Chapter 4: A King Takes Responsibility
Abarai Renji felt like he must have gone mad.
How else could he have, in a moment of impulse, agreed to Gilgamesh's outrageous proposal?
He wanted to back out, but his meager pride wouldn't allow him to do so.
Helpless, Abarai Renji could only stubbornly say, "Let me make this clear, though I agree to follow you and become your subject, if you cannot fulfill your promise, I will leave at any time."
Gilgamesh smiled and said, "Very well."
As he spoke, Gilgamesh felt something under his foot and couldn't help but stop and look down.
Rukia, standing nearby, also looked over curiously, just as Gilgamesh moved his foot.
Rukia saw a perfectly preserved gem ring lying quietly on the ground.
With an expression of disbelief, Rukia instinctively picked up the gem ring.
Abarai Renji, walking in front, didn't notice anything unusual.
It wasn't until Abarai Renji had walked some distance that he realized Gilgamesh and Rukia hadn't followed, and he couldn't help but turn to look.
Upon looking, Abarai Renji saw Rukia holding a gem ring that looked very valuable.
With a stunned expression, Abarai Renji walked over and asked, "Rukia, when did you get this gem ring?"
Rukia gently shook her head and replied, "This isn't mine, it's..."
"It's Gil's; he accidentally stepped on it just now."
Originally, Rukia wanted to say 'King,' but after several attempts, she still couldn't bring herself to say it.
Rukia, like Abarai Renji, had impulsively agreed to Gilgamesh's proposal and became his very first subject.
So, at this moment, Rukia hadn't truly acknowledged or accepted Gilgamesh's identity as a King.
Abarai Renji was the same; for now, they still directly referred to Gilgamesh as 'Gil.'
Gilgamesh didn't mind this.
And Abarai Renji was dumbfounded after hearing Rukia's words.
He hadn't expected something as absurd as a windfall to happen twice to the same person in such a short time, and each time more exaggerated than the last.
Although Abarai Renji didn't know how much the gem ring was worth, it must have been far more than 100,000 rings.
The main thing was, in this remote, impoverished, and chaotic District 78 of South Rukongai, who would possess such a priceless gem ring?
And carelessly leave it in this sparsely populated wilderness?
If they hadn't heard there was precious water here, they wouldn't have come.
Yet, such an incredible thing happened to Gilgamesh.
At this moment, Abarai Renji was starting to believe that Gilgamesh's previous 'Versailles' was true.
Perhaps it really was a blessing from the heavens, destined for him to be surrounded by wealth his entire life.
But what kind of person would receive such a blessing from the heavens?
Could it be that he truly was once a King?
Thinking this, Abarai Renji suddenly wanted to understand Gilgamesh's past, wanting to know about his deeds during his time as King.
Gilgamesh then said, "Rukia, this gem ring is for you."
Rukia was momentarily stunned; she clearly hadn't expected Gilgamesh to give her such a valuable ring.
After realizing what was happening, Rukia quickly waved her hands and said, "No, this gem ring was found by you; I can't take it."
Gilgamesh merely replied calmly, "I said I would grant you a lifetime of wealth and glory; this gem ring is just a start."
Saying this, Gilgamesh smiled slightly and said, "Besides, don't you think it suits you very well?"
Rukia, who had originally intended to refuse, heard these words, and for some reason, the words of refusal could no longer be spoken.
Initially, Rukia had a good impression of Gilgamesh because of his innate skill, Charisma (C), and this good impression grew stronger with continued interaction.
In such a situation, Rukia connected the special meaning of the ring with Gilgamesh's words about it suiting her well, and for a moment, her heart was in turmoil, and a blush gradually appeared on her face.
Perhaps it was because he was naturally thick-headed, or perhaps because of his age.
Abarai Renji not only failed to notice Rukia's abnormality but also reached out to take the gem ring, saying, "Rukia, if you don't want it, give it to me."
"I think this gem ring suits me too."
Seeing this, Rukia immediately put the ring on her hand and carefully protected it, warning Abarai Renji, "Don't even think about this ring; Gil said it's for me, so it's mine."
Although this gem ring was found.
Neither Gilgamesh, Rukia, nor Abarai Renji had thought about finding the owner.
Because the background of Rukongai was equivalent to the Edo period in the human world's Sakura Country, it was simply too backward.
Furthermore, the area they were in was extremely chaotic and lawless, with no public security agencies like police stations in the human world; finding the owner in such a place was simply impossible.
Moreover, in such a place, one absolutely could not flaunt wealth, or else it would 100% invite disaster, even endangering one's life.
Abarai Renji still wanted to say something at this point.
But before he could speak, he heard a voice full of greed say, "Hey, you brats over there, did you steal my gem ring?"
Abarai Renji and Rukia turned their heads upon hearing this and saw three men dressed in ragged clothes, looking like vagrants, staring greedily at the gem ring on Rukia's hand.
Abarai Renji and Rukia, who had lived in Hōkō for many years, saw this and their expressions suddenly changed drastically; without thinking, they grabbed Gilgamesh's hand and prepared to run.
Abarai Renji and Rukia were only eleven or twelve years old, and having been constantly hungry for years, their bodies were not strong, so they could not possibly be a match for these three men.
If they didn't run, having the gem ring stolen would only be a minor issue; something much more terrifying lay ahead.
One must know that in this chaotic Hōkō, killing and being killed happened every day.
But Abarai Renji and Rukia had just turned to run when they discovered that two more men, also looking like vagrants, had appeared on their escape path at some unknown time.
Their faces also showed greedy expressions.
Clearly, these two were with the previous three.
Not only that, these five seemed well-trained and were already converging on Gilgamesh, blocking off other escape routes.
Abarai Renji and Rukia's faces instantly turned grim.
In fact, if it were just them, with their years of survival experience in Xu Diao District, they would still have a chance to escape.
But bringing Gilgamesh along made it impossible.
In their eyes, every move of Gilgamesh carried an air of nobility, like a noble residing in Seireitei.
And in the human world, which of such figures wasn't pampered? How could they have as much escape experience as them?
The only chance now was to abandon Gilgamesh.
As if by telepathy, Abarai Renji and Rukia exchanged glances, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes.
Abandoning a companion was something they would absolutely not do.
That's right, Abarai Renji and Rukia had already considered Gilgamesh their companion.
Abarai Renji gritted his teeth and said, "Gil, listen carefully."
"Later, Rukia and I will hold off those two adults in front; you find an opportunity to run quickly, don't look back, and don't try to help us."
Rukia chimed in, "After you run away, find a safe place to stay; Renji and I will come find you."
After their words fell, Abarai Renji and Rukia prepared to act.
It was at this moment that Gilgamesh's tender yet inherently authoritative voice rang out, saying, "Renji, Rukia, this King has received your intentions."
"But this King is a King; how can weak subjects stand before the King?"
"All of this should be borne by the King."