I look at the massive wall of Uruk. I turn back and see the people I protect look at the wall in relief and shock.
"This is it, Uruk. You can go through the gate and be protected from the Demonic Beasts."
Nabinu, the leader of the group, looks at me and kneels in front of me. I held back a sigh because the last time I sighed, they had a panic attack because they thought they would disappoint me and were even willing to die for it.
The people of this era are very different from the people back home.
"Thank you, Lord Ningishzida! Thank you for protecting us and taking us here. How may we pay for this kindness?"
"Get up."
I see him get up and continue.
"Live and protect each other. The greatest payment to me is for you to continue to live. Go old and have a child by protecting each other. That is the payment for my service."
He looks at me and nods his head.
"Thank you, O God of Life and Protection! We shall spread your name and follow your teaching!"
I only nod and watch them leave me. While walking, they continue to look at me, and when they are far away, I walk away. I need to return to my base and search for another ingredient for the card. I already got two of them and only need three more before I need to leave this place.
I walk through the forest, but my Senjutsu catches something from the east. I stop and say.
"You can show yourself. I know you guys are there."
I turn to the right and see a group of people walking out of the trees. My eyes widen when I see a familiar person walking among the group. She is short, with golden hair and a pair of horns coming out of her forehead. She is wearing clothing that comes from Japan instead of Mesopotamia.
"Kehahaha! This is the first time I see a dragon protecting humans!"
This woman is Ibaraki-Douji, the leader of Oni of Mt. Ooe. I forget that Gilgamesh summoned her but decided to rebel and become a bandit.
"And I never think an Oni as famous as you will appear in this place."
"Hah! Are you one of the servants, Dragon?"
"The name is Ryan, and no. I am a living person."
"Oh, really?"
She walks toward me and starts to sniff me.
"Oh? What is this? The smell of a youkai! Are you a mate of a youkai? I can smell you being claimed by one."
She grins and says.
"Who is it?"
"I am a mate of the leader of Kyoto's Youkai."
"Kyoto, eh? How in the hell does she survive? That place is full of those bastards, Onmyouji."
"Well, she is known as the strongest youkai in Japan, and kicking them is not a problem."
"The strongest? Really? What kind of Youkai is she?"
"Nine-Tailed Fox"
She looks at me in shock and searches for deception. Seeing none, she throws her face up and laughs loudly.
"Kehahaha! That is great! Is she Tamamo? I might hate her, but she is strong."
"Nah. Another nine-tailed fox. Not even her descendants."
"Great! This is great! I like you, Ryan. Let me take you to my base and have a party. You are the first non-human who is proud of his identity. There is one Oni who hides her true self. That is no fun. Che."
I shrug and follow her to a cave underneath the cliff. We entered the cave, and I could see a lot of things inside. However, what caught my attention was the massive chunk of metal I needed. It is a metal from space that falls here.
"What? That thing caught your attention, huh? You need to give me something more for that thing."
I think for a few seconds before taking out a massive jug of sake. She widens her eyes and grins at the smell of sake.
"Sake! You have sake! Perfect! Take that thing and give me that sake."
I give her the sake, and she raises it to the air.
"Let's have a party!"
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|3rd POV|
Something has been bothering Gilgamesh lately. As the king who sees all, he can see a lot of things. It is the eyes that can see through all creation. However, something weird is happening. Among them is how the people say that Ningishzida helps refugees from across the land and protects them from any demonic beasts so they can arrive at Uruk.
However, his eyes cannot see the false Ningishzida. His eyes cannot see a dragon, especially a Dragon God, helping people even when that said dragon is known as the Dragon of Life and Protection. No God will lower themselves to help a group of humans without any compensation.
He had already talked to all the refugees that the so-called Ningishzida had helped. The False God only asks them to live and continue their bloodline.
It is his domain, but Gilgamesh knows no Gods want humans to perform the actions that humans will do even without being told.
However, that is not the weirdest part. He sees a certain Oni change her mind and start to help people for a fee instead of robbing them or killing them. He knows this change of behavior is because of this mysterious thing.
He releases a sigh and opens his eyes when he sees a white-haired woman walking toward the throne.
"Your Highness, Archer is here."
Gilgamesh nods his head, looks at Archer, and says.
"Archer, I need you to visit the forest in the north."
"Is there a strong monster I need to kill, Your Highness?"
"No. I need you to find the Yellow-Haired Oni."
Archer freezes and frowns at the mention of Ibaraki.
"Ibaraki, huh? Is she causing too much damage, Your Highness?"
"No. She does not cause trouble but rather the opposite. She has been cleaning the forest, which is taking a toll on anyone going through that place. Instead of robbing the people, she cleaned the forest and let the people walk for a fee."
Archer looks at him in shock and says.
"Why? Why did she decide to change her mind?"
"And that is the reason why I call you."
Gilgamesh looks at Archer and says,
"Tomoe Gozen. I need you to search Ibaraki-Douji and find the reason for her behavior change."
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