Walking through the burned-down city, matching the pace of the two.
This appears to be a Japanese city called Fuyuki. The cause of the constant burning is unknown, and it's unclear whether it's even due to some external factor.
"So this is Fuyuki. It's gotten kind of fast-food-ified."
"Senpai? While I can tell in this short time that not getting worked up is part of your personality, it would be better not to neglect vigilance of the surroundings..."
"I'm fine, I'm fine! If I was going to die, I should have died already! The fact that I'm alive and here is the answer!"
"That's right! I'm a superhero! I'm an Grand Master beloved by the world! Probably!"
"That's confidence without basis... Well, it's better than being pessimistic, though. What do you think, Hero King-sama?"
"Who knows. In peacetime, one can say anything. The true nature of a person is revealed only when exposed to dire straits."
"Gil thinks I'll turn cowardly?"
"That remains to be seen. Look, isn't that someone you know?"
Where I point with my chin—
"Director!?"
There was a woman desperately casting directional curses at skeleton soldiers in resistance. Seeing that she's still clinging to life, her soul probably hasn't died yet.
—I see through it at a glance. Helping her would only give her deeper despair.
Is this the vessel's ability? Just by glancing, just by looking once, I understand what something is.
"Ah, hey there Director! How are you!?"
"!? Why are you here!? Are you alive!?"
"Let's catch up later! Let's save the Director! Mash! Secure the Director!"
"Yes, senpai!"
There's a part of me that concludes helping her is meaningless.
She has no body to return to. She's probably some kind of spirit—residual thoughts that were sent here.
—She's already dead.
"Gil? Gil!"
Called out to, I return to my senses.
"What, you're noisy."
"It's finally time to show off that golden power! The Hero King's! I want to see you look cool!"
"————"
...It would be easy to dismiss this as pointless.
It would be easy to give up saying it's impossible.
But by repeating that, nothing is gained.
If you only seek profit, no will is needed there.
If you only seek efficiency, no emotion is needed there.
I know well from my previous life that every time I dismiss something as pointless, I also throw away things of value.
Besides, even though she doesn't know her fate, she's still struggling.
She hasn't yet determined her own worth. Unlike my former self.
Then—abandoning her would be somewhat unreasonable.
The end should be determined by one's own will. If the fire of life is still smoldering, then until it burns out.
"—Hmph. Flattery and praise won't get you anything."
Unlike my worthless former self.
The vessel that now accepts my soul is unmistakably that of a hero, so then—
"Stand back, Master."
I too shall try helping the weak and crushing the strong.
Like a hero in a story—!
"Channel your magical energy. I shall act as your sword."
The moment I steel my resolve, combat information avalanches into my head.
Servant, Gilgamesh. Class is Archer. Noble Phantasm is... Gate of Babylon. The treasury that stores the originals of humanity's wisdom.
I gasp. What is this absurd ability? Anything humanity creates, even things from the distant future, can be used?
More information flows in. Chains of Heaven, supreme chains that can bind even gods.
Enkidu—the moment I read that name, I felt this vessel's body tremble slightly.
I realize this is something more precious than anything else. Wasted shots are absolutely forbidden; it's filled with countless emotions.
And then—Sword of Rupture, Ea.
A sword that tears the world apart through True Name Release...
I'm astounded. What is this out-of-spec hero? I thought the Hero King was a king who was a hero, but what a misconception.
Gilgamesh is the king of heroes. If he stores the originals of all weapons, he can inevitably use weapons that could be the weaknesses of heroes. Additionally, having the power to tear the world apart—this vessel possessed tremendously overwhelming power.
If it weren't for an existence as thin as myself, it would truly be uncontrollable. At the same time, I steel myself.
Arrogance is not permitted. If a commoner's sensibilities were to wield this much power, they could easily destroy the world.
I see, so that's it. The owner of that voice chose this hero as the reincarnation destination with that meaning.
To impose every decision, every judgment upon oneself. If I go with the flow as before, destruction awaits.
Without an unwavering ego to master this vessel, this world has no future.
—I steel myself.
To accomplish something no matter what with this second life newly granted.
To carve a 'trace' I can be proud of into my soul.
Now, lend me your strength, Hero King.
With your mighty power.
—I'll sing desperately for all to see!
Kicking the ground, I leap in one breath. Flying straight into the horde of skeleton soldiers.
"First, let me warm up. I'll smash you to serve as whetstones!"
Before the skeletons can react, I crush a skeleton's skull with my gripped fist.
I catch another skeleton's slash with my gauntlet and tear it off with a return hand blade.
I see, Servants have tremendous strength. They truly can't be compared to humans.
Skeletons without fear don't flinch when their comrades are defeated.
They approach making clattering sounds, trying to slash me.
"Humph!"
I grab a nearby skeleton's body and throw it into the group. Caught off guard, their advance stops for a moment.
There's no problem with physical abilities. Then, what about Noble Phantasms?
When I hold out my hand, ripples appear in the air and a glittering sword emerges. I grab that sword and swing it carelessly.
"Ha!"
From the lightly swung sword tip, a beam accompanied by heat is released, sweeping away all the skeletons in its straight trajectory at once.
"A-amazing... This is the power of a Servant with a Master...?"
"That's the Hero King's true ability..."
"..."
"Amazing, that king! Just like the original with that monstrous strength! The versatility to produce weapons too! A tremendous Heroic Spirit that lives up to his reputation!"
"...We won, Romani."
"Eh?"
"This battle is our victory...!"
"Fujimaru-kun!?"
—I successfully neutralized the skeletons.
...But something bothers me. There's an inexplicable sense of wrongness.
"...Is something different? About my fighting style just now...?"
This sense of wrongness—apparently I can hardly claim to have drawn out this hero's true value.
...Can someone like me with a nameless soul even draw out the true value of this unfathomable hero...?
Gil who doesn't gatling... can that really be called Gil?