Ever since the five-person team led by Fujimaru Ritsuka departed for the forest, Emiya Shirou had remained behind in Uruk.
He had taken on the role of acting general.
Stationed in the royal city.
After several quiet days, the demonic beasts born from Gorgon's Authority appeared once more beyond the Northern Wall.
Activity there increased again.
However, compared to the original trajectory, the Northern Wall at this point could only be described as impregnable.
Because of Emiya Shirou's previous desperate battle, Leonidas, Ushiwakamaru, and Benkei were all still alive.
All three were stationed there.
Along with Shuna and Little Rimuru.
As long as the one attacking wasn't Enkidu or Gorgon herself, the Northern Wall would not fall.
And before the ten-day deadline Gorgon had declared-
They likely wouldn't launch a full assault.
"In that case..."
"I can afford a few days of leisure."
Walking through the streets of Uruk, Emiya Shirou scanned his surroundings as he moved.
At present, he was acting under Gilgamesh's orders.
Investigating the bizarre deaths occurring within the city.
Recently, large-scale death incidents had begun to spread throughout Uruk.
Ordinary residents would finish a day of labor, fall asleep at night-
And never wake again.
A death that came quietly.
Like the body had simply withered away.
As an investigator, Emiya Shirou understood the cause at a glance.
This was Ereshkigal's power.
Only the Mistress of the Underworld could accomplish something like this.
"Taking their lives in their sleep, so they don't feel pain..."
"Is that your form of kindness?"
He understood Ereshkigal's intentions clearly.
She wanted the souls of these humans to enter the Underworld early.
To escape the disaster that would soon engulf the surface.
After all, she knew better than anyone-
The ultimate enemy of this world could not be defeated.
"This kind of direct divine authority..."
"...is something even I can't interfere with."
The evening breeze brushed past him.
Just as Emiya Shirou was about to return to the Chaldea Embassy, a priestess from the Ziggurat came running toward him in a panic.
She told him to go there immediately.
"Huh?"
"King Gilgamesh... died?"
The moment he heard those words, Emiya Shirou rushed to the Ziggurat.
Inside, soldiers, officials, and priestesses were in complete chaos.
At the center of it all, Gilgamesh lay motionless atop a stone platform.
Emiya Shirou stepped forward.
"Calm down."
"This is not the time to panic."
"Lord Emiya!"
Seeing him, Siduri-the usually composed Chief Priestess-rushed over, her face pale.
"Emiya Shirou... the King is dead."
"What should we do?"
Looking at her shaken expression, Emiya Shirou reached out and firmly grasped her arms.
"Siduri."
"The King has fallen."
"That means you are now the one with the highest authority here."
"In times like this, anyone else may panic."
"But not you."
"You must calm down."
"You must do so immediately."
Siduri trembled.
Then, slowly, she steadied her breathing.
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
The calm and composed Chief Priestess returned.
"Listen to me," Siduri said, turning to everyone present.
"The news of the King's death is not to be spread."
"Anyone who does so will be judged as committing treason."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, Lady Siduri!"
The soldiers and officials responded at once.
In this world ruled by gods, divine authority and royal authority had always been intertwined.
They opposed one another.
And whichever prevailed held absolute power.
Gilgamesh represented royal authority.
Siduri, as Chief Priestess, represented divine authority within Uruk.
With Gilgamesh gone, she was the rightful ruler.
Especially when the city goddess of Uruk was still active and had already sided with them.
If not for Siduri's reverence for Gilgamesh-
Uruk would have long since become a city ruled entirely by the divine.
After suppressing the spread of the news, Siduri turned back to Emiya Shirou.
Her eyes asked the question she didn't speak.
"What now?"
"Gilgamesh did not die naturally," Emiya Shirou said calmly.
"Yes, his workload was heavy."
"But there's someone in Chaldea just as overworked."
"And that person is human."
"Yet he's still alive."
He was referring to Romani Archaman.
Roman.
Although his true identity had once been the Mage King Solomon, at present he was nothing more than a human.
Since learning of humanity's impending extinction, Roman had pushed himself relentlessly.
And after the restoration of Human Order began, he had been working under constant overload.
Compared to him, Gilgamesh's burden was actually lighter.
"If a human like that hasn't died..."
"...then a demigod like Gilgamesh dying from overwork would be a joke."
An insult to divinity.
Siduri nodded slowly.
She understood.
"Which means," Emiya Shirou continued, "the King's death is linked to the wasting deaths happening throughout the city."
"The wasting deaths...?"
Realization struck Siduri.
If not for the shock of Gilgamesh's sudden death, she would have noticed it sooner.
But the one who had fallen was Gilgamesh.
The pillar of Uruk.
Under such circumstances, her thoughts had frozen.
In the original trajectory, even Merlin lost his composure when he learned of Gilgamesh's death.
Because in Merlin's mind-
Gilgamesh was someone who absolutely could not die.
"Exactly," Emiya Shirou said.
"It's death by wasting away."
"I already have a lead."
"It's Ereshkigal's doing."
"Through her authority over the Underworld, she's harvesting the lives of those whose bodies have weakened."
"Letting them die peacefully in their sleep."
"And King Gilgamesh..."
"...died the same way."
Siduri's voice trembled.
"Is there still a way...?"
"If it's the work of a goddess..."
"Of course there is."
Emiya Shirou's tone was steady.
"Gilgamesh is the core of our strategy."
"He absolutely cannot die before all conditions are met."
"For now, all we can do is wait for Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others to return."
"Only Ishtar knows the path to the Underworld."
"With her guidance, we can organize an expedition."
"And retrieve King Gilgamesh's soul."
"I see...!"
Siduri's eyes filled with tears once more.
This time, they were tears of relief.
"That's wonderful..."
"Don't get carried away," Emiya Shirou said.
"There's still a great deal that needs to be done."
"For example."
"Protecting Gilgamesh's body."
"And maintaining the operation of Uruk during this period."
"All of this depends on you."
Hearing his words, Siduri nodded forcefully, tears still clinging to her lashes.
"Please..."
"Leave it to me."
🔥🔥 You can find chapters ahead here
Support link: pat_reon.com/Redon1
Also other exciting fanfic available 🔥🔥
----------------------------------------------------------
__________________________
🍊 Boost This Fanfic! 🍊
Every 350 Power Stones gets 2 bonus chapters! 🚀
Want faster updates? Show your support by dropping Power Stones, leaving reviews, and sharing your thoughts in the comments! Your engagement keeps the story going strong!