"...I really don't think I'm capable of being as much of a scumbag as you are. It'll just take a bit of extra time, that's all. This kind of repair work isn't exactly difficult for me anyway."
Takumi gave Merlin a look of profound exasperation.
Merlin simply offered a shameless, goofy grin in response.
Walking a bit further down the line, Takumi continued waving his flag, seamlessly stitching the massive fissures in the earth back together.
Perhaps feeling a bit bored, Merlin pondered for a moment before asking curiously:
"Say, Takumi... in your eyes, what kind of person am I?"
"Emmm... The Grand Swordmaster of Avalon? Magical Girl Magi☆Mari? Merlin the Heartless? The Fou-Incarnate? The Grand Catfisher? The gill-breathing Incubus?"
Takumi blinked. After a moment of thought, he rattled off the titles, struggling to suppress a laugh.
"Wait, wait, wait! Don't just start doxxing my internet handles out of nowhere! And why is the first one the only compliment, while all the rest are completely derogatory?!"
Merlin instantly jumped back, waving his hands frantically with a look of utter betrayal.
Listening to the rapid-fire list of nicknames Takumi dropped, the look of disdain in Ana's eyes deepened significantly.
"Okay, fine. The Magical☆Mari account is just something I use to kill time, I'll admit that. And I guess I can't really argue against 'Merlin the Heartless' either. But what the heck is 'The Grand Catfisher,' 'The Fou-Incarnate,' and 'gill-breathing' supposed to mean?!"
Merlin desperately tried to defend his honor.
"You got 'The Grand Catfisher' because you used that VTuber account to string along a certain Grand Caster—who sacrificed his powers to become a normal human—and played him like a damn fiddle for a whole year."
"You're 'The Fou-Incarnate' because your personality is shockingly similar to Fou's. And 'gill-breathing'... well, that's just because you're obviously not human!"
Takumi chuckled, offering his own personalized explanations for the community memes.
"Hah?! Let's put the Catfisher thing aside for a second. That white beast looks exactly like me! Is it my fault we look similar? Calling me 'The Fou-Incarnate' is like failing to tell a father and son apart!"
Merlin's eyes widened indignantly, pointing at his own face.
"They're just joke nicknames people came up with. The logic behind them isn't supposed to be watertight."
"But if you want to know what I actually think of you right now... I'd say you are a reliable comrade-in-arms I can entrust my back to!"
Takumi spoke with genuine sincerity. Then, as if recalling something, his tone grew slightly nostalgic and reflective:
"I don't share the intense, righteous indignation a lot of other people have. Truthfully, I suppose I'm actually quite apathetic. Many people think the things you did in the past were cruel, and they get incredibly angry on behalf of others. But I don't."
"After all, those things didn't happen to me, so why should I hold a grudge over them? Furthermore, the Merlin standing in front of me right now is the one who went out of his way to help me when I needed it."
"At the end of the day, I guess I really am just a selfish person. I physically cannot bring myself to glare at someone who offered me a helping hand and harbors no ill intent toward me."
Having said his piece, Takumi shrugged helplessly.
Every word Takumi spoke fell into Merlin's ears, and the absolute sincerity behind those thoughts was transmitted flawlessly into the Incubus's mind.
Merlin stared blankly at Takumi for a long moment, the light in his eyes flickering with complex emotions. Finally snapping out of it, he took a deep breath. Then, with a bright, slightly playful grin, he thumped his chest confidently:
"...Well, since you put it like that, leave it to Big Brother Merlin! As long as it's within my power, I am absolutely at your service!"
Sigh~. When he says it like that, how can I possibly not step up and show my worth?
—Besides, just standing next to this guy makes you feel like, regardless of whether you're actually useful or not, you just want to stand by his side.
"Thanks."
Takumi smiled and nodded, before shifting his gaze to the side.
"The same goes for Ana. Even though I know your past and everything you've been through, the Ana standing in front of me right now is nothing more than a kind, incredibly cute girl!"
The blunt, utterly sincere praise instantly turned Ana's face as red as a tomato. She stammered incoherently for a good few seconds before finally squeezing out a tiny, flustered "Thank you."
"Oh, right. Because I beat Kingu half to death and let him escape, Tiamat waking up early is pretty much a guaranteed outcome at this point. You need to keep a really close eye on your physical body over there. The second you notice anything wrong, run!"
Suddenly remembering this crucial detail, Takumi turned back to Merlin and warned him with absolute seriousness.
The progression of events was now completely unpredictable. If Merlin got vaporized by Tiamat's "morning breath" just like in the original storyline, and another high-intensity battle broke out shortly after, they would be down a massive, Grand-tier combat asset.
"Is that so... Understood. I will absolutely keep that in mind. I might not be confident in much else, but when it comes to running away, I'm a certified professional!"
Merlin nodded grimly, fully grasping the severity of the situation, before instantly reverting to his usual, flippant persona.
[Clairvoyance (EX)]
It wasn't omnipotent. Furthermore, Merlin's Clairvoyance was strictly "Live Broadcast" type, which severely limited its scope. As long as an entity wasn't a weak, minor deity like the Gorgon Sisters, they generally possessed the capability to detect and block his scrying. Normally, whenever he tried to peek at anything related to major Gods, he had to do so incredibly carefully to avoid being traced back.
Because of this, there was a lot of crucial information Merlin simply couldn't acquire in real-time.
Over the next few hours, Merlin and Ana accompanied Takumi as he systematically repaired the earth. They worked their way from the ruined Blood Fort all the way to a vantage point where the Absolute Demonic Front was clearly visible. The sun, which had been high noon when they started, was now sinking low, casting the warm, golden hues of dusk across the land.
"That right there is the Absolute Demonic Front. I assume you already know about it. Having foreseen the inevitable future, King Gilgamesh began orchestrating massive defensive preparations—including the construction of this very wall—years before the crisis even began. He also handled the summoning of the Heroic Spirits himself. It is solely due to his foresight that humanity has managed to hold the line until today."
Merlin pointed at the colossal, towering wall in the distance—where the intensity of the fighting had noticeably diminished—his tone carrying a trace of genuine awe.
Takumi nodded. He was naturally well aware of all this.
As the absolute MVP and the only native inhabitant across all seven Singularities who managed to forcibly stalemate the antagonist faction and hold the line the longest, Gilgamesh's sheer competence and value were indisputable.
"However, thanks to the massive rampage you just went on, the seemingly endless tides of demonic beasts have been drastically thinned out. I expect the Absolute Demonic Front will actually experience a period of genuine peace soon. The soldiers and Servants stationed here will finally be able to get some proper rest."
"Which Servants summoned by King Gilgamesh are still left?"
Hearing this, Takumi remembered the Altered and Mad Enhancement-controlled Servants he had just finished chopping down, and couldn't help but ask.
"It's a tragic roster, honestly. Currently, excluding myself, the only ones left are Rider Ushiwakamaru and Lancer Leonidas. Every single other Servant has either been killed in action or gone MIA."
Merlin sighed heavily, shaking his head.
"Amakusa Shirou and Sasaki Kojirou were eliminated by the Goddess in the jungle. Ibaraki-Douji went MIA. Tomoe Gozen was ambushed and went MIA while covering the evacuation of civilians. Benkei went MIA while fighting Kingu to cover Ushiwakamaru's retreat. That's essentially the long and short of it."
That perfectly aligns with what I figured, but...
"Why were there eight Servants?"
Takumi couldn't help but ask.
According to the standard rules of the Holy Grail War, there should only be seven Servants, one for each standard Class.
"Ehehe~! Isn't it completely normal for the Seven Great Servants to actually consist of eight people?"
Merlin blinked innocently, dropping a classic Nasuverse joke.
"Anyway, let's call it a day here! With your efficiency, the remaining fissures should only take a few more days to fix. For now, let me take you back to Uruk so you can formally meet King Gilgamesh!"
"He has been eagerly anticipating your arrival for quite some time now!"
Merlin suddenly smiled, as if he had just seen something incredibly amusing through his Clairvoyance.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry! I know you have an ability that lets you open a 'Spatial Gate' for fast travel! Time is of the essence; let's head to Uruk immediately!"
Calculating the time in his head, Merlin hastily shoved Takumi from behind, urging him to hurry up. His tone carried a distinct, suspicious trace of schadenfreude.
"I know, I know! Stop pushing! And stand back a bit, I'm still not perfectly used to controlling this thing!"
Being shoved forward, Takumi complained helplessly.
He could vaguely sense what Merlin was scheming, so he wasn't particularly opposed to it. Besides, he had been in the Singularity for almost a full day now; it really was time to go meet Gilgamesh face-to-face.
***
Utilizing the "Spatial Gate," the trio materialized directly in front of the main gates of the city of Uruk.
The sudden, abrupt materialization naturally put the guard soldiers on high alert. However, with the passive calming aura of the [Heart of Fire] and the active vouching of Merlin, the Grand Magus, they quickly cleared up the misunderstanding. Guided by Merlin, they proceeded deeper into Uruk, arriving before the Ziggurat—the grand temple and palace where Gilgamesh resided.
"King Gilgamesh is right inside. Knowing him, he's probably still buried under a mountain of administrative affairs. You two just head inside and wait for him."
Merlin pointed at the open doors of the grand hall, addressing Takumi and Ana.
What about you?
Although Ana didn't speak, the severe, questioning tilt of her head perfectly conveyed her thoughts.
"As for me? Naturally, I'm going to go find some beautiful young ladies and have a little fun! Now that I can actually feel rich, vibrant emotions, I've been dying to experience what that feels like again!"
Merlin smiled shamelessly, his voice practically vibrating with absolute excitement.
"Scum."
Staring at him as if looking at the lowest, most repulsive filth on earth, Ana ruthlessly dropped a single word.
"Uhh..."
Takumi scratched his head awkwardly.
While Takumi, as a normal, healthy male, could somewhat understand Merlin's basic impulses, he found Merlin's completely unashamed, blatant method of just "finding some girls to play with" utterly incomprehensible.
"Well then, farewell! Big Brother has some adult matters to attend to!"
How thick was Merlin's skin? Being called "Scum" didn't even register. He cheerfully waved goodbye and vanished into the bustling city streets within seconds.
"Shall we?"
Takumi looked at Ana beside him.
Ana nodded silently and followed closely behind him.
The two of them stepped into the grand hall.
Inside the palace, illuminated by the flickering light of countless torches, the Wise King Gilgamesh sat upon his throne. Below him, several officials clutching clay tablets were currently reporting various matters. Standing respectfully to the side was a dark-skinned woman with her lower face obscured by a veil—undoubtedly Uruk's head priestess, Siduri.
Let's wait a bit...
Takumi and Ana exchanged a glance and tactfully stepped to the side, quietly waiting for Gilgamesh to finish his current affairs.
There were only a few officials left in line anyway; it shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
Gilgamesh's administrative method was incredibly primal: absolutely everything, no matter how major or minor, was reported directly to him, and he made the final decision on the spot.
Logically, this method should be an absolute bureaucratic nightmare with terrible efficiency. But the saving grace was that Gilgamesh could literally see the future. Every single decision he made was perfectly optimized for maximum long-term benefit. Because of this, the happiness index and absolute unity of Uruk were guaranteed. It was a method where the overwhelming benefits vastly outweighed the logistical flaws.
The only real downside was that constantly utilizing Clairvoyance to micromanage an entire nation was insanely mentally taxing. If Gilgamesh weren't a demigod, his brain likely would have melted from the sheer processing load long ago.
Two minutes later, the final official bowed deeply and retreated with his clay tablet. Aside from the guards stationed at the doors, the only people left in the Ziggurat were Gilgamesh, Siduri, Takumi, and Ana.
"...Hmm? Where is Merlin? Was he not the one supposed to escort you into Our presence?"
Gilgamesh looked around the room, furrowing his brow in irritation.
Takumi and Ana remained silent.
How... exactly are we supposed to explain this?
Fortunately, they didn't need to worry about it. Gilgamesh quickly utilized his Clairvoyance to see exactly what Merlin was currently doing. He exasperatedly pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a heavy sigh:
"Enough. We already know..."
Suppressing his deep physical and mental exhaustion, Gilgamesh rallied his spirits and fixed his gaze upon the chosen "Savior" he had been eagerly anticipating for so long.
Seeing the "Flame" burning within Takumi up close with his own eyes, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed Gilgamesh's crimson irises.
To think this Flame has grown to such a profound state in such a short amount of time... Should We call it unexpected, or perfectly reasonable?
"The final Master of humanity. You have truly given the King a magnificent surprise. To think you would instigate an earth-shattering war the very moment you arrived, carving a path of destruction diagonally across the entirety of Mesopotamia in mere minutes."
"Thanks to you, the cartographers of Uruk will have to completely redraw the maps."
Gilgamesh rested his cheek on his fist, the corners of his mouth curling upward into an arrogant, yet deeply approving smile.
Although his words sounded slightly mocking, Gilgamesh held absolutely no malice. On the contrary, he was incredibly pleased that Takumi possessed such overwhelming destructive capability.
After all, the stronger Takumi was, the more beneficial it was for him—and by extension, the entirety of Uruk.
"I will absolutely find the time to go back and repair all the damage I caused..."
Takumi covered his face in sheer embarrassment.
He knew he was in the wrong, but having the King of Heroes personally call him out on his accidental vandalism was still incredibly awkward.
"Enough. Although this is Our first time meeting face-to-face, We assume both of us are already intimately familiar with each other's circumstances. We have no desire to waste time on idle pleasantries, and We doubt you have the patience to listen to them either. Let us get straight to the heart of the matter!"
In the original storyline, Gilgamesh would test Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash's strength and resolve before accepting them. But Takumi's overwhelming combat prowess and unbreakable conviction were already blatantly obvious; there was absolutely no need for such formalities.
"The King is not entirely certain of your exact motives during your recent rampage. However, We must concede the results: in a single battle, you completely crushed the schemes of the Demon God Pillars—schemes even We had yet to fully decipher. Furthermore, you severely crippled the Demonic Beast Goddess in the north. Because of your actions, the pressure on the Absolute Demonic Front has been drastically reduced. Between these two victories, Uruk, and the remaining cities of Mesopotamia, will enjoy a period of relative stability for quite some time."
"But We assume you already know this. All of this is merely an appetizer. The true, world-ending crisis will inevitably arrive."
As he spoke, Gilgamesh's gaze turned incredibly grave, and he slowly turned his eyes toward the direction of the Persian Gulf.