Ever since learning from Ereshkigal that Enkidu's remains had gone missing, Rozen had already begun to suspect this possibility.
"Since the Beast Goddess can use humans as material to transform them into magical beasts, then she should just as easily be able to use Enkidu's remains as material to transform him into Kingu, right?"
Rozen voiced this speculation.
"Enkidu was originally a weapon created by the gods. By nature, the gods could fully determine his life and death. Whether they chose to reclaim his life and let him die, or grant him new life and revive him—it was all within their power."
And Tiamat, the Beast Goddess, was the Mother of all Gods, the origin and mother of all things. If the gods could accomplish something, then surely the Beast Goddess could as well.
Having inherited the Authority of Tiamat, Gorgon very likely possessed the ability to create a second divine weapon—or rather, to revive the first divine weapon.
Of course, Enkidu was already dead. That much was beyond doubt. Not even the gods could call back a soul that had already disappeared.
Thus, Rozen believed Kingu was most likely a divine weapon manufactured by the Beast Goddess, using Enkidu's corpse as raw material.
If that were the case, it would explain why Kingu possessed exactly the same abilities and powers as Enkidu, yet rejected and despised humanity so strongly—nothing like the gentle and kind Chain of Heaven the people of Uruk spoke of.
Because, although Kingu was not Enkidu, he did possess Enkidu's body. Conceptually, the two were the same: weapons forged by the gods, living Noble Phantasms with will of their own.
Rozen's deduction even received a nod of agreement from Gilgamesh.
"That's probably the truth," Gilgamesh muttered, almost to himself. "Manipulated by the gods in life, and even after death, his corpse is exploited… that fellow really is unlucky."
No one knew what sort of feelings Gilgamesh carried as he said this.
But one thing was certain.
"No matter what, he is our enemy. That much is beyond question."
Rozen declared bluntly.
"Ah," Gilgamesh coolly agreed. "From the current situation, Kingu's strength may even exceed Enkidu's. He seems to have obtained an excellent mana core, and his performance has been further modified. Truly, a troublesome wretch."
Indeed, troublesome.
Even as things stood now, Kingu had already slain two of the seven Servants Gilgamesh had summoned—possibly more. Countless others had likely fallen by his hand. One could easily imagine just how dangerous this greatest threat under Gorgon's command truly was.
"Now that his true origin has been confirmed, how to deal with him is something I will consider carefully."
By this, Gilgamesh clearly meant: this matter was settled for now.
Regarding Kingu, Gilgamesh perhaps had ideas of his own—very likely a separate countermeasure.
But whatever that plan was, he had no intention of sharing it with anyone.
"Aside from Enkidu's body going missing, did Ereshkigal tell you anything else?"
Gilgamesh asked.
"Yes." Rozen nodded. "Ereshkigal gave me a special clay tablet, and told me you would explain how to use it."
As he spoke, Rozen drew out the clay tablet.
"Oh?" Gilgamesh arched a brow and smirked. "So it really did fall into the Underworld, huh?"
Clearly, Gilgamesh recognized the tablet.
Or rather—it was originally his to begin with.
"That is the Tablet of Destinies. On it are prophecies personally inscribed by me."
Gilgamesh did not take the tablet, but instead explained this to Rozen.
"Prophecies?"
Rozen had not expected the tablet in his hands to be such a thing.
But he did not doubt Gilgamesh's words.
After all, Gilgamesh possessed the Heaven's Eye, which allowed him to see the future.
"At times, I suddenly glimpse fragments of futures unrelated to myself. In those moments, I unconsciously record them. Though such visions are worthless to me, to others they are precious treasures."
Gilgamesh said this disinterestedly.
"Back when I failed to obtain the herb of immortality from the Underworld and returned to Uruk, I glimpsed such a future above the city of Kutha. There, I entered meditation, carved that future onto the tablet, and left it behind."
Because of this, the clay tablet had been left in Kutha, and when Ryougi Shiki manifested, it too had fallen into the Underworld.
"I even once ordered Merlin to search for this tablet, but that useless fool achieved nothing."
From this, Rozen finally understood what it was Merlin had been seeking, as he once claimed, under royal command.
It was this Tablet of Destinies.
"Now that I think of it, perhaps it was always destined to fall into your hands."
Gilgamesh smiled suddenly as he fixed his gaze on Rozen.
"Even I no longer remember what I inscribed upon it. Since it was unrelated to me, I never bothered to read it. But what is written there must surely be of value to you."
At these words, Rozen lowered his gaze to the tablet in his hands.
Yet what was carved upon it was in a script even he could barely comprehend—he had no idea what it meant.
But as a Magician, Rozen could easily discern that the tablet was not meant to be read this way.
What was inscribed upon it was not "writing" but rather the future, engraved in magical form during Gilgamesh's meditation. It was not "letters" meant for the eyes, but "images" meant to be received by the mind.
At that moment, Gilgamesh's solemn voice rang out.
"Place your hand upon the surface of the tablet, and recite after me."
Gilgamesh intoned gravely:
"————There once was a city, there once was a city, at the meeting of Heaven and Earth, ■■ (Gil), the empty plain————"
Hearing this sacred incantation, Rozen instinctively placed his hand upon the clay tablet and chanted along.
"————There once was a city, there once was a city, at the meeting of Heaven and Earth, ■■ (Gil), the empty plain————"
As these holy words left Rozen's lips, the Tablet of Destinies in his hand shone with radiant light.
Before long, an image surfaced within Rozen's mind.