As evening approached, Gilgamesh and Fujimaru Ritsuka returned. Gilgamesh’s capriciousness inevitably earned him scolding from Siduri, though he paid it no mind. It was merely a day’s excursion, after all; their quest for the elixir of immortality had taken far longer.
Ushiwakamaru reported to Gilgamesh about Li Xing’s day, but Gilgamesh said nothing, as if Li Xing’s affairs were of no consequence.
Li Xing, too, was disinclined to meet with Gilgamesh, having already prepared dinner for the evening, awaiting Ushiwakamaru and the others.
“Li Xing, I heard you went to the front lines today and protected many people of Uruk,” Fujimaru Ritsuka asked as soon as they returned.
Before Li Xing could reply, Ushiwakamaru and the others entered. Seeing the spread of food on the table, they immediately sat down, as if they were at home.
“Lady Fujimaru, yes, Li Xing-sama’s bearing on the battlefield was truly magnificent,” Ushiwakamaru said, eating and drinking, unable to stop talking about the day’s events with Fujimaru Ritsuka.
“Are you alright?”
Anna sat beside Li Xing, pouring him a cup of wine. Her concern for Li Xing was undisguised, for Anna knew Li Xing’s stamina was poor.
Li Xing smiled and patted Anna’s head. “What could be wrong with me? Times have changed. I’ve become incredibly strong.”
“That’s good.” Perhaps realizing she was being overly concerned, Anna quickly lowered her head and ate her dessert.
At the table, Ushiwakamaru and the others continuously toasted Li Xing. Li Xing, feigning poor tolerance for alcohol, found an excuse to go outside and gaze at the stars.
“Yunyun, come out and play! The moon is quite round tonight.”
In truth, Li Yun had already appeared without Li Xing’s invitation. She immediately leaped onto Li Xing, and they lay together on a rooftop.
“What’s wrong? Xing, are you feeling lonely?”
“Hahaha, I wasn’t feeling that way, but hearing you say it, I do feel a bit lonely. I miss the Butterfly Mansion. I wonder if Nezuko and Aoi are doing well.”
Li Yun quickly slapped Li Xing’s chest. “Idiot, I’m such a beauty by your side, and you’re thinking of other women!”
“You…” Li Xing turned his head abruptly, staring intently at Li Yun.
“Why so surprised? Since I became a spirit, I’ve been considered a life form, haven’t I? I’m the same as you, born of the Heavenly Dao. You’re male, and I’m female.”
“I know you were born of the Heavenly Dao, of course. It just feels a bit peculiar. You know a myth, right? Adam and Eve. Don’t you think we’re very similar to them?”
“Not at all. We are one, forever inseparable. Besides, you have no children, and we don’t exist for the purpose of human reproduction.”
Li Xing merely smiled faintly at this, thinking that as soon as they left the Type-Moon world, he would immediately create a body for Li Yun. After all, who would marry themselves?
Meanwhile, Fujimaru Ritsuka had also come out to stargaze. However, Ushiwakamaru suddenly climbed up and, fueled by alcohol, began asking Fujimaru Ritsuka about future history.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune was quite famous in Japan. As someone from that country, Fujimaru Ritsuka naturally knew Ushiwakamaru’s story and even a children’s rhyme, which he even sang for Ushiwakamaru on the spot.
“Ritsuka, that kid is definitely possessed by Itsuka Shido. He’s got all the moves to charm girls.” Li Xing and Li Yun were eavesdropping from the side, and Li Xing heard every word of their conversation.
“Don’t forget, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Itsuka Shido are practically the same person…” Li Yun also joined in with Li Xing’s voice actor joke. Li Yun was developing more human traits and was now capable of making jokes.
…
Several days later, Gilgamesh summoned Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, issuing a royal decree to travel to Kussah city to find the Tablet of Destinies and bring it back.
Anna, waiting for Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash’s return at the Chaldea embassy, immediately packed her belongings upon learning that the reward for this mission was twenty silver coins.
However, the departure date was tomorrow, so they could still rest for one more night.
…
The next morning, everyone set off for Kussah city. Having packed their luggage the previous night, they left Uruk immediately after waking up.
“I remember Ibaraki-dōji was around that area, wasn’t she? Ishtar’s territory. She also formed a bandit group called Ōeyama,” Li Xing mused, trying to recall traces of Ibaraki-dōji, but he couldn’t. This was understandable, as the original story hadn't described it in detail.
When Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others entered Ishtar’s territory, the land was pitted and uneven, as if meteorites had been hurled upon it. Undoubtedly, this was the result of Ishtar’s gem magic.
After questioning the local shepherds, it was confirmed. Ishtar had caused this devastation by killing monsters and had also taken the shepherds’ gems, much like a bandit.
“I don’t think that’s entirely accurate. It should be a corresponding reward. If Ishtar continuously helped the shepherds for free, they might quickly become degenerate,” Li Xing felt it necessary to defend Ishtar; after all, she was the city goddess of Uruk, and a tarnished reputation was not good.
“It’s indeed possible, but taking gems doesn’t seem like something Ishtar would do. Perhaps it’s the personality of the girl she merged with during her descent!” Merlin also made a guess about Ishtar’s situation.
Along the way, Merlin shared his speculation with Fujimaru Ritsuka. During the fusion, human personality had played a part. As Mesopotamian gods were all blonde, Ishtar was black-haired.
Chatting thus, they arrived at Kussah city. However, they heard that Kussah city was unsafe at night, so they decided to stay outside for the night.
Seizing this opportunity, Li Xing secretly slipped away, intending to search for Ibaraki-dōji, and perhaps bring her back to Uruk as well.
“How bold, Servant, to sneak onto my territory alone.” Ishtar suddenly appeared above Li Xing, a faint smile on her face.
However, Li Xing was not worried. As it was already evening, he simply sat on a rock and waited.
Ishtar, ignored by Li Xing, was greatly displeased and immediately prepared to fly down and kick him. But she suddenly fell to the ground.
When she opened her eyes again, Ishtar was no longer Ishtar, but Ereshkigal, the mistress of the underworld, Ishtar’s elder sister.
“As expected, when Ishtar was summoned back then, you were summoned together. That’s why the sorceress died, simultaneously summoning two goddesses, dying from magical exhaustion,” Li Xing said calmly.
Ereshkigal got up and looked around. “Has it gotten dark so quickly? Ah, good morning!”
“Good morning. I didn’t expect to meet you first. Shall we be friends? Don’t let my appearance fool you, I’m very good at growing flowers!”
Looking at the golden-haired goddess before him, Li Xing walked forward and extended a hand.
“Oh my, a mere human, thinking of befriending a goddess. I think you have a rather audacious heart.”
Eresh did not intend to shake Li Xing’s hand. In fact, Eresh had no idea what shaking hands was.
However, Li Xing, unfazed by being ignored, simply smiled and said, “Goddess, I am a Servant, can’t you tell? Besides, there’s no rule in the world that humans cannot befriend gods, right?”
“Is that so? Then what is your purpose?” Eresh observed Li Xing closely. Upon seeing that Li Xing’s Spirit Origin was comparable to that of a god, she realized he was no ordinary Servant.
“If you don’t want to, so be it. I was just feeling impulsive anyway. Goodbye, Goddess of the Underworld.”
Just as Li Xing was about to leave, Eresh suddenly called out to him. Turning around, she said shyly, “Since you wish to befriend me so much, I shall reluctantly accept you. Tell me your name…”
“Li Xing, my name. Please guide me.” Li Xing smiled faintly. As expected, she was a tsundere. After years of only speaking with ghosts, how could a girl suddenly refuse someone who wanted to be friends?