Singularity 7: Babylonia/Story

❮ Camelot

Order VII - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia

Solomon ❯

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Romani Archaman
Morning, Mash. I have something personal to discuss with you today.

Mash
This morning, the Doctor came to me like any other day.

Mash
His voice, his breath, his mannerisms.
He was the same calm, peaceful man he always was.

Romani Archaman
As your primary physician, I need to have a serious discussion with you. I'm going to grit my teeth and tell you the truth here.

Romani Archaman
Mash Kyrielight, your lifespan is nearing its limit.

Romani Archaman
Just like humanity has no future past 2019, you have no future beyond that time.

Romani Archaman
This was decided at the beginning.
You can't stop it, I can't stop it. No one can stop it.

Romani Archaman
Even the Grail, the supposedly omnipotent wish granter, cannot change this fate.

Romani Archaman
After all, the Grail is merely a shadow that fell just one step lower from a higher dimensional phase. A great crystallized magical resource.

Romani Archaman
Calling it an omnipotent wish granter is like saying you can buy anything with money.

Romani Archaman
The truth is, the Grail can only execute what a human envisions. It is not omnipotent. Don't be mistaken about that.

Mash
I silently agreed. The Grail is only a means of accelerating things.

Mash
Raising buildings. Building cities. Making epochs.

Mash
For everything humans have done, the Grail uses its vast stores of magical energy to make the process quicker.

Mash
Why was the Doctor telling me something that I already knew?

Romani Archaman
You're going to die soon. It has nothing to do with your own will. It's simply how you were created.

Romani Archaman
Do you find that frustrating? Or sad?
Does it make you feel empty?

Mash
Well, I—

Romani Archaman
It's terrible. I'm not talking about Chaldea's research.
I'm talking about all of humanity, and all of life.

Romani Archaman
Living things are destined to die from the moment they're born. And yet, they possess the capacity to grow.

Romani Archaman
If something's going to die, why bother growing? Both the physical body and the spirit should maintain the same state from birth till death.

Romani Archaman
If they did, there would be no sadness or pain. Everything would be equal. Everything would have meaning from the beginning.

Romani Archaman
But this planet's life is nothing but waste.
It's essentially growing just so that it can die.

Romani Archaman
It's meaningless. Truly meaningless. The more time passes, the more life leaves this world unfulfilled.

Romani Archaman
I can't help but think that, when it comes to the life-forms on this world, the planet simply has the wrong settings.

Romani Archaman
Don't you think so, Mash?
You are half-manmade.

Romani Archaman
You are an incomplete being, a product made by imperfect humans who tried to play God.

Romani Archaman
You have the right to hate them, and the duty to reject them. Human history has no value.

Romani Archaman
All this is no more than the remnants left behind by humans leading meaningless lives.

Romani Archaman
It just so happens to look like a picture that has meaning.

Mash
...What was strange was how gentle his words were.

Mash
Everything he said was impossible for me to accept.
I couldn't agree at all.

Mash
But his voice was so gentle.
His words were filled with wisdom and compassion.

Mash
“If it's causing you pain, you can stop.” He whispered into my ear with a voice both sweet and dangerous.

Mash
But...

Mash
You're not Dr. Roman, are you?

Romani Archaman
...

Mash
Dr. Roman can be pessimistic, anti-social, and he often says the wrong thing and gives up...

Mash
But he would never deny any kind of human effort.
You only look like him. You're something else entirely.

Romani Archaman
...Ha.

Romani Archaman
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

--SECTION BREAK--

Mash
...6:00 AM... This is when I always wake up—

Mash
...What a strange dream.

Mash
It felt like I was being dragged down. As if I took one wrong step, I would never wake from the dream.

Mash
Senpai went through the same thing before.
But why would it happen to me now...?

Mash
!

Mash
The call from the Command Room made me feel tense. Perhaps the strange dream had affected me.

Mash
I had a feeling that this was a premonition. One that was telling me that my Rayshift into the Seventh Singularity will be my last.

Dr. Roman
You got here five minutes after the summons.
Looks like you're ready to go, Fujimaru.

Dr. Roman
Given how abrupt the summons was and how early in the morning it is, I suppose there's no need for explanation...

  1. The day has finally come.
  2. Command Room staff seem more excited than usual.
  Select: The day has finally come.

  Select: Command Room staff seem more excited than usual.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Yes, that's right. The day's finally here.

Dr. Roman
According to Chaldea's clocks, there's not much of 2018 left. The lost year of 2019 is almost upon us.

Dr. Roman
Before that happens, we need to find out what caused the Incineration of Humanity.

Dr. Roman
That is the purpose of our Grand Order.
And our long journey is almost at an end.

Dr. Roman
Master Fujimaru, we owe it all to you and Mash.

Mash
I'm sorry! I'm two minutes late!
Mash Kyrielight has arrived!

Fou
Foou!

  1. Morning, Mash.
  2. You look a little tense, Mash.
  Select: Morning, Mash.
Mash
Oh... Hello. Good morning, Senpai.
Mash
Sorry for being so flustered.
I need to stay calm at all times, don't I?

  Select: You look a little tense, Mash.
Mash
D-do I? I'm sorry, I washed my face with three times as much cold water as usual, but...
Mash
I guess it wasn't enough...
Mash
But hearing your voice made me feel better. The first thing I need to say is “Good morning,” right, Senpai?

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Yes, yes. Good to see you're getting along. A tough spirit is one thing, but teamwork is important too.

Dr. Roman
All right. Fujimaru, Mash, let's try this again.

Dr. Roman
At seven o'clock this morning, Chaldea completed its preparations for the seventh Singularity Rayshift.

Dr. Roman
We've little time left.
Our backs are against the wall here.

Dr. Roman
The last Singularity... This is the Grail that Solomon sent into the past himself, and I'd like you to recover it.

Dr. Roman
I know I sound like a broken record, but are you ready? It's going to be another tough journey.

  1. Leave it to us. We'll do our best.
  2. Of course. We'll bring back souvenirs.
  Select: Leave it to us. We'll do our best.

  Select: Of course. We'll bring back souvenirs.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Dr. Roman
Yeah. That's the kind of person you are, Fujimaru. I was silly to even ask.

Dr. Roman
Then let's start the briefing. This time, we will Rayshift to the beginning of human history–

Dr. Roman
The beginning of all civilization, the world when it was unified as one.

Dr. Roman
The mother that flourished along the Tigris and Euphrates and influenced a great many civilizations.

Dr. Roman
One of the world's oldest civilizations, which began almost simultaneously with the earliest Egyptian kingdoms.

Dr. Roman
In the world of magecraft, this era was the twilight of the Age of Gods and a topic of research.

Dr. Roman
The land of ancient Mesopotamia, 2600 B.C. The beginning of Sumerian civilization after the Ubaid culture.

Fou
Fooou...

Mash
The world of the B.C. era... Where reality was a place of mystery, and gods walked the land...

Da Vinci
Indeed! Mesopotamia, in the age of the first Sumerian kings!

Da Vinci
Just the process of getting there makes this tougher than any previous Singularity!

Da Vinci
It's the last age of fantasy on Earth, when gods and monsters were a part of everyday life!

  1. The great Da Vinci is here!
  2. Good morning, Da Vinci.
  Select: The great Da Vinci is here!
Da Vinci
That's right, I'm here!
Thank you for another great reaction!
Da Vinci
It was worth waiting for the right moment to come out.
Da Vinci
I mean, genius is measured by how much surprise one can generate. So Fujimaru, come find me later, I'll give you some embers.
Dr. Roman
Jeez... If you were waiting for the right moment, I'd have preferred you'd just shown up from the beginning.

  Select: Good morning, Da Vinci.
Da Vinci
Humph. What kind of response is that? How boring! All my effort waiting to burst out at the right moment has gone up in smoke!
Mash
I wouldn't say that. You surprised me. To think one person has the power to silence the entire room in an instant.
Mash
Um... The way you put so much effort into such trivial matters... I wish Senpai could be like that sometimes.
Fou
Fou, fou!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Leonardo, quit messing around.
Do you have what I asked you for?

Da Vinci
Yes, it's done. Of course it would be.

Da Vinci
Fujimaru, here's a present for you.

Mash
Is this...a scarf? It seems to be made from very fine and sturdy fibers...

Da Vinci
Remember the mask I made to protect you in the desert? Say hello to Mark II!

Da Vinci
The mana density in the atmosphere is much greater than what you experienced in ancient Egypt.

Da Vinci
There's a limit to what you can take with you on a Rayshift. This is the bare minimum, but I promise you it's effective.

  1. ...I see. Thank you.
  2. Is it my birthday today?
  Select: ...I see. Thank you.
Da Vinci
Oh, by the way, I'll be in the Command Room this time as well. Don't worry about proving your existence in that era.

  Select: Is it my birthday today?
Da Vinci
Don't be silly. I'd get you something much fancier than this for your birthday.
Da Vinci
However, that's an excellent response. Wit and humor can be powerful weapons for humans.

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
All right. I suppose I shall give you a small lecture on the place you're about to visit.

Da Vinci
The word “Mesopotamia” is Greek in origin.
“Meso” means middle, and “potamia” means river.

Da Vinci
It refers to the civilization that flourished between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that flowed into the Persian Gulf.

Da Vinci
The Order name is Babylonia, but it wasn't called that until a little later.

Mash
Ancient Mesopotamia... Sumer...

Mash
What's classified as ancient civilization does seem to span over a long period of time.

Mash
For instance, between 5000 B.C. and 2000 B.C., many different civilizations flourished and they all played important roles in human history.

Da Vinci
Indeed. This time we're sending you to one of those civilizations in 2600 B.C., the age of the first kings.

Da Vinci
From the point of view of magecraft, it's the era when humans parted ways with the gods.

Dr. Roman
That's right. I don't know the reason the king of this era made that decision...

Dr. Roman
...but it was at this point that the Age of Gods came to an end, and by the advent of the Anno Domini era, all Divine Spirits had disappeared from the Earth.

Dr. Roman
Some may have lasted into the A.D. era in some island countries, but by 1000 A.D. they were gone.

Dr. Roman
Except for extreme cases, like deities that remained completely isolated from humans.

Dr. Roman
Well, let's put that topic aside. What I really wanted to talk to you about was the difficulty of this Rayshift.

Dr. Roman
Rayshifting into the B.C. era is extremely difficult.

Dr. Roman
The further back into human history you go, the more unstable the Rayshift. So, as you get closer to the Age of Gods, things get more uncertain.

Dr. Roman
Some academics call the Age of Gods an age of uncertainty. It's not something that lends itself to observation.

Dr. Roman
On top of that, Sheba is refusing to stabilize.
Actually, I doubt it ever will.

Fou
Foufou.

Da Vinci
Yeah. But with the help of the staff at Chaldea, we were able to calculate the location of the Seventh Singularity and observe it.

Da Vinci
Given the difficulty, I'll be staying here in the Command Room. Which also means I won't be able to act as navigator, but still...

Da Vinci
On my honor as a genius, I hereby swear that I will flawlessly prove your existence.

Da Vinci
Soooooo, don't worry about a thing!
Get out there and go have a grand adventure!

Dr. Roman
Leonardo's statements are inappropriate, but this really is an experience not many can have.

Dr. Roman
You're going to the ancient world, a place that modern man will never know about.

Dr. Roman
The danger is immeasurable, but I hope that's also how amazing your discoveries will be.

  1. Today, on The History Channel Presents...
  2. We'll do it for you too, Doctor.
  Select: Today, on The History Channel Presents...

  Select: We'll do it for you too, Doctor.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Yeah. Once we put an end to everything, tell me what you've learned on this journey.

Da Vinci
Hey there. Don't get so sentimental.

Da Vinci
Fujimaru is about to go to battle.
You need to keep them sharp.

Da Vinci
Sheesh... Romani, go and get some sleep.
Trying to act tough just proves you're tired.

Dr. Roman
I beg your pardon. I got plenty of rest.
I'm all fired up and ready to go!

Dr. Roman
Come. Your Coffins are ready. From here on, this will be your battle, Fujimaru.

Dr. Roman
The Sixth Singularity was full of special conditions we never came across before. This one's going to be every bit as tough.

Dr. Roman
It's a unique era, after all.
Stay calm, and be ready to deal with anything.

Dr. Roman
A tense heart will shatter from a blow.
Being flexible and adaptable will get you further.

  1. Right. See you soon, Doctor!
  2. I've got a good example right in front of me.
  Select: Right. See you soon, Doctor!

  Select: I've got a good example right in front of me.

===Branch End===

Mash
...

Dr. Roman
Hmm? What's wrong, Mash?
I figured you'd be all set to go.

Mash
Yes. I'm ready to do whatever I must to support Master's investigation and operations in the Seventh Singularity.

Mash
...But, I'm sorry, Doctor. Can I ask you something?

Dr. Roman
What is it? I hope it's something I can answer.

Mash
...Yes. This is kind of a philosophical question... but do humans... rather, does life have any meaning at all?

Mash
I mean objectively, not subjectively. I've never thought about it, but it's really bothering me.

Dr. Roman
Hmm... That's a tough question.

Dr. Roman
Objective meaning, huh? I mean, if you look at things from a god's perspective, life might all seem equally meaningless.

Mash
...

Dr. Roman
Well... Really, life has neither meaning, nor merit, right up to the end.

Mash
The end?

Dr. Roman
Yeah. If you're asking about the meaning of it all, well, there isn't any.

Dr. Roman
Nothing has meaning on its own.
Meaning is something that gets determined later.

Dr. Roman
Humans are born, grow up, and die all without meaning.

Dr. Roman
It's only when a life's over that you finally see what it meant.

Dr. Roman
That's what life is, Mash.

Dr. Roman
We don't live in order to create meaning.
We live so meaning can be found from our life.

Mash
...Yes. That's how I'd like to live my life, too.

Mash
Thank you, Dr. Roman. I'm grateful for all the kindness you've shown me.

Dr. Roman
...

Dr. Roman
All right, you're both in your Coffins, yeah?

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, your mission this time is to recover the Grail.

Dr. Roman
It's important to find and remove the cause of the Singularity, but your biggest goal is to recover the Grail.

Dr. Roman
We don't know its exact coordinates. But it should be somewhere in Mesopotamia, your Rayshift destination.

Dr. Roman
I pray that this is our last search for the Holy Grail.

Dr. Roman
All right! I'm starting the Rayshift program!

Dr. Roman
Everyone here on Chaldea's staff will do their very best to send Master Fujimaru to the B.C. era!

Announcement A
Unsummon Program, start.
Spiritron Conversion, start.

Announcement A
Rayshift starting in 3, 2, 1...

Announcement A
All procedures cleared.
Seventh Grand Order, commencing operation.

Section 1: In the Age of the Gods

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Sumerian
Ohhh... Please, please have mercy...! O Mother Goddess, Mother of Demonic Beasts, the one who reigns supreme!

Sumerian
We do not defy you...! The remaining cities, people, wealth, everything is yours—

Sumerian
Eeeeeek! D-don't eat me!
Please, don't eat meeeeee...!

Sumerian
Kazallu is different than Uruk!
We have no intention of following that foolish king!

Sumerian
W-we will sacrifice everyone up to our second-class citizens! You can have them all! Treat them like livestock I don't care!

Sumerian
So please, leave us... Leave us alone, ah! Eeeeeeyaaaaaaggghh...!!!

B：???
Lowly creatures. I am utterly disgusted with you. We have said before that not a single human shall survive.

B：???
Even monkeys are smarter than these humans. Do they really think they're worthy as food? At best, they are fit to fertilize the land.

C：???
That's still no reason to crush them to death with that serpent body of yours. After all, we're in our assembly hall.

C：???
Isn't it good manners to dispose of the prey you capture in your own lair?

B：???
What, you don't like snakes?
I thought you would enjoy playing with them like that.

C：???
Weeell... I'm really more for beating my enemies to a pulp in a hand-to-hand brawl, yes! Buuut...

C：???
Gracias, pero noooooo! The weight class difference bothers meeeeee! Your way of killing is too sloppyyyyyy!

B：???
I thought I was handling them with care.
Humans are just too fragile.

B：???
Eshnunna, Sippar, Kish, and Kazallu.
I have swallowed up most of the northern cities.

B：???
It is only a matter of time before Nippur falls. It won't even take a month to break through that damned Northern Wall.

D：???
Well, well. Your ego sure is as big as your body. After working on it for half a year, you still need another month?

D：???
You used enough Demonic Beasts to fill the land, yet you only managed to neutralize the north?

D：???
Will you really be able to crush that front in another month? You don't need our help?

B：???
I do not. We have sworn not to interfere with each other. I do not require your help. In the first place...

B：???
I find massacring humans all at once to be quite wasteful.

B：???
Thus, I have ordered the Demonic Beasts to do whatever they desire to the humans they capture.

B：???
They may drag them to their den and slowly kill them.
Or they may eat them alive.

B：???
Or perhaps the humans can be used as raw materials for my temple.

D：???
...Raw materials for your temple? No wonder it smells even worse than the last time I came here.

D：???
The stench is so strong, it makes me nauseous.
A pity, since death is so very pure.

D：???
Isn't it the same with you?
Wasn't death an everyday thing in your mythos?

C：???
Exaaactly! Keeping the beaten alive for later is unthiiinkable!

C：???
That being said, this is the result of the survival of the fittest. I won't condemn her principles.

C：???
...After all, I'd do the same thing.
In the end, I meticulously snuff them out, one by one.

C：???
Isn't that what this is? That's why we were summoned.

C：???
The goddess who slays this era's king and obtains the Holy Grail will become the ruler of this world.

C：???
That's what we, the Three Goddess Alliance, swore, right?

C：???
Or, what? Have you changed your mind? Do you feel pity for slaughtering humans, as foolish as they are?

C：???
As you're the one and only legitimate surviving Sumerian goddess of this era, are you losing your taste for slaughter?

D：???
...Nonsense. This is exactly what I want.

D：???
Uruk has been my land from the very beginning.
I just let the humans borrow it on a whim.

D：???
I feel neither mercy nor obligation. As a pillar for the Three Goddess Alliance, I will erase humans from the face of this land.

B：???
Heh... Abandoned even by a native goddess. The humans of this era truly are inferior wretches not worth saving.

E：Boy's Voice
Good. It sounds like your wills are unwavering. Mother will be relieved to know that the alliance's oath is eternal.

B：???
...Is that you? When did you return? How many times must I tell you to go to Mother when you've returned?

E：Boy's Voice
As you can see, I'm hurrying over to you now.

E：Boy's Voice
Mother, you should refrain from associating with these two goddesses on your own.

E：Boy's Voice
They are dependable allies, but fearsome competitors at the same time.

E：Boy's Voice
More importantly, they're the only beings on Earth that possess the Authority necessary to kill you, Mother.

E：Boy's Voice
It's entirely possible they joined forces with you because they want the Holy Grail and are planning to betray you.

D：???
They wouldn't do that.
The alliance of goddesses is not so fickle.

D：???
An attack upon another goddess will turn into divine punishment that rebounds upon the attacker. She who raises her hand would be destroyed.

D：???
Therefore the only attack we have is to obtain the Holy Grail before the others.

D：???
That is the game we play.

E：Boy's Voice
Yes. The king of Uruk has the Holy Grail hidden somewhere. The goddess who obtains it will rule the post-human world.

E：Boy's Voice
The Grail was sent to this land— It's the one contract that the Mage King established.

E：Boy's Voice
However, the method of obtaining the objective wasn't laid out. Therefore, everyone is free to search for the Holy Grail however they like.

E：Boy's Voice
For example—Mother's method is to seek the Grail within the ashes of Uruk after eradicating the humans.

E：Boy's Voice
And your method, which seems to be decimating Uruk with nature itself combined with your own physical prowess.

E：Boy's Voice
Or, finally, yours, which could be as simple as waving a hand and wiping out all life in an instant, before anyone knew what happened.

E：Boy's Voice
All of these are little more than your own pathways to acquiring the Holy Grail itself. Still... Be careful...

E：Boy's Voice
I sensed a strange fluctuation... That final ray of hope for humanity's future prophesied by Uruk's astrologer...

E：Boy's Voice
The last mage, who may yet protect humanity, has arrived in our era.

Mash
Aaaaaaaaahhhh!

Fou
Foooooouuuuu!

  1. Whoooooooaaaaa!
 
  Select: Whoooooooaaaaa!

===Branch End===

Mash
We're falling! Where's the parachute!? I estimate that we're currently at an altitude of 200 meters!

Mash
Seven seconds until impact!
M-M-M-Master, your orders! What should I do!?

  1. Calm down and brace for impact!
  2. Mash, I'm counting on you...!
  Select: Calm down and brace for impact!

  Select: Mash, I'm counting on you...!

===Branch End===

Mash
!

Mash
Yes, Mash Kyrielight will do her utmost!
Master, give me your hand...!

Mash
Okay, caught you!
Now just grab onto my waist and hold tight please!

Fou
Fou, foooouuu!

Mash
Noble Phantasm, deploy...!
Galahad, grant me your power...!

Mash
...Senpai... I mean, Master.
Are you hurt...?

  1. ...I'll live.
  2. ...Thank you. Nice save, Mash.
  Select: ...I'll live.

  Select: ...Thank you. Nice save, Mash.

===Branch End===

Mash
No, I'm the one who needs to thank you.
It happened so suddenly that my mind went blank—

Mash
Blank. ...Um, you're still clinging to me, Senpai.

Fou
Fou fou fouuuu. Fou, fouuu!

Mash
Ah... Fou, you took cover in my shield?
Thank goodness you're safe, too.

Fou
Fou, fou.

Mash
Senpai, can you stand?

  1. Yes, I'm fine.
  2. Fou... You really are smart!
  Select: Yes, I'm fine.
Mash
I'm glad. The landing wasn't perfect, but it seems the Rayshift was successful.

  Select: Fou... You really are smart!
Fou
Fou. Mumf, fouuuu fou, fouuuu...

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Are both of you all right!? Safe and sound!? Whew!
For a second there, I didn't know what would happen!

Mash
Yes. We had a 200-meter free fall when we Rayshifted, but Master's quick thinking saved us.

Mash
There have been many accidents up until now, but I never thought we'd end up in midair after a Rayshift.

Mash
Doctor, what happened?

Dr. Roman
...Apparently the Rayshift was intentionally tampered with.

Dr. Roman
We successfully set it to the biggest city of that era.

Dr. Roman
But immediately after the Rayshift was established, it seems all of you were forcibly shot to that location.

Mash
...Do you think it could be interference from the King of Mages?

  1. Hmm. That's probably not it.
  2. Maybe this is that city.
  Select: Hmm. That's probably not it.
Dr. Roman
Yes. I agree with Fujimaru.
My guess is that some power in the city repelled you.
Dr. Roman
Not even Solomon is almighty. He can't be on guard against us when we can appear anytime, anywhere.

  Select: Maybe this is that city.
Dr. Roman
City? Wait, did you end up somewhere in the city?
I do see multiple life signals, but...

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Okay, sorry for interrupting☆ Roman, I got an answer for you. What they experienced was a forced deportation caused by a barrier.

Da Vinci
There seems to be a Bounded Field around the city of Uruk. Probably to ward off attacks.

Mash
...So we bounced off of the city's defense mechanism. It's true that we are trespassers, but...

Dr. Roman
...Yeah. The question is, why is an ominous field like that set up?

Dr. Roman
Like all of the Singularities up until now, there is impending danger in the city of Uruk.

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, Mash.
First reassess the situation.

Dr. Roman
We're calculating coordinates over here, but the precision is still low. Actually, there's too much information!

Dr. Roman
Blame it on the ancient world. The mana concentration is so thick that our information processing can't keep up.

Dr. Roman
Under these circumstances, visual footage from Fujimaru will give us clues to analyze.

Dr. Roman
Well, does anything stick out?
What about that band of light in the sky?

Mash
Ah... That's right. We'll continue monitoring the situation. The band of light... Yes, it's still there.

Dr. Roman
...I see. So there's one in that era, too.

Dr. Roman
In that case, there must be a place where the Incineration of Humanity was carried out...

Dr. Roman
Do you notice anything else?
What kind of place you're in?

  1. For lack of a better word... Ruins.
  2. Ruins as far as the eye can see.
  Select: For lack of a better word... Ruins.

  Select: Ruins as far as the eye can see.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
I see. Ruins, huh? I mean, I could kind of tell from the video feed, but... (Sigh)

Dr. Roman
You're pretty far away from Uruk. I was thinking you should gather food before heading there, but...

Mash
That won't be possible, unfortunately. There's nothing but ruins here. Both food and information gathering are out of the question.

Dr. Roman
I thought so. The only silver lining is that Da Vinci's scarf is working well.

Dr. Roman
According to the data we're getting, the concentration of mana in the air is higher than in Egypt.

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, how are you, physically?
Do you have a headache or ringing in your ears?

  1. I'm perfectly fine.
  2. I don't hear ringing...but I can hear crying.
  Select: I'm perfectly fine.
Da Vinci
See, what did I tell you? My work is perfect. You owe me some Japanese sweets from your stash, Romani!

  Select: I don't hear ringing...but I can hear crying.
Dr. Roman
An abnormality in your tympanum?
No, the fact that you can hear crying means—

===Branch End===

Mash
Please wait, Doctor! I thought I heard a faint rumbling from the ground—

Mash
I'm picking up odd magical energy heading our way!
Are you getting it on the monitor!?

Dr. Roman
Confirmed! It's a hostile! It took a long time to confirm because it's a pattern we haven't seen before!

Dr. Roman
The staff apologizes, too! Uh, but that can wait till later! The enemy's coming!

Dr. Roman
2600 B.C., ancient Sumeria—
Your first battle in the in the Age of Gods.

Dr. Roman
But you have nothing to fear.
After all, you haven't lost yet.

Dr. Roman
Show this era the power of the Master and Servant who overcame six Singularities!

  1. Roger! Let's go, Mash!
  2. Well said, Doctor! Time to do this!
  Select: Roger! Let's go, Mash!

  Select: Well said, Doctor! Time to do this!

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Mash
The battle is over. We've only sustained minor injuries. However—

  1. It was an enemy type we've never seen before.
 
  Select: It was an enemy type we've never seen before.

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes. I'm not sure how to describe it, but...
It looked to be from a completely different ecosystem...

Mash
Unlike werebeasts, dragons, and other creatures that eventually disappeared from the world at the end of the Age of Gods...

Mash
But those Demonic Beasts... I don't think they were of this world at all.

Fou
...

Dr. Roman
...Not of this world, huh... Perhaps they differed from the garden variety Demonic Beasts that existed in the Age of Gods.

Dr. Roman
We were prepared. We had data on of all the Phantasmals and Demonic Beasts from the Sumerian era.

Dr. Roman
But none of it matches what you've just encountered... What is going on...?

Mash
...And that's not the worst of it: those Demonic Beasts were clearly trying to kill us.

Mash
It wasn't mere hostility. Their intention was to kill.

Mash
All of the Demonic Beasts we've encountered thus far have attacked us out of bestial instinct, to feed themselves...

Mash
The Demonic Beasts just now, though, they attacked solely to kill us. I could feel the hatred in their eyes...

Dr. Roman
Hatred... Demonic Beasts that harbor hatred toward humans... Are you saying they're trying to annihilate us, not eat us?

Dr. Roman
...If so, you're in danger.
Fujimaru, leave that city immediately.

  1. Wait, what?
  2. ...Are you saying the reason the city is in ruins is...
  Select: Wait, what?
Fou
...

  Select: ...Are you saying the reason the city is in ruins is...
Dr. Roman
Yeah, that possibility is high. That's why you should leave immediately.

===Branch End===

Mash
I agree with the Doctor, Master.
Animals act in packs.

???
OUTTA MY WAAAAAAY!!!

Mash
I don't think that's the last of the Demonic Beasts—Oh?

???
Hey you! You're IN THE WAY!
I can't use my decrees with you there!

Mash
Um, Senpai. Did you hear something?
It sounded like a voice...

  1. Yeah, I did. But I guess...
  2. It's no use. We can't avoid this.
  Select: Yeah, I did. But I guess...

  Select: It's no use. We can't avoid this.

===Branch End===

Mash
Huh? ...Um... Wait, wait, wait!

???
How am I supposed to brake in time if the air brakes don't work! Oh no, I'm going to hit them!

???
If Father finds out, he'll take my license away for sure! But let me say this first: I'm NOT in the wrong!

Mash
Master, are you all right!?
Something beige, coming in at a 45-degree angle...

Mash
...has just fallen from the sky.

Fou
Fou... Fou, fou!

  1. Ouch...
  2. Owww...
  Select: Ouch...

  Select: Owww...

===Branch End===

???
Ouch... What a disaster... I didn't think I would be sniped from the ground...

???
Luckily the damage wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I guess I have my usual benevolent (read: violent) deeds to thank for that.

???
...Huh? What's this?

  1. Hey there. I'm your cushion.
  2. I'll see you in court!
  Select: Hey there. I'm your cushion.

  Select: I'll see you in court!

===Branch End===

???
Wait, what are youuuuuu!

Dr. Roman
What's going on over there!?
Fujimaru's vitals are all red!

Mash
Well, a woman fell from the sky... Oh, the mysterious woman separated herself from Senpai.

Dr. Roman
This era has way too many crash landings! Still, it's good we've met a native. Now we can get info—

Dr. Roman
Whoa! Whoa whoa whoaaaaaa! These numbers... Is this for real!? Is this some kind of mistake!?

???
...What's that? Some kind of Mystic that lets you see from afar? Also, it has a reeeally annoying voice!

???
But that doesn't matter for now. Let's talk about this wretched fool's punishment for touching my body without my permission.

???
Your face and outfit are unfamiliar. What city are you from? I didn't think there were still humans around.

???
Are you a sacrifice fleeing from Nippur?
Or a survivor from Babylon?

???
Whichever it is, give yourself up.
After I shoot your limbs off, I'll scatter you over Mt. Ebih.

Mash
(Master, this woman is ready for battle!
I can sense her genuine animosity towards you!)

???
I see. I'll take your silence as confirmation of my assumption. Good, I don't have to show you any mercy.

???
If you were from Uruk, I'd have shown some mercy. Curse your bad luck.

  1. Wait. Let's calm down and talk about this.
  2. Hold it. We need to settle this accident first.
  Select: Wait. Let's calm down and talk about this.
???
What are you talking about?
How dare a mere human speak to me like that!
???
Talk it out? ...With me? Why would I do that?
You're not even from the Sacred Temple.

  Select: Hold it. We need to settle this accident first.
???
Settle... You mean a trial? Th-the answer is no. I'm not falling for that!
???
No matter how minor the collision, the one in the vehicle is at a disadvantage! I know that!

===Branch End===

Mash
Please hold on...!

Mash
The collision was an unforeseen accident, and it seems neither side was responsible!

Mash
So can we please have a word with you?
Um, well... Miss... who are you?

  1. That's right. We need a name first.
 
  Select: That's right. We need a name first.

===Branch End===

???
...Are you guys seriously saying you don't know who I am?

Mash
Yes. Well... sorry. It hasn't even been an hour since we arrived in this era...

Mash
We are members of a group called Chaldea. We were sent here to this Singularity to correct the course of humanity.

Mash
I'm sure you don't know what we're talking about, but we're not suspicious...

Mash
Actually, Senpai's hands looked plenty suspicious, so something ought to be said about that, but...

Fou
Fou, fou.

???
So, you're guests from afar? That's hard to believe...
But, I suppose stuff like that happens.

???
You might say I'm here in a similar manner.
Fine. I will believe your words.

???
In other words, you have no idea who I am. You don't know about this world, or what's happening here.

???
...I see. Then your disrespect, insolence, and impoliteness can't be helped. You're barbarians from a distant world, after all.

???
Look, touching me without permission is completely unforgivable in this world.

???
Any Sumerian would immediately apologize, but wouldn't be forgiven even after offering their whole family's life savings.

???
Keep that in mind from now on.
Assuming you want to survive in this world, that is.

???
And thanks for being my cushion.
You were at least as helpful as a pile of hay.

Dr. Roman
That's not a very nice way to say thanks...

Dr. Roman
At least she seems to have calmed down, so why don't we re-introduce ourselves?

Dr. Roman
I'm Romani Archaman.
I'm the acting commander of Chaldea.

Dr. Roman
This {(M) boy /(F) girl} is Fujimaru, a Master who's formed contracts with Heroic Spirits and commands them as Servants.

Dr. Roman
And, this girl is one of those Servants, Mash Kyrielight.

Dr. Roman
...We're done introducing ourselves.

Dr. Roman
So, who are you?
Based on my readings, you're probably a—

???
You're not worthy to hear my name.
Just forget about me.

???
Especially you over there.
Fujimaru, was it?

???
Forget everything that happened earlier.
If you do, I'll at least spare your life.

  1. What thing earlier?
  2. So many things have happened, so...
  Select: What thing earlier?

  Select: So many things have happened, so...

===Branch End===

???
Like! I! Was! Saying! If any of this gets out, like how I mishandled the Boat of Heaven, or how I screamed, or about my current body size...

???
...I'll chase you to the ends of the earth!

Mash
(This is not good, Senpai. She doesn't seem to want to kill you anymore, but I can still sense her hostility.)

Mash
(In my personal opinion, gaining any information from her will be quite a difficult task...)

  1. Seems that way... One bad move and we're dead.
  2. You think so? She looks like a softy...
  Select: Seems that way... One bad move and we're dead.
???
Oh, you understand. Wonderful.
It's a good thing to be humble.
???
I won't treat you with disdain with that attitude, so revere me... Like, three times a day.

  Select: You think so? She looks like a softy...
???
I heard that! Who are you calling a softy!?

===Branch End===

???
...Humph. Fine. There's no point being mad at barbarians.

???
You wanted to know about this era, you said.
Go figure those things out with your own eyes and ears.

???
I won't tell you anything. Actually, you tell me.

???
Right... For example, did you see anything precious lying around here?

Mash
What?

Fou
Fou?

  1. What is it?
 
  Select: What is it?

===Branch End===

???
Like I said, something precious.
Was anything on the ground?

???
Like, something that makes you think, “Wooow!”
at first glance.

???
It's something you'd know the moment you saw it, so I won't bother to explain. So how about it? Anything ring a bell?

Mash
No, um... Even if you put it like that.
Judging from the context, did you drop something?

???
Idiot, of course not!
I didn't drop anything at all!

???
I'm just asking for a friend!
I don't care about that thing!

  1. This is... terrible...
  2. Don't you think it'd help if you told us what it was?
  Select: This is... terrible...
Dr. Roman
Yeah... I can tell that across a screen, too... Stay patient in dealing with her, Fujimaru...

  Select: Don't you think it'd help if you told us what it was?
???
I won't! If I told you what I dropped, you'd find out about my clumsiness!
Fou
Foooou...

===Branch End===

???
Anyway, you just need to tell me if “something” was “around here” or not!

???
...So? Was it?

???
Oh, and was it broken? Did it break? Did I do it again?

  1. ...
  2. ...
  Select: ...

  Select: ...

===Branch End===

???
Why don't you say anything!?
Staying silent is sooo cruel!

A：???
Nosssssssss!

???
Nosss? North? You're telling me it's to the north?
Is that it!?

Mash
That's not it. That voice wasn't Senpai's!
This is—

Dr. Roman
Sorry, I looked away for a second since she seemed like a hassle! Numerous heat signatures approaching from the north!

Dr. Roman
They look like reinforcements for the previous Demonic Beasts! You two, get ready!

Mash
All right...! Master, your orders!

  1. Okay! Miss Unknown, stand back!
 
  Select: Okay! Miss Unknown, stand back!

===Branch End===

???
...Hmph. You're pretty quick to change gears. However, you still lack the observational skills of a good mage.

???
Stand back because it's dangerous? Who do you think you're speaking to, you country hick!?

???
YOU are the one who should stand back.
I'm really getting pissed off—

???
I'll take all my frustration out on them, and I'll do it with a bang!

--BATTLE--

???
Well, that's that. I may have only pseudo-manifested, but I'm not going to lose to Tiamat's Demonic Beasts!

  1. Wow! You're strong!
  2. Wow! Flashy!
  Select: Wow! You're strong!
???
You're not going to get anything from me by stating the obvious. But I will repay you later if I can.

  Select: Wow! Flashy!
???
I know, right? No matter what form I may be in, I'm always the best!

===Branch End===

Mash
Sorry to interrupt your conversation!
Second and third waves are coming!

Mash
Doctor, please give us data on the area!
Just how many Demonic Beasts are there?

Dr. Roman
Way too many! I'm seeing 60 right now, with more coming! This town has become their den!

Dr. Roman
There's nowhere to run!
You're completely surrounded!

Dr. Roman
You're not going to get out of this unless you can fly...
Fujimaru, negotiate with that woman over there!

Dr. Roman
She must be able to fly!
Ask her to take you two out of—

???
Don't make decisions on your own!
Weren't you listening to me?

???
This boat only holds one. To take those two, they would basically have to cling onto me.

???
But didn't I tell you?
In this world, touching me is a sin punishable by death.

???
I only fought because I wanted to.
I didn't fight for you.

???
Master... Fujimaru, was it?

???
If you're struggling against these Demonic Beasts, then repairing the course of Humanity is but a dream for you.

???
You should quietly return to this Chaldea place.
And if you can't do that...

???
Well, why don't you just die?
I have no intention of helping the weak.

Mash
Miss Unknown has taken off!
She has left the battlefield at an incredible speed!

Fou
Fou, fou!

Dr. Roman
I guess we're not going to get her help!
It was worth a shot, though!

  1. Doctor?
  2. Do you know something?
  Select: Doctor?

  Select: Do you know something?

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
We'll talk later. Now just think about getting out of there! Focus your attacks on a single point!

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, head east with Mash!
There are fewer Demonic Beasts in that area!

Mash
Roger that. We'll head for the castle ruins visible to the east! We're going to punch through this, Master!

--BATTLE--

C：Demonic Beast
Fushaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Mash
Ugh! The enemy reinforcements are endless! Without any Anti-Army Noble Phantasms, the enemies—

???
You want numbers? That's good.
Looks like I'll be able to help.

???
You, Demi-Servant. And you, Master of Chaldea.

???
Could you step back a bit? Yes, that's good.
Now, all I have to do...

???
...is wipe the lot of them out all at once. Since there are only 100 or so of them, I won't have to wipe out the entire town.

???
If you're the Master of Chaldea, I'm sure you have your own Anti-Army Noble Phantasms, but you can use them next time.

???
This city may be in ruins, but humans once lived here. It'd be best to preserve it as long as possible, right?

--ARROW--

C：???
Sorry for stealing the show. But it's best to keep the collateral damage to a minimum.

C：???
I know this place is a ruin now, but people may want to come back one day, you know?

Mash
You're—

Enkidu
It's an honor to meet you, Master of Chaldea.
My name is Enkidu.

Enkidu
I have waited in this Age of Gods for humans like you to arrive. I was given the task of connecting mankind with this world.

Dr. Roman
Enkidu? Did you just say Enkidu!?
Then you're the best help we could ever hope for!

Dr. Roman
There's no individual stronger from that era, comparable even to that king! Fujimaru, you can trust this person!

Dr. Roman
Work together and get out of this predicament!

Mash
But, this is not... a person. Nor a Servant either...

Mash
More like a machine than anything, and yet like a human with a soul...

Enkidu
Oh, that's right. As a Demi-Servant, you're able to figure out my true nature.

Enkidu
You must have sensed and categorized me as a foreign element created by the gods.

Enkidu
...I apologize for frightening you.
I should have waited longer before meeting you.

Enkidu
But now is the time for battle.
I cannot let you fall prey to those Demonic Beasts.

Enkidu
Please forgive me for being so callous.
Would you allow me to fight by your side?

Mash
Oh, of course! I apologize for being insensitive myself!

Mash
Master, your orders!
Enkidu and I will defeat the enemy!

--BATTLE--

Enkidu
That poison dragon, Bašmu, was the last one. In any event, we have exterminated all the Demonic Beasts in this town.

Enkidu
But we are not safe yet. The scent of the blood of the fallen will draw more here.

Enkidu
This land has become a den for Demonic Beasts.
Their number is likely to increase, not decrease.

  1. Who are you?
 
  Select: Who are you?

===Branch End===

Enkidu
I believe I have introduced myself. That invisible mage should know more details about me.

Dr. Roman
Yes. I apologize.
Your display of power left me speechless!

Dr. Roman
I'm assuming you are the real Enkidu, correct?
Not a Servant, but an actual living being?

Dr. Roman
Which means you're a native here. Yet you possess such power... No wonder you are called the Weapon of the Gods.

Dr. Roman
They were not lying when they said you're the world's strongest Noble Phantasm with a living will. It's even said you were on par with King Gilgamesh!

  1. Weapon of the Gods?
  2. Noble Phantasm with a living will?
  Select: Weapon of the Gods?

  Select: Noble Phantasm with a living will?

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes. Enkidu is found in the world's oldest heroic tale, the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Mash
Gilgamesh was a king that didn't listen to the gods; he was an individual with incredible power that lived in the moment.

Mash
In order to admonish King Gilgamesh, the gods sculpted a doll from mud.

Mash
The doll had a soul like humans, and could change its shape at will. At times it became a Noble Phantasm capable of piercing enemies.

Mash
The world's strongest god-made human, into which the gods poured all their energy. That's what Enkidu is.

Dr. Roman
That's absolutely right! Mesopotamian civilization used mud to make any number of things.

Dr. Roman
And you can call Enkidu its greatest masterpiece!

Dr. Roman
Soft enough to change forms, yet sharp as the keenest blade! The manifestation of nature itself, able to bind and kill Divine Beasts.

Dr. Roman
If King Gilgamesh, a mix of human and divine blood, is the Wedge of the Heavens created by the gods,

Dr. Roman
Enkidu is the Chain of the Heavens created to return Gilgamesh to the gods.

Dr. Roman
Da Vinci is sulking saying, “I can do something like that too.” But I'd say she's just putting up a front.

Dr. Roman
In any event, nothing's more encouraging than to have Enkidu on humanity's side!

Dr. Roman
Not even the tyrannical King Gilgamesh could destroy this good-hearted hero!

Enkidu
...Umm. It is quite embarrassing to be complimented this much.

Enkidu
I am nothing more than a weapon created by the gods. How a weapon is used is up to its handler.

Enkidu
If I appear to have a good heart, then it is because the human who used me was good and lawful.

Mash
You're a... weapon?
Yet you seem to have a heart...

Enkidu
Yes, I do have a heart.
I don't have feelings though, or I didn't at first.

Enkidu
The only thing I possessed was knowledge of being a weapon: what I needed to destroy, and when I needed to act.

Enkidu
But there was one woman who treated me like any other human. I modeled myself in her form.

Enkidu
...She is responsible for me gaining a heart of my own.
I keep this form in reverence for her gift to me.

Dr. Roman
A prostitute, and yet a saint: Shamhat.

Dr. Roman
Well, being a prostitute meant something different back then than it does now. But there is no need to get into that.

Dr. Roman
Enkidu. You called Fujimaru the Master of Chaldea.

Dr. Roman
Does that mean you understand our situation?

Enkidu
Yes. A Holy Grail that disrupts time, and the alteration of history by the one who wields it.

Enkidu
All this resulted in the Singularities, a plot to destroy the Foundation of Humanity by the Mage King.

Enkidu
The Temple Matron of Uruk made the situation clear.

Enkidu
I came here because of her prophecy.
I was told to protect the promised group of outsiders.

Mash
So this era still hasn't been destroyed, correct?
And you're fighting against the King of Mages?

Enkidu
Of course. I am not sure what the other eras were like, but people from the Age of Gods will not submit to world-ending disaster.

Enkidu
Whimsical gods have brought the world near to destruction many times in our era. People here are more resilient than you might think.

Dr. Roman
I see... I understand. But somehow they can't do anything about little things like lovers' spats and marital fights.

Enkidu
Yes, that is indeed troubling. They band together against the big problems, but struggle with the small ones.

Enkidu
But that is how it always is with humanity. Though, as you can see with how this town ended up...

Enkidu
Anyway, enough with introductions. The Demonic Beasts will come back if we spend too much time here.

Enkidu
I will guide you somewhere safer.
We can discuss trivial matters on the way.

  1. Thanks, Enkidu.
  2. My name is Fujimaru. Thanks.
  Select: Thanks, Enkidu.

  Select: My name is Fujimaru. Thanks.

===Branch End===

Enkidu
You have your right hand out. Is there something wrong?

Mash
It's a handshake, Enkidu.
Senpai wants to shake hands with you.

Enkidu
Oh, so this is... My apologies. I am still not used to this.

Enkidu
Now, formally, it is nice to meet you, Fujimaru. Is this how you shake hands?

Fou
...

Dr. Roman
Good. Now that we've all got to know each other better, let's move. Are you going to take them to Uruk?

Dr. Roman
It's the largest city in that world.
The Leylines there should be stable.

Dr. Roman
Da Vinci keeps pestering me to set up the circle.

Enkidu
Circle... A summoning circle, correct? Understood.
Let us hurry.

Enkidu
Oh, yes. We will take the longer route to get there, so please bear that in mind.

Enkidu
We should try to avoid the Demonic Beasts. There is nothing more important than ensuring everyone's safety.

Mash
Yes. We will leave it up to you, Enkidu.
Thank you for helping us out.

Enkidu
No, I am glad to do it. I'm pleased the Master from Chaldea has turned out to be someone like you.

Enkidu
I thought... Well, it was said that a representative of humanity would come...

Enkidu
So I was on alert, thinking someone like Gilgamesh would come. But I'm glad that fear proved unfounded.

Enkidu
Welcome to the old forgotten land of the gods, Mesopotamia. I welcome you as a representative of the new age, Fujimaru.

Section 2: Humanity's Oldest Fortress City

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Dr. Roman
Whew. In spite of the Demonic Beast attacks along the way, it looks like you made it safely past the ruins.

Dr. Roman
This is...oh? It looks you're heading north?

Dr. Roman
Based on our mapping data, isn't Uruk to the southeast? I thought you'd go south down the Euphrates.

Enkidu
Do not be so shortsighted, Dr. Romani. We'd enter a different goddess's territory down south—

Enkidu
Oh, right. You do not know the current situation in Mesopotamia.

Enkidu
Let me start with that. To be blunt, humanity in Mesopotamia is on the brink of extinction.

Enkidu
Roughly 80% of the population here has been slaughtered.

Enkidu
The survivors are huddled in the city of Uruk, facing the ever-looming moment of extinction.

Mash
...Who is causing chaos in this era?
Does that person have the Holy Grail?

  1. The king?
  2. Is it the leader of the Demonic Beasts?
  Select: The king?
Dr. Roman
Yup, yup. We'd all think that, naturally.
After all, the king of this era is the tyrant Gilgamesh.
Dr. Roman
It's not hard to imagine him using the Grail's power to oppress his people and lead the world to destruction!

  Select: Is it the leader of the Demonic Beasts?
Mash
The boss of the Demonic Beasts we encountered in the ruins... That is indeed a possibility.
Mash
Many Demonic Beasts appear in myths, and Mesopotamian myths are no exception.
Mash
...Furthermore, in those Mesopotamian myths, there's a great goddess dubbed the “Mother of Demonic Beasts.”
Mash
If one of them has the Holy Grail...

===Branch End===

Enkidu
No, nobody has hold of the Holy Grail. Something other than the Mage King's followers is destroying this world.

Enkidu
Mesopotamia faces destruction by something equal to, if not greater than, the King of Mages.

Enkidu
Yes. To be blunt, the gods are the ones destroying humanity.

Enkidu
It's not the God you're thinking of.
The gods of this era are different...

Enkidu
The Three Goddess Alliance has descended on this era and claimed roughly 60% of the lands of Mesopotamia.

Mash
G-Goddesses, you say!?

Fou
Fou, foooou!

  1. Like Artemis back in Okeanos!?
  2. Like those devils of the Shapeless Isle!?
  Select: Like Artemis back in Okeanos!?
Dr. Roman
No, she was a goddess that was forced to tag along with Orion, so I don't think she's powerful enough to destroy the world.

  Select: Like those devils of the Shapeless Isle!?
Dr. Roman
Hahaha, as the one who has been victimized the most, let me tell you this! Those three are devils indeed! Especially the oldest one!
Dr. Roman
She lacks Authority because of her low rank among Divine Spirits, but if there are any male dictators, she can destroy the world another way!

===Branch End===

Enkidu
So there are Divine Spirit Servants in Chaldea too...? That is...slightly unexpected.

Enkidu
I thought such powerful summons were impossible outside of the Age of Gods...

Mash
No, all the goddesses we've encountered so far have been diminished somewhat in order to be contained in Servant form.

Mash
Their Spirit Origins have been on par with Heroic Spirits, so I don't think any have the Authority of a god.

Enkidu
Good. That is more understandable.
This must be what you call a fragment of the spirit.

Enkidu
However, the goddesses that have appeared here in Mesopotamia are different.

Enkidu
It is true they are Divine Spirits summoned by someone, but their Spirit Origins are on the level of true gods.

Enkidu
The monsters we fought earlier were subordinates–no, it's better to say children–of one of the goddesses.

Enkidu
The Three Goddess Alliance is, as the name suggests, three female deities working together.

Enkidu
We know almost nothing about them, individually or as a group. Their objective, though, is crystal clear.

  1. ...And that is?
 
  Select: ...And that is?

===Branch End===

Enkidu
...The annihilation of the human race.
Complete extinction. No survivors.

Enkidu
“Eradicate humanity here to cause everything rising from this era to die out.” That seems to be their objective.

Mash
Impossible... They're not just seeking to cause chaos in this era, but to annihilate mankind itself!?

Mash
That's no different from the King of Mages! If they're goddesses, aren't they on humanity's side!?

Enkidu
There's never been a time when gods allied with humans. Humans are nothing more than worker drones to the gods.

Enkidu
It is said the gods of Mesopotamia created humans to be “those who perform their jobs in their stead.”

Enkidu
Whatever the truth is, for gods, humans are objects to keep, not objects to love.

Enkidu
Gods who love humans merely suffer from a logical error due to being multifunctional.

Enkidu
Take the great goddess Inanna–known as Ishtar in Akkadian–for instance.

Enkidu
That goddess has a confusing nature unfit for a deity. She loves abundant harvests, man, war, and being at the top.

Enkidu
She claims to love humans, but favors war where humans kill each other. Isn't that contradictory?

  1. Well, yeah...
  2. That's a double standard...
  Select: Well, yeah...

  Select: That's a double standard...

===Branch End===

Enkidu
Right. That's why it's helpful to think of it as a kind of logical error.

Enkidu
Lack of uniformity from having too many elements and functions. Put simply, she's just insane.

Dr. Roman
...Interesting interpretation. Contradictions are created from having too many functions...

Dr. Roman
In polytheism, the roles of the gods are subdivided into small parts. In other words, they are all specialists, so nothing is wasted.

Dr. Roman
That's why so few gods have this error that makes them love humans. Is that what you're saying?

Enkidu
Yes. Usually the demiurge who possesses many functions and roles is the one that loves humans.

Enkidu
The more roles a god has, the more they make logical mistakes. Just like humans.

Enkidu
...Anyway, it's useless to preach about gods here.

Enkidu
The three goddesses that appeared here each used their own methods to destroy Mesopotamia.

Enkidu
The greatest force of the three drifted over from Greece: The “Goddess of Demonic Beasts.”

Enkidu
...Yeah, you should see it soon. I think it's simpler if you see for yourself rather than trying to explain.

Enkidu
From this plateau, you have a clear view of the situation at the Northern Wall.

Enkidu
That is the first threat. The evil offspring of the Goddess of Demonic Beasts, who crushed the very center of this world.

  1. That's...a castle wall?
  2. It looks like it has no end...
  Select: That's...a castle wall?

  Select: It looks like it has no end...

===Branch End===

Enkidu
Right. When Demonic Beasts filled the northern area, it was made with materials salvaged by dismantling Babylon.

Enkidu
Nowadays, it is called...

Enkidu
The largest and final fort that protects human hope and the four corners of the earth: Absolute Demonic Front Babylonia.

Mash
Amazing... Not as impressive as the Holy City's outer wall, but it's a tough wall that stretches out over the horizon.

Mash
Something is moving outside the wall... Are those the Demonic Beasts from earlier?

Mash
N-no, that's not possible! I see thousands of them!

Dr. Roman
No, that's not all. To the north, I'm getting magical energy readings orders of magnitude greater!

Dr. Roman
...Unbelievable. My goodness. There's no way humanity can possibly survive something like this!

Dr. Roman
The Demonic Beasts earlier had power equal to a small autonomous tank! Now there're thousands of them! You can't possibly hold that off with a single wall!

Mash
Uh... Doctor... I can hardly believe what I'm seeing either, but... that's exactly what they're doing.

Mash
There appear to be soldiers outside the wall, and they seem to be holding against the rushing Demonic Beasts...

Dr. Roman
I-is that possible!? Just how powerful are these Sumerians!?

Enkidu
Do not be surprised by that.
They have been holding that wall for six months already.

Dr. Roman
S-Six months!? No human could do that!

Mash
Yes... But, it's amazing...
They must be extremely proficient soldiers...

Enkidu
It is exactly as Mash has surmised.

Enkidu
The fortress city that fights Demonic Beasts day and night. An endless onslaught of Demonic Beasts driven back by its soldiers.

Enkidu
But the humans suffer fewer casualties... Precise army utilization. Seamless shift changes.

Enkidu
Training new soldiers even during combat, putting them on the front line, and having the wounded rest and concentrate on healing.

Enkidu
This is the ultimate form of point defense. At that rate, they should be able to hold the front line for another month.

Mash
Yes... They're clearly losing, but, in the grand scheme of things, somehow winning...

Mash
I wonder what kind of person is in command of that fortress...

  1. Probably someone very patient.
  2. Probably someone very muscular.
  Select: Probably someone very patient.

  Select: Probably someone very muscular.

===Branch End===

Enkidu
...Yes, truly. They shed needless blood as well.

Enkidu
There is no need to annihilate everything.
They will die off on their own, so this is useless.

Fou
Fou...?

  1. Enkidu...?
 
  Select: Enkidu...?

===Branch End===

Enkidu
My apologies. That was a bit much. Even Demonic Beasts are living beings. I was too emotional.

Enkidu
If you are interested, you can join the front line anytime.
I hear the recruitment test for Uruk is very lax nowadays.

Dr. Roman
Y-yeah, it's definitely a situation we'd like to help out with, but Fujimaru alone won't change much.

Dr. Roman
For now, let's hurry to Uruk. The fact that military operations are in full force means that their commander–their king–stands strong.

Dr. Roman
If the threat upon Uruk isn't a king gone mad with the Grail, but this “Three Goddess Alliance,” negotiations will be simple.

Dr. Roman
Request an audience with the king, explain our objective, find the Holy Grail within this era, and recover it.

Dr. Roman
We'll think about dealing with that Northern Wall afterwards. Got that, Fujimaru?

  1. ...Understood, Doctor.
  2. ...Yes. Let's hurry to Uruk in the meantime.
  Select: ...Understood, Doctor.

  Select: ...Yes. Let's hurry to Uruk in the meantime.

===Branch End===

Enkidu
Are you done chatting?
Then let's hurry on ahead.

Enkidu
As we were assaulted by Demonic Beasts earlier, this area is likely still dangerous. For now, let's get under cover of the forest.

--ARROW--

Enkidu
We are almost at the safe zone.
We should make it by sunset.

Mash
...So this is the Cedar Forest? Legends say it was protected by the Demonic Beast Humbaba...

Mash
Though I thought it was believed to be located east of Uruk, in the Zagros Mountains beyond the Tigris...

Dr. Roman
Oh, there are two versions of the story.
The Sumerian and Akkadian versions differ.

Dr. Roman
The older records put the Cedar Forest to the west.

Dr. Roman
So it makes sense that we would find it here, but...

  1. ...It's a strangely dark forest.
  2. But it's the other way to Uruk...
  Select: ...It's a strangely dark forest.
Dr. Roman
...Yeah. I agree. The Cedar Forest in the Epic of Gilgamesh was a holy place.
Dr. Roman
It was bright enough that they called it the “Forest of White Cedars.” But this place... It's like being in the belly of the beast.

  Select: But it's the other way to Uruk...
Mash
...Yes. We're walking farther away.

===Branch End===

Enkidu
Is something wrong? What's the matter?

Mash
(What should we do, Senpai? Shall we point out that we are going farther away from Uruk?)

  1. (...)
  2. (...Let's see what happens.)
  Select: (...)

  Select: (...Let's see what happens.)

===Branch End===

Enkidu
Oh, are you worried about the direction we are going? There is a wharf at the river up ahead.

Enkidu
There is a boat docked there. Once we get to the wharf, all we have to do is take it downstream.

Enkidu
I am sure you are tired, but hang in there.
Once we get through the forest, it will all be over.

Mash
...Senpai, that's...!

???
Oh my! What wonderful news!
I didn't know there was a wharf up ahead!

???
Hey, sorry to scare you!
I'm not an enemy, so hear me out.

???
We're stranded. As you can see, we didn't know our way through these trails and got lost.

???
I figured we were going to end up monster food, but luck must be on our side!

???
See, Ana? Don't you think you were right to follow me?

???
We weren't lucky enough to reach our destination this time, but we met locals who know the way.

???
Good things come to those who wait! One step forward, two steps back! I didn't expect to see humans in the territory of the Goddess of Demonic Beasts!

Mash
...Senpai, these people who came out of the forest...
I've seen them somewhere before—

  1. Wait, could this guy be...!?
  2. Who's the girl next to him?
  Select: Wait, could this guy be...!?

  Select: Who's the girl next to him?

===Branch End===

Enkidu
Are you lost? That is unfortunate.

Enkidu
We're heading to Uruk. Will you come with us?

???
Of course. We'd follow you even if you refused to let us. We've been walking three days straight, and my legs are so stiff.

???
But, hmm... Tagging along with someone when we don't know their names is unsettling.

???
You there. Can you tell us your name?

???
Oh, I'm afraid I can't tell you mine. Nor can the girl.

  1. I'm Fujimaru.
  2. More suspicious people!
  Select: I'm Fujimaru.
???
I see. That's a unique name.
Sure don't hear it around here. And the lady, then?

  Select: More suspicious people!
???
Now, now, don't be like that.
Actually, we heard your name already.
???
You're Fujimaru, right?
And who's the lady?

===Branch End===

Mash
My name is Mash Kyrielight. This is Enkidu.

???
Enkidu? Did you say that's Enkidu?
Hmm... That's a problem. A big problem.

Enkidu
...Why? Is there something wrong with me?

???
No, it's just that if you're Enkidu, I'd have to start questioning my own memory.

???
King Gilgamesh is commanding the front line in Uruk. He's just returned from his quest for the herb of immortality.

???
Which means...

Dr. Roman
Whaaa— Hold up! That doesn't make any sense!

Dr. Roman
If we're in the era where Gilgamesh has already returned from his search for immortality, something's very wrong!

Dr. Roman
He didn't set out on that quest until AFTER the death of his friend... Enkidu.

Dr. Roman
And that means, if he's already returned... Enkidu should be long dead!

Dr. Roman
He might exist as a Servant, but he can't be alive!

  1. Enkidu, what's going on here...!?
  2. Mash, get away from him!
  Select: Enkidu, what's going on here...!?

  Select: Mash, get away from him!

===Branch End===

Enkidu
Hah...hahaha, hahahaha!

Enkidu
Yeah, I figured this little farce of mine wasn't going to last long!

Enkidu
Hello, Fujimaru.
Hello, incompetent fools of Chaldea.

Enkidu
Mmm... I was so close, though! Just a little more, and I would've seen something so very fun!

Enkidu
You're supposed to be the last hope of old humanity, right?

Enkidu
All humans are failures, but truly YOU are the most pathetic of them all.

Enkidu
If I had managed to offer the goddess up ahead something as rare as you, I would've been able to see a living hell!

Mash
So you led us into a trap...! Are you really Enkidu!?

Enkidu
Of course. I talk like Enkidu. I have Enkidu's powers.
I am Enkidu itself.

Enkidu
Why would you think that Enkidu would be on your side, anyway?

Enkidu
I am a weapon created by the gods.
Of course I'd side with the goddesses.

Dr. Roman
Mash, enough talk! Enkidu's magical energy already rivals a Demon God Pillar's!

Dr. Roman
I don't know how it happened, but the thing you're looking at is aligned with Solomon, the enemy of humanity!

Dr. Roman
Now that they lured you here, they'll never let Fujimaru return home alive!

Dr. Roman
You have to fight Enkidu! It's the only way to survive!

Enkidu
How rude. Up until a moment ago, we were so friendly to each other.

Enkidu
Ah well, sad to say, he's right. You were doomed the moment you stepped into this forest.

Enkidu
It's a shame I can't take you alive, but I can at least present your head to Mother.

Enkidu
...All right. It's time for your journey to come to an end, Chaldea.

Mash
Enkidu is taking a combat stance!

Mash
But...we know how powerful he is!
There's no way that we can...

Enkidu
That's right. You have a snowball's chance in hell of winning. Do you know why I fought alongside you?

Enkidu
So I could show you just how much weaker you are! Ahaha! Humans are so pathetic!

Enkidu
So die. Die, old humans, to the sound of my laughter! Fall into the waste dump, as you envy this perfect weapon!

Mash
!!!

???
Humph. I have no idea what this fake Enkidu is going on about, but I understand the situation.

???
Fujimaru and Lady Mash are at a disadvantage. Ana, help them.

Ana
...Fine. This wasn't part of the deal, but I will protect them.

--BATTLE--

Ana
...!

Enkidu
Pathetic. You seem like a Servant, but you're no great hero. You're second-rate at best.

Enkidu
Did you really think such paltry Mystics would stand a chance against my attacks?

Ana
...There's no need for me to defeat you.
The conditions for victory in this battle are different.

Ana
Having a human-like intelligence can sometimes backfire on you. You should take this opportunity to learn that.

Enkidu
...What?

Enkidu
This is... I see. I've been caught in an illusory dream halfway through.

Enkidu
Which means that's the mage working for Uruk...
I finally got to meet him, even if it was dumb luck...

Enkidu
How irritating. I hate to admit this, but he's just like the legend says: good at running away.

Enkidu
Capturing him would be extremely difficult.
Killing him, even harder.

Enkidu
...Which means there's only one way to break that spell of his...

Enkidu
I guess I'll have to give up for now.
I can't leave her alone for a whole day.

Enkidu
She's such a child, considering how big she is...
If I turn my back for a minute, she goes on a rampage.

Enkidu
We've been so careful and methodical in our planning and wiping out humanity.

Enkidu
If she gets out of hand, it could be over in a day.
That's not good at all. Seriously.

Enkidu
I mean, if we just killed them, we'd be no different than humanity.

Enkidu
There's nothing wrong with killing, but you need a reason, and a theme. That's our duty as the new humans.

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Mash
Hm!? We were fighting against a fake Enkidu... Huh?

  1. Enkidu vanished...!?
 
  Select: Enkidu vanished...!?

===Branch End===

???
Hahaha! Wow, that worked out great!

???
I figured they wouldn't be able to resist mental attacks yet. I felt a little remorse because it was like tricking an innocent child, but oh well.

???
We needed to survive. Nothing wrong with a bit of ungentlemanly conduct.

???
After all, we were fighting the mediator of the Three Goddess Alliance, the traitor to all Uruks, Enkidu.

???
That young man... Or was it a young woman? Well, it doesn't matter. They've killed countless soldiers.

???
After all, as the leader of the Demonic Beasts, they are working directly for the Mage King!

  1. Enkidu's working for the King of Mages...!?
  2. Was that really Enkidu...!?
  Select: Enkidu's working for the King of Mages...!?

  Select: Was that really Enkidu...!?

===Branch End===

???
Yes. They said as much while laying waste to many fortress cities. And while many Uruks seem to want to believe it isn't the real thing...

???
...unfortunately, that combat capability could belong to none but Enkidu.

???
You should be careful. They may look beautiful, but they're actually a weapon forged to kill humans.

???
The Enkidu we met has reverted to their cruel nature, to the way they were before they met King Gilgamesh.

???
Anyway, all that aside... Let me formally say hello!

???
I saved you when you were in danger. Please, shower me, your savior, with your humble words of gratitude!

Mash
Oh, right! Th-thank you, person we've never met before!

Mash
Wait... never met?
Senpai, have we met this person before?

Fou
Foufou.

  1. Oh...? Fou's climbing a tree?
 
  Select: Oh...? Fou's climbing a tree?

===Branch End===

Fou
Foufoufou!

  1. His claws are out. And he's twisting his body?
 
  Select: His claws are out. And he's twisting his body?

===Branch End===

Fou
Foufoufooou!!!
Murder Merlin foooouu!

  1. Fou spun and slammed into him at full speed!?
 
  Select: Fou spun and slammed into him at full speed!?

===Branch End===

???
Dofooou!?

E：???
What are you doing, you feral beast!?
Have you forgotten the years I took care of you!?

Fou
Fou, fooou!

E：???
I never should've taken you in, you wicked beast!
Cath Palug! Take that, you cath-tastrophe!

E：???
How many busty women have you decieved with your cuteness!? You get all the ladies' attention just because you're fluffy!

E：???
I feel like an idiot for having to work so hard! Don't you feel bad for making me pull out all the stops!?

Mash
...

  1. Is he...scratching at Fou?
 
  Select: Is he...scratching at Fou?

===Branch End===

Ana
Merlin, please limit your lunacy to when you're alone at night.

Ana
I led the enemy away, as you ordered.

Ana
It doesn't appear that they will pursue us, but I recommend we move to our destination as soon as possible.

Merlin
Oh, glad to hear it. Good work, Ana.
That's a big help.

Ana
...This battle was not part of our contract.
Do not thank me. Think over your actions.

Merlin
Hahaha! That's harsh. But you know how they say... Something, something... “Helping others...” Yeah! It's good... I think.

Merlin
Now that Ana's back, we should introduce ourselves.

Merlin
I am Merlin. I'm actually a Servant.
This is Ana. She is a Servant too.

Merlin
You can call me “The Amazing Merlin the Great.” What about you, Ana? What do you want them to call you?

Ana
...It doesn't matter. Ana is fine.

Mash
Th-thank you so much for saving us back there,
Miss Ana.

Ana
No “Miss.” Just call me Ana.

Ana
...And I don't like humans.
Please keep your distance if possible.

Merlin
Oh, don't worry about Ana. She just really doesn't like humans. There's nothing more to it than that.

Merlin
More importantly...

Dr. Roman
HOLD IT!

Dr. Roman
This is all so incredibly shocking that I've been sitting, frozen in front of my screen. But, now that I've thawed out, let me just say... HOLD IT!

Dr. Roman
Merlin!? Did you say Merlin!? The great mage of the Isle of Britain, born of a human and an incubus...

Dr. Roman
...one of the world's greatest kingmakers, and the world's biggest scoundrel! THE Merlin is right there with you!?

Dr. Roman
And as a Servant!? Merlin, the Grand Mage who shouldn't be able to die until the end of the world!?

Merlin
Fwahaha! I knew I could count on you for a grand introduction, Romani Archaman!

Merlin
Indeed. I'm none other than THE Merlin, Grand Caster. The greatest, most powerful, most handsome mage of all time!

Merlin
Well actually, I only have the right to be given the Grand title. My Spirit Origin is but a normal Caster.

Dr. Roman
THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!
There's no way Merlin could be a Heroic Spirit!

Dr. Roman
I mean, you clearly look like him, but you're lying, you phony! Show us your true form!

Fou
Fou, fooou!

  1. This is ridiculous...
  2. What's gotten into the Doctor?
  Select: This is ridiculous...

  Select: What's gotten into the Doctor?

===Branch End===

Mash
It's probably... because of discrepancies in the legends about Merlin.

Mash
Merlin is the fabled mage from the Isle of Britain who primarily appears in Arthurian legend.

Mash
It was his help that guided King Arthur–
Altria Pendragon–to the throne.

Mash
Afterward, he served as King Arthur's court mage and adviser, and appeared in many tales.

Mash
But due to his womanizing habits, he was driven from Britain and eventually ended up in the utopia of Avalon.

Mash
After repenting his wicked ways–his sins–he was imprisoned in a tower there. A tower he built himself.

Mash
He punished himself by watching over the world in the cramped tower, never dying.

Mash
Both Avalon and the tower Merlin is trapped inside exist outside of time, and will only disappear when history ends.

Mash
So, Merlin is still alive. And no one who's alive can become a Heroic Spirit.

Mash
I think that's what the Doctor is trying to point out.

Dr. Roman
That's right, Mash. Merlin is a hero who isn't counted as a Heroic Spirit.

Dr. Roman
Though it is possible he could be summoned by some kind of irregularity, like Scáthach...

Dr. Roman
But in terms of combat, he's completely useless!

Dr. Roman
All Casters with the potential to be a Grand Caster are powerful clairvoyants. Solomon's eyes, for instance, can see the past and future.

Dr. Roman
King Gilgamesh can see the future. And that scoundrel in front of you can see everything in the present.

Dr. Roman
Some can see more clearly or further than others, but all possess the power as observers.

Dr. Roman
But their superpower is basically magic sight.
And Merlin's the worst of them!

Dr. Roman
He's nothing more than a magical telescope!

Dr. Roman
The only thing Merlin can do is view the entire world from the Tower of Avalon.

Dr. Roman
In the modern world, it'd be like having the power to look into any computer network—Oh.

  1. ...Um, that's amazing.
  2. ...It's not very flashy, but...
  Select: ...Um, that's amazing.

  Select: ...It's not very flashy, but...

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Hey, excuse me while I butt in☆

Da Vinci
I'm busy proving Fujimaru's existence, so I don't get many chances to talk this time around.

Da Vinci
But since Roman's frozen stiff, I have some questions for Merlin.

Da Vinci
First, thank you. You've secretly provided us with magical energy resources, haven't you?

Da Vinci
The Incineration of Humanity destroyed the world, but Avalon, where you are, is still standing.

Da Vinci
So you've been using a replenishing method similar to the Rayshift to kindle Chaldea's reactor... The Fire of Prometheus.

Da Vinci
You've been doing it in secret, and only when we really needed it, without the King of Mages finding out. Impressive.

Merlin
I was just helping out. After all, I hold the world record for being the oldest shut-in.

Merlin
I had nothing else to do, so I've just been helping Romani here and there.

Da Vinci
But it still doesn't make sense that you're a Heroic Spirit.

Da Vinci
You're still in Avalon, right?
So how'd you become a Servant?

Da Vinci
The reason and the method. Unless you tell us these two things, we can't trust you.

Da Vinci
After all, Enkidu just attacked us.

Da Vinci
Based on the search plan Chaldea made, Enkidu was our most trusted candidate for navigator.

Da Vinci
But then Enkidu turned around and betrayed us almost immediately.

Da Vinci
We certainly can't put our guard down around another newcomer who seems to be friendly... You can see why Romani's worried.

Merlin
Hmm... I see. So that's what got that idiot so mad, huh?

Merlin
Fine. But I can't tell you the reason. I'll just tell you it has something to do with this Singularity.

Merlin
I can, however, tell you the method.
It's very simple, Da Vinci.

Merlin
This Singularity manifested in an age that predates my appearance on Earth. In other words, my body doesn't exist here.

Merlin
Which means that in this world, it could theoretically be said that I am dead.

Merlin
I used that fact to make myself a Servant. Part of it was that I was called forth by a strong summoner.

Mash
A strong summoner... Is there a Master in this era besides Senpai?

Merlin
Yes, of course. He's the one who summoned me, and I now serve as his court mage.

Merlin
On the other hand, the influence of the Grail summoned Ana. She's a Rogue Servant. That is, she has no Master.

Merlin
I actually just met her two days ago.

Merlin
I was lost in this forest, and bumped into her. We got along, and made a contract to support each others' goals.

Ana
...He's awful. He tricked me.

Ana
Merlin is the embodiment of every kind of dishonesty in this world. And that is being nice about it.

Merlin
Hehe. Aww, stop it! You're flattering me!

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Da Vinci
I see. I understand the general situation now.
Romani, give it up. That's the real Merlin.

Dr. Roman
Ugh... My stomach... This situation's a mess already, and now with Merlin showing up...

Dr. Roman
But we don't have time to be picky. Whether he is a scoundrel or not, there's no denying that he's one of the greatest mages.

Dr. Roman
Did you manifest to work with Chaldea, Merlin?

Dr. Roman
Will you fight with us to repair the Singularity, stop the Incineration of Humanity, and save human history?

Merlin
Of course I will.
My one joy in life is watching the present.

Merlin
Without it, I'll just be a lonely man staring at the Garden in my tower.

Merlin
That's a terrifying future.
So of course I'll help you.

Merlin
And you don't honestly think that you folks have been the only ones cheering for Fujimaru as they got this far, do you?

Merlin
I've been watching your whole fight on the edge of my seat.

Merlin
I don't think it's fair to not let me be part of your group now, do you?
Though I know I'm a threat as a Caster.

Merlin
I'm a Grand Caster, after all.
A chosen one, just like the King of Mages.

Merlin
All the other Servants, especially the Casters, are going to get jealous of me...

Merlin
In the end, they'll realize they can't beat me and get shuffled off to the backup group!

Da Vinci
... (Annoyed)

Merlin
...Ahem. Sorry, seems I talked too much.

Merlin
Maybe it's punishment for not listening to Ana's warning. A group of enemies is incoming.

Merlin
This is, however, a great chance to say something I've always wanted to say.

Merlin
“Everyone, be careful! Wyverns incoming!”

Merlin
Humph. Well, Romani? Sounded just like you, didn't it? Give me a score!

Dr. Roman
Hahaha. Yeah, that was just like me.
You get a ten out of ten!

Dr. Roman
Okay, Fujimaru, do me a favor!

Dr. Roman
When he's distracted during battle, punch him in the face for me!

--BATTLE--

Merlin
That took care of them all.
Let's head to Uruk now, for real.

Merlin
Fujimaru, it's your duty to explain Chaldea's mission to the king of Uruk.

Merlin
When you meet the king, it should become clear what you are meant to do. Oh! Also, Uruk would be ideal as a temporary HQ.

Mash
...That's what Merlin recommends... but what do you think, Master?

  1. I want to see the king ASAP.
  2. I want to set up a summoning circle ASAP.
  Select: I want to see the king ASAP.

  Select: I want to set up a summoning circle ASAP.

===Branch End===

Merlin
Then it's settled. We'll go back to Uruk, but what about you, Ana? Will you come with us?

Ana
...I didn't sign up for this.
I was told we would defeat the goddess.

Merlin
Don't get so angry. I said I would lead you to the temple, but you understand the current circumstances, don't you?

Merlin
We can't enter that temple alone.
For now, slow and steady wins the race.

Ana
...But... going to a human settlement...

  1. Please, Ana.
  2. Let's go together.
  Select: Please, Ana.

  Select: Let's go together.

===Branch End===

Ana
...There's no need to shake on it.
And no need to be so polite. Just keep away from me.

Ana
...All right, fine. For now, I'll leave the forest.

Mash
(I have a feeling Ana isn't actually so difficult...)

--ARROW--

Dr. Roman
We've been marching for an entire day.
You must be tired, Fujimaru.

Dr. Roman
But we're almost there. Just hang in there a little longer.

Dr. Roman
That area is easy to observe.
We can finally have a proper operation.

Dr. Roman
Just a little bit more... One more day, and you should arrive at what I believe is the city of Uruk.

Merlin
It's easy to observe this area because it's still close to the “former Mesopotamian world.”

Merlin
The only safe place is the area around Uruk, where the king is going strong and maintaining an environment livable for humans.

Merlin
Northern Mesopotamia has become a kingdom of Demonic Beasts, while the south has become a mysterious jungle that no one returns from.

Merlin
For humans who survived attacks by Demonic Beasts, the city of Uruk is the only refuge.

Ana
...

Dr. Roman
Now I understand the situation here.

Dr. Roman
With the rise of the Three Goddess Alliance, the Sumerian city-states have been dealt a devastating blow.

Dr. Roman
Many cities have been destroyed and many people have fled to Uruk, the center of this world.

Dr. Roman
The Demonic Beasts' invasion up north is the most serious issue at hand, as they're currently the major force wiping out humanity.

Dr. Roman
In response, Uruk's king has dissolved the city of Babylon and hastily constructed a great fortress known as the Northern Wall of Uruk.

Dr. Roman
In other words, Babylonia has turned itself into the front line for the war against Demonic Beasts. It's the last fort protecting the Mesopotamian world. Correct?

Merlin
Yes. It's still unknown how the King of Mages influenced this era, but if the Demonic Beasts bring down Uruk, human history is finished.

Merlin
If the first dynasty of Sumer, the blueprint of city-states, is destroyed, there is no certainty in what will become of the human race afterwards.

Merlin
During the same period, Egypt's first dynasty was also flourishing, but they alone can't preserve the Foundation of Humanity.

Merlin
Therefore, there are two things you need to do.

Merlin
First, search for the Holy Grail the King of Mages sent to this era and retrieve it. That should give us an idea about his plot.

Merlin
Next, take down the Three Goddess Alliance if possible. Although that fight should belong to the people of this era...

Merlin
...if we do nothing, the Foundation of Humanity can't be restored. This task is beyond our abilities, but it is what we must do.

  1. What do we know about the alliance?
  2. What were you doing, Merlin?
  Select: What do we know about the alliance?
Merlin
Not much. Out of the three goddesses, I only know the True Name for one.
Merlin
There's the goddess controlling all Demonic Beasts up north, the goddess residing in jungles in the south,
Merlin
then there's the soaring goddess who has no fixed residence.
Merlin
The biggest threat is the goddess in the north, but the soaring goddess is another problem altogether.
Merlin
In a way, she's the most troublesome goddess in Mesopotamia, even more so than the goddess controlling the Demonic Beasts.
Merlin
The people of Uruk are still puzzled over what to do about her.

  Select: What were you doing, Merlin?
Merlin
I was looking for something, under orders from the king. That's also why I was in the Cedar Forest.
Merlin
I was searching for something called the Tablet of Destinies, but I've put that on hold so I can guide you to Uruk.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
...Hmmm. It seems all roads lead to Uruk.

Dr. Roman
Merlin. Is King Gilgamesh really the one ruling over Uruk now?

Merlin
Yes, it is indeed King Gilgamesh!
The most tyrannical of all ancient kings!

Merlin
He severed his ties with the gods because of their arrogance! The most beautiful women and treasures are his to own!

Merlin
The most irrational and unreasonable king who would just as readily kill his followers as his enemies!

  1. That's scary!
  2. So he's just a villain?
  Select: That's scary!

  Select: So he's just a villain?

===Branch End===

Mash
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.
The king of Uruk in ancient Mesopotamia.

Mash
He is a historical figure who appeared in the Epic of Gilgamesh, mankind's oldest heroic epic,

Mash
as well as other ancient Mesopotamian stories.

Mash
His historical name was Bilgamesh, where “bilga” means ancestors, and “mesh” means hero.

Mash
His father was King Lugalbanda, a demigod.
His mother was the goddess Ninsun.

Mash
He was a hero born of god and human, which made him a combination of the two.

Mash
In his youth, he was fond of people, while also being a sage grounded in reason,

Mash
but he became the complete opposite in his adolescence. He turned into an out-of-control tyrant.

Mash
He gathered the land's fortune, demanded prosperity in toil from his citizens, and abandoned the gods as relics of the past.

Mash
To admonish him, the gods created the being that appeared before us, Enkidu.

Mash
As fate would have it, Enkidu and King Gilgamesh fought for three days and three nights in front of a temple in Uruk.

Mash
The battle was a draw. Afterwards, King Gilgamesh recognized Enkidu as his only friend.

Mash
His tyranny relaxed a bit and he governed the country while still being feared by the citizens of Uruk.

Mash
However...

  1. However?
  2. You know quite a bit, Mash.
  Select: However?
Mash
Yes. King Gilgamesh matured as a king after gaining a friend, but encountered many trials.

  Select: You know quite a bit, Mash.
Mash
Y-yes. After we found out about the era of the Seventh Singularity, I studied so I could be useful to you, Senpai...

===Branch End===

Merlin
Oh, the Cedar of Lebanon story.

Merlin
King Gilgamesh set foot into the holy ground of the Forest of White Cedars and killed Humbaba, the Demonic Beast guarding it.

Merlin
Due to Mesopotamia's climate, the country was always in need of lumber.

Merlin
Bringing home quality cedar was his obligation, as both a king and a hero.

Merlin
However, his achievement captured the attention of a wicked goddess.

Merlin
The goddess's curiosity drove her to desire all things unusual, beautiful and praise-worthy.

Merlin
Who was this wicked goddess you ask? She was Inanna, Queen of Heaven, daughter of An, also known as Ishtar. And she set her sights on Gilgamesh.

Merlin
The world's greatest goddess confessed her love to the King of Heroes. However, King Gilgamesh rejected her.

Merlin
Why? Because Gilgamesh knew how coldly she treated her husband Dumuzid.

Merlin
This must have been quite a shock to Ishtar.
To be rejected by a man... by a mere human!

Merlin
Furious, Ishtar went crying to her father...

Merlin
...who, out of love for her, gave her something terrible.

Merlin
A Divine Beast powerful enough to destroy the world... Gugalanna, the Bull of Heaven. With it, Ishtar tried to destroy Uruk.

Merlin
The bull damaged crops, made the rivers run dry, and summoned a tempest before being defeated by Gilgamesh and Enkidu.

Merlin
Uruk was saved, but by killing the holy beast, Enkidu incurred the wrath of the gods and for their sins, the gods killed Enkidu.

Merlin
It was, after all, the gods who created Enkidu in the first place. In modern parlance, the gods flipped Enkidu's off switch.

Merlin
Honestly. The Mesopotamian gods' greatest fault was being pushovers to their daughters.

Merlin
Between An and Enki of the Abyss, Ishtar was given a multitude of treasures.

Dr. Roman
Yes, yes. From that story alone, it's easy to see that Ishtar had a pampered upbringing...

Mash
That's right. The death of his only friend, Enkidu, was King Gilgamesh's first real encounter with mortality.

Mash
Death claimed even Enkidu, the mighty king's equal. Gilgamesh, in turn, began to wonder whether it was possible to conquer death.

Mash
As a result, King Gilgamesh embarked on a quest for immortality. He went to the ends of the earth, descended into the Abyss...

Mash
...and at its bottom, obtained the Herb of Rejuvenation. However...

Dr. Roman
It was stolen by a snake, right?

Dr. Roman
Gilgamesh returned to the surface and went to bathe. While he soaked, a snake crept in and ate the herb.

Dr. Roman
And so, snakes gained the ability to shed their skin, and humans forever lost the chance to become immortal.

Dr. Roman
No one could ever really know what effect that had on the king's state of mind.

Dr. Roman
Anyway, King Gilgamesh returned to Uruk, but because of his absence, the city had nearly fallen into ruin.

Dr. Roman
Reflecting on his own selfishness, he decided to try and restore Uruk.

Dr. Roman
From then on, he never went on quests, instead focusing on his kingly duties.

Dr. Roman
There you have it. The Epic of Gilgamesh in a nutshell.

Dr. Roman
The epic was set down in poetry, so we can only imagine what the truth may have been.

Merlin
Did he really seek out the magical herb because he feared death, or was it because he loathed death?

Merlin
I think it would be interesting to ask the man himself.
Oh, but...

Merlin
I suppose he isn't the type of person who would speak freely about his memories. Unless you were his traveling companion or something.

Merlin
The point is, this is a man who had the guts to call a goddess as powerful, though spoiled, as Ishtar a fool and kick her to the curb...

Merlin
...while bragging about possessing the originals of all the Noble Phantasms and having the greatest advantage over any hero.

Merlin
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, is an extremely arrogant, cold-blooded tyrant. Remember that.

Mash
...Yes. And that is the legend of Gilgamesh, King of Heroes. Was it useful, Senpai?

  1. ... (And what am I supposed to do?)
  2. ... (So what's going to happen?)
  Select: ... (And what am I supposed to do?)

  Select: ... (So what's going to happen?)

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Hahaha. It looks like you don't want to go, Fujimaru!

Dr. Roman
I can understand that.
After all, I'm trembling with fear, too.

Dr. Roman
And it's a town in 2600 B.C., right? There's a cold-blooded king in a violent world where might makes right.

Dr. Roman
I'm sure culture shock is inevitable, so you should mentally prepare yourself, yep.

Ana
...Excuse me. We've got trouble. Demonic Beasts that have strayed from the pack are heading our way.

Ana
...Are you still going to talk?
If so, I can handle them alone...

Mash
N-no, we'll go!
Thank you for pointing them out, Miss Ana!

Ana
...No need to use “Miss.”
But I'd appreciate some extra hands.

--ARROW--

Mash
It's been three days since we Rayshifted to the ruins of Babylon... Master, we've finally arrived at Uruk.

Mash
It looks like we'll have to pass through an inspection checkpoint before we get into the city...

Mash
There's still some distance between us. Maybe we can sneak into the city without them noticing...

  1. Hello!
  2. Can we sneak through...?
  Select: Hello!
Uruk Soldier
Yes, hello.
I see you're full of energy. I'm glad to see that!

  Select: Can we sneak through...?
Dr. Roman
Yeah, good idea. I have a hunch any quarrel here would escalate into a battle...
Uruk Soldier
Oh no! You over there! If you stray from the road, you'll be cursed by the Ritual Sect!
Uruk Soldier
Are you refugees from Ur? Then please be careful. The king has given the Ritual Sect more power, what with it being a war and all...
Uruk Soldier
Uruk is surrounded by a ritual warding the Demonic Beasts, but it seems to have some effects on humans as well.
Mash
Oh... okay. Thank you for the warning.

===Branch End===

Uruk Soldier
I've never seen you before. Which city are you from?

Merlin
Oh, they're refugees from Girsu. As for myself, I engage in business. With the Ritual Sect's permission, as you can see.

Merlin
I'd like to evacuate them into Uruk.
Are there any procedures I need to follow?

Uruk Soldier
That's the sigil of Lady Siduri. You may pass.

Uruk Soldier
As for reception of refugees, Nutra's shop in the west market should be good today.

Uruk Soldier
We just received word that the storage space on the second floor is opening up for refugees.

Uruk Soldier
Daily necessities can be picked up at each gate.

Uruk Soldier
You can register as a temporary citizen at Rana's brothel. Please go there if you're planning to stay for more than two weeks.

Uruk Soldier
You must be tired from your long trip.
Get some rest first.

Uruk Soldier
Welcome to the city of Uruk. We are fighting to survive, and we spare no efforts if it's for the cause.

Mash
O-okay. Thank you very much!

  1. (That was unexpected!)
  2. What's going on...?
  Select: (That was unexpected!)

  Select: What's going on...?

===Branch End===

Uruk Soldier
Hmm. Hold on.
I can't turn a blind eye on your fellow traveler.

Uruk Soldier
You in the black hood. Yes, you. Stop.

Ana
...

Mash
(...! Master, Miss Ana has a blade under her robe...!)

Ana
...What is it?

Uruk Soldier
I'm impressed you managed to walk all the way here with your small build. ...Here. These are just leftovers, but please take them with you.

Uruk Soldier
They're candies my daughter gave me as an afternoon snack.

Ana
...B-but, um. I am, um...

Uruk Soldier
It'd be a great help if you would accept them.
You see, these are a little too sweet for me.

  1. Ana, why don't you just take them?
  2. If that's the case, I'll take them myself!
  Select: Ana, why don't you just take them?
Ana
...(Nod)

  Select: If that's the case, I'll take them myself!
Mash
Senpai, you're an adult.
Control yourself!

===Branch End===

Ana
...Then, I'll take just one. Thank you...very much.

Uruk Soldier
No problem. I was stationed here because of my good memory.

Uruk Soldier
I know your faces now, so I hope we meet again alive.

Uruk Soldier
Whether you set forth to battle, or return to your homeland, seeing you alive and well will bring me joy.

Uruk Civilian A
New arrivals! New arrivals! Tons of autumn ale in stock!

Uruk Civilian A
The newest from Dumuzid Brewery! Our ale is favored even by the king! Now's your chance to enjoy its supreme frothiness! Now's your chance!

Uruk Civilian B
Exchanges, exchanges over here! Check out our limited-time Silver exchange package!

Uruk Civilian B
Right now, you get 5 Fish Silver for 1 Sheep Silver, and 3 Turtle Silver for 1 Wheat Silver!

Uruk Civilian C
If you're gonna eat at our place, I'll toss in a free roasted chicken leg! Bring your own containers!

Uruk Soldier A
Folks! The west district is seeking personnel to carry clay!

Uruk Soldier A
Those who have muscle should come to the boat station in the city canals before sunrise! Looking forward to your help!

Uruk Soldier B
No, wait, the armory needs people too! At this rate, we'll be sending twigs instead of spears to the Northern Wall!

Uruk Soldier B
Those that know how to make weapons, come to the armory! Scaffolds can wait till later! Later, I say!

Uruk Soldier B
We've got plenty of aid from the king, so if you come to our place, you can make a fortune!

Uruk Civilian D
Flowers! This is Merle's Flower Shop!
I know you must all be busy from the daily battles...

Uruk Civilian D
...but don't forget to put some cheer in your life! Celebrations, gifts for your wives... Ask us about anything!

Mash
Wh—

Ana
Wh—

Dr. Roman
Wh—

  1. What a bustling crowd!
 
  Select: What a bustling crowd!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Yeah. The soldier earlier, the energy on the street...
Is this really a city facing the end of the world?

Merlin
That it is. Welcome to Uruk, the oldest fortress city in human history.

Merlin
Times may be dire, but the city remains lively.
Everyone holds their heads high.

Merlin
Smoke from the smithies rises everywhere, and the ringing of their hammers echoes day and night.

Mash
Yes. Everyone is nervous, and they're in a hurry, but they haven't forgotten to smile.

Mash
Despair has no place in this city. It is bustling with the will to fight and the will to survive!

Dr. Roman
That's not all... Unbelievable...
What an efficient cityscape.

Dr. Roman
Look at that map there. Each district is clearly separated by role, and transportation is perfectly linked!

Dr. Roman
Military production, construction, commerce, life...
It's redesigned to provide for all those things.

Dr. Roman
How is this an ancient city!? This is a fighting city so perfect that it would even work today!

Ana
...

Merlin
Sumerians started showing up in history around 4000 B.C.. But their civilization was quite elaborate.

Merlin
It's the oldest human civilization. It began when people abandoned a village-based society hosting thousands...

Merlin
...and formed city-states housing tens of thousands of people by pioneering crop production boosts through irrigated farming.

Merlin
Of course, with a country that big, the invention of writing and the implementation of higher education in schools was only a matter of time.

Merlin
Though they were not blessed with lumber, the fertile lands sandwiched by the two great rivers created quality mud...

Merlin
...which the Sumerians kneaded to make clay.
That, in turn, was used to build many fortresses.

Merlin
That is Mesopotamia, the land of mud, clay, wheat, and sheep.

Merlin
Now, Dr. Roman. You called the city “quite barbaric.”
Do you have anything to say?

Dr. Roman
...I don't... I'm sorry for underestimating it...
I assumed it was just a city-state dependent on trade...

Merlin
Good. Then we'll save a tour of the city for later.
Let's head over to the ziggurat.

  1. The ziggurat...?
  2. A Mesopotamian shrine?
  Select: The ziggurat...?
Mash
A shrine and altar for the Mesopotamians.
I believe that giant trapezoidal structure over there is it!

  Select: A Mesopotamian shrine?
Merlin
Yeah. There is another shrine honoring Uruk's patron god, but unfortunately that particular deity has not been seen lately.

===Branch End===

Merlin
We're finally meeting King Gilgamesh.
Let's head on with all due enthusiasm!

Section 3: Gilgamesh's Calamity

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Mash
We were led right to the Royal Hall...
I'm surprised how friendly everyone is...

  1. Merlin's our fastpass.
 
  Select: Merlin's our fastpass.

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes. Although all the maidens seem to be avoiding Merlin...

Mash
So... We're still a ways away, but is that King Gilgamesh over there?

C：???
Don't make me repeat myself! The newer the information about the war, the better! Keep bringing me reports!

C：???
The harder we work, the less chance they'll have to attack! If you want to take it easy, keep fighting!

Uruk Soldier
Yes, sir! We've added three supply trains to bring more clay tablets from the secretary every hour!

C：???
Good. Next. Is this today's list of shipments?

C：???
...The shipments from the city of Eresh are being delayed, eh... Did the Demonic Beasts set up a lair on the roads?

C：???
Send 20 men from the eastern barracks to clear the way. Temun can take command. It's his home. He knows it well.

C：???
Humph. Whose idiotic order was this!?
Why aren't the Bašmu carcasses being sent to Eanna?

C：???
The researchers have nothing to do! This is the time to put their annoying little brains to work!

Uruk Soldier
Yes, sir! I'll send them over to the Tiamat research team right away! Here is the answer from Girsu.

C：???
...! Curse that Temple Matron there in Girsu!
I know there's still supplies stored in the temple of Bau!

C：???
Have them send everything to the front lines!

C：???
It'll be the end of the world if the wall breaks.
Tell her food can't be taken to the underworld!

C：???
Is this the report from the astrologers?
Good. They match what I observed.

C：???
The reading for the harvest season isn't bad.
Give a lapis lazuli necklace to whoever is in charge.

C：???
But there's no time for them to rest!
Have them read the report from the Eridu search team!

C：???
...By the way, I heard that Tabado's daughter is giving birth. Send her a sacred prostitute to aid her, along with some healthy fruits.

C：???
And pull Tabado off the Northern Wall, and give him three days' rest. His grandson's face will give him courage.

Ana
...This isn't how I pictured him from the stories I just heard... I thought he would be more...terrible and irresponsible...

Mash
He's yelling at one priest after another...
I can sense how busy he is from here...

Mash
It doesn't seem like we will be able to get a word in...

  1. But our issue is important too.
  2. Let's work up the courage to talk to him.
  Select: But our issue is important too.

  Select: Let's work up the courage to talk to him.

===Branch End===

Merlin
That's right. You shouldn't wait for the king to have a spare moment.

Merlin
He won't wait for you either. You should say what's on your mind, even if it's a bit rude.

Merlin
Especially if you believe that's the right thing to do.
Now here we go...

Merlin
King Gilgamesh! I, Merlin, mage extraordinaire, have brought guests!

Merlin
Busy? Yeah, I can see that, so don't worry!
I'll bring them right now!

  1. Huh...? Wait...my hand...!
  2. He's pulling me!?
  Select: Huh...? Wait...my hand...!

  Select: He's pulling me!?

===Branch End===

Mash
S-Senpai...! Merlin, wait!

Gilgamesh
Hmm?

High Priestess
So you've returned, Merlin.
Welcome. The king is happy to see you.

Gilgamesh
... (Unamused)

High Priestess
And? Did you bring back the Tablet of Destinies as your king ordered?

Merlin
No, I didn't have any luck this time.
It's not in the Cedar Forest.

Merlin
...Sheesh. If only you remembered where you left it, Your Majesty, I wouldn't have to work this hard.

High Priestess
Silence. Know your place, mage. The king just happened to be tired when he scribed the tablet.

High Priestess
Even I've never heard of memory loss from exhaustion, but...

High Priestess
...if the king says that's the case, then it must be.
Do as he says and keep looking for it.

High Priestess
More importantly... Who are those people?
They don't look like Uruks.

Gilgamesh
It's fine. I understand the situation. You may go, Siduri.

High Priestess
King Gilgamesh...? For you to bring out the Dingir...
Don't tell me...

Gilgamesh
Just as you suspected, be ready to clean the throne! No need to worry, I'm simply sending two strangers back to the heavens!

Gilgamesh
I'm busy! Even the time I'd have to spend to exchange words with you is too precious for me to spare!

Gilgamesh
Thus, I shall ascertain the truth of your words through battle! Prepare yourselves, mages of the Observatory!

Gilgamesh
...And Merlin, stand down! Do not interfere!

Merlin
That's great. I don't like to get my hands dirty.
Ana, sorry, but would you give them a hand?

Merlin
The king prides himself on his self-control, but let's be honest: he's not one to hold back in battle.

Merlin
I mean, you prefer combat over conversation too, right? This is one of those fists speak louder than words moments!

Ana
...So I'm being forced into a useless fight again...
Please die, Merlin.

  1. Sorry! Please help me out, Ana!
  2. Sorry! Once this is over, let's get Merlin together!
  Select: Sorry! Please help me out, Ana!

  Select: Sorry! Once this is over, let's get Merlin together!

===Branch End===

Ana
...It's all right. It's not your fault. I'll help you if you like.

--BATTLE--

Mash
The battle's over!

Mash
He attacked so suddenly that we fought back without thinking, but—

  1. His Majesty seems upset...
  2. He didn't seem to like that...
  Select: His Majesty seems upset...

  Select: He didn't seem to like that...

===Branch End===

Ana
...Yes. Halfway through the battle, he clearly started holding back.

Ana
Just who does he think he is, I wonder?

Gilgamesh
A waste of time. I was curious to see what those tasked by heaven could do, but you're no more than mongrels!

Gilgamesh
You are unworthy of my help, and unfit to serve me!

Gilgamesh
You aren't even worth punishing for messing up my throne room! I'll let you go this time, so begone!

High Priestess
Your Majesty, please, calm yourself...
They seem like powerful warriors to me...

High Priestess
Are they the strangers you spoke of?

Gilgamesh
Merlin brought them here, so yes, they probably are. But... it's too soon. Far too soon.

Gilgamesh
See that stupid look on {(M) his /(F) her} face?
Still not a clue what's happening here.

Gilgamesh
There's no point in talking to them.
Merlin... It seems you let yourself get distracted.

Merlin
Hmm... For some reason, this is turning out to be my fault. Do you have anything to say, Fujimaru?

Merlin
At this rate, he really will kick you out of here.

  1. ...Okay. (Work up the courage and give your name.)
  2. ...Okay. (Have Mash do it.)
  Select: ...Okay. (Work up the courage and give your name.)
Gilgamesh
I don't care. It's not worth learning your name.
Begone, scum.

  Select: ...Okay. (Have Mash do it.)
Gilgamesh
You fool! Why are you having your Servant do the talking!? This should be the time to show who's the reliable one here!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
I-I didn't expect things to go this bad...

Dr. Roman
What's going on, Merlin!? The king doesn't seem interested in Chaldea at all!

Merlin
Hmm, you're right. That's strange. I thought he and I were on the same wavelength there.

Merlin
I mean, I didn't tell him what Chaldea was.
Or what a Servant was.

Merlin
Or about the Incineration of Humanity, or the King of Mages, or the Grails, or the Singularities, or any of that stuff.

Merlin
But you know, he should be able to figure that out, right? He's a king, after all.

Mash
Y-you didn't tell him anything, then!?

Mash
And you're the one who said he was really busy, right!?

Merlin
Oh, hmm. You're right! Oops!
I should've explained things, huh?

Dr. Roman
Yes! That's Merlin for you! Totally useless!

Dr. Roman
Now you're our only hope, Fujimaru!

Dr. Roman
Let's try persuading King Gilgamesh once more!
Even he'll understand if you explain properly!

Gilgamesh
There's no need for that. I can hear you, concealed one.

Gilgamesh
Know that I am capable of all things, and so possess all knowledge.

Gilgamesh
Thus, there is nothing my eyes cannot see!
Though as you can see, I've yet to fulfill my destiny...

Gilgamesh
I am aware of the process of summoning and commanding Heroic Spirits... What you call “Heroic Spirit Summoning.”

Gilgamesh
...And that my name is on the list of those “Spirit Origins” that you possess as well.

Gilgamesh
Humph. Well, that third-rate Master there probably lacks the power to summon me.

Gilgamesh
Perhaps, one day...

Mash
King Gilgamesh is from this era.
But even though Merlin never told him,

Mash
he knows all about Chaldea, and the fact that he's going to become a Heroic Spirit!

Mash
Which makes it even more important that he listens to us...!

  1. Right! Let's at least talk about the Grail!
 
  Select: Right! Let's at least talk about the Grail!

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes, that's right, Master! Hear us, King Gilgamesh!

Mash
If we don't recover the Grail that's somewhere in this era, the Singularity will destroy humanity.

Mash
So we need to find the Grail as fast as possible...
The Grail...

Gilgamesh
What's wrong? You're after the Grail, aren't you? And...?

Dr. Roman
I'm detecting the Grail! I had a hunch, but it looks like King Gilgamesh already has it!

Gilgamesh
Of course. All the treasures in this world belong to me.
I obtained the omnipotent wish granter a long time ago.

Gilgamesh
That's probably what the Three Goddess Alliance is after. Otherwise they'd have no reason to attack Uruk.

Gilgamesh
And don't you dare ask me to give it to you.

Gilgamesh
There's no reason for me to give you any of my treasures.

Gilgamesh
So, if you ask for the Grail, be prepared to give me more than just your life.

Mash
That's...true. We don't have anything to offer in exchange...

  1. Then what if we defeat the Three Goddess Alliance?
 
  Select: Then what if we defeat the Three Goddess Alliance?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
...Heh.

Gilgamesh
Fwahaha! Hahahahaha!
Hahahahahahahahah!

Gilgamesh
Defeat them? You're going to defeat those goddesses? Siduri, bring me water! My life's in danger!

Gilgamesh
These fools may make me laugh myself to death!
Merlin brought me the future's greatest clowns!

Ana
...

Gilgamesh
Heh... Wow, that was a good one. I'll put it down in the court records. It'll say, “The king is in great abdominal pain.”

Gilgamesh
But knowing everything, I say this: I've no use for you right now.

Gilgamesh
You are all contaminants to this era. Rather, you're an excess. I'd go so far as to say you're unnecessary.

Gilgamesh
Uruk is mine to protect.
I do not need help from Chaldea.

Gilgamesh
The heavens may fall and the earth may split, but this audience will be the last time I speak to you.

Gilgamesh
Listen. Do not think that you can beat those goddesses with the pathetic pawns you possess.

Uruk Soldier
Forgive me for interrupting your pleasant chat, my king!

Gilgamesh
Does this look like a pleasant chat to you!?
Are you blind!?

Uruk Soldier
Huh? Oh, uh... We just heard your laughter echoing throughout the ziggurat, and assumed you were having a good time...

Gilgamesh
Fool! Don't you know that, at a certain age, one can laugh at the drop of a hat? ...No matter. What is it?

Uruk Soldier
A message from our observation post near the Tigris!

Uruk Soldier
They've sighted the wake from the Boat of Heaven in the sky! It's heading for Uruk at high speed!

Uruk Soldier
It's Ishtar—one of the Three Goddess Alliance members!

Gilgamesh
(Sigh) That fool again? Does she never learn?

Gilgamesh
Or is she so stupid she can't even remember what happened a day ago? No, I doubt that moron can even manage to remember what happened 12 hours ago!

High Priestess
...Ahem. Your Majesty, please refrain from insulting Ishtar.

High Priestess
She is the patron deity of our city. Even as king, you shouldn't blaspheme against her so carelessly.

High Priestess
When you speak of her like that here, it makes matters difficult for the Sacred Temple...

Gilgamesh
Don't concern yourself with such matters!
Has she ever protected the Uruks from anything?

Gilgamesh
She destroys things that don't need to be destroyed, and creates things that don't need to be created!

Gilgamesh
She's a cross between a horde of locusts, a sandstorm, and a child's tantrum!

Gilgamesh
She's probably going to accidentally destroy Eanna–her own home–again, and then run crying to An!

Gilgamesh
Humph. Of course, An vanished long ago. Even her father's given up on her. She got what she had coming!

Gilgamesh
That girl's going to end up all alone, crying and crying until she finally dies of exhaustion! Fwahahaha! Revolting!

Ishtar
WHAT DID YOU SAY?!

  1. This girl just destroyed the ceiling!
  2. She came down from the sky, Your Majesty!
  Select: This girl just destroyed the ceiling!

  Select: She came down from the sky, Your Majesty!

===Branch End===

Uruk Soldier
Is that Ishtar...!? Retreat! Everyone, retreat!
She's gonna smite us!

High Priestess
Emergency! Priests, prepare the special prayers!
You are permitted to use them on our patron goddess!

Gilgamesh
...I didn't think you'd head straight for the throne room. You're like a gossip-loving city girl.

Mash
(Senpai, His Majesty is making “Shoo, shoo!” motions with his hand and looking genuinely annoyed!)

Ishtar
You're the one who's acting like a brat! I've had enough of you insulting me behind my back! Now I'm mad!

Ishtar
I was planning on killing you slowly and elegantly to make you suffer, but I've changed my mind!

Ishtar
You're going to pay for all these years of making a mockery of a goddess! Now diiiiiie!

Uruk Soldier
Ishtar is readying her heavenly bow!
Good luck, my king! We're retreating!

Gilgamesh
What, you're not going to watch? No need to be so humble. This is your chance to see the mythological sight of a nasty young goddess meeting her end!

Uruk Soldier
No, it wouldn't be worth getting cursed for generations just for having watched! Good luck!

Ishtar
Humph. Hilarious. Even your soldiers have abandoned you! That's what you get. Your bad deeds finally caught up with you! Your deeeeeeds!

Gilgamesh
I see... When I hear that from you, it really makes me think.

Gilgamesh
This cretin is calling ME the worst. Huh, perhaps I should look back on my life and reflect a bit.

Ishtar
Excuse you! I'm a damn goddess! Rethink your words!

Mash
It's hard to believe that a king and goddess are exchanging insults like that. ...Huh? But Senpai, isn't that girl...

  1. Yup. It's that weird girl!
  2. Yup. It's that girl with the unimpressive chest.
  Select: Yup. It's that weird girl!

  Select: Yup. It's that girl with the unimpressive chest.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Who just said that even more rude thing...!?
...Wait, I know you, human...!

Gilgamesh
Oh? Have you run into this goddess before? Oh? Oh? And it seems she ran into trouble.

Gilgamesh
Fwahahahahahahahahaha! Hilarious.
Another tale of glory to add to Ishtar's myths, huh?

  1. Hello again.
  2. I guess we ARE taking this to court...
  Select: Hello again.

  Select: I guess we ARE taking this to court...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Oh, you're waving at me and saying hi like we're friends? You don't understand the situation at all, do you?♡

Ishtar
That means I can do this with no regrets.
You've destroyed the last of my conscience.

Ishtar
I don't want weird rumors going around, so I'll kill both you and Goldie Boy over there!

Gilgamesh
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Bwahahahahahahahahaha!

Gilgamesh
Excellent! Now this is getting fun! For a brief while, I shall permit you to fight alongside me!

Gilgamesh
Let's go, Chaldeans! Time to slay a goddess!

Gilgamesh
Let's teach this wanton, spoiled, daddy's girl of a goddess a lesson!

--BATTLE--

Gilgamesh
Tsk...! Spoiled as you are, you're still a goddess!
Regular magecraft won't even graze you!

Gilgamesh
And what's more, you're holding back your Authority! There's a limit to my patience, Ishtar!

Ishtar
Right back at you!

Ishtar
I hold back my Authority for the sake of Uruk, not because I'm considering your safety!

Ishtar
Oh. Now I'm even pissing myself off.

Ishtar
Why should I care about Uruk when it's not even mine anymore?

Ishtar
Okay, I don't care anymore!
I'll blow you up along with the ziggurat—

Ishtar
...Hm? You there, human. Who's that hiding behind you?

  1. Behind me...?
  2. There's only Ana here...
  Select: Behind me...?

  Select: There's only Ana here...

===Branch End===

Ana
...

Ishtar
...So that's what's going on.
Things are getting complicated.

Mash
Ishtar is rising! Is she... retreating?

Ishtar
I changed my mind. I only came to pick up my pillow for my bedchamber in Eanna anyway.

Gilgamesh
Astonishing. Ishtar, of all goddesses, is running away with her tail between her legs?

Ishtar
What are you talking about?
I just dropped by while I was out for a stroll.

Ishtar
I freely overlook Uruk, freely pluck my bow, and freely ravage the lands.

Ishtar
See you, oh shirtless King of Uruk.
Have fun with the Demonic Beasts up north.

Ishtar
And Siduri. When Gilgamesh dies, it's not like I won't save Uruk, so keep a white flag ready.

Siduri
A white flag? What do you mean...?

Gilgamesh
Tch... She's cooled down.
What an annoyingly lucky woman.

Gilgamesh
Just a little more and I would've had the anti-Ishtar net launched... Curses.

Siduri
It seems so. As long as Maanna, the Boat of Heaven, is around, it will be difficult to capture Ishtar.

Gilgamesh
Well, fine, let's get back to work. We've lost a lot of time. Let's work harder, Siduri.

Siduri
Yes. We shall resume planning to flood the Tigris River.

Siduri
There has been a suggestion that we use red clay as new soil—

Mash
They've restarted their work as if nothing happened... What should we do, Senpai?

Merlin
Ishtar's attacks must be a daily thing.
The soldiers took their time about coming back.

Merlin
Hmmm, there's not much we could do now.
Let's go find a place to stay for tonight.

Merlin
The king is moody, so maybe he'll listen to you guys tomorrow.

Gilgamesh
I will not, you nitwit. Uruk is in unprecedented danger. I've no time to deal with your Chaldean field trip.

Merlin
That's quite a burn.

Merlin
These guys have already corrected several Singularities; they're practically professionals at restoring history.

Merlin
Aren't you a bit overworked?
Why don't you try trusting a third party for once?

Gilgamesh
There's no need. Any disaster caused in this era will be solved by the people of this era.

Gilgamesh
If they are needed, they'll be brought in later.
And Merlin, remember who you are contracted to.

Gilgamesh
I'm the one who summoned you, not Chaldea.
As such, you should be working only for me.

Merlin
Err... It hurts me to hear that.
Ah well, it's not as if I have much of a heart anyway.

Dr. Roman
Wait, did you just let some important information slip!?

Dr. Roman
You weren't summoned by the Ritual Sect, but by King Gilgamesh!?

Merlin
Oh. I thought that was what I said. Yes, Gilgamesh is a wise king. He shed his warrior persona to become a mage instead.

Merlin
To protect Uruk, nay, the Mesopotamian world, he sheds his holy blood as a mage,

Merlin
He has become a more reasonable, regal, reliable version of King Gilgamesh!

Gilgamesh
...Unwillingly, that is. I can't fix this disaster with my strength alone.

Gilgamesh
I must protect my people, borders, and our way of life...
I must fight with all of Mesopotamia.

Gilgamesh
That is why I locked away my treasures and took up a staff. Summoning that half-blood mage there was also part of the plan.

Gilgamesh
This is the real Heroic Spirit summon, unlike the summons of Chaldea.

Dr. Roman
Really... Well, now I've lost a bit of confidence...

Dr. Roman
Even if you're an ancient king, to be able to summon Heroic Spirits that easily is so...

Merlin
It'd probably help to mention that this is the end of the Age of Gods. Summoning is much easier here than in your time.

Merlin
Now, if we were in the 21st century, with magecraft diminishing, even the king or I wouldn't find it easy to summon a Heroic Spirit.

Gilgamesh
So there you have it. Your actions are utterly arrogant,

Gilgamesh
but that summoning system was created with talent equal to godly skill. I will not mock the effort, research, and miracles put towards it.

Gilgamesh
That, and the shred of hope it offered you. Humph—You have done well in the first six Singularities.

  1. !
  2. The king complimented us!?
  Select: !

  Select: The king complimented us!?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
However, those eras are not this one.
I do not need you all.

Gilgamesh
If you still say you want to assist me, you may do so by working your way up from the bottom.

Gilgamesh
High Priestess! I put you in charge of them!
It may be a pain, but take care of them!

Mash
...So, we've been driven out of the ziggurat.

Mash
What shall we do now, Master...?

Siduri
Do not worry. I shall oversee your stay here for the time being.

Siduri
Ah, where are my manners? I am Siduri.

Siduri
I assist the king as well as manage the Ritual Sect.

  1. Siduri! By the way, a white flag means surrender.
  2. I'm . Pleased to meet you.
  Select: Siduri! By the way, a white flag means surrender.
Siduri
Oh... How embarrassing. So you noticed.
I didn't understand what Ishtar meant by that earlier...
Siduri
A white flag... I see. So it is a sign of surrender in your country...
Siduri
...You may perhaps be from the same country as the girl who became Ishtar's vessel.

  Select: I'm . Pleased to meet you.
Siduri
I'm pleased to meet you too.
We welcome you all, guests from Chaldea.

===Branch End===

Merlin
I never imagined Ms. Siduri would be taking care of Fujimaru.

Merlin
This means my work here is maybe done?
Yup, that would help me out so much!

Merlin
Now I have time to peruse the markets!
I heard Uruk's ale is to die for!

Siduri
...Huh. I am sure you know already, but Merlin here will not be of much use to you.

Siduri
Therefore, I shall give you some advice.

Siduri
The king has said you are not needed. However, he did not use the words “worthless” or “meaningless.”

Siduri
Therefore, if you would like for the king to listen, having some noteworthy achievements would be helpful.

Mash
When you say “achievements”... Do you mean the Demonic Front? Like defeating the beasts that threaten Uruk?

Siduri
No, that would be the soldiers' job. For you... Let's see.

Siduri
Go and help with the various jobs in the city.
I believe the king would want that.

Siduri
So, basically you'd be a jack-of-all-trades.
I will go and make the job arrangements for you.

Siduri
First, I shall guide you to your private lodge.
Please come with me.

Mash
Th-thank you.

Mash
But, um... Why would you go that far for us?

Mash
Setting aside King Gilgamesh's opinion, I'm sure we are suspicious foreigners to you.

Siduri
Because the king ordered me to take care of you.
It's not often he says something like that.

Siduri
I cannot understand yet, but you must be worth at least that much to him.

Siduri
Therefore, as his assistant, I shall trust in his word.

Siduri
Please lead a righteous life, one even an incompetent being like me would be able to understand. That shall be my reward as well.

Siduri
That is how this country runs. We don't have many resources, so there isn't much in the way of entertainment.

Siduri
For Uruk, ale, sheep, and people's smiles are what give everyone the energy to survive.

Section 4: Hardworking Citizens of Uruk

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Siduri
This is where you'll be staying.
It's old, but it should be sufficient for your needs.

Siduri
It was originally used as a tavern. The first floor is a shared space, and the rooms are on the second and third floors.

Ana
...

Mash
I didn't think you'd lend us a whole building!
Thank you, Siduri!

Mash
Isn't this great, Master? Three days after our Rayshift and we already have a home to call our own!

  1. Yeah... But we've gotta work to earn rent...
  2. My dream home has a white picket fence and pool.
  Select: Yeah... But we've gotta work to earn rent...
Siduri
Don't worry. We don't charge rent.
We'll also provide you with the basic essentials.

  Select: My dream home has a white picket fence and pool.
Merlin
Oh, you've got good taste! That's my dream, too!
A happy home just like that!
Merlin
But by the time I had more than 50 of those homes, they definitely weren't happy anymore!
Fou
Fou, dofooou!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
And it's also the ideal place to set up a summoning circle. I imagine this is going to be your base this time,
Fujimaru.

Mash
It's the Chaldean Embassy!
We can all live here: Senpai, Merlin, Ana, Fou...

Merlin
A hideout for the four of us, including Lady Mash, plus one beast.

Merlin
Hmm. I have a room in the ziggurat, but this place looks more fun.

Merlin
Let's go take a look at the second floor. This may be a short stay, but it's important to choose rooms.

Ana
...

  1. Why don't you go look too, Ana?
  2. You don't look happy.
  Select: Why don't you go look too, Ana?
Ana
...No, it's fine... I'm fine anywhere as long as I have a place to sleep...
Ana
...All right. It's unsettling to be stared at, so I'll go look.
Ana
...I need to watch over Merlin anyway.
He has too many secrets...

  Select: You don't look happy.
Ana
...That's not it. It's just frustrating that I'm getting further away from my goal.
Ana
...I'll go check on Merlin. I need to monitor him to make sure he doesn't do anything funny.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
So they both went upstairs, huh?
Let's get our work done, too.

Dr. Roman
Mash, get the circle ready.
It'll make navigation a little easier, too.

Mash
Right. Deploying Round Table.
Anchoring Leyline coordinates!

Da Vinci
Okay, is that my cue?

Da Vinci
It's time for your circle setup mini-lecture.
In this episode of magecraft trivia, we'll cover...

Da Vinci
The Age of Gods and Divine Spirits. Since you're in the B.C. period known as the end of the Age of Gods, it's the perfect subject.

Da Vinci
I told you about Divine Spirits before, so this time, let's talk about the Age of Gods.

Da Vinci
Mages call the magical energy that fills the atmosphere “mana.” The further back in time you go, the more of it there is.

Da Vinci
Think of it as the magical energy of the Earth itself. It was not unlike an infinite supply of gasoline for humans.

Da Vinci
On the other hand, the individual magical energy possessed by a human or Heroic Spirit is called “od.”

Da Vinci
This magical energy comes from special nerve tissue called a magical circuit. Remember, though: The difference in scale between od in a human and the earth's mana is tremendous.

Da Vinci
Mana is a vast reservoir of energy, and od is just a tiny little drop.

Da Vinci
And since the start of the A.D. era, the amount of mana has been steadily decreasing.

Da Vinci
As a result, in the 21st century, mages practice their Mystics using od alone.

Da Vinci
We'll skip over why there's less mana for now. It's got to do with the Isle of Britain, so I'm sure it'll come up eventually.

Da Vinci
Anyway, in the Age of Gods, mana was everywhere.
And there wasn't just more of it; it was more potent, too.

Da Vinci
Mana in the A.D. era is called Ether, the Fifth Imaginary Element. It's artificial magical energy, you see.

Da Vinci
Before the A.D. era, human civilization was still in development, and magical energy was called something else:

Da Vinci
True Ether. The power that gave birth to planets and formed the stars. The True Fifth Element.

Da Vinci
This True Ether is the root that forms the gods.

Da Vinci
It wasn't humans who ruled this era. It was the gods.
Or, you could call them “nature” or “concepts” if you like.

Da Vinci
Gods in the sky. Gods on the earth. Gods in the sea. Love was a god, hate was a god. Death and battle also had gods.

Da Vinci
The laws of nature were among the many Authorities wielded by the gods.

Da Vinci
The world belonged to them. You could even say the gods formed many aspects of this world.

Da Vinci
There are differing opinions as to whether the gods spoken of in legends, faiths, and religions in the modern world are the same beings...

Da Vinci
But modern mages, at least, believe that many legends are interpretations of things that took place during the Age of Gods.

Da Vinci
The gods truly existed. However...

Da Vinci
With the arrival of the Age of Man, they vanished.

Da Vinci
These disappearances came in three stages: decline, parting, and opportunity.

Da Vinci
The “opportunity” phase took place around the 7th century B.C.

Da Vinci
A great disaster around 14,000 years ago supposedly caused prehistoric mythological civilizations to weaken, hence the “decline” phase.

Da Vinci
You're in 2600 B.C., the “parting” phase at the end of the Age of Gods, when gods and humans went their separate ways.

Da Vinci
Mesopotamia is no exception. As it happens, the Mesopotamian gods came up with their own way...

Da Vinci
...of trying to continue the Age of Gods, but a single king ruined their plans.

Da Vinci
A king created to bind man and the gods together. Part-man, part-god. The man they hoped would be the “Wedge of the Heavens.”

Da Vinci
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.

Da Vinci
But instead, he chose a path opposite to the one the gods had laid out for him. He chose to distance himself from the gods.

Da Vinci
Gilgamesh's rebellion caused the gods of Mesopotamia to gradually lose their power, and in time they vanished from the surface of the earth.

Da Vinci
Even in this era, the gods are gone.
They've fulfilled their role and vanished.

Da Vinci
The present theory is that they exist as hollow Divine Spirits on a higher plane, watching over the world.

Da Vinci
The true gods have vanished from this world, leaving behind only shadows.

Da Vinci
In a thousand years, those shadows will be gone, replaced in the minds of humans only by legends.

Da Vinci
That's why I thought you wouldn't run into any living gods. I was shocked to see you'd found an alliance of goddesses.

Da Vinci
From the data I just saw, Ishtar's Spirit Origin was extremely close to the real thing.

Da Vinci
A god's Authority is a Mystic far beyond magecraft.
You could call it a manifestation of omnipotence.

Da Vinci
We're not sure who your true foe is in that era, but it's clear that the goddesses aren't on your side.

Da Vinci
Be careful, Fujimaru.

Da Vinci
I know I'm wasting my time saying this, but don't do anything too crazy, okay?

Siduri
Did everyone get some ale? Fujimaru and Mash are minors, so they can have fruit water.

Ana
...I'm sorry, I'd prefer water too... Ale is so bitter...

Siduri
Oh, how thoughtless of me.
I heard you were a Servant, so I didn't think about it.

Siduri
How about this milk instead?
It's got honey in it, so it's sweet.

Ana
...I don't like sweet things either, but...
Okay. Thank you.

Siduri
Okay everyone... I'd like to have a quick toast to celebrate Fujimaru's new job with the Uruks!

Siduri
Ready, everyone? ...Cheers!
(Glug glug glug)

Merlin
Cheers! (Glugglug glug) Wow, that's good stuff! Especially after half a day of cleaning!

Merlin
Hard work is the best way to make booze taste good!
I live for this kind of thing!

Ana
...This is delicious... Ah... I don't like sweet stuff...

Ana
...And Merlin took the corner room.
It's not fair... If I get a chance, I think I'll murder him...

Mash
Cheers! Senpai, this fish is very good!

Mash
They say it was caught in the river, but it doesn't taste muddy... In fact, it's quite firm—

Mash
Oh, this lamb is nice and juicy, too!

Mash
How did they flavor it without spices? So mysterious!
My curiosity may never be satisfied!

  1. You're enjoying yourself, Mash.
 
  Select: You're enjoying yourself, Mash.

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes! And it's all because...

Ushiwakamaru
Fate must have brought us together again,
Lord Fujimaru. Here, have a drink.

Benkei
Ushiwakamaru, you mustn't go pouring ale for Fujimaru.

Benkei
And I think you should limit your own drinking as well. Just like your sense of taste, you cannot handle liquor very well.

Benkei
Do not tell me you've forgotten how you embarrassed yourself on the bridge in Uruk yesterday. Hah hah hah!

Benkei
You didn't quite jump over eight ships. More like six?
Or maybe five?

Benkei
You did a somersault into a big jump, and then landed so hard you split the bridge in two. Hah hah hah! That was crazy! Hah hah hah!

Ushiwakamaru
Fine. Sit down, turn away from me, and stare at your feet, Benkei. I've heard your warning.

Ushiwakamaru
By the way, you never seem to stop talking.
Is it because you sense your impending death?

Ushiwakamaru
“I may die tonight, and so I should say everything that's on my mind.” Is that your logic?

Ushiwakamaru
Perfect. I shall help you with your beheading.

Benkei
And then I pop my head down at the last second!
It's a party trick I like to call “Whack-a-Benkei!”

Benkei
Hahahah! Did you like that, Lord Yoshitsune?
The trick is to pop your head down like a turtle! A turtle!

Ushiwakamaru
Why you... You have the most bizarre talents!
But it was funny, so I suppose I shall forgive you!

Mash
Yes. As you can see, it's because I've met some reliable allies.

  1. Well, I guess you can call them reliable.
  2. Are you sure they're not “laughable”?
  Select: Well, I guess you can call them reliable.

  Select: Are you sure they're not “laughable”?

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Yup. I never imagined King Gilgamesh would summon other Servants.

Dr. Roman
But it makes sense. That explains how he's holding back the Demonic Front.

Dr. Roman
Rider Ushiwakamaru and Lancer Musashibou Benkei defeat the Demonic Beasts around Uruk.

Dr. Roman
And in command of the Demonic Front is none other than—

Leonidas
Siduri, I require only nutrients! Alcohol should not be enjoyed until after we've wiped out the Demonic Beasts!

Leonidas
My heart is still at the front lines!
Just like the Uruks who are fighting day after day!

Leonidas
But I do need to sleep. The body requires energy,

Leonidas
but the brain requires sugar and sleep. During the battle, we soldiers are a part of a massive calculation.

Leonidas
The load that combat places on the brain is equal to four days' worth of doing your taxes. Warriors are mathematicians.

Leonidas
Based on experience, two hours of battle requires a 15-minute nap! REQUIRES IT!

Leonidas
And yet... the younger soldiers tell me that I'm the only one who can immediately fall asleep amongst a horde of Demonic Beasts and also get up right away.

Leonidas
If you're tired, you sleep! And if you think, “oh crap,” you instantly wake and jam your spear into a Demonic Beast's maw!

Leonidas
Survival is the first thing you learn in Sparta... But these Uruk soldiers push things to the next level!

Leonidas
If you fight until you die, you can't repel the enemy army. It's a waste of a young life.

Leonidas
Listen. If you want a motto, the motto of a defender should be, “Don't die until the fight's over!” That's what I think!

Leonidas
Uweh... Hic!
(Glug glug glug)

Siduri
What!? Who poured ale into General Leonidas's cup!?

Ushiwakamaru
Who knows? Knowing him, he probably poured it for himself accidentally.

Ushiwakamaru
It's good medicine for him, if you ask me.
He hasn't rested as much as he says he has.

Ushiwakamaru
The Demonic Beasts are calmer at night.
Let's let him relax for the evening.

Siduri
I-I see... Maybe you're right... If you say so, Lord Ushiwakamaru, then, well...

Dr. Roman
Hmm. That wasn't a long conversation, but it told us what we need to know about the power balance between them.

Dr. Roman
Has Ushiwakamaru been leading the Heroic Spirits up until now? Merlin probably tried to avoid getting assigned to such a cumbersome job.

Ushiwakamaru
Roman, was it? It's true that I'm the representative of the Heroic Spirits right now.

Ushiwakamaru
But we were summoned here by the king of this land.
We know naught of your Chaldea.

Ushiwakamaru
Perhaps there's another me there among you, but please don't assume I'm the same person.

Ushiwakamaru
Benkei, Leonidas, and I all made our contract with King Gilgamesh.

Ushiwakamaru
If ever we're forced to choose between Lord Fujimaru and the king, we'll choose the king without hesitation.

Ushiwakamaru
However...

Ushiwakamaru
However, our goal of defending this era and this city is the same as yours.

Ushiwakamaru
Fujimaru, humanity's last Master.
You have come from a distant world to this troubled land.

Ushiwakamaru
What Heroic Spirit could fail to respect you for that?

Ushiwakamaru
We shall help you in every way possible to the best of our abilities.

  1. ...Thank you, Ushiwakamaru.
  2. ...Nice to meet you, Ushiwakamaru.
  Select: ...Thank you, Ushiwakamaru.
Ushiwakamaru
No need to thank me. It is my duty as a Heroic Spirit.

  Select: ...Nice to meet you, Ushiwakamaru.
Ushiwakamaru
...Nice to meet me, huh?
So I guess there is no other me in Chaldea.
Ushiwakamaru
...That is quite a shame.
Am I not that well known in your era?

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
...Good, good. Our circumstances may be different, but we're all working toward the same goal.

Dr. Roman
But, well, can I ask you something?
It was King Gilgamesh who summoned you, right?

Dr. Roman
Then is he the only one who's providing you with magical energy right now?

Benkei
Indeed. After Merlin, King Gilgamesh summoned seven of us Heroic Spirits to this land.

Benkei
...Now there are only four of us, but we'll talk about that another time.

Benkei
During the summoning, it was King Gilgamesh's magical energy that formed our Spirit Origins.

Benkei
But now we maintain our own sources of energy. We eat and sleep like humans, and generate magical energy all on our own.

Dr. Roman
...So you've incarnated, huh? Hmm, that explains it.

Dr. Roman
Not even the king would be able to simultaneously maintain the Spirit Origins of four Servants at once.

Merlin
Yes, he really went a bit crazy.
I should never have told him about the Holy Grail War.

Merlin
Just supplying me with magical energy almost drained him dry. But then he says, “I'll summon seven more!”

Merlin
The reason King Gilgamesh isn't on the front lines fighting is partly because he still hasn't recovered all his magical energy.

Leonidas
So it seems. Before we were summoned, he said he didn't know who the enemy was.

Leonidas
The northern cities were wiped out by the Demonic Beasts, disasters occurred all over the land, and Kutha vanished overnight.

Leonidas
That's when King Gilgamesh said he “saw” the future. He saw a future where Uruk was destroyed and swallowed up into an abyss.

Mash
That must be King Gilgamesh's clairvoyance. That's why he took the risk of summoning a Heroic Spirit...

Mash
As a king who had to deal with such a disaster, he required multiple Heroic Spirits, correct?

Leonidas
That's right. Excellent analysis, Mash Kyrielight...
May I call you Mash?

Mash
Y-yes. I'm Mash Kyrielight.
I'm just a Demi-Servant, but nice to meet you!

Leonidas
The pleasure is mine. Anyway, back to the timeline.

Leonidas
After this era became a Singularity, and humanity was incinerated, King Gilgamesh summoned us.

Leonidas
Six months later, Uruk was reborn into a fortress city.

Leonidas
We grow crops, train soldiers, and build structures within the fortress...

Leonidas
A monetary system was established purely as an emergency measure for the war, all while we struggle against this unknown enemy.

  1. ...I see...
  2. That's pretty amazing...
  Select: ...I see...

  Select: That's pretty amazing...

===Branch End===

Mash
Incredible... People fought in America too, but that was only after their nation had already been destroyed.

Mash
Uruk is the opposite. People are fighting right now to prevent the destruction of their world in the first place.

Merlin
Well, it was a matter of timing.

Merlin
If what happened in America had come a few years later, they would've fought the Celts head-on.

Merlin
What was lucky for Uruk was that King Gilgamesh had come back “matured.”

Merlin
After he finished his search for immortality, he probably underwent a bit of a mental change.

  1. Right. Speaking of his search for immortality...
  2. Who was that Enkidu?
  Select: Right. Speaking of his search for immortality...
Mash
It was his friend Enkidu who started it all, right?
So much happened that I forgot...

  Select: Who was that Enkidu?

===Branch End===

Siduri
...I see. So you met that Enkidu, then?

Siduri
King Gilgamesh's friend, a hero equal in stature... and now humanity's enemy.

Siduri
...But we just can't believe that's truly Enkidu.
The Uruks knew the old Enkidu.

Siduri
Enkidu was the one who restrained King Gilgamesh, the king who was fated to be alone until death, and taught him the joys of friendship.

Siduri
Though they insisted they were simply a tool, to me, Enkidu seemed like nothing less than a very kind person.

Siduri
...The real Enkidu would never wear such a cruel smile on their face.

Siduri
That THING that threatens Sumer now must be a fake only pretending to be Enkidu.

Dr. Roman
...A fake, huh? Then Enkidu is dead, like the legend says?

Siduri
...Yes. The king watched as Enkidu died, and buried his friend in the underworld.

Siduri
...Thinking back, there was nothing so beautiful or sad as Enkidu.

Siduri
They may have been a puppet made by the gods, but they gained a heart... Granted, Enkidu was shattered along with it, but...

Mash
Enkidu gained a heart, but was shattered along with it... That's...

Mash
...No, for now, let's talk about King Gilgamesh.

Mash
Does the king know that...

Mash
...That a fake version of his lost friend has been made into his enemy?

Merlin
Yes, of course he does. Though, the king doesn't leave the ziggurat, so he's never met them personally.

Merlin
But his response was unremarkable.

Merlin
“Someone calling themselves Enkidu appeared? I see. Well, I suppose that's possible.”

Merlin
That's all he said. He didn't get angry, or sad...

Merlin
What kind of reaction is that? I've lived a long time in the world of humans, but I can't understand it.

Siduri
...Yes. It didn't feel like he was trying to keep us from worrying, either.

Merlin
Hahahaha! The world will come to an end before he cares about someone else's feelings.

Merlin
Well, no matter what King Gilgamesh is thinking, I'm glad he's staying calm.

Merlin
The only reason Uruk is still standing at all is because of how hard the king is working.

Merlin
If he ever abandoned the role of the wise king and became the King of Heroes again, Uruk would be doomed. I want to avoid that, too.

Merlin
After all, if Uruk fell, I wouldn't be able to drink its ale, or visit its brothels.

Fou
Fou, foou!

  1. ... (Nods sagely)
  2. ...But we have to find out who the fake is.
  Select: ... (Nods sagely)

  Select: ...But we have to find out who the fake is.

===Branch End===

Merlin
Yes, I'm not telling you to forget it.
We'll definitely find out who this false Enkidu is.

Merlin
But that can be done tomorrow.
You haven't rested since your Rayshift, right?

Merlin
Get some rest tonight.
We can talk and begin your new lives tomorrow.

Merlin
I have something to look into, so I'll be gone for a while. But while I'm away you can get help from Siduri and the other Servants.

Merlin
Look, Ana fell asleep too. Take care of her as well.

Merlin
She told you she doesn't like humans, but she doesn't hate them either.

Merlin
Actually, she's scared of them, so she's trying to keep her distance. You know what that means, right?

  1. Scared of humans...?
  2. ...Understood. Leave it to me.
  Select: Scared of humans...?

  Select: ...Understood. Leave it to me.

===Branch End===

Merlin
All right. I'll be going, then.
One of my favorite girls is waiting for me.

Mash
Merlin's right, Senpai. You don't look so good.
Your vitals are dropping too.

Mash
It may be rude, but let's leave Ushiwakamaru and the others and get some rest.

  1. You're right. Good night, Mash.
 
  Select: You're right. Good night, Mash.

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes. Good night, Master. I'll see you tomorrow, here in the lobby of the Chaldean Embassy!

--ARROW--

Mash
Good morning, Senpai.
You must've slept well last night.

Ana
...Good... morning... Both of you are early risers...
So amazing.

Dr. Roman
We're just swapping out the staff over here, too.
Good morning, Fujimaru.

Fou
Fou, fooou!

  1. Morning, everyone.
 
  Select: Morning, everyone.

===Branch End===

Siduri
It seems we're all here. Very well. Let me give you your assignment, Fujimaru.

Siduri
Today's task is from Mr. Limmat at the ranch. Apparently, he wants help shearing his sheep.

Dr. Roman
Huh? Shearing sheep... Shearing sheep!?
That's such a menial chore!

Siduri
It isn't a menial task. Wool is priceless.
It is a valuable commodity for trade.

Siduri
Sheep are normally shorn two or three times a year, but the shorter the cycle, the greater the profit.

Siduri
Mr. Limmat's main assets are his 180 sheep. If it takes four hours to shave one, he can only shave four a day at most.

Siduri
In other words, it would take Mr. Limmat over a month to shear all the sheep by himself.

Siduri
A whole month. If this could be shortened to 10 days, do you see how much of a difference in profit it would make?

  1. So it's like a shipment coming in a month late...
  2. We can't survive without working?
  Select: So it's like a shipment coming in a month late...
Dr. Roman
That analogy is really the opposite, but I see what you mean... It's the age of the fast and furious, or rather, the RAST and furriest.

  Select: We can't survive without working?
Ana
Seems so... But being able to touch sheep... makes me a little happy.

===Branch End===

Mash
Understood. Leave it to us! Let's do this, Master!

Siduri
I like your enthusiasm. Now then, here is your referral letter. Sheep are nice, Mash. They are very fluffy this time of year.

Mash
So they ARE fluffy... (Gulp)
This will be one tough mission...

Fou
Fouuu...

  1. A new challenger appears...
  2. Give it up, Fou.
  Select: A new challenger appears...

  Select: Give it up, Fou.

===Branch End===

Siduri
Oh, that's right. I forgot to mention that the ranch is on the outskirts of Uruk.

Siduri
There are reports of previously undocumented Demonic Beasts roaming that area. Please be careful.

--BATTLE--

Uruk Civilian
Hey, I owe you one! I was helpless against those vermin!

Uruk Civilian
I only expected you to keep watch as I was shearing, but I never imagined you'd exterminate them...

Uruk Civilian
I expect nothing less from the elites working directly for the king! Help me again sometime! Here's three Sheep Silver.

Uruk Civilian
Huh? Don't I have sheep to shear, you ask?
Well, the circumstances have changed...

Uruk Civilian
The girls from the Sacred Temple wanted to try shearing so much so that they're willing to pay me silver for it. So the other sheep were reserved for them.

Uruk Civilian
Who knew that shearing sheep would become a business unto itself... Oh brother, fads sure are weird...

Mash
...The sheep...

Ana
...passed by right in front of our eyes...

  1. Both of you, get ahold of yourselves...
  2. Well, that was just horrible...
  Select: Both of you, get ahold of yourselves...

  Select: Well, that was just horrible...

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Well, that didn't go the way they'd hoped...
I have nothing to say to Mash and Ana...

Dr. Roman
Must be a side effect of the sudden introduction of a monetary system and the ability to “buy” entertainment.

Dr. Roman
It is an effective method of livening up a city, but it might be about 500 years too early...

Mash
Yes... I believe security deposits of silver began thriving from around the Akkadian period. They didn't exist in the Early Dynastic period...

Mash
It's not that King Gilgamesh is at fault, but perhaps it was too early for the citizens of Uruk...

Ana
I agree, Mash. The monetary system is bad civilization... Reservations are terrible...

--ARROW--

Ushiwakamaru
Good morning. I guess we're heading to work at the same hour today.

Ushiwakamaru
Siduri, what is Lord Fujimaru's task for today?

Siduri
Today's request is from Mr. Kissinamuh.

Siduri
His wife has been acting strangely for the past few days, and he'd like you to investigate.

Siduri
To be blunt, you're investigating an affair.

Mash
I-investigating an affair?
Um... shouldn't things like that be resolved between the parties involved?

Siduri
Mr. Kissinamuh is the boss at the armory.
He cannot leave his workplace during the weekdays.

Siduri
But it's all weighing heavily on his mind, and it's affecting his work. An early resolution would be ideal.

Siduri
Also, he needs evidence if it goes to trial. Try to catch her in the act, identify the adulterer, and look into their history.

Ushiwakamaru
...Oh. That sounds interesting.
Lord Fujimaru, may I come along with you?

Ushiwakamaru
We are in charge of patrolling Uruk today.
We shall help you out while giving you a tour of the city.

  1. Gladly!
  2. I'm understanding Uruk less and less...
  Select: Gladly!
Benkei
Hahaha, that's the spirit!
Of course, I will accompany you too.
Benkei
You should not underestimate the difficulties of investigating an affair.
Benkei
It's normal for the cornered wife to show her devilish side and retaliate by swinging around a giant hatchet when caught in the act.
Benkei
However, my Buddhist power is undiminished in a foreign land. Benkei here will exorcise them without a second thought!
Ushiwakamaru
Lord Fujimaru. Needless to say, you can ignore that naysayer's doom and gloom.

  Select: I'm understanding Uruk less and less...
Dr. Roman
Right... More and more internal affairs are surfacing and pointing to a cruel world...

===Branch End===

Ana
...Um... I won't be going with you.

Ana
An old lady I met on the street asked for my help earlier...

Mash
Oh, the lady from the flower shop, right?
I do remember she was looking for an assistant.

Mash
Ushiwakamaru and the others will help out, so we'll be fine on our end this time.

Ana
... (Bowing)

Ushiwakamaru
Then, let us be on our way!
First, we need to tail the wife.

Ushiwakamaru
Uruk is like my backyard now.
You can put all your trust in me! Come along!

--BATTLE--

Ushiwakamaru
Th-that was quite an experience, wasn't it?

Benkei
Yes, it was quite a case.

Mash
Who would've imagined the wife was secretly a member of a mysterious species living deep underground, scheming to invade the surface world...

Dr. Roman
And who knew that there was an underground lava zone in the suburbs! What an adventure. I can't even begin to put it into words.

Dr. Roman
But it was tragic, too...

Dr. Roman
Her love truly was real. And in the end, it was what saved the surface world...

  1. Fiery love is universal...
  2. I can't believe she's the last of the Yohimen...
  Select: Fiery love is universal...

  Select: I can't believe she's the last of the Yohimen...

===Branch End===

Ushiwakamaru
I know. Let's advise King Gilgamesh to adjust the laws regarding relations and marital issues with other species,

Ushiwakamaru
so no one ever has to see a tragedy like this again.

Mash
Speaking of laws, Mesopotamian civilization is built on the Code of Ur-Nammu and the Code of Hammurabi.

Mash
The Code of Ur-Nammu was created between this era and the 3rd Dynasty of Ur.

Mash
It's said that it consolidated all the nebulous rules into one code, which became humanity's oldest structured law.

  1. I see. Mash, you're really well-informed.
  2. Speaking of the Code of Hammurabi...
  Select: I see. Mash, you're really well-informed.
Mash
Ah, no... I just have a smattering of knowledge.
I don't know the dictates of the code in detail.

  Select: Speaking of the Code of Hammurabi...
Dr. Roman
Yes. The famous code of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” You could say that's the basis for law in modern society.

===Branch End===

Ushiwakamaru
By the way. Lord Fujimaru, I hear you've only been here for a short time.

Ushiwakamaru
We have been walking and eating around the city, but what about outside of Uruk?

Ushiwakamaru
Neither Benkei nor I are very knowledgeable about it, but we could at least tell you about the rumors.

  1. Tell me about the Three Goddess Alliance.
  2. What kind of hero is Ushiwakamaru?
  Select: Tell me about the Three Goddess Alliance.
Dr. Roman
Yes, that is currently the most important issue. Ushiwakamaru, by all means, tell us.

  Select: What kind of hero is Ushiwakamaru?
Ushiwakamaru
Uh... Me? That's a difficult one to answer when asked so bluntly.
Ushiwakamaru
As you can see, I am a Japanese warrior.
That said, the story of my birth is fairly complicated.
Ushiwakamaru
Born in the Heian period, raised in a temple, and trained by a tengu on Mt. Kurama. So I'm ignorant of the world.
Ushiwakamaru
I'm a skilled swordswoman.
That's all. Nothing else suited me.
Ushiwakamaru
I was nothing more than my big brother's blade, or perhaps nothing else interested me...
Ushiwakamaru
I would run around the battlefield without any special aspirations or ideals, just decapitating enemy generals.
Benkei
...
Ushiwakamaru
Also, Ushiwakamaru is my childhood name.
Ushiwakamaru
If you were to summon me as a Minamoto–that is, when I had a position–I would probably appear different.
Ushiwakamaru
She is a cold-blooded warrior who brought death upon many compatriots, and never corrected her foolishness until the very end.
Ushiwakamaru
That's why I'm happy as “Ushiwakamaru.” The person I am now is able to accept everything without protest.
Ushiwakamaru
Not having that position is what lets me be in such good spirits and talk with you like this, Lord Fujimaru.
Ushiwakamaru
With that in mind, this fleeting life is precious to me.
Ushiwakamaru
I feel like I'm in an innocent dream, the sort I had when I knew nothing.
Benkei
Mm, Lord Fujimaru.
It seems you are interested in Ushiwakamaru.
Benkei
If so, talk to this humble servant in secret later on. After all, I, Musashibou Benkei, am Ushiwakamaru's best retainer.
Benkei
We are inseparable as master and servant.
We are like childhood best friends.
Benkei
I can tell you everything about Ushiwakamaru's matter-of-fact heroic exploits and adventures.
Ushiwakamaru
Oh, I will smash that decoration (read: him) one day, so please ignore him.
Ushiwakamaru
I'm using him as a shield against arrows, but so far the chance hasn't presented itself.
Benkei
Hahaha, you are too harsh with me.
This humble servant's position has become tenuous.
Benkei
Therefore, let us change the subject. Lord Fujimaru, you are investigating the Three Goddess Alliance?
Dr. Roman
Yes, that is currently the most important issue. Ushiwakamaru, by all means, tell us.

===Branch End===

Ushiwakamaru
Needless to say, the Three Goddess Alliance is a major threat to Uruk.

Ushiwakamaru
The Demonic Front up north. The jungle in the south. And the aerial attacks from Ishtar in the northeast mountains.

Ushiwakamaru
Currently, the city of Uruk is under three separate attacks from these directions.

Ushiwakamaru
Leonidas is keeping the Demonic Front to the north in check, but there are no countermeasures for the other two problems.

Ushiwakamaru
The goddess Ishtar possesses a bow called the Boat of Heaven. As the name implies, it's a divine vessel that can soar through the sky.

Ushiwakamaru
She does not have the overwhelming force of the Demonic Front, but she is still a nuisance.

Ushiwakamaru
She's like an unpredictable storm.

Ushiwakamaru
As for the jungle in the south...
We don't know anything about it yet.

Benkei
King Gilgamesh has sent out a number of scouting parties, but no one has ever returned.

Benkei
On the one hand, the Demonic Beast legion is a dynamic invasion, on the other, the jungle is a static invasion.

Mash
So all the forces invading Uruk are unique.

Mash
Three menaces... The Three Goddess Alliance...
Who are these goddesses, and what do they want...?

Dr. Roman
Well, we do know that Ishtar is one of them.

Dr. Roman
According to King Gilgamesh, the goddesses' objective is capturing the Holy Grail he possesses...

Ushiwakamaru
The Great Grail of Uruk, eh... He flaunted it in front of...
I mean, he allowed me to take a look.

Ushiwakamaru
It did indeed look like it contained vast magical energy.

Ushiwakamaru
Whether it be goddess, Heroic Spirit, or human, anyone who uses that Grail could easily become king.

Ushiwakamaru
Do you suppose the goddesses are after the Greater Grail to re-create this world in their own image after they destroy Uruk?

Dr. Roman
The Greater Grail of Uruk...? Is that what King Gilgamesh said, Ushiwaka?

Ushiwakamaru
Yes, that is the name he was so proud to come up with. When I said I wanted to touch it, though, he refused quite vehemently.

Benkei
Hmm, a wise judgment from a wise king. Much better than handing to Lord Ushiwakamaru and having her accidentally drop it, smashing it to pieces...

Benkei
Or, I could see you saying, “I like this, so I'm keeping it,” and then trying to decapitate the king. Hahahaha.

Dr. Roman
...

Ushiwakamaru
Lord Roman, what's the matter?
And Benkei, go sit in the corner until morning.

Benkei
Oh... To recreate my standing death through sitting...
The lukewarm stares from the people of Uruk are excruciating.

Dr. Roman
No, it's nothing. Now that I think about it, it's only natural. Forget it.

  1. The Greater Grail of Uruk is not this era's Holy Grail?
 
  Select: The Greater Grail of Uruk is not this era's Holy Grail?

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
...Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what it means.

Dr. Roman
From the beginning, King Gilgamesh possessed a treasure worthy of being called a Holy Grail.

Dr. Roman
We mistakenly thought that was the King of Mages' Holy Grail.

Dr. Roman
Gilgamesh and Merlin both realized that, but didn't point it out.

Dr. Roman
...Which is vexing.

Dr. Roman
Merlin is rotten to the core, so I'm sure we could never get a straight answer from him.

Dr. Roman
And as for asking King Gilgamesh, he would only get furious and say, “How dare you compare my treasures to the King of Mages'!”

Mash
Either way, the Holy Grail we're supposed to recover isn't in Uruk, but somewhere else, correct?

  1. Or it could already have been used.
  2. Maybe the three goddesses have it...?
  Select: Or it could already have been used.
Dr. Roman
...There's a good chance of that. If you think about it, the very existence of the Three Goddess Alliance is strange.
Dr. Roman
It's possible the Holy Grail was used to summon the goddesses...

  Select: Maybe the three goddesses have it...?
Mash
That would be a real pain... They're powerful opponents already, but if they also had the Holy Grail, we would be no match for them...

===Branch End===

--ARROW--

Leonidas
Ho! Lord Fujimaru, Mash! Gooooood! Morning! Fine weather we're having again this morning!

Mash
K-King Leonidas!? You're going out!?

Leonidas
Hahaha. No need to address me as king. I am a mere soldier now. Nothing more than a shield to protect Uruk.

Leonidas
And today I shall be a drill sergeant from hell in the eastern barracks!

Leonidas
This may be a touch juvenile for someone like myself, but I am going to take great pleasure in introducing the soldiers to the hell that is Spartan training!

  1. Won't they die?
  2. So the northern front is fine?
  Select: Won't they die?
Leonidas
Hahaha. If a soldier dies from strenuous training, that only proves they lack spirit.
Leonidas
And if the training is too much and they keel over? All I must do is smack some of that spirit back into their bodies, and they'll perk right up!
Mash
Ohhhhhh!
Fou
Fooooou...

  Select: So the northern front is fine?
Leonidas
Yes. The flooding strategy at the Tigris River was successful. The Demonic Beast invasion should be weakened for a few days.
Leonidas
In the meantime, we must ready our army. The armory has done an excellent job of replenishing our weapons,
Leonidas
but the quality of the soldiers is disheartening.
A matter I shall handle directly!
Leonidas
To make them more combat-effective, I will beat the fundaments of soldiering into them!
Fou
Fouuu...

===Branch End===

Siduri
Good morning, Fujimaru and Mash.
Ana, I see you're up as well.

Ana
...Yes. Something was very noisy... I thought it might have been an enemy raid...

Leonidas
An enemy raid!? Rest assured, as long as Leonidas is around, Uruk will not fall!

Ana
...Leonidas, was it? ...So, that's what was so loud.
Well... Good work.

Siduri
Today's request is actually from Leonidas.

Siduri
He mentioned that his trainees are coming along well, so he wants you to have a mock battle with 100 of them or so.

Mash
...Huh? Um, what did you just say?

Siduri
I know how you feel.
But it's best to just go along with it, really.

Leonidas
Indeed! Sparring with a hundred people sounds stupendous! I engaged in many such trials before my coming-of-age ceremony!

Leonidas
But why such a hard task, you ask?

Leonidas
Lord Fujimaru, I assume you have a Spartan acquaintance?

Fou
Fou, fooou!
(Special translation: YOU!)

--BATTLE--

  1. We're done!
  2. We're done!
  Select: We're done!

  Select: We're done!

===Branch End===

Leonidas
As you can see! In a spar against one hundred men, you reach your limit around sixty! But that's when the real fight begins!

Leonidas
Muscles that are about to give out! Hearts about to burst, your energy reserves down to zero...

Leonidas
I want you all to learn how to fight in such extreme conditions! Just like how Lady Mash did when she fought you all!

Uruk Soldier
Yes, sir!

Leonidas
Very good. Well, that's enough muscle philosophy.
We'll be talking about brains next.

Leonidas
It's common sense that you would be strong when you're energized. After all, a body in peak condition can do anything.

Leonidas
But once the battle starts, you start to drop from your “best condition” with each passing second.

Leonidas
So instead of trying to maintain your best condition, I want you to learn how to balance it with your “worst condition.”

Leonidas
The tenacity you get when you're in that state of fatigue reigns supreme. What can you do when you can't do anything?

Leonidas
Understanding that alone boosts your survival rate.
The limits of your stamina are much like waves breaking upon the shore...

Leonidas
You'll be able to fight again if you can get over the peak of your fatigue! Do not forget: fatigue is not a bad thing!

Uruk Soldier
Y-yeah...? Uh, okay. Yes, sir!

Leonidas
Illness comes from the spirit. I say that you see ghosts when you are weak-spirited. But being wounded is bad. It's BAD.

Leonidas
If you're wounded, you need to switch out with someone else immediately. Fighting spirit doesn't heal wounds!

Leonidas
Fatigue and injury are separate issues. Understand?
Now for lesson two!!!

Leonidas
Toss away your spear, but not your shield!

Leonidas
Any spear will do, but a shield is special!
You'll never find another one like yours!

Leonidas
You must find the best shield for yourself!
There is no shield superior to the round shield!

Uruk Soldier
Huh? Uh, I suppose he's right. Yeaaaah!

Mash
Leonidas's class has started!

Mash
I'm completely exhausted, but I'm going to participate to learn more.
There we go...

Mash
Master, please rest here.

Mash
I, Mash Kyrielight, shall return as a slightly better Shielder!

  1. See yoooooou...
  2. Don't push yourself too hard...
  Select: See yoooooou...

  Select: Don't push yourself too hard...

===Branch End===

Ana
...Are you tired too, Fujimaru?
You look like you can't move anymore...

Dr. Roman
Oh, that's right. Ana's a Rogue Servant; she doesn't have a Master.

Dr. Roman
Servants that have contracted with a Master can draw most of their magical energy from him or her.

Dr. Roman
It is the Master who determines a Servant's possible energy output and how long they can fight.

Dr. Roman
Of course, a Servant can fight with the magical energy they generate themselves, but that would make them no different from a Shadow Servant.

Dr. Roman
A Servant will only truly shine after they've contracted with a Master. They can be even more powerful if the bond is a strong and intimate one.

Ana
I see... I was in the Cedar Forest this whole time, so I didn't know...

  1. You don't know anything about being a Servant?
 
  Select: You don't know anything about being a Servant?

===Branch End===

Ana
...No. When I came to I was in the forest, and in this body. I had no knowledge about being a Servant.

Ana
...But I knew just what I had to do.
I had to kill those Demonic Beasts.

Ana
I was killing them all alone, and using their souls to maintain my Spirit Origin...

  1. Do you want to contract with me?
 
  Select: Do you want to contract with me?

===Branch End===

Ana
...No, that's fine. Please don't misunderstand.

Ana
I'm here because of your hostilities with the Three Goddess Alliance.

Ana
...You will, without doubt, fight them at the Northern Wall. Merlin said so.

Ana
...I'm just waiting for that moment.

Ana
Whatever happens to humanity is none of my concern...

  1. Ana...
  2. ...
  Select: Ana...

  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou...

--ARROW--

  1. Heeey!
  2. I'm back from cleaning the river!
  Select: Heeey!

  Select: I'm back from cleaning the river!

===Branch End===

Benkei
Oh, good work. Come in. It's almost time for dinner.

Ushiwakamaru
Oh, welcome back, Lord Fujimaru.
You were cleaning the city river today?

Ushiwakamaru
I was getting rid of troublesome birds. It's fine that they fly from roof to roof, but birds are pretty smart nowadays.

Ushiwakamaru
They fly low through the main street, and I ended up damaging a total of four shops, including fruit shops and flower shops.

Mash
Ahh, that's why King Gilgamesh looked so sullen.

Mash
He said: “I was the one who told you to come report the day's work, yes, but I didn't tell you to come back with complaints!”

Ushiwakamaru
Can't be helped. Sacrifices had to be made. I imagine restitution is going to come out of Benkei's wages anyway...

Leonidas
That was another good day of training!
The men are almost full-fledged soldiers!

Leonidas
Oh, how rare to see everyone here at once.
Am I sitting here? Much thanks.

Leonidas
...By the way, who's on dinner duty today? If it's Ana, I think I just remembered something I have to do...

Siduri
Don't worry. I'm on dinner duty today.

Siduri
The neighbors kindly lent me their oven, so I made a butter cake.

Ana
Butter cake...! You mean the dessert you need ten Priestess Silver pieces to buy? THAT butter cake?

Siduri
That's the one. It is one of the best desserts.

Siduri
No need to pay for the ingredients.
Please have as much as you wish.

Ana
...It's delicious.
Can I save a piece for later?

Siduri
Of course. But please eat it before lunch tomorrow.
It will go bad, otherwise.

Ushiwakamaru
Much obliged, Lady Siduri. However, since you're the High Priestess, is it really okay for you to visit us every day?

Siduri
It's fine. The king has ordered me to do so. I act as an aide to His Majesty during the day, so please, do not worry.

Siduri
Oh, and all the clay tablets over there are tokens of gratitude from the citizens of Uruk.

Siduri
Take a look at them when you get a chance.
This is our way of repaying you.

Merlin
Hmm... A homemade meal from Siduri?
Don't mind if I do.

Merlin
Hey, good evening. It's been a while, everyone! Hmm? Want me to listen to your report?

Merlin
There's no need for that. Most of the time I just stayed in the house and didn't do anything.

Merlin
I know very well what kind of work Fujimaru had to do.

Fou
Fou. Fooou!

  1. ...Yeah, this is kind of...
  2. ...Are we in a dorm?
  Select: ...Yeah, this is kind of...

  Select: ...Are we in a dorm?

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
I know, right? This is supposed to be the last Singularity threatening humanity.

Dr. Roman
But we've got so many people living under the same roof. No wonder it's turned into “Keeping Up with the Chaldeans.”

Dr. Roman
It's important for you to get used to life in Uruk.
It'll only help you to know how people lived in this era.

Dr. Roman
You can kick and scream all you want, but a battle is inevitable. Why not loosen up and have some fun for the time being?

  1. Good point.
  2. Are you sad that you can't join us, Doctor?
  Select: Good point.
Dr. Roman
If you think about it, moments like these are hard to come by. The Heroic Spirits present aren't normal Servants.
Dr. Roman
They are all working to protect Uruk like the people living in this era.
Dr. Roman
It's a deeper relationship with human history that doesn't exist in Chaldea. Miracles like this don't come by very often.

  Select: Are you sad that you can't join us, Doctor?
Dr. Roman
Yeah, I suppose so. Siduri's food looks really good too.
Dr. Roman
But I have yet another all-night dinner party with the Chaldea staff.
Dr. Roman
It feels like I'm living in a dorm here every day.
So I don't feel lonely at all.
Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, don't worry about me.
Have fun with everyone while you can.
Dr. Roman
That's what's best for Chaldea, too.
Like they say, there's the right man for every job.

===Branch End===

--ARROW--

Merlin
Good morning, Fujimaru.
Thanks for heading out to work so early.

Mash
Good morning, Merlin. Are you heading out?

Merlin
No, I was out all night and just got back. I wanted to head straight to my room, but I needed to talk to you.

Merlin
It's been 20 days. Have you gotten used to life here in Uruk?

  1. Fortunately, yes.
  2. It's actually pretty fun here.
  Select: Fortunately, yes.

  Select: It's actually pretty fun here.

===Branch End===

Merlin
Good. That's evidence you're a creature who adapts well.

Merlin
Humans have beautiful and amazing dreams because they enjoy everything they see.

Merlin
But unfortunately, I do have some bad news.
Here's a message from Siduri:

Merlin
“No requests today.
Please use this day off to enjoy Uruk.”

Mash
A day off...? That's good, but...
It is a bit disappointing, Senpai.

Mash
I was excited to see what work we'd get today.

Ana
A... day off work...

Merlin
Well... I'll be taking my leave. Oh, but this is a good chance. Why not take Mash on a date?

Merlin
If it's a secret rendezvous you want, I recommend the gardens in front of Eanna. Since it's Ishtar's bedroom, it has a fantastic variety of flowers.

Mash
M-Merlin headed for the second floor.
...Well, what do you think, Master?

  1. I guess we have to go on that date.
  2. For the good of the mission, we must go on a date.
  Select: I guess we have to go on that date.

  Select: For the good of the mission, we must go on a date.

===Branch End===

Ana
...Excuse me. Do the both of you have a spare moment?

Ana
If so, I have a job I'd like to ask you to do.

Ana
...Here's all the silver I've managed to save up.
I've exchanged it for King's Silver. I have seven.

Ana
Would that be enough to have you accompany me for the day?

Mash
Of course. We couldn't turn down a request from you, Ana. Payment isn't necessary either.

Mash
Isn't that right, Senpai?
We were just looking for some work worth doing!

  1. Mash is right. Leave it to us, Ana.
 
  Select: Mash is right. Leave it to us, Ana.

===Branch End===

Ana
...Then I'll take you to the site.
We'll have to fight, so I'll be counting on you.

Mash
Huh? Fight...?

Fou
Fou, fouuu?

--BATTLE--

Ana
...Good work. I think we've defeated all the evil spirits around here...

Ana
If I were alone, some might have gotten away...
Thank you.

Mash
I was surprised there was a cave underneath Uruk, but those spirits were every bit as shocking.

Mash
Ana, do you know what those spirits were?

Ana
...I'm not sure, but they are like grim reapers... I think.

Ana
You two may not have noticed, but a deadly disease is spreading in Uruk.

Ana
Starting with the weak ones, people fall into an eternal slumber. Those spirits must be connected to that somehow.

Ana
Which is why I thought getting rid of them might reduce the death toll...

Dr. Roman
I see. In the Age of Gods, physical death is different than spiritual death.

Dr. Roman
Even if the body's fine, if the soul is taken away by a grim reaper then it means death for that human.

Ana
That's right. ...Except having the soul taken away is not quite “death.” It is more like being asleep.

Ana
As long as the body is safe, returning a person's soul will wake them up.

Ana
In the Age of Gods, “bringing the dead back from Kur” is simply a type of medical treatment.

Mash
...Even if your heart stops, you can come back as long as your body is preserved... Is that what you mean?

Ana
Yes. But, a person cannot be revived if their soul is destroyed before it reaches Kur.

Ana
In that case, the body will share the same fate as the soul. It will shut down and eventually return to the earth.

Dr. Roman
Hm. A “life after death” sounds very Age of Gods-y. That must be one reason why the quality of the mana is different here.

Dr. Roman
So going to the underworld itself doesn't equal death. “Death” is the “nothingness” that awaits beyond Kur, beyond the underworld.

Ana
...In Uruk, that nothingness is called the Abyss.

Ana
Whatever it is, the spirits from Kur are like kidnappers that steal the souls of the living.

Ana
There seemed to be many here, so... um, I had you help me to get rid of them.

  1. How did you find out about these spirits?
  2. You did this for the people of Uruk?
  Select: How did you find out about these spirits?
Ana
Because... there were so many gathered above the flower shop on the main street...

  Select: You did this for the people of Uruk?
Ana
...No. They were simply an eyesore.

===Branch End===

Ana
...Anyhow, we have defeated all the spirits. I will go and report to Siduri. Please excuse me.

Mash
Oh, wait, Ana! I'll go with you!

Mash
Senpai, please head back without me.

Mash
I don't think Ana will be able to properly explain to Siduri on her own!

Fou
Fooou...

  1. We're all by ourselves now.
  2. Let's go back to the embassy.
  Select: We're all by ourselves now.

  Select: Let's go back to the embassy.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Uruk Civilian A
...Who's that old man? He's not from around here, is he?

Uruk Civilian B
Goodness, a beggar... His leg is so... He's not even an injured soldier either...

Uruk Civilian C
Just leave him. The caretakers will probably come soon. That's what the Sacred Temple's budget's for.

Uruk Civilian D
That's true... But he hasn't moved at all from that spot... I don't think he's eaten for at least two days.

Old Man
...

Fou
...Fou. Fou, foou...

  1. I know. Wait right here, Fou.
  2. ...I know I had some Wheat Silver left over...
  Select: I know. Wait right here, Fou.

  Select: ...I know I had some Wheat Silver left over...

===Branch End===

Old Man
...

  1. (Quietly leaves some bread.)
  2. It's not much, but please have some.
  Select: (Quietly leaves some bread.)

  Select: It's not much, but please have some.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fou.

Old Man
Halt.

Fou
Fou!?

Old Man
...

  1. ...Um, uhh...
  2. ...Did I do something wrong?
  Select: ...Um, uhh...

  Select: ...Did I do something wrong?

===Branch End===

Old Man
...Indeed. Hear me, and attend.

Old Man
Child, remember this: Pity betimes can be a crime unto itself.

Old Man
Void of purpose, compassion to evil is twisted. So, too, with shame.

Old Man
...However, 'tis naught but the bitterness of age that scorns kindness thoughtfully given.

Old Man
Your insight, child, impresses me. Your gift was not mere money, but that which was most needed.

Old Man
I shall gladly accept it.

Fou
Fofou!? (Translation: But you're not gonna eat it!?)

Old Man
...Hm. Having accepted your charity, I must offer recompense.

Old Man
Ziusu-dra, I am called. As you see, I am no more than an old man bereft of a future.

Old Man
However, child, a future may yet be yours. So to you, counsel is greater than any coin.

Old Man
Heed me, child. Three storms will soon sweep over Uruk.

Old Man
Empathize not with the hateful one. Celebrate not with the joyous one.

Old Man
...And extol not the pained one.

Old Man
Remember, always. In defiance of your purpose it may be, but 'tis a fool's task to set man 'gainst god.

  1. Who ARE you...?
  2. Three storms...?
  Select: Who ARE you...?

  Select: Three storms...?

===Branch End===

  1. He's gone...
  2. What was that about...?
  Select: He's gone...

  Select: What was that about...?

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fooou...

Section 5: Welcome to the Jungle

Show/Hide Story Chapter

G：???
—on't go—

G：???
—Don't go—

G：???
—on't leave—

G：???
—Don't leave me—

G：???
—alone again—

G：???
—Don't leave me again—

  1. This is...?
 
  Select: This is...?

===Branch End===

G：???
Come back... Come back... Once more to me...

G：???
Once more... Just once more...

G：???
No... No...

G：???
Never again... Ever...

G：???
...love...me...again...

  1. What is this...?
 
  Select: What is this...?

===Branch End===

H：???
...It is original sin. This is mankind's original sin.

H：???
There are different kinds of sin. To harm others. To deceive others. To envy others. To take the lives of others.

H：???
These are all evils that mankind holds. These are all toxins that affect only mankind.

H：???
However... This is the oldest evil of them all. The Original Sin II... the sin of parting from ■, and leaving paradise.

  1. Aah, but...
 
  Select: Aah, but...

===Branch End===

H：???
Life was born from the sea. The primeval sea, Nammu, the goddess of the beginning.

H：???
To mankind, the goddess is the sea itself. The roaring of the waves became a voice to expose your sins.

H：???
Never forget that.

H：???
That voice is your original sin. This name shall become your savior.

H：???
That name is—

G：???
Aa, Aa... Aaaaaaaaaa—

  1. How sad...
 
  Select: How sad...

===Branch End===

Mash
That concludes our report. We couldn't shear the sheep and we ended up having to eradicate the surrounding Demonic Beasts.

Gilgamesh
I see. How boring. What's the matter, High Priestess?
Do not stop reporting. Don't mind them.

Gilgamesh
There was evidence of a summoning at the altar of Eanna? As I expected. Ask those who were working at the time.

Gilgamesh
A ritual of that scale must have required them to clear some people out ahead of time. Look for people who were suddenly given days off, that will be your lead.

Mash
...And that concludes our report. We were supposed to help make some sweets and it somehow turned into the Great Uruk Dessert Championship.

Gilgamesh
...How does that happen? I don't understand... You, soldier... What do you want? Don't waste my time!

Gilgamesh
Tch! ...So even Ugallu has appeared... At this point, all of the Offspring of Tiamat have been spotted.

Gilgamesh
Send 200 more units of firewood to the Northern Wall. The poisonous dragon, Bašmu, will soon appear there. Boil water and be thorough with the sterilization.

Mash
...and that concludes our report. The investigation of an affair somehow ended up in a deadly underground revolt...

Gilgamesh
...(Gulp).

Siduri
King Gilgamesh. I was in the middle of my report. Would you focus over here please?

Gilgamesh
Hmm? I've heard your report, Siduri! Close the books! You just interrupted the best part!

Gilgamesh
Give her the Belt of Nidaba from my treasury! It'll be more than enough for the Temple Matron of Eresh!

Mash
...And that concludes our report. Senpai solved the argument over the rising prices of mutton and milk with a single remark:

Mash
“Let them eat beans.”

Gilgamesh
Wait, you're saying that was all it took!? How are beans better than mutton!?

Gilgamesh
Hah... Don't tell me...you sold those beans and told them to pair it with ale!?

Gilgamesh
No, that's no good! It's too early for Uruk! We can't have people enslaved, working only for beans!

Siduri
...King Gilgamesh. Reports are building up, so let us return to the matter at hand.

Gilgamesh
...I see. You are right. Fine, continue. Chaldeans, you may leave now.

Mash
So, now for today's report...

Mash
King Gilgamesh is a busy person, so let's make it quick for him.

  1. Well, he's still scary, as always.
  2. It's becoming sort of fun though.
  Select: Well, he's still scary, as always.

  Select: It's becoming sort of fun though.

===Branch End===

  1. ...And that concludes our report.
 
  Select: ...And that concludes our report.

===Branch End===

Mash
We shall take our leave, King Gilgamesh. We're sorry to have taken up your time.

Gilgamesh
...No. Wait a moment, Fujimaru.

  1. ...Did he just...
  2. ...Did he just say my name?
  Select: ...Did he just...

  Select: ...Did he just say my name?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
What of it? If your name is worth uttering, then it's only natural for me to do so.

Gilgamesh
You've made quite a bit of progress. I've been hearing many comments from the citizens of Uruk about your work.

Gilgamesh
Your work was not that interesting. However, I must take public opinion into consideration as well.

Gilgamesh
Fujimaru of Chaldea. I'm sure you're getting bored of all the petty tasks now.

Gilgamesh
I shall grant you a pass to go outside of Uruk. Spread your wings a little.

  1. Does that mean...?
  2. My king, more details please!
  Select: Does that mean...?
Gilgamesh
That's right, it's a direct order from me. You should feel honored, mongrel.

  Select: My king, more details please!
Gilgamesh
I'm not your king! I'm Uruk's king!
Gilgamesh
Oh, wait, I suppose it's the same now. Insolent fool, how dare you make me correct myself on such a trivial matter!

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Ask Merlin for the details. I expect good... No, I expect an amusing report from you.

Mash
Senpai, Merlin, we did it! We've gotten a direct order from King Gilgamesh!

Fou
Fou, foou!

Merlin
Yes, congratulations you two. Even I didn't expect the king to give in so soon.

Merlin
You will head to the city of Ur in the south. Your objective is to investigate the forest from which no one has yet returned.

Merlin
I wanted to lie around and do nothing a bit longer, but I suppose there's no choice but to go.

Merlin
Maybe it's time to move the pawn forward.

Ushiwakamaru
Lord Fujimaru!

Ushiwakamaru
I heard from Lady Siduri! How wonderful! I feel just like when Emperor Go-Shirakawa awarded me my titles!

Benkei
Yes, truly! However, Lord Ushiwakamaru, that is not a very auspicious example.

Mash
Thank you, both of you.

Mash
It's a shame we can't tell Leonidas now, but I will let him know when we come back!

Ushiwakamaru
Not only that, you're going to investigate Ur. Argh...
I would've been able to accompany you yesterday...

Benkei
But I've received word from Lord Leonidas that something's happened at the Demonic Front so I should hurry over there. Truly unfortunate.

Ushiwakamaru
...All right! Benkei, let's do the thing! To congratulate Fujimaru's promotion and to wish for their safety!

Benkei
Oh, that! Well then, Lord Fujimaru and Lady Mash! Head outside!

  1. Ushiwakamaru, why is your sword drawn!?
  2. Benkei, why are you rattling your spear!?
  Select: Ushiwakamaru, why is your sword drawn!?

  Select: Benkei, why are you rattling your spear!?

===Branch End===

Benkei
Fwahahaha! The two of us shall wish for the safety and success of your trip!

Ushiwakamaru
Come, it's just a practice battle to get you fired up!

Ushiwakamaru
We're definitely not thinking of defeating you to trade jobs and head to Ur ourselves, so do not worry!

Mash
This is completely ridiculous, Master, but I guess we have to! Let's fight as a quick warm-up!

--BATTLE--

Ushiwakamaru
Splendid! With those skills, you shall win the day no matter what awaits you in Ur.

Benkei
Indeed. We are most reassured now in sending you off.

Benkei
However, please do be careful. It isn't just soldiers that haven't returned after heading into that jungle.

Benkei
Two other Heroic Spirits King Gilgamesh summoned, Amakusa Shirou and Fuuma Kotarou, have not returned either.

Ushiwakamaru
Lord Amakusa and Lord Kotarou, huh... I had thought perhaps the Twin Arm Brigade would, but...

  1. The king had summoned others!?
  2. So many Servants from Japan...
  Select: The king had summoned others!?

  Select: So many Servants from Japan...

===Branch End===

Benkei
Exactly. The oni Ibaraki and Tomoe Gozen were here, too. Ibaraki broke off and disappeared somewhere,

Benkei
but Tomoe Gozen faced Girtablilu, the general of the Demonic Beasts, and they took each other out...

Ushiwakamaru
Ibaraki was mouthing off, saying she was going to organize a bandit group in this era, so I scared her and she ran off.

Ushiwakamaru
As soon as I find her, as part of the Minamoto clan, I shall take responsibility in lopping her head off.

Ushiwakamaru
...Though, since we're talking about that oni, I'm sure she's doing nothing more than fuming in some ruins.

  1. A lot of things happened, huh?
  2. Ibaraki-Douji... I don't think we'll ever meet...
  Select: A lot of things happened, huh?

  Select: Ibaraki-Douji... I don't think we'll ever meet...

===Branch End===

Merlin
Are you done with your goodbyes? We'll be on our way soon. Ready?

Mash
Oh, yes! We'll be right there!

Mash
Ushiwakamaru, Benkei, thank you very much.
We gratefully accept your parting words.

Ushiwakamaru
Likewise. Growing up in the mountains, I could only provide a boorish celebration. But it was a good, fulfilling battle.

Ushiwakamaru
We eagerly await your return. While you are gone, leave the protection of Uruk to us.

  1. Thank you. We'll be on our way!
 
  Select: Thank you. We'll be on our way!

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Ana
Even Mušmaḫḫū has appeared... The number of Demonic Beasts from the north just keeps on increasing...

Merlin
Yeah. If that many of the Eleven Offspring have shown up...

Merlin
Soon you'll start hearing people claiming the Goddess of Demonic Beasts is the same as Tiamat.

  1. The Eleven Offspring?
  2. Tiamat...?
  Select: The Eleven Offspring?
Ana
According to the Mesopotamian creation myth, they are the last children of Tiamat, the mother of all gods.

  Select: Tiamat...?
Mash
A goddess of creation in the world of Mesopotamia... It is said she's the mother who gave birth to all the gods.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Tiamat is one of the primordial gods of Mesopotamia. Or perhaps she should be considered a first-generation god.

Dr. Roman
In Mesopotamian mythology, the universe is called Anki. “An” means “heaven and god” and “Ki” means “earth and goddess.”

Dr. Roman
The goddess brings forth life, and the god rules it. That's how the relationship is.

Dr. Roman
Back when what was above was not called heaven and what was beneath was not called earth,

Dr. Roman
the god Abzu mated with the goddess Tiamat, and gave birth to many children, the gods.

Dr. Roman
But as the children grew, they desired power, and they rebelled against Tiamat to widen the world.

Dr. Roman
Tiamat was saddened and angered by her children's betrayal, and created new children.

Dr. Roman
But they were only “Ki,” incomplete creations that lacked “An.” As a result, these new children were not gods.

Dr. Roman
Instead, they were twisted, terrifying beasts... The “Eleven Offspring of Tiamat.”

Merlin
The seven-headed serpents known as the Mušmaḫḫū. The wicked water snakes known as the Ušumgallu.

Merlin
Dragon-beast Bašmu, the poison snake. Babylon's Dragon Mušḫuššu, the terrifying snake.

Merlin
Two-faced beast Laḫmu, the mysterious child. There's no description of its form in the books, so I can't tell you more.

Merlin
Giant Beast Ugallu, the giant sun. The lion-dog Uridimmu.

Merlin
Girtablilu the Wise, the scorpion man. Until three months ago, it was the commander of the Demonic Beasts.

Merlin
Tomoe Gozen sacrificed herself to slay Girtablilu. It's thanks to her that our battle lines still hold.

Merlin
Evil spirits Umū Dabrūtu, the fierce storm. The winged mermaid Kulullû.

Merlin
Lastly, Minotaur Kusarikku, the sun-follower. ...Hmm, is that all of them?

Merlin
In the Mesopotamian creation mythos, these creatures fought the gods alongside Tiamat.

Merlin
They were commanded by the god Kingu, the one chosen by Tiamat.

Merlin
But the army of the gods, with the help of the new god Marduk, were so powerful they defeated Kingu.

Merlin
Tiamat bit hard into Marduk, but he defeated her with a final strike from his bow.

Merlin
Tiamat lay there, defeated, and the gods ripped her body apart, turning it into a land that floats on the sea.

Merlin
That was the land of Mesopotamia, a world created from the body of the fallen deity.

Dr. Roman
Well, it's a pretty typical creation myth.

Dr. Roman
The body of the Earth Mother is used as soil to create the world. It is a theme seen in other mythologies too.

Dr. Roman
A goddess creates life. But when she turns to chaos, she becomes the enemy of humanity, the mother of Demonic Beasts.

Dr. Roman
It's an Authority called Potnia Theron, the “Womb of a Hundred Beasts.”

Dr. Roman
Anyone with this Authority possesses the seed of life... They can make an infinite amount of monsters, provided they have the resources.

Dr. Roman
Based on the number of Demonic Beasts, the goddess to the north likely has this Authority.

Merlin
Yeah. And as a result, the people of Uruk see the Goddess of Demonic Beasts as Tiamat, and fear her.

Merlin
Well, it makes sense. The offspring of Tiamat are actually all here.

Dr. Roman
...Hmm. Regardless of her True Name, her Authority and the sheer number of her forces make her the greatest threat.

Dr. Roman
I wonder if King Gilgamesh has some kind of plan...

Dr. Roman
If the enemy really is Tiamat, if we just keep defending, we'll eventually be overwhelmed.

Merlin
Well, that's a problem for later. For now, we need to focus on the south, not the north, Roman.

Merlin
Once we cross the Euphrates, we'll be at Ur.
Fujimaru, are you ready?

Merlin
Make sure you're well prepared. If we're unlucky, you'll be forced to fight the second goddess.

--ARROW--

Mash
...

Merlin
...

Ana
...

Dr. Roman
...? Everyone got quiet when you entered the forest. What's wrong?

Dr. Roman
I mean, it's a dense forest, so I know you're worried about getting lost, but...

  1. It's SUPER hot!
 
  Select: It's SUPER hot!

===Branch End===

Ana
...I agree. The heat is intense... I thought forests were...cooler... And quieter...

Mash
I know how Ana feels... I underestimated this as well...

Mash
The heat rising up from the ground, the strong smell of dirt, the cries of the animals that are sure to drive you crazy...

Mash
So this is...what they call a jungle...

Mash
Was this what Earth was like 65 million years ago, just before the asteroid hit?

Dr. Roman
Haha, are you talking about the great extinction? The one where an asteroid hit the Yucatán Peninsula and wiped out the dinosaurs?

Dr. Roman
I can only watch you guys on the screen, but that's gotta be an exaggeration, right?

Merlin
It's no exaggeration! This is terrible! The heat! So many flies! And it's so hard to walk!

Merlin
And this Ether is incredible! Much denser than the Isle of Britain!

Merlin
Romani, are you monitoring the density of magical energy? It's on par with a Reality Marble!

Dr. Roman
Oh, um... I'm embarrassed to say, but the instruments are unstable.

Da Vinci
It's like Egypt. This is a different world, or rather, the mythological system itself is different.

Da Vinci
I can only do so much by pointing Sheba towards Uruk. I can't distinguish heat sources, let alone details of your surroundings.

Da Vinci
You'll have to rely on your senses. Utilize your eyes and noses to detect danger.

  1. ...So, basically, we can't use radar...
  2. ...Eyes, sure. But nose...?
  Select: ...So, basically, we can't use radar...
Dr. Roman
I'm sorry... The problem is the sea of trees there. If there were fewer of them, I could help, but...

  Select: ...Eyes, sure. But nose...?
Da Vinci
Yup. In a jungle, your sense of smell is an important source of information. It tells you the past better than any echolocators.
Da Vinci
The smell of an animal lingers in an area. If you could visualize it as a number, you could easily deduce what, when, and where it went.
Da Vinci
It's not only animals that hunt by sense of smell.
Da Vinci
Humans can use their brains to do something similar.

===Branch End===

Mash
According to the map, Ur is one kilometer south. That means we only have to endure this heat for another 20 minutes, Master.

Merlin
Yeah. I seriously hope we're done after that! And next time let's hire a guide or a camel!

F：???
Heh... What a commendable idea! You wimps from the plains won't last a day without a guide!

F：???
Next time you want to enter the jungle, give money to a local, and lower your head to the ground and say this:

F：???
“Buenas noches, señorita! Señor, señor, do you want some peyote?”

Mash
Master! I can't make it out, but something's there!
It's moving at high speed above the trees!

F：???
Hahahaha! Hahahahahahahahaha!

F：???
Meowhahahahahaha! I'm not just something!
I am—I am... Hmm. What am I?

F：???
Wait a minute. Asking meow for details puts meow into a tight spot... I know I'm a purretty girl, but...

F：???
(Gasp) Oh no! While I was thinking I forgot where I put my booby (read: amusing) traps!

F：???
Tch! Curse you! You nerds should be ashamed of yourselves for challenging someone you've never met to a battle of wits!

Merlin
I got it! She's a dummy!

F：???
I'm not a bunny! Why does everybody think I'm a bunny!?

  1. The not-bunny fell from above!
  2. Bwah!?
  Select: The not-bunny fell from above!

  Select: Bwah!?

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
What is this strange creature!? Did we just discover a new species!?

F：???
No! I am no one! You might call meow an avatar of the jungle! An embodiment of great warriors!

F：???
You can call meow Jaguar Warrior! Servant Jaguar Warrior makes an appearance!

Jaguar Warrior
Now everybody focus on meow! I spent a year on this catchphrase and I want you all to hear it!

Jaguar Warrior
“You may make fun of my name, you may forget about meow, but I am still here, for I am the ultimate tiger, Jaguar Warrior!” (Hero pose)

Jaguar Warrior
Hehe! (Satisfied grin)

Ana
Fujimaru, give us your orders. The cold water of Ur awaits us.

  1. Okay, we'll move on by taking out the local wildlife!
  2. Is that...the goddess of the sou...
  Select: Okay, we'll move on by taking out the local wildlife!
Ana
Roger! Tiger massacre commencing.

  Select: Is that...the goddess of the sou...
Mash
Master! You mustn't say it! Let's pretend we saw nothing and fight!

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Jaguar Warrior
Okay, I think I've got it! You guys look yummy!

Mash
Incredible speed! She leapt up above the jungle in an instant and retreated!

Ana
...It's going to be hard to follow her. Both physically and mentally.

Merlin
I agree. She had a ridiculous outfit on, but she was still a powerful Servant.

Merlin
If she attacked again, I don't think we could win.
Let's get to Ur first and come up with a plan.

Fou
Fou, fou.

--ARROW--

Mash
So this is... Ur... It's about the same size as Uruk, but...

Ana
...The trees are encroaching inside the city. It's hotter than Uruk, but not unbearable.

Merlin
The density of mana in the air is the same as Uruk.
And above all...

  1. People are living here normally...!?
 
  Select: People are living here normally...!?

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes. It's not as lively as Uruk, but the people of Ur are doing fine!

Merlin
They look a little down, though. We'll have to talk to one to learn more.

Merlin
Excuse me, my lady. This is Ur, yes?

Ur Civilian
It is, but... who are you? Did you cross the river?

Merlin
Yes. We're from Uruk. King Gilgamesh asked us to investigate what's been happening here.

Ur Civilian
Oh, you're from Uruk? That must've been a hard journey. Were you the only survivors from your group?

Ur Civilian
If you were poisoned by snakes or stung by scorpions,
I can refer you to a good doctor.

Merlin
How kind of you. Thankfully, we are uninjured. We're just here to investigate, so our party is small.

Merlin
If the king had known you were alive, he would've sent a large-scale rescue party.

Ur Civilian
A rescue party... I see. I'm sorry. But we aren't evacuating to Uruk.

Ur Civilian
Ur is safe, you see. As long as the jungle surrounds us, the Demonic Beasts can't come in.

Ur Civilian
And as long as we obey the rules of the forest goddess, the Demonic Beasts will not devour us.

Ana
...Come to think of it, none of Tiamat's Demonic Beasts were in the jungle.

Ana
...You could even say the jungle is protecting the people of Ur.

Merlin
...I see. I'm assuming there are no casualties, then? Since this place is relatively safe compared to the rest of Mesopotamia.

Merlin
That's why you never contacted Uruk. Did you think closing yourselves off in Ur was the best course of action?

Ur Civilian
Of course not! We tried to send help to Uruk!

Ur Civilian
But... It was...

Merlin
A violation of the rules set by the forest goddess you speak of. I see.

Merlin
You are safe, but at the same time you cannot leave Ur. Anyone who comes to help, or leaves to help, is killed by the forest.

Merlin
So Ur's plan to defend itself is to do nothing at all.

Ur Civilian
...Yes. I'm glad you understand.

Merlin
Yes, I understand. If you don't resist, you can survive.

Merlin
That's the mentality of those who have given up.
So, how many are chosen as sacrifices?

Merlin
I assume it's one person a day?

Ur Civilian
...! Wh-what are you talking about? There are no sacrifices—

Merlin
I can tell just by looking around. There are far too few men.

Merlin
Ur is not at war, so that is strange. Which means there must be another reason they're gone.

Ur Civilian
W-we're not at fault here! The sacrifices are a necessary price to pay!

Ur Civilian
Everybody agreed to this!

Ur Civilian
All we have to do is offer one sacrifice a day to Eridu! That's all it takes to satisfy that devil!

Mash
Wha...!? Is that how you've been surviving?

Mash
Without fighting? Or heading to Uruk?

Ur Civilian
You outsiders wouldn't understand!

Ur Civilian
You haven't seen that terrifying goddess, or else you wouldn't say something so stupid!

Ur Civilian
Even with the people of Ur working together we're no match against that goddess! And negotiations do not work!

Ur Civilian
It's truly a beast of the forest! All it does is eat and kill!

Ur Civilian
All we can do is quake in fear and wait for our turn...!

Ur Civilian
There's no place in Mesopotamia left that's still sane!

Merlin
This is bad. I understand how Lady Mash feels, but I wish she could've controlled herself for a few more minutes.

Merlin
See? All the other townspeople have fled into their homes out of guilt.

Merlin
At this point, we're intruders. It'll take time to persuade them. I wanted to get a little more info from them.

Mash
...I'm sorry.

Mash
I wasn't thinking about your plans, nor how that townsperson must have been feeling, and just blabbed on.

  1. That's not true.
  2. I felt the same way.
  Select: That's not true.

  Select: I felt the same way.

===Branch End===

Mash
But... It's true that I hurt her. She's suffering far more than I am, yet I...

E：???
Hah... Hahahahahahahaha, hahahahaha!

E：???
No need to have your tail between your legs! I was scolded for killing sacrifices, 'cause it's too old-fashioned!

E：???
Any warriors who have failed the trial of strength are forced into hard labor at Eridu!

E：???
Cause, you know, even if I eat them, they're like, different from us! I only want fancy feasts, like the heart of a hero!

Mash
Th-that laughing voice is...!

  1. Who's there!? Tell us your name!
 
  Select: Who's there!? Tell us your name!

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Meowhahahahaha!

Jaguar Warrior
Look, up in the sky! What is that? Blue skies! White clouds! Yeah, that's a normal line.

Jaguar Warrior
I mean, it's a bird! It's a plane! It's civilization! No... It's the blazing Jaguar Warrior!

Dr. Roman
(She's totally not flying!)

Jaguar Warrior
I love birds! I love fish! I eat people and stuff! Witness the astonishing teleportation of Jaguar Warrior!

Mash
(And she just ran over here normally!)

  1. ... (Gulp)
 
  Select: ... (Gulp)

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Heh... You were paw-sitively speechless from witnessing such a cool entrance. Fear not, {(M) señor /(F) señorita}!

Jaguar Warrior
Scold the people of Ur all you like. They're a bunch of wimps, so it's probably even a good thing.

Jaguar Warrior
But I won't let you take them outside. Because they're my emer-jaguar-cy rations!

Jaguar Warrior
If you were to take them, not only would all my efforts go to waste, but then Kuku's gonna make me cry!

Jaguar Warrior
So it's time for you to leave. Oh, hold on. Let me spit some good furball–I mean, insults out to you.

Jaguar Warrior
...Yes. This is our world. The world of the spiraling snake.

Jaguar Warrior
Begone, you humans who are devoid of the gods' grace. As long as there is jungle, our sun is invincible—

Jaguar Warrior
What I'm getting at here is, “Have a nice day, jerks!”

--BATTLE--

Ana
We got her...!? No, she's fast...!

Jaguar Warrior
Heh heh, that was just an afterimage! My entire life is an afterimage!

Mash
This self-proclaimed Jaguar Warrior is a powerful foe! Our attacks aren't working at all!

Merlin
...We've got no choice! Fujimaru, retreat! She may not look like it, but she's a Divine Spirit!

Merlin
We wouldn't stand a chance without another Servant of the same divinity! We've got what we came here for!

Merlin
We've learned about the situation in Ur, and this mysterious Jaguar Warrior! That's enough to justify this trip!

  1. Right...! Mash, retreat!
  2. Dammit! I can't stop thinking about her identity!
  Select: Right...! Mash, retreat!
Mash
Roger...! We will leave Ur immediately!

  Select: Dammit! I can't stop thinking about her identity!
Jaguar Warrior
So you noticed... As expected from a Master... You've unlocked Jaguar's secret CG!
Jaguar Warrior
But that is a dream you'll never reach again. And I see an opening now! Meowhaha! Die!
Ana
We're retreating! So just ignore that thing, Fujimaru!

===Branch End===

Mash
...Whew. We made it out of the jungle...

Mash
She caught up to us several times, but each time Ana drove her off...

  1. Thank you, Ana.
  2. Jaguar Warrior annoys you?
  Select: Thank you, Ana.
Ana
...Please don't thank me. I'm... not sure how to respond...

  Select: Jaguar Warrior annoys you?
Ana
...Yes, a little. That onesie is tacky and non-functional.

===Branch End===

Merlin
Well, let's get back on track. Even if there were unexpected developments, we did our job well.

Merlin
Let's go back to Uruk and report our findings. I'll be curious to see the king's response.

Mash
...And that's the situation in Ur.

Mash
We failed to defeat the enemy Servant or secure the people of Ur, but...

Gilgamesh
Grr...! And so you just retreated...!?

Gilgamesh
The first mission I give you–one for the ages–and YET AGAIN you come back with another completely ridiculous story!

Siduri
King Gilgamesh, please calm yourself!

Siduri
Fujimaru and the others came back alive! That alone is more than anyone else can say!

Gilgamesh
How come you guys got to run into such an amusing Servant!? I wanted to see them too!

Gilgamesh
Why do you guys keep getting the funny stuff while I'm stuck here? I'm a peaceful man, but I can't just sit here forever!

Siduri
You're like a kid who's been left out, my king!

  1. He's just frustrated...!
  2. ...(Siduri's got it rough...)
  Select: He's just frustrated...!

  Select: ...(Siduri's got it rough...)

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
...Humph. Anyway, good work with your investigation on Ur.

Gilgamesh
For now, we'll put rescue efforts for the citizens of Ur and this Jaguar Warrior issue aside.

Gilgamesh
It seems that the Goddess of the Jungle sees things differently than the Goddess of Demonic Beasts in the north.

Ana
...Really? Human sacrifices aren't part of our culture...

Gilgamesh
Oh? So is making offerings not part of your culture?

Gilgamesh
Discrimination. Prejudice. Entertainment. False convictions. Fear. You had no tradition of punishing the innocent for these reasons?

Ana
...Well...

Gilgamesh
As long as human society exists, so will the tradition of human sacrifice in one way or another. However, what's happening in Ur is something different.

Gilgamesh
It's barbaric, but there are reasons behind it, too. They don't kill to punish, but because they recognize its value.

Dr. Roman
Because they recognize its value... Are you saying that it's an honor to be chosen as a sacrifice?

Gilgamesh
That's how I see it. Still, it doesn't change the fact that they're suffering. I hate to say it, but we can't do anything now.

Gilgamesh
Merlin, could you see Eridu from Ur? Was the axe intact?

Merlin
No. The jungle is very dense, so I couldn't confirm the situation there.

Merlin
But I could sense a powerful divinity. We can assume the axe is still in Eridu.

Gilgamesh
I see. That makes getting through the jungle a necessity. I'll have to start working on the carts...

Gilgamesh
Anyway, welcome back from your long journey, Fujimaru. I'll give you your next mission soon. You may go.

Section 6: Encounter

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Merlin
(Yawn) Good morning, all. I see you're ready for the next assignment.

Merlin
We still have time before Siduri arrives. So, what is for breakfast?

Gilgamesh
I'm coming in. Is this your dwelling? Uh-huh. For a latrine, it looks spacious.

Merlin
!

Fou
Fou!?

  1. What the...!?
 
  Select: What the...!?

===Branch End===

Mash
K-King Gil—

Gilgamesh

Lower your voice, Mash! You want Siduri to come running over!?

Mash
P-pardon me, King Gilgamesh!

Mash
Um... So, what can we, uh, do for you this morning?

Mash
For Your Majesty to visit our humble barracks is quite unusual...

Gilgamesh
Heh. I figured I should mix things up. And I'm sure you've gotten tired of listening to Siduri's messages.

Gilgamesh
As such, I'm going to personally give you your assignment this time. Nothing rough. Simply look into our water supply.

Gilgamesh
The wagon is ready. You're going to head south of Uruk, towards the Persian Gulf.

Gilgamesh
An observatory has been constructed there. There are ten days' worth of jars, made to automatically gather seawater.

Gilgamesh
You will deliver the empty jars that are in the wagon and bring back the jars there that are filled with seawater.

Mash
So we're transporting. Understood. It sounds like an easy job this time, Master!

Gilgamesh
It's easy indeed. Especially since the route to the Persian Gulf is the only area that hasn't been attacked by any of the three goddesses.

Gilgamesh
You can carry out this duty without fear or worry. Know that you have my support.

Gilgamesh
Oh, Merlin and Ana aren't going with you this time. I only had two travel permits going to the Persian Gulf left over.

Mash
...And so, it's just the two of us on this trip, Senpai. Or so I thought...

Gilgamesh
Such fine clouds by the Zagros Mountains. Here's a bit of wisdom: “Far-off sea of clouds. 'Round atop the white peak hill. Mountain of cedar.”

Gilgamesh
Hmm, that didn't sound quite the way I imagined...
I guess playing mages isn't my forte...

  1. King Gilgamesh, why the honor?
  2. Did you have some time to waste?
  Select: King Gilgamesh, why the honor?
Gilgamesh
No need to be so stiff. Sometimes I want to just look at the sea, nothing more.

  Select: Did you have some time to waste?
Gilgamesh
Fool! What makes you think I'd have any? Or even time to have fun! Precisely the reason I need to go on a trip like this!

===Branch End===

Mash
R-Really? I don't really understand, but I assume we need to keep this a secret from Siduri then?

Fou
Fooou...

  1. ...
 
  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
What is that grimace for?

Gilgamesh
Just so you know, I'm not doing this because I'm exhausted from my duties.

Gilgamesh
...

Gilgamesh
I'm definitely not doing it because I crave excitement.

  1. I see.
  2. (mimicking the king's voice) If you say so.
  Select: I see.

  Select: (mimicking the king's voice) If you say so.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
(Sigh) Good grief. King Gilgamesh, I apologize for interrupting your jovial mood.

Dr. Roman
We're picking up some powerful magical energy signatures ahead. It seems you've got trouble, which I believe is what you wanted.

Gilgamesh
I see. They are merely some abandoned colossi. Perfect for a warm-up.

Gilgamesh
It's too much trouble to stop the wagon. Show me how you destroy your enemies, Fujimaru.

Gilgamesh
Of course, if absolutely necessary, I suppose I could give you a hand.

Gilgamesh
As you can see, they all seem to be Assassin-class stone statues. There should be no need to mention who has the upper hand here.

Gilgamesh
Heh. Again, I'll help if absolutely necessary. Only if you insist!

--BATTLE--

Gilgamesh
Oh, arrrgh...! To think a front kick would tear a king's abdominal muscles!

Gilgamesh
What was that? Why was the third one a different class!?

  1. That lineup was way too sadistic...
  2. They might as well have come three at a time...
  Select: That lineup was way too sadistic...

  Select: They might as well have come three at a time...

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Enough! From now on, illegal dumping of stone statues will incur severe penalties in Uruk!

--ARROW--

Mash
We've safely reached the observatory.

Mash
It was smooth sailing after the statue incident. It was such a peaceful trip, Master.

Gilgamesh
...Mmm. Nothing is happening. How boring. I had such high hopes for something silly happening on this journey.

  1. The statue incident was pretty silly.
  2. So we just need to switch the jars?
  Select: The statue incident was pretty silly.
Gilgamesh
Hahaha. I'd already forgotten about that. You two forget about it as well. Stop being pests.

  Select: So we just need to switch the jars?
Gilgamesh
Yes. Take these and replace them with the jars in the wagon. I'm not fit to do physical labor. So get to it.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fouuu! Fofo, foooou!

Mash
Fou, don't wander off too far!

Mash
...Whew. The jars are all switched, so that's that.

Mash
King Gilgamesh stayed behind at the observatory. He said he had to check on something, but that he would be back in twenty minutes.

Mash
So we can take a little break until then.

Dr. Roman
(Sigh) If you'd only come here during your day off, you could be swimming in the sea. That's too bad.

Dr. Roman
How does the Persian Gulf look to the naked eye? I bet it looks different from Okeanos.

Mash
In comparison, it looks quite a bit smaller. I mean, it's more of a port than an open sea.

Mash
However, the thought that the vast Indian Ocean is beyond this point is quite exciting.

Mash
I mean, in every era, humans came face to face with the vast ocean and conquered it.

Dr. Roman
You're right. Also, the scale of the Seventh Singularity is much greater than any of the previous Singularities.

Dr. Roman
We're getting observation results of the Indian Ocean, far beyond the Persian Gulf.

Dr. Roman
I'm pretty sure that's because in Mesopotamia the ocean is an essential factor of life itself.

  1. ...The ocean...
  2. Is it okay for us to relax like this?
  Select: ...The ocean...
Mash
...Senpai? You're staring into the horizon... Is there something on your mind?
Mash
A dream...? You heard the roar of the ocean in a dream...?

  Select: Is it okay for us to relax like this?
Dr. Roman
I know how you feel. The Demonic Front, the forest surrounding Ur, and our search for the Grail... We have our work cut out for us.
Dr. Roman
But being impatient won't do anyone any good. You won't solve anything by charging blindly onto the battlefield. At least, not yet.
Dr. Roman
Being patient and assessing the situation is also part of the battle. Save your energy for when the time is right.

===Branch End===

Fou
...! Fou, fooooou!

Mash
Fou? Has something happened?
You're jumping so much—

Mash
A contrail in the sky! Doctor, something is approaching from 9 o'clock!

Dr. Roman
Whoa, I can see it on my end as well! A speed of five hundred kilometers an hour with the mana concentration of the Age of Gods!?

Da Vinci
It's going to make contact in 3, 2, 1...
Mash, shield up! Brace for impact!

Enkidu
...I don't know what to say. It seems you people have a real lack of a sense of danger.

Enkidu
Not only are you far from Uruk, you would even come to a secluded area like this without an escort?

Enkidu
Either you're used to your own luck, or you greatly underestimated us...

Enkidu
Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. Either way, no one is coming to your rescue this time.

  1. Enkidu...!
  2. The fake Enkidu...!
  Select: Enkidu...!
Enkidu
Yes, that's right. I'm glad. A bit relieved, actually.
Enkidu
You're not the brightest out there, but at least you have the capacity to remember my name.
Mash
No, Master! The enemy in front of us is not the Heroic Spirit Enkidu...!
Mash
I'm sensing the Mage King from this enemy...! I doubt it's the same entity as the Enkidu we heard about in Uruk!

  Select: The fake Enkidu...!

===Branch End===

Enkidu
That again? You treat me like an impostor just because I've changed owners... Humans really are hopeless.

Enkidu
However... I suppose you're right. I am not the actual Enkidu.

Enkidu
I knew I had to make that clear. I mean, it'd be annoying if you started to get the wrong idea about me in the future.

Enkidu
I'm an enemy to humans until I'm destroyed. Whatever happens, that will never change.

Enkidu
I'll prove that by ending your lives right now. Your luck ran out the moment you came here to the port while Ishtar wasn't around to protect it.

Enkidu
Oh, but I won't make you suffer. I'm not so brutal as the three goddesses.

Enkidu
The pain will be ghastly, but over in an instant. I'm just going to skewer your entire body!

Mash
The fake Enkidu is entering a combat stance!
Master, let's give our all!

--BATTLE--

Mash
...!

Dr. Roman
...Enkidu's endlessly firing all those powerful weapons at you...

Dr. Roman
Their fighting style is the same as the legendary King of Heroes, Gilgamesh!

Enkidu
Of course! Creating an inexhaustible number of blades and firing every single one of them at you...

Enkidu
That is the optimal way to fight with this body. In fact, he's the one who's imitating me...!

B：???
Well, isn't this a surprise. Surely I'm misremembering, no?

B：???
I recall a certain fool calling the new tactic I thought up, perfectly suited to a king as it was, the “ultimate waste of energy.”

Mash
King Gilgamesh!

Gilgamesh
Humph. Naturally, I was correct. Your bad luck is as impressive as ever. I knew it was about time.

Enkidu
Ah... Wh... Y-you are... Gilgamesh?

Gilgamesh
Who else would I be, you fool? To think you would waste so much time on a Servant.

Gilgamesh
What happened to efficiency? What happened to being calm and collected as a weapon? It's unlike you to enjoy the thrill of battle, Enkidu.

Enkidu
...Ugh... Argh...

Mash
No, King Gilgamesh! That's an impostor, not the real Enkidu!

Gilgamesh
An impostor... I see. Quite convincing nonetheless.

Gilgamesh
In fact, you may be even more powerful than the original. That flying speed was impressive even by my standards.

Gilgamesh
You must have acquired a fine magical reactor core.
Was it a gift from the three goddesses?

Enkidu
Nh...

Enkidu
...Shut...your...mouth. Your voice irritates me.

Enkidu
I am the most powerful creation on this planet. There is no need for a defective demigod like you.

Enkidu
Gilgamesh... Fool of a king, enemy of my mother... I WILL KILL YOU!

Enkidu
Never forget that! I will end this world and you along with it!

Dr. Roman
...Phew, saved. It looks like Enkidu retreated towards northern Uruk.

Dr. Roman
But... I don't understand the reason for that retreat. Enkidu clearly had the upper hand.

  1. Because King Gilgamesh showed up?
  2. ...Enkidu looked to be in pain...
  Select: Because King Gilgamesh showed up?
Gilgamesh
Fool. Even my help would not have balanced the scales. Only the Wedge of the Heavens can defeat the Chain of the Heavens.
Gilgamesh
But right now, I cannot use Ea. If we had fought them, I would have died alongside you.

  Select: ...Enkidu looked to be in pain...
Gilgamesh
Maybe they were broken. Maybe some cessation of cardiopulmonary function. Well, those kinds of things happen.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Whatever it may be, it's over. Don't worry about it anymore. I've already accomplished what I came here to do.

Gilgamesh
Let's go back to Uruk, Fujimaru. Next time, I will give you an assignment that is most fitting for you!

Enkidu
Ugh... My body is out of calibration. My power output and motor functions are out of balance.

Enkidu
The recording is out of order, too. It's only giving me access to previous battle recordings...

Enkidu
...I don't understand. Why is this heart defective?

Enkidu
Why did I retreat...!?

Enkidu
...I am stronger than them. I'm stronger than that damn king...!

Enkidu
So why... Why did my failsafe kick in?
“If you fight him, you will die.”

Enkidu
...He is someone I should kill. He is the biggest thorn in Mother's side.

Enkidu
I must kill him. I must kill him. I must kill him.
For Mother's sake, I must kill him.

Enkidu
But I want to talk... No, there is no room for conversation. I will only kill him. That should be sufficient.

Enkidu
...That's right. For I am not truly Enkidu.

Section 7: The Tablet of Destinies

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Gilgamesh
Fujimaru, Mash, and Merlin. I am entrusting you with something more important this time.

Gilgamesh
You're going out to search for something. Head to the city of Kutha, and retrieve the Tablet of Destinies.

Merlin
Oh, this is an unexpected job. The Tablet of Destinies is in Kutha?

Gilgamesh
Correct. I remember seeing what lies in the future in Kutha when I was on my way back to Uruk from the underworld.

Gilgamesh
I meditated there, recorded the destiny upon a clay tablet, and left it there.

Gilgamesh
It's natural to lose one's memory before or after meditation. I won't even know what kind of destiny was written until I read it.

  1. So, you wrote a diary in your sleep...?
  2. Does...that happen often?
  Select: So, you wrote a diary in your sleep...?

  Select: Does...that happen often?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Occasionally. Normally gods grant humans visions, but in my case, I can see destiny through my clairvoyance.

Gilgamesh
Sometimes, I learn of a “future” not related to me, and I record it subconsciously.

Gilgamesh
It's useless to me, but it's a priceless treasure to others.

Gilgamesh
Of course, the Demonic Beasts will not see value in that. It's highly likely that it's been left untouched.

Gilgamesh
Oh, gather information about Ishtar along the way.
There are a few ranches on the way to Kutha.

Gilgamesh
I have damage reports coming from ranchers daily, all pointing the finger at Ishtar. Go find out more details.

  1. Finally a job about the Three Goddess Alliance!
  2. Is Kutha under Ishtar's influence?
  Select: Finally a job about the Three Goddess Alliance!
Gilgamesh
Hmm? ...Well, I guess it is. Much as it pains me to say it, that thing is still a goddess.

  Select: Is Kutha under Ishtar's influence?
Siduri
Yes. Ishtar flies around northeast of Uruk and has complete control over its sky.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Warrior of Chaldea. I will grant you a pass to exit through Uruk's north gate.

Gilgamesh
However, you don't have much time for this mission. Learn all you can and return in three days' time.

Ana
...Welcome back. You seem to be in a hurry. Is something the matter?

Mash
Yes! A new mission from King Gilgamesh, Ana!

Mash
This time, it will be a trip to Kutha to reclaim an item. The mission includes Master, Merlin, you, and me.

Mash
Two days of traveling, and one day to search on-site. The best part is, the pay is twenty Priestess Silver!

Ana
Twenty Priestess Silver... I'll get ready immediately. Please stand by.

Mash
She is quite enthusiastic. Senpai, we should gather our belongings as well!

Ushiwakamaru
Hmm... I'm jealous... Even we've never been to Kutha before.

Ushiwakamaru
I'd love to accompany you, but...

Benkei
You shouldn't, Lord Ushiwakamaru. We must head to the Demonic Front tomorrow.

Benkei
We are counting down to the mission to liberate Nippur. We cannot afford to go our separate ways.

Ushiwakamaru
Say no more, Benkei. I understand. I just wish I could at least go on a journey with Lord Fujimaru once, but...

Ushiwakamaru
Well, I'm sure we'll get another chance if we just wait patiently. Now it's our duty as samurai to see them off with a smile.

Ushiwakamaru
Kutha is under Ishtar's control, but it is right next to the territory of the Goddess of Demonic Beasts.

Ushiwakamaru
There will be many powerful Demonic Beasts there as well. Please be careful on your way.

  1. You be careful too, Ushiwakamaru.
  2. Next time, let's go together.
  Select: You be careful too, Ushiwakamaru.
Ushiwakamaru
Haha. All we do is stand atop a wall and shout out orders, but thank you for your kind words.

  Select: Next time, let's go together.
Ushiwakamaru
Yes. I will eagerly await the next opportunity. Here's hoping it'll be as relaxing as paddling down a gentle stream.

===Branch End===

Merlin
Are you ready? Then, let's head for Kutha.

Merlin
After the formation of the Three Goddess Alliance, Kutha disappeared without warning.

Merlin
One day, we suddenly lost all communication from there. The expedition party that rushed there saw a quiet cityscape.

Merlin
No blood, and the bodies showed no signs of combat. All citizens had met their end as if they died in their sleep.

Mash
That is...a perplexing incident. Was it some kind of poison?

Merlin
I don't know. None of the corpses had any wounds on them. They didn't die from Ishtar's arrows nor from the Demonic Beasts.

Merlin
Since then, Kutha is said to be a cursed land, and has become a wasteland that no man ever approaches.

Merlin
Well, in any case, we won't know till we get there. I expect to encounter wandering Demonic Beasts along the way...

Merlin
But those that have strayed from their pack are no threat to Fujimaru anymore.

Merlin
Let's try to gain the ranchers' gratitude by quickly disposing of them as we move along!

--BATTLE--

Testimony: Rancher A
What did the goddess Ishtar do, you ask? Just look at all the holes in the ranch! It's obvious!

Testimony: Rancher A
It's indiscriminate! She zooms around wildly, striking at random!

Testimony: Rancher A
And that smug laugh...

Testimony: Rancher B
I can't take it... I've just had it... She always attacks right when we're busiest...

Testimony: Rancher B
Whoosh, whoosh from the sky... Back in my dad's time, she supposedly promised bountiful harvests once every three years,

Testimony: Rancher B
but this year, it's nothing but losses... It's a miracle that nobody has gotten hurt...

Testimony: Rancher B
And that smug laugh... She just continues with it, on and on...

Testimony: Rancher C
I know I should feel fortunate that I at least got a glance of the goddess Ishtar.

Testimony: Rancher C
But I can't make a living just from gazing at beautiful things. Caring for sheep isn't cheap nowadays.

Testimony: Rancher C
It's hard enough just trying to drive the Demonic Beasts back, but when we get attacked from the sky, what can we do?

Testimony: Rancher C
The young ones we hired to exterminate the beasts fled... Oh, and that smug laugh... She sounds like she's having fun...

Testimony: Rancher D
The goddess of fertility? Ha! In a few centuries, I'm pooooositive she'll be called the demon of Venus!

Testimony: Rancher D
My ranch is full of holes. My sheep ran off. On top of that, she's so merciless she kills off all the beasts under her command!

Testimony: Rancher D
To make matters worse, she lands and is all, “I'll take all the gems in your house!”

Testimony: Rancher D
“I'll let you off with this,” she says, and flies off with a smug laugh! Dammit!

Mash
...Those are all the testimonies from the ranchers.

Mash
Ishtar's indiscriminate attacks, obstructing ranch operations, and extorting the owners...

Mash
There's no doubt about it. Ishtar is one special, wicked devil...

  1. ...A true money-grubber, huh...
  2. ...No. Could it be that she...
  Select: ...A true money-grubber, huh...
Dr. Roman
The goddess of beauty who governs Venus is a greedy miser... It's true that Ishtar is a goddess that loves fortune, yes...
Dr. Roman
But she usually demands riches from the gods above her. There were no stories about her stealing money from humans...

  Select: ...No. Could it be that she...
Fou
Fou...?
Ana
...Yes. I agree with Fujimaru. Ishtar's actions all have something in common.
Ana
...So, we shouldn't flat-out call her a fiend. Of course, she is still a greedy devil.

===Branch End===

Merlin
Oh, there's an interesting tidbit about that. Actually, that Ishtar isn't the normal Ishtar.

Merlin
Right when the Demonic Beasts showed up in the north, a certain ritual was held by Uruk's Sacred Temple without the king's knowledge.

Merlin
Simply put, they tried to summon Ishtar, the city's patron deity.

Merlin
Uruk is under imperial rule, but it's governed under three powers: the king, the Ritual Sect, and the Sacred Temple.

Merlin
Of these, the Sacred Temple favors the patron deity over King Gilgamesh.

Merlin
They saw the signs of this era turning into a Singularity, and saw the instability of space-time as their chance.

Merlin
As King Gilgamesh opened the treasury of Babylon, and built the fortress at the Northern Wall in Uruk,

Merlin
the temple matron first summoned a soul compatible with a goddess's divinity, and tried to summon Ishtar using that soul.

Merlin
It's what you call a Pseudo-Servant in Chaldea. I don't know if that ritual succeeded or not.

Merlin
But it is true that the patron deity of Uruk, Ishtar, has manifested nonetheless.

Merlin
Basically, the gods of Mesopotamia are blond. On the other hand, humans have black heads... black hair.

Merlin
That Ishtar has black hair, meaning it is definitely a girl that served as her vessel.

Dr. Roman
That's...so beyond surprising, I feel very sorry for her...

Dr. Roman
According to the data observed here, that “Ishtar” is undoubtedly the goddess herself.

Dr. Roman
That girl must have been a human who was really compatible with her.

Dr. Roman
The two egos have completely fused together, and created a goddess that is completely new, yet still the same.

Merlin
Yeah, but thanks to that, Fujimaru is still alive.

Merlin
If Ishtar was the Ishtar of myth, Fujimaru would have been killed back in Babylon.

Ana
...You may be right. I may not get along with goddesses, but that Ishtar is ever so slightly human.

Merlin
Oh, it's so rare to hear your real feelings, Ana. How are things different if a goddess is like a human?

Ana
Oh...

Ana
...It's nothing. I hate both. I hate Merlin more, though.

Ana
By the way, Demonic Beasts are approaching from up ahead. Let's offer Merlin as a sacrifice so they let us pass.

Merlin
Sorry, I misspoke! I'll apologize and do some physical labor for once!

Merlin
Now, let's gallantly drive them away, Fujimaru! Once we go over this hill, Kutha will be right up ahead!

--BATTLE--

Mash
So this is Kutha... A city that went completely silent overnight...

Ana
What devastation... Did the Demonic Beasts invade the city after the residents died?

Dr. Roman
...No, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Dr. Roman
You are the only life I'm detecting in that city.
The Demonic Beasts aren't trying to get in.

Dr. Roman
I don't know why, but the Demonic Beasts seem to be afraid to enter the city.

Merlin
Humph... My special “I'll survive no matter what” instincts are also telling me there are no threats here.

Merlin
Instead, there's merely this eerie silence. It's as if death itself has cleansed the city.

Merlin
...Both King Gilgamesh and I missed this. The incident here in Kutha is fundamentally different from other cities.

Merlin
It even almost feels like the king left the Tablet of Destinies here for a reason, but...

Merlin
No, before we get too deep into theorizing, let's go on a treasure hunt.

Merlin
Mash, go east. I'll go north. Ana, go west. And Fujimaru can look south.

Mash
Well, no, I... I am Senpai's Servant, so I can't exactly leave Fujimaru's side.

Merlin
It's fine. Fortunately, the Demonic Beasts won't come in. Fujimaru has Roman's navigation as well.

Merlin
Oh, and Cath Palug is around. He may not look it, but he gets things done in a pinch.

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Mash
But...

Dr. Roman
Hmm... I'm against that idea as well, but it certainly is more efficient to split up.

Dr. Roman
I'm not picking up any enemies on my end, and Mash and Ana won't be that far away.

Dr. Roman
Besides, there will be a time when Fujimaru needs to investigate alone.

Dr. Roman
...And for that–as with all things–firsthand experience is needed. I don't see the harm in splitting up.

  1. It's fine, I'll holler if there's something.
  2. This place is huge anyway. It's for the best.
  Select: It's fine, I'll holler if there's something.

  Select: This place is huge anyway. It's for the best.

===Branch End===

Mash
...All right. If Master says so, then it's okay.

Merlin
It's decided, then. Let's start the investigation.

Merlin
The Tablet of Destinies is the same type of clay tablet as King Gilgamesh's Dingir.

Merlin
It emits a minute amount of magical energy, so you should feel it if it's nearby.

Merlin
Let's split up and look around for about an hour. We'll all meet back here after, no matter what we find!

  1. (...Well, it's been about 10 minutes...)
 
  Select: (...Well, it's been about 10 minutes...)

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Hmm, desolation as far as the eye can see... Merlin said a minute amount of magical energy,

Dr. Roman
but with the mana density around us so high to begin with, it'll be practically impossible to find...

Fou
Fooou...

  1. I'll have a look around.
 
  Select: I'll have a look around.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Yeah, they say investigation is all legwork.

Dr. Roman
Chaldea's observation waves are centered around you,
Fujimaru.

Dr. Roman
So basically the signals near you are the most detailed—

  1. Wait, I just—
 
  Select: Wait, I just—

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou... Foooou!?

  1. Where am I!?
  2. Doctor, Doctor!
  Select: Where am I!?
Fou
Fou, fooou!

  Select: Doctor, Doctor!
Dr. Roman
...

===Branch End===

F：???
The living... It's the living. What are the living doing in the underworld... Why...

E：???
Have you come to laugh... to seize... Have you come to flee... or to discard...

D：???
Unforgivable...all are unforgivable... Warm breath, warm flesh... They're unnecessary...

???
Die...die, die, die, die, die die die die diediediediediediediediediediediediediediedie!

  1. Waaaaaaaaah!
  2. Aughhhhhhh!
  Select: Waaaaaaaaah!

  Select: Aughhhhhhh!

===Branch End===

Fou
Foooou!

G：???
...Wait. O gallû spirits, this one yet lives.

G：???
Taking this soul will incur your master's wrath. Seal up the seven gates, and resume your guard of the soul cages.

  1. ...I'm saved...?
  2. You are...
  Select: ...I'm saved...?

  Select: You are...

===Branch End===

Ziusu-dra
Blame not the spirits. Your intrusion was most brazen, young one.

Ziusu-dra
The land of the dead is shut to those who yet draw breath. Each step you take invites the gallû spirits' ire.

Ziusu-dra
...But fortune favors fools, and I owed you this debt.

Ziusu-dra
A callow neophyte you may be, but steadfast, too. Devotion, mayhaps, demonstrates worth. So have you shown yours.

  1. ...Well, um...?
  2. This makes no sense...
  Select: ...Well, um...?

  Select: This makes no sense...

===Branch End===

Ziusu-dra
Beneath Kutha spreads the underworld itself. You chanced to fall into the land of the dead while you still draw breath.

Ziusu-dra
But now your sojourn must end. I shall seal the gate.

Ziusu-dra
Return, young one, to the living world, and speak these words to the mage: “All is well in the underworld.”

Fou
Fooou... fooou...

  1. Huh!?
  2. A dream...?
  Select: Huh!?

  Select: A dream...?

===Branch End===

Mash
I have returned. I couldn't find anything useful on my end...

Mash
...? Senpai, that thing you're sitting on, could it be—

Merlin
Oh, both of you are back already. Oh boy, that went nowhere. What a waste of... Huh?

Ana
...I scoured the western area, but I didn't see anything like a clay tablet... Hmm?

Fou
Fou?

  1. What is it?
 
  Select: What is it?

===Branch End===

Mash
Master, that thing you're using as a seat is, by all appearances, the Tablet of Destinies!

Fou
Fo...foooooou!?

Merlin
No doubt about it. That's the Tablet of Destinies. Great! Well, that was easy!

Merlin
But where was it? I didn't think it would be in the southern area.

  1. Well, I fell underground...
  2. Ziusu-dra rescued me...
  Select: Well, I fell underground...

  Select: Ziusu-dra rescued me...

===Branch End===

Merlin
Underground, hmm? I don't see a hole... And an old man named Ziusu-dra, you say?

Merlin
Romani, what about your records? Weren't you monitoring Fujimaru?

Dr. Roman
No, I have no record of the past few minutes...

Dr. Roman
It's as if... Fujimaru's life had ceased...

Dr. Roman
I can't possibly have heard you right; you said that old man called himself Ziusu-dra?

  1. Yes.
  2. I met him in Uruk, too.
  Select: Yes.

  Select: I met him in Uruk, too.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
...Fujimaru.

Dr. Roman
Ziusu-dra is, in Sumerian legend, the one man who survived the flood that killed mankind.

Dr. Roman
He is akin to Noah in the Old Testament, and Utnapishtim in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Dr. Roman
The one who saw the end of the world and became the Guardian of the Abyss.

Dr. Roman
You could say he's the one who warns of the end of the world, or the one present at the death of all things.

Dr. Roman
I don't think it was actually Ziusu-dra, but since Ishtar and Enkidu are around, there is a possibility.

Dr. Roman
The fact that Ziusu-dra has appeared...

Merlin
Hmm... Unless it was merely someone taking on a role similar to Ziusu-dra's. That's not a name you claim for show or on a whim, though...

Merlin
But still, “All is well in the underworld,” huh?

Merlin
...That means the Queen of Kur has also materialized... Which means the three goddesses I saw through clairvoyance are...

Dr. Roman
...! Everyone, be careful! An incredibly powerful Spirit Origin is headed your way!

Dr. Roman
This is the third time I've seen this pattern... No doubt about it! It's Ishtar!

Ishtar
I found you, wretched humans! Apparently you grilled the ranchers all about me!

Ishtar
I don't know what you're up to, but cut it out!

Ishtar
Snooping around about what a goddess does on a day off? That's so insensitive!

Mash
Queen Ishtar is firing warning shots... minus the “warning” part! Master, please take cover behind those buildings!

Merlin
Oh, look here, it's the goddess who saves up all the gems she filches off people!

Merlin
This isn't good. It looks like we're her target this time!

Merlin
After all, we received plenty of riches from King Gilgamesh! Our purses are full to bursting with royal swag!

Ishtar
No! I'm saying THAT crap is ruining my reputation! I've never assaulted humans for money or anything!

Ishtar
What I ask for is due compensation! First of all, saving humans for free would just doom them all over again!

Mash
Save...for free? The whimsical Ishtar, saving humans...?

  1. Oh... Just as I thought...
  2. I'm starting to see the picture here...
  Select: Oh... Just as I thought...

  Select: I'm starting to see the picture here...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
That won't do... I've messed up and said too much.

Ishtar
ANYWAY! You all need divine punishment. Atone for the sins of making me look silly not once, but TWICE.

Ishtar
Specifically, that thing you have that looks like a treasure... It looks interesting, so I'll be taking it. Gimme.

Ishtar
After that, let's see... Yes, if your purses are so fat, I'll help you slim them down!

Ishtar
Brace yourselves. Your luck ends right now. What's yours is going to be mine!

--BATTLE--

Ishtar
It's useless. Where do you think you are? We're upstream on the Tigris River with a view of Mt. Ebih!

Ishtar
If you can't fly, don't think for a second you're going to be able to catch me!

Mash
This is bad! We can't beat Ishtar!

Mash
If we somehow get the upper hand, she'll just fly away in her boat!

Merlin
That's right. That's not fair, Ishtar! You should come down and fight fair and square!

Ishtar
Dummy! I'm not giving up my advantage! Now playtime is over, and it's time for me to get serious—

Ishtar
Ser...i...ous...

  1. She stopped moving...!?
  2. Now, Ana!
  Select: She stopped moving...!?

  Select: Now, Ana!

===Branch End===

Ana
...Here I go! Even if I can't fly, if I have a roof this high up...

Ana
...I've got you!

Ishtar
Huh? Where did you come from!?

Mash
She crashed!
That... That looked painful...

Ishtar
Ouchies...

Mash
...She fell right on her head... Senpai, I think she's... Yeah, she's out cold!

Mash
...Umm, Master? What should we do with her...?

Ana
Let's kill her while we can. She's just going to be annoying once she wakes up.

  1. ...That's true. For now...
 
  Select: ...That's true. For now...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...Owww! My head! ...What's going on? Where am I? Am I tied up?

Ishtar
What is the meaning of this!? I want an explanation! Just what is going on here!?

  1. Oh, she's awake.
  2. Good morning.
  Select: Oh, she's awake.
Ishtar
Awake? Of course I'm awake. It's nighttime! Anyway, who are you!?

  Select: Good morning.
Ishtar
Yes, good morning. I like proper greetings. ...So who are you?

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fou.

Ishtar
Hey, that's the Beast of Disaster? Why is that thing here!?

Ishtar
Wait. Am I going to get eaten? Am I going to be a sacrifice!?

Mash
Please calm down, Ishtar. We mean you no harm.

Mash
We want to ask you something.

Mash
Also, please note that your legs and hands have been restrained for our protection.

Ishtar
!?

Ishtar
Tying me up? Unthinkable! Do you have any idea who I am!? Aren't you afraid of what might happen to you later!?

  1. No, you've already threatened us plenty.
  2. ...Well, maybe after a fashion, I guess...
  Select: No, you've already threatened us plenty.
Ishtar
R-really? Well, you don't look like you're lying... I see...
I guess I'm a pretty cruel goddess...

  Select: ...Well, maybe after a fashion, I guess...
Ishtar
That's right. I'm scary, aren't I? Well, that's fine. I'm used to it. I'm the most hated person in all of Mesopotamia...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
But do you really think rope can hold me? If I wanted to, I could kill you all.

Merlin
Now now, we're quite prepared on our end.

Merlin
This rope was specially woven with your beloved lapis lazuli, and the hides of Demonic Beasts.

Merlin
Even the great Ishtar would need a moment to get out of it. And that's plenty of time for my young friend here to end you.

Ana
...Yes. My scythe can kill immortals. I am not going to kill you... But I will hurt you very, very badly if you move.

Ishtar
...I see. It seems you've actually captured me.

Ishtar
So what about it? Is there something you want to ask before killing me?

  1. We don't want to kill you.
  2. Tell us about the Three Goddess Alliance.
  Select: We don't want to kill you.
Ishtar
...Who knows if that's true? Well, I have a pretty good idea. It's about the Three Goddess Alliance, right?

  Select: Tell us about the Three Goddess Alliance.
Ishtar
Yeah, I knew it. Very well. What do you want to know?

===Branch End===

Mash
Our questions are simple.

Mash
Why do the goddesses attack Uruk? What are the True Names of the other goddesses?

Mash
And who summoned you? Could you tell us, please?

Ishtar
Hmm... What's your name?

Mash
Mash Kyrielight.

Ishtar
I see. Mash. What about that human over there?

  1. Fujimaru.
 
  Select: Fujimaru.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Fujimaru, then.

Ishtar
Very well. Since you were foolish enough to tell me your names, I will answer what I can.

Ishtar
To address your first question. The reason why we, the Three Goddess Alliance, attack Uruk. This goes without saying, but we wish to control the world.

Ishtar
Well, technically, I want to rule humans, and the goddess of the north wants to rule the world... There's a slight difference.

Ishtar
And the goddess of the south... Hmm... I'm not sure about her. She's from a different culture, so I don't know what's up with her.

Ishtar
In any event, we're in competition with each other...

Ishtar
To see who can destroy Uruk first and obtain the Holy Grail in King Gilgamesh's keeping.

Ishtar
The first goddess to obtain it will control the land.

Ishtar
The other two will either leave, or remain to serve as subservient deities.

Ishtar
That is the goal of the Three Goddess Alliance. Simple, right?

  1. Tell us the other goddesses' True Names.
 
  Select: Tell us the other goddesses' True Names.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
I cannot tell you that. The Three Goddess Alliance has a pact that prohibits us from attacking each other.

Ishtar
This pact is sacred, and cannot be violated. Exposing the True Names of the other two goddesses would be tantamount to an attack.

Ishtar
You and Fujimaru wouldn't expose the secrets of your good friends, would you?

Ishtar
A goddess gossiping about someone behind their back would be disgracing herself, you know.

Ishtar
I will not divulge the True Names of the other two goddesses, even under threat of death. Understood?

  1. All right, then. Let's just move on.
  2. ...You were acting so selfishly not too long ago...
  Select: All right, then. Let's just move on.
Mash
Master!?
Ishtar
Good answer. I love noble humans.

  Select: ...You were acting so selfishly not too long ago...
Ishtar
...That's true. I actually agree with you...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
And to answer your question about who summoned us...

Ishtar
I was summoned by the Sacred Temple in Uruk. But the goddesses of the north and south are different.

Ishtar
Those two were drawn here by the Holy Grail.

Ishtar
I'm not sure whether that was the Mage King's plan or not.

Merlin
I see. That's about what we thought.

Merlin
So Ishtar was less aggressive than the other two goddesses because of the way she was summoned.

  1. Thanks for telling us.
  2. But why join the alliance?
  Select: Thanks for telling us.
Ishtar
We're enemies, but you have treated me with respect. Thank you for that.

  Select: But why join the alliance?
Ishtar
...Isn't it obvious? I have a problem with you humans.
Ishtar
I'm going to bring down Uruk in my own way. If the other goddesses want to kill you, then I'll kill you first.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Was that everything you wanted to know? Then, may I ask a question?

Ishtar
Fujimaru, you're a Chaldea mage, correct?

Ishtar
Chronologically, you're humanity's last Master, correct?

  1. I won't be the last.
 
  Select: I won't be the last.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
That's some big talk, and it's rare to hear. That's good.
I like you even more now.

Fou
Fou... Fou? Fo, fo, fo, fo, fo, fooooou!?

Mash
Fou, we're in the middle of an important discussion. Please calm down. If you need food, you'll get some later—

Mash
...Later...

Mash
Doctor, this is bad! Skeletons are appearing all over the city!

Dr. Roman
R-really!? I'm not picking up anything over here!

Dr. Roman
All I see is a large amount of magical energy! There've been no irregularities—

Dr. Roman
Oh! That's it! No wonder I didn't notice!

Dr. Roman
In the A.D. era, a magical energy reaction this large would be abnormal, but we're in the Age of Gods!

Dr. Roman
Some moving corpses won't cause any noticeable difference in our measurements! Something like that wouldn't even be considered unusual!

Merlin
That seems to be the case. This is strange, though! The swarm is larger than the entire population of Kutha!

Ana
...We should retreat. Fortunately, we've recovered the clay tablet we were after.

Dr. Roman
Yes, pull back from Kutha as fast as possible! You're going to get eaten up by skeletons at this rate!

  1. Roger that! But before that...
 
  Select: Roger that! But before that...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...

  1. (Respectfully undo the rope.)
  2. (Reluctantly undo the rope.)
  Select: (Respectfully undo the rope.)

  Select: (Reluctantly undo the rope.)

===Branch End===

Mash
Master, hurry! Ana and I will focus our attacks to break through!

Ishtar
...Wait. Why did you release me?

  1. Because you're not attacking Uruk.
  2. I thought we could talk things over.
  Select: Because you're not attacking Uruk.

  Select: I thought we could talk things over.
Ishtar
Guh... That's...impossible. Even if I wanted to talk, I couldn't.

===Branch End===

Ana
...Please hurry! More are coming by the second!

--BATTLE--

Merlin
Hmm... We have a problem here. Earlier, I said the number of enemies exceeded the population of Kutha. Let me rephrase that.

Merlin
This has nothing to do with the population of Kutha. To be precise, these skeletons are all the people who died on this land in the past.

Merlin
I mean, look over there. Even their ancestors are all here.

Mash
It's no use! They've blocked our path! They're weak individually, yes, but there are just too many of them!

Ana
...I'm sorry. If only I were older... I could blast them away with my Noble Phantasm...

Mash
That was...!

Ishtar
Now you know not to go near Kutha. If you're ever captured in the underworld, you'll find out just how hard it is to come back.

Mash
Ishtar provided covering fire for us! ...Now she's flying off to the northeast!

Merlin
That was really more like air support than covering fire. Not sure what came over her, but I think we're safe now.

Merlin
Now's our chance to pass through the southern gate. We've got the tablet already, so let's get outta here!

Section 8: Uruk's Northern Wall

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Gilgamesh
Fwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Stop, stop already, you fools!

Gilgamesh
There's no way I could record a story like that for posterity! So, first you swatted her out of the sky, and then you tied her up!?

Gilgamesh
And then, after you released her out of sheer pity, she helped you escape, and fled home?

Gilgamesh
Ishtar's actually entertaining this time! I think I'll have to give her a speck of credit now!

  1. Your Majesty, I think you're laughing too much.
  2. Is Ishtar really an enemy of mankind?
  Select: Your Majesty, I think you're laughing too much.
Gilgamesh
Hm, true. It's unlike me to waste my time being amused over some goddess.
Gilgamesh
You've done a fine job this time. I'm sure it was a good lesson for Ishtar too.

  Select: Is Ishtar really an enemy of mankind?
Gilgamesh
Of course she is. She will always be an enemy of mankind. Even if by some fraction of a chance she changed,
Gilgamesh
her existence itself sends the world into chaos. That's just the nature of her divinity.
Gilgamesh
She's the seed of conflict. She incites war, inspires greed, and torments mankind.
Gilgamesh
She's a hopeless idiot, but she's not evil at her core. That's why she is such a nuisance.
Gilgamesh
If she were just completely evil from head to toe, I would have no qualms about destroying her.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Ah, well. Next job, Fujimaru. Do you know of Nippur?

Mash
The city beyond Uruk's Northern Wall, yes? Beyond the Demonic Front...?

Mash
I heard its fortifications rival even Uruk's.

Gilgamesh
That's right. They've been surviving by locking themselves inside their walls while under siege by Demonic Beasts.

Gilgamesh
Those beasts have a set attack cycle. They're not exactly demons immune to hunger and exhaustion.

Gilgamesh
We've been evacuating the citizens of Nippur little by little in between their attacks. However, their supplies have finally run out.

Gilgamesh
They cannot hold out any longer. Therefore, we must evacuate any remaining survivors immediately.

Mash
So this is going to be a large-scale rescue mission.
But, um...

Mash
What do you mean by the beasts having an attack cycle?

Gilgamesh
In that respect, they're no different from humans. I mean that they don't fight all day and all night.

Gilgamesh
Take an Ušumgallu, for example. It could take as many as ten soldiers to bring one down...

Gilgamesh
However, it doesn't have much in the way of stamina. According to legend, it could run thousands of miles in a day. But, if you study it, that seems unlikely.

Gilgamesh
An Ušumgallu can only maintain its maximum speed for about a minute. After that, it slows down and must feed.

Dr. Roman
Ah, you're talking about burning calories. There's also muscle fiber and blood vessel endurance.

Dr. Roman
It's the same with cheetahs. The fastest animal on Earth, they can get up to speeds of eighty kilometers per hour in a space of about two seconds.

Dr. Roman
But it turns out that kind of high performance can be dangerous. Maintaining that speed for more than about ten seconds could burn up their brains.

Dr. Roman
That's why cheetahs always chase their prey for under ten seconds, and burn incredible amounts of calories doing it.

Dr. Roman
If it can take down its prey, the cheetah wins. But if the prey can evade the cheetah for more than ten seconds, the prey wins.

Gilgamesh
Not bad, you catch on quick. Precisely, a Demonic Beast is not that much different than any other creature.

Gilgamesh
On the other hand, a Mušḫuššu doesn't have much combat power, but it has incredible endurance. It can be active for a whole day without feeding.

Gilgamesh
So you see, Demonic Beasts all have special traits. Usually they never fight alongside each other.

Gilgamesh
However, there's probably someone commanding them all. The commander brings them together and they come to attack once every seven days.

Gilgamesh
It may not be on the dot, but we estimate the timing, and send our strongest against them.

Gilgamesh
That was all thanks to Tomoe's work too. ...Hmph. She may have been mixed-blood, but she was a fine warrior.

Merlin
Yes, her defeating Girtablilu was big. If she hadn't been there, the front would've collapsed long ago.

Merlin
So this time it's our job to play that role, am I right?

Gilgamesh
Right. The other day, Ushiwakamaru and Benkei fought against the Demonic Beasts' attack.

Gilgamesh
There will be no attacks for another six days. During this pause, lead the people of Nippur to the Northern Wall!

Gilgamesh
If you manage this, I shall take back what I said about you being unnecessary!

Gilgamesh
As the protector of the Foundation of Humanity, you may become my proxy!

  1. Whoa...!
  2. King Gilgamesh is finally going to accept us!
  Select: Whoa...!

  Select: King Gilgamesh is finally going to accept us!

===Branch End===

Siduri
...

Gilgamesh
Wait, Siduri. You're crying? Why?

Siduri
Oh?! N-no, that is not true.

Siduri
As Fujimaru's caretaker, I just was reminiscing about all the struggles we've endured up until now.

Merlin
It means you guys are finally at the starting point. Well, it actually went rather quickly, considering how things usually go with the king.

Merlin
Anyway, what are you going to do with the Tablet of Destinies? I thought deciphering it was also an important task?

Gilgamesh
No, I won't read it.

Gilgamesh
Fujimaru is the one who obtained it.
Fujimaru should read it.

  1. Me...?
  2. I can't read it.
  Select: Me...?

  Select: I can't read it.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
You do not need to. Just lay your hands on its surface and say this:

Gilgamesh
“Ur na-nam, ur na-nam. Dur-an-ki, gir-edin.”
It means “There was a city, there was a city... The meeting place of heaven and earth, ■■ empty fields.”

  1. ...Ur na-nam, ur na-nam...
  2. ...Dur-an-ki, gir-edin...
  Select: ...Ur na-nam, ur na-nam...

  Select: ...Dur-an-ki, gir-edin...

===Branch End===

???
That king's evil deeds... That king's cruelty...

???
That demon who stood by and smiled as the world's tragedies unfolded before him...

???
I cannot let this stand. I cannot forgive him.

???
So, I leave this in hope–hope that these words will be passed on.

???
In every age, in every land, the history of mankind has been one of tragedy.

???
Those who kill their children. Those killed by their children. Those who know no affection. Those who abandon all affection.

???
Those who grieve at betrayal. Those who live for betrayal. Those who know no family. Those who abandon their families.

???
Those who lose wealth. Those who die for wealth. Those who know no love. Those who scorn all love.

???
Those who desire success. Those who loathe success. Those who defend religion. Those who despise religion.

???
They love their kin, detest outsiders, gain wisdom, spread ignorance, hold grudges, misunderstand, love discrimination, praise persecution, and pity compassion.

???
What hideous, pitiable creatures they are. However, when they are mere commoners, they may be forgiven.

???
Humans are imperfect. They endure their pain and loss, and live with their contradictions.

???
But what of an almighty king? A king with the power and means to set matters right? Then it's a different matter entirely.

???
He had eyes to see into the past and the future, to see all the world's struggles and sorrows.

???
And he stood by. He laughed.

???
Ignorance might have excused him, but even enlightened, he only laughed.

???
“Even knowing this, you feel nothing!?
You would do nothing to stop it all!?”

???
In answer, the king said only this:

???
“Not particularly.”

???
...This man, this king, can never be forgiven. So say we all.

???
Here we inscribe our rage. Here, future generations may read of our fury, and follow in our footsteps.

???
Construct a temple. Build a band of light.

???
You will need every resource to destroy him. You will need all of time to forget his indifference.

???
...Find the path to the Final Singularity. That is where the throne of the King of Mages resides.

???
The name of that plane is Solomon. The end of the very end. The altar of spinning time. The hope at the very beginning—

Mash
Master!? Are you all right? You look pale!?

  1. ...I feel like I was having a terrible nightmare...
 
  Select: ...I feel like I was having a terrible nightmare...

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
I see from the look on your face that you haven't received a definite answer. However, that fate is now sealed.

Gilgamesh
This clay tablet is the inscription of what I unknowingly “saw” when I returned from the Abyss.

Gilgamesh
It's one of the few clues to finding the self-proclaimed King of Mages–the man who incinerated humanity.

Gilgamesh
Eventually, there will be a time when you will come to understand what you had a glimpse of just now.

Gilgamesh
Until then, keep it in the back of your mind. Eventually, you will be forced to face it.

--ARROW--

Mash
Wow! Look at this, Senpai!

Mash
It's every bit as bustling as Uruk! It's a fortress, but there are lots of people besides soldiers working!

Merlin
Of course there are. They've kept up defenses of this scale for six months. You'd need a city to maintain something like this.

Merlin
Oh, but be careful. The walls repel the Demonic Beasts, but...

Uruk Soldier
Alert! Alert! Breach at G-17! All nearby citizens, evacuate! Lion squad, roll out!

Demonic Beast
Guuuuruuaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Merlin
As you can see, Demonic Beasts with strong legs will run up the walls on their own!

Merlin
Don't worry, there's no need to hold back, Fujimaru. Weren't you bored on the way here?

Merlin
Let's start off strong by showing these guys what we can do!

--BATTLE--

Leonidas
Okay, there was nothing for me to do! Everyone, welcome to the Northern Wall!

Ushiwakamaru
I've been waiting for you as well. I helped a little in secret, but I'll beg your pardon for that.

Benkei
Whew. I finally caught up to you. Lord Ushiwakamaru, please stop jumping off the walls.

Benkei
If you dive into a horde of Demonic Beasts on your own, even you may find yourself in a bit of trouble.

  1. Hello, everyone.
  2. Everybody's here.
  Select: Hello, everyone.
Benkei
Oh, Lord Fujimaru.
Glad to see you arrived safely.
Benkei
Mash, Merlin, and Ana are all here too. Yes, with this group, tomorrow's operation should go off without a hitch!

  Select: Everybody's here.
Ushiwakamaru
Yes, finally. I've been looking forward to this.
Ushiwakamaru
It's our first co-op mission with the strangers from beyond our time who live at the embassy. Naturally, I am excited.

===Branch End===

Leonidas
Let's all head inside for now. There's a lot to talk about, but I'll brief you on the situation first.

Leonidas
This is the Dingir artillery platform, the core of our anti-Demonic Beast defenses along the fortress walls.

Mash
It has the same name as the clay tablet King Gilgamesh owns.

Mash
Is this another of his treasures?

Leonidas
Yes. King Gilgamesh owns many weapons of great power.

Leonidas
This is a large ballista that allows us to manually launch them. There's a lapis lazuli embedded in the base.

Leonidas
When the soldiers shatter it with a hammer, the stored magical energy is released, and fires the treasure at the target.

Dr. Roman
An Uruk-style–or maybe I should say a King Gilgamesh-style–ballista.

Dr. Roman
The normal King of Heroes would never allow his soldiers to use his treasures as disposables.

Ushiwakamaru
That's right. They're very valuable, so he'd only use them against powerful masses of foes.

Ushiwakamaru
It can't be aimed very accurately, so it's mostly used to scare the enemy. We're lucky if it hits anything.

Merlin
Dingir means “deified.” In Sumer, anything can be elevated to godhood by great deeds.

Merlin
A god recognized not by other gods, but by man. In other words, a faith by humanity, for humanity.

Merlin
The king naming these tools Dingirs shows his intention to have Uruk protected only by humans.

Leonidas
Oh, I didn't know that... I see. A victory won solely by human hands.

Leonidas
It's true that it's wrong to beg the gods for help when you're in danger. The only god who will answer to that plea is the god of death.

Merlin
That's right. The gods only help out the winning side. If a side looks at all like they're going to lose, they won't even come near.

Merlin
So what's the plan to liberate the city of Nippur?
What does Fujimaru have to do?

Leonidas
...Well, it's difficult to say this, but the situation has changed a little.

Leonidas
Every night, we've lead the people of Nippur to the Northern Wall under the cover of darkness...

Ushiwakamaru
But last night the movements of the Demonic Beast horde changed. They're now patrolling the outskirts of Nippur.

Ushiwakamaru
A new commander has most likely appeared to replace Girtablilu.

Mash
Girtablilu... The Demonic Beast commander who was defeated before we arrived, right?

Mash
Does that mean they're aware of our plan?

Leonidas
We should assume so.

Leonidas
That makes opening the Nippur gate dangerous on its own. But the people of Nippur are already starting to starve.

Leonidas
We can't delay the rescue mission any longer. So we're going with a diversionary tactic.

Leonidas
Lord Ushiwakamaru and Lord Benkei's unit will head towards Nippur from the east.

Leonidas
Naturally, the Demonic Beasts will attack them.

Leonidas
When they do, Lord Fujimaru, Lady Mash, Lord Merlin, and Lady Ana will enter Nippur from the west.

Leonidas
Open the gate and then lead the survivors to our Northern Wall.

  1. Roger that.
  2. Won't it be hard on Ushiwakamaru's group?
  Select: Roger that.
Merlin
I don't know about getting picked for this, but given the circumstances, I suppose it makes sense.

  Select: Won't it be hard on Ushiwakamaru's group?
Ushiwakamaru
No need to worry. Fighting on flat ground is what Benkei and I do best.
Ushiwakamaru
Besides, we're not allowed into Nippur anyway. King Gilgamesh said so himself.
Ushiwakamaru
“I forbid you to enter Nippur. No matter what. These are the king's orders. Do not disobey.”
Ushiwakamaru
He was very insistent.
Mash
He doesn't want you to go into Nippur? Do the people there not like you?
Ushiwakamaru
I'm confused as well. I've never been to Nippur.
Ushiwakamaru
Sometimes the king says strange things, you know.
I'm sure this is one of his bad jokes.
Benkei
...

===Branch End===

Leonidas
We'll go tomorrow, when the sun is a seventh of the way up in the sky. Do as you like until then.

Ana
...Um, do you have a map of Nippur?

Benkei
Well, I have been carrying this notebook as a substitute for recording the temples I had visited.

Benkei
Fwahaha. Would you like to read it, Lady Ana? After all, I have quite the list of achievements as an instructor.

Ana
No thank you. I'll get one from the soldiers.

  1. Smart, Ana. Let me see it later.
  2. Shall we go together?
  Select: Smart, Ana. Let me see it later.
Ana
...Go get your own. I only got one to kill time.

  Select: Shall we go together?
Ana
...No thank you. Fujimaru, please rest.

===Branch End===

--ARROW--

Merlin
Hmm. Everybody's getting some sleep before tomorrow's fight. Morale's good, and we have enough combat strength, but...

Merlin
Something doesn't seem right. And my intuition is never wrong at times like this.

Merlin
Somebody might be saying goodbye tomorrow. One, no, maybe two.

Merlin
If our people start dying off now, it will complicate matters in the future. I'd like to avoid that, but—

Fou
... (Smack)

Merlin
Oww. It's rude to smack people for no reason, Cath Palug.

Merlin
What? If I have time to walk, I should sleep? None of the women here at the Northern Wall are my type?

Merlin
How rude. I'm working, whether I look like it or not. See? (Knock, knock, knock)

Merlin
See? These flowers I just planted here? They'll take root in the wall, and should reinforce it a bit. I'm a helper.

Fou
Foou. Foufo, fooon-kyuu.

Merlin
“Oh? Not bad, for a loser like you, Merlin.” Is that what you said?

Merlin
You've gained a nasty mouth since the last time I saw you.

Merlin
Then what was the point in me letting you out of that tower?

Fou
Fou. Fofofo, fou.

Merlin
Hmm. You have a nasty mouth, but you've gotten clever. That makes you even harder to deal with!

Merlin
Hmm? Is that you, Ana? What are you doing at this corner of the wall?

Ana
...Nothing. I'm just getting some night air.

Merlin
Hmm. You certainly don't look convincing with that furrowed brow.

Merlin
But it's a smart idea not to head into the Cedar Forest alone. There's no way to clear that temple right now.

Merlin
Now do you believe what I told you about the fastest way to improve the situation being one step at a time?

Ana
...I don't believe you at all. The reason I'm still here is...

Ana
...Is it too late to tell them what's going on? Maybe if I do, they'll at least...

Merlin
Oh, are you sure? I think that might freak out even Fujimaru.

Ana
...You think so? But even so...

Merlin
It's not good. Not good at all.

Merlin
Your distrust of humans is starting to waver, and your hopes for them are coming back.

Merlin
Emotions are, in general, things to be discarded. But if you're able to reclaim them, it'd be a waste to not cherish them.

Merlin
You're keeping your distance from humans not because you don't like them, but because they scare you.

Merlin
You're afraid they'll find out who you really are. You're afraid they'll hate you.

Merlin
That's an emotion hard to come by. You could call it the conscience of the divine being you truly are.

Merlin
That conscience–or its lack–is the greatest difference between you and her. To toss it aside would be a waste, Ana.

Ana
...So you're telling me to keep quiet and hide it?

Merlin
Yes. That's the smartest thing to do. What's wrong with a non-human hiding her inhumanity?

Merlin
I mean, I say that, but I'm no different. To tell the truth, I don't have a heart like a human.

Merlin
Because I have no emotions, I feed off of people's dreams, and harvest the “subtleties of the heart” from them.

Merlin
The only reason I can keep on being a nice bro-next-door is because I'm expending the emotions I've gathered up to this point as fuel.

Merlin
It's difficult for beings such as us to think and live like humans.

Merlin
The fake Enkidu was correct. Fairies, gods, and creatures of that sort are inhuman.

Merlin
But there's no rule that what's inhuman must necessarily be an enemy of mankind, right?

Merlin
You're allowed to side with them because it's fun. Whether they love you, or if you can love them, is a different matter.

Ana
...Do you love mankind, Merlin?

Merlin
Of course not. I'm inhuman. A half-breed sired by an incubus. I've done all kinds of awful things in the name of helping human society.

Merlin
I love the patterns mankind weaves. I've never really liked individual humans themselves.

Merlin
...And trying to justify it all to myself only tore me apart. It's what resulted in me locking myself in my tower. But that's a different story.

Merlin
Who cares if you hide who you are until the end? It's not going to hurt anyone.

Merlin
Fujimaru won't care that you hid something. Doesn't care now, right?

Merlin
Fujimaru is happier being with you now than {(M) he would /(F) she would} be if {(M) he /(F) she} found out your secrets.

Ana
...Yes. And that annoys me.

Ana
...It's humiliating. Having you tell me this, Merlin, is the biggest shame of my life. In the end, I will kill you.

Merlin
Humph. I'll take that as a compliment.

Merlin
Even if you did reveal your True Name, it would only tell them who the enemy is. It wouldn't help them fight it.

Merlin
Your existence would be the vital point the Goddess of Demonic Beasts didn't expect.

Merlin
If there's a time to for you to throw away everything, it's going to be only in a single instant. Watch for that instant as you fight.

Merlin
...Of course, amid all this foreshadowing, it's worth mentioning that I don't want that kind of ending at all! 'Cuz that would be boring!

Merlin
Sad partings aren't my style. I prefer to deceive and disparage the enemy, and emerge as the victor unharmed!

Merlin
That's the most beautiful pattern humans can create. Why don't we take a lesson from it, Ana?

Ana
...Disgusting. You only say what's most convenient for you.

Ana
...But I guess I don't mind putting in some effort to make that outcome a reality.

Section 9: The Mother of Demonic Beasts

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Leonidas
...It's time. The sun has reached its appointed position.

Leonidas
At this time, the majority of Demonic Beasts will be hungry. They'll attack any prey that comes within their line of sight.

Ushiwakamaru
The raiding party led by Benkei and myself will be an easy target for them.

Ushiwakamaru
Of course, we don't intend to be their food. Let's show them how the prey becomes the predator.

Leonidas
I'm counting on you. If even one of them realizes the vanguard is a diversion, we won't be able to stop the pack's collective will.

Leonidas
We estimate there are more than two hundred of them on the outskirts of Nippur. Hopefully Lord Ushiwakamaru's force will be enough for the diversion.

Leonidas
...I would have liked one hundred more of you to fight in the plains, but I can't take away any more soldiers from the Northern Wall's defense.

Leonidas
Until the citizens of Nippur reach the Northern Wall—

Leonidas
Or rather, until they are far enough away from Nippur, please continue to distract the Demonic Beasts.

Ushiwakamaru
Put your faith in us. I'd like to promise you that we can dispose of that many in short order...

Ushiwakamaru
But, unlike humans, Demonic Beasts do not care about wounds or losses. If they do not retreat even when their pack is reduced by half,

Ushiwakamaru
I'm sure it will turn into a long battle. One that won't end until we kill the last one of them. And then there's my promise to King Gilgamesh.

Ushiwakamaru
No matter what happens in Nippur, we cannot come to Lord Fujimaru's aid.

Ushiwakamaru
So, please be careful.

Dr. Roman
Mm? Ushiwakamaru, what's your promise to the king?

Ushiwakamaru
It's private. Believe me, it has nothing to do with anyone else, so please forget I said anything.

Benkei
...

Ushiwakamaru
Then let's be off. I'm sure the mission will be over by the time the sun reaches its peak.

Ushiwakamaru
Let's all have lunch together. Come, Benkei!

Benkei
Right!

Mash
Master, we should be on the move, too. Our guide is waiting for us below.

Leonidas
Now then, allow me to go over the mission we outlined during last night's meeting.

Leonidas
There are over two hundred citizens left in Nippur.

Leonidas
The majority of them are those who could not be evacuated: the women, the elderly, and the wounded.

Leonidas
I'm sure they're afraid and won't try to leave Nippur unless their safety is guaranteed.

Leonidas
First, we will protect and escort the guide, a former citizen of Nippur, to the west gate and persuade the guards to open it.

Leonidas
Then, our soldiers will show the citizens the escape route and lead them on a westward course to the Northern Wall.

Leonidas
No matter how many of the Demonic Beasts that Ushiwakamaru and the others lure away, a handful of them will catch the citizens' scent.

Leonidas
Your job is to eliminate those Demonic Beasts. Are you with me so far?

  1. Of course!
  2. We'll do our best!
  Select: Of course!

  Select: We'll do our best!

===Branch End===

Leonidas
...Sorry, one moment. Hrrrm. Ah, there we are.

Leonidas
Heroic Spirit or not, hesitating before the Demonic Front is a valid response, Fujimaru.

Leonidas
However, take three deep breaths. You'll still be afraid, but your muscles will loosen up.

Leonidas
Now listen. Our messengers in Nippur were helping us maintain contact with the city, but we haven't heard from them in the past few days.

Leonidas
If you sense danger... No, let me rephrase. If you determine that it's too late, withdraw immediately.

Leonidas
I have a feeling you will be tasked with an even bigger mission after this.

Leonidas
Therefore, prioritize your own lives. That's all I have to say.

Merlin
What's this? If their lives are so precious, then perhaps they shouldn't take part in this mission at all.

Leonidas
That's not what this is about. There is no growth without experience. Proper recovery leads to more muscle!

Leonidas
One should always strive to face danger. I beg your pardon, but that is the destiny of those who have survived up till now.

Leonidas
Am I wrong, Romani of Chaldea?

Leonidas
Even if one was incompetent in the beginning, a talent for magecraft isn't that important for traveling through the ages as a Master.

Leonidas
Because no matter how much of a genius one is, they are utterly powerless in the face of this cataclysm.

Leonidas
And so, what's most important in saving humanity is to not avert one's eyes from hardship. That's what I think.

Dr. Roman
...Yes, I agree, King Leonidas.

Dr. Roman
I'm glad you have come to this age as its greatest defender.

Leonidas
Hahaha. “Greatest”... You flatter me. Of course, I will not contradict you!

Leonidas
Now then, Lord Fujimaru, you must hurry. You too, Lady Mash. Do not let your guard down. Not until the very end.

Leonidas
You've been taught the basics of being a shield. The rest depends on your determination.

Mash
Yes! Thank you, Leonidas!

  1. Has the battle already begun!?
  2. ...Are there more Demonic Beasts than we estimated!?
  Select: Has the battle already begun!?

  Select: ...Are there more Demonic Beasts than we estimated!?

===Branch End===

Merlin
So it seems! But what has begun can't be stopped!

Merlin
Let's go with all speed too! Soldiers, guide us!

Uruk Soldier
Yes, sir! There are enough of us to escort the citizens, but the Demonic Beasts are too much for us!

Uruk Soldier
We'll depend on you, King Gilgamesh's own elite troops–the foreign warriors–to handle them!

Uruk Soldier
Lord Ushiwaka! The Demonic Beasts are increasing in number! They must've hidden behind the castle walls—Arrrgghh!

Ushiwakamaru
So it appears. Don't fight individually! Close formation and tighten your defenses!

Ushiwakamaru
Only the Ugallu are attacking. I know they're more than you can handle, but you will NOT retreat!

Ushiwakamaru
Survive, even if only for a minute, and be my shield!

Ushiwakamaru
In exchange for your lives, I will have their heads! Every single last one of them!

Benkei
Lord Ushiwakamaru, I believe that is unreasonable! Should we not retreat for now and rally again!?

Ushiwakamaru
Nonsense! Look at the Cedar Forest! A second wave is coming!

Ushiwakamaru
The soldiers would never be able to make it back to the wall! They wouldn't have a chance to fight; they'd only get eaten or carried off!

Ushiwakamaru
If that's the case, I shall give them the dignity of an honorable death right here! If one hundred men are killed, we will slay two hundred beasts!

Ushiwakamaru
Is that not the way we do battle!? Have you become a coward, Musashibou!? How could you call yourself my Ben—

Benkei
...Lord Ushiwakamaru, I...

Ushiwakamaru
I take it back. I misspoke. But apologies later. For now, get moving!

Ushiwakamaru
We are completely surrounded! With this many of them, Nippur must be empty!

Ushiwakamaru
We must slaughter these beasts and hasten to Fujimaru's side!

Benkei
(Hasten to Nippur, you say...!? That's just... What am I supposed to do...!?)

Enkidu
...Welcome to Nippur. I've been waiting for you, pathetic soldiers of the Demonic Front.

  1. What's going on here!?
  2. Enkidu...!
  Select: What's going on here!?
Enkidu
Oh. It's the same as the ruins of Babylon. Putting the old humanity aside, the city itself is innocent.
Enkidu
I want to leave this town as intact as possible. That's about as much sympathy as I have.

  Select: Enkidu...!
Enkidu
...Sheesh. You're so slow-witted. Maybe it's about time for me to reveal my True Name.

===Branch End===

Merlin
...What are you talking about, impostor? There should be as many as two hundred citizens here.

Merlin
There are traces of blood, but no bodies. I doubt you murdered them with your rain of spears...

Enkidu
I disposed of them last night, of course, but what of it? As you people said, Demonic Beasts are living beings, too.

Enkidu
Humans are an invaluable source of nourishment. The beasts take them back to their lairs and feed them to their young.

Mash
...! You're saying they were taken back... alive!?

Dr. Roman
Plus, Enkidu heard us talking!? How sharp are those ears!?

Enkidu
Why are you still surprised? Oh, I guess Leonidas didn't explain the whole story to you.

Enkidu
The greatest cause of loss at the Demonic Front is soldiers simply never returning.

Enkidu
Thus far, the Demonic Beasts have been holding back, trying to avoid killing humans where they could.

Enkidu
Breaking limbs, seizing them by the neck, dragging them into the forest... I don't have to tell you what happens next, do I?

Uruk Soldier
...Th-then...it's true... We thought it didn't make sense either...

Uruk Soldier
The Demonic Beasts would cross over the Northern Wall, but they never tried to destroy it. That was just...because...

Enkidu
That's right. To them, the Northern Wall was no more than a place where resources–that is, humans–were gathered.

Enkidu
This was never an invasion.

Enkidu
That plan was going to be executed after the second generation of Demonic Beasts was born.

Enkidu
You people are no more than raw materials used to create them. Really, you should be honored.

Enkidu
You are nothing more than the food that helps them grow strong. What better end could you obsolete humans ask for, hm?

Uruk Soldier
...! Cut the crap, you bastard! You're nothing more than a cheap, bitter doll!

Uruk Soldier
Gah...!

Enkidu
I knew that from the beginning. I knew that's how you humans saw me.

Enkidu
...Well then. Now I just have to deal with Chaldea's Master, my unexpected prey...

Enkidu
...Tell me, where's Gilgamesh? Did he send you out alone?

  1. You want to see the king?
  2. If you want to see him, go yourself.
  Select: You want to see the king?

  Select: If you want to see him, go yourself.

===Branch End===

Enkidu
I don't know what you're talking about. All I did was analyze the enemy's fighting strength.

Enkidu
But that's fine. There's still time before Mother awakens. Shall I entertain you awhile, Fujimaru?

Enkidu
You came all this way to the Demonic Front. How long can you hold out against this one? Let's see!

Ugallu
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Merlin
An Ugallu! They are among the strongest of Tiamat's offspring!

Merlin
They're different than the ones you've faced before. Give it everything you've got, Fujimaru!

--BATTLE--

Enkidu
Sorry, but you're my main target.

Enkidu
I had my suspicions the last time we fought. But I didn't think they would have someone like you hidden up their sleeves.

Enkidu
You're much scarier than the Master from Chaldea.

Enkidu
...That's why... I have to get rid of you right here and now.

Ana
Ahh...!

  1. Ana...!
 
  Select: Ana...!

===Branch End===

Mash
Ana...!

Merlin
This is bad! That wound could be fatal!
Dammit, Cath Palug, do something!

Merlin
I know you have magical energy stored up!
Use it! NOW! I won't get mad!

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Ana
...?
Fou, are you—

Fou
Fou, fuuu!

Enkidu
They're gone... They didn't get eliminated so... they teleported!? What is that animal...?

Mash
Master, it's an earthquake!
Wait, no, this is—

D：Uruk Soldier
Wh-what was that just now!?
Did the earth shake?! Did Mt. Ebih erupt!?

Merlin
No, that's not it! This is...!

Enkidu
No... She came straight here!?
This wasn't the plan. Has she no restraint...!?

  1. Is this—
  2. There's something under the earth...!
  Select: Is this—

  Select: There's something under the earth...!

===Branch End===

Benkei
Lord Ushiwakamaru, this is our chance! The earthquake must have set the Demonic Beasts to fleeing!

Benkei
We can take the soldiers and retreat to the Northern Wall! Give me the order!

Ushiwakamaru
...No, that's no earthquake. That's the sound of something monstrous digging its way through the earth.

Benkei
Monstrous... Wh-what!? What is... What is it!?

D：Uruk Soldier A
A new type of Demonic Beast in Nippur?
But I've never heard of a Demonic Beast that big!

D：Uruk Soldier A
That's gotta be a Divine Beast!
It's bigger than Humbaba in the Cedar Forest!

C：Uruk Soldier B
...No.
That's... That's...

C：Uruk Soldier B
That's Tiamat! Heavens help us... The goddess of the north really was Tiamat after all!

C：Uruk Soldier B
Run! Everyone run! You're going to get killed!
We're all going to die!

Uruk Soldier
Run! Run away! Run away! Run away! Everyone retreat! We can't beat that monster!

Mash
Everyone, please calm down!

Mash
The monster's tail is over there...!

Merlin
One swish of that tail wiped everyone out!
And it's blocking the gate!

Merlin
Archaman, hurry with the analysis of that thing!
It may be hard to believe, but that's a Servant!

Merlin
Surely you can at least tell its Spirit Origin, size, and class!?

Dr. Roman
I'm on it!

Dr. Roman
Its Spirit Origin is a Divine Spirit-class, its upper body is 10 meters... and its total length–including the tail–is over 100 meters!

Dr. Roman
Its classification is Extra Class! An Avenger!

???
...You're quite loud, humans.

???
Mankind's sworn enemy, head of the Three Goddess Alliance, the monster feared as the Goddess of Demonic Beasts...

???
Prostrate yourselves, pray, and beg. Tiamat, the Mother of All Beasts, stands before you now.

Mash
...

  1. So... That's Tiamat...
 
  Select: So... That's Tiamat...

===Branch End===

Enkidu
I trust you are well, Mother.
It's so nice to finally see you awake.

Enkidu
...But this wasn't exactly the plan.
You were to rest until the Day of Rebirth.

Enkidu
There was supposed to be more time before you appeared at the Northern Wall.

Tiamat
Don't be so dull.
I wanted to see what my child was playing with.

Tiamat
The relics of Chaldea.
Are those the bugs that still cling to the world of man?

Tiamat
Tiny. Insignificant. Such fragile, frail creatures.

Tiamat
I do not understand at all.
How did life like yours come this far?

Tiamat
You are unworthy of tormenting, of killing, even of my gaze. Even your taste is nothing but disappointing.

Tiamat
...But rejoice. For I am very hungry right now.

Tiamat
Even worthless lives like yours should still be tasty.
Will humanity's last Master be sweet or bitter?

Mash
Tiamat is scowling at us... I can't...move!

Merlin
Neither can I! Not at all! This... This is bad...!

Merlin
Is this fear-induced paralysis? Or some sort of Mystic Eyes? It's...it's so powerful it even works on me!

Enkidu
...

  1. Deep breaths, Mash!
  2. Deep breaths, Merlin! Through your gills!
  Select: Deep breaths, Mash!
Mash
R-right! Deep...deep breaths!

  Select: Deep breaths, Merlin! Through your gills!
Merlin
“Gills”? What do you mean!? But I guess I get it.
“Merlin” and “merman” are mortifyingly similar!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Right! Now's not the time to get scared! She might be a goddess, but why worship such an evil being!

Dr. Roman
Mash! Trust your Master!

Dr. Roman
No matter who you're up against, you're still alive right now! And you have the world's greatest swindler, Merlin, there with you!

Dr. Roman
Anyway, run to the Northern Wall!
It's too early to give up!

  1. Right!
  2. Let's go, Mash!
  Select: Right!

  Select: Let's go, Mash!

===Branch End===

Mash
...Of course! I'll do what I can, Master!

Tiamat
I see. So lively. At least that is...interesting.
...Very well. Step back, my child. I will handle this.

Tiamat
I will crush humanity's hope as if I were plucking a ripe strawberry... A fun and sweet end for you, don't you think?

--BATTLE--

Tiamat
I don't understand at all.
This is the first time I've felt baffled.

Tiamat
Even with life as fragile as yours, you still have all of your limbs attached. That makes no sense at all.

Mash
I don't see any damage to Tiamat!
The second we wound her she regenerates!

Mash
Is that the Authority given to her in the Mesopotamian creation myth as mother of the Demonic Beasts!?

Merlin
No, that's not an Authority of a goddess. She's regenerating from the Holy Grail's supply of magical energy.

Merlin
I just confirmed it. That Servant has the King of Mages' Holy Grail!

Tiamat
Oh? It seems you have a knowledgeable one with you. That is indeed what I possess.

Tiamat
But don't make light of me. I am not using the Holy Grail's magical energy at all. I have manifested as the Goddess of Demonic Beasts...

Tiamat
I wouldn't use power from elsewhere to destroy the humans.

Tiamat
I am using my own power, my own hatred, my own anger, and that's enough to destroy you three times over!

Dr. Roman
Ugh... We're practically useless against a goddess's Authority, and now she has a Holy Grail, too!?

Tiamat
Now...I've had enough of this nonsense.
You will die screaming! Playtime is over!

  1. Run, everyone!
 
  Select: Run, everyone!

===Branch End===

Mash
It's only one hundred meters to the Nippur gates!
But we won't make it! She's just too big!

Mash
We're not going to make it! We can't even get out of her arm's reach! ...At least, I need to get Senpai out of here!

Ushiwakamaru
You've done well in holding out this long!
Leave the rest to me, Mash!

Mash
U-Ushiwakamaru!?

  1. Ushiwakamaru!?
  2. Where's Benkei!?
  Select: Ushiwakamaru!?
Ushiwakamaru
Run to the gates and don't look back!
I'll hold back that monster!

  Select: Where's Benkei!?
Ushiwakamaru
He couldn't keep up with me!
...Tell him not to worry!

===Branch End===

Ushiwakamaru
It's fine, Lord Fujimaru. Please be cheerful. Victory won't come to those who cannot smile.

Ushiwakamaru
In my past life...Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune's life, I didn't have that. Thus, even in victory, I kept losing until the end.

Ushiwakamaru
That sort of end wouldn't fit you.

Tiamat
Another bug, huh? You're an eyesore!
I will crush you!

Ushiwakamaru
Ridiculous! You're no Miyamoto. You cannot catch a bug with that body of yours!

Tiamat
How dare you run on top of my tail!

Ushiwakamaru
That serpent form has gotten the better of you!

Ushiwakamaru
The Wandering Tales of Shana-oh, Act Two, Usumidori: Heavenly Blade Steps! Taste my sword!

Tiamat
How DARE you wound my face with your blade!
I won't forgive you. Begone!

Ushiwakamaru
(This is useless. I can't even run through the skies without any ships.)

Ushiwakamaru
(It takes a master to grab a fly with chopsticks, but anyone, even Lady Masako, could hit such a beast with a sword.)

Ushiwakamaru
(I never thought I would be done in by a snake's tail.
I seem to have come to another pathetic end...)

--ARROW--

Mash
Ushiwakamaru!
Master, Ushiwakamaru is...!

Dr. Roman
Mash, don't stop!
There's been no change in Tiamat's signature!

Dr. Roman
She's catching up to you with incredible speed...!
She'll break through Nippur's wall soon!

Tiamat
...So that's where you were, insects.
I'm not letting you get away.

Tiamat
I may have lowered myself into the form of a Demonic Beast, but I am still a god. Don't try to make me a liar.

Merlin
What a persistent goddess, just like a snake! I suppose that's rude to snakes, though. They don't act out of resentment!

Tiamat
You don't stop talking, do you, mage?
Very well. I will crush you first.

Merlin
Heh. Try it if you can! Take this chance to run away,
Fujimaru!

Merlin
I didn't mention this before, but I'm immortal.
After all, I'm half-incubus.

Merlin
The second this body is smashed, I will reappear in the world of dreams!

Merlin
But I'll need some time to return, so let's decide on a place to meet! How about the king's—

Merlin
Hold on! Wha...? Wait. Could this be...

Tiamat
Immortal due to powerlessness?
In that case, it's been a while, but I'll use my eyes.

Tiamat
I've collected enough human statues, but a statue of a half-incubus might look good in my temple.

Merlin
The Mystic Eyes of Petrification!?
Dammit! My one true weakness!

Merlin
Sorry! I take it all back, Fujimaru! Protect me, whatever it takes! Defeeeeeend me, Fujimaru!

Merlin
I can't explain it, but it'd be REALLY bad if I lost consciousness!

Merlin
If I get turned to stone, everything we have done here will be for naught!

  1. If I must...
  2. I was planning on it from the get-go!
  Select: If I must...

  Select: I was planning on it from the get-go!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right! Leave it to me, Master! We're almost to the Northern Wall... We'll get away any way we can!

Tiamat
I see. So you can block my Mystic Eyes with your shield. You're being extremely reckless, girl.

Tiamat
My tongue dances. My lips drip.
My blood boils with past humiliation.

Tiamat
You humans will be sacrificed. My Thousand Mystic Eyes will turn the fortress and everything around it into ash!

--BATTLE--

Tiamat
Such desperate measures... How odd... It seems it was a mistake to underestimate you.

Tiamat
I suppose you were powerful enough to overcome six Singularities. Enough even to stop me breaking you down in one breath.

Tiamat
...However, I will kill you all. Every single one of you must die at our hands, down to the last child.

Tiamat
Scatter! Flee, you pathetic creatures of flesh! The beasts of Kur will devour you! The lives you've ended scream for your blood!

Leonidas
Silence, monster! Your fixation on pure brutality rivals even the king of Persia!

Leonidas
Speak and be heard if you have grievances! My three hundred soldiers and I will give you a chance to do so!

Leonidas
Here goes! My friends, bring your souls hither! Thermopylae Enomotia!

Leonidas
Fuuuuuu...

Leonidas
...Good. It seems I somehow made it here in time...

Mash
King Leonidas! You rushed over here from the gates!

Mash
...No. This can't be.

Leonidas
...It was unavoidable.
Our protection is simply sturdy shields.

Leonidas
Sturdy, yes, but nothing like the shields wielded by legendary heroes. And so, of course, we can only block physical attacks.

Leonidas
...Which is why I was able to deflect your heat ray.
Does that shake your old bones, Greek goddess?

Leonidas
Monstrous, accursed creature, transformed by Athena, and loathed by all, murderer of many heroes:

Leonidas
You are the monster born from the sisters of the Shapeless Isle. No... The composite deity, the Great Demonic Beast, Gorgon.

Tiamat
...So it's King Leonidas.
You deflected my heat gaze, and spoke a cursed name.

Tiamat
But because it was you, O King of Flames–you who discarded nothing, even when you yourself were abandoned–I will charge you with no other sins.

Tiamat
At least die a hero.
You needn't see the end of the human world.

Leonidas
...Heh. That is not possible.
Just like my soul, the human world is immortal.

Tiamat
Just as you have, the human world will inevitably end.

Tiamat
The world's most powerful protector has died for NOTHING! What better proof could you ask for!?

Tiamat
Raise your voices, Demonic Beasts!
The time has come!

Tiamat
I myself will assault Uruk and kill the king! Unleash your hatred, and trample down the humans who escaped!

Dr. Roman
What the...!? That's Tiamat!? ...Or is it Gorgon!?
Jeez, this is so confusing!

Dr. Roman
She was so focused on Fujimaru earlier, but now she's not paying any attention to {(M) him /(F) her}.

Dr. Roman
She's planning on just advancing with the Demonic Beasts!

Merlin
...It's unfortunate, but it seems so. Perhaps King Leonidas's words calmed her down...

Merlin
Like a human trampling ants underfoot, she will continue from here towards Uruk.

Merlin
Right now, we have no way to stop that.
Just pray that she doesn't stomp us down on a whim.

Mash
This... This can't be...!

Mash
Ushiwakamaru and King Leonidas saved us, yet we can't do anything about this?

Enkidu
Please wait. Isn't that a little short-sighted, Mother?

Tiamat
What?

Enkidu
Conquering Uruk is only a small step. Isn't the real issue the other goddesses, rather than the humans?

Enkidu
The alliance is dissolved once Uruk falls. The second generation is reserved for those coming battles.

Enkidu
100,000 offspring await birth in the Blood Fort. Until they're born, the Three Goddess Alliance must continue.

Enkidu
Besides, ending it like this won't be satisfying.
...We should take our time tormenting humans.

Enkidu
They took away the beasts' land and young.
They oppressed Mother. They forgot everything...

Enkidu
Flames of hatred do not burn without a target.
You cannot possibly discard hatred so easily.

Enkidu
...Mother, you are no longer a Greek goddess.
You are an incarnation of Tiamat, a god of Mesopotamia.

Enkidu
So, please think it over. Return to your Blood Fort.

Tiamat
...

Tiamat
Be grateful of the restraint my son shows, humans. However, your fated destruction still looms.

Tiamat
Ten dawns from now, we will destroy Uruk.
If you value your lives, flee to the ends of the earth.

Tiamat
If you can escape, that is. Over 100,000 of my Demonic Beasts will come to life in my temple.

Tiamat
Merely killing you off won't be enough.
So, try to save yourselves, if you can.

Tiamat
When you've drowned in terror, abandoned your comrades, gone mad from doubt, and become mere beasts, THEN I will grind what remains of you to dust.

Enkidu
...Whew. Thankfully, she retreated.
Life is hard when you have such an unreasonable parent.

Enkidu
That's one thing we have in common with humans. Children can't choose their parents. Don't you think so,
Fujimaru?

  1. What's the meaning of this?
 
  Select: What's the meaning of this?

===Branch End===

Enkidu
The meaning? I just saved your lives. I mean, it'd be so disappointing if this was the end, right?

Enkidu
For Mother, you are all vermin that need to be exterminated. In truth, she needs to focus on the other goddesses.

Enkidu
And the other two goddesses seem to be utilizing humans effectively.

Enkidu
So, if we just slaughtered all the humans, those two would be...upset.

Enkidu
I serve Tiamat. So, to ensure things go smoothly, I'm keeping humans alive a bit longer.

  1. What in the world are you?
 
  Select: What in the world are you?

===Branch End===

Enkidu
Oh, I don't need to hide that any longer, either.
I, like the Demonic Beasts, am a creation of Mother.

Enkidu
A prototype of the people who will rule the world in your place, replacing you archaic humans who abandoned her.

Enkidu
A new breed of humanity created by the great Tiamat, the primordial goddess. My True Name is Kingu.

Dr. Roman
Kingu...!

Dr. Roman
It's the name of the god that led the Eleven Offspring of Tiamat in the creation myth!

G：Kingu
Right. But I'm not a reincarnation, or anything stupid like that.

G：Kingu
That Kingu was a failure who feared Marduk, and fled. There was no need to revive such a coward.

G：Kingu
But, I am different. I am a perfect being, modeled after Enkidu, the greatest masterpiece of the gods...

G：Kingu
I was designed as the perfect, new human.

G：Kingu
So, I guarantee you. Humans will not go extinct. Humanity will be reborn right here, with me.

G：Kingu
After you old humans die out, I will be the first of the new humans. We will take over and continue with your history.

G：Kingu
So, rest assured as you are annihilated. The last salvation you are given is the joy of returning to the void.

G：Uruk Soldier
Lord Leonidas, the commander who never stopped defending this Northern Wall, has passed away...

G：Uruk Soldier
The Demonic Beasts keep coming...
And, our enemy is Tiamat...

G：Uruk Soldier
This is truly the end...
In ten days, Mesopotamia will fall to ruin...

Benkei
...There you are. So... Lord Leonidas is indeed gone...

Benkei
...I am going to take my leave as well. Please give King Gilgamesh my apologies for not meeting his expectations.

  1. Benkei, why!?
  2. ...About Ushiwakamaru...
  Select: Benkei, why!?
Benkei
...I... Well, I failed my master once again.

  Select: ...About Ushiwakamaru...
Benkei
...Indeed.

===Branch End===

Benkei
When that Goddess of Demonic Beasts appeared, Lord Yoshitsune rushed out to save you without a second look.

Benkei
However, I could not do that.
...It wasn't that I couldn't catch up to Lord Yoshitsune.

Benkei
It was that I faltered, even if only for a moment.

Benkei
I was no match for that goddess. I protected myself, thinking there was no way I could win against her.

Benkei
As a result, I sent Lord Yoshitsune off alone yet again.
I fled from my lord as she rushed to her final battle.

Benkei
...I was a coward unfit to be Musashibou after all.
Now, I can no longer see the point in fighting.

Mash
Th-that's not true! We need your power, Benkei!

Benkei
...You overestimate me.

Benkei
The only fate fit for a fool like me is to die in some ditch in the wilds, fighting Demonic Beasts...

Mash
...He's gone... He left for the ruins of Nippur, where Ushiwakamaru fought...

Merlin
Seems so. His dropout hurts our combat strength, but if he's not motivated, there's nothing we can do.

Merlin
We might as well tell a soulless corpse to fight for us.
We need to seek warriors who can fight, not those who can't.

Merlin
Oh, don't look at me like that.
Even I can understand Benkei's feelings.

Merlin
But... look over there.

H：Uruk Soldier
Idiot, what's with the sullen looks!?
Tiamat is gone, but the Demonic Beasts remain!

H：Uruk Soldier
Which means there's only one thing to do!
Look for survivors, rescue the injured, and regroup!

H：Uruk Soldier
Guard the fortress, replenish our weapons, train those muscles! That is the everyday life Lord Leonidas pounded into us!

H：Uruk Soldier
Ugh...! No matter when, he never made a single complaint!

H：Uruk Soldier
Even when facing the jaws of death or in an inferior position, he never abandoned his will to act!

H：Uruk Soldier
“I'm not saying you should fly.
Take some bricks, and line them up here.”

H：Uruk Soldier
“It's something anyone can do, and it's the most important thing.” He did that until the very end!

G：Uruk Soldier
That's...that's...
...You're right. Right. That was the pride of this land.

G：Uruk Soldier
It wasn't just the pride of Lord Leonidas.
It was the pride of every one of us...!

H：Uruk Soldier
That's right!
Now, we will regroup the squadron right away!

H：Uruk Soldier
That monster only melted away part of the rampart. Drag out the resident construction squad and begin repairs!

H：Uruk Soldier
Tell the engineers everything that happened!
We need to prepare for further attacks!

Mash
Everyone... They were all in such low spirits, but now...!

Merlin
Yeah. They swallowed their terror and stood up.
We can't afford to be depressed, either.

Dr. Roman
...You're right. There are people out here that aren't crushed even after seeing that.

Dr. Roman
There's no way that Musashibou Benkei wouldn't stand up after seeing them behave like that.

Merlin
Yeah. He just needs time for now.
He's sure to return.

Merlin
Until then, we need to proceed with our countermeasures. We first need to regroup with Ana, since Cath Palug teleported her somewhere.

Merlin
Then we need to return to Uruk and report to King Gilgamesh. We lost a lot this time, but also gained a lot:

Merlin
The Demonic Beast Goddess's True Name and true nature. Kingu, claiming to be its son. And the whereabouts of the Mage King's Grail.

Merlin
With this much information, we can think of the next step. The situation is finally turning around.

Merlin
We've seen nothing but defeat until now...
It's about time we get a counterattack going.

Merlin
Isn't that right, Fujimaru of Chaldea? I've noticed how you love to make a comeback in the second half.

  1. ...Of course. We're just getting started!
  2. If possible, I'd like to win from the start!
  Select: ...Of course. We're just getting started!
Mash
Yes! I'll accompany you, Master!

  Select: If possible, I'd like to win from the start!
Dr. Roman
Hahaha. That'd make us feel a bit better.
But in order for that to happen...
Dr. Roman
...we'll need you to mature a little more!

===Branch End===

Ushiwakamaru
Where is this... I haven't disappeared yet...
My body is fine. But my limbs...

Ushiwakamaru
...They're fused with the wall.
I can neither flee nor die like this...

G：???
...? Forward? I just need to keep going forward?
If I do, I can get outside?

F：???
That's right. When you leave the temple, there will be a lake. Use normal cedars, not the black ones, to guide your way.

F：???
What happens after that is none of my concern. But you should be able to survive for ten days or so if you stick around the lake.

F：???
You can head to the city and try to avoid the Demonic Beasts, or you can breathe your last there at the lake.
Do what you like.

G：???
...Yeah. Thanks, mister. If you'd like, please come see us.

Ushiwakamaru
That was...

Kingu
Oh, are you awake already? I expected nothing less from a Servant. You're as tough as a Demonic Beast.

Ushiwakamaru
Green hair, beautiful features... You must be Enkidu.
This is the first time I've seen your face.

Ushiwakamaru
Still, what a horrific sight. If this is your home base, I suppose you've taken me prisoner because you plan to do... THAT to me?

Kingu
I'm glad you're quick to understand.
As you can see, this is a factory of sorts.

Kingu
Tiamat's Demonic Beasts are all created from one maternal body. But that alone has its limits.

Kingu
So, if it's greater numbers and a wider variety of species we desire, what we truly need is a larger “womb.”

Kingu
This temple was created for that purpose.

Kingu
One piece of flesh creates about three Uridimmus. On the other hand, three pieces of flesh only yield a single Ugallu.

Ushiwakamaru
...I see. You call them Tiamat's offspring, but this is horrible.

Ushiwakamaru
In the end, they weren't even soldiers.
For you, they're nothing but expendable tools.

Ushiwakamaru
Ugh...!

Kingu
Oh, sorry. My hand slipped a bit, and I seem to have spilled some of your guts. But you're all right, aren't you?

Kingu
Yes, yes. Both of us were a bit too careless.

Kingu
Me, my hands that move so easily. You, that cheeky mouth of yours. You should watch that.

Kingu
Though, soon enough, you will be just like them.

Kingu
Once we plant an egg in that stomach, you will begin to change, however slowly.

Kingu
The saving grace is that the brain morphs last.
You will be yourself until the final moment.

Ushiwakamaru
Oh, so I see both you and this so-called mother are fools. Leaving the consciousness intact until the very end is the poorest plan.

Ushiwakamaru
Every single one of them must have fought to the very end, even after the transformation was complete. All you did was give them strength to fight.

Kingu
You're not wrong.
But it's nothing you need to worry about.

Kingu
Those that become materials melt away from the extremities. In the end, their limbs end up like maggots.

Kingu
And after you turn into nothing more than slimy goo, you are tossed into each Demonic Beast's adjustment tank.

Kingu
You can resist all you want. Fantasize about it to your heart's content. We'll let you dream that much.

Ushiwakamaru
...I see. For all that, you seem a bit...lax.

Kingu
What?

Ushiwakamaru
Why did you let the children escape?
I thought you only let us dream?

Kingu
A difference in values.
I don't have any grudges like Mother.

Kingu
I only kill threats. I kill human soldiers because they could potentially be threats against me.

Kingu
The young ones... The children will not be threats.
So, there is no need to kill them here.

Ushiwakamaru
But there's no reason to keep them alive, either.

Ushiwakamaru
Whatever you may think, you heard the voice of that child calling for help, and answered it.

Ushiwakamaru
How strange from the enemy of humanity. Trying to act like a demon, yet unable to embrace complete cruelty.

Ushiwakamaru
You know what folk like that are called?
Clowns. They are ridiculed on the battlefield as such.

Kingu
...I see. It seems like a special treatment is required for you.

Kingu
No egg for you. Instead, I'll take you to see Mother.

Kingu
The true Authority of Tiamat is the “sea of life.” Those that fall into that sea become Tiamat's child as they are.

Kingu
Servants are no exception. Frankly put, it's a kind of black mud that corrupts any Spirit Origins.

Kingu
Primordial life. The sea of chaos. In the world of magecraft, it is called the mud of the Holy Grail.

Kingu
The King of Mages named this the Chaos Tide.

Kingu
I'm looking forward to it now, Ushiwakamaru.
What kind of monster will you become?

Section 10: Good Morning, Goddess of Venus

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Gilgamesh
I've gone through your report.
You have been through a lot, Fujimaru.

Gilgamesh
Sacrifices are unavoidable in war.

Gilgamesh
As king, I will prepare the memorial for the lost, and compensate those left behind. None of you need worry about that.

Gilgamesh
Gorgon, wielder of the Authority of Tiamat, will begin attacking in ten days! Are you certain, Merlin!?

Merlin
It's been a day since then, so nine days to be correct. First, let's review what we know.

Merlin
Gorgon, the monster known for killing heroes in Greek mythology.

Merlin
She's here either because of the King of Mages' Holy Grail or due to some twist of fate.

Merlin
Whichever it is, the Grail has restored her former appearance and power.

Merlin
While many legends tell of the monstrous Gorgon Sisters' murderous exploits, none depict any of them giving birth to other monsters.

Merlin
Therefore, the Authority to give birth to Demonic Beasts, Potnia Theron, must have come from the Holy Grail.

  1. Who are the Gorgon Sisters?
  2. Does that have anything to do with Stheno and Euryale?
  Select: Who are the Gorgon Sisters?
Dr. Roman
Three deities in Greek mythology: Stheno, the oldest; Euryale, the middle sister; and Medusa, the youngest.
Dr. Roman
They used to be rural goddesses, but the youngest Medusa angered the great goddess Athena of Olympus.
Dr. Roman
In her wrath, Athena transformed Medusa into a monster. Medusa's sisters took pity on her, and together the three moved to a remote island called the Shapeless Isle.
Dr. Roman
However, the people, influenced by Athena, saw all three sisters only as monsters. So, they sought to kill them.
Dr. Roman
After defeating many heroes who came to kill both her and her sisters, Medusa truly became the monster everyone believed she was. She even devoured her beloved sisters.
Dr. Roman
That's probably how this “Gorgon Monster” was born. It's a manifestation of the primordial goddess that possesses the divinity of the three sisters.

  Select: Does that have anything to do with Stheno and Euryale?
Mash
Yes. There were three divine Gorgon Sisters in Greek mythology; those two were the oldest and middle sisters.
Mash
The youngest sister, Medusa, was persecuted by the people, killing many heroes who came for her head.
Mash
The ceaseless violence, the prejudice and persecution all drove her mad, and eventually she devoured her beloved sisters and became an enormous monster.

===Branch End===

Ana
...

Gilgamesh
Humph. So an exiled goddess returns as a goddess of vengeance, huh?

Gilgamesh
If anything, I'd say she should destroy the Greek world instead, but I'm sure that would be a bitter pill to swallow even for her.

Gilgamesh
Then? Did Gorgon say humans have no chance against the goddesses from the very beginning?

Mash
...Yes. She says we humans are just an obstacle, and that the goddesses are the only ones she needs to watch out for.

Gilgamesh
Heh. Mash, what are you disappointed for?
This is where you should be laughing.

Gilgamesh
Ahh, such hopeless fools they are.
That gives us ample opportunity for victory.

Mash
I-is that so?

Gilgamesh
Of course it is. Right, Fujimaru?
You feel the same, do you not?

  1. ...Heh, of course.
  2. Heh, I...guess?
  Select: ...Heh, of course.
Gilgamesh
Hahaha! Of course you do! Strife among enemies is the most entertaining weakness there is!
Gilgamesh
But aren't you quite nasty yourself, Fujimaru? You'd better take a long look in the mirror if you ever want to make any friends!

  Select: Heh, I...guess?
Gilgamesh
Curses, so you're some little Goody Two-shoes!
Sit right there. I shall educate you in the art of ruling and dominating your foes!

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
According to your research, the three goddesses are each very different.

Gilgamesh
Gorgon has the greatest influence, and runs on the hatred of humans.

Gilgamesh
Although the Goddess of the Jungle has covered Ur and Eridu with greenery, she has not done anything to the people.

Gilgamesh
Also, this goddess isn't particularly assertive.
She has no hatred, but she is not lazy either.

Gilgamesh
She uses what's necessary when necessary and carefully reads the situation. She's perhaps the most perfected goddess of all.

Gilgamesh
The third goddess is the one hard at work destroying her own land of Mesopotamia...

  1. Ishtar...
  2. ...
  Select: Ishtar...
Gilgamesh
...Hm. Well, that sounds about right.

  Select: ...
Gilgamesh
Oh? The look on your face is saying Ishtar is not a foe.
It is fine, do not mind me.
Gilgamesh
If you feel that way, you may be right. She wasn't taken into consideration in the first place anyway.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Well, there is no point in highlighting that woman's faults now. I'm tired of it anyway.

Gilgamesh
What I want to point out is the order in which we defeat them. Negotiating with Gorgon is not possible, but the other two are different.

Gilgamesh
Which means Ishtar should be first.
That should be the most manageable opponent.

Siduri
My king, are you commanding us to defeat Ishtar? I cannot agree to that.

Siduri
No matter how much damage Ishtar causes, she is still Uruk's patron deity. To fight her would be...

Gilgamesh
How disappointing, Siduri... Even Fujimaru understands...

Siduri
Huh...? U-um, what do you mean by “understands”...?

  1. Ishtar is bad, but she's a good goddess.
  2. Ishtar is a pain, but she's not a bad goddess.
  Select: Ishtar is bad, but she's a good goddess.

  Select: Ishtar is a pain, but she's not a bad goddess.

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes... All of the victims' stories agree that Ishtar always and only attacked when there were Demonic Beasts involved.

Mash
In light of that, we believe she was trying to protect the farms from the Demonic Beasts.

Siduri
So you're saying Ishtar robb—I mean, confiscated the farmers' fortunes because she was claiming a reward for protecting them??

Siduri
Then Ishtar was only protecting Uruk out of pure good will!?

Ana
No, not out of good will. It's more her “Because everything in this world's mine” type of thinking.

Gilgamesh
Do you see how that's just her usual foolishness?
That woman can never give up Uruk. That's where her weakness lies.

Merlin
So we're gonna defeat Ishtar first? She's not as strong as Gorgon, but she's still very powerful, you know?

Gilgamesh
Who said anything about defeating her?
There's no need to defeat that fool.

Gilgamesh
We are going to bring her over to our side.
Like taming a wild beast.

Gilgamesh
And of course, that means that our heroic Fujimaru shall be that beast tamer!

  1. Finally, a job for a hero!
  2. Ugh, great. Wouldn't want it to be easy or anything...
  Select: Finally, a job for a hero!

  Select: Ugh, great. Wouldn't want it to be easy or anything...

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
So you're saying we have to persuade that super wild and reckless goddess... But, wouldn't it be easier to just defeat her?

Mash
But it is more productive than fighting.

Mash
Senpai has contracted with many Servants up till now. I'm sure we'll manage.

Ana
...King Gilgamesh. I've heard you fought with Ishtar many times.

Ana
Yet you want to become allies with her? Aren't you two on extremely bad terms with each other?

Gilgamesh
Of course. And making her an ally doesn't mean that will change.

Gilgamesh
Ishtar cannot be of use to humans.
She's useless no matter how much power she has.

Mash
Er... Then, um, why?

Gilgamesh
Fujimaru can contract with her.
I don't have particularly high hopes for her.

Gilgamesh
However, her Bull of Heaven, Gugalanna, is another matter entirely.

Gilgamesh
It's a lethal weapon that, if used, could incinerate a city in an instant. We will definitely need that to end this war.

Gilgamesh
Therefore, we will make her our ally.
Do you have anything to say, Merlin?

Merlin
No, no. If that's the case, then I have no objection.
It's good to have a playful mindset like that, my king.

Gilgamesh
I'd call it gambling more than being playful.

Gilgamesh
Bringing that woman in is like loading a jar without a cap onto a cart.

Gilgamesh
Ah well. Now, onto the details of the plan.
All right, Fujimaru. For Ishtar...

Mash
And so, we left Uruk with some goods to use for negotiating.

Mash
Ana, I haven't greeted you properly after reuniting.
Let me say again how happy I am to work with you.

  1. Glad you were okay.
  2. Glad to see you again.
  Select: Glad you were okay.

  Select: Glad to see you again.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Ana
...Yes, nice to see you again.
...And... At Nippur, I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help...

Merlin
Not another word of that, Ana. We should only reflect on failures to try and learn from them and improve. Never simply dwell on them!

Dr. Roman
Oh, look at Merlin up on his high horse... It's not like he could be bothered to be helpful. At all. Don't worry about it, Ana.

Dr. Roman
Anyway. So you're headed for Mt. Ebih, huh? It'll be your first mountain climb since arriving at Uruk.

Merlin
Yes, after Ishtar flew out of Uruk, she made herself a temple on Mt. Ebih that she claims as her territory.

Merlin
The mountain trail will be harsh, but you should be able to get there in about a day.
Well, but before that... Roman, you can say it.

Dr. Roman
All right, it's just as usual.
But it's not my fault, so please bear with me.

Dr. Roman
You've got some enemy contacts, everyone! Think of it as a warm-up before you head into the mountains!

--BATTLE--

Mash
So this is Mt. Ebih... Looking up from the base, it seems steeper than the other mountains.

Mash
But it looks like proper paths have been built.
I was expecting to have to climb up sheer cliffs.

Dr. Roman
Yeah. Mt. Ebih was the tallest magical summit–or rather, spiritual mountain–in Sumer.

Dr. Roman
Even An, the greatest of the Sumerian gods, feared it. His daughter Inanna was obsessed with it, however, and to her he said this:

Dr. Roman
“Ebih is a fertile mountain. Its blessings are great, and it is deep.”

Dr. Roman
“My dear Inanna. Only a fool would disobey Mt. Ebih.”

Merlin
Yes. And that warning angered Inanna–that is, Ishtar–even more.

Merlin
Ishtar took all her weapons, and headed for Mt. Ebih, bringing a storm behind her.

Merlin
She tore apart the mountain as she walked along its edge towards its center.

Merlin
Of course, it was a spiritual mountain that even the gods feared. Ferocious creatures, volcanoes, rivers, and cold winds struck at her.

Ana
And each time, Ishtar complained.

Ana
“Toxic mist, raining boulders, burning lava!
I can't believe it! What kind of welcome is this?”

Ana
In her mind, the fact that she was the one trying to destroy the mountain didn't matter at all. She is mankind's oldest example of victim-blaming!

Fou
Foou...

Dr. Roman
Mt. Ebih's mistake is that it didn't send all its disasters at once. It kept hoping the next thing it did would get her to leave.

Dr. Roman
It sent its storms out bit by bit. Now, Ishtar was selfish, but adversity only made her stronger.

Dr. Roman
At last she reached the top of Mt. Ebih,

Dr. Roman
“And the goddess grabbed Mt. Ebih by the neck, and stabbed her blade deep into its body.”

Dr. Roman
“Mt. Ebih fell apart, its huge body sliding down like a drop of water.”

Dr. Roman
Mt. Ebih collapsed to half its original size, and Ishtar's aspect as a goddess of war became common knowledge.

Dr. Roman
What's interesting is that through all that, Ishtar didn't use her bow.

Dr. Roman
In fact, she took the trouble to walk all the way up to the summit and drive a lance into it.

  1. She... She walked...
  2. Drove... her lance...
  Select: She... She walked...

  Select: Drove... her lance...

===Branch End===

Mash
...I know it's too late, but I'm a little worried.
Can we really talk to a goddess like that?

Merlin
Well, let's believe in King Gilgamesh's secret plan.
He's probably feeling overwhelmingly low about now...

  1. I wish he'd negotiate himself...
 
  Select: I wish he'd negotiate himself...

===Branch End===

Merlin
That's a bad idea. Ishtar would never agree to King Gilgamesh's demands.

Merlin
He can't neglect his kingly duties, anyway. Not because of psychological reasons, but from the sheer amount of work.

Merlin
He's handling the leadership and military command of not only Uruk, but all of Mesopotamia.

Merlin
There's also preparations to be made for when the Northern Wall falls, and when Gorgon attacks.

Merlin
There's not much hope to get his help in battle during this Singularity. Even now, he's more at risk of dying from overwork than he would be in battle.

Dr. Roman
That's true... I keep forgetting, but King Gilgamesh is from this era.

Dr. Roman
He's got a vast amount of magical energy, but he's not as sturdy as a Servant. We can't put him through too much.

Ana
...A king doesn't fight anyway.
Those kings who do fight are weird.

Merlin
Ana, you shouldn't say that.
Or some very complicated people might complain!

Dr. Roman
Yes, yes. It's a very serious “too many kings” problem.

Dr. Roman
Anyway, guys, enemies sighted!

Dr. Roman
They're probably demonic statues placed by Ishtar to guard the mountain.

Dr. Roman
Each one has the magical energy of an A-ranked Servant! Stay sharp and engage them!

--BATTLE--

Mash
...That was horrible... I had no idea Ishtar's aesthetic sense was so bad...

Merlin
Yes... I didn't realize she was such a disappointment as a goddess... Maybe if we just leave her alone she'll self-destruct...

Ana
Everyone, stay strong.
Look over there.

  1. That's... Ishtar's temple!
  2. Okay, let's go home.
  Select: That's... Ishtar's temple!
Mash
Yes! It's very clearly an attempt to brag that,
“I conquered Mt. Ebih!” But still, it's impressive.

  Select: Okay, let's go home.
Ana
...Fujimaru, you mustn't run from things that are unpleasant.
Ana
I think it's clear that we'll have to fight Ishtar.
Let's just accept it and press on.

===Branch End===

--ARROW--

Ishtar
So, you just waltz right through the front door like you're here on a sightseeing tour, huh, Fujimaru? Rude!

Ishtar
You just lost to the Goddess of Demonic Beasts, and now you're visiting me?

Ishtar
...You've got some nerve. I'll give you that.

Ishtar
Not only did you enter Mt. Ebih without my permission, but you defeated my guards and entered my temple.

Ishtar
Until now, I've overlooked what you've been doing because you're a country bumpkin outsider, but not anymore.

Ishtar
Your shameful acts in Babylon, your favoritism towards Gilgamesh in Uruk, that game of cat-and-mouse in Kutha...

Ishtar
I'm sorry, but as a goddess, I cannot in good conscience allow you to go on like this. The gods have their own rules, and a goddess only forgives three times...

Ishtar
What I'm trying to say is that I'm done talking!
If you've come here, a fight's what you want, right?

Ishtar
There'll be no amnesty or mercy for you.
It's just as you wished.

Ishtar
I'll make you use all your Command Spells, and then blast you all the way back to Uruk!

Mash
Ishtar is ready to fight!
Master, what do we do...!?

  1. We have to show our strength first...!
  2. There's no point in talking with her anyway...!
  Select: We have to show our strength first...!
Ana
...Fujimaru is right, Mash.
Ishtar does not listen to the words of the weak.
Ana
Let's show her our strength...by breaking her knees. Also, maybe her arms.

  Select: There's no point in talking with her anyway...!
Merlin
No, Fujimaru, there are some things you just shouldn't say!
Merlin
I'm actually of the exact same opinion, but let's try and make our lives easier by flattering Ishtar!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Okay, that does it! I am one hundred percent DONE playing the nice goddess!!!

Ishtar
I am the goddess of war, and the goddess of Venus! Taste the power of Ishtar, most fearsome of all goddesses!

--BATTLE--

Ishtar
Not bad! That's what I'd expect from humanity's last Master!

Ishtar
Forget humanity and the responsibilities of a goddess! Now I'm getting into this! I'm kicking it up a notch!

  1. Wait, before that...!
  2. I have something you'll want to hear...
  Select: Wait, before that...!

  Select: I have something you'll want to hear...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Come on, don't get a girl all hot and bothered...
Don't tell me you're going to surrender!?

Mash
That's not it, Ishtar!
Master has a suggestion!

  1. Yeah. You see...
 
  Select: Yeah. You see...

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Ishtar may not look it, but she's the greatest of the Sumerian goddesses. As Inanna, the “Queen of Heaven”...

Gilgamesh
She once ruled the heavens in the god An's place.
She would never lose in a battle of strength.

Gilgamesh
There's the example of Mt. Ebih, too. The more you push her, the more she'll show her guts, even if she shouldn't. That's who she is.

Gilgamesh
But she does have a weakness.
...Gems.

Gilgamesh
I gather all of mankind's treasures, but she goes crazy over gems.

Gilgamesh
And this is the most important point: She lacks what's called the “Golden Rule.”

Gilgamesh
She loves gems, but has no luck when it comes to obtaining them. Until now, she's had gods and men offer them to her.

Gilgamesh
But now there's nobody making offerings to her.

Gilgamesh
You know what that means, right?
You can just buy her off.

Gilgamesh
Fujimaru, I will entrust you with thirty percent of the rare jewels in my treasury.

Gilgamesh
Negotiation is the most important skill a contractor can have. Go buy me a Goddess.

  1. We actually have an offering for you.
 
  Select: We actually have an offering for you.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Huh? An offering? As if a commoner like you could possibly have anything to interest me.

Ishtar
I'm not interested in some random knickknacks you picked up off the ground somewhere—

  1. Mash, do the thing!
 
  Select: Mash, do the thing!

===Branch End===

Mash
R-right!
...Here we go.

Ishtar
Wh-what! Is that a giant cart full of lapis lazuli!?
A crown? Is that the seven-jeweled crown!?

Ishtar
This is enough to power my magecraft for a long time...
No way. You're giving them to me!? What are you, a god!?

Ishtar
No take-backsies!
Also, I don't have to pay tax on these, right?

Ishtar
Oh wow, I'm getting all dizzy.
Okay...calm down, me! Also calm down, Ishtar-me!

Mash
Yes. Everything in this cart is a deposit.
It's all yours. Right, Senpai?

  1. Yup. This is just the deposit, Ishtar...
  2. Indeed. A deposit! All this!
  Select: Yup. This is just the deposit, Ishtar...

  Select: Indeed. A deposit! All this!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
A... A deposit...!?

Ishtar
In other words... (Gulp)
In other words...? (Gulp)

Merlin
We would like to hire you to help us.
This is the wish of all the people of Uruk.

Merlin
As proof of this, King Gilgamesh promises to open the treasury of Babylon for you.

Merlin
Fujimaru, tell her the total sum.

  1. We offer you 10% of the treasury's jewels.
  2. We offer you 20% of the treasury's jewels.
  Select: We offer you 10% of the treasury's jewels.

  Select: We offer you 20% of the treasury's jewels.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
WHAT. DID. YOU. SAY!?

Fou
Fou, fooou! Dofoooooouu!
(Special translation: This goddess is easy!)

Ana
...Quiet, Fou.
I know what you want to say, but quiet.

Ishtar
N-no, wait. It'll take more than that to make up for my years of anger.

Ishtar
You're talking about the treasury Gilgamesh is building for the future, right?

Ishtar
Once completed, it's been touted to be bottomless...
Or... Or that it contains ALL mankind's treasures!!!

Ishtar
And I get a huge fraction of it?
That sounds too good to be true...

  1. How about 25% then?
 
  Select: How about 25% then?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
It's still going up!? And I get 25%!?

  1. Yup. 25%.
  2. That's one out of every four, Ishtar.
  Select: Yup. 25%.

  Select: That's one out of every four, Ishtar.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...Ugh... But I'm the almighty Ishtar.
I can't just...from such shameful conditions...

  1. Mash, do the thing.
  2. So negotiations are over then...?
  Select: Mash, do the thing.

  Select: So negotiations are over then...?

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes, Master. I understand.
I shall take it back as our own.

Ishtar
Oh, wait. No, oh no. Don't do that. Don't do that.
It would make me so sad I would just DIE!

  1. What'll it be, Ishtar?
  2. Please make your decision.
  Select: What'll it be, Ishtar?

  Select: Please make your decision.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Give it up already. There's only good things in it for you.

Dr. Roman
If the whole world's destroyed, nobody will be left to adore your beauty.

Dr. Roman
Even the concept of beauty itself–developed by humans and applied by you gods–will disappear. That'd be a shame.

Dr. Roman
But if you make a deal with Fujimaru, then this conversation will change.

Dr. Roman
You will go down forever in history as a pure, righteous goddess.

Ishtar
I-I see. That doesn't sound bad... (Glance)

Mash
Oh.

Ishtar
Well, um, you know... If the whole world is incinerated, um... (Glance)

Fou
Fou, fooou!
(Special translation: She's staring! Staring at the jewels!)

Ishtar
That wouldn't be much fun at all... (Glance)

Mash
...

Ana
...

Ishtar
...

Ishtar
...

  1. ... (Gulp)
 
  Select: ... (Gulp)

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...Okay! If that's the case, I'll accept!

Ishtar
You win, Fujimaru.
I'll accept your conditions and join you.

Ishtar
I've gone back and forth on it for so long that the world could have ended seven times over. I think that's enough.

  1. That took all of two minutes.
  2. (Silence is golden.)
  Select: That took all of two minutes.
Ishtar
That's how long it was in your time! In my mind, in GODDESS TIME, I went through a whole psychological adventure!

  Select: (Silence is golden.)

===Branch End===

Mash
Goddess Ishtar...!
So you'll fight to help the people of Uruk?

Ishtar
Just call me Ishtar, Mash. I think this is the start of a long and profitable relationship for me. Oh, for you too.

Ishtar
People will think it's weird if you keep calling me “goddess.”

Mash
Okay! I'll call you Ishtar then!
Thank you for your help!

Mash
I know we've had our problems so far, but let's put that behind us!

Ishtar
Yes. Okay, Fujimaru, first start by kneeling and kissing the soles of my feet.

Mash
Huh...? Um, what does that mean...

Ishtar
I'm still a Servant. If I'm going to side with humans, I need to properly form a contract, you know!

Ishtar
So I need to establish a relationship with Fujimaru.

Ishtar
As for who's the Master and who's the Servant... Well, I'll leave that to your imagination.

Mash
N-no! I refuse to allow that!
That method of contracting isn't in the manual...!

--ARROW--

Ishtar
And so, even though it is only a temporary contract,
I have honored you by becoming a Chaldean Servant!

Ishtar
I'll do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't bore me, okay☆?

Dr. Roman
Wow... First Miss Artemis, now Ishtar... That's the second time we get a real goddess Servant, huh...

Dr. Roman
Wait, now's not the time to be worrying about that.
Let's go over the basics.

Dr. Roman
Ishtar. You're a Pseudo-Servant, right?
As in you use a human body as a vessel?

Ishtar
That's right. Divine Spirits can't normally be used as human familiars. The difference in scale between us is just too great.

Merlin
And since it's so different, you can't come here from the world you moved to.

Merlin
With the Age of Gods over, Divine Spirits simply watch over human history. This era is no different.

Merlin
The reason you're able to manifest as a Servant is that you've possessed a human you're compatible with... Is that right?

Mash
So compatibility is important. Do you mean Magical Circuit quality and innate talent?

Ishtar
That's important, of course, but what's also important is the shape of the soul, so to speak. What kind of person they were.

Ishtar
If they're like me, Ishtar, then they're compatible.

Ishtar
But what about it?
You've got Pseudo-Servants with you too.

Dr. Roman
Yes, we've seen several during our travels through the Singularities, but never one like you.

Dr. Roman
You seem to have been summoned into this era.
But how did that happen?

Ishtar
Oh, that, huh?
Honestly, I'm not sure myself...

Ishtar
What I do know is that the Matron at the Sacred Temple in Uruk tried to summon me.

Ishtar
But she was doing it in a really roundabout way.

Ishtar
Since Uruk was about to become a Singularity, it was able to connect with different eras.

Ishtar
Normally, time and space are paired together, but Singularities can cross over them both, right?

Ishtar
So I guess she found a mage girl who was compatible with me in some era or another, and summoned me into her.

Ishtar
At which point, I became a Pseudo-Servant, and the Temple Matron forcibly summoned me to the land of Uruk.

Ishtar
Well, because of how it was done, I don't really remember what happened around the time I was summoned.

Ishtar
The next thing I knew, the Matron had died from draining herself of magical energy.

Ishtar
When I went outside, the path that connected Heaven and Earth–the thread that had barely held on from the Age of Gods–was gone.

Ishtar
Gilgamesh built the fortress cities and said that humanity could get by on its own, so gods weren't needed anymore.

Ishtar
Do you know how confused I was when I saw that?
I felt like shooting everything in sight with my bow.

Ana
...I can sympathize...a little.
Only a little, though.

Ishtar
You're not in a position to talk, are you? Ana, was it? You need to clean up after your own mess, okay?

Ana
...I know. So please don't talk about it.

Dr. Roman
I see. That explains a lot.

Dr. Roman
So, it wasn't Solomon's Grail that summoned you.
It was Uruk's Sacred Temple.

Dr. Roman
But that leaves one problem.

Dr. Roman
As Chaldea's representative...
No, as a doctor... I have an ethical problem with this.

Dr. Roman
What's going on with the girl you possessed?
Are you in total control of her?

Ishtar
Really? You created a Demi-Servant like Mash, and now YOU want to talk to ME about ethics?

Dr. Roman
...You're right. I'm afraid I don't have a good response to that...

Dr. Roman
But my mistake and your problem are different matters. And that's why I'm asking you.

Ishtar
...Humph. That's a good answer.
I've changed my opinion of you a little.

Ishtar
So I'll answer your question. If you're asking if I killed the owner of this body, then no.

Ishtar
If you're asking if her mind can take control, that's a “no” too.

Ishtar
She and I have become one. Right now, it's about a 70/30 ratio with me as the majority.

Ishtar
When a Divine Spirit and a human become a Pseudo-Servant, the Divine Spirit has more spiritrons, and therefore the main personality is me.

Ishtar
Well, the original me, Inanna in the higher dimensions, isn't as humanlike as my current form.

Ishtar
But neither of us is more important than the other.
I'm always going to be me, no matter what.

Ishtar
I can only possess a person who's capable of seeing things that way anyway.

Ishtar
So think of it this way.

Ishtar
It's not that this person was taken over by Ishtar...
It's that she suddenly became the new Ishtar.

  1. I see. I don't get that at all.
  2. So that girl is not asleep...
  Select: I see. I don't get that at all.
Ishtar
That's fine. I'm still not sure which of us is which myself.

  Select: So that girl is not asleep...
Ishtar
Yes. I am “me” when I speak to you.
It's like two personalities merged into one.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Anyway! I'm saying that I'm me!

Ishtar
Now that I've got a new contract, it's time to say goodbye to this mountain!

Ishtar
I had nowhere to go in Uruk so I built a temple on Mt. Ebih, but there's really nothing here.

Ishtar
The mountain range is cut open like a cake. We're so deep in the mountains that no worshippers would come visit.

Ishtar
Not even a cute deer.
Only a forest full of venomous snakes!

Ishtar
I know I was the one who chose this place, but I'm really not sure why I did.

F：???
...tar... I...sh...ta...r...

F：???
Af...ter... all you... have done... Un...for...givable...

Ishtar
Sorry? Who are you?

F：???
I...will...defeat...you... Now die...demon...

Mash
Master, a mysterious rock is attacking...
I sense something sad, but let's fight it!

--BATTLE--

Ishtar
Yay! Ishtar's off her mountain and all's right with the world! We all made it off Mt. Ebih!

Ishtar
Something showed up at the end there, but let's forget that!

Ana
...I feel bad for Mt. Ebih... Next time we come, let's be nice to it.

Dr. Roman
Now, now. It was our first battle together with Ishtar. Let's not think about who or what we fought.

Dr. Roman
More importantly, Mash, it looks like there's an abandoned house nearby. Let's have you all spend the night there.

Mash
Roger that, Doctor.
Is that all right, Senpai?

  1. Of course.
  2. I'll take first watch.
  Select: Of course.

  Select: I'll take first watch.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Hmm... You guys are veteran travelers, huh?
You even take turns standing watch.

Merlin
Have you ever had the experience of sleeping anywhere outside your bedroom, Ishtar?

Merlin
If you haven't, feel free to stay up all night and keep watch while we sleep.

Ishtar
Sorry, but I've spent plenty of time outdoors. I used to sneak out behind my father's back all the time.

Ishtar
And as long as I have my boat, I'm good.
Sarcasm aside, if you want me to keep watch, I will.

Dr. Roman
That would be great.
Actually, I didn't expect you to be this cooperative.

Dr. Roman
After all that's happened so far, I thought you didn't like humans.

Ishtar
Oh, you're not wrong there.
I'm mostly nice to them so I can surprise them later.

Ishtar
Humans exist so they can be bullied for my entertainment. No matter how much of a softy I am at heart, I'm still Ishtar.

Dr. Roman
I...see... Let's be careful so that we don't end up like Mt. Ebih.

Merlin
I actually find that reassuring, though.
The goddess Ishtar needs to be cold-hearted.

Merlin
After all, she's our trump card against Gorgon.
We need her to perform just like she does in the myths.

Mash
That's right. With Ishtar on our side, we stand a chance against Gorgon now.

Dr. Roman
Hahaha! Actually I don't think you will lose to anything at all! She's not called “the most powerful goddess in Mesopotamia” for nothing!

Ishtar
Ahaha! Tell me more! Flattery will get you nowhere, but don't let that stop you!

Ishtar
Hmm, but wait? Why do you think that?

Ishtar
I mean, we've always ended up in a draw. Besides,
I don't think I've done anything amazing in front of you yet.

Dr. Roman
Oh come on. It's the Bull of Heaven!
The divine weapon you received from the god An!

Dr. Roman
Even King Gilgamesh recognizes its strength! So when the time comes, you can use it to destroy Gorgon.

Dr. Roman
Since that doesn't count as fighting her yourself, it shouldn't violate the pact of the alliance.

Dr. Roman
Well, I'm told it's a devastating weapon that changes the very terrain itself, so we'll keep it as a weapon of last resort.

Ishtar
Oh, um, yeeeah! Th-that's right. You guys get it.
It would be a weapon of last resort. Haha.

Fou
Fou?

Ishtar
By the way, I decided I'm going to be keeping a diary starting tonight, so I'll let Fujimaru handle the watch after all.

Ishtar
Bye! Have fun!

Mash
Ishtar took a blanket off the cart and ran into the house.

Mash
Heheh. And she says she's used to sleeping outdoors.

Fou
Fou, fo?

Ishtar
You haven't let someone else take over yet?
You really care about your Servants.

  1. I want Mash to get as much rest as possible.
  2. I can still do another hour.
  Select: I want Mash to get as much rest as possible.
Ishtar
Hmm... Mash is the Servant with the shield, right?
You've had a contract with her for a long time.

  Select: I can still do another hour.
Ishtar
It's almost dawn. Nothing good comes from pushing yourself too hard.
Ishtar
The more you push yourself, the more people around you will think it's normal. It's best to do only 80% of what you truly can.
Ishtar
Then again, if you could have done that, you wouldn't be here now. It has to be hard to look like you're fine when you're always at your limit.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Can I sit next to you?
I think it's time we had a little chat.

Ishtar
...

  1. ...Um, what is it?
 
  Select: ...Um, what is it?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Nothing. I was just looking.

Ishtar
I still can't believe you brought ME to your side. It's so unexpected a girl just has to stare a bit, you know?

Ishtar
Or what, was it love at first sight?
Are humans from the future always that filthy?

  1. Well, uh, I mean...
  2. Yeah. Chaldea lives in the future.
  Select: Well, uh, I mean...
Ishtar
I know. I'm joking. Sorry, I was just teasing you.

  Select: Yeah. Chaldea lives in the future.
Ishtar
H-huh... You're not denying it... Humph... I see.
So what you're saying is...there's a chance.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...Hold that thought. It's actually kinda cold wearing something like this... Ah... Ah...

Ishtar
Achoo!

Ishtar
So anyway, back to what we were saying.

  1. !?
  2. What the heck!?
  Select: !?

  Select: What the heck!?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...What was that?
Did you just try and run away from me?

Ishtar
No, you did, didn't you? I saw you start to back away. I've seen it many times.

Ishtar
...I see. ...Are you scared of me too?

  1. ...No, it's the sneeze just now.
  2. (...So that kind of Authority exists too!)
  Select: ...No, it's the sneeze just now.

  Select: (...So that kind of Authority exists too!)

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...Really? You're really not scared of me?
You don't hate me because I'm a goddess?

  1. That's no reason to hate you.
  2. Even if you're a goddess, you're a terrible one.
  Select: That's no reason to hate you.
Ishtar
!

  Select: Even if you're a goddess, you're a terrible one.
Ishtar
I-I am not terrible! I'm just merciless!
I don't like gore and stuff!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...Wait, that's not why I'm here.
There's no time, so I have to get to the point.

Ishtar
You plan on fighting the Three Goddess Alliance.
What do you really think about them, though?

Ishtar
The Goddess of Demonic Beasts... Well, there's no helping her. She'll never make peace with you.

Ishtar
The Goddess of the Jungle... I don't know much about her. Our cultures are very different; what's good in hers may be evil in ours.

Ishtar
She's the descendant of a different celestial body, after all.

Ishtar
And the third goddess... That's me, obviously...

Ishtar
I won't forgive Mesopotamia for what it's become.

Ishtar
I refuse to accept that you humans abandoned the gods and tried to make your own world.

Ishtar
That's going to bring you nothing but misery. Humans can't escape the suffering of life or the terror of death.

Ishtar
You humans became smarter. Too smart. And all so that you could come to accept the world for what it really is.

Ishtar
But in the Age of Gods, that pain can be lessened, because there are things there that humans can't understand.

Ishtar
You can blame all the bad things, the crazy things, in your life on the gods, and that makes life easier.

Ishtar
I really thought that way of life was a good thing.
I took that blame for tens of thousands of years.

Ishtar
That's why...I joined this alliance. So that “your” world could become “our” world... A world for both gods and humans.

Ishtar
I'm not an enemy of humanity, I'm an enemy of humanity's world. I'm only telling this to you, Fujimaru.

  1. I didn't realize...
  2. You're actually nice, huh, Ishtar?
  Select: I didn't realize...

  Select: You're actually nice, huh, Ishtar?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...Th-that's all I wanted to say!
F-for tonight, anyway.

Ishtar
Anyway, good night! I'm going to bed!
Don't you stay up too late!

  1. Good night, Ishtar.
  2. Good night, goddess.
  Select: Good night, Ishtar.

  Select: Good night, goddess.

===Branch End===

Section 11: Hello, Goddess of the Sun

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Gilgamesh
Fwahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahaha! Welcome back, splendid heroes!

Gilgamesh
And you, shameless goddess, who came back with them! Tell me how it feels to have joined my army!

Ishtar
Nobody joined your army, you idiot!

Ishtar
I, the wise and farsighted goddess Ishtar, have simply entered into a business partnership with Fujimaru!

Ishtar
Just you wait. This one's going to be an amazing Master!

Ishtar
And until then, I'll bring {(M) him /(F) her} back to life even if {(M) he /(F) she} dies or explodes!

Ishtar
...Heh. There's no need to say who the real winner is here. And when that happens, this is what you'll be screaming:

Ishtar
“Oh, Ishtar! You truly are the goddess of victory! I am so very, very ashamed. Guess I'll have to kill myself!”

Gilgamesh
I'm not going to die, you fool! I even liberated Eanna, your resting place, and you haven't repented at all!

Ishtar
Of course I haven't! I'm actually really mad!
Eanna was mine to begin with!

Ishtar
So why'd you steal it!?
Argh! I knew I shouldn't have come!

Siduri
Please, both of you, stop.

Siduri
The patron deity appears before us... For a priestess such as myself, there is no greater honor.

Siduri
Let us forget about the damage report from the farmers, as well as the other things, and celebrate her return.

Gilgamesh
Humph. You heard her, Ishtar.
The High Priestess says so.

Ishtar
Tch... I can't be bossy around Siduri... She's the most faithful of the Uruks, and the ideal priestess...

Mash
It looks like Ishtar isn't able to push Siduri around.

Mash
From the look of things, maybe King Gilgamesh and Ishtar will be able to work together!

Gilgamesh
Well, whatever. We can deal with rehabilitating you later. We have more pressing issues.

  1. Pressing issues...?
  2. You mean the Goddess of the Jungle?
  Select: Pressing issues...?

  Select: You mean the Goddess of the Jungle?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
That's right. Now that we know Gorgon is an incarnation of Tiamat, we have a powerful weapon at our disposal that we can use against her...

Gilgamesh
The axe of the god Marduk, who ripped open Tiamat's throat, is still kept within Eridu.

Gilgamesh
This axe will be the key to defeating Gorgon.

Dr. Roman
Eridu... The first city in Sumerian mythology where the divine right to rule was given.

Dr. Roman
But now it's covered in jungle.
I see, so that's why...

Gilgamesh
I told you, there's an order in which to defeat the goddesses. First Ishtar. Then the one in the south.
Then the one in the north.

Gilgamesh
So, how about it, Ishtar? I bet you know who the Goddess of the Jungle really is.

Gilgamesh
Many of the heroes I've summoned so far have gone into the jungle, trying to learn exactly that. None returned.

Gilgamesh
Only a very powerful Divine Spirit could defeat such Servants.

  1. It's not Jaguar Warrior?
  2. Good... So it's not Jaguar Warrior...
  Select: It's not Jaguar Warrior?
Ana
...Of course not. That's also a Divine Spirit, but it's only a secondary one. Next time, I'm skinning it for its pelt.

  Select: Good... So it's not Jaguar Warrior...
Merlin
So we can just ignore her, then? Personally, I'm relieved.
Merlin
After all, if she were one of the three goddesses, I have no idea how we'd deal with her!

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
I'm curious about Jaguar Warrior, but talk about her later! ...So? What is the True Name of the Goddess of the Jungle?

Ishtar
...Well, I guess I could tell you that.

Ishtar
The goddess that holds dominion over the south is the “Winged Snake”...

Ishtar
A fellow goddess of Venus, and the great bird of the sun. The wind of Mesoamerica! Quetzalcoatl!

Merlin
Quetzalcoatl! The conquering King of the Mayans?
The Toltec sun god?

Dr. Roman
That's demiurge caliber!
She might be even more powerful than Gorgon!

Dr. Roman
Wait, wasn't Quetzalcoatl male, anyway!?
Why's she a goddess?

Ishtar
Oh, that's right. Humans wouldn't know.

Ishtar
The place you call Mexico–the region of Mesoamerica, that is–has a very different mythology.

Ishtar
Their gods are said to not be from this planet, but to have come from the sky.

Ishtar
When an asteroid collided with Earth, “something” that came with it survived and infected the plants...

Ishtar
Eventually it became a microscopic organism that changed the local animals into “gods,” and built that area's civilization.

Ishtar
The deities of Mesoamerica move from one human to another. One of those vessels was probably a female.

Dr. Roman
Th-thank you for that incredible information, goddess! There's still so much about Earth we don't know!

Gilgamesh
Quetzalcoatl... Hmm... With human history incinerated, I can't see the future of this Mesoamerica you talk about.

Gilgamesh
Doctor Roman! Gather information on this goddess!

Gilgamesh
I know nothing of any deities who were able to come back to life in the A.D. era!

Mash
...! Master, that felt like an earthquake just now!

Uruk Soldier
Forgive me, my king! An urgent message from the south gate of Uruk!

Uruk Soldier
The south gate has been annihilated!
They're requesting reinforcements!

Gilgamesh
...An enemy attack!? What were the lookouts doing!? How could they miss a horde of Demonic Beasts?

Uruk Soldier
They say...it's a single enemy!

Uruk Soldier
A woman calling herself Quetzalcoatl has destroyed the gate with her bare hands and entered Uruk!

Uruk Soldier
She's heading straight for the ziggurat!

--BATTLE--

Uruk Soldier A
Get the citizens out of here now!
She's coming! She's charging in!

Uruk Soldier A
Spearmen, form up in three rows!
If ten soldiers won't hold, attack with thirty!

Uruk Soldier A
You in the rear, press forward!
We're going to force her back with everything we have!

Uruk Soldiers
Raaarrrgh! We'll put an end to your killing spree right here!

D：Cheerful Voice
Mm, you've got spirit!
But this isn't a tag team match, no!

D：Cheerful Voice
I said one at a time, no? Naughty kids who can't wait their turn... Hmm... What to do...

D：Cheerful Voice
I know! I'll juggle you till you cool off!
Okay, uno, dos, tres...!

Uruk Soldiers
Impossible! She's tossing the soldiers about like toys!

Uruk Soldiers
Oh no! That's too high! She's throwing them too high! They're gonna...! Nooooooooo!!!

D：Cheerful Voice
Oh my. You're terrible at plancha, and also terrible at landing? You won't be top-tier luchadores like that, you know!

D：Cheerful Voice
Si, in lucha libre, it is important for both the attacker and defender to nimbly break a fall!

D：Cheerful Voice
You got that, niños? Before you learn any techniques to defeat others, you must learn to protect yourselves...

D：Cheerful Voice
If you can't do that, you're no match for me, no matter how many of you there are!

Uruk Soldier A
Nnnnnno good. Everyone, retreat, retreat!
We are no match for her!

Uruk Soldier A
Wait for the warriors of Chaldea! Until then, until then...

Uruk Soldier A
...Until then, we'll do as she requests! ...You said you won't complain if we go up one-on-one, yes!?

D：Cheerful Voice
Claro! Try to pin me for a three-count, yes!

Mash
We have arrived at Uruk's southern market!
As King Gilgamesh ordered, we—

Ana
Over there! Oh, look out!

D：Cheerful Voice
How unfortunate! You're so tiny! Muy pequeña!

Uruk Soldier
W-waaah! For some reason she came diving in spread-eagled!?

Ana
I won't let her... Soldier, get out of here! Hurry!

Uruk Soldier
Y-yeah!

Quetzalcoatl
Wow! Qué técnica! What an amazing aerial attack!
I'll give you forty points, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
But you stole my opponent! So rude, yes!
That match wasn't decided yet, no?

Quetzalcoatl
Interfering in a luchador match is against the rules!

Quetzalcoatl
Mm. So. That. Means.

Uruk Soldier
Wha... Wind coming from below our feet!?
Waaaah, it's lifting us up!?

Quetzalcoatl
The penalty will be... My one hundred meter ring-out toss! Adiós, muchachos!

Uruk Soldier
Waaah! I'm... faaaaaalling...!

Uruk Soldier
...Wait, I'm alive!

  1. Ana, nice catch!
  2. Ana, nice moves with the chain!
  Select: Ana, nice catch!

  Select: Ana, nice moves with the chain!

===Branch End===

Ana
Hurry and retreat! We'll take care of the rest!

Uruk Soldier
Y-yeah...! Thanks, we'll leave it to you, cutie!

Quetzalcoatl
Hmm. Is it against the rules for someone to show up and catch a falling luchador?

Quetzalcoatl
I think it is... Buuuut if the audience loves it, I guess it's okay!

Quetzalcoatl
After all, we don't fight to kill our opponents...
We fight to give courage to the people!

Quetzalcoatl
Aaaanyway, are you my next opponents?

Quetzalcoatl
Good, you've got some pep! I'll fight each and every one of you till your hearts give out!

Mash
So that's the Mesoamerican goddess, Quetzalcoatl...!

Mash
...She scares me, Master. I've never experienced anything like this before.

Mash
She is laughing like she's having a great time!
A laugh with no hatred or animosity!

Mash
Yet, she isn't hesitating to kill... It's insane!
I don't know what to do!

  1. Indeed... We've never seen anything like her before!
  2. (She's killing people...?)
  Select: Indeed... We've never seen anything like her before!

  Select: (She's killing people...?)

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Talk later. She's coming! Your enemy is the highest-ranking Divine Spirit there is: a true goddess!

Dr. Roman
She's not like Gorgon who used the Holy Grail to become a goddess, nor a Pseudo-Servant like Ishtar!

Dr. Roman
Everyone, proceed with the utmost caution!
Staying alive is more important than defeating her!

--BATTLE--

Mash
Our attacks aren't doing anything...! It seems she possesses some kind of special skill...!

Quetzalcoatl
Oh, are you guys Servants?

Quetzalcoatl
Then, is that cutie over there the Master from elsewhere?

Merlin
Indeed. That's Fujimaru from Chaldea, the last Master of humanity.

Merlin
I know it's late, but I'd like to confirm.
You're Quetzalcoatl, from the Three Goddess Alliance?

Quetzalcoatl
Claro que sí!

Quetzalcoatl
I'm the big sister who came all the way from Mesoamerica to destroy Uruk a little, yes!

  1. Destroy Uruk “a little”...?
  2. Why do such a thing!?
  Select: Destroy Uruk “a little”...?

  Select: Why do such a thing!?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
...
...

Dr. Roman
...Why did you clam up like that?
That shouldn't be a difficult question...

Quetzalcoatl
...Ahaha. You, Master of Chaldea, are my type, so I was just a bit surprised, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
Disciplined, righteous, and earnest. That hits all my buttons! So much so, you deserve a penalty!

Quetzalcoatl
If Fujimaru will marry me, I don't mind being on your side!

Dr. Roman
MAAAAAARRY!?

Mash
What did you just say!?

Merlin
(Hahaha, this goddess is weirder than anything I could imagine! The story is getting complicated now!)

Quetzalcoatl
Ay no. After all, that would be a bit childish. Goddess-ish, but childish.

Quetzalcoatl
Now. Why destroy Uruk?
I'll at least answer that question.

Quetzalcoatl
It's because we were called over by Mother to kill humans.

Quetzalcoatl
It is our purpose here, and we can't change it.
So, that's what we'll do.

Quetzalcoatl
But, how I do so is up to me, no? It'd be boring to just drop the sun and burn everything, no?

Quetzalcoatl
Yes! I want to have fun. I don't want to fight out of hatred. Sooooo...

Quetzalcoatl
I decided that no matter who I'm against, I'll kill them one by one, and that's how I'll eradicate humanity, yes!

  1. Seriously, in a fistfight!?
  2. Dios mio, through lucha wrestling!?
  Select: Seriously, in a fistfight!?

  Select: Dios mio, through lucha wrestling!?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Sí! So I won't use my Authority as a goddess!
Because that tires me out, yes!

Mash
Objection! Great goddess Quetzalcoatl, I'd like to point out that you used your Authority in our battle!

  1. Yeah, that's cheating!
 
  Select: Yeah, that's cheating!

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
I-I'm cheating? Hehehe... Being scolded by a younger Master is a first. Makes me blush!

Quetzalcoatl
But you need a trial like this.
Just going easy won't help anyone grow.

Quetzalcoatl
That's how you learn, yes? Humans are like that, yes?

Dr. Roman
So she wants you to find her weakness during the fight...! But no matter what we do, that divinity is—

Quetzalcoatl
Oh, relax! See, I'm going back soon, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
I only fight one hundred people a day! Any more than that, and I start forgetting my opponents.

Quetzalcoatl
I wouldn't want to make fighting a chore, no!
Death matches should always be of the highest quality!

Quetzalcoatl
So, everyone, adiós! I'll be back tomorrow at dawn to kill another one hundred of you!

Mash
Quetzalcoatl is disappearing into the jungle, riding a pterosaur that flew by...

Dr. Roman
Are you...safe now? No, I see another Servant approaching!

Dr. Roman
This... This magical energy...!

Jaguar Warrior
Oof, oof, oof! Sheesh, Kuku works jaguars so hard.

Jaguar Warrior
Transporting warriors she knocked out.
Why is she making her best furriend do this?

Ana
That ludicrous hooded guise...!

  1. Mystery Servant, Jaguar Warrior...!
 
  Select: Mystery Servant, Jaguar Warrior...!

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Hey, guys! It's been a while!
But hold on a sec, I'm working right now!

Mash
Wha... Jaguar Warrior is stacking the fallen soldiers one after another onto a cargo sled!

Mash
She's going to take them away!
Master, we need to stop her...!

  1. Yeah, stop it right there, Jaguar Warrior!
  2. I knew something was pouncing around in the background!
  Select: Yeah, stop it right there, Jaguar Warrior!

  Select: I knew something was pouncing around in the background!

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Whoa. Stop and leave the goods? I will not, no! That's not how the world works. Reality is harsh, you know.

Jaguar Warrior
Kuku is ruthless! She never holds back when she punches me!

Jaguar Warrior
So do you really think such a cold-blooded bird would forget to assign bodyguards for a mission this important? ...Oh... I guess she did...

Jaguar Warrior
So, the forest furriends that I cherry-picked will protect me! To me, my great Jaguar Underlings!

Jaguar Warriors
Roarrrrr!

Jaguar Warrior
Whew! Look at these sturdy Jaguar Underlings!
Boys and girls...we're not letting you sleep tonight...!

Jaguar Warrior
Well, I'm going home and drinking a Tequila Sunset while eating crocodile! I'll leave the rest to mew guys!

Mash
The jaguar-headed warriors are attacking!
Master, your orders!

--BATTLE--

Merlin
Hmm, well this is an altogether new problem. To think Quetzalcoatl would come barging in herself.

Gilgamesh
What a nuisance! If she keeps tearing up the city, that'll affect morale on the Demonic Front!

Siduri
The craftsmen and soldiers have left the southern market. At this rate, the king's little side project will...

Mash
Side project...? King Gilgamesh, what are you making?

Gilgamesh
...No. Nothing.

Gilgamesh
(Sigh) Siduri, must you be such a killjoy? What's the point of making a secret weapon if it's not being kept a secret...

Gilgamesh
Ugh, this is all because of that insane goddess! Ishtar! She's one of yours!

Gilgamesh
Make yourself useful! Do something about her!

Ishtar
Hey, she's not one of mine! She's from a completely different culture!

  1. Really?
  2. You think so?
  Select: Really?
Ishtar
Really. She's a different class and uses different weapons. Other things like the amount of skin showing and our alignments are generally the same.
Mash
(So that means the two get along, Senpai!)
Dr. Roman
(Shh, stay quiet...! She'll just get distracted. Even if it's true, don't mention it, Mash!)

  Select: You think so?
Ishtar
We're totally different! There aren't that many muscle-headed goddesses like her!
Fou
Fou? Foufofo, fofofofooou?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...Well, there's no denying that she's a nuisance.

Ishtar
Like the way she picks fights with humans one by one. She's got a weird idea of eradicating humanity, but I guess she'd call it integrity.

Ishtar
And, if she's coming tomorrow, that means she intends on killing one hundred people every day.

Siduri
Yes. Exactly one hundred soldiers fell victim. The corpses were carried off, so we can't even bury them...

Gilgamesh
Even if we wanted to fight, we're no match for her.
Don't you have a plan of some sort, Dr. Roman?

Dr. Roman
Eh? You're asking me!? You guys have Merlin over there!

Dr. Roman
Use that clairvoyance or whatever, and take a peek at what Quetzalcoatl is doing!

Merlin
I'd really like to do that, but I can't overuse my clairvoyance. I'm using my magical energy for other things right now.

Merlin
At any rate, she'll definitely pick up on it if I observe her.

Merlin
And as many a myth has shown, goddesses don't respond well to being peeked on. Isn't that right, Ishtar?

Ishtar
Yeah, I'd kill them. I'd use my Authority, my Noble Phantasm, everything I have, and blast wherever the peeper is to oblivion!

Merlin
See? Do you want to piss her off like that? I don't! And THAT'S why I can't use clairvoyance to check out Quetzalcoatl.

Dr. Roman
...I see. I wish you'd told me earlier that you were restricting your clairvoyance.

Dr. Roman
No wonder something seemed a bit off about you, Merlin. You had already done everything you could.

Merlin
I'm glad you understand. So, Romani Archaman, what is your proposal?

Dr. Roman
All right, I shall give my opinion as Chaldea's operations commander.

Dr. Roman
Currently, there is no way to intercept Quetzalcoatl. That said, we aren't in a condition to leave her alone.

Dr. Roman
Which means we have to get proactive. We strike at Quetzalcoatl's home base.

Dr. Roman
Originally, Quetzalcoatl was a goddess that had absolutely nothing to do with Sumer.

Dr. Roman
So how is she demonstrating such heightened Divinity and Authority?

Dr. Roman
It must be because a temple dedicated to her worship was built somewhere.

Dr. Roman
The other day, when Fujimaru went to investigate Ur, there was a particularly strong magical energy response coming from the south.

Dr. Roman
Even in a jungle full of mana, that response was so strong you knew it was special.

Dr. Roman
That must be Eridu, the city that King Gilgamesh was talking about. If Quetzalcoatl is occupying that city,

Dr. Roman
we can assume that she has created a temple in her name there. To establish a temple, you need a symbol that represents the deity.

Dr. Roman
Quetzalcoatl is said to possess two treasures: the Jade Sword, Macana, and the Sun's Pilgrimage, Piedra del Sol.

Dr. Roman
Either of those would certainly work to establish her place of worship. So...

Ana
...Destroy the symbol, remove the temple's power, and diminish Quetzalcoatl's Divinity.

Dr. Roman
Exactly, Ana. After that, if we face Quetzalcoatl, there is at least a small chance of victory.

Dr. Roman
And with Ishtar's help, we'd be more than a match for her.

Ishtar
Oh, you're relying on me?

Ishtar
I didn't want to fight other goddesses, but if it's Fujimaru's request, I have no choice.

Ishtar
Of course, if it was a certain useless king asking, I'd just have laughed myself silly and refused!

Gilgamesh
... (Grinning)

Ana
...He totally sees through her... There's no way Ishtar can win this one...

Gilgamesh
I guess it's settled, then. Fujimaru, I have a new mission for you.

Gilgamesh
I authorize the second stage of our goddess extermination plan! Go through the jungle and head to Eridu!

Gilgamesh
There, defeat Quetzalcoatl, and also recover the divine tool stored in Eridu.

Gilgamesh
Retrieve Marduk's axe, the weapon that killed the goddess Tiamat!

Gilgamesh
Two days to reach Eridu, four days round trip!

Gilgamesh
Hurry! As soon as you return, we'll start preparations for the battle with Gorgon!

Section 12: Temple of the Sun

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Mash
Operation Defeat Quetzalcoatl begins now, Master.
Let's head to Ur first.

Mash
Oh, gatekeeper. Here's the seal from King Gilgamesh permitting our departure.

Uruk Soldier
Yes, thank you. Please have a safe trip.

Ana
You're...the gatekeeper that was on duty when we first came to Uruk.

Ana
This south gate was attacked by Quetzalcoatl...but are you all right?

Uruk Soldier
Haha... Well it's embarrassing to say, but I wasn't even taken as an opponent.

Uruk Soldier
Did you know that these past few days an unknown disease has been infecting people in Uruk?

Ana
...Yes. I hear the old and weak are the first to die.

Uruk Soldier
I had the same symptoms as them. Didn't have an appetite for three whole days.

Uruk Soldier
So when that goddess saw my face, she said, “Don't push yourself. Want a mango?”

Ishtar
Mango? You mean the fruit, mango? I've heard of it...
But it existed in this age...?

Uruk Soldier
Yes, and it was very tasty! Almost the instant I popped it in my mouth, I felt better! Thanks to that, I was able to resume my duties as a gatekeeper.

Ishtar
And you just ATE it!?

Uruk Soldier
Hahaha, yes I did. That's one of the reasons I came to be stationed here at the south gate. Everyone's scared of this gate, you know.

Uruk Soldier
So, um... I'm not so sure that the Goddess of the Jungle is actually evil, really.

Uruk Soldier
I'm sure this is just bothersome to hear, but if you meet her, and it looks like you can speak with her...

Uruk Soldier
Before you exchange blows, please try to talk to her. Maybe there's a way to solve this without fighting.

Mash
...That's what the gatekeeper was saying, but...is it even possible to speak with Quetzalcoatl?

  1. It might be.
  2. If I were just a little taller...
  Select: It might be.
Ishtar
It isn't. She WILL attack us, so be ready to defend yourselves.
Ishtar
Don't worry, I'll be there to fight with you this time. Just watch closely and see which goddess is the more powerful one.

  Select: If I were just a little taller...
Mash
Taller? Senpai, you're really not that short...
Fou
Fou, fofoou.

===Branch End===

Merlin
A talk with Quetzalcoatl, eh? It's true that there may be a way to avoid battle.

Merlin
She said she would eradicate humanity because her mother called her here to do so.

Merlin
Which means that she's not against mankind of her own free will.

Merlin
Though that does raise the question of who this “Mother” is.

Ana
...If she says, “Mother,” then wouldn't it be the Goddess of Demonic Beasts, Tiamat?

Merlin
Well, if you think about it, that does makes sense...
How about it, Ishtar?

Merlin
Did Gorgon order you two to exterminate mankind?

Ishtar
Huh? I couldn't care less about the Three Goddess Alliance.

Ishtar
Quetzalcoatl is a winged serpent, right? Maybe she's just helping out Gorgon because they're both snakes?

Dr. Roman
(...Ishtar isn't interested in the Three Goddess Alliance...? No, wait... This odd feeling, could it be...?)

H：???
Hahahahahahahaha! Meowhahahahahahahahaha! I mew you'd come back to my jungle, my prey!

H：???
If Kuku returned to the jungle, then you guys wouldn't be far behind! That is common sense!

H：???
And ambushing prey on the flank is the jaguar's hunting style! Meow it's time to snack, hup!

Mash
Senpai, it's Jaguar Warrior. Here she comes, down from the trees... as always.

Dr. Roman
Ah, your stealth abilities are to be expected in the jungle. With all the magical energy surrounding us, I couldn't detect you at all.

Merlin
However, Quetzalcoatl is still the principal deity in Mesoamerican culture.

Merlin
No matter how much power Gorgon gained from the Holy Grail, Quetzalcoatl wouldn't serve her without cause.

Merlin
Just like the gatekeeper said, she probably has a reason. Leaving this “Mother” problem aside, it's a good idea to try and talk to her.

Merlin
Yes, talk. Conversation is the best expression of human sincerity and kindness, Fujimaru.

  1. Mmm.
  2. Mmm.
  Select: Mmm.

  Select: Mmm.

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Jeez, that's not convincing at all!

Jaguar Warrior
Don't you see that, right meow, there's a teary-eyed goddess being ignored in front of you!?

Ana
No. After witnessing Quetzalcoatl's Divinity, you seem like no more than a paper tiger.

Jaguar Warrior
Aaaaaand you're dead. I'll put an end to this thousand-year war between light and darkness!

Jaguar Warrior
You humans have no tomorrow! Why? Because it's only natural that the weak perish!

Jaguar Warrior
There is no good or evil in that! If you want to live, be strong! Meow that's the paw of the jungle!

Mash
Jaguar Warrior is now in battle mode...! And what she's saying actually makes sense!

Jaguar Warrior
Humph, it's too late to notice meow. I'm not takin' it easy, baby! It's purrvival of the fittest here, and you're not looking too fit!

--BATTLE--

Jaguar Warrior
What, is that all you got? Meowhahaha! It doesn't hurt! Not a scratch!

Ishtar
Oh, no! I shot her. You guys told me to shoot her, so I did... But is that really okay?

Ana
Of course. She'll probably never learn her lesson unless we kill her, so we had better do it at least once.

Jaguar Warrior
Hey! You! You know that Servants die when they are killed, right?

Jaguar Warrior
As a fellow Rogue Servant, mew should know what it's like!

Jaguar Warrior
A once-in-a-lifetime miraculous summon, but with no Master? I am the brown-striped, cat-eared Jaguar Warrior, who dreams of getting a real job...

Jaguar Warrior
I'm no goddess, but I'm still a Nagual god! Shouldn't you guys show me at least a liiittle respect!?

Dr. Roman
What!? That thing is a Rogue Servant!? I totally thought she was Quetzalcoatl's minion...

Jaguar Warrior
I'm not a minion! Kuku and I have just been stuck with each other!

Jaguar Warrior
I don't have a Master, so I'm just freeloading off of Kuku for meow!

Merlin
I see, so you're just a leech!

Merlin
Fujimaru! The more allies, the better!

Merlin
She may not be that bright–or, well, altogether sane–but that Servant is good in a fight! You know what to do!

  1. ...Roger!
  2. ...I don't have much confidence, but...
  Select: ...Roger!

  Select: ...I don't have much confidence, but...

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
I heard everything, since I have four ears! I'll CATch any kind of sound!

Jaguar Warrior
However, an amazing opportunity like that is impawssible! Let me make that clear!

Jaguar Warrior
I am a very proud wild jaguar, I will never work under somebody!

Jaguar Warrior
But I will give you a chance. I'll at least listen, so give it a shot.

  1. It may be late in the game, but you're so beautiful...!
  2. Now that I see you, your beastly beauty is enchanting!
  Select: It may be late in the game, but you're so beautiful...!

  Select: Now that I see you, your beastly beauty is enchanting!

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Aaand done! I'm your ally. I've just become your ally right meow!

Jaguar Warrior
I know, I know! Defeat Quetzalcoatl, right? Just leave it to your big sis!

Jaguar Warrior
This tiger will give you all the deets on Kuku, from her bedtime to when she wakes up!

Mash
Negotiations were successful, Master!

Mash
Jaguar Warrior became our ally and it only took a single sentence to convince her!

Jaguar Warrior
Righto! And that's how I, Jaguar Warrior, will move from the jungle to a modern environment like Chaldea!

Jaguar Warrior
I'll be in Fujimaru's care starting today! Nice to meet you all☆

Ana
...Fujimaru, that was the worst move possible... If Merlin hadn't said anything... I will kill him.

Mash
I look forward to working with you, Jaguar Warrior. I am Senpai's official Servant, Mash Kyrielight.

Jaguar Warrior
R-right. You offered a handshake with a smile, but I know you're a pretty scary girl though!

Jaguar Warrior
Nice to be working with you, Mash! And you too, familiar-looking loli gal!

Ishtar
...You brought in another noisy one...

Ishtar
Well, she isn't even pseudo-contracted, so we could cut her off anytime if necessary...

Merlin
But she is definitely a good informant for us. The jungle is her backyard after all.

Merlin
Let's have her guide us from Ur to Eridu. And she can tell us all about Quetzalcoatl along the way.

Jaguar Warrior
Leave it to me! To Eridu, right? I'll guide you at top speed!

G：???
Grrr. Won't. Let. You. Why. Did. You. Betray. Us. Jaguar Warrior!

Dr. Roman
...! I'm detecting multiple hostiles! You guys are surrounded!

Werejaguar
You. Forget. Pride. Jungle! Humans. Visitors! Humans. Intruders!

Werejaguar
Humans. ATM! We. Guide. Them! You. Taught. Us. But. You. Betray!

Jaguar Warrior
Teehee☆ It's the Sumerian Beastmen I've been lying to this whole time.

Jaguar Warrior
Sorry guys, I went ahead and changed jobs. I found a new Master.

Jaguar Warrior
...By the way...

Jaguar Warrior
Don't ya remember I told ya a million times to not touch them civilians!?

Mash
Wh-whaa!?

Ishtar
Miss Jaguarmura!?

Dr. Roman
Wait, why are there mafia-style modern clothes underneath your fur!?

Ana
You just do whatever you feel like don't you!? Knock it off already!

Werejaguar
B-boss...! But. You. Fallen! Get her!

Jaguar Warrior
Tch... Too bad. I guess these are the tagalongs that aren't cool with me moving on... Didn't think I'd have to take out my own minions...

Jaguar Warrior
Sure, bring it on! It's a good opportunity to show Fujimaru what I've got.

Jaguar Warrior
My club can be vicious. Be prepared, 'cause you ain't gettin' crocodile meat ever again!

--BATTLE--

Jaguar Warrior
So, we've arrived at Ur.

Jaguar Warrior
I know it was a wild trip, but I appreciate Fujimaru's kindness for not asking about my minions!

  1. Well, there wasn't much to ask.
  2. (Poor Werejaguars...)
  Select: Well, there wasn't much to ask.

  Select: (Poor Werejaguars...)

===Branch End===

Uruk Soldier
A-aren't you guys from the Chaldean Embassy!? Did you come to rescue us!?

Mash
Wait, you're all the soldiers Quetzalcoatl took away! You're alive!?

Mash
Even after she tossed you so far into the air, and beat you so brutally?

Uruk Soldier
Y-yeah. Oh yeah, we have to explain it from there...
We were surprised she didn't kill us, too...

Jaguar Warrior
Uh-huh. At a glance, it looked as though they were being murdered, right? But she wasn't killing them.

Jaguar Warrior
Well, she is actually killing them, but right after giving them a killer move, she's casting a killer revive on them. That girl.

Jaguar Warrior
It's Kuku's bad habit, or kind of like her policy? I personally don't get showing mercy in a match like that.

Jaguar Warrior
She takes on anyone who's ready to risk their lives to challenge her, but she helps those who aren't ready to die.

Jaguar Warrior
That's why she gets taken advantage of by Tezca.
And yet she still just doesn't learn.

Jaguar Warrior
As a big sis, I'm worried that the other goddesses will walk all over her if she doesn't change.

  1. I knew it...
  2. So there's zero casualties...?
  Select: I knew it...
Mash
So you knew already, Senpai... I'm ashamed of myself...

  Select: So there's zero casualties...?
Merlin
Oh yeah, a report delivered to the king mentioned that as well.
Merlin
Besides the soldiers who were taken, there were no casualties among any of the soldiers that were involved.

===Branch End===

Ana
...But it looks like you're all locked inside Ur...

Uruk Soldier
That's right. That weird goddess is preventing us from returning to Uruk.

Jaguar Warrior
Because you guys are our dear sacrifices! You all gotta become Kuku's soldiers when the time comes!

Merlin
I see. Does that mean Quetzalcoatl is taking these men to build herself an army?

Jaguar Warrior
That's right. They're getting retrained in Eridu. That girl may look cheerful, but she has experience as a king.

Jaguar Warrior
Did you know she's super good at commanding an army? So why don't you guys stay and fight here too?

Uruk Soldier
We are soldiers of Uruk! We cannot stay away from the city, not even for a day!

Uruk Soldier
Everyone else is preparing for the end of the world, doing what they need to do without any rest...!

Jaguar Warrior
Now, now, don't say that. Ur is pretty fun too. The residents look a little down, but that's not important.

Jaguar Warrior
There're two kinds of people! The ones who can make it, and the ones who can't! That doesn't change no matter what era we're in.

Jaguar Warrior
But, that's why humans have thrived for a long time☆ If each and every person could work THAT hard, it'd be kind of scary.

Jaguar Warrior
“There are ones who can fight, and ones who cannot.” “That difference in capacity is a trait seen only among human society.”

Jaguar Warrior
That's what Kuku was saying. Well, it doesn't matter to me though.

Dr. Roman
...Kuku... So you were talking about Kukulkan.

Dr. Roman
Quetzalcoatl was the priest-king of the Toltecs. To the Mayans, he was the conquering king, Kukulkan.

Dr. Roman
Quetzalcoatl was a god, but also appeared at times as a king of men.

Dr. Roman
So that goddess may be inheriting all of that memory and history...

Ishtar
She's very busy for a goddess... I wonder if all the gods of other lands are workaholics like her...

Merlin
It means she's not quite like Gorgon. She understands what human beings are, but chooses to destroy them nonetheless.

Merlin
Well, that's complicated in itself, but how about it, Fujimaru? You think you'll be able to talk to her?

  1. ...I do, yes.
  2. ...I don't know.
  Select: ...I do, yes.

  Select: ...I don't know.

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Hmm, I think that's impossible. Gorgon is the goddess of the north, right?

Jaguar Warrior
Quetzalcoatl is also a goddess of war. If she shows her true self, she becomes much more terrifying than Gorgon.

Jaguar Warrior
Kuku is a monster who enjoys fighting. She sounds cheery, but that's because she's in a good mood.

Jaguar Warrior
But imagine what'll happen if the fun is taken out of it. All she'll be is a cold killing machine afterwards.

Jaguar Warrior
Words alone could never defeat Quetzalcoatl.

Jaguar Warrior
The only thing that could silence her would be a head-on battle of the soul.

  1. ...It's almost time to trade shifts...
  2. ...My romantic interlude sense is tingling!
  Select: ...It's almost time to trade shifts...

  Select: ...My romantic interlude sense is tingling!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Good evening. On guard duty by yourself again? Here you go, something to drink. It's chilled fruit water.

  1. Thank you. Please, have a seat.
 
  Select: Thank you. Please, have a seat.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Sure, I might as well since I'm here.
Umph.

Ishtar
So Ur turned out to be like this, huh. Compared to Uruk, though, the people are kind of morose.

Ishtar
...But this is how things are supposed to be. Not all humans are strong.

Ishtar
There are people who try, but it just doesn't work. That's not because they're not brave enough, or they're weaklings.

Ishtar
They're just not fit to do certain things.

Ishtar
Gilgamesh and Quetzalcoatl don't understand that.
No, they don't even try to understand it.

Ishtar
If only the strong and glorious are accepted in this world, the weak and frightened ones will have no place.

Ishtar
I'm not saying you need to protect them because they're weak. It's just that some things can only be seen from their perspective.

Ishtar
I don't want to ignore that fact.
I want everything to be fair.

  1. Ishtar, you're fussy.
  2. Jaguar Warrior said the same thing.
  Select: Ishtar, you're fussy.
Ishtar
R-really? I didn't realize... But it's true I don't like dirty things.
Ishtar
Although, I love bones... I don't like animal guts and stuff like that though.

  Select: Jaguar Warrior said the same thing.
Ishtar
...Jaguar Warrior, really... You recruited another new Servant again.
Ishtar
Well, I don't really care. Maybe just a little irritated, that's all.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Well, whatever. Anyway, I actually came to advise—Ah, ah,

Ishtar
achoo!

Ishtar
I came to give you some advice tonight. To plan against Quetzalcoatl.

Ishtar
...Hey. Were you trying to run away again when I was trying to be nice and tell you something?

Ishtar
That's just my imagination? The fruit water is good? ...O-okay, if you say so...

Ishtar
Anyway! Listen carefully to my suuuuuuper helpful advice!

Ishtar
Ready? She is a god of good, the apex of all things good. If you think about it, that means nothing good can work on her.

Ishtar
The only things that could really harm her would have to be evil. That's why if you get into battle, use an evil Servant to fight against her.

Ishtar
That way, you'll at least be able to fight better than before. No matter what happens, just don't rely on me!

  1. Ah, I see...!
  2. You sure are a goddess!
  Select: Ah, I see...!

  Select: You sure are a goddess!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Yes, of course! I am the greatest and wisest goddess of Mesopotamia!

  1. But aren't you a little naive?
 
  Select: But aren't you a little naive?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
W-well... Maybe just a little.

Ishtar
I'm usually at the temple, so all I knew of the outside world was what I'd heard.

Ishtar
I was given a job as soon as I was born, so I didn't have any freedom...

Ishtar
You're seriously the first person to have a conversation with me like this as a friend...

Ishtar
That's why I couldn't turn a blind eye, so I'm helping you out like this...

  1. I'm honored to be your very first friend.
  2. I can't turn a blind eye to you either.
  Select: I'm honored to be your very first friend.

  Select: I can't turn a blind eye to you either.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
!

Ishtar
I-is that so? I...hadn't thought about that. But maybe it's not so bad to have a friend...

Ishtar
(Gasp!) D-did someone just see us together!?

Fou
Fou? Foufofofooou?

Ishtar
...Oh, it's just a small animal...
Wait, that's the Beast of Disaster again!

Ishtar
How could you bring that dangerous thing around...? That's a spiritual beast that feeds off of human greed, you know!

Ishtar
Don't you know that if you toss him into a village, he'll grow into an uncontrollable monster in a year?

Ishtar
If it hasn't been that long since you had him, I won't say anything bad. Hurry up and throw him into some molten lava or something.

  1. But it's already been a year.
  2. Is this true, Fou?
  Select: But it's already been a year.

  Select: Is this true, Fou?

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou.
Foufoufou (Whap, whap)

Ishtar
Hey, don't hit my cheeks like that! Okay, I got it, you want me to get back, right!?

Ishtar
Anyway, I gave you my advice! I'm going to bed now!

Ishtar
I can't be of much help, but do your best in your battle with Quetzalcoatl, Fujimaru!

  1. Good night, Ishtar.
  2. Good night, my goddess.
  Select: Good night, Ishtar.

  Select: Good night, my goddess.

===Branch End===

Fou
Foooooou?

--ARROW--

Jaguar Warrior
We made it, meow! Behind this jungle's veil lies Eridu!

Jaguar Warrior
I can feel Kuku's death aura just twenty meters ahead!

Mash
...It's been two hours since the sun fell from its zenith. Current time on our modern clocks: 3 PM.

Mash
It seems that Quetzalcoatl has returned from her attack on Uruk...

Ana
...What a pain. Our plan was to disable Quetzalcoatl's temple before fighting her.

Ana
Now that Quetzalcoatl has returned, that throws everything off.

Dr. Roman
The irony is, in order to weaken Quetzalcoatl, we need to defeat her first.

Merlin
Hmm. It's difficult for us amateurs to move through the jungle. You can't blame us for using up half a day just to get here.

Merlin
Fujimaru, now you have to decide when to execute our plan.

Merlin
We can spend the night here and wait for Quetzalcoatl to head back to Uruk,

Merlin
or see if there's an opening to get into the temple. What do you think?

  1. ...There's not much time left.
  2. ...We can't sacrifice any more people in Uruk.
  Select: ...There's not much time left.

  Select: ...We can't sacrifice any more people in Uruk.

===Branch End===

Ana
...Including today, we have only five days left before Gorgon invades. It'll be four tomorrow.

Ana
...It's true that it'd be best to save as much time as we can, but...

Mash
I agree with Master. Invading enemy camps will always come with risks.

Mash
I imagine that Quetzalcoatl will interfere no matter how perfectly we prepare...

Ishtar
What you're saying is, if she's going to interfere anyway, then it's best for us to engage the enemy first. You got guts for saying that, Mash.

Merlin
You heard that, Dr. Roman. How are things on your end? Have you figured out the layout of Eridu?

Dr. Roman
Yes, leave it to me. Eridu is laid out much like Uruk.

Dr. Roman
I can see there's a large structure beyond the residential district. It's not as complicated as a ziggurat, but I imagine that's the temple.

Dr. Roman
If Mash carries Fujimaru and you all move through the residential district at full speed, you should reach the temple in less than 10 minutes.

Dr. Roman
But I'm detecting a large magical energy signal in front of the temple. That has to be Quetzalcoatl.

Dr. Roman
If we launch an assault now, we'll have to do battle with her. There's no getting around it.

Jaguar Warrior
Hmm? What's the problem with that?

Jaguar Warrior
Mash, young girl, pompous guy, Ishtar, and the great Jaguar Warrior.

Jaguar Warrior
With this many of us, we can at least hold Kuku off for a bit.

Jaguar Warrior
During that time, Fujimaru can run up to the top of the temple and destroy the Sun Stone, right?

Jaguar Warrior
Here. It's a spare of my unique weapon, the Death Claw. Also known as the “Fearsome Club.”

Jaguar Warrior
I thought this might happen, so last night I went on a jungle adventure while you slept, and made it.

Jaguar Warrior
One good hit from this will reduce anything–even the Sun Stone–to dust! That should take Kuku's Divinity down a few notches!

  1. U-unique... (Gulp)
  2. What a capable, beautiful woman...!
  Select: U-unique... (Gulp)
Jaguar Warrior
That's right! Unique! There's not another one like it.
The second Fearsome Club!

  Select: What a capable, beautiful woman...!
Jaguar Warrior
I know, right? There's no one better at harassing Quetzalcoatl than me!

===Branch End===

Merlin
Looks like we've got our plan. So let's confirm one last time.

Merlin
We're going to go through this jungle and head into Eridu. With the Doctor's guidance, we can get to the temple without any problems.

Merlin
No matter how we hide ourselves at the temple, Quetzalcoatl will likely detect us. So we'll just hit her head-on with all we've got.

Merlin
The Servants will give their all to keep Quetzalcoatl busy. That'll get you two or three minutes.

Merlin
With those few minutes, Fujimaru will enter the temple alone, and destroy the symbol at the altar.

Merlin
Sound good? You know this whole plan is a long shot, and both Master and Servant could die, right?

  1. ...It'll work.
  2. ...With this team, we can pull it off.
  Select: ...It'll work.

  Select: ...With this team, we can pull it off.

===Branch End===

Merlin
...Well, Romani Archaman, you heard {(M) him /(F) her}.
Any objections?

Dr. Roman
It's a dangerous plan, but it's got its merits. No matter what we do, the chance of success is low anyway.

Dr. Roman
Da Vinci has been watching and complaining this whole time, but she gave the go-ahead, too.

Dr. Roman
I'll sanction the operation. Leave the backup to me, Fujimaru.

  1. All right, let's go...!
 
  Select: All right, let's go...!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right! I will do everything to support you!

Dr. Roman
There's a large building in front of you. That's the temple! No... But that isn't like the temple in Uruk—

Ana
A goddess should have her own temple reconstructed according to her own tastes!

Ana
...So that staircase-looking thing must be Quetzalcoatl's temple!

Merlin
That's convenient. You won't get lost in there! The symbol has to be at the top!

Merlin
I know climbing that extremely steep set of steps will be taxing, but you'll just have to put your backs into it and persevere!

Ishtar
A path to get closer to the heavens, huh? The concept is the same as a ziggurat, but the approach is much more in tune with nature.

Dr. Roman
I'm getting several enemy signatures from all around Eridu! From the jungle, too! There are winged serpents gathering with the third and fourth waves!

Dr. Roman
If we fight them all, it'll take all night! Break through and head towards the temple!

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
We've broken through the enemy and reached the temple, but something crazy is behind it!

Merlin
That's Marduk's axe! I'm a little shocked myself!
It's several times bigger than we were told!

Quetzalcoatl
Hola! Welcome to my Sun Temple!

Quetzalcoatl
I love the way you headed straight here without wasting time, yes! Of course, that's been the case for more than just today, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
You sped all the way here after my attack!
It's so exciting, just like I hoped!

Quetzalcoatl
It was worth believing in Fujimaru and waiting, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
Really, I'm glad...

Quetzalcoatl
I'm glad you didn't waste any time outside of Eridu!

Quetzalcoatl
If you had done something pitiful like that, I would've had to abandon my policy and just kill you all, yes!

Mash
The enemy Servant is giving off overwhelming power!

Mash
But if we don't stop her, Master can't get to the altar!

Quetzalcoatl
Ay no, how silly of me! I'm being childish!

Quetzalcoatl
I saw a certain dummy who has no business being here, so I returned to my wild nature a little.

Jaguar Warrior
Oh crap. If the fight starts she'll kill me first.
I just had a premonition and I'm sure of it!

Quetzalcoatl
Sí!☆ No mercy for you, amiga! Never!
I'm going to rip the flesh from your bones, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
All right, let's fight! You've come to defeat me by whatever means necessary, yes?

Quetzalcoatl
I respect your courage and decisiveness! I shall never back down from any fight, or any challenge!

Quetzalcoatl
That's what I love! Humans are so fun to mess with!

Quetzalcoatl
You can kill them! You can let them live!
You can threaten them, or protect them!

Quetzalcoatl
I don't have any memories left from the Cretaceous period, my first generation, but the seeds of information that are generations old tell me this!

Quetzalcoatl
I love you humans. I want to coexist with you.

Quetzalcoatl
Humans give meaning to our lives!

Mash
Meaning to your lives...?

  1. That makes no sense...!
 
  Select: That makes no sense...!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right! Humans give you life and purpose, and yet you're trying to destroy them!

Quetzalcoatl
Hehehe... It makes me feel funny when you scold me like that, yes! I like it!

Quetzalcoatl
...But it makes perfect sense, doesn't it?
This is normal in human society, right?

Quetzalcoatl
Purpose isn't just some hobby.
It's what you have to do to live, to be you! Yes!

Quetzalcoatl
I'm a deity who can't exist without messing with humans, and I don't just mean the body of the person who's my host.

Quetzalcoatl
For humanity to survive longer, I need to help some of them, and get rid of others, so they can adapt to their environment.

Quetzalcoatl
Performing this cycle is what my life is about.
It's why I exist.

Quetzalcoatl
Do you understand? I participated in this trial as one of the three goddesses because I want to play with humanity more.

Quetzalcoatl
As long as I'm here, humanity won't go extinct.
But of course, they won't be safe or at peace either.

Quetzalcoatl
But smile! I will guarantee your freedom!
The freedom to run from the threat of yours truly!

Quetzalcoatl
And I will SO enjoy watching you squirm!
Like a naughty girl with ants and a magnifying glass!

Ishtar
...Fujimaru, this conversation is a waste of time.

Ishtar
There are many gods in this land, but she's on a whole other level! I've never seen a deity whose love was this messed up!

Quetzalcoatl
Ooh, I'm blushing! You figured out why I'm so in love with Fujimaru, yes?

  1. Wait, when did that happen!?
  2. De nada. Mucho, mucho!
  Select: Wait, when did that happen!?
Merlin
It's like a traffic accident.
Merlin
I don't mind a girl's personality as long as they are beautiful, but in this case, I just feel sorry for you...

  Select: De nada. Mucho, mucho!
Mash
Senpai, this is serious-time!
Stop trying to flirt from your Spanish dictionary!

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Now, you're after the Sun Stone, right?

Quetzalcoatl
I'll give your Master a chance, for as long as you can hold me off.

Quetzalcoatl
It can be a game. But first, I have a request.

Quetzalcoatl
Fujimaru, no matter what you fight or how it goes, don't forget to feel joy, yes?

Quetzalcoatl
I fight because it's fun! Humans fight because it's fun, too!

Quetzalcoatl
If you don't have hatred in your heart, you won't kill your opponent! That's what makes lucha libre so great!

Quetzalcoatl
So you enjoy this danger too, okay?
If you do, we can understand each other more, yes!

Ziusu-dra
...Heed me, child...
...Celebrate not with the joyous one...

  1. I can understand Quetzalcoatl.
  2. I'll never understand Quetzalcoatl.
  Select: I can understand Quetzalcoatl.

  Select: I'll never understand Quetzalcoatl.

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
That's what I want to hear, yes! I'm so excited!

Quetzalcoatl
Fighting is what brings us joy! Survival is the fundamental principle of life! It's what allows man and the gods to communicate!

Quetzalcoatl
Now let's fight with all our strength!

Quetzalcoatl
...
...Huh!?

Quetzalcoatl
That made me so sad that I froze stiff... You can't enjoy fighting? That's a total denial of who I am, yes...

Quetzalcoatl
Fine! Then I'll ask you this instead!

Quetzalcoatl
What is fighting to you, Fujimaru?

  1. It's something to give your all, so you can relax later!
 
  Select: It's something to give your all, so you can relax later!

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
...I see. So that's the kind of person you are.

Quetzalcoatl
A wonderful answer. It's so wonderful it makes me want to crush you.

Quetzalcoatl
Fine! Then give this fight with me your all!
Oh my, oh my! This will be so much fun!

Quetzalcoatl
I never thought I'd see the humanity we dreamed of in your generation!

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
Okay, you came all the way to the top! Hurry, Fujimaru! There on the altar... That's the Sun Stone...

Dr. Roman
The Aztec Calendar...a monolith that's said to show the past, present, and future according to the Aztecs!

Dr. Roman
That's definitely Quetzalcoatl's second Noble Phantasm! If we destroy it, this temple will just be a decoration,

Dr. Roman
and we can remove Quetzalcoatl's trump card from the game! Two birds with one stone!

Fou
Fou, fooou! Roma, foou!

Dr. Roman
Mash and the others are out of the fight!
Quetzalcoatl is coming!

Dr. Roman
Hurry, Fujimaru!
This is our only chance to defeat the evil goddess!

  1. Evil...?
  2. That's
  Select: Evil...?

  Select: That's

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
What's wrong, Master Fujimaru!? Why are you stopping...!?

  1. ...I don't think that's right, Doctor.
  2. That isn't what Quetzalcoatl wants to see...
  Select: ...I don't think that's right, Doctor.

  Select: That isn't what Quetzalcoatl wants to see...

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Too bad! You're out of time, Fujimaru!
I'll be up those steps before you can blink, yes!

Fou
Fou, fooouuu!

Jaguar Warrior
Hmph. So you figured out that what Kuku wants to see isn't a Servant victor, but a display of human resolve, huh?

Dr. Roman
Jaguar Warrior!? How did you get up to the top of the altar!?

Ishtar
She jumped. I can fly, so I just floated up here.
In my boat.

Ishtar
Anyway, Fujimaru, what are you going to do? You wasted your one and only chance, so what's your plan?

Ishtar
Jaguar Warrior and I can only block Quetzalcoatl's charge one time.

Ishtar
You can smash the Sun Stone then.

  1. ...Jaguar Warrior is right.
  2. ...This is humanity's battle.
  Select: ...Jaguar Warrior is right.

  Select: ...This is humanity's battle.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
This is one hell of a time for boasting.
...But, yes, I agree, crazy as it is.

Ishtar
But how exactly are you going to fight?
Hit her with that club?

  1. It's obvious. I'll use height!
  2. It's obvious. I'll use courage!
  Select: It's obvious. I'll use height!

  Select: It's obvious. I'll use courage!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, foou!

Dr. Roman
Height... Courage... Huh!?
Also, Da Vinci just burst out laughing.

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, don't tell me you're going to use a wrestling move on that goddess!?

Jaguar Warrior
Heh. Nice idea, baby. That's my future high-income taxpayer!

Jaguar Warrior
I like your bravery. Your only hope, then, is a plancha. (Grinning)

Dr. Roman
A body slam from that height!? That's crazy! Stop it!
It's suicide!

Dr. Roman
All Quetzalcoatl has to do is step to the side at the bottom of the steps and you're dead!

Jaguar Warrior
What the heck are you talking about, dummy!?

Jaguar Warrior
It doesn't matter how much higher up you are.
Higher is better for a plancha, meow!

Jaguar Warrior
In other words, you need to go EVEN HIGHER!

  1. Huh?
 
  Select: Huh?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Leave that to me!
I'll take you as high as you can stomach!

  1. Huh?
 
  Select: Huh?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
All right, that should do it.
We're up another two hundred meters or so.

  1. Huh?
 
  Select: Huh?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
This is mostly down to your luck!
I'll throw you at Quetzalcoatl as best as I can,

Ishtar
but if you don't think you'll hit her, use your hands and feet to adjust your path! Like stabilizers!

Ishtar
Think about slamming your own belly button into her collar bone. That sounds like it'll work. Yep.

Ishtar
Alright, off you go!
GOOOOOD LUUUCK!

  1. I'll...get...you...for...this...Ishtaaaaaar!
  2. SKY HIGH RIDER-BUSTER JUSTICE BOMB!!!
  Select: I'll...get...you...for...this...Ishtaaaaaar!

  Select: SKY HIGH RIDER-BUSTER JUSTICE BOMB!!!

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
You really threw yourself at me...!? At that height, even a lucha master like me can't save you!

Quetzalcoatl
And yet... And yet you're still going to try and hit me with that plancha!?

  1. SAAAAAAAVE MEEEEE!
  2. JUUUUUUSTIIIIIICE!
  Select: SAAAAAAAVE MEEEEE!

  Select: JUUUUUUSTIIIIIICE!

===Branch End===

  1. Owwwww...
  2. I'm alive...?
  Select: Owwwww...

  Select: I'm alive...?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
You're alive, yes! Just be grateful that I'm a legendary lucha master, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
You know the thing with flying moves?

Quetzalcoatl
Unless both the attacker and the target are the best at what they do, someone can end up dead, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
You, Fujimaru, are an amateur, so your big sis was really worried...

Quetzalcoatl
But why were you so reckless?
Didn't you think I'd dodge?

  1. I believed you'd take it head-on.
  2. Because you love humans, right?
  Select: I believed you'd take it head-on.

  Select: Because you love humans, right?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
～～～～!

Quetzalcoatl
Aww...Fujimaru, mi amor!
I'm so glad I joined the Three Goddess Alliance!

Quetzalcoatl
And now I'm leaving it, yes! 'Cause I'm making a contract with you!

Quetzalcoatl
Thank you! You beat me, Master!
You're the first person to beat me so badly!

Quetzalcoatl
I am Quetzalcoatl, goddess of Mesoamerica! From now on, I'll use my power for you!

Section 13: Prophecy of the Heavens

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Dr. Roman
Ahem. All right, let's discuss our situation.

Quetzalcoatl
That is unnecessary, no! The goddess Quetzalcoatl has joined the party! That's all that matters, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
Of course, they'll figure out the details later, so there's no need for an explanation, Romani.

Quetzalcoatl
Are you getting enough nutrition? Enough sleep? You look like you're about to collapse from the inside out. Are you all right?

Quetzalcoatl
I'll be happy to give you a hug—Oh, that's impossible, no? Sorry for getting your hopes up.

Quetzalcoatl
Until this Singularity is restored, Rayshifting is impossible,

Quetzalcoatl
and even if it is restored, my Spirit Origin wasn't summoned by Chaldea, so I can't go to visit you, no?

Dr. Roman
Yes, that's more or less correct, Quetzalcoatl. I'm glad you understand.

Quetzalcoatl
Well, I guess we can't do anything about that, no?

Quetzalcoatl
It's really a shame, but I believe in my fate with Fujimaru!♪

Quetzalcoatl
AAAAND...

Quetzalcoatl
You, the girl who blocked my patada! You were so cool, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
I love cool girls, yes! Tell me your name!

Mash
A-wah-wah-wah...! Please don't grab my sides and lift me up...!

Mash
Please let me down, Quetzalcoatl! My name is Mash Kyrielight!

Quetzalcoatl
What a wonderful name, yes! I'm Quetzalcoatl! If it's too long, you can call me Coatl if you want, yes!

Ana
...I don't think that's a good idea. “Coatl” just means “snake”...

Quetzalcoatl
Huh? That girl over there... Is she...

Ishtar
Silence is golden, you feathered snake. Her situation is the gloomiest of all of us.

Quetzalcoatl
So it seems. I guess I'll act like the eldest, then. Hello, Ishtar. Is this the first time we've met?

Ishtar
...? Of course it is. Well, we were shooting at each other a second ago.

Quetzalcoatl
No! We're friends now! Friends! You're so cold, Ishtar! You should laugh more! Be bright, like the sun!

Ishtar
Nobody asked you. It's inelegant to shine brightly all the time.

Ishtar
I shine brighter than anyone, but my blessings are only available to a chosen few...

Ishtar
That's how the goddess of beauty should be. I don't just sparkle all the time like you.

Quetzalcoatl
Hmm... So you're shy in spite of your divine aspects, yes! Is that just who you are, or is it the influence of your vessel?

Quetzalcoatl
Anyway, this is the only time in your life as a goddess that you're likely to be humble, isn't it?

Quetzalcoatl
Congratulations on your good luck. You met a good Master, yes?

Ishtar
Stop patronizing me. You're the one who's been poisoned by human culture.

Ishtar
What the heck is this “lucha libre” stuff anyway? What you're doing is like using a space shuttle in a go-kart race.

Ishtar
You need to realize that, for those trying to race seriously, you're a bigger nuisance than the Incineration of Humanity!

Quetzalcoatl
En serio!? Wow, the “space shuttle” sounds like a really strong flying moooooove, yes!

Ishtar
That wasn't a compliment! This goddess is all messed up. The wrestling virus has infected her brain.

  1. They're like sisters.
  2. They get along so well.
  Select: They're like sisters.

  Select: They get along so well.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
What? No! You take that back!

Dr. Roman
No, maybe that's right. After all, they're both goddesses that rule Venus.

Dr. Roman
Ishtar is the goddess of the morning star, Venus.

Dr. Roman
And Quetzalcoatl is often depicted as the god of destruction Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, who is the personification of the morning star in Aztec myth.

Dr. Roman
In other words, they're both related to Venus.

Dr. Roman
Maybe the reason Quetzalcoatl is a goddess this time is that her aspect as Venus, that is, beauty, has been emphasized.

Ishtar
...So it seems. The fact that she put the Sun Stone in her temple seems to mean she has no intention of using it herself.

Ishtar
That plumed snake intends on shining as a goddess with nothing but her own body.

Quetzalcoatl
Sí! The Sun Stone is dangerous and hot, yes! The only thing you're allowed to use outside the ring is folding chairs, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
And...

Quetzalcoatl
The one who stands out the most here is that mage!

Quetzalcoatl
Hello, dweller of dreams. Was it you who made the cradle?

Merlin
Yes, wise Quetzalcoatl. Goddess of wisdom... Sower of the seeds of civilization... I can see where you got those titles.

Merlin
What's with all those titles, anyway? You must've been busy back in the day.

Quetzalcoatl
There was nobody else who could do it. After a few generations, those more suited than me took over.

Quetzalcoatl
Anyway, that finishes my introduction to everyone. Let's get to the main topic.

Quetzalcoatl
About the Axe of Marduk, sitting there behind my temple...

Jaguar Warrior
Wah! How can you blatantly ignore me like that? I'm purretty sure a goddess shouldn't behave that way!

Quetzalcoatl
Qué? I hear the voices of the fairies, yes. I guess there were a lot of them in these ancient eras☆

Quetzalcoatl
I hear something, but do not see it. You humans call it the voice of the fairies.

Quetzalcoatl
So let's just ignore it. I can't see anything, and neither can you, yes? Yes?

Jaguar Warrior
Are you the devil!? I'm here! Pay attention to me! Enough with those gestures and purrtending that nobody's here!

Quetzalcoatl
Adiós! Adiós! (Making gestures as if to say “Nobody's here! I can't see anyone!”)

Jaguar Warrior
You're so mean! I've worked so hard for you ever since we met in the jungle, and this is how you treat me!?

Jaguar Warrior
What is your problem, Kuku!? When I slack off, you try to kill me!

Jaguar Warrior
When I boycott work, you try to kill me! And when I'm playing around you try to kill me!

Jaguar Warrior
Do you...not like me!?

Quetzalcoatl
I hate you, yes! Jaguars must die, yes!

Mash
Such harsh words! It's hard to believe they're coming from Quetzalcoatl!

Dr. Roman
Well, it actually isn't much of a surprise...

Dr. Roman
Jaguar Warrior is a Divine Spirit who was worshipped by Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Olmecs and the Aztecs.

Dr. Roman
The jaguar is a symbol of battle and death. Jaguar Warrior is said to be related to one aspect of Tezcatlipoca,

Dr. Roman
one of the highest deities that frequently appears in Mesoamerican mythology...

Dr. Roman
And this Tezcatlipoca is a rival to Quetzalcoatl.

Dr. Roman
Quetzalcoatl is the epitome of good, whereas Tezcatlipoca is the epitome of evil.

Dr. Roman
In the myths, Quetzalcoatl is even killed by Tezcatlipoca.

Dr. Roman
This resulted in the fall of the civilization that Quetzalcoatl had lovingly raised.

  1. I didn't know...
  2. So Jaguar Warrior was real...
  Select: I didn't know...
Jaguar Warrior
Death and rebirth always come together! Just because I'm a jaguar doesn't mean I'm evil!
Quetzalcoatl
...Qué? Te voy a matar, desgraciado! I'll kill you. Seriously.
Jaguar Warrior
Sorry, please stop. When Kuku seriously glares at me it makes me so scared I can't go to the bathroom at night.

  Select: So Jaguar Warrior was real...
Jaguar Warrior
Of course I'm real! What did you people think I was!?
Ana
Perhaps some kind of jungle hallucination was my thought. I hear Mexico has some good cacti.
Jaguar Warrior
You thought I was the spirit of a peyote!?

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
...So as you see, I'm a poor jaguar spirit who was cruelly abused by Kuku...

Jaguar Warrior
Even when I got the sacrifices, I couldn't eat their hearts... and she got serious mad too.

Quetzalcoatl
Of course. I won't allow sacrifices to take place in my sight. I only accept them when I take a new host.

Quetzalcoatl
I don't need any other sacrificial rituals.

Quetzalcoatl
Unlike Tezcatlipoca, I don't look forward to the sacrificial rituals.

Jaguar Warrior
You see? That's why all the warriors that were sacrifices are still alive!

Jaguar Warrior
They're all doing the training that Kuku set for them, all over Eridu.

Jaguar Warrior
She said, “First you're going to learn to take a hit!” and forced them into horrifyingly difficult training...

Jaguar Warrior
(Shivering) Those poor soldiers... That's a fate worse than death, I think... Kuku's such a sadist...

Quetzalcoatl
You want to join them? Learn lucha? I'll start by breaking your limbs and hurling you into the sea!

Jaguar Warrior
She says it with a smile, too!
Fujimaru, don't be tricked by–GWAH!

Quetzalcoatl
Back to the topic at hand!♡

Quetzalcoatl
Wasn't your goal to get the Axe of Marduk more than it was to get rid of me?

Merlin
Yes, that's right. We need the destructive power of that axe to defeat Gorgon.

Merlin
That's why we came here. But what do we do?

Merlin
Nobody told me that axe was so big. We're not strong enough to carry it.

Quetzalcoatl
I thought so. It weighs the same as all of Eridu. But I know another way to carry it.

Quetzalcoatl
We can make a rope with jungle vines, and have my winged serpents carry it to Uruk.

Quetzalcoatl
I'll have three teams of three hundred of them take turns carrying it.

Quetzalcoatl
It'll take three days. Is that enough time?

Dr. Roman
Of course! That would be great! You work on a whole different scale, Quetzalcoatl!

Dr. Roman
You're way more useful than Merlin!

Merlin
Hey, I'm a thinker, not a worker. Don't compare me to a war god.

Merlin
But it's true that Quetzalcoatl is useful. Let's keep on relying on her.

Merlin
Though it bothers me to make a lady do all the work.

Quetzalcoatl
There's no need to worry about that, no!

Quetzalcoatl
Because there's something I want you to do before I get the winged serpents ready!

Quetzalcoatl
Okay! Look at all those groundskeepers standing around the axe, yes!

H：Giant Statues
!!!

  1. An army of... giant wrestlers!?
  2. It's a bunch of Spriggans!
  Select: An army of... giant wrestlers!?

  Select: It's a bunch of Spriggans!

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Sí! A defense system left behind by the Mesopotamian gods!

Quetzalcoatl
They've got an attack bonus against divinities, too, so that none of the gods can misuse it!

Quetzalcoatl
It'll be a bit hard for me and Ishtar to deal with them.
So you can take care of it!

Merlin
Oh my. I guess it was too early to assume going home was going to be a cakewalk. Very well. Let's do it, Fujimaru.

Merlin
Don't worry. It's nothing compared to what Quetzalcoatl has to do. Just be careful when you select your party members.

Mash
That's right. Make sure you think carefully before you start the fight, Master!

--BATTLE--

Quetzalcoatl
Well done! Now just leave the next three days and three nights to my babies, yes!

Merlin
I contacted King Gilgamesh as well. I told him we could deliver the goods a day before Gorgon's attack.

Mash
Then let's return to Uruk. It's a two-day trip from Eridu, so we do have some leeway, but...

Quetzalcoatl
Ah, in that case, can we spare just a little time?

Quetzalcoatl
Since we're in Eridu... You just have to see the finest cylinder seals Eridu has to offer.

  1. Cylinder seals...?
 
  Select: Cylinder seals...?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
This is the center of Eridu, where royal authority was granted. It is a bit odd that I'd introduce you to this place, being a foreign deity...

Dr. Roman
Royal authority is “proof of kingship” as granted by the gods... Just think of it as being akin to a contract or covenant.

Dr. Roman
In Mesopotamia, the gods decide who will be king. One is chosen from among the rulers of the land.

Dr. Roman
As for the cylinder seals...

Merlin
They're those big pillars. The seals are, as the name suggests, like one's personal seal.

Merlin
Fujimaru, perhaps you used stamp-like personal seals back home?

Merlin
You know, a drawing carved on a block, which you then press onto ink, so you can make many copies of it onto paper.

Merlin
Well, in Uruk–5,000 years before your time–that type of seal was already a part of daily life.

Merlin
Of course, they weren't used as signatures. They were for magical ceremonies.

Merlin
They had tales carved into them, were dipped in mud, and were then rolled onto things. Tools for the mass production of stories, if you will.

Merlin
It seems the cylinder seals here are the biggest and the oldest ones of all.

Merlin
Let's see. You won't be able to read it like this, so let me transcribe it onto the air.

  1. What is this...?
  2. A city and a dragon...?
  Select: What is this...?

  Select: A city and a dragon...?

===Branch End===

Merlin
Hm... Quite a story we have here.

Merlin
“When a ring of light appears in the heavens, the land of Mesopotamia shall be returned to its origin.” Hm... It's a seal that predicted our current situation.

Mash
...The city it refers to is Uruk. And the giant dragon is the goddess Tiamat... Referring to Gorgon?

Ishtar
I exercise my right, in other words, my god-given right to remain silent.

Quetzalcoatl
I reserve the right to withhold comment as well, yes!

Jaguar Warrior
Um, to be frank, Ti–whoof!?

Quetzalcoatl
Hush, furryball. This is only a sightseeing spot. It holds no special meaning.

Mash
...Really? But the fact that it's a sightseeing spot...

Dr. Roman
Yes. Eridu is a city of the same size as Uruk.

Dr. Roman
To the people of Mesopotamia, the contents of this seal may be well known.

Dr. Roman
The people of Uruk were afraid of Tiamat because they already knew of the prophecy on this seal.

Ishtar
...I suppose so. And that Goldie established the Demonic Front, knowing the content on this seal.

Quetzalcoatl
Well, I'm not one to talk since I was a part of the Three Goddess Alliance, but the people of Uruk don't know when to quit!

Quetzalcoatl
But as a result, this land managed to stave off ruin for half a year, and a Master named Fujimaru made it in time.

Quetzalcoatl
And now it is my turn to reward those efforts.

Quetzalcoatl
I'm a flighty goddess, but I will do everything in my power to help you.

Merlin
Well. It'll be a pain if you change sides again so easily, but you are welcome as an ally.

Merlin
And I get why you wanted to show this to Fujimaru.

Merlin
It seems you really are a goddess who watches over human growth. Without being overprotective, you're more of a reliable older sister than mother.

Quetzalcoatl
Heehee, you're embarrassing me! Actually, they did call me “Big Sis” yes!

Jaguar Warrior
Meowhahaha, I'm the older sister type, too! Count me in!

Jaguar Warrior
...Wait a second! I just realized! Isn't this totally like a harem girls situation!?

Jaguar Warrior
Three goddesses, a little girl, and a kouhai! That's a really high percentage of girls.

Jaguar Warrior
I wouldn't be surprised if a passionate youth event starts up one of these days.

Quetzalcoatl
Ah, Jaguar, you're leaving the group. I'm appointing you supervisor of the axe-bearing winged serpents.

Jaguar Warrior
Huh!? Oh, come on! You just demoted me to the B-team! I wanna be next to Fujimaru, where the main action is!

Quetzalcoatl
Heh-heh. Are you going to make me repeat myself? (Translation: Should I make you a carpet, or mount your head on the wall?)

Jaguar Warrior
Okay, the winged serpents will be in good paws!
I'll make sure they get to Uruk in three days!

Ana
...And so, Jaguar Warrior has left our party. Quetzalcoatl has good judgment.

Quetzalcoatl
I know, right? When you're on the road, the fewer rivals the better!

Quetzalcoatl
Oh yes. Ishtar, you can fly too, so there's no need for you to come with us to the jungle, is there?

Quetzalcoatl
You should probably leave this to Ana and me, and return to Uruk ahead of us.

Ishtar
No, I'm coming with you. As if I could leave a goddess alone when she obviously has an ulterior motive...

Ishtar
Right, Mash? You're on my side, aren't you?

Mash
Uh... I'm not on anyone's side, but I just hope the road back is a safe one.

Dr. Roman
Mmm... Contrary to what Jaguar Warrior said before, this is no harem... It's more like a gambling den...

  1. It's been a colorful trip this time.
  2. Well, last time it was all dudes.
  Select: It's been a colorful trip this time.

  Select: Well, last time it was all dudes.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Haha, maybe this is just the universe balancing itself out. Truly, after seven searches, this kind of thing was bound to happen.

Dr. Roman
This is what makes journeys so much fun. In any event, it's a good thing that the final search is a colorful one.

Dr. Roman
I'm certain Demonic Beasts will attack a few times before you reach Ur, but they'd be no match for you now.

Dr. Roman
Enjoy yourself on the way back. Just don't let your guard down.

--BATTLE--

  1. ...
 
  Select: ...

===Branch End===

  1. ...Ah, is it THAT time already?
  2. ...It must be Ishtar o'clock.
  Select: ...Ah, is it THAT time already?

  Select: ...It must be Ishtar o'clock.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...You've got some good instincts. However, I do question your character for talking to someone without looking at them.

Ishtar
Or does it mean you've become sensitive to my presence?

Ishtar
Heh. If that's it, I wouldn't mind.

Ishtar
That just means it's been worth teaching you proper manners when dealing with goddesses every night.

  1. Was that what we've been talking about?
  2. (In night mode from the get-go today, huh...)
  Select: Was that what we've been talking about?
Ishtar
Yes, that's what we've been doing! You were so disrespectful when we met that I was teaching you lots of things so that other goddesses wouldn't kill you!

  Select: (In night mode from the get-go today, huh...)
Ishtar
...Wh-what is it? That's exactly what I'm telling you not to do.
Ishtar
You don't stare at someone's face in silence, whether she's a goddess or not. You need to say witty things or whisper sweet nothings.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...Never mind. Tonight I came to praise you.

Ishtar
It looks like you've befriended another new goddess. Well done. I applaud you.

Ishtar
It really is impressive. But for some reason, I'm miffed. Let me pinch your cheek a bit.

Ishtar
Ah... That made me feel better... What a strange effect. I'm going to record it thus:

Ishtar
“When Fujimaru becomes friendly with another goddess, inflicting physical pain will dispel my depression...”

Ishtar
Anyway! You know, despite her appearance, Quetzalcoatl is the strongest within the Three Goddess Alliance.

Ishtar
If she went all out, she could even defeat Gorgon, who has been gaining strength as she slaughters humans.

Ishtar
But even after leaving the alliance, the law of the alliance still binds us.

Ishtar
Because fellow goddesses can't attack each other, the question of who is stronger is meaningless.

  1. I see.
  2. So in the end, we have to defeat them ourselves.
  Select: I see.

  Select: So in the end, we have to defeat them ourselves.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Yes. That's why you can never let your guard down.

Ishtar
Quetzalcoatl's not that useful, so–Fujimaru?

Ishtar
Say, you're looking mighty pale! Have you come down with something!? Let me feel your forehead!

Ishtar
Yikes, you're burning up! I've never felt a forehead so hot before!

Ishtar
The jungle? Is it because of the jungle!? Is there some unknown infectious disease going around? Earth really is unclean! Dirty, filthy!

  1. It's not a cold, if that's what you mean.
  2. I'm just tired.
  Select: It's not a cold, if that's what you mean.

  Select: I'm just tired.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
R-really? Just how tired are you? Hmm-hmm... You haven't had any decent rest in a whole month...

Ishtar
You're taking the term hard work to the extreme!
Even hard labor in Kur only lasts for three days!

  1. Nah, it's like this every time.
  2. Maybe it's a little tougher than usual this time.
  Select: Nah, it's like this every time.

  Select: Maybe it's a little tougher than usual this time.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
I-I didn't know... You are investigating the Singularities, after all. I suppose that is a difficult battle for you humans.

Ishtar
...All right, then I'll take the rest of your watch. You go lie down over there.

Ishtar
I'll guard the entire area. I swear by the name of Irkalla, no enemies shall come near.

Ishtar
So, sleep and be at ease. Of course, you can also tell me stories about the Singularities you've encountered so far.

Ishtar
The night is long. I promise I won't get bored. I'll be a good listener.

  1. Well, if you're interested...
  2. Long ago in Okeanos, a rotten pirate named Blackbeard...
  Select: Well, if you're interested...

  Select: Long ago in Okeanos, a rotten pirate named Blackbeard...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
A pyramid from the sky! What a foolish Heroic Spirit!
I know the type. Just as stupid as King Gilgamesh!

Ishtar
That Nitocris sounds likable. A Heroic Spirit who treats ghosts well is a Heroic Spirit who appreciates the good things in life!

Ishtar
Ah... But skull-faced Heroic Spirits kind of turn me off. Wearing bones on their flesh just sounds painful...

  1. I'm glad you liked my stories.
  2. I ended up telling you about all six of them...
  Select: I'm glad you liked my stories.

  Select: I ended up telling you about all six of them...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
I'm sorry. I ended up tiring you even more! But I enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing your experiences with me!

  1. You enjoyed it...?
 
  Select: You enjoyed it...?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Yes. I'm sure it was a tough, merciless experience for you...

Ishtar
But all that...it's like the sort of thrilling adventure I always dreamt of. And more than anything...

Ishtar
...each one of those Singularities ended happily!
You're not the only one who worked hard.

Ishtar
The humans in each period you visited never gave up. No matter how rough it got, they gritted their teeth and rose up.

Ishtar
Yes, just what I expect of humans! Nature, fate, the gods, and even evil itself within humanity...

Ishtar
Only humans can bring down all of that nonsense! They are the epitome of unlimited potential, so it is appropriate that I protect them!

  1. You like humans?
  2. You like adventure?
  Select: You like humans?

  Select: You like adventure?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
W-well, yes. I like them.

Ishtar
I want to protect humans as well as have an adventure like that.

Ishtar
But I...don't have that kind of freedom...

Ishtar
...It looks like the morning sun is about to rise. We'd better get some sleep. We're going back to Uruk soon, right?

Ishtar
The area around Uruk is overrun with Gorgon's Demonic Beasts, but I'm sure they won't be any problem for you.

Ishtar
...Although I can't vouch for what's going on within Uruk's walls...

Ishtar
Well, that ends our nightly chat. You're a frail human, so get your rest now.

--BATTLE--

Quetzalcoatl
Vaya! The wall that blew to smithereens is properly restored, yes! Uruk's people are amazing, yes!

Ishtar
Of course. They are all hard workers. The only one with permanent behavioral issues is Goldie.

Ishtar
Well, even he will bow his head to this!

Ishtar
“I never imagined Quetzalcoatl would join our forces! You really are the goddess of victory, Ishtar!” Yep, that's what he'll say.

Merlin
Yes, Ishtar. That seems likely.

Merlin
King Gilgamesh only planned on defeating Quetzalcoatl.

Merlin
I don't think even he could've predicted Fujimaru's actions.

Ana
...

  1. ...What's wrong, Ana?
 
  Select: ...What's wrong, Ana?

===Branch End===

Ana
...The gatekeeper isn't there. I don't smell blood, but I have a bad feeling about this...

Ana
...Fujimaru. Something's bothering me...
So I'm going to go ahead on my own.

Ana
...After I check and see that everything's all right, I'll head straight to the Chaldean Embassy.

Mash
...Indeed, it feels like life has been drained from the entire city. I don't hear any construction work going on like before.

Mash
Let's hurry into the city, Master. We should assume something has happened.

Merlin
Nobody is walking around in the streets. The stores are closed too... What's going on?

Uruk Soldier
Lord Merlin, you have returned! Oh, but... But you have returned too late.

Merlin
Oh, you. Just the face I wanted to see. What on earth happened here? And what do you mean by “too late”?

Uruk Soldier
...Lord Merlin... And you, Lord Fujimaru of Chaldea...

Uruk Soldier
Please calm down and listen...

Uruk Soldier
...King Gilgamesh has passed away. They are currently holding his funeral at the ziggurat.

  1. Wh-what!?
 
  Select: Wh-what!?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
There's really a funeral!? Siduri, what is the meaning of this!?

Siduri
Oh...everyone... You have...returned...

Siduri
But... You're too late... King Gilgamesh is...

  1. What in the world happened!?
  2. How could anyone kill HIM!?
  Select: What in the world happened!?

  Select: How could anyone kill HIM!?

===Branch End===

Merlin
That's right, there's no way King Gilgamesh could die!

Merlin
He's a man who saw the future and voluntarily became a mage! He must have had proper precautions against assassinations!

Merlin
He promised me that he'd concentrate on giving orders from the throne to prevent dying on the battlefield!

Merlin
Who could kill him? And how?

  1. Merlin is really pissed...
  2. I'm curious too.
  Select: Merlin is really pissed...

  Select: I'm curious too.

===Branch End===

Siduri
...How the king died, you ask... Well...

Gilgamesh
I can't believe this... Oh... How terrifying... I never imagined it would be this sharp...!

Siduri
King Gilgamesh!? You're trembling. Are you not feeling well!?

Gilgamesh
That's not it, fool! The blueprint for the Fangs of Napishtim is finally complete!

Gilgamesh
Look here, and feast your eyes on its magnificence! This is prized work. Take this to the armory.

Gilgamesh
We have no time. Build it directly on-site... not in Uruk. Tell them to complete it within two days.

Siduri
(Whew...) So it was your usual kingly extreme emotional outburst. I see... This is...!

Siduri
External pressure automatically builds the frame, which, according to your plans, transforms this much within 10 seconds...!

Siduri
Truly the work of a genius...! My king, perhaps you should consider becoming an architect!

Gilgamesh
Don't tempt me; I'd seriously consider it. A king should be versed in architecture if he hopes to be a truly well-rounded ruler.

Gilgamesh
By the way, it's an interlocking wooden frame, and the pressure comes from oil. It all rises up as if a wave is pushing it into the air.

Gilgamesh
As it is similar to chugging down a stein of ale, I call it the Chug-a-Lug Style. What do you think?

Siduri
Genius, my king! You should get a patent for it as well.

Siduri
This is our secret weapon to defeat Gorgon in the battle to come. Let us send materials to Nippur in advance.

Gilgamesh
Idiot, it's the reverse. This goes from here to here, and place them in this manner.

Siduri
Eh... Why would you place it there? What about defeating Gorgon?

Gilgamesh
Confronting that goddess is Fujimaru's job. It is not a place for me to interfere... Ugh...

Siduri
My king...? Perhaps you really are not feeling well...?

Gilgamesh
Perhaps. It's only a slight dizziness, but I may have overworked these past few days.

Gilgamesh
If my magical energy fails, the barrier will be weaker. One can't rule out an attack by the Demonic Beasts.

Gilgamesh
...Merlin should be back tomorrow. Now, until then—

F：Uruk Soldier
Pardon me, Your Majesty! A messenger from the Northern Wall is here to see you!

A：Uruk Soldier
Pardon me, Your Majesty! We have received a petition from the eastern market!

B：Uruk Soldier
Pardon me, Your Majesty! We have a complaint from the brothel!

C：Uruk Soldier
Pardon me, Your Majesty! A request from the priestess academy has been delivered!

D：Uruk Soldier
Pardon me, Your Majesty! Regarding today's ceremonies, the Sacred Temple has–

Gilgamesh
Come now, line up single file, and I'll deal with you one by one! Siduri, go run over to the armory!

Gilgamesh
Things have settled down for now. Looks like I can finally take a small break.

Gilgamesh
But why is it so hectic!? They'll work me to death before we face the goddesses!

Gilgamesh
Whew... A throne is here to show authority, not to rest. But now, I have no choice...

Gilgamesh
I assume Siduri will return in five minutes... Until then, just for a moment...

Gilgamesh
Hmm... I must have fallen asleep... Every second is so precious...

Gilgamesh
Siduri, how long have I been asleep? One minute? Five minutes?

Gilgamesh
...Hmm. I seem to have awoken from my nap in the depths of Kur...

Gilgamesh
...This is no time for jokes! I really am dead here!

Siduri
...And that's how it went. I returned to see the king on his throne, in eternal slumber...

  1. He died...from overwork...!?
  2. So that's why there are no wounds...
  Select: He died...from overwork...!?

  Select: So that's why there are no wounds...

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
No, no, that just cannot be! This is very relevant to my interests! I could die just like this!

Dr. Roman
This is THE King Gilgamesh! If it were so easy to kill him, he would've died dozens of times by now!

Merlin
Y-you're right. I... I lost my cool in the heat of the moment.

Merlin
Thinking back, it felt strange in Uruk when we left as well.

Merlin
Lady Siduri, after we headed to Ur, did something strange happen here in the city?

Siduri
...Let's see. The assault of the Demonic Beasts calmed down, but we had many reports of deaths from weakness within Uruk.

Siduri
I didn't think much of it because of the king's funeral, but it is indeed abnormal. Can this be—

Quetzalcoatl
Unnatural, you mean to say? Yes, King Gilgamesh didn't work himself to death. Someone killed him.

Quetzalcoatl
Which means the Three Goddess Alliance must be responsible. I don't think anyone else is capable of killing the king.

Mash
That is true, but... Can Gorgon really kill so indirectly?

  1. Quetzalcoatl is all about physical combat.
  2. Ishtar is all about archery and loud laughs.
  Select: Quetzalcoatl is all about physical combat.

  Select: Ishtar is all about archery and loud laughs.

===Branch End===

Mash
...Yes. Within the Three Goddess Alliance, there is no goddess that can perform such an assassination...

Ishtar
Huh? What are you guys talking about?

Quetzalcoatl
Hold on, Mash, Fujimaru.

Quetzalcoatl
Ishtar isn't in the Three Goddess Alliance. She kept getting in our way, didn't she?

Mash
Ooooh! Now that you mention it, you're right!

Mash
She was killing Gorgon's Demonic Beasts, which would be against the Three Goddess Alliance rules!

Mash
B-but, if so, who is the third goddess!?

Quetzalcoatl
Who, you ask? It's Ereshkigal. You didn't know that until now?

Quetzalcoatl
She's god indigenous to this land, yes. Queen of Kur, ruler of death and phantoms.

Ishtar
Wh-what did you say!? Ereshkigal is here!? Why!?

Mash
So not even Ishtar knew the True Name of the third goddess...

Mash
But, how...? The only Sumerian deity left in this era should be Ishtar...

Merlin
“All is well in the underworld...” Oh, I see. I get it, so that's the trick.

Merlin
Ereshkigal's resurrection, and Ishtar not noticing it... How very, very odd, don't you think?

Dr. Roman
Hey, don't be a smart-ass, Merlin! If you know something, let's hear it!

Merlin
All right. In the Sumerian myths,

Merlin
Ishtar, the “Queen of Heaven,” and Ereshkigal, the “Queen of Kur,” are like cats and dogs.

Merlin
Ishtar headed to the underworld for no reason, and was stripped of her divinity by the seven underworld gates.

Merlin
And there she was even murdered by Ereshkigal.
Isn't that right, Ishtar?

Ishtar
...That's right. Got a problem? Those seven cursed gates, ugh!

Ishtar
They stripped away the Authority that I'd prepared to use against Ereshkigal, and in the end I was dragged in front of her all naked,

Ishtar
and mercilessly skewered over and over with spears. Since then, I really have a hard time dealing with her.

Ishtar
But why did Ereshkigal get resurrected? And on top of that, she's part of the Three Goddess Alliance!?

Merlin
As far as her joining the alliance, I imagine only she knows that reason. But I know why Ereshkigal was resurrected.

Merlin
It's you, Ishtar. When you were summoned, Ereshkigal was summoned, too.

Merlin
I thought it strange to begin with. Why did the temple matron, who successfully summoned you, die?

Merlin
The most likely answer is that Ereshkigal killed her.

Merlin
She summoned not one, but two goddesses. The girl that served as your vessel had quite an amusing persona.

Merlin
She was able to cleanly separate her good and evil sides. One became you, and the other became Ereshkigal.

  1. In other words... good Ishtar and evil Ereshkigal!
  2. Impossible... An evil Ishtar and a good Ereshkigal!
  Select: In other words... good Ishtar and evil Ereshkigal!
Ishtar
Well OF COURSE! I am indeed a goddess of good!
Siduri
Hahaha. Indeed. Hahaha...

  Select: Impossible... An evil Ishtar and a good Ereshkigal!
Ishtar
I get it, I get it, I've been touting my own goodness too much. Besides, I can get more offerings if I'm a tad bad, yeah?
Ishtar
By the way, come by my Eanna later, Fujimaru, okay?
Ishtar
I'll give you a worse scare than you'd ever get in Kur♡

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
I see... Ishtar, the goddess of bountiful harvest, can be seen as the Great Earth Mother symbolizing human life.

Dr. Roman
On the other hand, Ereshkigal symbolizes human death, and is the Terrible Earth Mother.

Dr. Roman
The two goddesses are two sides of the same coin, and perhaps born from the same deity.

Dr. Roman
The goddess nurturing life later becomes a goddess of death. Izanami of Japanese myths follows this pattern as well.

Dr. Roman
So...if Ishtar was summoned, then by extension Ereshkigal would be too.

Dr. Roman
Furthermore, they're the same deity, so that's why we only counted a single Sumerian goddess.

Ishtar
Wow... Then what, she might have been secretly using this body of mine the whole time!?

Merlin
The possibility does exist. Ereshkigal cannot leave Kur.

Merlin
When she moved around above ground, she probably used your body. Secretly, like when you were asleep.

  1. ...I see...
  2. ...Hmm.
  Select: ...I see...

  Select: ...Hmm.

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
It is Ereshkigal's scent of death that fills Uruk now.

Quetzalcoatl
Ereshkigal's gallû spirits remove souls from the weak and exhausted first.

Quetzalcoatl
One such spirit must have taken King Gilgamesh's soul to Kur.

Siduri
If that's the case, we still have time! We haven't yet buried the king's corpse.

Siduri
If we liberate his soul from the soul cages, he might wake up!

Merlin
That is correct, Lady Siduri. Actually, we'd be in a lot of trouble if we lost him now.

Merlin
King Gilgamesh's leadership is an absolute necessity if we want to defeat Gorgon.

Mash
...Which means we'll have to head to Kur and retrieve his soul...! Right, Senpai!?

  1. That's right, Mash!
 
  Select: That's right, Mash!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Huh. Wait, you both speak of going to Kur so easily. Isn't that a bit...overzealous?

Ishtar
It's the underworld. A world where every Heroic Spirit and deity is powerless!

Ishtar
There, Ereshkigal is the absolute law. No matter what you do, you'll get captured and sentenced to skewering, you see?

  1. King Gilgamesh must be saved!
  2. Time for rescuing, not talking!
  Select: King Gilgamesh must be saved!

  Select: Time for rescuing, not talking!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Yeah, we don't get a chance like this often! Let's make sure to put King Gilgamesh deep in our debt for this!

Ishtar
(Crap, I don't like where this is going. I need to escape while I can—)

Quetzalcoatl
Hold it right there Ishtar, yes! You know how to get to the underworld, right?

Quetzalcoatl
So hurry up and guide us there, yes! It's fine, Fujimaru will make the third goddess fall as well, yes!

Ishtar
Wait, you fiery meathead! Let go! Let. Go. Of. Me!

Ishtar
Dumuzid, the God of Shepherds, isn't there anymore! We can't be resurrected if we die, so why do you want to go to the underwooorld!?

Section 14: Goodbye, Goddess of the Underworld

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Dr. Roman
Back in Kutha. You certainly got there fast.

Dr. Roman
Although, I suppose Ishtar slowed us down since we had to drag her the whole way...

Ishtar
Ugh... If only Quetzalcoatl wasn't around... I could've escaped...

Quetzalcoatl
Give it up, Ishtar. You promised Fujimaru too, right?

Quetzalcoatl
If you say you're on their side, you stay on their side until they betray you or fall.

Quetzalcoatl
Isn't that dedication the universal pride of all goddesses?

Ishtar
Okay, okay, I give up. I'll tag along on your trip to the underworld.

Ishtar
But only Fujimaru, Mash, and I are going in.

Ishtar
Quetzalcoatl and Merlin, you stay here. Especially you, Quetzalcoatl. You would be a sitting duck down there.

Quetzalcoatl
...? Yuk ak katán!? (What are you saying!?)

Ishtar
Divinity works negatively in Kur. The weak stay as they are, but the strong are weakened.

Ishtar
Death and its queen, Ereshkigal, rule supreme there. What do you think happens when a god dies in Kur?

Merlin
I see. They'd go wild, say things like “I do not accept death,” and then just head right back to the world above. There'd be no life or death anymore.

Merlin
Even gods must remain in the underworld once they die.

Merlin
So that's why there's a system that nullifies their powers. Fascinating.

Mash
Even knowing what it's like in the underworld, Ishtar, you challenged it anyway. You're amazing.

Ishtar
Mash... You're not saying that sarcastically... You're just a goofball. I can't possibly get mad at you...

Ishtar
I went down to the underworld because I was arrogant.

Ishtar
In the myths surrounding me, I was spoiled, praised, and knew no fear.

Ishtar
So I laughed off the perils of the underworld, and challenged it using seven Authorities.

Ishtar
I felt nothing was impossible for me after conquering Mt. Ebih. But the result was a miserable defeat. A complete, total loss.

Quetzalcoatl
I would have loved to have seen that, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
Worst-case scenario, please make sure at least Fujimaru and Mash return, yes!

Ishtar
...You do realize that's not what “worst-case scenario” means, right?

Ishtar
We'll either all return after defeating Ereshkigal, or we fail and everyone is trapped. It's only one or the other.

Ishtar
That's why I'm having you two remain here. If it comes to that, then it's your turn.

Ishtar
Figure out a way to strike a deal with Ereshkigal to get her to return Mash and Fujimaru to the living world.

Merlin
All right. For the good of our mission, I shall remain behind! That said, though, you're a strange one, Ishtar.

Merlin
You're walking into a battle you don't think you can win. Do goddesses mature when they become independent from their fathers?

Ishtar
Say whatever you want. Anyway, where's Ana? You didn't bring her?

Mash
No... She hadn't returned to the Chaldean Embassy. We didn't have time to wait or look for her, so we left her behind.

Ishtar
I see. Well, she'd be useless in the underworld anyway. So I suppose that works out regardless.

Ishtar
...Then, let's begin. Are you really okay with this, Fujimaru?

  1. Let's go to the underworld!
  2. By the way, how do we get to the underworld?
  Select: Let's go to the underworld!
Ishtar
No time to hesitate, huh. Fine, I'll share your enthusiasm!

  Select: By the way, how do we get to the underworld?
Ishtar
How, you ask? Hehehe... Like this, of course!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Mash, take care of Fujimaru!
Merlin, Quetzalcoatl, stand back!

Ishtar
Load the tide-convergence rounds in Maanna's bow cannons! Output at isosceles of 1/3 the lapis lazuli!

Ishtar
Gate of Kur, shatter! Let the light of An shine through the skyless Ki! In other words... I'll blow a giant hole in the ground!

Ishtar
All right, success! This is the underworld, Fujimaru!

Mash
Owwww... Are you all right, Master? I managed to guard you with my shield... I think...

  1. Ishtar, why do you have to be so...Ishtar?
  2. Can you do spells that aren't twinkly, Ishtar?
  Select: Ishtar, why do you have to be so...Ishtar?

  Select: Can you do spells that aren't twinkly, Ishtar?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
I-I can teleport, too. But if I teleport into the underworld, it'll be scary afterwards.

Ishtar
If my powers are sealed the instant we arrive, we'll all just fall and die.

Ishtar
It's better if we don't have to teleport. You can get to the underworld by digging through the ground, after all.

Mash
Huh...? What did you just say!?

Dr. Roman
Good, I got through! You said you were going to the underworld, so I was worried I might not be able to observe you. Guess I was wrong!

Dr. Roman
I mean, you're really just underground! The real-deal Age of Gods is amazing! The underworld is physically linked to the real world!

Mash
S-so it's true!? It wasn't, like, some area in another dimension!?

Ishtar
Of course. In the Age of Gods, the heavens, the earth, and the underworld are all situated on the same layer of scroll.

Ishtar
The afterlife and the world of the skies become metaphysical only after the end of the Age of Gods.

  1. Then, this really is the underworld...
 
  Select: Then, this really is the underworld...

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes, truly a surprise... This underground cavern is unthinkable by our understanding of geology...

Mash
Oh? Senpai, what are those? Those long, narrow things scattered around... They look like birdcages...

???
...o...uh...o...ooh...

Mash
...There are lights floating around inside them...
Too many to count...

Ishtar
...It's best you don't get near them. Those lights are the souls of the dead–of humans who have died on the surface.

Mash
...!

  1. Could those...cages be...
 
  Select: Could those...cages be...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Yup. Ereshkigal's soul cages. Souls trapped in there can never return to the world of the living.

Ishtar
When the physical body dies, the soul starts to fade, then disappears. But Ereshkigal doesn't let that happen.

Ishtar
She cages up the souls of humans she likes, and keeps them at her side to enjoy for tens of thousands of years.

Ishtar
Bare souls like that–humans without a body–feel cold. Very cold.

Ishtar
So they start to freeze, beginning with their limbs, until they eventually become living ice.

Ishtar
One would rather fade away than feel that pain–but these trapped souls can't even do that. They have no freedom.

Ishtar
Until Ereshkigal bores of them, they have to stay there like that, writhing in torment.

Mash
...Then, the souls that withered to death on Earth are here, too?

Ishtar
Most likely. There are more soul cages here than before. Probably thanks to the work of the Three Goddess Alliance.

Ishtar
...I wonder if she's trying to make a kingdom of the dead? She was never cruel like this in the past...

  1. Where is Ereshkigal?
 
  Select: Where is Ereshkigal?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Over there. On the other side of the narrow cliff path. Ereshkigal's palace is beyond the seven gates.

Ishtar
She can't step one foot outside of that place.

Mash
So, she's trapped inside too? Ereshkigal, a goddess?

Ishtar
Who knows? They say it's what the gods decided.
But it's none of my business.

Ishtar
Anyway, this is where Fujimaru and Mash come in.

Ishtar
We'll start by going through the first gate over there. Doing so will help you understand the rules of the underworld.

Mash
So she says, Senpai... Well, to start we should get closer to it...

First Gate
Answer me... Answer me...

First Gate
You who live... You who have fallen into the underworld... Tell me how your soul should be...

Ishtar
...Fujimaru, you'll get a binary sort of question. The underworld gates are fair and logical, and their job is to test whether a soul is good or evil.

Ishtar
Good and evil are equal in value. Only the values of that human, the chooser, change... So there's no right answer.

Ishtar
No matter which you choose, we will have to deal with an annoying trial. Just pick whichever answer seems easier.

First Gate
Now, sinful Fujimaru, answer me...

Ishtar
(Huh? {(M) He /(F) She} got called by name...?)

First Gate
Standards of beauty seem diverse but are absolute. Black wins over white, the earth wins over the heavens. Then...

First Gate
Ereshkigal or Ishtar. Which is more beautiful?

Ishtar
Hold on a sec! That's different from before!

Dr. Roman
All right, a question with not a scrap of logic!
Which is it, Fujimaru!?

  1. Ishtar.
  2. Ereshkigal.
  Select: Ishtar.
Ishtar
Heh, of course! You'll be absolutely fine. I thought as much, but thanks, Fujimaru!
Ishtar
It's not a hard choice when one is a goddess of rot and decay, and the other beauty and bounty!
Ishtar
If it's a beauty contest one thousand out of one hundred people will choose me, of course!
First Gate
NIIITWIIIT...You...shall...die...

  Select: Ereshkigal.
Ishtar
Argh! Betrayed at the very first gate!? Oh, I get it. That's not it. This is a battle of wits!
Ishtar
I-isn't that right? As long as you compliment Ereshkigal, the enemy will weaken. That's what this means, right!?
First Gate
AWWWKWAAARRRD... But...ve...ry...well!

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Mash
Enemy forces have been defeated! Looks like we can move on, Senpai!

  1. Ugh, what a terrifying question that was...
  2. Wow, what a deep and insightful question that was...
  Select: Ugh, what a terrifying question that was...

  Select: Wow, what a deep and insightful question that was...

===Branch End===

Ishtar
It sounded like pure evil to me! ...I hope it's not going to be like this the whole time...

Dr. Roman
Well, maybe it was just a one-off thing?

Dr. Roman
Ishtar and Ereshkigal are the goddesses of the heavens and the earth. That makes them good benchmarks for comparison.

Ishtar
I hope so. Now then, we just need to pass through the gate itself...

Mash
Yes, it doesn't seem like there's any kind of trap either. See? I went through it and nothing's happening, Ishtar.

Ishtar
Seems so. That's a relief. Thanks, Mash.

  1. All right, let's get moving!
 
  Select: All right, let's get moving!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Augh!

Mash
Ishtar!? What happened? Is something wrong!?

Ishtar
Owww... Something shocked me... But I'm fine, I just got the chills when I passed through the gate.

Ishtar
I don't see anything...anything...

Ishtar
Hey, do you feel something weird?

  1. Did you lose weight...?
  2. Did you just shrink...?
  Select: Did you lose weight...?

  Select: Did you just shrink...?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Right!? I've obviously shrunk, haven't I!?

Ereshkigal
Indeed you have. Do you finally see what a fool you are, Ishtar?

Ereshkigal
Your last descent into the underworld ended in failure. So long as that myth exists, you cannot escape the curse of the underworld.

Ereshkigal
The crown symbolizing the wilderness, the reed measuring rod, the lapis lazuli choker, the bead necklace, the gold armlet, the gorgeous brooch...

Ereshkigal
And last, the garment of ladyship. I once robbed you of these seven treasures.

Ereshkigal
The rule remains unchanged even now. If you don't have an Authority that corresponds to them, you yourself will have to pay the price.

Ereshkigal
Don't you see? You will become smaller every time you pass through a gate. You will be robbed of your divinity one-seventh at a time.

Ereshkigal
By the second gate, you will be a low-rank Divine Spirit. By the fourth gate, you will be even weaker than a gallû.

Ereshkigal
And by the end, you'll be a powerless bug. A sad little butterfly that'll be crushed within my hands.

Ishtar
How nasty! You've gotten even worse than before, Ereshkigal!

Ereshkigal
...That is not true. I've given you some mercy at least.

Ereshkigal
Normally, you and that human would've been dropped into the pits of the underworld the moment you brought the living here.

Ereshkigal
However, if you take on the trials of the seven gates, your fate will be decided by the laws of the underworld.

Ereshkigal
Fujimaru. If you've come to defeat me, overcome those trials.

Ereshkigal
If you safely pass through those seven gates, then I, the ruler of the underworld, shall welcome you here as visitors...

Mash
W-we're in trouble now! Ishtar cannot go on like this!

Ishtar
...No. I'm moving forward. I expected something like this.

Ishtar
I told you I wouldn't be much use fighting in the underworld, remember? This doesn't really change anything.

Ishtar
You, me, and Gilgamesh too. The moment we reached the underworld, there was nowhere to run.

Ishtar
Before we get used to the cold of the underworld, we need to defeat Ereshkigal and escape. Otherwise Uruk will perish.

Ishtar
Which means we have no choice.
So prepare yourself, Fujimaru.

Dr. Roman
...You're right. Ereshkigal is also one of the Three Goddess Alliance.

Dr. Roman
We're going to have to fight her anyway. Defeating her here would be for the best, really.

Dr. Roman
Move forward, Fujimaru. It looks like we don't have much time.

Dr. Roman
The underworld is part of the present world, but just being here drains your vitality and the strength of your destiny.

Dr. Roman
The strength of your destiny is, let's see... Think of it as the intrinsic luck necessary to facilitate the continuation of life.

Dr. Roman
No matter the life form, we are constantly using this type of luck to avoid mortal danger.

Dr. Roman
If this significantly drops in a person, they will get into a nasty accident. Like getting hit by a car while on a walk.

Dr. Roman
The underworld's filled with death, so there's no need for it. It's a world that doesn't need any luck.

Ishtar
That's right. That's why if you stay here too long, you won't live long even if you get back to the surface.

Ishtar
Now do you understand how this place works? Then let's hurry up and get to the second gate already.

Second Gate
Answer me... Answer me...

Second Gate
Although money and riches continue to flow, only one is worthy to own all. Only one can manage the wealth of the world.

Second Gate
In other words...which goddess is worthy of this wealth, Ereshkigal or Ishtar?

Ishtar
Alright, we're lucky it's another easy question! You don't even have to think, Fujimaru!

  1. No need to think, it's Ishtar!
  2. After due consideration, Ereshkigal!
  Select: No need to think, it's Ishtar!
Ishtar
Of course! That's my specialty! Leave Chaldea's fund management to me!
Second Gate
OUT... WHY...HAVEN'T...YOU...LEARNED?

  Select: After due consideration, Ereshkigal!
Ishtar
R-right, let's give the job to Ereshkigal on purpose and let her go bankrupt, right!?
Ishtar
We're gonna make her show how terrible she is at it to demonstrate the difference between us... That's the plan, right!?
Second Gate
SAFE... YOU...MAY...PASS...

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Ishtar
...I got cursed again... I guess it's useless even if I block it with magical energy at max power...

Ishtar
At this rate, not only will I be unable to fight, but Ereshkigal will crush me like a bug...

Mash
Are you sure? It doesn't look like your bow's destructive power has declined at all...

Mash
You may be shrinking, but you are still helping in our battles.

Ishtar
Sorry, I've about reached my limit though. Soon I'm going to run out of energy, so I'll leave the fighting to you two.

Dr. Roman
...This isn't good. We're only at the second gate. How far can we go without Ishtar...?

  1. Mash and I will take care of it.
  2. It's fine. Ishtar's got this.
  Select: Mash and I will take care of it.
Mash
Yes, of course. I shall do my best, so I don't let you down, Senpai!

  Select: It's fine. Ishtar's got this.
Ishtar
Weren't you listening to what I just said!? I told you that it's tiring me out, so I can't!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
The third gate's ahead. The enemies of the trials are definitely growing stronger. I hope we can get through this one as well...

Mash
Choosing answers that favor Ereshkigal is clearly making the battles easier, but...

Ishtar
No! I don't care! No matter how tough it is, there are some things that a woman just can't give up, Mash.

Ishtar
Looking at these other goddesses, I know I'm better! Better than all of them! But I just can't lose to this one woman.

Ishtar
It's a battle with a hopelessly irritating rival!

  1. Well, it's an enemy that's a mirror image of yourself...
  2. Literally the worst, eh?
  Select: Well, it's an enemy that's a mirror image of yourself...

  Select: Literally the worst, eh?

===Branch End===

???
Didn't know you had that much spirit in you. You've certainly got a big mouth, you little brat.

???
...? Wait, are you literally turning into a LITTLE brat, little brat? Fwahahaha, now that's amusing!

???
You must be worried descending through the underworld like this! Fujimaru, little brat... You're finally at a loss!

Mash
There's someone behind those rocks! Master, allow me to attack!

  1. Okay, beat the crap out of them!
  2. Wait, that laugh could only be...
  Select: Okay, beat the crap out of them!

  Select: Wait, that laugh could only be...

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Fwahahahahahahaha! Good work coming to retrieve me!

Gilgamesh
You must be scared of the chilling cold of the underworld, you fools! Do you need someone experienced like me to guide you through here?

Mash
You're King Gilgamesh!

Mash
What are you doing here!? We thought Ereshkigal captured you!

Gilgamesh
Heh. The underworld is like my backyard. I know how things work down here. I've been here numerous times.

Gilgamesh
I did accidentally die, but before the gallû spirits came, I hid in the shadows. There, I held my breath and meditated, and then... Presence Concealment EX.

Gilgamesh
After I got away from them, I was sitting here contemplating what to do, when you lot came! That's all!

  1. He's super lively for a dead guy...
  2. You're the same as usual, Your Majesty!
  Select: He's super lively for a dead guy...

  Select: You're the same as usual, Your Majesty!

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
You too, Fujimaru. Knowing how reckless you are, I knew you would come down to the underworld.

Ishtar
...It was a good thing he wasn't captured by Ereshkigal, but it ticks me off to see this guy so perky down here...

Ishtar
If you had been cursed like me, that would've at least been interesting...

Gilgamesh
Fool. The curse of the underworld is only for the living. I'm dead, so I needn't worry about any of that.

Gilgamesh
However, that also means that I am subject to Ereshkigal's laws as well.

Gilgamesh
Even if I wanted to return to Uruk, I wouldn't be able to leave the underworld without her permission.

Gilgamesh
And I don't think she'd let me leave this world so easily either. So, you know what to do, right, Fujimaru?

Gilgamesh
I, the king, command you to pass through the gates of the underworld, and punish that wretched Ereshkigal for me!

Dr. Roman
Well, yeah. That's why Fujimaru came here in the first place.

Dr. Roman
The order of things flip-flopped, but you're going to help us defeat Ereshkigal too, right, Gilgamesh?

Gilgamesh
Leave it to me. I will show you the difference between that itty-bitty brat there, and me, the king.

Gilgamesh
By the way, why did you shrink? Have you finally decided that your insignificance should be reflected in your appearance?

Ishtar
I've been telling you, it's Ereshkigal's curse!

Ishtar
Agh, jeez, I knew I shouldn't have come to save you!

Gilgamesh
Hahaha. This fool, hahaha. You? Come to save me? Am I dreaming?

Gilgamesh
Did I somehow die AGAIN while I was down here and start hallucinating?

Ishtar
Yeah, if that was the case, we could've just left you here. Why don't you just drown in your own stupidity, Goldie?

Ishtar
You're quite the swimmer, aren't you? You were so absorbed in swimming that a serpent stole your precious herb of immortality.

Gilgamesh
Argh, what a foul way of pointing out my traumatic past! So this really isn't a hallucination... This is the real Ishtar!

Gilgamesh
But...that doesn't make sense.

Gilgamesh
If this isn't a dream, what is this slightly less irritating Ishtar doing here?

Gilgamesh
Are you saying something came over you? Or are you trying to be sweet to win over Fujimaru?

Ishtar
Ugh, stop. Just stop talking, Goldie! I don't know what you're talking about, trying to win Fujimaru over!

Mash
Um, please, you two. Let's leave the Uruk-opera behind and head to the third gate. See, over there...

Third Gate
...Answer meee... Answer my question pleeease...

Dr. Roman
How sad. It's been shouting all this time, but after being completely ignored, it lost its confidence...

Gilgamesh
Oh yes, that's right. You have my permission to speak, third gate. What do you ask?

Third Gate
...Who is more worthy of your trust and respect? Who is more worthy of victory?

Third Gate
Who is a more suitable ally?

  1. That'll be Ishtar.
  2. That'll be Gilgamesh.
  Select: That'll be Ishtar.

  Select: That'll be Gilgamesh.

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Third Gate
Gu...h...

Gilgamesh
Fwahahahahaha! That was laughable! The ruler of the mountainous land of Aratta is no match for Uruk!

Gilgamesh
Try and come at me again!

Ishtar
(Huh? Gilgamesh is in a really good mood! I never thought I'd see him smile like that.)

  1. You're in good mood, Your Majesty.
  2. What's Aratta?
  Select: You're in good mood, Your Majesty.
Gilgamesh
Yes, yes. It's been a while since I've fought. I forgot my royalty and got a bit carried away, I suppose.

  Select: What's Aratta?
Mash
I believe he's referring to the Lord of Aratta, the rival of Enmerkar, the first king of Uruk.
Mash
King Enmerkar came two generations before King Gilgamesh. He was also tricked by Inanna...
Mash
Ishtar cajoled him into attacking the land of Aratta for its abundant ore.
Ishtar
Oh, is that what happened? Sorry, but I don't remember aaaaany of it☆

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...And shrunken again... Father would be so sad if he saw me like this...

Gilgamesh
Fwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Hey, Fujimaru, Doctor Roman!

Gilgamesh
Do you have something to remember this moment!?
Like that clicking thing!

Ishtar
You should weep for me!

Gilgamesh
Gagfh!?

Gilgamesh
What the hell are you doing, fool!? That was some force! If Mash hadn't covered me, I would have fallen into the Abyss!

Dr. Roman
That was like a huge cat came at him with all the force of a freight train! That'd... Yeah, that'd push you over...

  1. Your Majesty, what's the Abyss?
  2. Is there something lower than the underworld?
  Select: Your Majesty, what's the Abyss?

  Select: Is there something lower than the underworld?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Ah, the Abyss, yes. In Mesopotamia, there are the heavens and the earth, the underworld under the earth, and beneath that, the Abyss.

Gilgamesh
The Abyss is a sea of nothingness. The gods Abzu and Tiamat came from that dark sea, and created Mesopotamia.

Gilgamesh
You could call it the primordial sea that existed before life itself.

Gilgamesh
Now that Enki, the god who managed the Abyss, has disappeared, there would be no returning if you fell into it.

Mash
That's where King Gilgamesh sought the mystic herb of immortality, right?

Mash
Now that you mention it... I heard that Enkidu also had some dealings here in the underworld, didn't they?

Mash
If I remember correctly, King Gilgamesh ordered Enkidu to go to the underworld, then Enkidu told him all about it when they returned.

Gilgamesh
...

Dr. Roman
(That smile says the king is trying to ignore something he doesn't want to remember!)

Ishtar
You're pretty knowledgeable, Mash. But the truth is actually much worse than that.

Ishtar
Goldie over there was really into his new invention, a musical instrument, and had a party for three days and three nights.

Ishtar
Ereshkigal was fed up with all the noise so she opened the gate to the underworld, just a little.

Ishtar
The king was pretty drunk, so he accidentally dropped his instrument into the hole.

Ishtar
He was furious; you should have seen the tantrum he threw!

Ishtar
Enkidu couldn't just watch the king rage, so they went down to the underworld alone.

Ishtar
And so Enkidu went and took a look at the underworld, showed their gratitude to Ereshkigal, and returned to the surface.

Gilgamesh
Argh! This all happened because you kept asking for help! Something like, “There's a snake...

Gilgamesh
...in the Huluppu Tree! Help me! Waaaah!” If I hadn't cut down that tree, I would never have made the instrument!

Mash
...Hold on a second. “Showed gratitude to Ereshkigal...”

Mash
So Enkidu has some relationship with Ereshkigal?

Gilgamesh
Yes. Enkidu hated Ishtar, but was respectful to Ereshkigal.

Gilgamesh
...Ereshkigal was the one who took in Enkidu's remains. We couldn't leave the remains of a weapon of the gods on the surface.

Gilgamesh
The thought was that they could rest in peace if they were entombed in the underworld. But...

Gilgamesh
I knew there was time before you lot appeared, so I visited Enkidu's grave. However, their remains had disappeared.

Mash
Ah! So the young man that called himself Kingu is really Enkidu!?

Ishtar
A rebooted Enkidu... Is that it? But...Enkidu's soul was destroyed by the gods.

Ishtar
I can understand if it was as a Servant, but Enkidu couldn't have been revived as a living being in this era.

Gilgamesh
It's just as you say Ishtar. That Enkidu isn't Enkidu.

Gilgamesh
Even though Enkidu was buried, there were things that still resided in the body. That is now what we see.

Dr. Roman
...Buried, but something left in the body...? ...Is that possible? But if that's the case—

Gilgamesh
He calls himself Kingu, right? Then just think of him as that.

Gilgamesh
Anyway, we can see the fourth gate now. Let's have fun with the next question we get.

Fourth Gate
Answer me... Answer me...

Fourth Gate
There is no reward in faith... Prayers are merely offerings...

Fourth Gate
People do not hope for blessing from the gods, they simply offer their prayers and labors... They are slaves for life...

Fourth Gate
In which case, answer... The fastidious goddess that has the right to accept such precious labor would be...

  1. Fastidi... I can't really get a read. I guess it's Ishtar?
  2. Ereshkigal.
  Select: Fastidi... I can't really get a read. I guess it's Ishtar?
Fourth Gate
DE...SP...AIR... YOU...ARE...BLIND...!

  Select: Ereshkigal.
Fourth Gate
H...O...P...E... BEST...OF...LUCK...TO...YOU...

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
Sorry, but I think that's enough! When did this turn into Whose Goddess Is It Anyway!? This is serious!

Mash
...? Doctor, is there a problem with that?

Mash
As Ishtar said, they're all very important questions.
This is really teaching me a lot.

Dr. Roman
What...did you say...!?

Dr. Roman
No. Mash is becoming a bad girl... Ishtar's lifestyle is a bad influence on her...

Ishtar
What's that supposed to mean? Ereshkigal is the one asking weird questions. It's not my fault.

Gilgamesh
I'm not sure about that. Ereshkigal's problems are your problems.

Gilgamesh
If the roles were reversed, I think you would have prepared the same questions.

Ishtar
Th-that's not true. I would have been much more clever and circumspect about asking stuff like this!

Mash
(So you wouldn't really ask anything different! That's Ishtar for you!)

Ishtar
Ah! The gate shocked me again... I think I'm getting used to this, which is kind of scary...

Gilgamesh
...Fantastic. It was funny to start, but now it's becoming a problem...

Gilgamesh
We can't keep losing strength, even if it's Ishtar's. If things keep going like this, fighting Ereshkigal will be difficult...

Dr. Roman
Just what level of divinity is Ereshkigal? Is she the same rank as you, Ishtar?

Gilgamesh
No, she's not quite on Ishtar's level.

Gilgamesh
She's an old goddess like Ishtar, but in terms of raw power, she's not as impressive.

Gilgamesh
Ishtar was a daughter of the heavens, so she got everything she wanted.

Gilgamesh
The gods spoiled her, and tended to her every beck and call.

Gilgamesh
Also, Ishtar got Enki, the god of the Abyss, drunk, and robbed him blind.

Gilgamesh
That was pretty bad. It was the greatest heist in the history of the gods. It was also pretty funny, even to the other gods.

Gilgamesh
Enki got completely smashed, and gave all of his divinity to Ishtar. When he woke up he had nothing left.

Gilgamesh
Ishtar had already loaded all his wealth onto Maanna, and was on her way back to the surface.

Gilgamesh
Enki went into a panic and had his slaves chase after her, but the Boat of Heaven was far too fast.

Gilgamesh
Enki was in tears.

Gilgamesh
He wrung his hands and screamed, warning that a stupid, bratty girl was going to run the heavens and the earth, and begged for help.

Gilgamesh
The gods and humans that were watching screamed out,

Gilgamesh
“Take a look at that driving technique!? Who would have thought the Boat of Heaven could be used for drift racing!”

Gilgamesh
“No one can catch up to that! Surely her driving mastery will go down in legend as the Drunk and the Divine: Underworld Drift! No one in Uruk could ever be faster!”

Gilgamesh
I hate to admit it, but even I thought so too! Ishtar had been hiding her true colors up until then!

Ishtar
Oh, whatever do you mean?

Ishtar
The Boat of Heaven's automatic transmission was broken that day, so I just switched to manual gear.

Ishtar
And I always carried nitro in my boat, just in case I needed it. Always.

Gilgamesh
What do you think, Fujimaru? THIS is the patron deity of Uruk. Now do you understand how I feel?

  1. I'm starting to think that the curse is a divine punishment.
  2. Ishtar is such a free spirit.
  Select: I'm starting to think that the curse is a divine punishment.

  Select: Ishtar is such a free spirit.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
In the end, the Boat of Heaven had engine trouble and stalled just before the harbor in Uruk. Tragedy was averted in the nick of time.

Gilgamesh
As you can see, this is the story of Ishtar, a goddess who coveted everything she saw. On the other hand, Ereshkigal did not desire anything.

Gilgamesh
...When the underworld was created, she was sent to become its ruler and foundation.

Gilgamesh
Someone had to maintain the underworld, and Ereshkigal was unlucky enough to have that responsibility thrust onto her.

Gilgamesh
Ereshkigal had only just been born when she was cast into the underworld and became the mistress of the depths of the earth.

Gilgamesh
She managed the spirits of the dead for tens of thousands of years without being able to spend a moment on the surface or in the heavens.

Mash
That's...so sad. I wouldn't have thought to feel bad for her before,

Mash
but I do now. ...It's not just that she couldn't leave...

Mash
The worst part is that she couldn't see new worlds or meet new people.

Ishtar
...

Gilgamesh
In exchange, Ereshkigal became invincible in the underworld.

Gilgamesh
Even the gods cannot go against her laws in the underworld. Just ask that tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny girl over there.

Gilgamesh
But outside the underworld, her special privilege disappears. She's about mid-level in terms of divinity, I'd say.

Gilgamesh
Also, if she's up against someone who's alive, then she has to kill them first, or the laws of the underworld won't go into effect.

Gilgamesh
So the only ones that aren't affected by Ereshkigal's laws are Fujimaru and Mash.

Dr. Roman
I see. So that's why you were waiting for Fujimaru.

Gilgamesh
Hmph. Someone who's alive and can put up a fight, basically.

Gilgamesh
My only concern was that Fujimaru might get killed by the gallû spirits the moment {(M) he /(F) she} entered the underworld.

Gilgamesh
But it seems that Ishtar prevented that. She dropped to the underworld with you and protected you when you were most vulnerable...

Gilgamesh
Did you get a bit less dumb? Maybe your negative qualities like debauchery and stinginess canceled each other out and made a positive?

Ishtar
Who you calling debauched? As if! You don't know me, Goldie! So stop talking!

Ishtar
And I'm not stingy; I'm financially responsible!

Ishtar
I have a reason for collecting jewels! Don't believe everything Goldie says, Fujimaru!

Fifth Gate
Answer me... Answer me...

Fifth Gate
Existence is the practice of curtailing waste. Living is the practice of cultivating waste.

Fifth Gate
It is the duty of the wise to eat finely, to scheme, and to find happiness.

Fifth Gate
However, listen. Unlimited intake of nourishment invites excess flab. If you were to live your life, that would be...

  1. Fat, meat, and Ishtar...
  2. Ereshkigal is good for the liver.
  Select: Fat, meat, and Ishtar...
Ishtar
You're being judgmental Fujimaru! Not all Chinese restaurants are bad for you!
Ishtar
You can just exercise after you eat a lot of fats!
The same with meat!
Ishtar
You can achieve balance that way! Forget excess flab on your waist, you can prevent it in your heart!
Fifth Gate
FATFATFATFATFATFATFATFATFAT!

  Select: Ereshkigal is good for the liver.
Mash
Yes, home cooking is good for the liver. That's the secret to longevity and better sleep.
Mash
White rice and barley rice should be a 1:6 ratio. There's no problem with eating meat, but chicken tenders are recommended daily.
Mash
Plus there are certain vegetables that have a bunch of antioxidants which prevent aging. Make sure you eat a balanced meal!
Ishtar
Really!? I'm going to eat so many red peppers now!
Fifth Gate
GOOD... TRULY...GOD...TIER...

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Ishtar
Ugh, I'm now palm-sized... This is so pathetic... I can't even cry...

Ishtar
Among all Sumerian gods, no, among all gods everywhere, I'm probably the only one to have to endure something so awful!

  1. How about you start being more modest?
  2. Think you'll turn back to normal once we defeat Ereshkigal?
  Select: How about you start being more modest?
Ishtar
You're right... For starters, I'll take my fabulousness down a bit... And I'll be a tad kinder to everyone...
Ishtar
I've come to understand a tiny bit how the weak feel...
Ishtar
I now know that being protected is honestly a nice feeling...

  Select: Think you'll turn back to normal once we defeat Ereshkigal?
Ishtar
I hope so. But knowing her, I'm afraid she would be willing to sacrifice her life just to keep me like this.
Ishtar
If so, I'd have to destroy myself, and take the world with me... Oh, but since I get the entire treasury of Babylon,
Ishtar
it'd be a shame if I didn't use it up before I self-destruct... I wonder how many millennia it will take?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Hey. You there. No time for idle chatter.

Gilgamesh
We've passed through all seven gates. The hall ahead is Ereshkigal's palace.

Gilgamesh
Ereshkigal is a member of the Three Goddess Alliance. So, she's someone you have to defeat no matter what.

Gilgamesh
Now that I am helping you, victory is guaranteed.
That's all fine and good. However...

Gilgamesh
I shall leave it to Fujimaru to decide how we deal with her after we defeat her. Think well on how to handle Ereshkigal.

Mash
This is...the palace of Kur... Um... It's just a wasteland.

Mash
If this is a palace, this is all too—

Gilgamesh
That's what the underworld is. Not one gorgeous thing exists here.

Gilgamesh
Isn't that right, Ereshkigal? O queen of the gallû spirits who gazes at the sky of darkness?

???
...You speak as if you know. You are merely a demigod king.

Ereshkigal
Fear, pray, and despair, humans.

Ereshkigal
I am the keeper of death, ruler of the underworld, the one who tramples the sacred mountain...

Ereshkigal
I am Ereshkigal of the Three Goddess Alliance.

Mash
So that's Ereshkigal...! I'm getting chills down my spine, Master...!

Mash
I can see the temperature hasn't changed, but I feel cold all over!

Dr. Roman
According to our measurements, current atmospheric conditions at your location are... Impossible, the barometric pressure is at 500 hPa!?

Dr. Roman
That's the equivalent of being atop a mountain over 5,000 meters tall! That place isn't cold! It's high up!

Dr. Roman
The temperature drop is from adiabatic cooling.
It's probably minus six degrees Celsius now!

Dr. Roman
That's the lower limit for biological activity! Not only will you suffer from decompression sickness, but your pulmonary cells will explode!

Dr. Roman
You must defeat Ereshkigal before that happens, Fujimaru!

Ereshkigal
...So frail. Simply revealing myself to you is enough to destroy you.

Ereshkigal
The commander of Chaldea seems to be a coward. How...disappointing.

Ishtar
Ha. You act like the big bad boss of a mountain. That's a little silly, even for you.

Ishtar
First of all, there's no one anywhere who wouldn't be scared after taking a look at you.

Ishtar
Death, maggots, mold, and filth. It's like the air inside a coffin took shape.

Ishtar
That's what you are, Ereshkigal.

Ishtar
All living animals are created to fear you.

Ereshkigal
Oh? Did I hear a little bug buzzing about? Why, look, there's a tiny, pitiful goddess down there.

Ereshkigal
How can something so small make so much noise?
Shall I crush you between my fingers, little bug?

Ishtar
Hah, so this is the real you! How pathetic!

Ishtar
You hate the beautiful because you are ugly. You place your throne at the top of a sacred mountain because nobody visits.

Ishtar
You're just taking your issues out on everyone else! To think you're my other half... Ugh, it's so pathetic I could cry!

Ishtar
Sure, if you want to kill me, go on ahead! Right afterwards, you'll be nothing but the ugliest woman in Sumer!

Ereshkigal
Just like before, no matter how tiny the rest of you is, your stupid mouth is cavernous. Fine. You said I was ugly?

Ereshkigal
It seems absurd to reveal myself to the likes of you, but a goddess cannot let an insult stand!

Ereshkigal
Very well, I shall reveal my true form to enrap–
You know what, no! I'm sick of talking like this!

Ereshkigal
I'll give you a special peek! Be prepared! This is my true form as a goddess!

Mash
Wha–

Dr. Roman
Oh!?

Ishtar
Geh.

Gilgamesh
Aha!

Ereshkigal
Humph, are you surprised? You're surprised, right?
You look surprised!

Ereshkigal
The guise of a gallû spirit was only a temporary one, of course!

Ereshkigal
I never showed my true self even to the Sumerian gods. Look upon me and be shocked, Fujimaru!

  1. ...Yeah.
  2. ...Uh, okay.
  Select: ...Yeah.

  Select: ...Uh, okay.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
Wh-what's with that reaction... You look terribly disappointed...

Ereshkigal
Why? Isn't this how it goes? The part where you look at me and see your dear friend?

Ereshkigal
Human books said that was SURE to work! Don't you have even the slightest bit of romance in you!?

Mash
S-Senpai, you're not surprised!? Ereshkigal's guise is, well...

  1. I mean, I knew.
 
  Select: I mean, I knew.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
Huh!? You knew? How!?

  1. This is the fourth time we've met.
 
  Select: This is the fourth time we've met.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
Y-yeah... But... You knew the whole time?

Ereshkigal
That you were speaking to me, not that louse, on those nights?

Ereshkigal
But, how? When did you realize this!?

  1. You transformed when you sneezed.
  2. Towards the end, you weren't hiding it at all.
  Select: You transformed when you sneezed.

  Select: Towards the end, you weren't hiding it at all.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
Wh-Wh-What...!?

Ereshkigal
Y-You knew, and you let me say said such embarrassing things? I said them all to you?

Ereshkigal
Noooooooooooo!!! This wasn't how it was supposed to be! Not like this!

Mash
...It seems Ereshkigal has collapsed, cradling her head like you have dealt a blow. Do you want to defeat her now, Master?

  1. Unfortunately we've no choice.
  2. And miss the show?
  Select: Unfortunately we've no choice.

  Select: And miss the show?

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
No, that's not how it goes! My plans are ruined, but that is that, and this is this!

Ereshkigal
The plan to kill you here hasn't changed. Two more days until Gorgon assaults Uruk.

Ereshkigal
Before that, I will conquer Uruk and seize its Greater Grail. Then, the world of humans will be over!

Ereshkigal
Every last human on the surface will be trapped in the underworld, and become my property.

Ereshkigal
That is my choice. Ereshkigal's very first choice of her own free will.

Ereshkigal
...Fujimaru. If you're going to stand in my way, I will show no mercy, even to you.

  1. Ereshkigal...
  2. Oh, Eree...
  Select: Ereshkigal...
Ereshkigal
...Don't look at me like that. It makes it harder for me to kill you.

  Select: Oh, Eree...
Ereshkigal
...!
Ereshkigal
I-in any case, brace yourself. Now that you've come to the underworld, my power is absolute!

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Your pardon. Going to interrupt from the sidelines, Ereshkigal. I never was great at caring about the mood.

Ereshkigal
...What? I had no intention of killing you. You ended up here because you worked yourself to death.

Ereshkigal
I have no need for you. You're a nuisance in the underworld, so go get yourself killed by Gorgon or something.

Gilgamesh
Heh heh, quite the mouth you've got. You really are similar. You two are like sisters.

Ishtar
Shut up! I'm not an embarrassing naif like she is!

Ereshkigal
What!? What part of me do you think is embarrassing!? I'm a terrifying goddess of death!

Gilgamesh
Save the goddess improv sketch for later. Do as much as you please when we don't have to see it.

Gilgamesh
Ereshkigal. You are the patron deity of Kutha, and yet joined the Three Goddess Alliance.

Gilgamesh
Of all your sins, none is greater. None even comes close.

Gilgamesh
Though I may be dead for the time being, I can still convict you under my royal authority.

Gilgamesh
Invaders are meant to be defeated by force, but the world itself judges traitors to their own.

Gilgamesh
That is how royal authority works. You should be fully aware of that.

Ereshkigal
...Yes. If it is a king who has gained Dingir, he can punish even a god by exchanging everything he has to do so.

Ereshkigal
That is the rule of our world. So what? Are you going to kill me in exchange for your life?

Gilgamesh
...That will depend on your answer. Now, answer me, Ereshkigal!

Gilgamesh
Why did you join the Three Goddess Alliance!? Have you abandoned your duty to protect Sumer's people and culture!?

Ereshkigal
Of all the things I thought you'd ask! Make no mistake, king of Uruk!

Ereshkigal
Neither my role nor my obligations have changed one bit! I am Ereshkigal, the one entrusted with the underworld!

Ereshkigal
I exist to manage all humans... all souls within the underworld. That is my destiny!

Ereshkigal
I have no regret or remorse for dedicating all I have to that task!

Ereshkigal
If you bar my way, I will destroy you with my Authority!

Gilgamesh
Oh. A marvelous statement. If so, I have learned all I need to know about your sins.

Gilgamesh
Now, present your head so we can make this clean!
Your defeat will serve as punishment for your sins!

Ereshkigal
Just what I hoped for. I'll skewer you all on my lance without tormenting you.

Ereshkigal
...But before that, I'll ask one question. Fujimaru.

Ereshkigal
I have managed the souls of the dead here for a numbingly long time. Entertainment, joy, sadness, friends to call my own...

Ereshkigal
I didn't have any of those, while I watched my other half fly freely through the heavens.

Ereshkigal
You accuse ME of a crime? After all this, you point your finger and say collecting souls is wrong?

Ereshkigal
Is nobody going to commend me for all the work I've done...a job I did all this time all by myself?

  1. No, Ereshkigal, you're not at fault here.
  2. Not interested. You're just fulfilling your role.
  Select: No, Ereshkigal, you're not at fault here.
Ereshkigal
That's right! I knew you would understand!
Ereshkigal
...Heh, hehe. Ahahahahahahahahaha!
Then, I no longer have anything to fear!
Ereshkigal
I was not in the wrong! If even one human agrees with me, then...I am true righteousness!
Mash
Ereshkigal is transforming...! Your orders, Master!
Ereshkigal
I shall kill you. First, you'll die! And then afterwards, listen to my story...!
Ereshkigal
That is your responsibility, as the only one in this world who sees that I'm not evil!

  Select: Not interested. You're just fulfilling your role.
Ereshkigal
...Eh?
Gilgamesh
You don't understand, fool? That one isn't foolish enough to compliment what should be normal.
Gilgamesh
It's fine to lament the obligations given to you. It's also fine to abandon them and pursue an alternate path.
Gilgamesh
However, bemoaning the obligations that you chose to uphold dutifully is evil,
Gilgamesh
and to praise that pain is an insult only to yourself!
Gilgamesh
What should be praised is the triumphs you achieved! The pain in your heart is for you alone.
Gilgamesh
Nobody else can understand your wounds. But your work is worth praising.
Gilgamesh
...That is what Fujimaru is telling you.
Ereshkigal
...Fine. I will make you regret such an audacious response.
Ereshkigal
I am Ereshkigal. A goddess sacrificed by the gods to protect the silence of death.
Ereshkigal
This hatred, this pain... You called it insignificant. Now I shall make EACH of you feel it!
Mash
Ereshkigal is transforming...! Your orders, Master!
Ereshkigal
Sing the song of pain in the depths of the earth! Try with all your might to correct what you call my folly!

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Ereshkigal
Aaaaaaaaah!!!

Ishtar
Nice! I'm back to my normal size! Now victory for Fujimaru is guaranteed!

Gilgamesh
And it looks like my bonds have come undone, too! I must return to my physical body in Uruk immediately...

Gilgamesh
But it seems there's still a certain matter to take care of. Go ahead, finish her off, Fujimaru.

Ereshkigal
...

Ereshkigal
...Yes. You still need to cut my head off.

Ereshkigal
This is a just end for a goddess who tried to take control of Uruk after being cajoled by the King of Mages' flattering words.

Ishtar
It seems you have accepted your fate. Why not at least give us an excuse to spare you?

Ishtar
Fujimaru sees everything in a positive light, so if you say you're going to turn over a new leaf, I'm sure {(M) he'll /(F) she'll} consider it.

  1. ...
  2. ...Ereshkigal...
  Select: ...

  Select: ...Ereshkigal...

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
Unnecessary. I will not beg for my life.

Ereshkigal
You are the goddess of fertility, so if given the chance, you would survive until the end. But I'm different.

Ereshkigal
For the goddess of death to reject death, that would be a foul thing indeed. As the goddess who captured many souls, I shall die here.

Mash
Ereshkigal... Master. It seems her mind is made up.
I don't know what to say.

Mash
When a person doesn't deny their guilt and seeks death... What should we do in such a situation?

  1. Simple. We ask her reasons.
  2. I don't think Ereshkigal is evil.
  Select: Simple. We ask her reasons.

  Select: I don't think Ereshkigal is evil.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
Humph. It's too late to talk about such matters now.

Ereshkigal
I told you before. I intended to wipe out everyone in Mesopotamia.

Ereshkigal
I was going to gather all of their souls here in the underworld and then become the one who rules them all.

Ereshkigal
Gorgon wants to annihilate the human race out of vengeance, since humans stole everything from her.

Ereshkigal
I tried to exterminate humans out of a desire to dominate. Wouldn't you agree there is no greater evil than that?

  1. ...Surely that wasn't your true motive.
  2. ...Ereshkigal, you're a liar.
  Select: ...Surely that wasn't your true motive.

  Select: ...Ereshkigal, you're a liar.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
...You're persistent. Just lop off my head already.

Ereshkigal
As the queen of the land of the dead, I lost to humans. As a goddess, I lost to Ishtar.

Ereshkigal
...No. The fact that I didn't kill you when we first met in Kutha had already ruined my plans.

Ereshkigal
I despise the living. If you're not going to become one of my dead, don't try to understand me.

???
...Fool. Such behavior ill becomes a goddess, and leads her nowhere.

Mash
...! Senpai, there's someone behind Ereshkig—Huh!?

Ereshkigal
...N-no. I... I—

Ziusu-dra
Child. So immature, so stubborn. Save your petulance for another time.

Ishtar
Ereshkigal...! Who the hell are you!?

Mash
Ishtar's arrow did not hit...! Who is that old man...!?

Ziusu-dra
Calm yourselves. Look, and see. What this sword severed was not her bond to life, but to this misbegotten alliance.

Ereshkigal
I'm stunned! You didn't just cut me in half!? Like in myth!?

Mash
Ereshkigal...! Master, Ereshkigal isn't injured!

Gilgamesh
So who are you, old man? The only living human in the underworld is Fujimaru.

Gilgamesh
You may not be dead, but no ordinary man could have done what you just have.

Gilgamesh
It wasn't me. Nor the Mage King. Nor Chaldea.
Old man...who called you here?

Ziusu-dra
A good question. Little and less has been achieved here, and so I have come from the Abyss to set events in motion. I appear here as a friend from another land.

Ziusu-dra
Ereshkigal. You hide the truth with so many lies.

Ziusu-dra
If you can yet feel shame, answer me: Why have you striven to create a land of the dead?

Ziusu-dra
O caretaker of souls, do you not love humanity? Is that not why you sought to claim them as your own?

  1. I knew it!
  2. Obviously.
  Select: I knew it!

  Select: Obviously.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
...! Wh-what?

Ereshkigal
Of course not. I only love the things I own. Only my souls locked up in cages!

Ereshkigal
Look at this land! A sky without light, a surface without reflection, mud without budding flowers!

Ereshkigal
There is no pleasure to be had here. There is nothing.
I don't even know what the souls are saying!

Ereshkigal
But there is silence and tranquility. When it comes to peaceful repose of the dead, this land has no equal!

Ereshkigal
I don't care about the humans and their lives on the surface. I only love those who fall to this land!

Ereshkigal
So I could never feel any love for the people on the surface!

  1. I disagree.
 
  Select: I disagree.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
W-with what? I speak only the truth. The only humans I am interested in are dead ones—

Ziusu-dra
Mistress of the underworld... Bloody flower consigned to the depths of the earth, even you know the lie in your words.

Ziusu-dra
You do not love the dead. You love all humans, each fated to die.

Ziusu-dra
Death was gentle, not a terrible thing in your hands. You gave yourself to your duty in safeguarding the souls in your care.

Ziusu-dra
You cast your lot with the alliance meaning to safeguard as many souls as you could, protected here in your realm.

Ziusu-dra
Though none may understand, though you may stand alone in a sea of souls, you sought to keep them safe here...

Ziusu-dra
...Here in your kingdom of silence.

Ereshkigal
... But...there were so many that I...

Gilgamesh
What are you talking about? The bodies of those who died from exhaustion are all stored away.

Gilgamesh
If you release them from your soul cages, they'll all come right back to life.

Ereshkigal
Really!?

Gilgamesh
Obviously. Compared to the damage Gorgons inflicted, your death toll by exhaustion is negligible.

Gilgamesh
The population of Kutha is nine hundred, and there are three hundred injured in Uruk! That's just 1,200 people in total!

Gilgamesh
Such a small number could fit comfortably beneath the ziggurat. It's that simple.

Gilgamesh
In terms of actual damage done, you're at the bottom of the list in the alliance, Ereshkigal.

Ereshkigal
Th-that's shocking in its own way! I tried as hard as I could!

Gilgamesh
...Well, you can have the last word. Say something, Fujimaru.

  1. I want you to fight Gorgon with me.
  2. ...I could've sworn you were already on our side...
  Select: I want you to fight Gorgon with me.
Ereshkigal
...Such power, such destruction... That's... You're asking a lot, Fujimaru.

  Select: ...I could've sworn you were already on our side...
Ereshkigal
...
Ereshkigal
R-really? I had no such intention, but that was what you've been going for this whole time?
Ereshkigal
...Then I have no other choice. After all, I am a goddess. I-I-I-I shall accept that responsibility.

===Branch End===

Mash
Then you'll help us fight Gorgon too, Ereshkigal!?

Mash
Does this mean the end of the Three Goddess Alliance!?

Ereshkigal
W-well, yes. Otherwise, that scary old man would have... Huh?

Mash
Doctor, the old man in the robe has disappeared! He was here just a minute ago!

Dr. Roman
...? Uh... Who? What old man in a robe? I didn't see anyone who fits that description...

Ishtar
...So you swear you'll never attack Uruk again? And while you're at it, form a contract with Fujimaru?

Ereshkigal
I will never attack Uruk again, but I cannot form a contract with Chaldea.

Ereshkigal
I have my pride, Ishtar. I'm just paying off my debt by helping Fujimaru.

Ereshkigal
I cannot offer a contract until after that. I am the Queen of Kur. Unlike you, I don't allow myself to fall into debt.

Ereshkigal
A contract should deal with both parties equally, in a fair manner. ...Therefore, I must first prove my worth by saving the world.

Ishtar
Huh. Well, that's bold of you. What will you do, specifically?

Ereshkigal
I-I'm going to start thinking about that right now! I should have plenty of chances! Probably! ...Maybe!

  1. They're two of a kind...
  2. I'll wait with anticipation.
  Select: They're two of a kind...
Mash
Excuse me, Doctor.
Mash
I don't really understand what Ereshkigal is trying to say...
Dr. Roman
Oh, you see...
Dr. Roman
“If Fujimaru gets in a pinch, I'll make a cool entrance and repay your kindness that way. But wait until something like that happens.”
Dr. Roman
That's what she's saying.

  Select: I'll wait with anticipation.
Ereshkigal
Y-yes. Me too. I'll wait for the time when you get in a bind so you can summon me for help.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
And so, I will return to managing the underworld! I will grant you permission to depart, so go back right away!

Ereshkigal
Of course, I will keep a careful watch for the Gorgon battle.

Ereshkigal
Ishtar? If you commit a blunder and wink out of existence, I'll take over your vessel for you.

Ereshkigal
So I hope you die in vain real soon. See you!

Gilgamesh
I suppose all's well that ends well. Time for me to go back to Uruk, then.

Gilgamesh
It is almost time for the showdown with Gorgon.
Let's hurry. ...But there is one last thing.

Gilgamesh
Ishtar. According to myth, you descended into the underworld.

Gilgamesh
I'm sure you couldn't help but notice Ereshkigal had a grudge against you. So, knowing that, why did you come?

Dr. Roman
That's the biggest mystery of all Inanna's anecdotes.
I'm curious, too. So why, Ishtar?

Ishtar
...Why? Well, because I didn't like the situation, of course.

Ishtar
It was the story of how the gods ordered her to never leave the underworld. I had to do something after hearing a sorry story like that.

Ishtar
I wanted to tell her, “Just drop your duties in the underworld, and leave.”

Ishtar
That's why I went to meet Ereshkigal. To give her that advice.

Gilgamesh
Heh... Fwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! And then you were stripped naked and murdered. Perfect! You're hopeless, woman!

Gilgamesh
Still, starting a quarrel like that is so you! No wonder Ereshkigal got mad!

Gilgamesh
“Easier said than done!” is what she would've said!

  1. That's so Ishtar.
  2. But in a way, it worked.
  Select: That's so Ishtar.

  Select: But in a way, it worked.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
I know, right? So this is a win for me. No matter what form, she did leave the underworld.

Section 15: Decisive Battle

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Mash
We've arrived at Uruk, Senpai!

Mash
Good work on your nonstop trek back from Kutha right after emerging from the underworld!

Merlin
Yeah, seriously. Before I was summoned as a Servant, I never thought I'd be forced to walk this much.

Merlin
Had I known, I would've brought a carriage with me.

Ishtar
My boat only has room for one, sorry☆

Ishtar
Well, I would have been fine with having just Fujimaru on board, but “No way, not without Mash” {(M) he /(F) she} says...

Quetzalcoatl
If that's the case, should I call for my winged serpents? I'd have to start with getting them accustomed to humans, though!

Merlin
A winged serpent gondola, huh! That's new. Sounds fun! ...Oh?

Ana
Welcome back, Fujimaru. Merlin, you're still alive, too. That's good.

  1. We're back, Ana.
  2. Sorry to leave you behind, Ana.
  Select: We're back, Ana.
Ana
...Yes. I'm glad you are all safe. Siduri has informed me of the situation.

  Select: Sorry to leave you behind, Ana.
Ana
...No, I'm the one who is sorry... For not being helpful when it was needed. Shame on me.
Ana
Siduri informed me of the situation. I guess you managed to seize control over the second goddess.

===Branch End===

Mash
We have returned, Ana. ...Um, also.

Mash
Your hood is down... Are you okay? I know you've had it up all this time...

Ana
...Yes. As the people of Uruk take such good care of us, I didn't think it was a good idea to keep concealing my face...

Ana
...And I was told that it'd be better to show my face. So, I took it off.

  1. You're as cute as I expected!
  2. Nice to “see” you.
  Select: You're as cute as I expected!

  Select: Nice to “see” you.

===Branch End===

Ana
...Yes. I look forward to working with you again.

Ana
...Now excuse me. I was asked to herd some bulls at the farm, so I'll be going.

Ana
King Gilgamesh is awaiting you at the ziggurat. I'll see you again at the Chaldean Embassy.

Mash
Ana basically flew over to the farm. ...She seemed very happy.

Merlin
Yeah. Something really good for Ana must have happened. I don't know the circumstances, but I'm glad to see her like that.

Merlin
I was the one that brought her here to Uruk. It would be great if it leads to something better.

Quetzalcoatl
It's bustling! Streets are full of people. Everyone is doing their best, and still smiling!

Quetzalcoatl
It's totally different from the last time I was here, yes!
I didn't know Uruk was such a charming city!

Dr. Roman
Today they seem even livelier than usual. ...Hey, what's that giant seal?

Ishtar
Hah! What is that?

Ishtar
“Celebrating the King's Third Return From the Underworld!” it says!

Ishtar
Look, free jerky! ...Hang on, what are all those ugly clay things!?

Ishtar
“The king battles a fairy in the underworld.” “The king falls off a cliff in the underworld.” “The king strikes a proud, triumphant pose in the underworld.” These are too funny!

  1. ...And this clay companion of his is...
  2. ...He didn't waste time bragging, huh...
  Select: ...And this clay companion of his is...
Ishtar
Yup, it's you, Fujimaru! No doubt about it!
I mean, it has a really cute face!

  Select: ...He didn't waste time bragging, huh...
Merlin
Of course. It's an important role of the king to relate his epic tales.
Merlin
Whenever he comes back from the underworld, the priests won't let him go. They record his stories for three days and three nights.

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
It looks like King Gilgamesh is all prepared, too.
Let's hurry over to the ziggurat.

Dr. Roman
We have two more days, including today, before Gorgon's attack. We don't have much time left.

Gilgamesh
Ah, the Chaldeans have returned! Let's have our strategy meeting for the Gorgon attack! Siduri!

Siduri
You have all done splendid work on your last mission. Given the way the king is, I shall convey our gratitude on his behalf.

Siduri
We have prepared a small celebration at the embassy, so once the meeting is over, let us head that way.

Gilgamesh
What? I have heard nothing about this! Hmm, so this is our battle plan? Let's see...

Gilgamesh
...My name is not on this! Heh, you careless fool. Surely you forgot to write it down?

Siduri
My king, you cannot go. Your schedule after this meeting is full. Now, everyone, let's get up to speed on the current situation.

Siduri
Currently all remaining forces have gathered at Uruk's Northern Wall to prepare for the imminent invasion of Gorgon's main army.

Siduri
The Demonic Beasts have gathered in the Cedar Forest. They number roughly 100,000. That's over ten times the size of our force.

Siduri
The Northern Wall has been fortified repeatedly, but once they invade, it won't last more than half a day.

Siduri
On top of that, if Gorgon herself appears, the Northern Wall will almost certainly collapse under her attack.

Siduri
With no wall, the soldiers will find it hard to retreat, and will likely be swallowed up by the waves of Demonic Beasts.

Quetzalcoatl
...So Gorgon has bred that many Demonic Beasts, huh? She must have concentrated on producing enough for a sure win...

Quetzalcoatl
Hmm... For a “goddess of vengeance,” her tactics are oddly human, yes. She knows relying on sheer numbers is the best way to win...

Gilgamesh
That's right. Humanity cannot win if our forces are overwhelmed in terms of quality AND quantity.

Gilgamesh
In the face of such a massive attack, we won't be able to defend. That means the only thing we can do is attack their base.

Gilgamesh
We of Uruk will buy you some time–half a day–at the Northern Wall. While we do that, you head to Gorgon's base: the Blood Temple, also called Blood Fort.

Gilgamesh
It lies in the underground lake deep within the Cedar Forest.

Mash
It's the same as Quetzalcoatl's Sun Temple.

Mash
If we can stop the temple from functioning, Gorgon will lose much of her Authority.

Ishtar
That should give us the chance we need to defeat Gorgon. ...But do we really expect everything to go to plan?

Ishtar
First of all, how are you going to destroy the Blood Fort? Humans can't even get through its entrance, you know?

Ishtar
I flew around that area a few times to check things out. That thing is more like a fortified mountain than a temple.

Ishtar
And in that “mountain” is a cave where she's made her nest. It's like she's an ant.

Ishtar
Protecting the entrance to that cave is a Bounded Field. So, normally, you'd need to organize some sort of siege, right?

Gilgamesh
That's where the Axe of Marduk comes in. It should be able to destroy the Blood Fort and carve a path through to the inside.

Siduri
This morning, a mysterious Servant calling themselves the Jaguar Parcel Service delivered the axe to us.

Siduri
Per the king's orders, we sent it directly to the Northern Wall. The Servant left a message for Lady Quetzalcoatl, too:

Siduri
“That last job burned meowt! This is pawsitively the worst!”

Quetzalcoatl
You can totally ignore that, yes. Please make them work even harder, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
...Still, there's a slight problem: That axe is heavy. Too heavy to carry easily.

Quetzalcoatl
Even if the winged serpents reach the Northern Wall, will they be able to fly to the Cedar Forest in half a day?

Quetzalcoatl
Besides, the Demonic Beasts would most likely shoot them down midway.

Gilgamesh
Then we should throw it. You can do that much, sun goddess, can't you?

  1. That's asking way too much!
  2. That would be a bit, uh...
  Select: That's asking way too much!

  Select: That would be a bit, uh...

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
It's thirty kilometers from the Northern Wall to the temple? Well, if it's just throwing the axe, I can do it, yes...

Siduri
You can do it!?

Quetzalcoatl
Still, it's no use. I can't just attack that place.

Quetzalcoatl
The alliance rules are still in effect. The members are forbidden from attacking each other, yes.

Quetzalcoatl
Any goddess who breaks the pact–like with an act of violence–would be completely annihlated, yes!

Gilgamesh
How petty!

Gilgamesh
Just say, “The pact is absolute, yes! But I don't care, no! I'll just break it and die!” What, are you not man enough to do that!?

Quetzalcoatl
I am not, no! I'm a goddess, after all, yes! You're the petty one, king!

Quetzalcoatl
To begin with, you don't have enough gold to call yourself king, no! Only one golden arm? That's a little cheap, yes!

Gilgamesh
How dare you bring that up! ...Hardly surprising, though, considering you're the king of the City of Gold.

Gilgamesh
Anyway, I just haven't shown my full strength yet, that's all.

Gilgamesh
My true guise will blow you out of this world... Figuratively, I mean. From surprise. Not like that design on the sarcophagus of Palenque.

Dr. Roman
Aaand here we go with the back-and-forth insults again. Gilgamesh is like...

Dr. Roman
He's a scary king, but he seems to love arguing and insults... That may be the biggest difference between him and King Ozymandias.

Mash
Yes... The latter is a god-king, and he rules as such. There's nothing divine about the way King Gilgamesh acts.

Mash
They are both marvelous kings, but they're both...intense. It must be hard for those around either of them...

Merlin
...Anyway, enough talk of gold. Both of you.

Merlin
The real question here–which none of you have bothered to ask–is how we'll get the Axe of Marduk to the temple. Aaand the answer is: I'll take care of it!

Quetzalcoatl
You will? Are you going to carry the axe with magecraft?

Merlin
No, no, that's impossible. It's a divine weapon; it repels human magecraft.

Merlin
I'd barely be able to do anything with it... Maybe levitate it a little and just drop it, but that's about it...

Merlin
Only skilled transporters like winged serpents and goddesses like yourself would be able to carry it.

Merlin
So, how about a plan like this: First, Fujimaru and I sneak into the Cedar Forest and head to the temple.

Merlin
Once we're close enough to the temple, I'll give you the signal, and you just throw the axe to me!

Merlin
I'll take care of the rest somehow. Probably.

Merlin
Okay, so let me just take a bit of this red cloth from my staff, and... There. Wrap this around the axe.

Merlin
The cloth and my staff are one and the same. Even if your aim is a bit off, the axe should reach me.

Quetzalcoatl
Mm, that will work, yes! Are you okay with that, king?

Gilgamesh
I hate to rely on Merlin, but that's a good middle ground.

Gilgamesh
Any objections, Fujimaru?

  1. Not really.
  2. I feel like there's no other choice.
  Select: Not really.

  Select: I feel like there's no other choice.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Right, then. Let's go through this one last time for you fools!

Gilgamesh
We have two days left until the deadline Gorgon set. We'll never win, though, if we just sit around and wait for her big invasion.

Gilgamesh
Therefore, we will move out tomorrow, right at dawn.

Gilgamesh
Chaldea's heroes, led by Fujimaru, will enter the Cedar Forest, plunging into enemy territory.

Gilgamesh
At the same time, we'll begin our diversion at the Demonic Front.

Gilgamesh
We'll have squads at the Northern Wall to lure the Demonic Beasts away.

Gilgamesh
That will allow Fujimaru and company to make their way through the Cedar Forest to the entrance to the Blood Fort.

Gilgamesh
At Merlin's signal, Quetzalcoatl will throw the Axe of Marduk to him.

Gilgamesh
Merlin will then use the axe to smash the temple open.
...What follows should be obvious.

Gilgamesh
Fujimaru heads deep within the shrine as quickly as possible, faces the goddess Gorgon, and wins.

Gilgamesh
I shall call this Operation Marduk Blitz! Keep in mind, the fate of the Northern Wall rests on this battle!

--BATTLE--

  1. Wow! All this... for us!?
  2. Your Majesty, why did you enter the battle!?
  Select: Wow! All this... for us!?
Gilgamesh
Fwahahahaha! Indeed it is! It's my way of being considerate!
Gilgamesh
Your work in the underworld was quite something! If I die again, I know who to call!

  Select: Your Majesty, why did you enter the battle!?
Gilgamesh
Forgive me... It was just the flow of things! I couldn't help but get excited!

===Branch End===

Merlin
...Hmm.

Merlin
The only thing left to do is return to the Chaldean Embassy, get things ready, then head over to the Northern Wall...

Merlin
Are you staying here, King Gilgamesh? It will be the decisive battle for humanity.

Gilgamesh
Of course. I can give orders from here.

Gilgamesh
If–and I do only mean “if”–you fail to accomplish your task, the next battle will be here in Uruk.

Gilgamesh
If Uruk falls, Mesopotamia will meet its end. What kind of king would I be if I wasn't there for it?

Merlin
I see. You really are going to be the last line of defense. I always knew Uruk was humanity's oldest fortress city...

Merlin
But now I see how it came to be that way. Its roots. Its origin.

Merlin
However, Kingu is on Gorgon's side.

Merlin
He is the complicating factor for this Singularity. Which means he could be a tougher opponent than Gorgon.

Merlin
I think you're the only one who can stop that impostor. But even so, you won't come to the Northern Wall?

Gilgamesh
So tedious! If I'm to die in this battle, it'll be at this ziggurat!

Gilgamesh
I will entrust Quetzalcoatl with intercepting this Kingu! He is not one of the three goddesses. That pact doesn't apply to him.

Gilgamesh
Isn't that right, Quetzalcoatl?

Quetzalcoatl
Sí, sure thing.

Quetzalcoatl
In any case, I can't accompany you to the Blood Fort.
I'll handle Kingu at the Northern Wall.

Merlin
I see. If you're okay with it, that's that. Then, is this farewell, Gilgamesh?

Merlin
By defeating Gorgon, the crisis will be averted for now. The King of Mages' Grail will be retrieved, and this era will not collapse.

Merlin
And the job you gave us ends there, right?

Gilgamesh
Indeed. Impressive you held out for this long. Be well till this world's end, Mage of Flowers.

Merlin
You, too. If your legend is to remain, I'll see you again in the distant future.

Mash
Such a huge spread, thanks to Siduri! This is quite the little party!

Merlin
Oh, what a joyous occasion. Our once-quiet lounge is now overflowing with people.

Merlin
I guess this is the result of helping around the city. Food, flowers, booze. They're all gifts from Uruk civilians.

Merlin
I'm sure this crowd is making Ana nervous. I'll go up to her room and check on her.

Merlin
We have a bit of time till we depart. You guys should relax.

Uruk Civilian
Hey, good work! I heard of your adventures in the underworld! I heard you helped out King Gilgamesh this time?

Uruk Civilian
Thanks. On behalf of the citizens of Uruk, we are grateful.

Uruk Civilian
...You know, when this embassy was first made, we were all disgusted, questioning what good outsiders could possibly do...

Uruk Civilian
But we were fools for that! We thought that we should do something to repay you for all you've done.

Uruk Civilian
We talked it over in the market, and next thing you know, well, here we are.

Uruk Civilian
I know it's a bit rowdy right before your departure, but we wanted to see you guys off.

Uruk Soldier
Oh, a handshake! That's a handshake! The thing Fujimaru and the others are always doing!

Uruk Soldier
I'll do it, too! Let me shake your hand! I'm part of the operation, but this is an advance celebration!

Uruk Soldier
You guys never cease to amaze me. Like that case with the hundred crocodiles living in the river!

E：Uruk Civilian
Nah, that's nothing compared to them getting rid of the beehive at our place. I panicked, thinking that it was the end of the world.

E：Uruk Civilian
It was a swarm of bees that made the room dark as night!

E：Uruk Civilian
When Mash charged in at the end with her shield at the ready... What a shock that was for me! ...From the bees' venom, that is!

F：Uruk Civilian
Hey, did we talk about Fujimaru transporting the ale? We haven't? Then listen up, it was amazing!

F：Uruk Civilian
The three varieties from Isin, Umma, and Girsu got all mixed up with no labels, and we couldn't tell them apart.

F：Uruk Civilian
It'd take three days to sort, but then their flavor would be lost. That's when these folks used their sharp wits...

Mash
Everyone is coming one after another to greet us.
...It makes me happy, but also a bit sad.

Mash
Previous Singularities were journeys, but this time we stayed in one place for a long time...

Mash
It almost feels as if everyone is celebrating for us as citizens of Uruk.

  1. We went through a lot...
  2. I guess it's farewell to the embassy...
  Select: We went through a lot...

  Select: I guess it's farewell to the embassy...

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes. I'd have liked to clean up in the end... Huh? Fou?

Fou
Fou, fou!

Mash
...I see. Senpai, there is apparently someone outside. And that person is debating whether or not to enter...

Mash
Let's go see who it is.

Mash
Excuse me. Do you have something for the embassy?

Old Lady
Oh... I'm so glad. So this is the Chaldean Embassy...

Fou
Fou!

Mash
(Senpai...this old lady's eyes...)

Old Lady
As you can see, my old age has taken its toll on my eyesight.

Old Lady
I didn't think I'd ever walk outside again, but I came here wanting to give thanks one last time.

Mash
Thanks, you say...? You mean, to us?

Old Lady
Yes, that's right. To that little girl. That girl really treated me well.

Old Lady
I'm rather stubborn, you see. I kept my flower shop open, pretending not to hear my family's opposition.

Old Lady
Yes, just a formality. I couldn't be at the storefront.
I couldn't attract customers.

Old Lady
My grandchildren were so kind in bringing those flowers to me, but all I did every day was let them wilt. But then that girl came to help me out.

Old Lady
Sometimes these blind eyes can feel the light. The past few days, I felt like I was young again.

Old Lady
But then I, too, was hit by that illness. I thought I was going to die... until yesterday.

Old Lady
My family had given up. They had tried to let me depart. I accepted it, thinking I'd lived long enough.

Old Lady
But, that girl clung onto my body. “This lady is still alive so don't bury her,” she said.

Old Lady
That must be why. I was about to disappear in the underworld, but I started to feel like I could live a bit longer.

Old Lady
When I woke up, she was right at my side. I touched her face for the first time then...

Old Lady
And I was so surprised. I didn't know she was so beautiful. Such a waste to hide it under cloth.

Old Lady
I told her, she would become the most beautiful girl in town, and that's why she should keep her head up...

Old Lady
But I really am getting old. I should have at least given her a floral headpiece.

Old Lady
So today, I came out by myself. I wanted to give this to her, to say thanks for everything.

Mash
...Understood. Thank you. We'll make sure Ana gets it.

Old Lady
Good. Thank you. ...Oh, I'm so glad. You sound like a kind girl too.

Old Lady
That girl was quiet, awkward, and timid.

Old Lady
But with you folks nearby, I'm sure she had a lot of fun.

Mash
We hope so, yes. That'd make us happy too. Thank you so much, ma'am.

Mash
Thank you for being kind to Ana. I'm sure she was happy to have met someone like you too.

Old Lady
You think so? Well, then my long life was worth living.

Old Lady
Even though I'm an old woman whose time is almost up, I was able to help someone else again...

--ARROW--

Uruk Gatekeeper
Why, if it isn't the heroes of Chaldea. I take it you're departing for the Northern Wall today?

Mash
Yes. I'm sorry to part with everyone who celebrated for us, but we must reach the Northern Wall by tonight.

Uruk Gatekeeper
By tonight!? You really don't have much time. I apologize for holding you up.

Uruk Gatekeeper
Please be careful. May the goddess Ishtar protect you.

  1. You stay well too, gatekeeper.
  2. (...That goddess is actually right next to us...)
  Select: You stay well too, gatekeeper.

  Select: (...That goddess is actually right next to us...)

===Branch End===

Uruk Gatekeeper
Oh, Ana, you be careful too. I finally got a glimpse of your face.

Uruk Gatekeeper
You are a lovely young lady. I am reminded once again that my memory has its benefits. (Smile)

Ana
...Gatekeeper, you should be more alert. You'll be caught off guard in that state.

Ana
Though, now that we're headed to the Northern Wall, Demonic Beasts will never reach here.

Uruk Gatekeeper
Of course. As always, I eagerly await your return.

Mash
Um, it's a...carriage! A carriage is coming! This late in the game, a carriage appears out of nowhere!

Mash
Merlin, what is this!?

Merlin
I summoned it with magecraft, of course! Spending half a day walking to the Northern Wall would be suuuch a pain!

  1. Where was this before!?
 
  Select: Where was this before!?

===Branch End===

Merlin
Well, you know... I can't just bring out something that doesn't belong to this era on a whim!

Merlin
Come come, no time to waste! Hold on tight!

H：???
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Time-out, folks! Keep your eyes on the road!

H：???
Hello, look ahead! About three kilometers ahead!
Local delinquents are after you!

H：???
How do I know what's up several kilometers ahead? Because I'm watching all of you from the sky, meow!

Mash
Master! This voice...!

  1. It's a bird!
  2. It's a plI mean, a flying boat!
  Select: It's a bird!

  Select: It's a plI mean, a flying boat!

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
It's the sound of the rotten soul of a jaguar, yes!
We passed that twerp just now!

Jaguar Warrior
Oh, Kuku, your winged serpents are too slow!
Oh, ow, ouch, no beak! Stop pecking!

Jaguar Warrior
I know you guys are doing your best. I know it's purrty rough to have no rest for four whole days.

Jaguar Warrior
But hold out a bit longer! If we don't deliver by tomorrow, the king won't reward us!

Ishtar
Wow, look at them carrying that axe! An aerial transport of three hundred winged serpents is quite a sight!

Merlin
I agree, but pay attention to the danger up ahead! I threw this carriage together in a hurry... It won't hold up in a fight!

Merlin
Ishtar, you can fly, so you take care of this! Clear our path of obstacles!

Dr. Roman
Hahaha. Da Vinci is next to me saying,

Dr. Roman
The best thing Merlin ever made was that fake arm. One rocket shot from my Bastinyan III and you'd be in the clear, but whatever...

Dr. Roman
She's pouting and sulking too, but that's not important!

Ishtar
Okay, leave it to me! I have no mercy for bandits.
Time for some death from above!

--BATTLE--

Merlin
We made it somehow. Although it took longer than I'd have liked.

Merlin
The axe isn't delivered yet... I guess it'll barely make it by noon tomorrow.

Merlin
Well, we can still accommodate that.
...Umm, it's about four hours before daybreak.

Merlin
You may feel uneasy here, but we should all get some sleep if we can.

Mash
I agree. We have the officer's room that was given to us last time, so please rest there, Senpai.

Mash
I will also get some sleep to prepare for tomorrow.
Four hours of sleep is better than none.

Quetzalcoatl
I'll go check up on the soldiers then!

Quetzalcoatl
We'll have some touchy-feely lucha libre! After all, we will all fight together tomorrow, yes!

Ishtar
I'll go back and check up on Jaguar. She might get sidetracked, you know.

Quetzalcoatl
My, aren't you nice to care about my no-good minion, Ishtar.

Ishtar
...Umm, well, half of it is just to kill time.

Ishtar
I don't sleep well anymore. Not since I found out about Ereshkigal borrowing my body at night.

Ana
...I'm going to rest too. I'll see you here in four hours, upon daybreak.

  1. ...Four more hours...
  2. Then
  Select: ...Four more hours...

  Select: Then

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou?

Ana
...

  1. Good evening.
  2. Ana, you're not gonna rest?
  Select: Good evening.

  Select: Ana, you're not gonna rest?

===Branch End===

Ana
...I can't sleep, so I am taking a walk. What about you,
Fujimaru? Don't you need to sleep?

  1. I'll sleep in a little bit.
  2. I'm thinking of staying up till morning.
  Select: I'll sleep in a little bit.

  Select: I'm thinking of staying up till morning.

===Branch End===

Ana
Hmm... I think I understand.

Ana
Wanting to take a walk because there's nothing else to do... Remembering that we were at Uruk just yesterday...

Ana
For some reason, those kinds of things keep popping up in my head. They have been keeping me awake... It's pathetic...

  1. Is it really, though?
  2. A lot has happened.
  Select: Is it really, though?
Ana
...Yes. Because I know I have been fighting as a stoic Heroic Spirit up until now.
Ana
It's not good to be showing my emotional side all of a sudden. Keeping your composure is very important.

  Select: A lot has happened.
Ana
...Yes. True.
Ana
Though I've focused mostly on battles, so I didn't actually join in the fun with everybody.

===Branch End===

Ana
...

Ana
...

Ana
...Still... Thank you.

  1. No... Thank you.
 
  Select: No... Thank you.

===Branch End===

Ana
...That's what's so great about you.

Ana
From the time we met in the forest all the way until now, you've never asked me anything.

Ana
Trusting a suspicious Servant like me without asking anything is strange in itself.

  1. Did you enjoy Uruk?
 
  Select: Did you enjoy Uruk?

===Branch End===

Ana
Well...

Ana
...No, not really, since I dislike humans.

Ana
...Humans are smart creatures. You constantly look for other possibilities and “what ifs.”

Ana
You will always choose what's better. That's why human cities vary from one another.

Ana
However... When something new is created, what happens to the things that are no longer “better”?

Ana
It would've been fine if they just became “ordinary.” Or if humans forgot about them. Or stopped using them.

Ana
But no... Humans try to reject them. They say they're evil.

Ana
They believe the new will be useless if the old and ordinary remain.

Ana
...That old lady was being treated the same way, protecting shriveled flowers inside that dark, dreary house of hers.

Ana
...At first, I only helped her because it was a job.

Ana
But she looked so happy, and she told me so many stories.

Ana
Even though she couldn't see anymore, she was at peace. Even though she was lonely, she never spoke of it.

Ana
...She treated me like her grandchild. We ate butter cake together.

Ana
She said, “Isn't it delicious?” ...Even though she couldn't taste anything anymore.

  1. It was probably really delicious to her.
  2. ...Here. This is for you.
  Select: It was probably really delicious to her.
Ana
...I think that would make me happy. But... I didn't get to say goodbye to her...
Ana
...? What are you doing, Fujimaru? Why are you going through your bag... What's that?

  Select: ...Here. This is for you.

===Branch End===

Ana
A floral headpiece... For me?

Ana
This is...that flower shop's... The old lady made it for me?

  1. She said it would look great on you.
  2. She said you'll be a beauty in the future.
  Select: She said it would look great on you.

  Select: She said you'll be a beauty in the future.

===Branch End===

Ana
That is not possible. I do not plan on growing older than I am now.

Ana
...I dislike humans. But they are very warm.

Ana
The city of Uruk was like a dream for me. I wanted humans to be nice to me. I wanted to be nice to humans.

Ana
That is how I wanted it to be. That is what my old self wanted.

Ana
It's the dream the adult me... The grown-up me can no longer remember.

Ana
...Thank you for the gift. But I can't accept this.

Ana
Fujimaru, please hold on to it. I don't have the right to wear it.

Ana
...That old lady's grandchild was killed by Demonic Beasts at this Northern Wall.

Ana
...Let's depart at sunrise and defeat Gorgon. That is why I am here.

Ana
...Still, this journey changed my reason for fighting.
You see, before I was merely fighting for myself...

Ana
But now, I'm fighting for the people of Uruk too. That is the least I could do to pay them back.

Merlin
Well well, isn't this a coincidence. For us to run into each other in the middle of the night.

  1. Oh really?
  2. You're not going to sleep, Merlin?
  Select: Oh really?
Merlin
Of course. Taking a stroll around the wall has its benefits.
Merlin
It's like a good luck ritual to prepare for tomorrow.

  Select: You're not going to sleep, Merlin?
Merlin
Hm? You ask if I sleep or not? Oh, right, I never told you all the little Merlin trivia.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, grrr!

Merlin
Whoa!? Stupid Cath Palug, attacking me again! What did I ever do to you!?

Fou
Fou, fohhh!

Merlin
What? Talk about myself a little? Because we've all been together for a pretty long time now?

Merlin
Hmmm... I don't think speaking about who or what I am at this point would be all that interesting...

Merlin
...Well, if Fujimaru can't sleep, then it could be a good bedtime story.

Merlin
How about this? You can ask me one question.

Merlin
Topics like human growth and guidance are just such a pain to answer, so normally I either stay silent or lie my way out...

Merlin
But just for tonight, I will answer anything you want to know. Come, ask away.

Merlin
Of course, you can just walk away and not ask anything. I would actually prefer that more.

  1. Why did you decide to serve King Gilgamesh?
  2. Are you the one who sent out Bedivere?
  Select: Why did you decide to serve King Gilgamesh?
Merlin
Oh, that. Well, because he's the one who summoned me.
Merlin
Truth be told, King Gilgamesh and myself are very similar in nature.
Merlin
First, neither he nor I have any attachments to humans themselves.
Merlin
He is an adjudicator that tries to keep humans on a fair scale. That is why he protects mankind, but he doesn't favor individuals.
Merlin
On the other hand, I'm just a spectator. I don't ever become an ally. Mankind or individuals, it's all just somebody else's business.
Fou
Fou, foooou!
Merlin
And second. Although we both say that, we both like humans.
Merlin
You think that's a contradiction? Well, it's just a difference in perspective, that's all.
Merlin
King Gilgamesh sees value in what humans create.
Merlin
“Humans themselves are foolish, but the things humans create have meaning...”
Merlin
That's probably a belief that lies at his core. On the other hand, I...
Merlin
I'm interested in the end of mankind. I continue to survive just so I can witness that.
Merlin
Well, it just means we're both inhuman. That's part of the reason we've decided to work together.
Merlin
We have our differences in how we enjoy it, but our goals are the same: to continue humanity, and witness its eventual end.
Merlin
That is the reason I decided to serve King Gilgamesh.

  Select: Are you the one who sent out Bedivere?
Merlin
Ah, so you're going there... That's a little painful–no...quite painful for me.
Merlin
I am the one who sent him to the Holy Land. When the Lion King appeared, that's when he appeared in Avalon.
Merlin
In order to solve that twisted fate, there was no other way but to send Bedivere over.
Merlin
I knew very well that it would be a cruel decision forced upon him.
Merlin
I am inhuman, but that doesn't mean I'm a scumbag. I didn't want Bedivere to suffer if it could be avoided.
Merlin
But, you know. If only the Lion King disappeared, or if only Bedivere remained in Avalon,
Merlin
as a fellow member of the Round Table, it would have felt odd. I mean, I was King Arthur's mentor, after all.
Merlin
Even though I was aware of Bedivere's pain, I decided to prioritize correcting Altria's mistake.
Fou
Fou, foooou!
Merlin
Ow, ow, ow, stop clawing me, you! Give me a break, it worked out better than expected!
Merlin
There was no way to save THAT Bedi and the Lion King together! In the end, I think I did a darn good job!

===Branch End===

  1. Just like Dr. Roman said...
  2. Even putting it mildly, he's trash...
  Select: Just like Dr. Roman said...

  Select: Even putting it mildly, he's trash...

===Branch End===

Merlin
Well, of course. I'm not human like you. I'm a completely different creature who just happens to have a human form.

Merlin
Humans may call me a sage, but not once have I ever acted in their interests.

Merlin
I'm a mix between an incubus and a human. Incubi are spirits that feed on the minds of humans.

Merlin
Usually, they don't have an “identity.” That's because they copy the personality of the human they're feeding off of.

Merlin
Incubi just take human mental activity as a source of energy.

Merlin
However, I'm half-human, so I have half an ego... I came to hold a sense of purpose.

Merlin
I only came to be called a sage because I learned that was how everyone would accept me.

Merlin
I'm no more than a monster pretending to be human.

Merlin
I studied humans and tried experiencing emotions, but I still couldn't understand them.

Merlin
Of course, I have intelligence, so I understand human pain. But I can't really understand the burden of it.

Merlin
No matter how far I get, it's always someone's dream. I can speak of love and hate, but I cannot truly experience them.

Fou
...Fou.

Merlin
However, even for someone like me, there's one thing that will bring me happiness. A unique purpose that only I have, even among other incubi.

  1. And that is...?
 
  Select: And that is...?

===Branch End===

Merlin
A happy ending for mankind, of course.

Merlin
In mankind's final moments, I want to see the very last human's dream.

Merlin
If you humans don't exist, then neither do I. I am a Phantasmal. We lose meaning without you.

Merlin
Incubi don't have any direction or preference. Well, maybe we lean towards bad dreams, since they're higher in nutrition.

Merlin
But I still have an ego. If I don't have a meaning–a purpose–I cannot live.

Merlin
So, I have chosen your ending as my purpose.

Merlin
Humans are foolish. Not in a philosophical way, but in a biological sense.

Merlin
There are no other intelligent species so wasteful in the universe. And at the same time, there are none so unpredictable, either.

Merlin
You humans are truly flawed creatures. But...

Merlin
But the history you create is beautiful.

Merlin
This much I can say with certainty: no matter what kind of end humanity faces, your history will be worth leaving in this universe.

Fou
...Fou, fou.

Merlin
Well, that's about it from me. Romani Archaman's evaluation of me is correct.

Merlin
Nothing will stop me from obtaining what I want to see. This time is no different.

Merlin
So feel free to use me as you like, child of humanity. As long as it's for your tale, the one long history that'll one day be complete,

Merlin
I'm willing to dedicate my body and soul.

--ARROW--

Merlin
It's time. We already have troops assembled inside the Northern Wall.

Merlin
An hour after we leave here, the troops will be deployed to prepare for the decisive battle on the Demonic Front.

Merlin
I'd give it about a fifty-fifty chance that Gorgon will be lured by our diversion. But the Demonic Beasts will definitely come out of the Cedar Forest.

Merlin
That's how strong their desire for revenge against humans is.

Merlin
They won't be able to suppress their urges if the humans form a line against the wall.

Mash
...Once we have confirmation of that, we will infiltrate the Cedar Forest from the ruined city of Babylon and head for the Blood Fort.

Merlin
Yes, Quetzalcoatl will defend the Northern Wall...

Jaguar Warrior
And me of course! ME-ow! Here I am, just in the nick of time!

Ishtar
The infiltration team will be me, Fujimaru, Mash, Ana, and Merlin.

Dr. Roman
Roger that. I'll redirect three slides of Sheba on Quetzalcoatl, and monitor the situation at the Northern Wall.

Merlin
All right. Let's begin. Fujimaru, give me your orders!

  1. Operation Marduk Blitz, begin!
 
  Select: Operation Marduk Blitz, begin!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
We've got enemy signatures already! It looks like a group of rogue Demonic Beasts from Babylon!

Dr. Roman
This will be a skirmish before you enter the Cedar Forest! Let's do this, Fujimaru!

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
Enemy Demonic Beasts annihilated! Good work!

Dr. Roman
I'm not picking up any more around the area. Looks like that was all the Demonic Beasts that were nesting in Babylon!

  1. No wonder there were so many...
  2. Ishtar, you're helping quite a bit.
  Select: No wonder there were so many...
Mash
Indeed. The battle was tougher than we imagined.
Senpai, are you okay?
Mash
We're going to have to keep fighting without rest.
Make sure you don't run out of magical energy.

  Select: Ishtar, you're helping quite a bit.
Ishtar
I know. I was thinking this was where it all started, so that's why I got all fired up.
Ishtar
Back then, I thought: “What a rude human. How can I torment {(M) him /(F) her}?”

===Branch End===

Merlin
Sorry to bother you mid-conversation, Fujimaru, but could you put me through to Dr. Roman?

Merlin
It's been about an hour. How's the Northern Wall looking?

Dr. Roman
The battle has just begun.

Dr. Roman
The first wave of Demonic Beasts has passed through Nippur, and will engage the Northern Wall defense force in five minutes.

Dr. Roman
And leading the charge is a young man with green hair—it's Kingu, commander of Tiamat's Eleven Offspring.

G：Uruk Soldier
They're coming! First line, get ready! It's time to use what King Leonidas taught you!

F：Uruk Soldier
Listen! You should only fight on the front for about half an hour! Our individual power won't prevail against them!

F：Uruk Soldier
If you get tired, fall back to the fourth line, rest, and get new weapons! Breathe steadily and wait to return to the fight!

G：Uruk Soldier
They're making contact!

G：Uruk Soldier
It's time to show the king just how strong us survivors are! Men, attack!

Jaguar Warrior
The Great Animal War begins meow! We should head out too, Kuku!

Jaguar Warrior
The people at the Northern Wall accepted me quickly and let me eat good meat! We can't let these fur-midable warriors die!

Quetzalcoatl
I agree, Jaguar. Normally both sides of a fight are at fault, but those Demonic Beasts were twisted by Gorgon.

Quetzalcoatl
They've lost their ability to reproduce in order to up their combat capability. They're sad creatures that will die out once this is all over.

Quetzalcoatl
Are they good, or are they evil? No sé! But I would rather fight for the side that has a future, yes!

Jaguar Warrior
All right, let's go! Time for me to show you the PAWer of the jungle!

Quetzalcoatl
...! Jaguar!

Kingu
Oh? I thought it was a Servant, but it's just you, Quetzalcoatl.

Kingu
Haven't seen you since Mother took the throne. I assume the Three Goddess Alliance fell apart.

Quetzalcoatl
Yes, Ereshkigal and I have withdrawn from Uruk.
I'm helping the humans now.

Kingu
...I see. That's unfortunate. You were a wise goddess.

Kingu
Ereshkigal aside, I thought at least you would have understood Mother's grief.

Kingu
You, the goddess that had the civilization she nurtured destroyed by the savage conqueror Cortés.

Kingu
I felt sympathy for you when you said that you would destroy every single human.

Kingu
I thought that you alone would take on the world, and become an avatar of slaughter.

Kingu
So where is that goddess?

Quetzalcoatl
Where? I'm. Riiight. Here.

Kingu
What...!?

Quetzalcoatl
Okay, just kidding, yes! That's enough silly faces, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
Prepare yourself, Kingu. I'm going after Gorgon as soon as I take you out.

Quetzalcoatl
I'm going to keep marching forward, and take the heart of the one who is imitating Tiamat.

Quetzalcoatl
Consider that my thanks to her.

Kingu
Thanks...? And what thanks would that be?

Quetzalcoatl
Thanks for not trying to kill me. Thanks for helping me find a wonderful Master.

Quetzalcoatl
Yes, I will ignore my pledge as a goddess for my Master!

Quetzalcoatl
Gorgon's head will be mine!

Kingu
You are absurdly strong, Quetzalcoatl. More than that, you're altogether absurd. I couldn't be more disappointed.

Kingu
We don't need a stupid goddess in our new world. I will shred you to pieces, along with your precious winged serpents!

Dr. Roman
Quetzalcoatl's keeping Kingu busy for now. As long as she's still with us, Kingu won't get close!

Merlin
All right, everything's going according to plan. Quetzalcoatl's good at getting people worked up.

Ana
That's an adult goddess for you. She's flat-out lying and kindling Kingu's anger.

Mash
...? I don't know what part of that was a lie.
Any ideas, Senpai?

  1. The part where I'm a wonderful Master?
  2. The part where she wouldn't make faces anymore?
  Select: The part where I'm a wonderful Master?

  Select: The part where she wouldn't make faces anymore?

===Branch End===

Ishtar
It's the part where she said she would ignore her goddess pledge. Quetzalcoatl is far more powerful than Gorgon.

Ishtar
Kingu can't stand idly by if Quetzalcoatl says she's going to take out Gorgon even if it kills her.

Mash
Th-that makes sense.

Mash
Now that you mention it, that's true... It sounded so obvious, so I didn't notice...

Merlin
At any rate, the plan is proceeding nicely. Let's head to the Cedar Forest! There's no resting from here! Let's go, everyone!

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
Wait. Stop, Merlin! I'm picking up signs of Divinity from three hundred meters ahead!

Dr. Roman
It's the Blood Fort! Send the signal to Quetzalcoatl!

Merlin
All right, leave it to me!
Special Britain Spell: Altria, It's Time for Dinner!

Mash
A flare!? Senpai, a flare-like thing just went up!

  1. ...Tell me more about that spell!
  2. RUUUUUUN!!!
  Select: ...Tell me more about that spell!

  Select: RUUUUUUN!!!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Dummy, we still haven't taken cover! That massive thing is going to come down right on top of us!

Ishtar
If we're not at least three hundred meters away from the impact, we're going to get blown away too!

Merlin
Oh, whoops. My hand just slipped.
Womp womp?

Mash
Oh.

Ishtar
Hey!

Ana
I will murder you, Merlin!

Dr. Roman
...? What's wrong, everyone? For a second I thought there was lag... You're all so still. Did something happen?

  1. Merlin... threw his staff...
  2. Merlin might've just killed us...
  Select: Merlin... threw his staff...

  Select: Merlin might've just killed us...

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
SUUUIIIIICIIIIIDAAAAA!!!???

Mash
I just heard Quetzalcoatl scream many miles away in Babylon...

Mash
Yeah... That was...

Ishtar
Yeah... It was terrible...

Merlin
I can't help it if my hand slipped...

Merlin
I didn't think my staff would become a beacon that would lead the axe there. My bad, my bad.

Merlin
It looks like the axe didn't hit us, but instead buried itself right in the Blood Fort...

Merlin
Well then! That worked out perfectly!
We can't let Quetzalcoatl's noble sacrifice go to waste!

Merlin
We have things we need to do!
Now it's time for the final battle!

Fou
Fooo, fofofoooooooooo!

Quetzalcoatl
(...The signal!) Playtime is over, Kingu!

Kingu
The Axe of Marduk...! You brought that all the way here from Eridu!?

Kingu
Still!

Kingu
Something that large isn't going to do you any good. You're supposed to use your trump cards after stopping your opponent, bird brain!

Quetzalcoatl
That's just uncalled for, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
I considered pounding your face into the ground to make you think on what you said...but I'll forgive you this once, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
Things have gone exactly according to plan, yes!
The axe was just a mere ticket to get through!

Quetzalcoatl
I'm just a courier who delivers things to their destination at the appointed time for—

Quetzalcoatl
SUUUIIIIICIIIIIDAAAAA!!!???

Jaguar Warrior
Oh no! Kuku turned into fried chicken!
And in Spanish, “suicida” means suicide!

Quetzalcoatl
I'm not fried chicken. I'm a bird of fire!
Argh, divine punishment fell from the heavens!

Jaguar Warrior
Meow... Kuku had so much Divinity, but now...it's dropped by over half!

Jaguar Warrior
Hmmm, you broke the goddesses' pact, but maybe it was okay because you didn't really mean to?

Quetzalcoatl
Merlin, you'll pay for this!

Quetzalcoatl
I am totally, and I mean one hundred percent maximum goddess fury mode, going to punish you with the ultimate lucha!

Kingu
Gorgon's Divinity is falling...
Did the axe destroy the temple!?

Kingu
Quetzalcoatl...! You still dare to back the humans!?

Quetzalcoatl
Yes, I wasn't planning on going this far, but I guess I did in the end!

Quetzalcoatl
But don't worry, Kingu. This is as far as my help goes.

Quetzalcoatl
I won't lay a finger on Gorgon.
Destroying her is a job for the humans.

Kingu
Dammit, that little goddess isn't here!

Kingu
This is terrible... She's the one Servant I can't let go!
I have to go save her... Save Gorgon...

Kingu
Looks like you get to live a bit longer, Quetzalcoatl.
I'll take care of you after I save Gorgon!

Quetzalcoatl
Seems the rest is in Fujimaru's hands, yes.

Quetzalcoatl
But that was surprising.
Kingu was really concerned about Gorgon.

Quetzalcoatl
I know Kingu is using Gorgon for their own benefit, but maybe they love her in their own way...?

--ARROW--

Mash
So this is Gorgon's temple... The wall's lined with what looks like cocoons...

Mash
There's...shadows inside...

Ana
...

Merlin
It's better not to look. You...really don't want to see...

Mash
Wait... Wait! These... These shadows are...!

Ishtar
...We're going to kill Gorgon. I'm not one to talk about myself and the other goddesses...

Ishtar
But this is going too far. To desire something more productive than humans to get revenge on them... That defeats the whole point.

  1. ...Let's go, Mash.
  2. ...Let's look for Gorgon.
  Select: ...Let's go, Mash.

  Select: ...Let's look for Gorgon.

===Branch End===

Mash
But... But...!

Mash
They're alive! They've...changed, but they're all still alive...!

Dr. Roman
...Mash, Fujimaru, please hurry.

Dr. Roman
Kingu has left the front line and is heading towards you at high speed.

Dr. Roman
At this rate, you'll have to fight both Gorgon and Kingu. And you won't have a chance then.

Ana
I'll take you there. I know where Gorgon is.

Ana
...I'm sorry, Mash. I know it's difficult, but I'm going to ask of you anyway.

Ana
Now is the time to fight. Please, lend me your power to defeat Gorgon.

  1. This is...the deepest part of Blood Fort...
  2. It's like we're in the belly of a beast...
  Select: This is...the deepest part of Blood Fort...

  Select: It's like we're in the belly of a beast...

===Branch End===

Merlin
She's here. That long tail of hers is wrapped along the cave's walls.

Merlin
O Tiamat, Mother of the Demonic Beasts...
No, composite deity Gorgon...!

Merlin
Your Divinity is all but gone! Give up and show yourself!

Gorgon
...Well, if it isn't the little insects I let go.

Gorgon
You're so loud, humans. Do you run amok knowing that this is Tiamat's bedchamber?

Mash
You...you're the one who did all this!

Mash
Why, Gorgon!? You said you'd take revenge on humanity!

Mash
That you'd be a goddess for the beasts whose land was stolen, we could at least understand! But...why do something like this?

Mash
If you want to fight humans, conquer our land, and build a kingdom, we don't have the right to deny you.

Mash
But the way you're twisting and mixing things—That saves nothing!

Mash
What is it that you want revenge on?

Gorgon
Humph. You want reason? There is none to be found here.

Gorgon
Salvation, evening the scales...these are for those who still have something to reclaim.

Gorgon
For those with nothing left, there is only destruction.

Gorgon
Returning our lands? Restoring our kingdom? What could that matter? There is nothing left for us.

Gorgon
All we love has slipped through our fingers. All we protected is gone from this land.

Gorgon
Even I have burned to ash and vanished.

Gorgon
There is nothing left that I want. There is only vengeance. Destruction.

Gorgon
I will kill everything, trample everything, slay the whole world, and die myself.

Gorgon
That is what it means to be an Avenger. That is what I want.

Gorgon
I will destroy Uruk... I will destroy every single human... For such is the level of hatred you humans had for me.

Gorgon
It seems that girl doesn't know how ugly the world is. She must have lived a happy life.

Mash
It's true... I grew up...in a really good environment...

Gorgon
There's no sense in talking to a girl like that.
But you, Fujimaru. You understand, right?

Gorgon
You're a human, and humans created me... Created this Avenger. If you find reason within my words, then nod.

Gorgon
If you embrace my purpose, then I will keep you as my Master.

Gorgon
Not a bad deal, is it? When this era disappears, the world of man is forever gone.

Gorgon
Or perhaps it already happened?

Gorgon
You have been the last human for so very long...
You've no reason to fight for the people of this time.

Gorgon
Hahaha! Call it the whim of a goddess!

Gorgon
After everything is destroyed, I shall set a single human loose into the barren wastes!

Mash
Senpai...

Ana
...

  1. There's no reason for your hate.
  2. I don't understand what you're saying at all.
  Select: There's no reason for your hate.

  Select: I don't understand what you're saying at all.

===Branch End===

Gorgon
...What?

Mash
Yes, that's right, Master! There's nothing in Gorgon's words I can agree with!

Mash
You were created by humans, and even if you have the right to seek revenge...

Mash
...I refuse to accept you! That twisted form of yours is a reflection of your own heart!

Gorgon
...

Ishtar
Hah! You can't even come up with a comeback. She's got you there, Gorgon!

Ishtar
You're just a fake who became a goddess with the Grail's power. You've got no right to call yourself Tiamat!

Gorgon
You dare call me a fake Tiamat...? You, a girl who can't even materialize without a human vessel?

Ishtar
I've got every right. Even with Potnia Theron, you're no match to Tiamat.

Ishtar
First of all, Mother didn't need other creatures to create Demonic Beasts, anyway. She could make a world on her own.

Ishtar
She'd never do something as half-assed as use the people she wanted revenge on to get her revenge.

Ana
...Ishtar's right.

Ana
Gorgon, you're not Tiamat. You're just a monster who has lost sight of who she truly is.

Gorgon
...Why you... Wh-What is this... Why do I feel so cold...

Gorgon
My whole body is shaking. I can't maintain the composite divinity. My mind is going... My reason is coming back...!

Gorgon
What's going on, Kingu!? Kingu!? Where are you?

Gorgon
What is that Servant? I've never seen such an ugly Servant!

Gorgon
Take her away! Get her out of my sight!

Gorgon
Someone! Anyone! Kill her! Get that monster out of this temple...!

Ana
...I knew it. You can't see me, can you, Gorgon?

Ana
...If only you'd tried at least a little, there may still have been some chance of saving you.

  1. ...Ana.
  2. ...Are you okay with this, Medusa?
  Select: ...Ana.

  Select: ...Are you okay with this, Medusa?

===Branch End===

Ana
...Yes. I've always told myself...

Ana
...That I should not live. It's wrong for me to be here.
It's wrong for me to smile.

Ana
...But all of that was wrong.

Ana
I wanted to live. I wanted to be here. I wanted to smile.

Ana
She was the result of that. As was I.

Ana
...Thank you for helping me see that, Fujimaru.

Merlin
I see. Are you ready, Ana? It will unleash the Divinity you've held back this whole time.

Ana
Yes, I will allow it, Merlin. I fell for your trick... Now show me the answer!

Ana
Fujimaru! Mash! Lend me your strength!
I'll use my Mystic Eyes to offset hers!

Gorgon
I do not know... Don't know, don't know, don't know, don't know! I don't know you!

Gorgon
Die! Die, monster! Don't show that ugly face of yours to me!

--BATTLE--

Gorgon
Not yet! It won't end yet! I won't let it end yet!

Gorgon
I will have my revenge... All of you who abandoned me, I'll scatter your blood and remains across the lands!

Mash
Gorgon isn't going down!
She lost most of her Divinity, but still...

Ishtar
No way! She's still immortal!?
Her wounds have already healed up!

Gorgon
Of course! You can never defeat me that way!
I am Tiamat, the primordial goddess...!

Gorgon
I am Tiamat... I am Tiamat...or...I...should be...!

Gorgon
I can hear the voice! The voice of a sobbing mother...

Gorgon
That's why I'm...I'm taking revenge in her place!

Mash
The collapse is continuing!
At this rate we'll all be crushed!

Ana
No. You're just a monster, Gorgon.

Ana
The monster of the Shapeless Isle. Gorgon, the hero-slayer. Your fury will remain on the island.

Mash
Ana!? No, come back...!

Gorgon
Curse you—No! Stay away! Don't look at me... Don't... Don't...

Ana
...Yes. Let's disappear together, Gorgon.
That is the reason I was brought to this land.

  1. Ana...!
  2. Quick! Give me your hand!
  Select: Ana...!

  Select: Quick! Give me your hand!

===Branch End===

--ARROW--

Mash
...The throne has completely collapsed. Gorgon and Ana are gone...

Dr. Roman
...I've lost the Spirit Origin reading for both of them.

Dr. Roman
...Ana's weapon is a scythe that causes wounds that never heal. A Noble Phantasm that kills immortals.

Dr. Roman
Her last strike stripped Gorgon of her immortality.

  1. ...This is for Ana.
 
  Select: ...This is for Ana.

===Branch End===

Ishtar
A flower offering... It's sad, but I think she deserves it.

Mash
Yes... I know it would have looked very good on her.

Dr. Roman
But... How come I'm not getting a reading on the Grail? Gorgon should've possessed the Mage King's Holy Grail.

Merlin
...Hmm. It's true that Gorgon used the Grail's power to regain the Divinity she once had.

Merlin
She had the blessings of the Grail. But she didn't have the Grail itself.

Merlin
Which means there's only one explanation. The Mage King's Grail is—

Dr. Roman
Enemy incoming! It's coming fast! This Spirit Origin pattern is—

Kingu
Mother...! Are you all right, Gorg—

Mash
Ah!

Kingu
...I see. So I didn't make it in time.

Kingu
I wasn't with her, so the Grail couldn't protect her.

Kingu
If that little goddess isn't here, does that mean she sacrificed herself to slay her?

Kingu
Sheesh...

Kingu
So even goddesses were just part of the old world, huh? I guess they lacked the beauty to survive in the new world.

Merlin
Oh? What do you mean by beauty, Kingu? External beauty, or beauty found within?

Kingu
...Shut your mouth, Merlin. I am well and truly furious right now.

Kingu
I've never felt something so strongly. I've exterminated humans, but only as duty required.

Kingu
But now, it's not duty that moves me. This is... I feel such a powerful hatred for you.

Kingu
I've never killed a human out of anger before. This will be a first for me.

Ishtar
...If you want to fight, fine. You really are different from Enkidu.

Ishtar
Enkidu insisted on being a weapon until the end, never once killing out of any emotion.

Ishtar
This mother of yours must've meant a lot to you, huh?

Kingu
..I am Kingu. It is natural for me to love Tiamat.

Kingu
And she too loved her creator. So this is all out of pity. Sympathy, I think you call it.

Mash
Kingu's ready to fight! Master, be careful...!

Kingu
With Gorgon gone, her children will self-destruct.

Kingu
They were created by Gorgon's powers. The weaker ones won't be able to maintain their bodies.

Kingu
The battle is over. The Demonic Front has ended with your victory. But...

Kingu
You'll find no joy in victory, virtuous ones who crushed a terrible Avenger.

Kingu
Are you satisfied, having saved so many of your comrades? Then...you will pay the price for that by dying here.

Dr. Roman
Kingu's Spirit Origin is changing...!? Enkidu types can do that?

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, be careful...! Kingu's not a Lancer anymore!

Dr. Roman
The reading—

Kingu
For this one moment, I shall fight as an Avenger. It's the least I can do for her!

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
...!? The observation got cut off! Sheba is turning black, and the light is not coming back!

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, what's going on over there!? Gorgon is dead! The threat to that era is no more!

Dr. Roman
So why does the Seventh Singularity still exist?

Kingu
...I guess this is it. I got a little too heated. How unacceptable.

Kingu
To think things would come to an end a day earlier than expected. She might've gone too far, but she did a fine job for us.

Kingu
So... I wanted her to live just a bit longer before Mother's awakening.

Dr. Roman
Sheba 02, 06, 09, all damaged! This shaking isn't localized!

Dr. Roman
It's a space-time quake! We speculate the spatial rifts are occurring all over Mesopotamia!

Dr. Roman
What's going on!?

Merlin
...!

Mash
Merlin!?

Merlin
...I see, we fell for it. It seems you have won the battle of wits.

Kingu
That's right, you tricky incubus.

Kingu
You put Mother in a cage of dreams to postpone her awakening.

Kingu
But when she fell asleep, she gave me the Grail and made me her first son.

Kingu
Which meant that I had only one job: find a way for her to awaken.

Kingu
It was simple enough. If she wouldn't wake up while alive, all I had to do was kill her.

Merlin
Gorgon didn't have Tiamat's Authority because she was a copy.

Merlin
She was synchronized... She shared her senses with the real Tiamat to gain Potnia Theron...!

Kingu
That's right. And now Gorgon is dead.

Kingu
Gorgon's death reverberated back to the synchronized Tiamat, and awakened her from her slumber.

Kingu
As a result, you revealed yourself within her dreams, and she crushed you. Brutally.

Kingu
...Now then, I no longer need the three goddesses to buy us time.

Kingu
Behold our true mother. Take a good look at the original sin of humanity!

Researcher A
What is that... The sea is turning black...!? It's endless! It's black all the way to the ends of the world!

Researcher B
Is this the apocalypse the king spoke of? Send a messenger to Uruk, now!

Researcher B
Tell them the port and sea are covered with black mud! Other changes include...changes include—

Researcher C
What's wrong!? Rooftop, what did you see? What's that sound? What's happe—

Researcher A
...What are those things?

Researcher A
They're not Demonic Beasts, nor Sumerian monsters.

Researcher A
Those things don't even exist in our world!

Researcher A
They're eating people...? They're ignoring the buildings and crops... They're only after the people?

Researcher A
...No, that's not right... The people are being remade... Haha. What is that? Is that even possible?

Researcher A
What I'm seeing is... It's so... I'd rather die, or get eaten!

Researcher A
Hahahahahahaha! Hahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahaha!

Dr. Roman
Detecting a large number of unknown magical energy signatures in the Persian Gulf! Each one is stronger than an Ugallu's!

Dr. Roman
Their numbers... Their total numbers are...

Dr. Roman
Over one hundred million, and still growing!

Dr. Roman
There's nothing Chaldea, or humanity, can do to stop something like this...!

Merlin
...It's like a flock of passenger pigeons covering the sky. Hmm, ironically, humans drove those to extinction.

Kingu
That's right. No one can stop her now. Not even the gods or the King of Mages.

Kingu
But don't worry. You will be destroyed, but humanity will live on.

Kingu
The ones who will soon cover the earth are the next generation: perfect humans that she designed.

Kingu
The old humanity will disappear here, now. This planet is ours.

Kingu
It's goodbye for real this time. You can meet your end quietly, in a land covered by these new beings.

Ishtar
(Laḫmu... The last divinity birthed by Tiamat... You're really back, aren't you, Mother?)

Mash
Kingu has left the cave! But Doctor, Merlin is...!

Merlin
...I screwed this up. Instead of trying to create some breathing room, I ended up hurrying things along.

Merlin
Return to Uruk, quickly. It's awakened, but it hasn't started moving yet.

Merlin
...We can't avoid being wiped out, but there's still things we can do. Go tell King Gilgamesh this:

Merlin
Tell him that one of the Beasts of the Counter Force, one that devours humanity, one that can only be beaten by the seven Grands, has roused from her slumber.

Merlin
...The Sea of Life. The Primordial Mother. One of the Seven Evils of Humanity, and one of the Beasts of Original Sin... is awake.

Section 16: Demise

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Dr. Roman
A massive amount of magical energy signatures is emerging from the Persian Gulf.

Dr. Roman
And they are spreading across all of Mesopotamia at incredible speeds.

Ishtar
What about Uruk!? How long will it take them to reach Uruk!?

Da Vinci
Excuse me for cutting in, Ishtar. I'm Chaldea's supervisor, Da Vinci.

Da Vinci
Romani is going to concentrate on analyzing these life forms, so I'll be in charge now.

Ishtar
Oh, really? Nice to meet you! But no more pleasantries! Just tell us what's going on!

Da Vinci
Okay. We've observed close to a hundred million of these life forms. Only a fraction of them have emerged from the ground.

Da Vinci
A rough search shows us that there are about 100,000 right now. Of those, around 20,000 are heading for Uruk.

Da Vinci
ETA is under three hours. At this rate, Uruk will be under attack in less than half a day.

Da Vinci
Eridu has already been attacked. Ur has about an hour.

Da Vinci
Assuming some of them drop in on Lagash, Girsu, and Umma along the way, I estimate about 10,000 will reach Uruk.

Ishtar
10,000! 10,000 monsters at Ugallu's level... Uruk can't hold up against that in its current state!

Ishtar
Fujimaru, I'll go on ahead. If I pull out all the stops, I'll be there with time to spare!

Ishtar
Let's regroup in Uruk! Have Quetzalcoatl pick you up along the way!

Mash
Ishtar just left for Uruk on her own! I can hear her breaking the sound barrier!

Mash
But what should we do? Without Merlin, Ana, and Ishtar...

Mash
Many people helped us along the way, but now it's just us...

Da Vinci
You guys should head for the Northern Wall. That's where Quetzalcoatl and Jaguar Warrior are.

Da Vinci
Also, right now the Northern Wall is ironically the safest place in Mesopotamia, since it's furthest from the Persian Gulf.

Da Vinci
I bet a lot of people will be gathering there.

Da Vinci
Who knows how many people will arrive, but the Northern Wall will remain the most important fortification. We have to protect it.

  1. Let's hurry to the Northern Wall, Mash!
  2. I wonder what happened to Merlin...
  Select: Let's hurry to the Northern Wall, Mash!
Mash
Right...! Master, I'll carry you and we'll return there as fast as we can!

  Select: I wonder what happened to Merlin...
Dr. Roman
Merlin disappeared. I believe his true body was killed.
Dr. Roman
As an incubus, he was one of the few mages who could meddle in the collective unconscious of intelligent beings while they were sleeping.
Dr. Roman
I bet Merlin used that ability to stay in Tiamat's slumbering mind for a long time.
Dr. Roman
He was probably keeping her asleep. Only an apparition of him was with you, Fujimaru.
Dr. Roman
But now his true body has been killed.
Dr. Roman
He would've been more or less invincible in a sleeper's deep dream, but that ability has one fatal flaw: REM sleep.
Dr. Roman
If the sleeper's consciousness becomes partially awake, all of the dream world will turn against the invader.
Dr. Roman
When Gorgon died, that consciousness stirred. Half-awake, it was able to capture and obliterate Merlin.
Mash
...Merlin...

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
You two are safe! That is fortunate, yes! Where is that incorrigible Merlin!?

Mash
...Merlin is no longer with us. And Ana perished defeating Gorgon.

Mash
Ishtar has gone ahead to Uruk. What are you doing here, Quetzalcoatl!?

Quetzalcoatl
We came to meet up with you, yes! The Demonic Beasts at the Northern Wall are mostly decimated, with survivors fleeing into the forest!

Quetzalcoatl
The battle with Gorgon is over. That's why we came here.

Quetzalcoatl
...So Merlin is gone. I want to say something, but I'll hold my tongue...for now.

Quetzalcoatl
We also detected a disturbance from the sea. You won't make it to Uruk in time on foot.

Quetzalcoatl
So hop aboard my serpent. It will be a wild ride, but much faster than traveling on the ground.

  1. Thank you, Quetzalcoatl!
  2. What happened with the Axe of Marduk?
  Select: Thank you, Quetzalcoatl!
Quetzalcoatl
Oh, you are too kind! Calling me the fairest goddess of them all makes me blush...!
Da Vinci
I didn't hear anything of the sort, but I see that you weren't a member of the Three Goddess Alliance for nothing!
Da Vinci
She has some sort of goddess complex! ...Oh...

  Select: What happened with the Axe of Marduk?
Quetzalcoatl
It's useless now, forget about it, yes! Forget! When the Blood Fort was destroyed, it lost its Divinity.
Quetzalcoatl
And I lost about half of my Divinity, too! And I was ready to tear Merlin a new one for that, yes!
Quetzalcoatl
You're just as guilty, Fujimaru! You were right next to me, but didn't stop it! So prepare for an earful later!

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatlus
Skree! Skreeee!

Fou
Fou!?

Quetzalcoatl
Oops. We don't have time for a long chat. Now both of you get on that serpent over there.

Quetzalcoatl
All right, straight onward to Uruk! Hold on tight!

Ur Civilian
Aieeeeeee...! What is this!? What is thissss!?

Ur Civilian
I thought we were going to be spared! I thought if we submitted to the goddess, we wouldn't be killed!

Ur Civilian
Everyone, get outside...! Run! Run awaaaay...!

Ur Civilian
Escape to Uruk, hurry! There are no more warriors left in Ur! They were all sent to Eridu as sacrifices!

Ur Civilian
Hurry! Get away now...Aaaaaaaaaah!

Ur Civilian
...Huh? Wh-wh-who are you?

Benkei
...I have no name. I am a vagabond who has nowhere to go. I just kill and kill and kill the Demonic Beasts of the wasteland.

Benkei
You gave a night's lodging and a meal to a man who had forgotten even human speech...to a madman.

Benkei
...This is my repayment. You should escape, quickly. These demons are my prey. I will not let anyone else slay a single one.

Benkei
Don't worry. I am just an idiot with a one-track mind, waving a lance around.

Benkei
Dueling to the death with demons from hell is a fitting ending for me!

Benkei
Hahahahahaha! But what's this!?

Benkei
Is this the result of devouring Demonic Beasts 24 hours a day!? New kinds of prey!?

Benkei
Good. I wouldn't have it any other way! This hell is fitting for a man who has become an animal!

Benkei
I can no longer live! I was unable to give up worldly desires and attachments, and I was not even able to reach the state of Musashibou!

Benkei
There is no meaning in trying to attain a state of perfect spiritual concentration! It did not change this man's nature at all!

Benkei
Fwahaha, hahahahaha...! Despicable! You demons are as ugly as me!

Benkei
Kill this beast of a man if you can! After that, you are free to eat these fleeing people to your heart's content!

Benkei
What's wrong, you gibbering mob!? Didn't the mouth of hell open up?

Benkei
Why don't you all come at me at once!? Picking you off one at a time is unsatisfying!

H：???
Very courageous, Benkei. That's a lot of yelling for a coward.

H：???
Is your blood flowing fast? Or has your old sense of humor returned?

H：???
Either way, you're still a noise that should be silenced.

Benkei
Humph, who the devil are you!? Do not speak to me as if you know me—

Benkei
...Impossible. Are you...

???
You are in the way. Don't put a damper on our fun.

???
Fool. Didn't you say you wanted to die? I shall kill you, just as you wish.

Benkei
No! No! ...Arrr Aaaaaaaaaah...!!!

Mash
Master, we're over Uruk! The city... Uruk is burning!

Ishtar
What's with these things!? They're endless! And they're diamond-hard! Why are they so sturdy!?

Ishtar
What, Fujimaru!? You got here faster than expected.

Quetzalcoatl
It's all me, yes! I went to pick them up! I'm just a big sis who is cleverer than you by half☆

Ishtar
Is that so? Well, whatever, I'm glad you're here! There was only so much I could do sniping from the sky!

Ishtar
Land in the city and intercept them! Take out as many as you can! Hurry!

  1. Leave it to us!
  2. I'm leaving the sky to you!
  Select: Leave it to us!

  Select: I'm leaving the sky to you!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
...You look pale, yet you still go in recklessly. You're a big help, though. Thanks.

Ishtar
After you land in the city, secure a path to the ziggurat, so the citizens can flee to safety there.

Ishtar
Also, prepare yourselves. The creatures down below are like nothing you've seen before.

Ishtar
Be careful not to lose your nerve before you start fighting.

Uruk Civilian
Aaah, stay back! Get away! Somebody help! Somebody!

???
[email protected];[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]?

Uruk Civilian
Ow! It hurts! Aaaaaah! Stop! Stop it! Please, no more!

Uruk Civilian
It's...it's ripping me apart! Haaaugh, wh-why!? It...it hurts...Aaaargh—

???
! [email protected]<u.-s@<[email protected]!

Uruk Civilian
Ghaaaaah! Aieeeeeeee!

Uruk Civilian
(Panting)

???
utj utj [email protected]...? 6d5w 6d5w uit@ e7uk

Uruk Civilian
Ohhh, ohhh, ungh...! Unhhh...!

E：Uruk Civilian
H-huhhh... Ah, aaaaah!
No Please, stop! Somebody, help!

???
! [email protected]<[email protected]!

???
—b;f? b;m 6ud@ MONO? 6md

Uruk Civilian
Aaah! Are they here!?

Uruk Civilian
Wh-why!? I didn't move! I didn't move at all! I forced myself to stay perfectly still, so why!?

Uruk Civilian
It's him! It's because he ran away!

Uruk Soldier
Don't run away! Fight! If we don't stop them here, we won't stand a chance!

Uruk Soldier
Everyone, attack together! Let's kill them one by one, together!

???
qkde qkde! g@'ffffffffffffffffffffff!

Uruk Soldier
It's no good... We're not even making a dent! Our spears and arrows just bounce off of them! What are these creatures!?

???
qkde! Qkde! g@'ffffffffffffffff!

  1. That's as far as you go, monster!
  2. Let's go, Mash...!
  Select: That's as far as you go, monster!

  Select: Let's go, Mash...!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right...! Commencing combat with these unknown life forms, Master!

--BATTLE--

Mash
The enemies are multiplying as we fight them! Even one of them is almost too strong! If this keeps up...

Quetzalcoatl
There's a limit to how many we can handle! They're just overwhelming... Huh?

???
... [email protected](4l)4.

Mash
The enemies are all just walking away... Did they reach their active limit?

Da Vinci
It didn't look that way... But it didn't look like they had a chain of command either.

Da Vinci
It's like one of them got bored, and the others saw it and followed.

Da Vinci
They looked like soldier ants, with no intellect or individuality...

Ishtar
But either way, this gives us a little bit of breathing room. Let's go to the ziggurat.

Ishtar
Gilgamesh should know what's going on. Let's talk to him first.

Gilgamesh
Move the surviving citizens beyond the Northern Wall! We'll use Nippur as a temporary refugee base!

Gilgamesh
Again, there's no need to recruit soldiers from the refugees. Only those who were born warriors need to stay in Uruk.

Gilgamesh
At last, the day of destruction is upon us. We have two more days at most.

Gilgamesh
That fool Merlin hastened the destruction I foresaw for Uruk by a full day!

Gilgamesh
But there is no need for you to die along with Uruk. If you can make it to Nippur, perhaps you can survive.

Gilgamesh
Those who wish to live, head towards the Northern Wall. If you wish to fight, then die for Uruk's sake.

Gilgamesh
You have until evening. Say your farewells to your friends and family.

Uruk Soldiers
...King Gilgamesh...

Gilgamesh
So you're back, Chaldeans? Looks like you succeeded in defeating Gorgon.

Gilgamesh
Hmm? You don't look so good. Are you tired, or have you seen too many things you wish you hadn't?

Gilgamesh
...Will you rest a little? No one will object to that.

  1. No.
  2. Please continue, King Gilgamesh.
  Select: No.

  Select: Please continue, King Gilgamesh.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
I see. Very well then.

Gilgamesh
Ishtar. Quetzalcoatl. And Jaguar Warrior, who I've heard so much about! Fwahaha! So, you're Jaguar Warrior!

Jaguar Warrior
I don't know how to handle this sudden pawpularity! I'm having mixed feelings about this warm welcome!

Gilgamesh
Heh. Don't say that. It's been tough here recently. I needed something to laugh at.

Jaguar Warrior
Now I'm even more confused! Should my feelings be hurt?

Gilgamesh
Give me your report, Fujimaru. Tell me everything that happened at the Demonic Front.

Gilgamesh
I see. So Merlin's dead.

Gilgamesh
Undefeated in real life, he was crushed inside a dream. That's a fitting ending for him.

Gilgamesh
“Evils of Humanity”... Is that definitely what Merlin said?

Mash
Yes, he said that the Mage King summoned one of the Seven Evils of Humanity to this land.

Mash
...Um, King Gilgamesh, what is an Evil of Humanity? And...there are seven of them?

Gilgamesh
What, you're not aware of them? I had thought you'd found the answer to that in your journeys.

Gilgamesh
The Seven Evils of Humanity, as the name suggests, are humanity's stigmas. A series of disasters that destroy humanity.

Gilgamesh
The more humanity develops, the stronger they become, like a cancer eating at society from within.

Gilgamesh
You could call them stagnant pools within human history.

Da Vinci
Do you mean those who seek revenge, like Gorgon? Beings who would destroy humanity through animosity?

Gilgamesh
The opposite, beautiful one.

Gilgamesh
The Evils of Humanity are not evils that destroy humanity. They are evils that humanity destroys.

Mash
Evils that humanity destroys?

Gilgamesh
Indeed. Humph. I'll let the appropriate person explain when the time comes.

Gilgamesh
Just know they are disasters that threaten human history. Humanity's self-destruct system and safeguard...and the basis for Heroic Spirit summoning.

Gilgamesh
The Seven Evils of Humanity manifest and exist as Spirit Origins. They are seven disasters, created by humanity's bestial nature.

Gilgamesh
Thus, their class is Beast. This is what the Mage King has awoken. One of them, at any rate.

Ishtar
Hold on. The primordial sea could only mean Mother.

Ishtar
Are you saying this abnormality wasn't caused by the mother of gods...by the goddess Tiamat?

Gilgamesh
Fool. I'm telling you that Tiamat is one of the Beasts. Our foe is quite literally a primordial god.

Mash
A Beast-class... The Seven Evils of Humanity... So that's our foe now?

Gilgamesh
Indeed. It's a name for all the Beasts of Disaster.

Gilgamesh
The Beast in this land does not seem to have awakened completely. You have no readings on it, right, Chaldeans?

Da Vinci
Yeah. King Gilgamesh is right. I don't see a Spirit Origin signature that terrible anywhere.

Da Vinci
As for possibilities, you know... I probably shouldn't have to tell you where it is.

Quetzalcoatl
I bet it's inside that darkened Persian Gulf, yes. We could see it from the sky on our way to Uruk.

Quetzalcoatl
There were so many strange things coming out of the black sea. What are those, Gilgamesh?

Gilgamesh
I have no idea! Every one we captured just melted away!

Gilgamesh
Thus, I'll turn to you instead! How about it, Romani Archaman of Chaldea?

Dr. Roman
Hmm... Sheesh. I just finished my analysis. Though it's within the limitations of what I can do from here.

Dr. Roman
We're short on time, so I'll just get to the conclusion. They're made from what you'd call the base for the Mesopotamian world—

Dr. Roman
Sand and soil of the Age of Gods... The Mud of Gods. These beings don't exist in our genealogical tree.

Dr. Roman
Since there's no difference between males and females, we can assume they reproduce asexually instead of sexually.

Dr. Roman
From their internal structure, it seems that they're currently in a larval state. Meaning they're going to change even more.

Dr. Roman
They emit so much magical energy because their Magical Circuits are those of beings from the Age of Gods. Think of them as mass-produced Enkidus.

Dr. Roman
So, I've named them Laḫmu. It was the name of Tiamat's first child, and means “mud.”

Ishtar
(...Wait, is he actually good at his job? He even got the name Laḫmu right...!?)

Gilgamesh
Humph. Laḫmu, eh? I was thinking the same thing. We're on the same page, Doctor.

Ishtar
(And then there's this idiot trying to take all the credit!)

Gilgamesh
We shall now refer to these creatures from the sea of mud as Laḫmu! Sidu– No, you, captain.

Gilgamesh
Inform everyone of the name Laḫmu. It will make communication easier later on.

  1. ...Um, where's Siduri?
 
  Select: ...Um, where's Siduri?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Forget about Siduri. We need to deal with the Laḫmu now.

Gilgamesh
They've spread across Mesopotamia and attacked many cities. They're not just slaughtering, but kidnapping too.

Gilgamesh
Our reports show that those kidnapped by the Laḫmu were taken to Eridu.

Gilgamesh
The Laḫmu have taken advantage of Quetzalcoatl's absence to make a nest in the jungle.

Quetzalcoatl
...Veo. I'll need to file a complaint about them personally. Was Ur taken over as well?

Gilgamesh
So it seems. I don't know why, but after attacking Uruk, they left for Eridu.

Gilgamesh
The Demonic Beasts had a tendency to sleep at night. Perhaps they're the same.

Gilgamesh
Whatever the reason, that's their nest. But we can ignore that. Our target is that blackened sea.

Gilgamesh
If Tiamat awakens, it's over. ...Well, actually, it's over already, isn't it?

Gilgamesh
That's fine. Everyone has accepted that this is the end.

Dr. Roman
?

Gilgamesh
Master of Chaldea. If Uruk falls, the Foundation of Humanity will completely collapse.

Gilgamesh
Even the Singularity will burn to ash, and Chaldea will disappear in the flames as well.

Gilgamesh
If you don't want that to happen, then fight on to the end. Go to the observation point near the sea, and investigate—

  1. Wait.
  2. Where did Siduri go?
  Select: Wait.

  Select: Where did Siduri go?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
...

Gilgamesh
If you're worried about Siduri, she attempted to protect the people from the Laḫmu and was captured. That's all.

Mash
King Gilgamesh, why didn't you tell us!?

Mash
We understand your position, King Gilgamesh, but if Siduri was taken away, then we need to hurry...

  1. I'm going after Siduri even if you stop me!
  2. King Gilgamesh, you jackass! Nitwit!
  Select: I'm going after Siduri even if you stop me!

  Select: King Gilgamesh, you jackass! Nitwit!

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Well said, fools! Then I order you to investigate Eridu!

Gilgamesh
I cannot leave this place, so have Jaguar Warrior be your messenger!

Gilgamesh
You have one day! Finish things in a day and return to me here!

Mash
Huh... H-huh? King Gilgamesh...!? We...you're letting us save her?

Gilgamesh
Don't be so arrogant, foreigners! I've said from the start that your lot were unnecessary!

Gilgamesh
I never considered you part of Uruk's forces! If you can't be used, then it doesn't matter!

Gilgamesh
I was planning on sending an investigation team to Eridu anyway, and now you've saved me the trouble!

Da Vinci
Oh? If you don't consider us part of your forces, then what were all those orders you gave us?

Gilgamesh
Humph. That's a different matter. I'm a king. Kings give orders. It's only natural.

Gilgamesh
Now hurry! I leave it up to you how to handle my kidnapped citizens.

Gilgamesh
Go to Eridu and find out what the Laḫmu want! It may help us defeat Tiamat somehow.

Kingu
...What's going on, Solomon? Mother awakened. So why hasn't she appeared at the surface?

H：Solomon
The seal. There's a seal over her, Kingu. She is bound, bound by that great sea.

H：Solomon
You elevated the stray Gorgon to godhood, and the chain summoning brought Quetzalcoatl.

H：Solomon
And then there was Ereshkigal, summoned by the Sacred Temple of Uruk. You brought them all into a rivalry through an alliance,

H：Solomon
and at the same time kept the king of Uruk at bay. Splendidly done. You are indeed worthy of praise.

H：Solomon
But it's not enough. Your job isn't done, Kingu.

H：Solomon
Humanity is destroyed, but its history remains.

H：Solomon
Break the seal on Tiamat and wipe out all the life forms in Uruk. If that happens, even the Singularity itself will disappear.

H：Solomon
Human history will end there, in that era, even without my intervention.

H：Solomon
At last I have the light bands from all of time and space. All that's left is for you to drop the crushing blow upon humanity.

Kingu
Yes. As promised, we will take this era.

Kingu
Only humanity will be destroyed. Mother will make a new world, and I will take over as the first new human.

Kingu
That was the one wish of Tiamat after she was abandoned by humanity.

H：Solomon
...Wonderful. I hear your conviction, Kingu, and you have the power to make your words reality.

H：Solomon
I will support you.
But...

H：Solomon
But only if that's what she really wants.

Kingu
...If that's what she really wants? Don't be stupid. Of course it is.

Kingu
That's why Tiamat created me. That's why she trusted me and gave me the Grail.

Woman
Stop it...Stop, please, stop—

Laḫmu A
[email protected]:@yq,qkd]! 0o4 0o4 0o4

Laḫmu B
3dtofd@/94,rd@[email protected]. fd;.t,nwnge.

Laḫmu C
Ki—ki, kiki, ki— kikikikikikikiki!

Woman
It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! I can't do it! Humans can't move that way!

Kingu
...They killed another one? Is that how they think observing humans is done?

Kingu
They don't know how to control themselves. They're lower than Demonic Beasts. They toy with and destroy them, and grin with those teeth...

Kingu
The noise they make is like human laughter. How crude. Why did Mother create such things...?

Laḫmu
—Ki—kiki, ki—!

Kingu
...Well, it doesn't matter. They're merely soldiers. I am all the world needs.

Kingu
I don't need companions, or family.
...Not even friends.

Kingu
For I am the one true and complete new man. But...

Kingu
...It's no good. I can't hear Mother's voice.

Kingu
Before, I was able to hear her sobbing when I closed my eyes, but since the sea turned black, I can't hear anything...

Kingu
Then I will have to break the seal, just like Solomon said.

Kingu
...But... Who on Earth has the ability to bind the Primordial Mother?

Section 17: The New Humanity

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Mash
...Nobody's at the gate.
All the lights in the city have gone out...

Mash
Uruk was so lively, but now...

Quetzalcoatl
...That's right. So much was lost in a single day, yes.
But look at that road, Mash.

Quetzalcoatl
All the fires that light the night are strewn together to look like a river. The survivors are forming caravans and heading for the Northern Wall.

Quetzalcoatl
And the soldiers are still at the walls, carrying those artillery platforms. Just as the king ordered.

Quetzalcoatl
Uruk isn't finished yet. Everybody's doing what they can.

Ishtar
Yes. I'm glad you're willing to mourn, but now's not the time yet.

Ishtar
It's okay. Uruk will survive this, too.

Ishtar
After all, they've gotten through floods and famines just fine!

Jaguar Warrior
Meowahaha! That means a lot, coming from the goddess who plunged Uruk into seven years of famine!

Jaguar Warrior
Are you trying to say, “I'm the only one who's allowed to destroy Uruk!” What do you call that again?

Jaguar Warrior
I think I meow it... I think it's a phrase you hear in the 21st century!

Ishtar
Shuddup, tiger! I don't want to hear you say anything starting with “self...”

Mash
We've arrived at Ur, Master. I don't see anyone...

Quetzalcoatl
(A Servant's presence...? Do I smell a lingering scent?
If I don't see them, did they leave, or were they killed?)

Quetzalcoatl
(No, look at this disaster... I can't let Fujimaru see it...)

  1. Quetzalcoatl...?
  2. Is something wrong?
  Select: Quetzalcoatl...?

  Select: Is something wrong?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
No, I was just being silly, yes! I'm sorry, Master, Mash.

Quetzalcoatl
I was going to tell you not to look in the houses. But that's making light of everything you've been through so far.

Quetzalcoatl
None of the people of Ur survived.
Everyone was killed in their homes.

Mash
...What!?

Jaguar Warrior
...This isn't how beasts kill. They've been ripped apart, but nothing's missing.

Jaguar Warrior
The people of Ur were killed for no reason.

Jaguar Warrior
Not from hunger, anger, or over territory.

Jaguar Warrior
They were killed simply because someone wanted to try killing them. This never happens in nature...

Jaguar Warrior
I...I guess it's what humans would call murdering for the pleasure of it.

Mash
Why...? Why would they do this?

Mash
The people of Ur chose not to resist.
There was no reason to kill...

Mash
There was no reason for them to be treated like this!

Dr. Roman
...That's right. The Laḫmu don't even have digestive organs. They have no reason to attack other creatures.

Dr. Roman
They have all they need to survive within them.
And yet they attack others. Which means—

Ishtar
...We can talk later. The Laḫmu are here.

Laḫmu
...

  1. ...What are they dragging—
 
  Select: ...What are they dragging—

===Branch End===

Laḫmu
—Ki. Kiki, ki—
Gikikikikiki!

  1. Mash...!
 
  Select: Mash...!

===Branch End===

Mash
Roger, Master! Engaging enemy Laḫmu!

--BATTLE--

Laḫmu
Gyashi—
Gyakikikikikiki!

Jaguar Warrior
...I got more serious than I intended to. But no repentance means no forgiveness. No mercy for those evil diablos.

Quetzalcoatl
Not bad for a jaguar. Was that your true nature?

Jaguar Warrior
Meow! I guess so!
I can't stay a tiger in a situation like thi—

Jaguar Warrior
Okay! I'm back to normal! But now's not the time for that, so feel free to ignore me.

Ishtar
Of course, we're heading straight to Eridu.

Ishtar
They're transforming so quickly.
We need to save the kidnapped people fast!

--ARROW--

Mash
We've arrived at Eridu! I sense people—
What's all this commotion?

Dr. Roman
I'm picking up signs of life! Five hundred, no, six hundred people! They're the ones who were kidnapped!

Quetzalcoatl
They're being gathered in the plaza! What about the Laḫmu?

Dr. Roman
They're there too, of course! Over two hundred of them! It's a fraction of their forces, but we're still hopelessly outgunned!

Dr. Roman
I know how you all feel, but proceed with caution!

Mash
But there's no time to waste! If they're being gathered up we have to assume the worst!

Ishtar
Calm down. I'm not saying not to fight, Mash. You need to act decisively, understand the situation,

Ishtar
and attack from the best possible position. The most we can take at a time is four.

Ishtar
We need to find a weak point or something before we can face them head on...!

Mash
...! There's a Laḫmu in front of us! It's spotted us!

Dr. Roman
Just one? Then engage! Neutralize it before it calls the others!

--BATTLE--

Laḫmu
...!

Jaguar Warrior
That Laḫmu was strange, huh? It ran away without doing anything.

Mash
Yes. It was different than the other Laḫmu... Maybe there's a difference in their personalities...

  1. The most it did was raise its hands to scare us.
  2. ...No, that can't be...
  Select: The most it did was raise its hands to scare us.

  Select: ...No, that can't be...

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
But even if it doesn't put up a fight, they're dangerous other ways. They're a colony. They might be trading information using their super senses.

Dr. Roman
You'll all be in danger if you can't stay hidden. Follow it and finish it off.

Ishtar
...Don't. Never mind that Laḫmu. Let's hurry to the plaza.

Mash
Ishtar? Um... What is it?

Ishtar
Just do it! We don't have time to spare, right? Sorry to be so difficult, but we can't just idly watch anymore!

Ishtar
We're going into the plaza! Before it's too late...!

--BATTLE--

D：Uruk Civilian
(Panting)

D：Uruk Civilian
I did it... I did it... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...! Ugh... I did it... I did it!

D：Uruk Civilian
This is what you wanted, right? Once I'm the only one left, you'll let me go, right?

Laḫmu
...!

F：Uruk Soldier
So they kill you even if you kill the others!? What do they want from us? How do we survive?

G：Uruk Soldier
Ugh... Uggh... Dammit! Dammit! Uwaahh! Die! Please!

Laḫmu
...!

Dr. Roman
...This is bad. They're making humans kill each other.

Dr. Roman
They make them kill each other in groups of ten, and then laugh as they kill the last survivor—

Mash
Master, your orders!

  1. We're going in, Mash!
  2. We're going to save them!
  Select: We're going in, Mash!

  Select: We're going to save them!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
I agree! I was naïve to say we should wait and see! Quetzalcoatl, I'll annihilate the ones outside the plaza!

Ishtar
I was saving my Divinity, but now I'll blow those things away at full power!

Ishtar
You back up Fujimaru!

Quetzalcoatl
Claro. I've reached my boiling point, too! This time, I'm really going to rip out their hearts!

--BATTLE--

Mash
Everyone, please run toward the jungle! We'll draw those monsters away!

Uruk Civilian
O-okay...!
Thank you, Thank...Ack!?

Mash
Wh-why? I'm the one who's a threat to you!

Laḫmu
—Gi. Giki, kihahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Dr. Roman
What's going on? Do the Laḫmu care more about killing their prisoners than their own lives!?

Dr. Roman
There's no point, it's a tangle of contradictions! The Laḫmu are perfected beings as an organism!

Dr. Roman
There is absolutely no reason for them to fight for survival or attack other living things.

Quetzalcoatl
These little...!

Kingu
...What are you doing? I'm asking you, what are you doing gathering those old humans!?

Laḫmu
... ... ...

  1. Now's our chance! Go, Mash!
  2. ...Kingu attacked the Laḫmu...?
  Select: Now's our chance! Go, Mash!
Mash
Yes...! Everyone, this way! Ishtar will support us from above!

  Select: ...Kingu attacked the Laḫmu...?
Quetzalcoatl
...Seems so. That saved us, too...
Quetzalcoatl
But their behavior has obviously changed for the worse... I sense a storm brewing, Fujimaru.

===Branch End===

Kingu
Answer me, why do you do such pointless things!? And you call yourselves the children of the Primordial Mother, Tiamat!?

Kingu
It's all right to attack Uruk. It's all right to kill the enemy. But why kill without purpose?

Kingu
Those humans would never become a threat to us. Eventually Tiamat would have killed them herself. They didn't matter!

Kingu
I will not allow such pointless behavior from the new humans! Your behavior is completely foolish!

Kingu
...I don't want to admit it, but Mother must have slipped up after awakening so suddenly.

Kingu
You are all just defects. Even lower than Gorgon's Demonic Beasts...!

Laḫmu
...

Kingu
...Fine. If you understand, then fall back. None of you is a match for Quetzalcoatl.

Kingu
You may be no better than trash, but you are Mother's children, my brothers. I can't stand by and let you die.

Mash
...Brothers...? You and the Laḫmu?

Kingu
...That is correct, as much as I hate to admit it. They are just soldiers that were simplified and mass produced based on me.

Kingu
And I am the one and only child of Tiamat that was created as a commander. So it's only natural I'm different from them.

Mash
...Master. This person is, um...

  1. ...Yeah, dead wrong.
  2. ...Kingu, you dumbass!
  Select: ...Yeah, dead wrong.

  Select: ...Kingu, you dumbass!

===Branch End===

Mash
Kingu. You are not one of Tiamat's children.

Mash
Tiamat may have created you, but you were not born from her.

Mash
You said your body was made using Enkidu as a template.

Mash
...But that is not the case. Your body is Enkidu's actual deceased body.

Mash
You are probably...a synthetic Demonic Beast made from Enkidu's corpse.

Kingu
What did you say?

Mash
You are not a “new human”... You were probably created just to awaken Tiamat...

Kingu
Nonsense. Even if that were true, what's wrong with that!?

Kingu
Even if I weren't born from Mother, she still gave me life. I am her son.

Kingu
This body... I don't know a thing about Enkidu. They're nothing to me. I don't even have a record of their past!

Kingu
And what's wrong with that? All I need to exist is my purpose in serving Mother.

Kingu
Any other notions or extraneous sentiments are useless. I'm just a puppet who works for Tiamat.

Kingu
That is me. Kingu is just a puppet made for that purpose.

Laḫmu
—Shi.

Kingu
...? What, do you have something to—

Laḫmu
—ki, shi.

Laḫmu
Shishi, shi—

Laḫmu
Shahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Kingu
I told you all to stop! What is so funny...!?

E：Laḫmu
...It. Obvious.

E：Laḫmu
Because. Watching. You. Funny. Because. This. Is. Fun.

E：Laḫmu
Fun. Fun. Fun. Fun. Killing. Humans. Really. Fun!

Kingu
You can speak...!?

F：Laḫmu
Mother. Order. Us. Go. Learn. As. New. Humans.

F：Laḫmu
How. To. Be. Human. Concept. Of. Humans.

F：Laḫmu
Become. More. Like. Humans. This. Is. The. Result.

E：Laḫmu
To. Act. Like. Humans. Amazing. Fun. Fun. Fun. Fun!

E：Laḫmu
Killing. Humans. Very. Fun!

Kingu
You all are—

Laḫmu
And.

Laḫmu
You. Are. Very. Boring.

Kingu
Arg, ugh... Why, you... What are you...

Kingu
I am... the same... Mother's... child—

Mash
The Holy Grail...! I'm detecting the Holy Grail's signal inside Kingu!

Dr. Roman
So Kingu was the one storing the Holy Grail! Gorgon was receiving the power of the Grail through him!

Dr. Roman
But why would the Laḫmu steal that!? And by ambushing Kingu!?

Quetzalcoatl
Jaguar!

Jaguar Warrior
Got it!

Ishtar
You're not going anywhere!

H：Laḫmu
You. No. Need. Anymore. We. Will. Take. This.

H：Bel Laḫmu
It. Is our. Job. To wake. Mother. Kingu, you are obsolete. Now die here.

Mash
The Laḫmu has swallowed the Holy Grail and transformed! Those are wings... It's no use, Senpai!

Mash
That thing is specialized in flying! It'll escape!

Ishtar
I won't let it! We'll leave the small fry to you, Coatl! We'll go and take that thing down!

Quetzalcoatl
Be careful! That thing has a Magical Reactor Core within its body! The amount of magical energy is incredible!

--BATTLE--

Kingu
Urg...!

Laḫmu
No. Use! No. Use! No. Holy. Grail. No. more. Mother's. Voice. Can't hear!

Laḫmu
You. Useless! Kingu useless! Kingu pitiful. Very pitiful! Pitiful!

Laḫmu
Gi—Kiki, kikikiki, pitiful. Is amusing! Pitiful is amusing! Ludicrous and amusing!

Laḫmu
Kingu. Fun! Not. Realize. You are. The. Obsolete one.

Kingu
Wh...y...! You mass-produced little...!

Kingu
Urg... This wasn't how...it was supposed to be...! I am the ultimate weapon of this era...!

Laḫmu
He. Ran! He. Ran! Gyahaha!
Gyahahahahahahahahahaha!

Laḫmu
Hunt! Hunt! Let's break. Old type. To little. Bits. Pieces!

Bel Laḫmu
Fun, fun! Seeing you. Struggle is fun!

Mash
The transformed Laḫmu has fled into the sky...! They're going to get away!

Ishtar
Are you trying to outrace me!? Bring it on, I'll take you on... Ugh!?

Ishtar
Hey, get off me, you!! Sorry, Coatl, go on with Fujimaru!

Quetzalcoatl
Come, my Quetzalcoatlus! Fujimaru, get on! Mash too!

Quetzalcoatl
Okay, we're going after it!

Quetzalcoatl
Jaguar! Evacuate and protect the civilians, and report to the king!

Jaguar Warrior
Roguar, gotcha!

Mash
Wait, Kingu is still there! With that injury, he won't be able to escape the Laḫmu!

Quetzalcoatl
It's too late. Forget him. We're at max capacity. This is all we can do.

Quetzalcoatl
Kingu's life is in his own hands now.

Quetzalcoatl
We have to go after that Laḫmu! Its destination is probably the ocean and if we lose it, everything ends!

Section 18: Awakening

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Fou
Fofofofofoooo.

Mash
We've never gone this fast before!!
It reminds me of the Arash Airlines flight, Master–!

  1. I'm falling off, falling off...!
  2. Quetzalcoatlus is gonna get us killed...!
  Select: I'm falling off, falling off...!

  Select: Quetzalcoatlus is gonna get us killed...!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
I know you're about to black out, but please hang on! The Laḫmu is headed for the center of the Persian Gulf!

Dr. Roman
That's probably where Tiamat is! If the Laḫmu drops the Holy Grail there, we'll never recover it!

Dr. Roman
Even worse, if Tiamat wakes up from the Grail's magical energy—

Quetzalcoatl
Don't worry, we'll catch up! We got them in sight!

Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatlus, this is the last push!
Blast that Laḫmu with a plancha at max speed!

Quetzalcoatlus
Kweh!

Quetzalcoatl
Yes! We got it! It's falling down to the shore!
Let's go finish it off!

  1. You go, Quetzalcoatl!
  2. Ishtar could learn a thing or two from you!
  Select: You go, Quetzalcoatl!

  Select: Ishtar could learn a thing or two from you!

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Now's not the time to be charming, Fujimaru! I just did what was necessary, yes!

Dr. Roman
The Laḫmu crashed on the beach!
Now, just finish it off and take the Grail—

Dr. Roman
Wait, what is this Spirit Origin reading!?
Quetzalcoatl, what's going on!?

Quetzalcoatl
Not possible!

Kingu
This wasn't how...how it was supposed to be...! Mother created me to be the first of the new human race..!

Kingu
That was why I destroyed Mesopotamia...
That was why I did everything...

Kingu
Even without any experience, any memory, or any love in this body, I believed Mother had hopes for me...!

Laḫmu
Gyaha! Gyahaha! Gyahahahahaha!
Over. There! He. Ran. Over. There!

Laḫmu
Corner him. Capture him! Break him. Break. The. Defect!

Kingu
This can't be...

Kingu
There was nothing, this land had nothing...!

Kingu
I was expendable from the start...
I was just a fake from the beginning...!

Kingu
No future, no hopes, no will...not even friends...I had nothing.

Kingu
The only thing I had was that I was Tiamat's only child. And that was the only thing I could cling to...

Laḫmu
Aha. Found. You.

Kingu
...

Kingu
(So this is where it ends. Just like the old humans...
I can't believe it...)

Kingu
(...I guess I wasn't anything special...
Just like anything else, I can be hurt...broken...)

Kingu
(...Ah, if only I'd known... I wish I'd gone to see him one last time—）

Laḫmu
...

Kingu
Huh...? You...saved...me?

Laḫmu
...Run. Now. Enkidu. Although. You. May. Not. Be. Long. Either.

Kingu
You're...the one they brought yesterday...

Kingu
But why? Why would you save me...?

Laḫmu
...Find. Happiness. Please. Find. Your. Happiness.

Laḫmu
Dearest. Friend. Enki...du.

Laḫmu
We. People of Uruk. Will. Never. Forget. Our gratitude. For. You.

Laḫmu
You. Gave. The. Lone. King. A life. You. Led. Him. To the. Path. Towards. A. Great king.

Laḫmu
There. Was. No. One. Who. Did. Not. Grieve your. Death. No. One. Forgot your. Death.

Laḫmu
...I too. I too. Was. So sad.

Laḫmu
That. Is. Why. Find happiness. Enkidu.
Beautiful one. Of. Green.

Laḫmu
Aah... So glad. Thank. You. I was. Able to. Tell you.

Laḫmu
Thank you. Thank. You. Thank. Yo—

Kingu
...

Kingu
What is this— I didn't even know you.

Kingu
How come I know your name and face though...
You thanking me—

Kingu
I don't have any right to receive your gratitu—
Urg—

Kingu
Urgguuuuugh...! Aaaaaaaaaaaaagh...!!!

Dr. Roman
Another Spirit Origin detected. It's a Servant!
But this is—

C：???
That is correct. You lot stand no chance against me.

C：???
The Wandering Tales of Shana-oh, Act II... Usumidori: Steps of Heaven.

Quetzalcoatl
Gah! We were nearly there...! Who are you!?

Ushiwakamaru
Guardian of Tiamat. Servant, Ushiwakamaru.

Mash
It can't be. Ushiwakamaru...?

Ushiwakamaru
The Holy Grail will be delivered to Mother.
You humans are not worthy of it.

Ushiwakamaru
However, if you want to catch up to it, then I'll grant your wish. I'll bring your heads back to the black sea with me. Just your heads.

Dr. Roman
...It's not Ushiwakamaru.
That's not Ushiwakamaru, Mash!

Dr. Roman
Her Spirit Origin signature and appearance may be the same, but everything else is different! It's the same way the Laḫmu changed!

Dr. Roman
Don't hesitate, Mash, Fujimaru!
She's become one of Tiamat's children!

Ushiwakamaru
Exactly. I've never felt better, never felt more like myself from before.

Ushiwakamaru
This blade is the voice of love and hate.
I shall offer all of you to Mother...!

--BATTLE--

Mash
Ushiwakamaru has vanished... But now we can follow the Laḫmu...

Ushiwakamaru
That's impossible. You're going to die here.

Quetzalcoatl
She's back!? No, wait. That's—

E：Ushiwakamaru
That's right. Die here. Die like the insects you are.

E：Ushiwakamaru
Those who survive on the battlefield. Those who forget it. Those who avoid the battlefield. Those who abandoned me there...

E：Ushiwakamaru
All of them must die. I'll kill them. I'll kill you. I'll kill every single human.

E：Ushiwakamaru
And then—Yoritomo, that fool Yoshitsune... I'll rip the ENTIRE Genji clan apart!!!

Mash
Multiple enemy Servants detected...! Doctor, what is this...!?

Dr. Roman
She's multiplying. Just like the Lahmu! I...don't think this new Ushiwakamaru can die!

Dr. Roman
As long as a finger or single strand of hair survives, a new Ushiwakamaru will grow from it!

Dr. Roman
This is the worst! There's nothing we can do! Fujimaru, run!

Dr. Roman
Even if you had a Noble Phantasm that could completely obliterate it, that thing won't stay dead!

Dr. Roman
Because...Ushiwakamaru's Spirit Origin signature is mixed in with the sea behind her!

Dr. Roman
There's literally no end to this!

Ushiwakamaru
I did tell you... I'm going to kill you.

Ushiwakamaru
The only Noble Phantasm that could destroy this sea would be one capable of gathering all the magical energy of the entire era.

Ushiwakamaru
In other words, only the light bands covering the heavens can rival Mother now. Do any of you have such a powerful Noble Phantasm?

Quetzalcoatl
Heh. Funny you should say that, yes! You know, we just might? But, well, first...

Quetzalcoatl
I cannot forgive the way you make Fujimaru and Mash suffer!

Quetzalcoatl
Before I bring out the big guns, I'm going smash your face in with my macana, yes!

Ushiwakamaru
Shut up, false goddess! I shall smash that pathetic wooden sword of yours to pieces!

--BATTLE--

Ushiwakamaru
Humph... Perhaps you really weren't all talk.

Ushiwakamaru
But you can't win. While we fought, the Grail was delivered to Mother.

  1. ...We couldn't stop it...!
  2. Ushiwakamaru, how could you...?
  Select: ...We couldn't stop it...!
Mash
...Yes. We failed... We couldn't get past Ushiwakamaru...

  Select: Ushiwakamaru, how could you...?
Ushiwakamaru
...Why? I don't know.
Ushiwakamaru
The old me died in the sea of mud. What you see before you is a dead woman, stripped of her reason and turned into a being of pure instinct.
Ushiwakamaru
The truth is, I always had this in me, Fujimaru.
Ushiwakamaru
There was a black, inhuman part of me that hated the world of man, and wanted to kill more than anything.

===Branch End===

Mash
A huge number of Laḫmu has appeared again...! So...so many! Uruk isn't in any state to handle this many!

Ushiwakamaru
...So it's begun, huh? I must go, then. I don't want to run out of things to kill.

Ushiwakamaru
Now, should I destroy Uruk while its people try to fortify its little walls, or play with the refugees trying to escape beyond the Northern Wall?

Ushiwakamaru
Either way, I'm abandoning this body. I have no interest in clinging to something so wounded.

Ushiwakamaru
Farewell, survivors of Chaldea. I commend your efforts in slaying me...

Ushiwakamaru
...Hollow victory though it is. Death no longer holds meaning for me.

Mash
...Let's head back to Uruk, Master! Even if we don't make it in time, we can't just stay here!

  1. No, let's head to the observation point first.
  2. Mash, first you need to calm down.
  Select: No, let's head to the observation point first.

  Select: Mash, first you need to calm down.

===Branch End===

Mash
Y-you're right, but...! Holding my hand like that is helping...!

Quetzalcoatl
Yes, that's a good idea. I agree with Fujimaru.

Quetzalcoatl
...And I'm sorry. I failed to stop the Laḫmu from escaping.

Dr. Roman
No, it's not your fault. Nobody could've predicted something like that would happen.

Dr. Roman
More importantly, we need to do what Fujimaru said, and head for the observation point!

Dr. Roman
It's an emergency, but that doesn't mean we can run around blindly! First we need to know what's going on!

Dr. Roman
And we need to rest, if even only for a few minutes.

Dr. Roman
You've been fighting this whole time. I want to at least get these two some rest in a room with a roof.

Quetzalcoatl
Yes, of course! Good idea, Doctor, yes! First, let's eat! Eat!

Quetzalcoatl
Like the great lucha announcers say, you can't get in the ring on an empty stomach, yes!

--ARROW--

Gilgamesh
You're late, Chaldeans! What happened? Tell me everything!

Mash
K-King Gilgamesh!?

  1. Wh-what is this? Is he ripping off the Doctor?
  2. I can see through you!
  Select: Wh-what is this? Is he ripping off the Doctor?
Gilgamesh
I'm not ripping anyone off. I was inspired! Why do you think I went to the observation post last time?
Gilgamesh
I made a communication system for this very moment!

  Select: I can see through you!
Gilgamesh
Hmm. So it's not quite perfect, huh?
Gilgamesh
I thought it would be boring to copy Chaldea, so I attempted to make a more refined communications system. And it seems I didn't quite succeed. It's infuriating!
Gilgamesh
But it is very good for something done in a rush, right? You have my permission to praise my prowess as a mage!

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Wow, what is this!? I can see them, meow! Hey, Kuku, I'm right here!

Jaguar Warrior
What's going on over there? Everything's in chaos here!

Jaguar Warrior
Those Laḫmu attacked again! But this time, amazingly, we're kinda holding them off!

Jaguar Warrior
His Majesty rolled out those big bows on the castle walls! Three hundred and sixty of them!

Gilgamesh
Obviously. I prepared enough to repel an attack from any direction. They can hold off the Lahmus for an hour or so.

Gilgamesh
But! The soldiers won't last any longer than that! Nor will my magical energy!

Gilgamesh
That's all I have to report! Now, what about you fools?

  1. (Explain as briefly as possible.)
  2. Tiamat's got the Grail. We're boned.
  Select: (Explain as briefly as possible.)

  Select: Tiamat's got the Grail. We're boned.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
...

Gilgamesh
What were you people doing!? What happened at Eridu?

Quetzalcoatl
Hey! Calm down, Gilgamesh! Listen, Kingu's heart was the Grail!

Quetzalcoatl
Tiamat was using the Grail as a power source to control what was left of Enkidu!

Quetzalcoatl
Then a Laḫmu took the Grail, and threw it into the center of the Persian Gulf, which is where we are now!

Quetzalcoatl
It's all my fault! Quetzalcoatl did it! Does that settle it? I think that settles it, right? Great! Then we're done talking about it forever!

Quetzalcoatl
So do you have a plan!? I'm open to ideas right now! Even yours!

Gilgamesh
I see. That was...succinct, Quetzalcoatl. Now let me tell you what I think!

Gilgamesh
First! We got the results from the water analysis.

Gilgamesh
The black seawater is Tiamat's Authority itself!

Gilgamesh
It infects those who touch it, and Tiamat's Authority is copied into their cells and makes them into her slaves.

Gilgamesh
The Laḫmu were born from the mud of Tiamat. They probably aren't affected by it.

Gilgamesh
But anyone else, Servant or human, that touches that black mud will be absorbed by Tiamat!

Jaguar Warrior
I see! So don't touch it! And if you have to touch it, touch as little as possible to protect yourself, meow!

Ishtar
That's right... Mother... I mean Tiamat's Authority includes self-modification, multiplication, and bio-fusion.

Ishtar
But her most powerful one is the “Amino Geas,” or cell compulsion.

Ishtar
Once they're inside that mud, it will Darken any Servant.

Mash
Ishtar! You're here!

Ishtar
Yes, I'm sorry I'm late. But I got Eridu back on its feet.

Ishtar
The people are evacuated to the basement of Eridu's ziggurat, instead of heading to Uruk.

Ishtar
They can hole up in there for a day. Even Laḫmu can't break in there easily.

Gilgamesh
A Darkening mud, you say? I've never seen it, but what an annoying concept to deal with.

Gilgamesh
Whatever. Second! The observation post not only recorded the water quality, but also the height of the water and waves!

Gilgamesh
They observed an unusual water level. The moment the Grail was stolen from you, the water started to rise by the minute!

Gilgamesh
By my calculations, the observation post will be swallowed in three hours, and the black sea will overflow onto land.

Gilgamesh
What we're going to see is something even worse than the great flood that once destroyed Mesopotamia.

Gilgamesh
It'll be a black sea of mud that turns all life it touches into monsters!

Dr. Roman
If that happens, Uruk, and all of human history, are finished!

Dr. Roman
If Mesopotamia, the great civilization and basis for urban society, is turned into a world of monsters, the Foundation of Humanity will collapse!

Mash
We won't let that happen! Doctor, give us a plan!

Mash
Do you have one!? You have one, right!?

Dr. Roman
...I do. I do, but... This is...

Gilgamesh
It doesn't matter. Tell me! At the very least, I'll listen!

Dr. Roman
Oh, fine! I'll tell you! I just observed a Spirit Origin signature at the center of the Persian Gulf!

Dr. Roman
It's a Holy Grail, with an ultra-ultra-ultra-class Magical Reactor Core with more than seven times the magical energy of a Grail...

Dr. Roman
There's no doubt that this is the primordial Demonic Beast who birthed the world of Mesopotamia! The Spirit Origin belongs to Tiamat!

Dr. Roman
If this calamity, this sea, is Tiamat's Authority, our only solution is to defeat Tiamat herself!

Mash
...!

Ishtar
Whoaaa... I figured this atmospheric shaking was the aftereffect of Mother coming to the surface...

Quetzalcoatl
...

Gilgamesh
...It may be that slaying Tiamat and destroying her Spirit Origin would stop the mud. But is that possible?

Gilgamesh
She's on a completely different level than the Demon Gods you've fought before. Are you willing to do it anyway, Fujimaru?

  1. I'm ready!
  2. Everyone, let's do this!
  Select: I'm ready!

  Select: Everyone, let's do this!

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Well said. I will work with that plan, then.

Gilgamesh
I can't send you reinforcements, but don't worry about Uruk.

Gilgamesh
Bring me Tiamat's head!

Quetzalcoatl
That means my winged serpents will be our mounts.

Quetzalcoatl
If only we had a flying golden ship, that would sure be nice...

Gilgamesh
Humph.

Mash
So we'll approach with the serpents.
...Um, I think Senpai should command from here.

Mash
There's risk that the water could touch you during combat. And if you were to fall into the sea...

Gilgamesh
Impossible. How can Servants win without a Master?

Gilgamesh
The further a Servant is from their Master, the less efficient the magical energy transfer. And you'll need the Command Spells, too.

Gilgamesh
Mash, the time to prioritize your Master's safety over all else is long past. Right, Fujimaru?

  1. (Nod in silence.)
  2. (Look at the king in surprise.)
  Select: (Nod in silence.)
Dr. Roman
...That's right. Master Fujimaru. I'm sending you out, knowing the danger.

  Select: (Look at the king in surprise.)
Gilgamesh
Way too late! You are not allowed to get cold feet now!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
Then it's decided. Fujimaru is coming even if we have to chain them to a flying serpent.

Ishtar
The problem is what to do when the Laḫmu attack en route. I'll be okay, but what about the others?

Dr. Roman
You'll have to use the combat tactic Jaguar Warrior suggested. Put up a barrier of magical energy on your feet and fight atop the water.

Gilgamesh
An experienced Servant can do that easily. What about you, Mash? Have you ever done that?

Mash
I haven't, but I'll do my best! If there's any trick to it, please let me know!

Gilgamesh
Fwahaha! There's no time, fool. But it's the king's duty to aid such courage in a time of need!

Gilgamesh
I thought this might happen, so I hid a water-repelling talisman in that observation post.

Gilgamesh
I call it a water strider. If it's just you, it should keep the water away so you won't fall in.

Ishtar
You're pretty handy, aren't you!? Are you sure you're not better suited as a mage than you are a warrior?

Gilgamesh
Heh. I'm ready for any situation. Well, maybe not Lancers.

Gilgamesh
Go then, Fujimaru of Chaldea, Mash, and the survivors of the Three Stooge Goddess Alliance!

Gilgamesh
Your enemy is the primordial creature called Tiamat... The one who births the Laḫmu, the very source of Demonic Beasts!

--ARROW--

Mash
More and more Laḫmu are surfacing! We need to stop this unending Demonic Beast factory, fast!

Ishtar
They're not responding to us... They must have dull senses right when they come out of the water.

Ishtar
They're only capable of carrying out simple orders, like “go to the surface,” or “kill the old humans.”

Quetzalcoatl
But that's just for now. As time passes, their consciousness will synchronize with the others and they'll be like the ones we saw at Eridu.

Quetzalcoatl
Sheesh... They finally grow up and gain individuality, but then they go back to a colony. All our efforts were for nothing.

Quetzalcoatl
Those things aren't the new humanity. They're just soulless tools. In the name of the goddess, me, I will destroy them all, yes!

Dr. Roman
Everyone, they're here! Multiple enemies! Laḫmu and Demonic Beasts!

Dr. Roman
We're almost offshore! Take them out quickly!

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
Abnormal Spirit Origin confirmed! It's here!
Two hundred meters from contact!

Dr. Roman
You should be able to see it! The source of this abnormality is at the ocean's surface!

???
Ahhhh.

  1. This voice...
  2. ...A song?
  Select: This voice...

  Select: ...A song?

===Branch End===

Mash
Enemy confirmed on ocean surface! But that—
Is that really...?

Mash
That's Tiamat...? Really?

Mash
So beautiful... and melancholy... She doesn't seem anything like the Mother of Demonic Beasts...

Ishtar
Y-yes... I've never seen her before myself, but... Those big horns symbolize land, and her eyes reflect the stars of the inner sea...

Ishtar
That is the Goddess of Creation, Tiamat.
No doubt about it.

Ishtar
Her womb was the soil of life itself, then it was cast away after fulfilling its purpose of creation.

Ishtar
In myths, they say she was killed by the gods, but in reality things were slightly different.

Ishtar
She was abandoned. She was abandoned by the entire world, by all the children she brought forth.

Ishtar
After the planet's environment settled and life was established, she was deemed unnecessary and exiled.

Ishtar
She wasn't sent to the old world that lies underneath, but to the Reverse Side. The lifeless World of the Void.

Quetzalcoatl
...Right. For the primates who gained the phylogenetic tree, she was too dangerous because she had the potential to create another world entirely.

Quetzalcoatl
The fear was the foundation built with great pains would get mixed with the next world's foundation.

Ishtar
So they sealed her off. Infinitely. And now, she has returned.

Ishtar
Whether the Mage King pulled her out of the World of the Void, or if it was humanity itself that called her forth...

Ishtar
In either case, she should no longer belong on this planet.

Ishtar
We need her to enter a deep slumber once more. We need her to, but...

Ishtar
But it looks like a seal's been placed on her. Her limbs are bound together.

Quetzalcoatl
She just woke up... No, that's not it. Is this why the Laḫmu brought her the Holy Grail?

Quetzalcoatl
It doesn't look like she's noticed us, so maybe we can just take her down while she's bound?

Dr. Roman
I have visual confirmation of Tiamat here, too! This is your chance. Her limbs are still immobile!

Dr. Roman
She's completely sealed! Only her torso and head are free!

  1. Now's the only time to defeat her!
  2. ...We can't hesitate. Uruk is in danger!
  Select: Now's the only time to defeat her!

  Select: ...We can't hesitate. Uruk is in danger!

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes! Enemy target, Tiamat! Commencing the final battle of this Singu–uuuah!?

Tiamat
Ahhhh.

Tiamat
Ahhhh, Aaaaaa, aaaaaaa!

Mash
Ugh...!! My body...I can't move!?

Dr. Roman
The magical energy within Tiamat is surging! No, something's happening!

Dr. Roman
She's putting out as much energy as a hydrogen bomb! If she fires, Uruk will get blasted even from that distance!

Dr. Roman
Don't let her shoot, Fujimaru! Defeat her before she makes her move!

Tiamat
Ahhhh, Aaaaaa, aaaaaaa!

  1. ...There's no time. Commencing attack!
  2. We have to do this...!
  Select: ...There's no time. Commencing attack!

  Select: We have to do this...!

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
Amazing, you did it...! Confirming collapse of Tiamat's Spirit Origin!

Dr. Roman
The Magical Reactor has also stopped! Your attacks defeated Tiamat, mud and all!

Dr. Roman
Now just wait for the ocean to return to normal, retrieve the Grail, and mission accomplished!

  1. We did it, Mash.
 
  Select: We did it, Mash.

===Branch End===

Mash
...Um, Senpai. I had this feeling during the battle with Tiamat,

Mash
but perhaps those restraints that tied her down...I think she made them herself.

  1. What do you mean...?
  2. Tiamat was binding herself...?
  Select: What do you mean...?

  Select: Tiamat was binding herself...?

===Branch End===

Mash
...I can't be positive about this, but that's the only logical explanation. I mean, Tiamat was, well...

Mash
She was voluntarily taking our attacks. As if she was giving us her life.

Mash
We simply couldn't comprehend her intent... It seems Tiamat was awakened by the power of the Holy Grail...

Mash
But perhaps if the Laḫmu hadn't delivered the Holy Grail, she would have stayed in the ocean forever?

Quetzalcoatl
Mash, even if that's true, it wouldn't change anything, no. Tiamat's mere existence is a threat to humanity.

Quetzalcoatl
Whether she was dragged up by the Mage King, or lured out, we had to defeat her the moment she came to this worl—

  1. Earthquake...!?
  2. Doctor, what's going on!?
  Select: Earthquake...!?

  Select: Doctor, what's going on!?

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
...Confirming reconstruction of Spirit Origin. No, transformation into a mega-structure post-dispersion, increasing scale...

Dr. Roman
Impossible. Can there be such a creature? This is no longer a living being. This, this is—

Da Vinci
Water levels of the Persian Gulf are rising again! First wave reaching the coast in 5, 4, 3—

Da Vinci
Observation post submerged! The tidal wave was directed, and it's heading farther onto land!

Da Vinci
This is deliberate! It's planning to head straight to Uruk and swallow it all up!

Ishtar
Wait, seriously!? Can't we stop it!? Didn't we defeat Tiamat!?

Dr. Roman
Yeah, but we just made a huge mistake! What we defeated was just its brain!

Dr. Roman
Everyone, leave that airspace immediately! The real thing is surfacing from below...!

Mash
...

Ishtar
...

  1. ...
 
  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Tiamat
Aaaaaahhh, aaaaaaa...

Dr. Roman
...Truly a monster.

Dr. Roman
A mobile creature factory. She has enough magical energy to travel between stars. She has ample life origins stored within her body...

Dr. Roman
Humanity needs a few more centuries to reach this divine ark... This is...this is the Tiamat's true form!

Ishtar
She's not even looking at us... She's glaring straight ahead towards Uruk...

Ishtar
Looks like we're being spared for now, but what should we do!? Quetzalcoatl, what do you think?

Quetzalcoatl
We absoooollllllutely can't win! Nope!

Quetzalcoatl
I mean, the difference in size is mind-blowing, no!? I can't use a joint lock on her, the most powerful move in lucha!

  1. Of course not.
  2. Quetzalcoatl, can't you grow bigger?
  Select: Of course not.
Quetzalcoatl
Si! Nice response, Fujimaru! A sense of humor is important!

  Select: Quetzalcoatl, can't you grow bigger?
Quetzalcoatl
That's impossible, no! Conservation of mass works for gods as well! It's a laaaaaw!
Quetzalcoatl
That kind of Authority only existed in the era of Genesis! Not even aliens can take that thing down now!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Quetzalcoatl. Are you saying you can't defeat Tiamat even with your real Noble Phantasm... Even with your full-powered Authority?

Quetzalcoatl
...No. It'd be cruel to get your hopes up, so I will be blunt.

Quetzalcoatl
Even with Ishtar's Authority, or with any other power currently left in Mesopotamia—

Quetzalcoatl
We can't so much as scratch Tiamat.

Dr. Roman
...I see. Thanks. I get the situation now.

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, retreat! Return to Uruk immediately, and rejoin King Gilgamesh!

Dr. Roman
Now that the situation is so far beyond us, we need to consolidate our forces!

  1. Okay!
  2. Roger that, Doctor!
  Select: Okay!

  Select: Roger that, Doctor!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Good answer. You haven't been disheartened yet! Then surely we still have some options left!

Dr. Roman
Whoa, Tiamat is advancing...!? She can move with all that weight, in that giant body!?

Tiamat
Aaaaaahhh. Aaaaaaaaaa!

Da Vinci
Second wave incoming...! Oh no, its momentum will carry it straight to Uruk!

--BATTLE--

Uruk Soldier
Echo confirmed from observation post three!

Uruk Soldier
The black mud swallowed Girsu City, and is flowing towards Umma and Uruk!

Uruk Soldier
This isn't a wave. They're like flames flaring up!

Uruk Soldier
The walls of Umma City can't withstand it! Estimated time of arrival—

Gilgamesh
I don't care! Raise the anchors! Deploy the Fangs of Napishtim!

Uruk Soldier
Yessir! Send signals by reflections! Deploy the Fangs!

Uruk Soldier
Fangs of Napishtim successfully deployed! It managed to divert the black mud!

Uruk Soldier
However, it's badly damaged after firing! It doesn't look like it can block the next wave...!

Gilgamesh
Figures, but we have no choice! Start the repair work at once!

Gilgamesh
No need to return it to perfect shape. Maintain its framework if nothing else! That will stop it for a while!

Uruk Soldier
Yes, my king!

Gilgamesh
...The time has finally come. I have been awaiting this moment with bitter anticipation for six months.

Gilgamesh
Tiamat, the Mother of All Beasts. What's beyond this mythical battle is something even I cannot foresee.

Gilgamesh
Will you swallow the world, or will humanity be worthy of flourishing...

Gilgamesh
It's time to see that question answered. Let the final battle of the Age of Gods begin!

Section 19: Star of the Beginning, We Look Up at the Sky

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Gilgamesh
So you're back, Fujimaru. Then let's begin the briefing. First, the soldiers' report.

Uruk Soldier
Yes, my king!

Uruk Soldier
Currently, there are 306 citizens left in Uruk. Of those, 212 are soldiers, and the rest are civilians.

Uruk Soldier
Initially, the citizens refused to evacuate, but after the king spoke to them, they agreed to evacuate to the Northern Wall.

Uruk Soldier
Of the citizens who already escaped to the Northern Wall, there are 157 survivors. After this afternoon's Laḫmu attack, there are now 38 surviving soldiers.

Uruk Soldier
All together, there are five hundred humans left alive in Sumer.

Mash
...Huh? Five hundred... That's all...?

Mash
I'm sorry. That report must be mistaken, right...?

Gilgamesh
No. It's correct. Between the two Laḫmu attacks and the sea encroachment, the first dynasty of Uruk has fallen.

Gilgamesh
Even if we make it through this predicament, the kingdom cannot be maintained. It would only go into decline.

Mash
Wha...?

Gilgamesh
Do not despair. Even if we perish, as long as Sumerian culture survives, there will be others who will follow in our footsteps.

Gilgamesh
As for the Laḫmu, they have split into two groups. One group stops on the spot and turns into a sphere as soon as the sun sets.

Gilgamesh
The other flies back to Tiamat, and guards her surroundings.

Gilgamesh
So, Romani Archaman. You've had almost half a day. I presume you are finished with your analysis of Tiamat?

Dr. Roman
Of course. Tiamat's specs and abilities are exactly as stated in the report I submitted to you.

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, you should also take a look at it later.

Dr. Roman
The material data on the terminal over there has been updated.

Gilgamesh
I see. This is good work. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Hummm...

Gilgamesh
Curse it! Are you on Tiamat's side or something!? There is nothing in here about her weaknesses!

Dr. Roman
Believe me, I wanted to write at least one possible method of attack! But the report is accurate!

Dr. Roman
She's just perfect, with no physical or mythical shortcomings! We're no match for her!

Gilgamesh
Hmmm... When you say that with tears in your eyes, I suppose I can't be too hard on you. Good work. You can return to your post.

Gilgamesh
But we can't lose control of our emotions here. Well, Jaguar Warrior? What's your take on Tiamat?

Jaguar Warrior
She was huge. Gigantic. And paws-itively awesome!

Gilgamesh
Nonsense! I am not asking for your idiotic human impressions of her! Use your animal instincts to tell me something useful!

Jaguar Warrior
Oh, you mean that!

Jaguar Warrior
At her speed, she'll reach the coast in half a day. I'm guessing it'll take her about a day to get from there to Uruk!

Gilgamesh
...Tch, that is fast. All we can do is intercept her.

  1. Is Tiamat heading straight for Uruk?
  2. Why is she targeting Uruk?
  Select: Is Tiamat heading straight for Uruk?

  Select: Why is she targeting Uruk?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Because this city and Gilgamesh are the symbols of Sumerian civilization.

Quetzalcoatl
Tiamat sees things differently than you or I, yes. To her, humans and the land are all a single life-form.

Quetzalcoatl
Tiamat is after Uruk, the heart of this land, driven by her primordial instincts.

Ishtar
...So that's why she's ignoring my temple. Even if Mt. Ebih disappears, civilization will carry on.

Ishtar
But if Uruk and this golden dummy are annihilated here, Mesopotamian civilization itself will vanish.

Gilgamesh
That's right. If you wish to protect human history, you have to stop Tiamat at all costs.

Gilgamesh
...But. No attacks work on Tiamat.

Gilgamesh
I tried to create an opportunity, but I didn't think she would be quite so enormous.

Gilgamesh
We can neither stop her nor drive her back. Why is Tiamat invincible, anyway?

Dr. Roman
Oh, on that point, I do have a theory...

Dr. Roman
Tiamat... Actually, I believe all of the Beasts have individual differences.

Dr. Roman
Of all of them, Tiamat's inborn nature is to never experience death. No matter what she does, death will never find her.

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru destroying Tiamat's brain out at sea more or less proved the theory.

Gilgamesh
So she regenerated after she died. Isn't that just resurrection?

Dr. Roman
No, it's different. It's more retrogression than regeneration.

Dr. Roman
I know this sounds absurd, but stay with me:
Tiamat is the mother of all life in existence.

Dr. Roman
The very fact that we're alive proves her existence. That's why there's no way to destroy her.

Dr. Roman
It's paradoxical, but as long as life continues to exist on land, Tiamat, Beast II, will never die.

Dr. Roman
She is the beginning and the end.

Dr. Roman
The only way she could be affected by the normal laws of physics, and be harmed, is as the last thing on the world to die.

Mash
B-but we definitely can't beat her! I mean, there's no point!

Mash
To defeat Tiamat, first the human race would need to... All life on Earth would have to die out!

Dr. Roman
...That's right. That's why I had no choice but to report that she's invincible.

  1. As long as there's life...
  2. ...So then, what about the opposite?
  Select: As long as there's life...
Jaguar Warrior
Stop it. No more brain-teasers. I'm bad at them. Somebody, do something.

  Select: ...So then, what about the opposite?
Gilgamesh
...Exactly. Brazen of you to think as I do.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Ereshkigal! Ereshkigal! Ereshkigal, are you there!?

Ereshkigal
Shush. Be more respectful when you're trying to call a goddess!

Ereshkigal
I've been busy taking care of souls since yesterday! I would even take a dead man's help at this point!

Ereshkigal
First of all, I didn't lend you the Mirror of Kur so you and I could chat. It was just an apology for everything I've done...

  1. Hi.
  2. Hello.
  Select: Hi.

  Select: Hello.

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
...O-oh! It's... Give me a moment.

Ereshkigal
...Ahem.

Ereshkigal
Ereshkigal, Goddess of the Underworld, is here in all of her splendor. Do you have business with me, king of Uruk?

Mash
Ereshkigal, you're being so formal all of a sudden!

Gilgamesh
Ah. You're much prettier than the celestial goddess. It looks like some soul-searching in the Underworld has made you more ladylike.

Ishtar
Why are you looking at me, Goldie? And stop smiling at her, Fujimaru.

Ishtar
You're embarrassing me two times over.

Gilgamesh
The fact of the matter is, I called you here to ask a favor.

Gilgamesh
Currently, Tiamat is heading for Uruk. She will arrive in two days.

Gilgamesh
If we don't defeat her, Mesopotamia will fall. However, Tiamat will not die as long as there is life on Earth.

Gilgamesh
Therefore, Mistress of the Underworld, I want you to attend to Tiamat.

Gilgamesh
If death cannot touch her in a world full of life, then send her down to a world devoid of life.

Gilgamesh
In the Underworld, wouldn't she be the last living thing?

Dr. Roman & Quetzalcoatl
!

Ereshkigal
Huh? What are you talking about? Summon Mother to my Underworld?

Ereshkigal
Wait, did you say “send”? You seriously said “send her down!”

Gilgamesh
Of course! Ereshkigal, Goddess of Kur! In the name of the king, I command you!

Gilgamesh
Open the gate of the Underworld across all of Uruk and bind the Beast of Disaster that calls itself Tiamat down in the bowels of the earth!

Gilgamesh
That is your role after wreaking havoc with the Three Goddess Alliance! Consider that to be your atonement!

Ereshkigal
Humph. What's impossible is impossible, and THAT'S impossible! Are you telling me to bring the Underworld directly beneath Uruk!?

Ereshkigal
How do you expect me to do something so ridiculous!? Ugh! I guess I have no choice!

  1. Then you'll do it!?
 
  Select: Then you'll do it!?

===Branch End===

Ereshkigal
Uh... W-well, yes. After all, if I don't, Mesopotamia will be wiped out, right?

Ereshkigal
I've been listening all this time. Ever since you returned to the surface. All the time, actually.

Ereshkigal
So I know what King Gilgamesh is talking about. To be honest, I was even a little impressed.

Gilgamesh
I knew it! I knew the Underworld was the way to go. Ishtar, you should do some soul-searching so you can be less useless!

Ereshkigal
But! Being convinced and doing it are two different things, Gilgamesh!

Ereshkigal
Do you really think covering the entirety of Uruk with a hole of death is a simple task, even for me!?

Ereshkigal
Just doing it in my jurisdiction of Kutha City was a major undertaking. As big as Uruk is, it will probably take me at least ten years.

Gilgamesh
Wha...!? Ten years...!
...We don't have that kind of time...

Ereshkigal
Well, actually, um, since I hate Uruk, I miiiight have been plotting something the whole time, so give me three days and it'll be ready!

  1. Nice one, Ereshkigal!
  2. You and Ishtar...are two of a kind...!
  Select: Nice one, Ereshkigal!
Ereshkigal
Y-you think so? Then it was worth cursing every night!

  Select: You and Ishtar...are two of a kind...!
Ishtar
Oh, stop... Now you're embarrassing me three times over...

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Fwahahahaa! Brilliant, Ereshkigal! But you and I need to chat a little more later!

Quetzalcoatl
If we can manage to drop Tiamat into the Underworld, then defeating her may not be impossible.

Quetzalcoatl
But what are we going to do about the time issue?

Quetzalcoatl
Tiamat will arrive here in Uruk in two days. Ereshkigal needs three days to prepare the gate to the underworld.

Quetzalcoatl
If we defeat Tiamat after Uruk falls, we won't be able to repair the collapse of the Foundation of Humanity.

Ereshkigal
You people will have to deal with that. My hands are full preparing the gate.

Dr. Roman
...Two days... Or even one day. We need to hold Tiamat off at least that long...

Dr. Roman
But how...? The Axe of Marduk is broken...

Gilgamesh
Fear not. I already see a strategy for victory. Here is a chance for Ishtar to actually be useful!

Ishtar
...? Why me?

Dr. Roman
Oh...! I see. With Ishtar, certainly!

Quetzalcoatl
Oh, that's right, yes! It'll be a cinch with Ishtar, yes!

Jaguar Warrior
So that's how we'll do it! You're amazing, Ishtar!

Mash
Yes! It's just like Merlin said!

  1. That's our Ishtar!
  2. ...What's going on?
  Select: That's our Ishtar!
Ereshkigal
...Humph. It's not that Ishtar herself is all that.
Ereshkigal
An spoiled her rotten. I'm so much more amazing because I can set up an underworld gate.

  Select: ...What's going on?
Ishtar
G-good question. Why is everyone except for Fujimaru so excited!?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Hahaha, you are just playing dumb. What a nice way of showing us the ace up your sleeve.

Gilgamesh
But enough of that. Come now. Call on Gugalanna.

Ishtar
Geh.

Mash
Yes. Gugalanna, the Bull of Heaven, who serves Ishtar! It's said to be as big as a mountain and Sumer's greatest Holy Beast!

Mash
I bet Gugalanna can stop Tiamat in her tracks!

Ishtar
Ah, yes. Of course. That's right. With my Gugalanna, yes. In its heyday, Gugalanna could even make the Tigris River run dry.

Quetzalcoatl
I heard about that from the people of Ur, yes! They all say Ishtar's servant Gugalanna is a Holy Beast to be feared!

Quetzalcoatl
They praised you too, Ishtar, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
A Holy Beast that none of the other gods could tame, but I hear that you managed to bring it to heel first by being strict, then by being more strict!

Ishtar
Y-yes, that's right. Gugalanna is like my...um...vehicle.

Ishtar
But everyone, I think you're making too big of a deal out of it. Gugalanna isn't really that great.

Ishtar
It wouldn't be of any use against Tiamat...

  1. Gugaaalaaannaaa! Gugaaalaaannaaa!
  2. Ishtaaar! Ishtaaar!
  Select: Gugaaalaaannaaa! Gugaaalaaannaaa!

  Select: Ishtaaar! Ishtaaar!

===Branch End===

Ishtar
(Gulp)

Gilgamesh
...What's the matter? You don't look well.

Gilgamesh
Normally we'd all have to listen to your irritating high-pitched laughter while you brag about how great he is, even though it's not even yours originally.

Gilgamesh
No... Don't tell me—

Ishtar
...No. I don't have Gugalanna.

Mash
What did you just say!?

Ishtar
I don't have it! I lost it! I lost it somewhere!

Ishtar
I think it was in the north, but I couldn't find it anywhere!

Ishtar
I even searched all through Babylon, but I just can't find hide nor hair of Gugalanna!

Gilgamesh
(Speechless)

Gilgamesh
Y-you stupid, useless, bratty goddess! Why did we even bother recruiting you!?

Ishtar
... (Made to stand holding a clay tablet that reads, “Worst goddess.”)

Gilgamesh
Well this is just perfect, and right when we were one step away from having a workable plan...

Dr. Roman
Now we're up against a wall...

Dr. Roman
All of us at Chaldea want to agree on the strategy of luring Tiamat to Uruk and then sending her to the Underworld.

Dr. Roman
But there just isn't enough time.

Dr. Roman
...You COULD go up against Tiamat and just accept that you'd die or get swallowed up by the mud, but then we'd be even worse off...

Mash
...

Ereshkigal
...

Quetzalcoatl
...

Ishtar
... (Made to stand holding a clay tablet that reads, “Worst goddess.”)

Gilgamesh
...Fine. Adjourned. This war council is taking a break.

Gilgamesh
Whining will do us no good. We have no plan, but hastiness is also the height of folly.

Gilgamesh
And Fujimaru is exhausted. Let us rest our weary bones here.

  1. King Gilgamesh?
  2. ...Are you giving us a day off?
  Select: King Gilgamesh?

  Select: ...Are you giving us a day off?

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
There isn't much time until dawn.

Gilgamesh
This will be our last chance to relax in Uruk. Everyone, replenish your energy.

Gilgamesh
But don't stop thinking. We are not going to sleep and just give up.

Gilgamesh
We're going to get through tonight so we can survive tomorrow.

--ARROW--

Quetzalcoatl
Hey, I dropped in to say hi, Fujimaru! So this is the famous Chaldea Embassy! I'm a bit surprised, yes!

Jaguar Warrior
Yup yup. I was imagining someplace more like a paw-lace. But I like it! It seems homey!

Jaguar Warrior
By the way, when's dinner?

Jaguar Warrior
I'm expecting something like a warm Chaldean family meal.

Quetzalcoatl
If you're hungry, Jaguar, I'll happily make you something, yes! How about rocks, topped with salt?

Jaguar Warrior
That's just rock salt! Dammit! So I've gotta cook my own meat, then?

  1. And Jaguar goes off to the kitchen...
  2. What brings you here, Quetzalcoatl?
  Select: And Jaguar goes off to the kitchen...
Quetzalcoatl
Now for some peace and quiet. Sorry for the commotion.

  Select: What brings you here, Quetzalcoatl?
Quetzalcoatl
What else? It was your scent, of course, Fujimaru!

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Well, to tell you the truth I had nowhere else to go. Most everyone is dead.

Quetzalcoatl
And to the surviving Uruks, Jaguar and I were enemy goddesses, no?

Quetzalcoatl
I don't want to make them uneasy on their last night. So let me stay here, okay?

Fou
Fou, fou...

  1. I forgot. At Eridu...
  2. Quetzalcoatl, did you know about Tiamat?
  Select: I forgot. At Eridu...

  Select: Quetzalcoatl, did you know about Tiamat?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Oh, you mean the cylinder seal I showed you at Eridu? Yes, I knew about Tiamat.

Quetzalcoatl
And that Gorgon had synchronized with her consciousness, and had convinced herself she was Tiamat's second coming.

Quetzalcoatl
But I was a bad goddess. So I couldn't tell you or Gorgon the truth, no.

Quetzalcoatl
I wanted to be Gorgon's friend, though.

Quetzalcoatl
That cylinder was the most I could tell you. It was my way of saying, “Be careful, there's more to come.”

  1. Why didn't you just tell us?
  2. You didn't tell us for Gorgon's sake?
  Select: Why didn't you just tell us?

  Select: You didn't tell us for Gorgon's sake?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Well...

Quetzalcoatl
...Yes. For that one time, I was on Gorgon's side, not humanity's.

Quetzalcoatl
I wanted you - no, all of humanity - to truly hate her. I wanted you all to go up against her with everything you had.

Quetzalcoatl
If you'd known Gorgon was a fake, and the true threat lay behind her, you would have pitied her and taken her lightly.

Quetzalcoatl
I didn't want that to happen. That's why I couldn't just come out and tell you.

Quetzalcoatl
Well, you found me out anyway, huh Fujimaru? Pathetic, no?

  1. It's not pathetic.
  2. Thanks. For Gorgon's sake, too.
  Select: It's not pathetic.
Quetzalcoatl
...You think so? Yeah, I hope not.
Quetzalcoatl
I may not look like it, but I am Mesoamerica's principal deity! I need to look good for my new contractor.

  Select: Thanks. For Gorgon's sake, too.
Quetzalcoatl
... (Sniff)
Quetzalcoatl
...No, thank you. For staying with her until the end.
Quetzalcoatl
—Never mind! Can't get all mushy, no!

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Food's ready! Lamb with rock salt, cooked jaguar style!

Jaguar Warrior
So what are we talking about? Let me join in! Are we figuring out how to run away tomorrow?

Quetzalcoatl
Yes, we were saying that if we sacrificed a goddess, we might be able to stop Tiamat♡

Quetzalcoatl
Here, have my meat. We can't get you nice and plump if you're hungry!

Jaguar Warrior
Seriously? It's been six centuries since Kuku's been nice to me! Wait. Didn't I get killed around then?

Jaguar Warrior
Well, whatever! I'm sure it's fine! If my life can save you, that's fine with me!

  1. You really like Quetzalcoatl, huh?
  2. Is this what Stockholm syndrome looks like?
  Select: You really like Quetzalcoatl, huh?

  Select: Is this what Stockholm syndrome looks like?

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Huh? No way! Kuku and I are rivals! Our lives are of equal worth!

Jaguar Warrior
If I die and Kuku survives, that's okay. If Kuku dies and I survive, that's purr-fectly fine.

Jaguar Warrior
That's our relationship. Since we can't be together, we keep things balanced that way.

Quetzalcoatl
If the good god is strong, people turn good. When an evil god is strong, they turn evil.

Quetzalcoatl
We can never both be successful, no. So it's rare for us to be in a situation like this.

Quetzalcoatl
It's strange that Jaguar and I both want the same thing. This never happened in the myths.

Jaguar Warrior
No, it's not the same. I only thought of defeating Kuku.

Jaguar Warrior
But Kuku's different. This time around, everything she's been doing is to save humans.

  1. To save humans...?
  2. So why did you join the Three Goddess Alliance?
  Select: To save humans...?

  Select: So why did you join the Three Goddess Alliance?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
I already told you. I enjoy fighting, so I joined the Alliance so I could kill huma—

Jaguar Warrior
That's a lie! Kuku joined so she could stop the other goddesses!

Jaguar Warrior
I mean, those goddesses weren't the sort to stop after just a firm talking-to!

Jaguar Warrior
The plan was to get the Uruk Grail first, so she could stop them from exterminating all humanity!

  1. I see!
  2. Coatl was a good big sister.
  Select: I see!
Fou
Fou, fooooou! Lucha, foou!

  Select: Coatl was a good big sister.
Quetzalcoatl
That's not fair. I wasn't able to be a good big sister...
Quetzalcoatl
B-but I did do my best, yes! If I get another chance, I want to try to get along with Gorgon better!

===Branch End===

Mash
Ishtar? Were you resting?

Ishtar
Yes, I was enjoying the night breeze while I watched what's become of Uruk. What about you, Mash? Why aren't you with Fujimaru?

Mash
Senpai is at the embassy. {(M) He /(F) She} wants to clean {(M) his /(F) her} room one last time.

Ishtar
Haha, what? That's silly. That's so like {(M) him /(F) her}.

Ishtar
By this time tomorrow, either Uruk will be gone, or you'll have beaten Tiamat and be heading back to your own era.

Mash
That's... No, I can't say for sure...

Mash
but I don't think Senpai is thinking about Uruk being destroyed. I don't think {(M) he /(F) she}'s sad about leaving either.

Mash
It's probably just a natural gesture to show gratitude. We've stayed in this town longer than any other before.

Ishtar
So it's not about getting attached. It's just something normal for a human to do...

Ishtar
You two must have gone through a whole lot of goodbyes. You don't see them as something to mourn.

Ishtar
Goodbyes are always going to come. You can't get through life if they make you sad all the time.

Ishtar
So you send them off with as much appreciation as you can. And rejoice in the fact that you met, and that you lived to say goodbye.

Ishtar
...Your Order's a good journey.

Ishtar
I finally understand why Gilgamesh is so nice to you.

Mash
Th-thank you. But... Um, was King Gilgamesh being...nice?

Mash
That was “nice”?

Ishtar
Wow... Ignorance is scary... I mean, right now he's acting weirdly like a wise king,

Ishtar
but he was never the kind of person who'd make a plan that relies on other people.

Ishtar
He's a brutal person at his core. He'll kill without a second thought, without the slightest regard for someone's circumstances or feelings.

Ishtar
This time he's been playing the good-natured king, but when it's time to fight an opponent like Mother, I guess he turns into a proper hero.

Ishtar
It reminds me of when he was having fun with Enkidu.

Ishtar
He was, well, you know, pretty cool back then? Just like in your legends.

Mash
I see. But I think this King Gilgamesh is a man you can count on.

Ishtar
He's got nothing left to lose now. I guess it's true that when the chips are down, people show who they really are.

Ishtar
You and Fujimaru are like that too. Oh... No, you're a little different.

Ishtar
I mean, you're scared of fighting, right? You're still not used to killing, or people trying to kill you.

Mash
...That's right. I've been told that before. But...

Mash
I don't let it bother me anymore.

Mash
...I once spoke with a certain Servant in a place like this, who told me something...

Leonidas
There's nothing to be ashamed of in fearing battle. It's about taking lives. Of course it's scary.

Leonidas
Just as some people are more suited to certain weapons, there are those who are more suited to certain approaches to fighting.

Leonidas
Mash, you are not the type who can swallow fear during a fight, or get used to it.

Leonidas
That fear will follow you your entire life.

Mash
...I know. But I want to conquer that fear.

Mash
At this rate, I'll never be useful to Master.

Leonidas
...Excuse me.

Leonidas
Haha, I got a little overheated.

Leonidas
Tomorrow's the day we save Nippur. My fighting spirit is already soaring.

Leonidas
Anyway, back to what I was saying. You're not the type who can forget fear.

Leonidas
You are the type who uses her courage to hold back the fear. That's the type of warrior who I trust and respect.

Mash
Hold back fear with courage...? Um, are you that way too, Leonidas?

Leonidas
Hahaha. Unfortunately, I fear only the dead. I am a king, after all.

Leonidas
I've been trained since a very young age not to feel fear in battle.

Mash
Oh, I'm sorry... It's none of my business...

Leonidas
No, it's fine. It's true that I don't feel fear in battle...

Leonidas
But I always feared going into battle. Leaving my country behind. Even to protect it.

Leonidas
When I thought of the lives I was leaving behind, I gripped my spear so tightly I could crush it.

Leonidas
The worst of all was at Thermopylae.

Leonidas
The Persian enemy had 100,000 soldiers. And we only had three hundred Spartans.

Leonidas
We were just a tiny part of the 7,000-strong Greek alliance.

Leonidas
If we fought, we would be destroyed. But we were told if we surrendered and allowed the Persians to pass, they would spare Sparta.

Leonidas
Sparta was just a waypoint on their journey. Their true target was Athens, you see.

Leonidas
But if we failed to stop them, Athens was doomed.

Leonidas
It could only be for a single day, or perhaps a few more. But our tiny resistance could perhaps save the great kingdom of Athens.

Leonidas
To choose faith, or to choose life. I didn't know which was right. And I felt a fear greater than ever before.

Leonidas
To leave my wife and child for certain death.

Leonidas
I was beyond fearing my own death, but I was not used to fearing for my family's future.

Mash
...But you went to war anyway.

Mash
And somehow you held back the 100,000 Persian soldiers for several days with only a few hundred... And died.

Mash
...Was that because you went into battle afraid?

Leonidas
No. I only went to battle when I conquered my fear. I was given a divine message, Mash.

Leonidas
In my uncertainty, I prayed for guidance from the gods. And I received it.

Leonidas
“If you go to war, you will never return to Sparta,” I was told.

Mash
...

Leonidas
That rid me of my uncertainty. I knew I would be able to fight like before, without hesitation or fear.

Mash
Wh-why? Even though you were told you would not come back?

Leonidas
I was not told that it would be meaningless to fight. And that meant that even if we lost, Sparta would not fall.

Leonidas
We would not return from the battlefield. But those deaths would have meaning.

Leonidas
I realized that even if we never came back, our battle was going to protect those who would come later.

Leonidas
And then I finally realized...

Leonidas
It gave me the strength not to swallow my fear, but to replace it with hope.

Leonidas
I bragged about this to my comrades: “Bet you didn't know that, did you?” I said.

Leonidas
“Everybody but you has been doing that this whole time. You're impressing no one.”

Leonidas
Hahaha. All three hundred of us started laughing. I really was a bit of a dolt.

Leonidas
Until that last battle, I'd never realized the source of my comrades' strength.

Leonidas
...No. At the very last moment, I was finally able to realize.

Leonidas
If we - if I - caused a miracle at The Hot Gates, it was thanks to that.

Leonidas
Listen to me, Mash Kyrielight.

Leonidas
The reason you fear battle is because you know many things you care about.

Leonidas
The more of those things there are, the more you overcome that fear, the stronger your heart becomes.

Leonidas
That will be your greatest weapon. As long as your heart does not break with fear—

Leonidas
Nothing will ever stain your shield. You will never be defeated.

Mash
...

Ishtar
Huh. He must've been an amazing Servant. He's like the voice of reason.

Mash
Yes. He was a wonderful man.

Mash
No, all Heroic Spirits are great people.

Mash
I'm lucky to have been able to learn so much from all those wonderful people.

Ishtar
...I see. So that's why your name is Chaldea, huh?

Mash
...? What about Chaldea's name?

Ishtar
Chaldea isn't the name of a country. It's an observatory, right? This body knew about it.

Ishtar
You're observing the planet. Just like the light of the stars in the night sky.

Ishtar
There you can see the life of another person who shined in the distant past, separated by thousands of years.

Ishtar
A story of the stars in the sky, and of this land. Weaving those together is what you, what Chaldea does.

Ishtar
I'm sure that wish is why I felt that I could work with you.

Ishtar
You reached out your hand not to use us, but to know us.

Ishtar
If the youngest generation who “lives in the now” comes asking for help, no elder could refuse.

Mash
...A story of the stars. The true meaning of the name Chaldea...

Ishtar
Well, I don't know how deep its creator was thinking.

Ishtar
By the way, Mash. Is there anyone that Fujimaru has special feelings for?

Mash
Hyah!? Someone Senpai has special feelings for!? I don't really know! Why!?

Ishtar
Hmm, I'm not really sure yet, but Ereshkigal seems to really like {(M) him /(F) her}.

Ishtar
I guess you could call it imprinting? {(M) He /(F) She} was the first human who treated her normally.

Ishtar
So I was just curious. We're basically sisters, you know.

Mash
I... I don't know. I don't know what Senpai did before coming to Chaldea...

Mash
...but since coming to Chaldea, every day has been so busy, so, um...

Ishtar
In other words, Fujimaru has nobody? Okay, this is getting fun! It'll be a three-way affair!

Mash
Ishtar!? An affair!? Between who and who and who!?

  1. ...Okay.
 
  Select: ...Okay.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou. Nkyu? Fou?

Mash
Are you going to the ziggurat too, Senpai?

  1. I thought I'd talk to the king one last time.
 
  Select: I thought I'd talk to the king one last time.

===Branch End===

Mash
Hee hee. Me, too. It was kind of like a daily ritual, after all.

  1. Let's go together.
 
  Select: Let's go together.

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes, with pleasure. I'll stay with you to the end, Senpai.

Gilgamesh
What? The map of the underworld doesn't match what Ereshkigal said!?

Gilgamesh
The priests have some documents on the underworld! Go get them now!

Gilgamesh
No, the Dingir can stay where they are. Keep them on the walls in all directions.

Gilgamesh
The Dingir on the south and east gate can intercept Tiamat. Deploy the remaining soldiers there.

Gilgamesh
Humph... Leave us for a moment. The Chaldean messengers are here.

Gilgamesh
This is a good time for a break anyway. Sleep for three hours or so. I'll handle the rest.

Gilgamesh
You're looking a little better. That means I can work you even harder tomorrow.

Gilgamesh
So what is it tonight? Come for one final goodbye, have you?

  1. It won't be the last.
  2. You look busy as always.
  Select: It won't be the last.
Gilgamesh
Heh, listen to you. You've got me there.

  Select: You look busy as always.
Gilgamesh
There aren't enough people. I never thought I'd have to run around to the temples or talk to the priests myself.
Gilgamesh
If Siduri were alive— No, I shouldn't have said that. She fulfilled the duty heaven set for her.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
...But, hmm...

Mash
King Gilgamesh? You got quiet. Is something wrong?

Gilgamesh
Nothing. I was just thinking you haven't changed at all. You look so frail for someone who spent a month in Uruk.

Gilgamesh
The way you look, even after you go back to Chaldea, no one will believe the stories you tell them.

Gilgamesh
Tricking the goddess on Mt. Ebih. The grand battle in the jungle. Descent into the underworld. Defeating Gorgon. And encountering Tiamat...

Gilgamesh
They're all amazing stories to tell over drinks. It's truly a shame.

Fou
Fou, foou!

Gilgamesh
Well, it doesn't matter. I'll think of something for you to tell them about Uruk.

Gilgamesh
So, what is it? You didn't come here just to say goodbye, did you?

  1. ...
  2. ...
  Select: ...

  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Idiots. It seems you mongrels feel responsible somehow.

Gilgamesh
“Uruk fell. Many people died. It's all my fault for releasing Tiamat.” Is that it?

Gilgamesh
Fools. No one's interested in your repentance. And your misunderstanding is embarrassing.

Gilgamesh
Mash. You told me that only five hundred people survived from Sumer, didn't you?

Gilgamesh
That's wrong. It wasn't “only” five hundred. It was the great number of five hundred.

Gilgamesh
After all, this present is different than the one I saw. In my vision, I was the only one left in Uruk.

Gilgamesh
But what now? It's true that the end can't be changed. Uruk's destruction cannot be averted.

Gilgamesh
But five hundred survived. Even if they die tomorrow—

Gilgamesh
Here, at this final moment, that is how many humans remain. I consider that a great achievement.

Gilgamesh
I acknowledge the worth of those who still struggle against a fated death. They have passed through the terminus of this era.

Fou
...

Mash
...King Gilgamesh, you knew, didn't you?

Mash
That the end was coming. That Uruk would be destroyed.

Mash
And yet you fought anyway?

Gilgamesh
...That's right. The Mage King sent the Grail to this era, and pulled Tiamat from the World of the Void.

Gilgamesh
At that point, I foresaw the future and told my people:

Gilgamesh
“Uruk will be destroyed in six months. This doom cannot be averted.”

Gilgamesh
There's no need to say what came after that. You saw all of it with your own eyes.

  1. The people of Uruk knew—
 
  Select: The people of Uruk knew—

===Branch End===

Mash
And they still fought. They tried their hardest to survive till the last day.

Gilgamesh
That's right. I like that smile, Mash Kyrielight.

Gilgamesh
If you were to take pity on them, I would have ended your life here.

Mash
R-right! That was inappropriate. I'm sorry, king!

Gilgamesh
There's no need to be sorry. Ugh, how humble can you get?

Gilgamesh
Fujimaru. I thought that there was no need to defeat the goddesses.

Gilgamesh
Even if we did, Tiamat would still appear. I was certain that the three goddesses would destroy themselves.

Gilgamesh
But you saved the people of Uruk, had compassion for this land, and chose to fight the goddesses.

Gilgamesh
And this was the result. You saved the lives of five hundred people who were fated to die.

Gilgamesh
You should be proud of that. It is not a useless thing.

Gilgamesh
...Romani seems to be asleep. In that case, here's some unsolicited advice.

Gilgamesh
This is about Humanity and the Singularities. You've traveled through six Singularities so far.

Gilgamesh
You must have fought many battles in the Singularities.

Gilgamesh
But when the Grail is recovered and the Foundation of Humanity is restored, all the damage from that Singularity is erased—

Gilgamesh
Was that what you were told?

Mash
Yes. Once the Incineration of Humanity has been stopped, everything that occurred during a Singularity is repaired...

Mash
...and nobody remembers anything that we did.

Gilgamesh
That's a lie. It's not true. The lives lost will not be restored. What happened can never be undone.

Fou
...

Mash
But— But that wasn't what we were told! The Singularities are anomalies in history.

Mash
If that damage were reflected in human history, the whole course of history would have to change!

Gilgamesh
That's not it. That's not it at all. It's just made to match.

Gilgamesh
For example, let's say a dragon kills someone. And then you make the Singlularity disappear. The Incineration of Humanity is prevented.

Gilgamesh
Even then, that person is still dead.

Gilgamesh
Instead of being killed by a dragon, history will remember them as having been killed by some beast.

Gilgamesh
Uruk is the same. Even if you defeat Tiamat and remove the Singularity...

Gilgamesh
The first dynasty of Uruk will fall. All that changes is the explanation: whether it was at the gods' hands, or it simply deteriorated.

  1. Then our fight...
 
  Select: Then our fight...

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
That's right. It doesn't result in “it didn't happen.” I told you to be proud, right?

Gilgamesh
You've truly saved many lives.

Gilgamesh
Do not be deluded by the notion that everything will go back to normal. You stubbornly, somewhat awkwardly, saved the lives in front of you.

Gilgamesh
And the result is what you see now in Uruk. All your choices had a meaning.

Gilgamesh
In nature, there's no glory without sacrifice. Loss and gain are always balanced.

Gilgamesh
Much is lost, and much is gained.

Gilgamesh
Even without the Mage King causing chaos with the Grail, something just as bad would happen eventually.

Gilgamesh
The people of that era will weigh the scales of good and evil themselves, and their value will be judged by future generations.

Gilgamesh
That is how human history is made, Fujimaru.

Gilgamesh
Neither you nor I can say what came of your battles, what you protected, or what you left behind.

Gilgamesh
Only those who come after you will know. So for now, follow the path you choose.

Mash
...Yes. We'll take your words to heart, King Gilgamesh.

  1. Thank you, King Gilgamesh.
  2. Right. See you tomorrow.
  Select: Thank you, King Gilgamesh.

  Select: Right. See you tomorrow.

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
It's fine. Don't worry about it. You know, I destroyed my own country once, too.

Fou
Fou!?

Gilgamesh
Yes, when I was spending all my time looking for immortality. I wandered for so long, and came back empty-handed to a desolate country.

Gilgamesh
The citizens were so sick of their absent king that they all went to other cities. Only Siduri was left.

Gilgamesh
And even Siduri just said, “I wasn't going to leave until I got a chance to complain to you.” Hahaha.

Gilgamesh
I realized that was unworthy of a true king, and decided to rebuild Uruk, since I was in search of a new goal anyway.

Gilgamesh
And so I came up with the idea of fortress cities, and made Uruk what it is today.

Gilgamesh
...Humph. At once, it feels like an age, and the blink of an eye. It's like a single remnant of a dream.

Gilgamesh
But I haven't repented or anything, you know. Who I am will never change.

Gilgamesh
A king doesn't live for his people. The people live for their king.

Gilgamesh
But then what does a king live for? What else? He lives for the things he finds joy in.

Gilgamesh
If anything, I ruled over Uruk for my own entertainment.

Gilgamesh
And one of the things that entertained me was your struggles.

Gilgamesh
I haven't seen the result yet, but you've done well enough.

Gilgamesh
Tomorrow is the last day. Get some rest. I'm looking forward to the last fight, you know?

  1. Of course. Leave it to me.
  2. Oh, I'm gonna do SO much better than “well enough”!
  Select: Of course. Leave it to me.

  Select: Oh, I'm gonna do SO much better than “well enough”!

===Branch End===

Kingu
...So this is the Celestial Hill...

Kingu
This is so stupid... Why did I...come here just before the end?

Kingu
It's a place this body remembers well. ...The place where they made the first friend, and made a vow...

Kingu
...It's meaningless. This place is meaningless, and so am I.

Kingu
...I've lost everything. I should just shut down.

Kingu
My creator abandoned me, and I never even had a place to return to. I'm just a fake, after all.

Gilgamesh
What are you doing? Why don't you stand, fool?

Kingu
...!

Gilgamesh
I can't believe this. Just how busy can it get tonight? I thought I could finally rest, but now I stumble on you.

Gilgamesh
I will forgive you for dripping blood everywhere, and for falling to your knees. But I won't allow you to put your corpse on display here.

Gilgamesh
Get up, and begone. If you go, I will ignore your crimes.

Kingu
Ah... Aaahh...

Gilgamesh
What's wrong? Can't you stand? Weren't you supposed to be the gods' greatest creation?

Gilgamesh
I don't know what happened, but you've got a huge hole in your chest. Talk about letting your guard down.

Kingu
Wh-what gives you the right... To look down on me...! I won't let you...!

Kingu
Dammit...! I can't... Let you...

Kingu
I can't let you...see me like this...!

Gilgamesh
...Humph. Come to think of it, this thing's still been sitting around.

Gilgamesh
I missed the chance to use it. And it feels silly to just throw it away. You can have it.

Kingu
Wha—H-huh!?

Gilgamesh
Humph. I know you were using the Grail as a heart before. The Great Grail of Uruk will work just as well.

Kingu
Why—

Kingu
Why are you doing this!? I'm your enemy! Tiamat made me!

Kingu
I'm not your Enkidu...! I'm just a doll, with a different heart inside...

Gilgamesh
That's right. You're not Enkidu. You're someone else using a stolen body.

Gilgamesh
But even so, you are still worthy of my protection—
No, my friendship.

Kingu
...

Gilgamesh
Do I have to spell it out, you hopeless fool!?

Gilgamesh
Even if your heart and soul are different, that body of yours is the one and only Chain of the Heavens on Earth!

Gilgamesh
...Humph. Once, someone insisted they were a weapon to the very end.

Gilgamesh
But if I had taken them at their word, then it's only natural for me to care for you.

Gilgamesh
After all, you're the successor to the weapon I trusted most! What's wrong with me favoring you?

Gilgamesh
Farewell, Kingu. It's the end of the world. Do as you will.

Kingu
Wait... I don't understand. What do you...

Gilgamesh
I'm telling you that, no matter who your mother is or how you were born, simply do the things you really want to do.

Gilgamesh
Like we once did. You said you lost everything? That's laughable.

Gilgamesh
You still have your freedom. You can shut down your heart later.

Kingu
What—It's too late. I never had a goal I could strive for.

Kingu
I never had a will of my own to choose freedom—

Section 20: Absolute Demonic Front Mesopotamia (I)

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Gilgamesh
It's dawn! Did everyone get enough rest? Then I shall brief you all on last night's survey results! Look here!

Quetzalcoatl
Oh. This is a diagram of Tiamat's true form? This is made really well. How'd you do it?

Dr. Roman
Hehe, it's a collaboration between me and Uruk's priests! Based on their information, I polished it up!

Gilgamesh
Yes. Good work on that front. But now, take a look at her legs.

Gilgamesh
From last night til dawn, we received several reports from the surviving academic facilities near the coast.

Gilgamesh
“Tiamat is walking on the water's surface.” “It doesn't look like she can control her own weight.”

Gilgamesh
“We hypothesize that those legs may be too thin to support that giant body. We should assume Tiamat can only walk on water.”

Gilgamesh
That was the final report. Both myself and Chaldea believe this theory is dead-on.

Gilgamesh
If it wasn't, there's little reason to encroach on the land like that.

Gilgamesh
Its purpose is to engulf the land, but at the same time it creates a pathway for Tiamat—

Dr. Roman
Right. Like rails for trains. We think it's a path made for her to travel.

Gilgamesh
Even if we can't kill Tiamat on land, if we get rid of the ocean around her, we can stop her movement.

Gilgamesh
Therefore, our combat objective shifts from Tiamat to that black mud. We will remove it entirely!

Dr. Roman
Chaldea has named that black mud, “Encroaching Ocean: Chaos Tide.” They're feverishly analyzing a way to revert it to normal seawater.

Dr. Roman
If they make it in time, we can delay Tiamat's arrival at Uruk...

Uruk Soldier
King Gilgamesh! A report from the south observation post! Tiamat has resumed her advance!

Uruk Soldier
Three hours till she reaches the ruins of Girsu City! We estimate eight more hours until she reaches Uruk City!

Dr. Roman
That's half a day earlier than expected! Even if we analyze in time, we won't have time to get rid of the Chaos Tide!

Gilgamesh
Ugh, she is an early riser for such a massive creature. If so, we must destroy those legs, even if it seems impossible!

Gilgamesh
General, take fifty elites from the wall! We will ride to battle!

Quetzalcoatl
No, there's no need for that, Gilgamesh.

Quetzalcoatl
The warriors have the job of intercepting Tiamat at the city wall, right?

Quetzalcoatl
I will be the one to remove that black mud... No, the Chaos Tide.

Quetzalcoatl
I can't do an entire ocean's worth, but my Noble Phantasm is enough to clear a perimeter around Tiamat once she gets ashore.

Quetzalcoatl
I will use my Sun's Pilgrimage: Piedra del Sol to vaporize the mud right out from under her, yes!

Jaguar Warrior
Oh, you had that! We're finally going to see the paw-some scorching lady Quetzalcoatl getting serious!

  1. Piedra del Sol...?
  2. Don't tell me...
  Select: Piedra del Sol...?

  Select: Don't tell me...

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Yes! My Noble Phantasm that was at the altar in Eridu!

Quetzalcoatl
If Fujimaru had shattered the sunstone back then, we wouldn't have been able to use it now, no!

Ishtar
Yup. Truly the devil's luck. In Fujimaru's case, you never know what strange thing they do will end up being fortuitous!

Mash
Yes! The results of “Operation: Plancha, Not Destruction” have worked out in our favor!

Gilgamesh
Can you do it, Quetzalcoatl? Can I trust you with this?

Quetzalcoatl
Si. But it's still dangerous. Piedra del Sol uses a lot of stamina.

Quetzalcoatl
So, I need to have Fujimaru take me right up to Tiamat...

Quetzalcoatl
...and continuously supply me with magical energy while I use my Noble Phantasm.

Ishtar
Sooo, you're saying we need to somehow deal with the Laḫmu flying around, get right under Mother's legs...

Ishtar
...and then, stay there the entire time Quetzalcoatl is deploying her Noble Phantasm!?

Quetzalcoatl
Right on all counts! It's terribly dangerous, yes!

  1. All right, let's do it!
  2. Let's go, Quetzalcoatl!
  Select: All right, let's do it!

  Select: Let's go, Quetzalcoatl!

===Branch End===

Gilgamesh
Fine. Since Fujimaru agrees as well, we shall now commence our operation to intercept Tiamat!

Gilgamesh
All soldiers, to your posts!

Gilgamesh
From now on, the only one left in the ziggurat will be the king! No matter what, you WILL NOT depart from the wall!

Uruk Soldier
Yes, my king! Fortune be with you, King Gilgamesh!

Uruk Soldier
We wish to show the greatest gratitude and respect for your leadership and achievements, Your Majesty!

Gilgamesh
You too. Fight for me until the very end.

Gilgamesh
Now go, Master of Chaldea.

Gilgamesh
When you've completed the mission, return to me here.

Gilgamesh
I'll listen to your report of victory to kill some time.
Don't make me wait too long!

  1. We're on our way, King Gilgamesh!
 
  Select: We're on our way, King Gilgamesh!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Mash
We've left Uruk!

Mash
Doctor, we will now guard Quetzalcoatl as she heads towards Tiamat.

Mash
Is that correct?

Dr. Roman
Yeah. Right now, we're in a hurry calculating Tiamat's speed and field of vision.

Dr. Roman
It's dangerous to position yourself right in front of Tiamat. We don't know what she'll do to enemies once she sees them.

Dr. Roman
A large number of Laḫmu are circling around Tiamat as well. Battling them will be inevitable.

Dr. Roman
We're verifying a route that won't be in Tiamat's line of sight with relatively few Laḫmu.

Dr. Roman
Can you wait for about two more minutes— What's that?

Gilgamesh
I declare to all remaining citizens of Uruk.

Gilgamesh
I commend you for surviving to this day. First and foremost, I am overjoyed at our success!

Gilgamesh
Over six months ago, when the Demonic Front was set up, I told all of you:

Gilgamesh
No matter what we do, Uruk will fall. I will not determine for you how you should meet that end.

Gilgamesh
You can flee. You can drown in pleasures. You can throw yourselves down to the Underworld in despair.

Gilgamesh
However, you all said you would fight. Despite knowing the end was coming, you were determined to resist.

Gilgamesh
Truly...Uruk was a fortunate city. Its history, its life, its people— Myself included.

Mash
King Gilgamesh...

Gilgamesh
The protection of gods is no longer needed in the world of man. As proof, I built a fortress, and you all answered to my call.

Gilgamesh
I know now, with certainty, that it was no mistake! And now this final trial will test it, and us, to the utmost.

Gilgamesh
Now is the time to deny the primordial god, and begin the age of man! Mind yourselves, my elite warriors!

Gilgamesh
This is the battle for true separation from the gods! Give your lives to me, the king!

Gilgamesh
Pass on the glory that is Uruk to generations to come, to the last man!

Ishtar
...Unbelievable. I didn't think he was that thoroughly prepared.

Ishtar
I saw that he built a lookout at the top of his ziggurat, but it was made just for this speech. How stupid.

Mash
Yes. The King of Heroes has returned.

Dr. Roman
Yeah, I have to admit it as well. That troublesome king is most definitely one of the greatest pioneers.

Dr. Roman
And we're done! We have the fastest route to Tiamat!

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, Mash,

Dr. Roman
Ishtar, Quetzalcoatl, and Jaguar Warrior!

Dr. Roman
We're at the point of no return for this battle. You'll all be pushed to your absolute limits. Are you prepared?

  1. Of course!
  2. Commencing final Order!
  Select: Of course!

  Select: Commencing final Order!

===Branch End===

Dr. Roman
Good. Then, as commander of Chaldea, I order you to commence the operation.

Dr. Roman
Your objective is to approach Tiamat—Beast II, and bar its advance using Noble Phantasms!

Dr. Roman
This operation will end with the burning of the Chaos Tide! All of you, proceed to it with full strength!

--ARROW--

Mash
Master, we've entered Tiamat's field of vision! Laḫmu incoming!

Ishtar
It's been two hours since we departed Uruk. I'm tired of waiting! I'll take the vanguard. You okay with that, Quetzalcoatl?

Quetzalcoatl
Sí, of course. I can fight too, but if possible, let me save up my strength, yes!

Dr. Roman
I think you're already aware, but you're in Tiamat's territory!

Dr. Roman
No matter what you do, the Chaos Tide will also be eating away at you! Be careful!

Mash
Yes...! Commencing battle, Master!

--BATTLE--

Mash
Increase in the number of Laḫmu and transformed Laḫmu! The potency of the Chaos Tide is also rising!

Ishtar
It seems the closer we get to Tiamat, the stronger the corruption gets!

Ishtar
If it's this bad so far away, it's going to be much worse by her feet!

Jaguar Warrior
Yeah, and the Laḫmu are getting stronger, meow!
They've gotta be stronger than me-eow!

Dr. Roman
It's not just their forms, but their magical circuits have been strengthened... Did they evolve even more overnight...!?

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, what's going on with Tiamat? Has she noticed you!?

  1. We're still fine...!
  2. We can't even catch up!
  Select: We're still fine...!

  Select: We can't even catch up!

===Branch End===

Laḫmu
Human—

Laḫmu
Human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human, human!

Ishtar
There's too many to deal with! Fujimaru, run!

Mash
Master!

Mash
?! Was that—

Quetzalcoatl
The javelin unit from Girsu! Some must have survived!

Mash
But there aren't even thirty of them! If they try to go after the Laḫmu like that...!

Laḫmu
There! There! Fun, fun! Weak beings! Fun!

Ishtar
No good! We can't make it back—

Quetzalcoatl
Jaguar! Run interference! It looks like there are other humans fighting out there!

Quetzalcoatl
Show me your speed! We're going to try to save as many of them as possible!

Jaguar Warrior
Okay, leave it to me! As the beautiful beast of the wasteland, Jaguar Warrior, I'd run thousands of miles to help you, Kuku!

Jaguar Warrior
This is going to hurt quite a bit, but I'm going to go crazy, and get the attention of those Laḫmu!

Jaguar Warrior
Fujimaru, take care of Kuku! She gets really angry and scary when things get bad!

  1. Thank you, Jaguar Warrior of the wasteland!
  2. I know! I've seen her scary face!
  Select: Thank you, Jaguar Warrior of the wasteland!

  Select: I know! I've seen her scary face!

===Branch End===

Jaguar Warrior
Meohaha! Good! All right! The way of the Jaguar is found in death!

Mash
Jaguar has pulled away from the main group...! All that's left is—

Ishtar
For us to push forward on our own! I'm getting excited!

Ishtar
Come, Laḫmu. I'm going to feather you all with my arrows! No matter how many of you come at me, I won't let you lay a finger on Fujimaru!

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
Tiamat's still speeding up! This is bad! She's going to reach the Fangs of Napishtim soon!

Dr. Roman
If it's destroyed, the Chaos Tide will flood into Uruk!

Dr. Roman
If that happens, Uruk will be reduced to nothingness before Tiamat even reaches it...!

  1. I know. Just a little further...!
  2. Serpents, faster...!
  Select: I know. Just a little further...!

  Select: Serpents, faster...!

===Branch End===

Mash
Master! Seven hundred meters until we reach Tiamat!

Mash
At our current speed, we'll catch up in two minutes!

Quetzalcoatl
Mash, be careful! Don't rush too much!

Quetzalcoatl
It's not just the potency of the mud. Tiamat is causing shock waves with every step!

Quetzalcoatl
You'll go flying if you don't pay attention! Make sure you lower your center of gravity and hang on!

Mash
Right...! Master, watch out for the rearguard! From this point onward, anything can happen!

--BATTLE--

Mash
We did it! We've caught up to Tiamat! Our plan is a go, Master!

Ishtar
Yeah, we did it, Fujimaru!

Ishtar
The chaos whatsit was getting stronger. Thank goodness we don't have to get any closer!

Dr. Roman
(Even keeping this far away from Beast II, all this Spirit Origin corruption... If they end up having to fight head-on...)

Dr. Roman
No, things couldn't possibly get that bad! Quetzalcoatl, are you ready?!

Quetzalcoatl
Yes, leave it to me. I can go at any time. I'm getting enough magical energy from Fujimaru, too.

Quetzalcoatl
We've come this far— Get down, Mash!

Ushiwakamaru
That's unfortunate. I wanted to get rid of your unsightly guardians first. I was a bit rash, again.

Dr. Roman
Ushiwakamaru...! I see. I couldn't detect her through the Chaos Tide's interference!

Mash
Ushiwakamaru, are you planning on getting in our way again!? Have you truly become a slave to Tiamat...!?

Ushiwakamaru
I believe I told you already. Mother's control is pleasant. I don't have to think.

Ushiwakamaru
I can focus on ridding myself of my hate. The greatest and only delectable pleasure I have is the thought of killing you all.

Ushiwakamaru
There aren't many humans left in the world. I have killed so many of them. I've had enough sensation of the flesh.

Ushiwakamaru
All that's left for me is to destroy Uruk with Mother. There is no greater ecstasy than killing a country, killing the land.

Ushiwakamaru
I won't let you get in the way! If Mother's mud doesn't absorb you, then you need to die here.

Ushiwakamaru
...Or maybe you would choose to become my retainers instead of Mother's? That would be pleasurable too.

Ushiwakamaru
In just a few days, I will become one with Mother. Since we're friends, I could turn you into familiars fit to be Demon God Pillars.

Ushiwakamaru
I'll torment and treat you like insects. The same way my brother once treated me!

Mash
This is bad, Master. Ushiwakamaru is—

Ishtar
...Yes. I know you know each other, but it's too late for her. She's all twisted up inside.

Ishtar
Fusion from self-replication. A melting of hundreds of selves together, and she's ready to burst from within.

Ishtar
...I don't even want to imagine what type of monster would come out if that happened.

Ushiwakamaru
It's obvious. Only hatred towards humans would flow from my entrails. A tower of flesh made from hundreds and thousands of corpses.

Ushiwakamaru
I'll become a blood-crazed warrior, stronger than Gorgon, and kill all of you!

Quetzalcoatl
Gorgon, you say! Looks like you're aware that you're going to be defeated, vengeful one!

Quetzalcoatl
Fujimaru, let's do this! As long as she's there, I won't be able to use my Noble Phantasm!

Quetzalcoatl
I'm going to UTTERLY destroy that Darkened Servant!

Ushiwakamaru
Just try it! Your plan won't go anywhere as long as I'm around!

--BATTLE--

Ushiwakamaru
It doesn't make any difference how many of me you kill. Haven't you learned?

Dr. Roman
Ushiwakamaru has reappeared from the Chaos Tide! ...Damn, how do we defeat this thing!?

Mash
Ushiwakamaru's Spirit Origin is completely different now... But why—

  1. Why do you want to kill humans...!?
  2. Why are you working for Tiamat!?
  Select: Why do you want to kill humans...!?

  Select: Why are you working for Tiamat!?

===Branch End===

  1. Why do you want to kill humans...!?
  2. Why are you working for Tiamat!?
  Select: Why do you want to kill humans...!?

  Select: Why are you working for Tiamat!?

===Branch End===

Ushiwakamaru
Why, you ask...?

Ushiwakamaru
What about all of you! Why do you fight so hard to protect humans!?

Ushiwakamaru
You say that the Laḫmus are horrendous? That these monsters are ugly?

Ushiwakamaru
But there is no difference. Humans or Laḫmus, there's no difference. They are the same!

Ushiwakamaru
Let's say there was a heroic deed done amidst a mass of tragedies. A miracle that happened among many sacrifices.

Ushiwakamaru
Out of all the people who only worked for profit, there was one who went around and helped the suffering and asked for nothing.

Ushiwakamaru
Such an achievement would only be taken advantage of, and then dishonored by those who failed to live up to that standard!

Ushiwakamaru
You humans are always like that! You all crowd around a miracle and then insult and laugh about it amongst each other!

Ushiwakamaru
Why would I want to fight for such creatures!? Why did we have to be killed!?

Ushiwakamaru
At this point I won't even try to correct your actions. Just die. Die, all of you!

Ushiwakamaru
Dying and starting from scratch is the only way left for this world.

Ishtar
It's still multiplying!? Has this monster divided even its soul...!?

Ushiwakamaru
Hahahahahahaha! I'll show you no quarter 'til the very end!

Ushiwakamaru
As long as I am here, you will never touch Mother!

Ushiwakamaru
I will tear you to bloody pieces! You can't stop all of my copies!

D：???
That is impossible. Your number is meaningless in front of the last ray of hope.

D：???
It is true the masses are ugly, however...

D：???
How could you be the one to deny the only heroic deed?

Ushiwakamaru
...! Who's there!?

Benkei
{(M) Lord /(F) Lady} Fujimaru! I apologize for my lateness!

  1. Benkei!
  2. You're wounded all over...!
  Select: Benkei!

  Select: You're wounded all over...!

===Branch End===

Benkei
Nay, my limbs are still attached— Actually, I am now at my very best!

Benkei
I am ashamed of my cowardice! But still, allow me to take responsibility for the crimes of my lord!

Ushiwakamaru
You, you were still alive...! I should have roasted you instead of showing you mercy!

Ushiwakamaru
Hey, let go! Let me go, you third-rate actor! There's no stage left for you at this point!

Benkei
No, I will not! This Musashibou will never let go! Not this time! Even death shall not separate us!

F：Ushiwakamaru
...Fine. Then you shall die with me.

Mash
The surrounding Ushiwakamarus have run them both through!

Ushiwakamaru
Humph. What were you going to do just taking one of me along with you?

Ushiwakamaru
You alone cannot do anything for me anymore. I told you that.

Ushiwakamaru
...You somehow hung onto that life. You should have just cowered in your corner until the end.

Ushiwakamaru
Such foolhardy courage is unlike you, Hitachibou.

Benkei
...Indeed. I'm terrified.

Benkei
...I thought I had made my peace, but it could never be enough. So this is the horror of a lone dash towards death...

Ushiwakamaru
Why, you! You're still...!

Benkei
However, what pushed me forward was not resolve. Anger. It was anger that pushed me forward.

Benkei
...Lord Ushiwakamaru. That hatred of yours does not come from Tiamat.

Benkei
It was something that was always buried within you, pointed towards all humans.

Benkei
...That was something I could not bear.

Benkei
No matter how much the others thought you strange, you lived free.

Benkei
...Truly, there is nothing lonelier than genius. I never imagined you were alone till the very end.

Benkei
Even if he could not save your heart, Benkei must not have wanted to leave you alone.

Benkei
For you to be consumed with such anger—I could not bear it.

Ushiwakamaru
Silence...! Argh, what are you doing, Ushiwakamaru!? Come! Slice his limbs off along with me! Chop his head off!

Ushiwakamaru
There's no use in listening to a monk's lecture now!

Benkei
Hahaha. You mustn't speak lightly of lectures. After all, even something such as this can be done if mastered.

Ushiwakamaru
Impossible! This is—How!? Y-you're peeling Tiamat's Authority off of me—

Ushiwakamaru
N-no, you're tearing me out of it...! Benkei, what have you...!?

Benkei
I am just doing as Benkei does! This time, my lord, I shall be with you till the end!

Benkei
If our opponent is the Primordial Sea, then may this existence be of some small help!

Benkei
Now, let us burn all of our sins in the Western Paradise!
Pilgrimage of the Five Hundred Arhat— Lord Yoshitsune.

Benkei
Please forgive me for my long absence—

Ushiwakamaru
...You fool. You always worried about such silly, petty things...

Ushiwakamaru
There's no joy in taking the life of a coward like you...

Ushiwakamaru
To think you were even called a sage... A fool will always be a fool...

Mash
...Confirming the disappearance of both Benkei and Ushiwakamaru's Spirit Origins. Tiamat's guardians are gone...

Dr. Roman
...Yes. But there's no time to grieve. Quetzalcoatl, you ready?

Quetzalcoatl
Of course. Ready to goooo!

Quetzalcoatl
Everyone, after I fly off, move away from Tiamat. If you stay too close, you'll burn up along with everything.

  1. Quetzalcoatl...
  2. ...You're gonna be okay, right...?
  Select: Quetzalcoatl...

  Select: ...You're gonna be okay, right...?

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Don't give me that look, no! Just leave it to your big sis, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
All right then, I'm gonna go burn off the face of the Earth...just a little!

Tiamat
...

Quetzalcoatl
...Tiamat. The Primordial Sea that wove the base for all life.

Quetzalcoatl
To see that you, of all beings, seek to destroy mankind and create a new world... My heart breaks for you, Tiamat...

Quetzalcoatl
However... This world belongs to the humans! Without reason, without will, without soul...

Quetzalcoatl
...You elect to consume and destroy your own children in blind hatred! This, I cannot allow.

Quetzalcoatl
South America's goddess lives with the forest and beasts! The sun blesses with life and creation, not destruction!

Quetzalcoatl
The past is here!

Quetzalcoatl
The present is here. The future is here! Come winds, come lightning!

Quetzalcoatl
When the morning star shines, let all know the sun's light reaches every corner of the Earth!

Quetzalcoatl
Piedra Del Sol!

Tiamat
Aaaaaa, aaaaa—

Mash
Quetzalcoatl is flying! She's one hundred meters above Tiamat's head!

Mash
There's a...a massive heat source above her! It's the solar winds! The Chaos Tide is evaporating!

Ishtar
Hothothot...! Mash, please block it! Come on Fujimaru, get behind Mash too!

Ishtar
Eep! She really is the principal deity of South America! That's one heck of a trump card she's got!

Ishtar
If she'd used this on Uruk, it would've burned to cinders in a—

Ishtar
Quetzalcoatl!

Quetzalcoatl
Ugh! The flying Laḫmu...! I knew it. They're not going to make this easy on me, no!

Quetzalcoatl
But you acted a little too late, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
I've done what I needed to do already! Now I'll just be on my way back to Master—

Mash
...! The Chaos Tide has returned! No, this is—

Mash
Tiamat! The Chaos Tide is flowing out from under Tiamat's feet!

Mash
Quetzalcoatl's Noble Phantasm has reappeared! She's deploying it again!

Ishtar
Quetzalcoatl...! Are you gonna burn yourself up...!?

Quetzalcoatl
Urg...!

Quetzalcoatl
Stretching into needles and pulling an aerial move... What are you, missiles!?

Quetzalcoatl
They went through my shoulders, stomach, and thighs so easily...!

Quetzalcoatl
Ouch... I can almost hear the ten second countdown...

Quetzalcoatl
Ugh... I may be tough, but it's just a matter of time at this point...

Quetzalcoatl
But still, I won't stop! No matter the cost, I'll keep...this...burning!!!

Quetzalcoatl
Come on, Ereshkigal, hurry! I'm in this until you're done or they tear me to pieces!

Quetzalcoatl
Hee...it's a mud wrestling match! I'll...draw this out...all day if I— What the!?

Tiamat
...Ahhhh. ...Aaaahhh. Aaaaaaahhh.

Quetzalcoatl
(She's lifting her horns?)

Quetzalcoatl
(She's gathering the magical energy that held her body up above the mud into her horns...almost like wings...）

Quetzalcoatl
(...Oh no. This thing's gonna fly!)

Mash
The solar winds have stopped! Quetzalcoatl is returning!

Quetzalcoatl
Hi, I'm back! Tiamat... No, who cares what it's called now!

Quetzalcoatl
That thing is stupid tough and a cheater! Baaaad! If we fight it head-on, we'll get dropped to the mat muy rapido!

Ishtar
Yes, it looks like our plan was for nothing.

Ishtar
We've burned away the mud from the sea, but if the black mud comes from Mother, that doesn't matter.

Ishtar
Let's get back to Uruk right away. We need to come up with a new plan.

Quetzalcoatl
No, Ishtar. We can't do that.

Quetzalcoatl
You should know that already. There's no point in going back now.

Quetzalcoatl
If we don't stop Tiamat, all the work being done in Uruk as we speak will be for nothing.

Ishtar
Then what do you propose we do!? Watch you blast away with your sun until you die!?

Ishtar
If we're down to you killing yourself, let's at least try MY last resort first...

Quetzalcoatl
That won't work either, Ishtar. ...That thing can fly.

Ishtar
!

  1. Fly...? With that massive body?
  2. Ugh, give us a damn break...our entire plan...
  Select: Fly...? With that massive body?

  Select: Ugh, give us a damn break...our entire plan...

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Yes, just vaporizing the mud beneath her is not enough. If she can fly, then she won't fall.

Ishtar
That can't be! Tiamat is the goddess of Ki, the Earth. She would never go near An, the heavens!

Ishtar
Who would have thought she could fly—

Quetzalcoatl
Yes. So, Fujimaru? Excuse me a bit one last time.

Ishtar
Wait, what are you doing!?

  1. ...!
  2. This is the...
  Select: ...!

  Select: This is the...

===Branch End===

Quetzalcoatl
Okay, I've got some energy back, yes! I'll go hit it again!

Mash
What...? Quetzalcoatl, what are you going to do!? You're hurt! You can't fight properly in that state!

Quetzalcoatl
No. I still have my limbs attached. I am the bird of fire. As long as I have wings, I will fly!

Quetzalcoatl
Ishtar.

Ishtar
...What?

Quetzalcoatl
I'm going first. I leave the rest to you.

Ishtar
See you. I'll be expecting a spectacular lucha move.

Quetzalcoatl
Of course! Master, please watch too, yes!

Quetzalcoatl
I'll give it my best aerial technique to knock it out!

Quetzalcoatl
...The weapons of Mesopotamia cannot hurt it... I was the one who said that.

Quetzalcoatl
However! I am not a weapon of this world, but a Divinity of a distant mystic land!

Quetzalcoatl
The primordial god of Mesopotamia, you are nothing to me!

Quetzalcoatl
Witness the power of our underworld, Xibalba, and the cataclysmic impact that annihilated countless lives!

Quetzalcoatl
I shall burn everything away and become the comet that killed the Earth!

Quetzalcoatl
Here I go...Ultimo Tope Patada! Burning fighting spirit, Xiuhcoatl!

--BATTLE--

Mash
Quetzal...coatl... Her flame's extinguished and has fallen into...the black sea...

Dr. Roman
Beast II has pulled back a bit... But her main body shows no signs of damage...

Dr. Roman
Quetzalcoatl's final Noble Phantasm did nothing to put Tiamat back in her place...

Tiamat
Aaaaaahhh AaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!

Dr. Roman
She's discharging more Chaos Tide! Beast II is fighting back...!

Dr. Roman
This is bad! The Fangs of Napishtim...!

Mash
The Chaos Tide is coming this way! A large number of Laḫmu are approaching, as well!

Mash
Senpai, your orders, please!
I can't allow us to run away after all of this!

--BATTLE--

Dr. Roman
The Fangs of Napishtim have fallen! The Chaos Tide is flowing towards Uruk!

Dr. Roman
Detecting a magical energy surge emanating from Beast II's back! A massive expansion of the dorsal skeletal structure... She's going to fly!

Dr. Roman
Ishtar, can't you do something!? Weren't the Mesopotamian skies your domain?!

Ishtar
If there was, I would've done it already...! But my bow is useless against an original Divinity...!

Mash
Tiamat is flying...! She's going to head towards Uruk—No, something is wrong!

Mash
There's something coming from the Chaos Tide... That's...!

Tiamat
Aaaaahhh AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Mash
A black snake...? Several large snakes have appeared, and have coiled around Tiamat!

Mash
She's falling! That's—

Ishtar
Wow... They're beating Mother with sheer strength...!? What's going on!? Where did they come from!?

Laḫmu
Let go... Let go! Let go! Let go! You dirty fakes...!

Mash
Master!

Gorgon
...Pah. You're the dirty ones. You're mindless hunks of mud, and you're laughing like humans.

Dr. Roman
Gorgon! I don't believe it! This Spirit Origin signature belongs to Gorgon!

Dr. Roman
Fujimaru, watch out! Gorgon might be there with you!

  1. Doctor, quiet!
  2. ROMAN, SHUT UP!
  Select: Doctor, quiet!

  Select: ROMAN, SHUT UP!

===Branch End===

Gorgon
...

  1. Thank you, Gorgon.
  2. Please, help us...!
  Select: Thank you, Gorgon.

  Select: Please, help us...!

===Branch End===

Gorgon
...I do not care about you. I will have my vengeance against Tiamat for myself, not for you.

Gorgon
Do not interfere, Fujimaru.

Laḫmu
–!!!

--BATTLE--

Tiamat
...Aaaahhh.

Gorgon
...A mere avatar will not serve... I suppose I need to be in my own true body...

Mash
...Gorgon. Are you going to help us?

Gorgon
...I said you were an eyesore. You all are in the way.

Gorgon
If I have to see you for another second, you'll only anger me that much more. Hurry and run back to Uruk.

Gorgon
I will smash Tiamat's wings. I shall teach her that it is SHE who slithers across the ground.

Mash
Th-then we will help! We can fight together aga—

Gorgon
You mock me. You, who could hardly handle the Laḫmu, and have lost Quetzalcoatl. You have nothing left.

Gorgon
Look at your Master's fingertips. They are on the verge of necrosis from the drain of magical energy.

Gorgon
You cannot even lift your shield.

Gorgon
How exactly will you help me? The weak should scurry back home.

Mash
But...

  1. ...Let's go back to Uruk, Mash.
  2.