In his youth, Gilgamesh had ventured into the Underworld in search of the herb of immortality. In the seventh Singularity of FGO, their paths had crossed even more frequently.
"Gilgamesh possesses the 'Sha Naqba Imuru',the Star of All-Knowing. It effectively grants him a high-ranking form of True Name Discernment. Even if he doesn't use his Clairvoyance often, our true identities won't stay hidden from him for long."
Wayland turned off the faucet and began to arrange the clean dishes in the cupboard. "The problem is that we don't know which 'Route' we're in. But regardless of the original story, everything is already diverging. After all, we've effectively replaced Cu Chulainn."
"Mhm. But setting the timeline aside, the biggest threat is still Gilgamesh."
Ereshkigal frowned, her expression turning serious. "I've spent a lot of time preparing, but if I have to face a Gilgamesh who's actually trying... victory would be difficult to guarantee. We're both in Servant forms now; I've lost my home-field advantage in the Underworld, while he still has the Gate of Babylon, EA, and Enkidu's chains."
"In that case... maybe we should look for some allies."
Wayland closed the cupboard doors. "The Holy Grail War isn't a game that has to be won alone. If Gilgamesh is looking for entertainment, then let's give it to him. I'm sure he'll find it quite interesting."
'Actually... that might not be entirely true. A serious Gilgamesh is a nightmare for anyone who isn't a Divine Spirit or his 'only friend'.'
Wayland shook his head. "Anyway, let's go and explore Fuyuki City. I want to see where our 'protagonists' are living and get a better feel for the layout of the streets."
He untied his apron and glanced at Ereshkigal. Her ceremonial gown was a bit too conspicuous for a casual walk. "Eresh-chan, you should probably change into some normal clothes. We don't want to raise any unnecessary suspicions."
***
Casual Clothes and Golden Pride
A large, red ribbon was tied around her blonde curls, framing her dark-red crown.
A pale gold plaid scarf, a vibrant red sweater, a black plaid skirt, and pure black over-the-knee stockings.
"W-What is it?"
Ereshkigal fidgeted under Wayland's gaze, performing a small, shy pirouette to show off the outfit. "Is... is there a problem with it?"
"No problem at all. It's just... you look too beautiful."
"Huh?"
Before Ereshkigal could process the compliment, Wayland was already waving from the front door. "Come on, let's go!"
***
Miyama and Shinto
Wayland had done his research before arriving.
The city of Fuyuki was divided by the Mion River into two distinct districts: Miyama and Shinto.
Miyama was the old town, filled with traditional architecture and a quiet, historical atmosphere. Shinto, meanwhile, was the modern city, a landscape of glass and steel.
Miyama itself was further divided into two sections. Following the main fork in the road, the southern area was a Western-style residential district,home to the Tohsaka and Matou estates and a large number of foreign residents. The northern area, meanwhile, was a traditional Japanese residential zone, home to the Emiya household.
Wayland's new home was located almost exactly between Homurahara Academy and the Matou estate. Directly to the south was the Tohsaka manor, while the Ryuudou Temple sat to the northwest and the commercial district, leading to the Great Fuyuki Bridge, sat to the northeast.
"This is the Tohsaka manor, isn't it?"
Wayland stood on the far side of the street, looking at the Western-style mansion. It looked exactly like the one he'd seen in the anime.
"Do you want to go inside?" Ereshkigal asked.
"No, there's no need. Rin Tohsaka probably hasn't even summoned Archer yet."
"I see."
Ereshkigal toyed with a lock of her hair, her gaze fixed on the pavement. "You know, Master... it seems like you really like Rin Tohsaka."
"Huh? Oh, that. Well, it's not so much 'liking' as it is 'admiring' her."
"Admiring?" Ereshkigal looked up, her crimson eyes searching his.
"Yeah. She's someone who's always moving forward, no matter what."
Wayland glanced at the quiet mansion one last time. "Let's head to the next spot."
"Mhm!" For some reason, the girl's mood seemed to have suddenly brightened.
Without disturbing anyone, they made quick stops at the Emiya and Matou estates before boarding a bus for Shinto.
Standing atop the highest skyscraper in the district, Wayland experienced a 'Sniper's View' for the first time.
From this height, the city looked like any other modern metropolis,the kind of scenery he'd seen a thousand times in his previous life.
"I think I prefer Miyama," Wayland observed. "At least it has some character."
"Me too," Ereshkigal agreed.
"I wonder... if I jumped from here, could Eresh-chan catch me?"
Wayland suddenly remembered a specific scene from the anime and turned to her with a grin.
"I mean, I could, but... Master?!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Wayland vaulted over the railing. Ereshkigal let out a startled shriek and immediately dematerialized into her spirit form.
The wind roared in his ears.
Wayland's magic circuits flared as he activated his Dragon Armor. A shimmering white energy encased him, his eyes hidden behind a protective visor.
Just as he reached the ground, he performed a controlled roll, his feet hitting the pavement with a solid, echoing thrum.
"As expected of the Dragon Armor. It can handle things a normal magus would find impossible."
It wasn't that a magus would die from such a fall,there were plenty of spells to prevent that,but maintaining a Levitation spell required a constant, heavy drain on prana.
It simply wasn't efficient.
Wayland dismissed the armor and turned to find Ereshkigal standing right behind him.
"Wh,,OW! OW OW OW! Who taught you that?!"
Wayland let out a sharp cry of pain.
Ereshkigal was pinching a patch of soft skin on his waist and giving it a slow, deliberate twist.
"I am your Servant!"
Ereshkigal puffed out her cheeks, looking genuinely angry. "Don't you ever do something like that again without warning me!"
"But I have Eresh-chan with me, don't I?"
Wayland caught her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, smiling. "I know that even if I'm in danger, you'll come diving out of the sky on a golden cloud to save me."
"Hmph. You're lucky you're so good with words!"
Ereshkigal looked away, her anger fading as quickly as it had arrived.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]