Rovi was still working.
Yet as the system grew ever more refined, his workload steadily shrank. More and more people joined the decision-making hierarchy, and numerous talents emerged.
The transformation was slow but persistent.
Guided by Rovi's own hands, Uruk gradually evolved from a primitive city-state into a vast bureaucratic empire.
For Rovi, this was unquestionably something to be proud of.
Compared to any civilization-building game he'd played before transmigrating, the sense of accomplishment was far greater.
Though his work had diminished, Rovi spent increasing amounts of time exhausted. His body weakened day by day, and he mostly lay beneath the sun in the courtyard.
Living to twenty yet feeling eighty—surely that had to be some kind of record…
Occasionally, Gilgamesh—whose workload, though reduced, was still heavy—would visit, hurling insults immediately upon arrival, only to be verbally demolished until his face turned blue.
Occasionally, Ishtar-Rin would burst in, causing a loud ruckus before being chased away by a threatening Enkidu—but she never learned from her mistakes.
Occasionally—or rather, frequently—Enkidu would gently embrace him, warming Rovi with her body to dispel the chill.
The nation grew increasingly prosperous, majestic, and powerful, and the people's praise for the one who had stolen wisdom from the heavens grew louder.
Yet the Sage's body weakened with each passing day.
He slipped ever closer into slumber.
Countless times he drifted between the Netherworld and the mortal realm.
Forever suspended between life and death.
"Eresh, I'm back again." Rovi opened his eyes, gazing at the familiar dark landscape of the Netherworld and the figure standing amid the gloom, greeting her with practiced ease.
"Seriously… have you completely started treating this place like your home?" With exasperation, Eresh pulled Rovi upright, though her delicate face beneath flowing golden hair revealed unmistakable delight.
"Wouldn't that be nice, though?" Rovi smiled, grasping her hand as he stood.
"How is this nice…? Even after I've already granted you protection against death," the goddess sighed.
She was obviously happy but forced herself to appear irritated.
"Cough, cough…" Rovi lightly covered his mouth as he coughed.
The curse had begun seeping deeper into his soul.
Was it now affecting him even here, in the Netherworld?
Strangely, this actually made him slightly happy.
"You… are you really okay?" Eresh's crimson eyes filled with concern.
"Of course." Rovi shrugged casually. "Relax. I won't die."
"After all, you're here, aren't you?"
"W-who's concerned about you?!" Eresh turned away, face reddening.
If you're not concerned, why won't you let go of my hand?
Rovi glanced down at the goddess's delicate fingers, still tightly gripping his. Her palm felt as warm and soft as ever.
Though Eresh spoke harshly, her worry was genuine.
After a brief silence, she suddenly spoke again.
"Here, take this. But don't misunderstand! Since you're technically this goddess's believer, this is merely a goddess's mercy. Yes, mercy—nothing more! Don't overthink it!" Eresh removed her crimson robe and handed it to Rovi.
Just like that, the goddess stood before him, stripped of her outer garment. Bare white shoulders emerged beneath golden hair, a graceful neck flowed downward, and the subtle curves of her chest were softly outlined beneath thin fabric. Her waist, slender and graceful, flared gently into curving hips and down to legs glowing with ivory luster.
The goddess's natural aura had always been cool as night, but mixed with her current shy blush, she appeared exceptionally alluring.
Rovi stared blankly.
Eresh's face flushed deeper.
The dim, ghostly flames of the Netherworld flickered silently.
Thump-thump, thump-thump…
Both felt they could clearly hear each other's heartbeat.
Eresh swallowed nervously, her moistened lips growing even more enticing.
Is he about to…?
"Rovi." A clear voice abruptly broke the heavy silence. "Is this the goddess of the Netherworld… the one you mentioned earlier?"
Eresh froze.
Rovi turned toward the speaker.
A girl in flowing white robes, emerald-green hair loose and gleaming, walked toward them barefoot across the cold stone. Her exquisite face wore an unreadable smile, mingling shadows and light.
Enkidu had arrived.
Rovi had never hidden from her that he regularly met Eresh whenever he slept—but he certainly hadn't expected En to follow him here.
"A god-crafted clay doll… Wait, hold on, how did you enter the Netherworld!?" Eresh finally reacted, immediately recognizing Enkidu.
"I'm a defective divine weapon—a clay doll. A lifeform that never truly had 'life' to begin with." En gave Eresh a faint glance. "After achieving my ultimate transformation, even life and death become interchangeable."
Is that really how you're supposed to use that skill?
Just as Rovi opened his mouth—
Enkidu stepped forward, smiling softly as she grabbed onto Rovi's sleeve.
"It's time to go back, Rovi."
Her grip was impossibly strong, allowing no escape.
Rovi: "…"
"Wait, go back? Hold on a moment!" Eresh shouted frantically, "This is my territory! I'm literally the goddess of the Netherworld—"
"A goddess? Haven't we killed quite a few of those already?" Enkidu's gentle smile remained unchanged.
Eresh: "…"
Just as Ishtar-Rin had experienced firsthand, a shiver ran through Eresh.
This girl felt... genuinely scary. Wait—why was a goddess like herself intimidated!?
"No one leaves the Netherworld without this goddess's permission!" Eresh insisted desperately.
"Then we won't leave." Enkidu calmly released Rovi's sleeve and turned toward Eresh, emerald eyes glittering softly. "We'll just stay here together."
"Thank you very much for your hospitality, Goddess of the Netherworld."
"?"
Wait—who invited you to stay!?
"Whatever you two were planning to do, please continue." En knelt elegantly to the side, neatly folding her legs beneath her.
How was this girl's presence so overwhelming…?
Defeated, Eresh whimpered helplessly.
En casually brushed back her silky green hair, actually feeling no particular anger at all.
The broken divine clay doll truly loved Rovi.
Yet she understood her position clearly:
She existed only to watch over and protect Rovi. Whoever else he chose had nothing to do with her.
As long as she remained by his side, that was enough.
Natural and pure-hearted—but unfortunately, natural types often hid pitch-black interiors.
"It's fine, really," Enkidu said gently, appearing obedient and earnest. "Whatever you two want to do, I won't disturb."
Who'd actually believe you?
Who'd dare?
"Quickly, go on."
Why did this suddenly feel like she'd turned into an audience!?
Eresh silently screamed inside.
En smiled subtly, eyes calm yet sharp.
Yet in that instant, Rovi abruptly lifted his head, expression suddenly grave—as though sensing something.
Enkidu also immediately tensed.
"What… what is that?" Eresh murmured blankly.
Though they stood in the Netherworld, they could clearly see events occurring above.
Far toward the distant sea, a vast hole opened in the sky.
...
Back in Uruk, countless heads simultaneously lifted in the same moment.
Indeed, in this instant—not just Rovi—but everyone clearly saw, clearly felt, what was happening.
Above the great inland sea adjoining Mesopotamia—the sea later generations called the Persian Gulf—the winds whipped into frenzied storms, pulling torrents of seawater skyward and crashing violently onto coastlines.
Massive tremors shook the land, sand and pebbles leaping wildly as seawater crashed upon beaches like rain.
The crimson horizon between sea and sky fractured like breaking glass, darkness spreading outward in jagged patterns.
Beyond land lay the sea.
Beyond the sea loomed a widening hole in space.
And from deep within that void, a long, haunting cry echoed forth.
"Aaaaaa—"
"So you really came before I could properly 'die,' huh?"
"Tiamat."
Rovi inhaled deeply, then exhaled, his expression gravely serious.