I walk through the burned city, matching the pace of the two girls.
This place seems to be a Japanese city called Fuyuki. The reason it keeps burning is unknown. It is not even clear whether the cause is something external.
"So this is Fuyuki. It kind of feels hollowed out."
"Senpai? I understand you don't overthink things—that's part of who you are—but you shouldn't lower your guard too much…"
"It's fine, it's fine! If we were dead, we'd already be dead! The fact that I'm alive here is proof enough!"
"That's… certainly one way to look at it," Mash sighs, adjusting her grip on her shield.
"That's right! I'm a super hero! A super Master loved by the world! Probably!"
"That's some confidence with no basis… well, it's better than being gloomy," the Doctor's voice crackles from the wrist communicator. "What do you think, King of Heroes?"
"Who knows," I answer, scanning the rubble. "In peaceful times, people can say anything. A person's true nature is revealed only when they are pushed into danger."
Rikka grins, leaning in close. "So you think I'll panic, Gil?"
"We will see soon enough," I reply noncommittally. Then, movement catches my eye. "Look—those are people you know, are they not?"
I tilt my chin in that direction.
"Director!?" Mash gasps.
A woman is there, desperately firing targeted curses at skeleton soldiers. Seeing that she still clings to life, her soul must not be gone yet.
—At a glance, I understand it.
Saving her will only bring her deeper despair.
Is this the power of this vessel? Just by looking, I understand what something truly is.
"Hey, Director! Long time no see! You doing okay!?" Rikka waves her arm frantically.
The silver-haired woman turns, her face twisted in shock. "Why are you here!? You're alive!?"
"We'll talk later! Let's save the Director first! Mash, secure her!"
"Yes, Senpai!"
As they rush forward, I stand still. A part of me already knows the answer.
Saving her is meaningless.
She has no body to return to. She is likely nothing more than a lingering spirit dragged here by chance.
—She is already dead.
"Gil? Gil!"
Rikka's voice snaps me back. She is looking at me expectantly.
"What is it? You're loud."
"This is your moment to show off your shiny golden power! I want to see the cool side of the King of Heroes!"
"..."
It would be easy to say it's pointless.
It would be easy to give up and say it can't be done.
But repeating that brings nothing.
If you only seek benefit, you don't need will.
If you only seek efficiency, you don't need emotion.
In my past life, I learned too well that every time you discard something as useless, you also throw away things of value.
And even if she doesn't know her fate, she is still struggling.
She has not yet decided her own worth.
Unlike my former self.
Then—abandoning her would feel wrong.
The end should be chosen by one's own will. If the flame of life is still smoldering, then let it burn to the end.
"Hmph. No matter how much you flatter me, nothing will come of it," I say, though I step forward.
That cynicism was true for my worthless former self. But the vessel that now accepts my soul belongs to a true hero.
Then—
"Stay back, Master."
I will try saving the weak and striking down the strong.
Like a hero in a story—
"Supply me with mana. I will act as your sword."
The moment I steel my resolve, combat knowledge floods into my mind like an avalanche.
Servant: Gilgamesh. Class: Archer. Noble Phantasm… Gate of Babylon. A treasury that holds the originals of human wisdom.
I hold my breath. What is this absurd ability? Anything created by humanity—even things from the distant future—can be used?
More information pours in. Chains of Heaven, the supreme chains that can bind even gods.
Enkidu—at the moment I read that name, I feel this vessel's body tremble slightly.
I understand at once. This is something precious beyond measure. It must never be used carelessly. It is filled with deep emotion.
And then—
Ea, the Sword of Rupture.
By releasing its true name, I can tear the world itself apart.
I am left speechless. What kind of out-of-scale hero is this? I thought the King of Heroes meant a king who was a hero—but I was wrong.
Gilgamesh is the king of heroes.
If he holds the originals of all weapons, then naturally he can wield weapons that exploit the weaknesses of heroes themselves. On top of that, he has the power to split the world. This vessel holds power beyond imagination.
If someone less hollow than me were inside it, it would be completely uncontrollable. At the same time, I tighten my resolve.
Arrogance is not allowed. If a mere ordinary mind were to swing this power recklessly, the world would be destroyed in no time.
So that's it. That voice chose this hero as my reincarnation for this very reason.
I must bear every decision, every judgment myself. If I drift along like before, only ruin awaits.
Without an unshakable sense of self, there is no future for this world.
—I steady myself.
In this second life I was given, I will achieve something, no matter what.
I will carve a mark I can be proud of into my soul.
So lend me your power, King of Heroes.
With your overwhelming strength—
—I will fight like my life depends on it!
I kick off the ground and leap forward in a single motion, charging straight into the group of skeleton soldiers.
"This will be a warm-up. I'll crush you like whetstones!"
Before the skeletons can react, I smash one skull with my fist.
I block another skeleton's slash with my gauntlet and tear it apart with a counter strike.
I see now. Servants truly possess terrifying strength. They are nothing like humans.
The skeletons feel no fear. Even when their allies fall, they do not hesitate.
They rattle forward, trying to cut me down.
"Hmph!"
I grab a nearby skeleton and throw it into the group. Caught off guard, their advance stops for a moment.
No problem with physical ability. Then what about the Noble Phantasm?
I raise my hand. Ripples appear in the air, and a brilliant sword emerges. I grab it and swing it casually.
"Hah!"
From the lightly swung blade, a beam of heat shoots out, cutting down all the skeletons in its path at once.
"A-amazing… is this the power of a Servant who has a Master…?" Olga Marie stammers, lowering her hands.
"That's the strength of the King of Heroes…" Mash whispers, her shield lowered.
"..." Even I am stunned by the output.
"That king is incredible! Just like the legends!" Romani shouts through the comms. "Overwhelming strength, and he can summon weapons too! A terrifying Heroic Spirit worthy of his reputation!"
"…We've won, Roman," Rikka says, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Huh?"
"This battle… is our victory…!"
"Fujimaru!?"
—The skeletons are defeated.
…but something feels off. I can't shake this sense of discomfort.
"…Was something wrong? The way I fought just now…?" I mutter to myself.
This feeling tells me that I haven't even come close to drawing out this hero's true power.
…Can someone as nameless and hollow as me really bring out the full potential of such a bottomless hero…?
(End of Chapter)
--
A Gilgamesh who doesn't gatling weapons… can that really be called Gilgamesh?