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"Oh dear, sorry if I startled everyone. But I'm really not a suspicious person at all."
Merlin stepped forward with a relaxed smile, his hands spread slightly.
"As you can see, we're travelers in distress, completely lost on this unfamiliar forest path."
He sighed theatrically.
"Just when I was lamenting that I might end up as food for wild beasts, I ran into all of you. How lucky."
He turned his head slightly.
"Don't you agree, Ana? I told you following me was the right choice."
Hearing his smug tone, Ana let out a small huff and turned her face away, choosing to ignore him entirely.
Mash, however, kept her eyes on Merlin.
Because within her chest, Galahad's spiritual core stirred.
She felt a strange sense of familiarity.
As if she had seen this man somewhere before.
She frowned slightly, trying to recall the source of that feeling.
Before she could piece it together, the person standing nearby-'Enkidu'-spoke gently.
"Lost travelers? Then why not journey with us?"
He smiled calmly.
"Even if you don't invite us, we'll follow along anyway. We've already been lost in this forest for three days."
Merlin nodded as if that made perfect sense.
"Three days? My, that's quite the ordeal."
Then, as if remembering something important, he tilted his head.
"By the way, may I ask your names?"
Hearing the question, Mash responded without hesitation.
"I'm Mash Kyrielight."
She gestured to the person beside her.
"This is my Senpai, Fujimaru Ritsuka."
Then, turning slightly, she added,
"And this is the famous Mr. Enkidu."
"Enkidu?"
Merlin followed the direction of Mash's finger.
The moment his gaze landed on 'Enkidu,' his expression exaggerated visibly.
He raised his voice.
"Enkidu?!"
"That's... a bit problematic."
"Oh?" 'Enkidu' tilted his head, still smiling. "And what's so problematic about that?"
"Hm. Very problematic."
Merlin tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"It makes me wonder if there's something wrong with my memory."
He looked around casually, as if explaining a minor inconvenience.
"You see, King Gilgamesh, who is currently commanding the soldiers in Uruk, is a king who has already returned from his journey in search of the elixir of immortality."
"What?!"
Far away in Chaldea, Roman's voice suddenly rang out through the communication device.
"You're saying the current Gilgamesh has already returned after searching for the elixir of immortality?"
"Then that doesn't add up!"
"Eh? Why?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked.
The connection clearly didn't register for him.
Mash, however, stiffened slightly.
She understood immediately.
"Senpai," she said quickly, "according to mythology, Gilgamesh only went searching for the elixir of immortality after the death of his close friend, Enkidu."
She swallowed.
"At that point in time... Enkidu should no longer exist."
Those words landed heavily.
Fujimaru Ritsuka's vigilance, already heightened due to the direction they had been traveling, instantly spiked to its maximum.
"Mash, get away from him!"
As he shouted, Fujimaru Ritsuka moved back at the same time, pulling distance between himself and the 'Enkidu' standing before them.
"Hehehe... hahahahahaha!"
The laughter rang out sharply.
"So I've been exposed?"
The man wearing Enkidu's face laughed freely, without the slightest hint of anger.
"Indeed. An impromptu performance like that was bound to be seen through."
He lifted a hand, brushing his fingers across his forehead and sweeping his hair aside.
"Hello, Fujimaru Ritsuka."
His eyes gleamed.
"Hello, incompetent people of Chaldea."
He sighed, almost regretfully.
"What a pity. I was so close to seeing something interesting."
His tone shifted, turning colder.
"You are said to be the last hope of old humanity."
"Although humans are all failures... you are failures who stand out even among them."
He spread his arms slightly.
"Sacrificing such rare specimens to the goddess ahead would have created a truly fascinating living hell."
Mash stepped forward instinctively, positioning herself in front of Fujimaru Ritsuka.
Her voice trembled with emotion.
"So bringing us here... was all a trap?"
She stared at him.
"Are you really... Mr. Enkidu?"
In her heart, the real Enkidu would never say such things.
"Hahaha. Isn't that obvious?"
The man placed a hand over his chest, laughing.
"Since I speak like Enkidu and possess the same abilities, then I am Enkidu."
His smile widened.
"More importantly, shouldn't I be the one confused?"
"Why do you assume Enkidu would definitely be your ally?"
He tilted his head.
"As a divine weapon, isn't it perfectly natural for me to serve a goddess?"
"The conversation ends here."
Roman cut in immediately, his voice sharp.
"Fujimaru Ritsuka, listen carefully."
"The opponent's magical energy is extremely close to that of a Demon God Pillar."
"There's no longer any doubt about his purpose."
"Engage him."
"We have no other choice."
"You're right."
The false Enkidu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"At this point, the only choice you have left... is death."
"I'll be the one to bring your journey to an end."
The reason he had spoken so calmly until now was simple.
He believed, without a shred of doubt, in his own strength.
The five people standing before him were no threat.
Not even close.
Because of that, his confidence was absolute.
Mash tightened her grip on her shield.
Her heart pounded.
She knew it.
She was no match for him.
"That's right."
He read the hesitation in her eyes effortlessly.
"You don't have even a single chance of winning."
"Do you know why I bothered fighting with you?"
His voice carried a faint cruelty.
"It was so you could witness the gap between us."
Mash lowered her stance.
Her shield angled forward.
She was ready to move at any moment.
She had already walked across countless battlefields.
At this point, enemy strength alone would not shake her resolve.
Even so, the pressure was overwhelming.
Just as Mash mentally prepared herself for a fight to the death, Merlin spoke again.
His tone was light, almost casual.
"Although I don't quite understand Mr. Enkidu's reasoning..."
He glanced at Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash.
"It does seem like the two of you will have a rather difficult time handling this situation on your own."
He turned slightly.
"In that case, Ana."
"Why don't you help these two young ladies?"
"Understood."
Ana responded without hesitation.
"Although this wasn't included in the contract..."
"I will protect them both."
The moment she finished speaking, Ana rushed forward.
The battle began instantly.
Seeing this, Mash followed, moving in to support Ana without delay.
But reality was merciless.
Kingu-who had fully inherited Enkidu's capabilities-was not an opponent the two of them could overcome.
The moment all three clashed, the result was already decided.
Every exchange pushed them further back.
Watching the battlefield unfold, Merlin showed no sign of panic.
He simply raised his head slightly.
Then, he shouted toward the tree canopy.
"Care to lend a hand, leisurely traveler?"
His gaze settled on the figure seated high above.
"Shirou Emiya."
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