Tingyun briefly explained what happened; the rituals, magic circle and the existence of Gilgamesh. To this unprecedented news brought by Tingyun, Yukong still couldn't believe what she was hearing.
While the Memokeepers--Garden of recollections who followed Aeon of Remembrance, abandoning their physical body and becoming similar to that kind of 'ghost' in a sense, not once had she heard a term of 'Heroic Spirit'.
'And more importantly, he didn't even look like one of the gardens of recollections…' Her eyes shifted to the wise king.
"Quit staring at me, speak if you need anything." Gilgamesh stared back at her calmly.
"No, that would be all. Since Tingyun already thoroughly explained everything, even though I'm still confused about this-so-called 'heroic spirit'." She shook her head, before looking back at him.
"And, I apologise for my rudeness at you earlier," Her gaze softened a little before hardening it.
"It's just the situation in Xianzhou luofu already becoming hectic and we're in a state of cautiousness." Her eyes then shifted to Tingyun.
"And Tingyun, about those… guys you've encountered, could you bring them here? I have something to discuss about them."
"Those guys..?" Her ears twitch before nodding in understanding.
"Ah~ the benefactors? Understood, Madam Yukong."
She then looked at the wise king, before she could speak, Gilgamesh already beat her first.
"Granted. You can go and fetch those heroes." Tingyun smiled at him, nodding in gratitude before walking out.
As the door closed and Tingyun was already gone, Gilgamesh then spoke first. His calm voice echoed to her ears.
"So, what do you wish to say." It wasn't even a question at her, rather a statement as if he already predicted her words before she could say it.
"It's not really what I wish to say, rather, I just have a question left unchecked." She slightly raised her arms.
"The mark in the back of her hand… what was that?"
"A command spell," The wise king spoke shortly. Then he continues,
"In simple terms, it's the contract between me and that vessel."
"A… contract? Forgive me but how does that work?" Yukong asked curiously.
"You can say it's an absolute order to a master to their servant. A single strand of that line is enough to make their servant obey without limits, an absolute order."
"In a sense, you're this servant?" A single question, six words, and this small yet unintentional question causes the ripple in Gilgamesh pride to swirl unconditionally.
"You insolent fool! Do not label me as a mere 'servant'!" Yukong winced at his sudden outburst.
"Use the term 'heroic spirit' when addressing me!"
Calling the wise king a mere servant is already a heavy blow to his ego, while he's not his younger self; he's still a king, a prideful being. He could not tolerate being called a servant despite its not in literal sense.
"Right… apologies," She sincerely apologized to him, easing Gilgamesh's anger.
"But yes, me and that vessel of mine contracted as familiar."
"I see, I understand. Thank you, Gilgamesh." Yukong nodded her head, then thanked him.
"It's nothing." Gilgamesh turned his back at her, walking towards the door.
"Tell that vessel of mine to look for me, I'll go wander and see this place if it holds anything that entertains me."
Yukong stared at the wise king's broad back, she didn't respond as Gilgamesh finally disappeared to her sight.
"Trouble after trouble… Sigh, Oh Reignbow Arbiter (Lan) above, when will luofu stop having troubles for the time being."
—_—_—_—_—_—_—
Wind passed Gilgamesh's face, the long cloth flattered vigorously behind, yet his face remained impassive. He took a step forward and began wandering to who knows where.
Kid with fox ears and a normal kid playing together, cloud knights roaming around, vigilant as ever. And vendors promoting their products--surrounded by eager customers. A familiar sight, nothing anew.
"Hi sir, do you want to try our products? Superb delicious and many love it!" A woman with a green dress stepped forward, her cascading brown hair.
Ignoring the space of the king, invading his own solitary that none dared to take. As always, Gilgamesh glanced at her then to what she was holding.
"Super delight booba, fresh as new, cold as ice, and creamy like milk." She smiled, praising her own product.
"Ho?" Gilgamesh let out an amused noise.
"Yep," She exclaimed then eyed the wise king.
"Though, I have never seen you here before… First time in Luofu?"
"Indeed." Gilgamesh nodded at her words.
"I'm here to find something that can amuse me since my vessel has yet to return. A small venture, if you call."
The smile on the girl's face widened like she just found a priceless treasure, then raising her hand towards the king, presenting him the booba she promoted.
"Then, as a newcomer, I'll give you this booba free taste! Pretty big deal, if you asked me. Not only did you taste my amazing booba, but also found your new solitary drinks that have been waiting for you!" Her eyes wrinkle, much to the wise king's amusement.
"You think you can satisfy this king's tongue by giving this mediocrity? Presumptuous woman, very well, I shall try it then. If this drink of yours can satisfy me then a munificent reward shall be flowing at you!" With that the king grabbed the bottle on her hand, sipping at the straws.
The woman's eyes gleamed with excitement, not for the reward the king had promised, rather a feedback to what she had sold!
As the air turned still, and the woman's heartbeat pumped faster, Gilgamesh finally let go of the straw and swallowed.
"Not bad."
A single compliment that no chiefs had received, if this was in Uruk, then there's no doubt, the chief would receive such attention to the citizens. But that doesn't matter now, because the girl throws her arms in the air in excitement.
"Hooray! I knew it, my booba tea is certainly amazing!" She was busy celebrating, ignoring the king who again sipped the booba tea.
The golden gate opened in the air and a pouch of gold fell down at the king's hand. Then he throws it leisurely towards the girl's hand who somehow catches it in the middle of her celebration.
Then the wise king continued his walk, leaving the girl alone. Gilgamesh found himself at the balcony near the Starskiff main central, a sight that was pleasing to his eyes. Though it was fake, it is still worth praising to be able to build such a structure without the help of outside forces. Just their own dedication and will.
"Your highness!" A gentle voice echoed the air, his face turned towards the source and their Tingyun, Welt, Caelus and March… and a decorated dog walking towards them.
"There you are, I've been looking for you!"
"And you found me." Gilgamesh replied shortly, ignoring the others then his eyes traveled to a dog?
"And this is?"
"Diting." She stopped, then continued.
"It's a bionic dog that replicates foxians' five senses and is stronger than ours. Good for hunting or tracing a certain scent."
Gilgamesh gave it a quick uninterested glance before shifting his eyes to the Astral Express.
"It seems you'll be chasing something if you're bringing this dog with you."
"Yep, Gilgamesh." March snapped her finger excitedly, then went on.
"Diting is here to locate this wanted woman named 'Kafka'. General Jing Yuan asked us to capture her."
Upon hearing March's word, Gilgamesh finally showed an interest. His lips curled into an arrogant smile.
"Sigh~" Tingyun whimpered.
"Ho? Looks like you've become a dog sniffing around the town to find that woman, hahaha!" Gilgamesh laughter travels to their ears, Caelus and Welt revealed their weary smiles, while March puffed her cheeks and annoyedly glared at him.
"Hey, that's rude!"
"Nonetheless," He took a step forward.
"Let's go, I'll join this humorous adventure of yours." His laughter echoed loudly, while they all smiled tiredly at his antics.
"Arrogant prick." March spat, and hands suddenly pressed to her shoulder, massaging it.
"Alright, March. No need to get mad at him." Caelus tried to calm her down.
"Caelus is right, March. Gilgamesh… is just that kind of person, even in the original text. His nature is like no difference to a monarch." Welp chimed in.
"Speaking of his highness, how does your world describe him, Mr. Welt? And you seem knowledgeable to him." Tingyun also joined in.
"Well, in my world… Gilgamesh was once a ruler of a Uruk– Southern Mesopotamia. Born between Goddess Ninsun and man Lugalbanda, and named Gilgamesh, he then raised his fame as the fourth king of Uruk after his father."
"So basically you're saying this Gilgamesh is not only a king but half God? Is it an Aeon?" March pressed his finger to her cheeks.
"Probably?" Caelus shrugged his shoulders.
"That… I don't know whether it was Aeon or not, but history told me it was a 'goddess'."
"...you have been using the past tense, Mr. Welt." Tingyun stared at him, pointing out his words.
"That's right, Gilgamesh ruled Uruk four thousand six hundred years ago in my world."
"Holy crap!? He was that old and he's still alive?!" March and Caelus widened their eyes as Welt dropped the bomb.
"No, he's been dead, so I don't know how he is still alive." Welt shook his head.
'I see. So it makes sense now. Heroic spirit, contract and this 'mana' he's using inside of me…' Tingyun finally clicked on why and how.
"Anyway, let's continue our search for Kafka, benefactors."
"Right, I forgot about that part." March and Caelus once again said in unison, and Welt shook his head, loss for his words.
Resuming their investigation, and using Diting to follow the traces Kafka left behind.
—_—_—_—_—_—
"Ugh, so annoying!" March looked at the red lipstick in her hands. After so many left and turns, even finding himself near the dock of the ships, they still couldn't find Kafka.
"Look, Diting ran towards the vase!" Caelus pointed at Diting who was already circling the vase.
"Quick." They then ran towards Diting and smashed the vase revealing a grenade.
"W-wait what? Is she mocking us?!" March finally snapped, throwing away the grenade.
"Calm down March, kafka may have been plotting something and don't get too agitated quickly." Welt gazes traveled between the cargos.
"That's right March, as Mr. Yang said, 'patience is a virtue'." Caelus pressed his hand to her shoulder as March slumped sadly.
"Oh dear, there's no need to feel heated up." A woman's voice suddenly bloomed, and Tingyun and the Astral Express looked up and there, a woman with a tight shirt, and short with dark red stockings. Black heel-boots, black jacket with a spider web design draped to her shoulder.
"It's the wanted kafka!" Tingyun snapped from her thoughts and pointed at her.
"Great! You're finally here, you prick!" March bow suddenly appeared and she pulled the bowstring.
"Alright, March!" followed by Caelus equipping his baseball bat.
"Hi, Caelus. I trust the Astral Express took care of you greatly? And I'm afraid you still have more things to do than battling me." As the words escaped from her lips, two cloud knights jumped down, pointing their weapons at them.
"Using cloud knights as a meat shield? Typical villain stuff!" March's mocking voice traveled to her.
"Better hurry and catc–" Just as she was about to turn around and leaves, a golden portal shimmer brightly next to her suddenly appearing along with a wand's head, who is starting to gathered an energy.
"!!!" Kafka immediately jumps back as the space she just used exploded, creating a thick smoke and eventually disappearing.
"Who gave you permission to leave, hound." Gilgamesh stared at the Kafka, and she too also stared back. A blank wine eyes and crimson slit like snake eyes stared at each other.
--_--_--_--_--_--_--
it's bad, repetitive, limited words, and yet, will you stay and support this uneducated mongrel?
Uhh, I created another fan fiction of Oberon in Previous Era in Honkai impact 3rd, should I also post it? If I post, I might be able to forget to write a chapter to this book or should I only post it after finishing this?