slightly narrowed her eyes as she spoke, inhaling the scent of Ryuya in the air.
A moment later...
Manaka: "I'm good now."
Her face flushed, though it was unclear what had happened. After saying this, Manaka didn't wait for Ryuya's reply and directly left the café.
Sakura: "That person... is she okay?"
Extremely dissatisfied with the behavior displayed by Manaka, who seemed even younger than themselves, feeling that this woman was like a crazy pervert, Sakura and Rin, sitting beside Ryuya, exchanged a glance, both sensing a feeling of crisis.
"Dad, that woman... we don't like her."
Her normally bold and outgoing personality turned gentle and shy around Ryuya. If it were anyone else, Rin would already be cursing, but facing her long-yearned-for father, she couldn't act like her usual self.
She could only, together with Sakura, tug lightly on Ryuya's sleeve. The two of them expressed that they didn't want to sit and eat with Manaka next time.
Their favorability had almost dropped to zero.