79. A Conversation with Dan Heng, the Death of a Hero?
The echoes of Gilgamesh's unbridled laughter lingered in the hall.
Until his laughter died down, he rose from the throne and, step by step, descended from its lofty throne.
The chief priestess, Siduri, the generals, and the officials present all held their breath, their eyes fixed on their king.
Finally, Gilgamesh stood firmly, a foot away from Xiling.
The two were now eye to eye.
Xiling no longer had to look up at the golden king, and Gilgamesh no longer had to look down from above.
"Tell me your name, foreigner," Gilgamesh said, looking Xiling straight in the eye, and Xiling didn't shy away from it.
"Xiling."
"So, Xiling," Gilgamesh's lips curled up playfully.
"I'm curious. You've come to my land of Uruk, claiming to bring aid... How exactly do you plan to help this city?"
Gilgamesh was curious about the man standing before him's answer.
In response to Gilgamesh's question, Xiling spoke with a casual tone, as if he were discussing the dinner menu.
"Oh, well, right now, we plan to capture those three troublemaking goddesses first. One of them will definitely be killed, and the other two... We'll see how things go."
But his calm words were like a boulder dropped into tranquil waters, instantly erupting in the hall.
"Hiss—"
"Oh my God! What is he talking about?!"
"Three... goddesses? Capture? Kill?!"
Those were three goddesses who had descended to earth and displayed their divine might! How... how could they be so demeaned in this man's mouth? It was like discussing the slaughter of livestock!
Everyone was incredulous. Even Gilgamesh was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting the other party's plan to be so... crude, utterly arrogant! But...
He liked it!
"Ha—hahahahaha!" A roar of laughter, louder and more unbridled than before, echoed through the hall once again. Gilgamesh's chest heaved with laughter.
"Interesting! So interesting! Xiling!"
Gilgamesh's eyes burned, as if he had discovered a rare treasure.
"Those so-called almighty goddesses are they so insignificant in your eyes? Like...beasts you could easily crush?"
Xiling put his hands on his hips and said helplessly, "It's not as harsh as you say. Besides, they're enemies to begin with, aren't they? Whether it's the first step or the last, we must overcome them."
Gilgamesh nodded in agreement.
"That's right. Every obstacle in our path must be overcome! Whether it's the first step or the last."
However, Gilgamesh's tone suddenly changed, and his gaze suddenly became cold and oppressive.
"But—"
"Do you have the ability to do it?"
The air seemed to freeze at that moment, the temperature in the hall plummeting, and everyone felt a suffocating pressure.
Faced with the king's pressure and deadly questioning, Xiling smiled and did not attempt to defend himself. He took a light step forward.
It landed silently.
There was no imagined explosion of magical power, no humming of space-distorting winds, no violent whistling of air currents. Even the movement of the air seemed unchanged, not even a ripple stirred in the dust on the ground. To the onlookers, Siduri, the officials, and the generals, Xiling had truly merely just taken a small step forward.
However, to Gilgamesh, the world had already turned upside down!
The moment Xiling's footsteps landed—
Everything within his sight was instantly engulfed in an utterly pure white!
It wasn't something truly formidable.
As a king with clairvoyance and the credentials of a Grand Caster, Gilgamesh discerned the essence of this whiteness at a glance. It was the very foundation of all mages, all living beings—"will" and "magic power."
But!
This magnitude... this depth... this purity and vastness!
He could see no end! Even with his clairvoyance, he couldn't see the end of this magical power!
No?
Perhaps there was no end at all!
The previous questioning, the probing, the proposed trial of kingship, all came to a complete, clean, and abrupt end before this silent, boundless expanse of white.
But... Gilgamesh's expression grew even more excited. This time, he didn't express his joy and delight with his usual laughter.
The other party had already demonstrated their abilities to him, so it was time for him, the King of Uruk, to respond as an ally...
His thoughts were instantly complete, and Gilgamesh took the initiative to speak. His tone was no longer as stern as before, but rather a serious inquiry:
"It seems you have the ability. What kind of help do you require from me?"
"Huh??!!!"
This time, not only was there astonishment, but an almost absurd silence permeated the entire throne room.
Everyone stared at their king with wide eyes, disbelieving.
What had happened? He had just been questioning the other party's strength, the foreigner had only taken an ordinary step... Why had the king's attitude changed so drastically?
Even offering to help?
Xiling retracted the foot he had just stepped forward, along with the magic power he had displayed, and said with a smile, "I guess I'll be staying in the city for the time being. I'll be grateful for your care during this time."
"Also, if you know where the goddesses are, please provide them to us. Finally..."
Xiling pointed at a goddess behind him.
"That person isn't one of the Three Goddesses Alliance."
Another bombshell was dropped, making everyone numb.
Gilgamesh's expression remained unchanged, as if he had already known the truth.
"That's all I have to say for now," Xiling looked outside.
"It's getting late. Could you please arrange a place for me and my companions to rest for the night?"
While the heroes didn't need to rest, most of the members in the chat group did. They had been traveling all day, and it was time for a good rest. Gilgamesh, without the slightest hesitation, turned his gaze to the graceful yet resolute priestess who had been standing by his side.
"Siduri."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Siduri immediately stepped forward and bowed.
She turned to the chat group members with a polite smile.
"Dear guests, please follow me." She gestured with an invitation and led the group towards the main entrance.
After arranging this matter, Gilgamesh turned back to begin his work, but just then, Xiling's voice rang out again.
"Your Majesty, there's one more thing."
Gilgamesh paused, turning slightly to look at Xiling.
"What is it?"
Xiling smiled, casually chatting with friends, and gave Gilgamesh a thumbs-up.
"While work is important, your health is just as important."
Gilgamesh was slightly taken aback, seemingly unprepared for such a statement.
"Balance work and rest. Don't collapse before we've finished conquering the goddess. That would bring more trouble than good."
A brief silence followed. The only sound in the hall was the distant, soft footsteps of Siduri guiding the group away.
Gilgamesh looked at Xiling's smiling face, then at the inexplicably raised thumb. A hint of complexity seemed to flicker in the depths of his crimson eyes—ultimately, it all dissolved into a soft, almost imperceptible chuckle that escaped his throat.
"Hmph, I'm not that weak. It's just a piece of work. It won't overwhelm the king of Uruk."
"Well," Xiling shrugged nonchalantly, his smile still bright.
"Just be careful."
Xiling said no more. He turned away from Gilgamesh and waved casually, "Don't let anything happen. It'll worry everyone."
Gilgamesh sat back on the throne, picked up the clay slab, and began the work he had delayed for the day.
...
In a spacious room reserved for distinguished guests, the room was filled with the spicy aroma of grilled meat, the fragrance of desserts, and... a faint odor of alcohol.
A long table, large enough to accommodate everyone, was spread out, laden with a sumptuous selection of Uruk-style delicacies.
However, a silent war raged around the table.
"Aren't you a hero? You don't need to eat, right? Put down those ribs!" Kevin roared at Xiling.
"Bullshit! I won't starve to death if I don't eat, but I'll die of greed! And don't treat heroes like they are not human beings, you bastard!" Xiling clutched a massive rib tightly in his hands and began a struggle with Kevin.
"We still have more meat, there's no need to fight." Siduri wanted to step over and dissuade them, but she was in a precarious position. A certain drunken goddess, completely drunk, collapsed on her, acting like a spoiled child while constantly accusing a certain hero.
The Tarnished waved at her, "Ignore those two childish creatures. Let them fight it out while we eat ours." The Tarnished spoke calmly, as if he had seen through the struggles of the world.
As he spoke, he reached for another rib.
Just as he was about to touch his target!
Swish! Swish!
Two hands shot out simultaneously like lightning!
Precisely grasping the two most delicious fan-shaped pieces of meat on the ribs, they tore them apart with force—
Sizzle!
With a subtle, alluring sound of fat separating, the two most delicious slices of meat instantly detached from the skeleton.
The Tarnished looked at his ribs, reduced to mere bones, and then at the two bastards chewing relentlessly.
"Hmph!" The Tarnished snorted expressionlessly, his tone filled with mature disdain.
"Childish!"
After he said that, he reached out and picked up another rib, and once again, in the next second, only the bone remained. He looked back at the two bastards, with their mouths bulging, filled with rage.
The Tarnished smiled with relief this time. He reached out again and picked up another rib. Almost instantly, two hands attacked again, but this time the Tarnished let go, leaping into the air as the two struggled.
"Damn it!!" With a delighted growl, the Tarnished opened his mouth and, with lightning speed, bit down fiercely on the ribs the two men were fighting over!
Sizzle!
With an even louder ripping sound! The largest, most delicious piece of meat, dripping with fragrant oil, was torn from the bone by the Tarnished!
He even used the momentum of his fall to arc his arms through the air, raising two straight middle fingers with unbridled arrogance at the stunned Xiling and Kevin below!
That was his goal! It truly was the taste of snatching food from the tiger's mouth!
Except for Dan Heng, who remained aloof, dining quietly as if in another dimension, the boys' group was completely engulfed in a bloody melee.
The girls' group was a different scene. They sat together, savoring the delicious food and enthusiastically discussing which dish was most to their liking.
But one person didn't join in the discussion.
"Mmm... delicious... this one is delicious too..." Luo Tianyi was completely immersed in the foodie's paradise, her cheeks bulging like a little hamster, a blissful smile never leaving her face. Every dish on the table was a new and delicious treat for her, and the day's fatigue seemed to have been healed by this sumptuous dinner.
"Can you tell me how this dessert is made?" Lemuen took a piece and found it perfectly suited to her taste.
"It's wonderful to receive your praise," Siduri said, trying to steady the drunken goddess who was still mumbling bitterly about the beating she was receiving. She then turned back to Lemuen with a gentle smile.
"If you need, I can write the recipe on the slate for you."
At this moment, Elaina reached out and hugged Lemuen's arm. "Lemuen, you can make desserts, too."
Remyan smiled and nodded.
"In our area, if you can't make desserts, you're not a proper Sankta."
"I haven't tried your dessert yet. Can I try it next time you make one?"
"Of course."
"Ugh... Siduri... I'm so miserable..." A drunken Ishtar, cheeks flushed, clung to Siduri like a koala, burping and rambling incoherently.
"I accidentally lost... uh... my... uh... things... and got... uh... beaten up... I'm suffering so much…"
Siduri could only barely support the goddess with one hand, freeing her other to gently pat her back soothingly: "Yes, yes, you've worked hard, goddess… You should rest a while…"
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, who were also hungry after a day's travel, happily ate the food they found interesting while watching the boys' fight, the drunkards' shouting, and occasionally joining in the girls' lively discussions.
The dinner ended when the moonlight reached a certain height.
Dan Heng stood at the doorway and spoke to Siduri in his usual calm yet sincere voice: "Thank you for your hospitality tonight. The food was delicious."
Siduri bowed deeply to Dan Heng in return: "We are the ones who should express our gratitude, Master Dan Heng."
Siduri stood up straight.
"Thank you… for traveling so long to lend a helping hand in Uruk's most critical moment. The people of Uruk and I will deeply remember this kindness."
Dan Heng fell silent in response to her thanks.
Siduri seemed oblivious to Dan Heng's brief pause after her speech and bowed again, "Then I'll take my leave. Please rest and recuperate."
With these words, Siduri turned and left.
Dan Heng watched her retreat until she was out of sight. Only then did he slowly raise his head and gaze at the moon, so bright it seemed almost unfamiliar, in the night sky.
The moonlight was beautiful, a sight unlike anything he had ever seen in his voyages through the starry sea.
But this tranquil beauty couldn't soothe the turmoil in his heart.
"Thank you for coming all the way to help us through this difficult time..."
He...didn't deserve this gratitude.
Siduri's gratitude should be directed to the people in the room, those who came here out of goodwill to help this era.
And what about him, Dan Heng?
What compelled him to accept this mission was the points earned from the group chat mission. He needed something from the mall—something that could completely sever his entangled fate with the past, allowing him to truly transform and be reborn.
His motives for coming here were not pure and selfish.
He wasn't a noble person.
To him, this gratitude felt like a misplaced burden.
Just as Dan Heng was lost in these alienated thoughts...
"Hey!"
A sudden impact, warm and heavy, slammed into his back!
"Hmm!" Caught off guard, Dan Heng leaned forward slightly, dissipating most of the force, but the heavy, solid feeling still made him groan. Xiling jumped directly onto Dan Heng's back, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"What are you doing, Teacher Dan Heng? Hiding here alone, enjoying the scenery? Admiring the moon?"
"...It's very heavy," Dan Heng said expressionlessly.
"Huh?" Xiling jumped off his back as if hearing a ridiculous joke, elbowing him twice.
"Are you kidding me? Come on! You're Vidyadhara High Elder! My tiny weight wouldn't even be like a feather to you!"
"I'm not him," Dan Heng's calm tone shifted slightly.
He clearly resented Xiling's nickname. The playful smile on Xiling's face faded briefly. Seeing the clear resistance in Dan Heng's eyes, he smiled brightly again.
"Yes, yes, yes! You're not him! You're not some Imbibitor Lunae. You're Dan Heng! The Dan Heng from our chat group! Xiling's friend! Everyone's friend!"
Xiling's smile slowly faded. He looked at Dan Heng and said word by word:
"Dan Heng, this fact won't change, no matter who you were or what you carried."
Dan Heng was completely stunned. He stared at Xiling's incredibly serious expression, his mind seemingly blank. He had no idea why he was suddenly declaring these words so solemnly.
This... blunt and powerful declaration of belonging left him at a loss.
However, Xiling's words, like a barrage of rapid fire, hadn't finished yet. Xiling said solemnly, "Let me explain something to you first. Once you're in this chat group, don't even think about escaping. I don't care if you're him, him, or him. As long as you're in the chat group—oh no, even if you're gone—I'll bring you back. Do you understand?"
Dan Heng fell into a long silence. His eyes were lowered, making it difficult to discern his emotions.
After a long moment, Dan Heng finally raised his head. He looked directly into Xiling's eyes. His voice was low, carrying a subtle inquiry and...something indescribably touching:
"...What do you want to say?"
The seriousness on Xiling's face vanished, and a smile bloomed again. Xiling reached out and gently tapped Danheng's chest. The force was light, but it carried a weight of promise:
"Dan Heng, we are friends." Xiling's tone was incredibly natural, as if stating an eternal truth.
"So, when you need help, don't carry it alone."
"Just call me."
Xiling finally extended her hand toward Dan Heng, waiting for his response.
Dan Heng stared at that hand, his mind at a loss. He remained silent for what seemed like an eternity. Memories flashed through his mind, but... they didn't matter to him.
He wasn't him.
Faced with Xiling's wait, Dan Heng slowly raised his hand and shook it.
"...I'm sorry to have worried you."
Xiling smiled, "That's nothing."
Just as Xiling was about to say something, he felt the area become... so quiet!
A sense of foreboding crept up his spine, and he abruptly turned to look at the doorway, which had been silent just moments before!
Several heads popped out from the doorway, smiling broadly at the two outside.
Noticing Xiling had finally noticed them, everyone immediately lifted their voices.
"Oh wow!" Kevin was the first to speak up, nudging the Tarnished beside him with his elbow.
"Did you hear that? We're friends. Call me if you need help. Has that guy ever been so serious and sentimental when talking to you, Tarnished?"
The Tarnished waved his hand. "Bullshit! In your world's terms, you're just an abstraction in front of me."
Kevin nodded in agreement. "We're being treated differently! Seriously!"
At that moment, Luo Tianyi and Houraiji Kyuushou, the two young girls, could no longer contain themselves and ran straight to Dan Heng.
Houraiji Kyuushou, with a serious expression, mimicked Xiling's tone and solemnly addressed Dan Heng, "Dan Heng! We're your friends too! Call me when you need help! I'm very reliable!"
Luo Tianyi nodded vigorously, a half-eaten snack still crammed into her mouth. She echoed vaguely but with unwavering sincerity, "Yes, Dan Heng! If there's something delicious... Oh no, if there's anything you need help with, just let me know! Although I can't seem to do much compared to everyone else." Luo Tianyi rubbed her head a bit sheepishly.
Elaina walked over to Xiling, nudged him, and said with a smile, "You're quite talkative~"
Followed by Lemuen, who also approached. She clasped her hands behind her back, tilted her head, and regarded Xiling. Her smile was gentle, yet tinged with a hint of revenge: "Hmm? In all the years I've known you, even when you're with us old friends, how come I've never heard you say such heartfelt words, Hero?"
"That's right! That's right!" Kevin and the Tarnished, like two shadows, flanked Xiling from both sides.
In perfect unison, they simultaneously extended their arms and elbowed her!
"Unfair treatment, huh?"
"Favoring one over the other, huh?"
"Preferring love over friendship, huh?"
The two of them exchanged barbs, trapping Xiling in the middle, as if torturing him.
Xiling looked at Dan Heng with a pleading gaze, then at the others' teasing gazes. At this moment, Xiling could no longer hold back. His face flushed and turned red at a visible speed, his temperature soaring from his ears to his neck!
…
"Ugh!" Xiling let out a mournful cry.
His life was probably over.
——
——
A/N [Author Note]:
Xiling: Please! Teacher Dan Heng! Join me in a lifelong chat group!!!