[Your interactions with Gilgamesh weren't always smooth, but you still helped the ancient King of Heroes reform Uruk's systems.]
["Gil, increasing Uruk's strength doesn't necessarily mean expanding its territory. We can make the citizens stronger, empower them."]
[Knowing Gilgamesh's recent arrogance was merely an act to lull the gods, the King of Heroes truly wanted to prevent those lofty deities from enslaving humanity.]
[Hearing your suggestion, Gilgamesh shrugged, indicating you could do as you pleased.]
[With Gilgamesh's approval, you taught the people of Uruk how to farm, promoted education widely, expanded talent recruitment, trained the military, curbed the power of the nobility, and only allowed the royal family to expand.]
[You maximized the effect of centralization, combining later feudalistic experiences, Britain's systems, and Uruk's situation, rapidly making the nation prosperous.]
[As Uruk grew increasingly powerful, other human city-states, the Myriad Races, and the gods quickly set their sights on you.]
In Uruk's palace hall, because a certain King of Heroes strongly rejected the dancing girls, Ryuya now had to vent his emotions solely through piles of administrative work daily.
Although his personality made this manageable, he still found it boring. Back in Britain, he had Morgan as a capable partner at home, and Merlin would act cute for amusement when he was bored. But Uruk was the complete opposite.
Every day was either serious work or diligently handling affairs. This led the citizens in recent years to hail the greatness of the Sun-Crowned King.
As for Gilgamesh... the King of Heroes, eating grapes nearby, fully demonstrated what it meant to slack off and completely relaxing.
"Gil, I mean... shouldn't you do some work too?"
Taking the documents handed by Siduri, Ryuya's only solace at the moment was Siduri herself.
He had been drawn to Uruk's chief priestess since the FGO storyline and the Absolute Demonic Front anime. Upon arriving in Uruk, he realized Siduri was more than just comforting… she was practically an angel.
Compared to a certain ancient king who did nothing but laze around, Siduri, who worked diligently, even staying in the palace constantly and being available whenever and wherever needed, was the perfect secretary, the most excellent assistant.
In terms of support, Siduri's excellence even surpassed Morgan's. After all, the witch would work during the day but transform into another persona at night, fiercely demanding compensation for her daytime efforts.
But Siduri was different, she didn't even require payment.
Well... although as Uruk's chief priestess, Siduri wasn't short on money either.
"Work? What should this king do?"
Her crimson eyes scrutinized Ryuya. Hearing the man actually expected her to work, the hand holding the fruit momentarily lost strength.
Lazily tossing a fruit towards Ryuya, Gilgamesh laughed heartily, "Catch it, Ryuya! This is this king's gift to you. Let's call it the Golden Fruit! Hahaha..."
"..."
Remaining silent, Ryuya simply caught the fruit Gilgamesh threw, placed it on the nearby table, and struggled to suppress the urge to look at her like an idiot. He just exchanged a glance with Siduri.
'Siduri, taking care of this fool all these years must have been really tough for you.'
'You are too kind. I merely do what I should.'
Siduri smiled gently and shook her head to indicate she didn't mind. In Siduri's view, this current King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, was her truest self.
Yes, having grown up with the female Gil since childhood, following her king to this day, Siduri saw that the Gilgamesh seated high upon the throne was lonely, isolated.
Upon the throne trodden by countless individuals, the woman named Gilgamesh had to bear everyone's expectations. Although 'The King acknowledges, the King bears' was Gilgamesh's destiny, hadn't she, at times, harbored her own small, personal thoughts?
On certain occasions, did this most ancient king desire a broad shoulder to rely on? On other occasions, did the most ancient king yearn to wear a dress and laugh freely as a woman?
Suddenly realizing Gilgamesh had recovered, or more accurately, had unconsciously revealed her most sincere side, Siduri was happy, truly happy.
Because the king finally had someone to depend on.
However...
The veiled figure glanced inadvertently at Ryuya, who was already bickering again with the King of Heroes. While wishing for the king's happiness, couldn't Siduri herself feel just a little envious?
…
Another three years later. Through Ryuya's efforts and Gilgamesh's slacking, Uruk had grown into the most dazzling jewel on this land. Even the Myriad Races knew of the existence of the Sun-Crowned King.
In the palace hall.
"My King, these are invitations and documents from the Winged Tribe and the Elves. They both wish to offer their princesses in marriage to Ryuya-sama."
In the dim evening light, Siduri specifically withheld documents related to marriage proposals for Gilgamesh's review. Looking at the king's impatient face, she remarked with some feeling, "My King, shall we refuse them as before?"
"What else?"
Having resumed her female form, her proud figure showcased what it meant to be flawlessly beautiful. If Tiamat represented illusory, all-encompassing love, Ishtar represented willful, unbound freedom, and Ereshkigal represented careful, lovely, gentle exquisiteness...
Then the female Gilgamesh, as king, was proud, believing oneself supreme, the kind of woman whose single glance made you unforgettable, possessing absolute charm.
With Uruk's development, Gilgamesh could now witness her people's prosperity. While pleased, she couldn't help but worry. The one thing that truly troubled her was a certain someone's reputation being too prominent, leading to a constant stream of marriage proposals from the Myriad Races.
Initially, she had even mocked Ryuya, suggesting he marry some odd-looking Orc or Demon.
But as time passed, alluring Fox Spirits, cute Fairies, and coolly elegant Vampires came flooding in. Having absolutely no experience with this situation, Gilgamesh was now genuinely panicking.