Chapter 18: The Mysterious Goddess
"Hehe, indeed, though it is much better here in Ur," the woman said, covering her mouth with a laugh.
"It is certainly much better. Well then, since you are all safe, we shall return to report our success and have the King send a rescue team." Merlin prepared to inform Gilgamesh of the situation in Ur so that a rescue unit could be dispatched to escort the people of Ur to seek refuge in Uruk.
However, upon hearing Merlin's words, a look of panic surged across the woman's face. "No, that won't be necessary! We are very safe here. Ur is a secure city; the Demonic Beasts simply cannot break through the jungle."
Merlin frowned at her panicked expression. She was definitely hiding something important, and as for the claim that the beasts couldn't break through the jungle—that was naturally nonsense. If the Demonic Beasts truly attacked the city of Ur, it would undoubtedly be wiped out in no time.
Having made a few speculations in his heart, Merlin didn't waste any more time on this woman and instead turned to observe the state of Ur. As time slowly wore on toward dusk, the scene of the setting sun viewed from within the city of Ur was breathtakingly beautiful.
"I have never seen such a beautiful sunset," Gudako remarked with sparkling eyes.
"It is true. We must protect this kind of scenery and save Human Order," Mash added immediately.
"Then let's give it our all," Shirou said with a smile. The three sat by the steps, quietly watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon. The sky was stained with thin ink.
At this moment, Merlin approached, leaning on his staff. "Tomorrow, I hope you can gather the citizens of Ur in the plaza. I have something to say."
.
.
.
As if something were about to happen, the sky was dark and gloomy the next day. Thick clouds obscured the sun, and the entire city was cast into shadow. Having received the order, the people of Ur gathered in the city plaza that day.
The majority of those who came were women and the elderly; there were very few young men among them. However, many of the women were holding infants still in their swaddling clothes, making this phenomenon rather strange.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Envoy of King Gilgamesh, you seem to have something to say?" The leader of the priestesses of Ur looked at Merlin and asked.
"Yes, indeed. I have heard that you do not require a rescue, but as a precaution, I would still like to ask for your reasoning." A rare, serious expression appeared on Merlin's face.
Hearing his question, the two women standing on the steps immediately spoke up, looking quite flustered.
"Ur is safe! As long as we have this forest, the Demonic Beasts will not enter!"
"That's right! As long as we follow the rules of the Forest Goddess, we won't..."
"Indeed, we did not encounter any Demonic Beasts in the forest," Mash said.
"So, the forest is protecting Ur?" Ana asked, puzzled.
At this moment, Merlin looked toward the priestess leader standing at the very top and threw out a rather sharp question: "Then, is it because you have attained your own safety that you have not extended a helping hand to other cities facing crisis?"
Hearing this, the priestess leader became agitated. "How could that be? It is not like that! If we could, we would also want to go and reinforce them, but..."
"But this conflicts with the rules of the Forest Goddess, is that how it is?" Merlin retorted.
"..." The woman at the head remained silent. Seeing the look on her face, the situation was already obvious.
"I see. I understand the situation now. 'Doing nothing' is Ur's method of self-defense, is it not?" Merlin scanned his surroundings and glared at the woman above. "A typical ploy of those who have given up on themselves. Then, how many people have been sacrificed here so far?"
Merlin's words were startling; the gathered citizens of Ur began to avert their eyes, not daring to meet Merlin's gaze.
"Is it really one per day?" Merlin asked.
"What are you talking about? How could there be living sacrifices..." The priestess leader tried to refute him, but her voice grew increasingly weak toward the end. "This... this is the only way! Everyone was selected based on acceptance and mutual agreement!"
"As long as one person is picked and sent to the Eridu Temple each day, that demon can be satisfied." The two women on the steps said with their heads bowed.
"Is this your choice?" Mash looked at them in disbelief. "Are you using this method to protect yourselves?!"
"What do you outsiders know! You haven't seen that terrifying goddess, that is why you can say such things!" "For weak humans, there is simply no other way!"
The priestess leader walked down the stairs and looked at Merlin. "So, you should just leave. Humanity and ethics have long since ceased to exist in Mesopotamia!"
Hearing this, Merlin scratched his head in distress. "In that case, it will be very difficult to persuade them, and I won't be able to gather information either."
"But if things stay like this, are we just going to let them send someone to their deaths every day?" Mash said, unwilling to accept this.
Just then, a familiar, boisterous female voice boomed from above.
"There's no need to worry about that! If I kill the living sacrifice, I'll be scolded for being an old fossil!" The figure of the woman wearing the leopard-print suit, who called herself the Jaguar Warrior, appeared on the roof.
Upon seeing her, the citizens of Ur in the plaza immediately revealed expressions of terror, screaming as they hurried to flee.
"Run! The Forest Goddess is angry!" "Don't kill me!" "Help me!!"
The high-pitched screams of the women echoed one after another, creating an incredibly chaotic scene. Ana looked up at the woman who called herself the Jaguar Warrior, speechless.
"Could that thing be the Forest Goddess...?"
"Although she looks a bit ridiculous, that is indeed the case," Shirou said.
"What happened to the people who were taken away?" Gudako asked.
"Of course they were taken to the Eridu Temple to do labor! As a gourmet, I only enjoy eating the hearts of heroes!"
Having made this declaration, the Jaguar Warrior leaped, jumping into the center of the plaza. Her body slammed down heavily, causing the ground to shake violently and creating a crater where she landed.
"I like birds, I like fish, and I eat humans~ Jaguar Warrior, teleporting to the scene!" After the dust and smoke settled, the Jaguar Warrior stood up, her voice becoming slightly more serious. "I will not allow you to take away the living sacrifices. After all, if that were to happen, all my efforts so far would have been in vain. Besides, Quetzalcoatl would definitely beat me until I cry!"
"Quetzalcoatl?" Merlin frowned at the name.
"That is correct. This is our world, the land of the serpent that draws the spiral. Humans who cannot discern the definition of a god, depart at once!" A long staff appeared in the Jaguar Warrior's hand, its tip shaped like a leopard's claw.
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