"Why? The oldest King is actually drinking with me." Arthur looked at Gilgamesh strangely. This guy still has such leisure? Or... does he want to awaken me like he did with Kotomine Kirei?
Gilgamesh didn't say much. He simply picked up the wine glass and took a sip.
"Ahem!" Gilgamesh choked after the first sip. Not used to white wine, he clearly couldn't adapt to it.
"Oh? You can't get used to it?"
"How is that possible? It's just that this wine is too poor." Gilgamesh scoffed and summoned a treasure from his Gate of Babylon—an ancient jar flew out and hovered beside him.
He opened the wine jar, and instantly, a rich fragrance filled the room, intoxicating and divine.
Arthur looked at the jar curiously. He didn't know there was such a good thing hidden within Gilgamesh's treasury.
"What is this?"
"Drunken Truth's Wine Jar—a B-ranked Noble Phantasm. It has no attack power, or maybe it does, I just haven't tested it. But it continuously produces the finest wine."
Smelling the intoxicating aroma, Arthur felt the wine bug in his belly begin to stir.
Gilgamesh took out two golden goblets, and the two began to drink.
"I didn't expect you to be the type who could sit down and enjoy wine," Arthur remarked in surprise, watching Gilgamesh sip calmly.
"When I choose to enjoy myself, I am always calm."
"But normally, you're just annoying."
Arthur didn't hold back—but to his surprise, Gilgamesh didn't get angry. Maybe it was the wine. After all, Drunken Truth's wine had magical properties.
"Heh, that's because no one in this world is worthy of my face."
"Not even Enkidu?"
"Oh? So you know my identity." Gilgamesh chuckled. "Then admire my glory from afar."
"You're still as irritating as ever."
"Likewise," Gilgamesh replied, but his mood remained pleasant—he didn't even bother cursing back.
Arthur found that strange. "System, scan this wine."
Ding Dong!
Noble Phantasm: Drunken Truth
Rank: B
Effect: Alters the drinker's state of mind; reveals a side of them not usually seen.
As expected of the ancestor of wine! A Noble Phantasm that brews wine with special properties. Arthur grinned. He had his system, and decent magical power—he could outlast Gilgamesh. After all, how many chances would he get to see the King of Heroes make a fool of himself?
"Enkidu... he—no, she—is my best friend. The only one who truly is."
Gilgamesh mentioned Enkidu, and his expression softened into nostalgia.
"You know Enkidu's story?"
"Of course. Enkidu was created by the gods of heaven to stop you. A divine weapon with immense power—she was the embodiment of nature, and the only one who could be your equal. Right?"
Arthur sifted through the knowledge in his head and spoke.
"That's right. She is my friend. But the gods never let me go... Why is it that only one of us could survive?!"
Gilgamesh's face changed!
His overflowing magical energy distorted the air around him. This wasn't just a Heroic Spirit—this was a being carrying divine wrath.
Gilgamesh's voice echoed like a thunderclap, and for a moment, Arthur saw not just a proud king—but a towering sovereign forged from glory and solitude.
Arthur smiled. "This... this is your true kingly aura. Not Golden Boy—Gilgamesh."
In his fury, Gilgamesh changed the atmosphere entirely. Winds howled. Thunder cracked. Lightning split the sky—then, slowly, the world calmed. Gilgamesh exhaled.
"Would you like to hear a story?"
"I'm all ears," Arthur replied with a smile and a welcoming gesture.
Golden Flash looked distant, lost in memory. His voice rang clear and steady.
"I was called the young king even as a child. Countless times, they called me the greatest king to ever live.
Tolerant. Just. Kind. Brave…
People praised me endlessly. They admired me."
At this, Gilgamesh let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Arthur, watching him, couldn't believe it. The proudest man alive… was laughing at himself?
Gilgamesh continued.
"But I only respected the gods. I never obeyed them.
And in time, I realized something—though a thousand people praised me, I was never one of them.
Because I was neither god… nor man.
I was an alien in their eyes. A stranger."
"They thought I didn't know... but I did! My identity, my powers—those gifts came with a curse. And my eyes... my eyes could see through everything!"
Gilgamesh leaned close, locking eyes with Arthur.
"There is no fear in your gaze."
"I'm not afraid of you…"
"No! There is no disgust in your gaze."
Arthur paused, then nodded. Perhaps it was true. Gilgamesh had endured everything others could never understand. Isolation, hatred, envy… even admiration laced with fear.
Even now, many Heroic Spirits despised his arrogance, feared his strength, or begrudgingly respected him.
But Arthur felt none of it.
To him, Gilgamesh was not disgusting.
In Arthur's heart, only the mediocre are never hated.
Gilgamesh smiled and went on.
"Yes... immense strength and a burdened identity—it all brought deep loneliness. But I never abandoned my mission. I served the people.
Yet no matter how much I honored the gods, no matter how I protected the people, it was never enough.
So... I changed!
I began to love treasures! I began to indulge in luxury! And so what?!
Let the world call me greedy!
Let the gods scorn me!
If I'm wrong, then I'll make that mistake to the end!"
Gilgamesh was no longer just drunk—this was his heart. His soul. His pain.
A perfect king, cursed to be hated.
"You're drunk, Gilgamesh."
"No! I'm not drunk! It is the world that is drunk—not me!"
Bang!
Arthur suddenly slapped Gilgamesh across the face.
"Wake up!"
"You dare strike me?!"
"So what?!"
Arthur's voice thundered.
"Where is the Gilgamesh I admire?
The Gilgamesh who defied the gods for his friend!
The Gilgamesh who never regretted his choices!
The Gilgamesh who rejected divine orders and followed his heart!
The Gilgamesh who, even torn to pieces, would fight for his kingdom and his people!
The Gilgamesh who dared to face the Bull of Heaven head-on!"
Arthur stood tall, looking straight into Gilgamesh's eyes.
"What are you doing? Running away from responsibility? Doubting yourself? You say, 'If I'm wrong, then let me be wrong forever'? Was that ever truly you?"
"Wrong…"
"Don't make me look down on you!" Arthur turned and walked away, leaving behind a stunned Gilgamesh.
"Maybe everyone questions themselves. But once you've chosen your path, you walk it without hesitation. If you can't trust yourself—why should the world?"
Arthur disappeared into the hall.
Gilgamesh stood frozen, watching Arthur's fading figure… and for a brief moment, he saw Enkidu.
She had spoken to him like that once.
He forgot the slap. Forgot his anger.
A few minutes later, Gilgamesh returned to his chambers.
He stood before a mirror, his hand resting on his cheek.
"Was I wrong…?" he muttered. Then his gaze steeled. "Right or wrong… I have those who believe in me. What do I have to fear?"
And he laughed.
The King of Heroes had returned.
Golden light enveloped him. Piece by piece, he removed his shining golden armor and stepped into the bath.
Steam rose.
Then, something unexpected—he peeled something off his face.
What?!
In the misty bathroom… a stunning beauty emerged.
Long legs, snow-white skin, a heavenly face, and a devilish figure.
Gilgamesh—was a woman?!
"This guy! It still hurts!" Looking at the bright red handprint on her face in the mirror, she—Female Gilgamesh—pouted adorably, her furious expression charmingly cute.
"Hmph! I'll definitely pay him back for this!"
The angry beauty had her own charm. One had to wonder… if Arthur saw this scene, would he still dare slap her?
---
Beauty Gilgamesh appears! Everyone, where are your Power stones? Let's hear your cheers!