Chapter 10: Gilgamesh!
The night passed without a single conversation. The next morning, just as dawn began to break, Akira woke up.
However, even at that early hour when the light of dawn had only just begun to spread, Leonidas, Ushiwakamaru, and Benkei had already left.
The three of them were now leaders of Uruk's defensive lines. The attacks Uruk faced weren't coming from only the Northern Wall anymore. Many other regions—even numerous cities—were also under attack by monsters.
Leonidas, as the King of Sparta, guarded the Northern Wall and led the soldiers in their battle against the monster forces.
Meanwhile, Ushiwakamaru and Benkei handled different duties: protecting the city, hunting monsters, and investigating various incidents. As a seasoned general who had fought across many battlefields, matters like these weren't particularly difficult for her.
"Huh? How is that possible… the inheritance rate actually increased."
Almost instinctively, Akira opened his attribute panel. He saw that his inheritance template had risen in percentage. And yet, he felt like he hadn't done anything at all. How could the inheritance rate have gone up?
As for the possibility of gaining inheritance from killing monsters, Akira had already tested that. Yesterday, he had defeated so many monsters, yet he hadn't gained even the slightest increase.
[Name: Shin Akira]
[Identity: Visitor from Another World]
[Inheritance Template: Meliodas (0.01%)]
[Talent: Immortality (Curse)]
[Magic: Darkness]
[Skill: Demon Mark (Fragment)]
[Equipment: None]
[Item: Phoenix's Tears ×1]
"How exactly did this increase…? An inheritance rate of 0.01% isn't much, but how to obtain it… I still don't understand."
A trace of doubt surfaced in his mind. This was the first time Akira had encountered something like this.
By now, dawn had fully arrived. A new day officially began as a bright sun rose into the sky.
"Sir, you're already awake."
At that moment, a woman from Uruk entered carrying several pieces of bread and some meat. There were even two fruits he didn't recognize. Meals and lodging were already covered, and the treatment he received was quite good.
"Hmm, this is…"
"This is an order from Lady Siduri. I've brought your breakfast. I hope it suits your taste."
"Thank you very much. Being able to eat right after waking up early in the morning… how could I not get used to this?"
"I'm glad you're satisfied."
After placing the food on the table, the woman gave a slight bow to Akira before turning around and leaving.
Once he finished the food and fruits that had been delivered, honestly… the taste was terrible. Especially the bread—it was even harder to swallow than rye bread. The fruits were also rather astringent and extremely sour.
Compared to modern food and fruit, the difference was like heaven and earth. However, in this era, this was already considered a meal of very high standard.
After finishing his meal, Akira stepped out of the inn where he was staying. On the streets of Uruk, pedestrians had already begun to appear, and quite a number of people had started their work for the new day.
Some were making food, some selling fruit, others forging iron, and some weaving clothes.
The scene presented an image of great prosperity. It was hard to truly believe that this was Uruk, an ancient dynasty.
Akira knew that these people, more than four months ago, had already learned of their fate from the king they served—Gilgamesh.
If nothing unexpected happened, they would all die in the future. Not a single one would be spared.
And yet, even so, they still chose to follow their king. Men, women, the elderly, and even children—all of them.
This was the cohesion possessed by the dynasty known as "Uruk." Even when facing a future filled with destruction, all of its people were willing to die together with their king.
As he watched all of this, time passed little by little, and Akira didn't notice it at all.
Long ago, Enkidu had also gazed upon Uruk like this, day after day, year after year. Even though he had been given the title "King of Beasts," he had never truly exercised the rights and duties of a king.
He had simply watched all of this—watched everyone—watched his closest friend named "Gilgamesh."
"Lord Akira, you woke up very early."
Suddenly, a woman's voice sounded near his ear.
When he turned around, it was none other than Siduri.
"Priestess Siduri, good morning."
"Good morning, Lord Akira."
This was only their second meeting, yet Siduri always felt that the person before her seemed strangely familiar. The feeling was very odd, but she didn't dislike it.
"The King has already awakened. You may have an audience now."
"Alright. Please lead the way."
"Of course."
Under Siduri's guidance, Akira walked through the streets of Uruk.
The palace where Gilgamesh resided stood right at the center of the city. It was an extremely magnificent and grand temple. In this era, the authority of the king and the authority of the gods were inseparable.
When they arrived before the palace, Siduri stepped inside first.
On the throne, the diligent king of today was still working. Last night, he had handled state affairs until the early hours of the morning, rested for no more than two or three hours, then rose again to continue his work.
If that could even be called rest, then it would be more accurate to say he had only dozed off briefly. From beginning to end, he hadn't left his throne even once.
To be a "king" to such an extent… he truly could be called the first of his kind.
Wasn't it said that in another world during the Fourth Holy Grail War, the tyrant known as "Gilgamesh" had once mocked the King of Knights who devoted everything to her country? And now, he himself was little more than someone laughing at another while being just as guilty.
"My King, Lord Shin Akira has arrived~"
"Hm? He's here already? Then let him enter."
Hearing Siduri's words, Gilgamesh slightly raised his head and set down the clay tablet in his hand.
"Yes, my King."
Siduri gave a slight bow to Gilgamesh before retreating and heading toward the palace entrance to bring Akira inside.
Meanwhile, Akira was waiting at the entrance.
Not long after, under Siduri's guidance, Akira stepped into the grandest hall in all of Uruk.
"So, you are Shin Akira? The one who calls himself a 'visitor from a foreign land'?"
"That's right. I am Shin Akira. My respects to King Gilgamesh."
His answer was neither humble nor arrogant. Facing this oldest of Heroic Kings, Akira didn't feel that just because he had inherited Enkidu's power, he needed to behave in any particular way toward Gilgamesh.
At that moment, Gilgamesh stared at Akira before him—and paused slightly.
Just like Siduri, when he looked at Akira, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, along with an urge to draw closer.
This was not an illusion. Akira had inherited the [Enkidu] template and fully carried everything that belonged to Enkidu—including talents, skills, Noble Phantasms, and even the characteristic of being "clay of the Age of Gods."
To say that Akira was a replica of the "Chain of Heaven" would not be an exaggeration.
And as the "Wedge of Heaven," Gilgamesh would naturally react to Akira. If he didn't, that would be what truly felt strange.
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