"Of course, King Gilgamesh. I'm not asking you to make a decision based on just a few reckless words, but rather to judge me by my actions in the future!"
Samael noticed the Hero King's expression shift slightly and quickly offered an explanation.
Hearing this, Gilgamesh's face relaxed a bit. He appreciated the humility and let out a soft hum.
"You brought intelligence on the ruins of Babylon, fought in the Babylonian campaign, and twice rendered outstanding service to Uruk."
"Indeed, this king should not be stingy with rewards or punishments. Your achievements are sufficient to warrant forgiveness for your personal conduct."
"But they are far from enough for Uruk to turn its back on the gods and follow a calamity that was exiled into the void."
Samael nodded slightly, spread his hands in a candid gesture, and exchanged a light smile with the Hero King, with whom he'd already shared a few secrets.
"I know. But didn't you ask me what my purpose was in coming here?"
"Out of respect for the king, I simply answered honestly."
"Besides, even if I can't do it now, I believe that one day, through my actions, I'll be able to convince you—and the people of Uruk—to return to the embrace of the goddess Tiamat."
Gilgamesh paused, momentarily stunned, then leaned back in his chair with a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"I asked, and you just answered like that?"
"You really are an amusing one."
The earlier tension had eased. The atmosphere in the chamber began to relax. The Hero King propped his chin on one hand, exuding a lazy, almost nonchalant air.
After two rounds of probing, both sides had laid their cards on the table.
Samael had confessed his betrayal of Marduk, the so-called King of Kings, revealed his identity as a follower of the goddess Tiamat, and expressed his desire to use Uruk's power to help the exiled Mother of Origin return.
Gilgamesh, for his part, was never one to obediently follow the gods. He had defied divine will plenty of times.
Three storms had struck, and the gods' indifference to humanity had forced Uruk to face the harsh truth.
So he didn't mind having another heretic who worshipped the "Mother of Evil Dragons" within his kingdom.
He hadn't cared before about this man's attempts to conceal his identity.
As he himself had said: if the gods of the cities can't even protect their own city-states, are humans not allowed to save themselves?
Besides, the intel from the Babylonian ruins and the defense of Uruk—those feats were enough to trade in for some solid rewards from the Hero King's treasury.
But using those as leverage to persuade Gilgamesh to gamble Uruk's future on the exiled Mother of Genesis? Not even close to enough.
Simply put—it wasn't worth it.
Unless, of course, this follower of the Mother of Genesis could offer something that truly piqued the Hero King's interest.
That's how negotiations go. One side throws out a seemingly ridiculous offer, and through repeated talks, they probe each other's bottom lines, cutting through the excess.
And yet here they were—two people with zero reverence for the gods above them—openly discussing such blasphemous topics right inside the sacred tower of the royal palace. Absolutely outrageous.
Unbelievable! The three storms aren't even resolved, and now you're provoking the gods?
Big brother didn't hear anything, doesn't know anything.
In any case, it's got nothing to do with me. I'm innocent.
In the corner, the white-haired Incubus who had just been full of life now muttered bitterly to himself. Hugging his staff, he bowed his head and dozed off, as if terribly sleep-deprived.
As for Ana, who remained completely lost the entire time, she had retreated behind a pillar—since snakes prefer cool, damp spots—and leaned against the back. She pulled out some dried fruit and wheat cakes and munched away, looking exactly like a spectator watching a drama unfold.
"Also, I'm curious—what exactly will you use to convince me? To convince Uruk?"
Seated upon the throne, Gilgamesh idly rubbed his chin with his fingertips, his voice low and probing.
"Shatter the Three Goddess Alliance. Change Uruk's 'destined' destruction!"
"Is that enough?"
Samael answered solemnly, his serpent-like eyes locking onto the Hero King, quietly studying every subtle shift in his expression.
"Hmph. Hah... Hahaha! Are you trying to make this king laugh?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, fool!"
Gilgamesh burst into mocking laughter before cutting it off with a cold snort.
Even at his peak, he wasn't confident he could take on the pact-bound Three Goddess Alliance.
Let alone now—with the Chains of Heaven, once his equal, still active, and so many Sumerians whose safety he had to consider.
The last battle for Babylonia had only succeeded because the Goddess of Demonic Beasts and Kingu exploited the worries in Gilgamesh's heart and lured him out of the palace's divine tower.
If he, the gods' own wedge, couldn't manage it—what could a mere human, barely capable of transforming into a Magical Beast, possibly hope to do in the face of the Third Storm?
Unfazed, Samael gave a slight bow, then met Gilgamesh's gaze with firm resolve.
"True, the deserters from the ruined Babylon can't achieve this."
"But the divine child of Tiamat can."
Not just a mere follower—her divine child? The one blessed with her highest favor?
Now this... was interesting.
From the throne, Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes, the disdain in them receding. He shifted into a more relaxed position, clearly ready to hear more.
"You must already understand the true nature of the Goddess of Demonic Beasts… the summoned serpent-haired monster, Gorgon."
"That hero-killer, under the influence of the Holy Grail, stole the authority of my Mother Goddess. She created Magical Beasts, intending to take revenge on the humans who once persecuted her."
As the ancient serpent spoke, the Hero King gave a faint nod, signaling that he already knew this.
"Though Tiamat longs to return to this world, she has no desire to bring extinction to humanity."
"She is the beginning of all creation, the Mother of Origins—every life on earth is her beloved child."
"Be it human, Magical Beast, or even the gods—she does not wish to harm any of them. That is a mother's instinct."
"That's why she doesn't want Gorgon misusing her power for destruction. She's willing to aid humanity and help them survive the Third Storm."
"And I am her spokesperson—blessed with a portion of her authority, entrusted to act fully on her behalf!"
Samael spoke with conviction. Gilgamesh listened silently, his brow gradually knitting into a frown.
"The Third Storm isn't just a disaster for humanity. It threatens every living thing in Mesopotamia."
"As the Mother of Origins, she cannot stand idly by while her children senselessly slaughter one another."
"So now, in the name of the Goddess Tiamat, I declare…"
"The Mother of Origins, who loves Mesopotamia deeply, will intervene in this war—and reclaim her stolen authority from the Goddess of Demonic Beasts!"
Samael didn't blink as he boldly proclaimed the extent of his authority, framing his cause in righteous, moral terms.
"Of course, while a mother may ask nothing of her children, as her son, it is my duty to restore her name and ensure she receives the recognition she deserves."
"At the very least, this world—this Mesopotamia—must be worthy of her sacrifice. Worthy of her risking everything to defy Destiny!"
At that moment, King Gilgamesh's face grew increasingly solemn, a flicker of emotion stirring in his golden eyes as he murmured a single word under his breath.
Destiny...
Could it be… the reason that blank tablet appeared—was because of the Goddess Tiamat?
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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