After leaving the city of Kousa, everyone returned to Uruk and presented the Tablet of Destinies to Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was pleased and immediately decided to grant the Chaldea一行 a holiday.
During this holiday, Fujimaru Ritsuka wanted to visit the northern front, and so did the others.
...
Upon arriving at the northern front, Fujimaru Ritsuka saw many demonic beasts outside the city. Leonidas gave an order, and three cannons, out of place for this era, slowly rose from the city walls. They fired three shells, causing a large explosion among the demonic beasts outside the city, instantly eliminating many of them.
"This is the Divine Authority Seal, created by King Gilgamesh, which fires the king's treasures as cannonballs," Leonidas explained to Fujimaru Ritsuka as she approached.
"He's really willing to spend! Using treasures as cannonballs..." Lixing muttered inwardly. In this world, only Gilgamesh would be so extravagant.
Lixing was too lazy to observe these matters and found an excuse to go into the city to rest, leaving Leonidas to give Fujimaru Ritsuka a proper lesson.
During dinner, Ushiwakamaru informed the Chaldea一行 about recent events. There was a city called Nippur where some people had not yet evacuated. However, they had recently lost contact with Nippur, so they planned to ask Fujimaru Ritsuka and her group to go to Nippur to investigate the situation while they held off the demonic beasts.
Fujimaru Ritsuka, being kind-hearted, immediately agreed upon hearing that civilians had not yet evacuated, vowing to rescue the citizens of Nippur.
As night fell, Anna sat alone on the city wall, gazing at the night sky with a melancholic expression.
Merlin noticed Anna and approached her for a heart-to-heart talk. Merlin knew Anna's true identity and what was troubling her.
Anna was agonizing over whether to reveal her identity to Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others, but she was afraid that people would become scared of her, or even detest her, if they knew.
Merlin's advice was to keep it hidden. He believed that emotions were fleeting, and it would be a pity not to cherish them. Anna's conscience was something another goddess lacked, and revealing it would be akin to Anna throwing away her conscience.
"No, Merlin, you're wrong. How can you, someone devoid of human emotions, presume that Fujimaru Ritsuka will hate Anna?" Lixing suddenly appeared behind them, looking at Anna with a gentle gaze.
"Oh, right, Lixing-kun also has Clairvoyance, so you must have known Anna's true identity. Indeed, as you said, I lack human emotions. I have only been imitating human emotions, consuming their feelings as fuel. However, in a sense, aren't we the same? Not being human, we don't understand human emotions, nor can we guarantee that the other person will still accept you after knowing your other side."
Merlin then turned to Anna: "Do you think Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others will care if you conceal something? So I think there's no need to tell them. As for whether one loves others, or is loved by others, that is another matter."
Anna recalled Fujimaru Ritsuka's various actions. Fujimaru Ritsuka was that kind of person. However, Anna was annoyed by Merlin's lecture.
Lixing stepped forward, pulled down Anna's hood, and placed a flower on her head. "No matter what you become, I will still like you, because in my heart, there is only one Medusa. The one summoned by the Holy Grail is merely you at different stages."
"Lixing... you..." Anna, with her true name revealed, looked at Lixing in a daze. If Lixing were human, would he still maintain this mindset? But Anna didn't know that Lixing's essence was human, and an incredibly ordinary one at that.
...
The next day, Uruk soldiers assembled early to execute a feint. The Chaldea一行 were to go to Nippur, while Ushiwakamaru, Musashibō Benkei, and others would hold off the demonic beasts, and Leonidas would defend.
Leonidas noticed Fujimaru Ritsuka's nervousness and patted her shoulder, telling her to take a deep breath. While it couldn't eliminate fear, it could relax her muscles.
After Leonidas said a lot to Fujimaru Ritsuka, the soldiers had also assembled and set off, led by Ushiwakamaru.
"Then, Fujimaru-dono, Lixing-dono, I wish you a successful campaign!" With that, Ushiwakamaru charged towards the demonic beasts, drawing his sword and beginning the slaughter.
"It's been so long since someone said that to me! Your voices are exactly the same..." At their parting, Lixing glanced at Ushiwakamaru, smiled faintly, and then proceeded towards Nippur City with Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others.
...
Upon arriving at Nippur City, they were met with devastation. Traces of battle were everywhere, and streaks of blood extended across the ground.
"We're too late. These bloodstains are all heading in the same direction. Let's go see," Lixing patted Fujimaru Ritsuka's shoulder. Fujimaru Ritsuka then followed the bloodstains, and the others quickly followed.
Meanwhile, with Ushiwakamaru, Musashibō Benkei felt that these demonic beasts were too easily held back. Ushiwakamaru immediately grasped the crucial point: their target was Fujimaru Ritsuka, and they were being distracted. He then disregarded Musashibō Benkei's attempts to stop him and went alone to support Nippur, as Gilgamesh had forbidden him from going to Nippur City.
When Fujimaru Ritsuka and her group followed the bloodstains to a plaza in Nippur, they saw a figure with green hair.
"Welcome to Nippur!" Enkidu said with a harmless smile.
"Where are the citizens of Nippur?" Fujimaru Ritsuka demanded coldly.
"Humans are the best nourishment. These people have naturally been absorbed."
Hearing Enkidu's words, Fujimaru Ritsuka felt indignant. "What do you consider human lives?"
Upon hearing Fujimaru Ritsuka's words, Lixing's heart skipped a beat. He then stepped forward and drew his Nebula Sword.
"True name seen through! You are not Enkidu, you are Kingu. And you are not invading Uruk now, but using the people of the Northern Wall as nourishment to create demonic beasts. The demonic beasts are also different; there are no second-generation demonic beasts here now, are there? Come forth! Kingu, Servant, Saber, Lixing, here I am!"
After Lixing revealed Kingu's true name, everyone suddenly understood. In the hearts of the people of Uruk, Enkidu would never harm Uruk. Merlin, however, was taken aback. It seemed Lixing knew more.
Kingu's eyes sharpened, and he stared intently at Lixing, recognizing him as a threat.
"Since that's the case, let this thing play with you all before Gilgamesh arrives!"
Kingu floated into the air, and a massive demonic beast emerged from the ground beneath his feet. With a roar, it sent the Uruk soldiers reeling.
"This is Ugal, one of Tiamat's eleven demonic beasts, the Lion of the Sun!" Merlin exclaimed, warning everyone to be careful.
Ugal directly spat a fireball from its mouth. Mash quickly blocked it with her shield. Anna drew her scythe and leaped onto Ugal's head, striking down with her weapon, but it left no mark.
"So strong, even Anna's Blade of Deadly Slaying can't wound it..." Merlin was shocked. He then lightly tapped the ground with his staff, and a shower of petals flew, enhancing Anna's scythe.
"Merlin's Heroic Creation!" Lixing recognized it as Merlin's amplification skill and extended his sword towards Merlin, gesturing for him to give him one as well. However, Merlin stated he had no spare mana to amplify Lixing's weapon.
"Damn you, Merlin, I'll do it myself." Lixing gripped his Nebula Sword tightly, and as the blade flashed with light, he swung it at Ugal. At the same time, an enhanced Anna delivered a vertical slash. The two attacked together, cutting Ugal down on the spot.
"Success! Target hit!" Anna exclaimed with a hint of joy. It seemed Merlin was somewhat useful after all.