After this, Gilgamesh began preparing the materials for the blood ritual, in which they would all undergo a profound transformation in their physical abilities and much deeper changes related to magic.
The fluids Gilgamesh was preparing were something special that only he knew about, so before he went in search of a special beast to use its blood, he prepared the essence that would enhance their physical abilities and, most importantly, what he desired.
"I will finally be taller..." Gilgamesh murmured as he continued to use magical stones and other materials he found in his Gate of Babylon.
"It seems there are good beasts here that we can use for the blood ritual. The only problem would be the effects it would have on Eris's body." As he thought about this, Gilgamesh concluded that he needed to prepare something separate for Eris and first focus on her growth.
Although it was unlikely that she could endure the entire time required to address the medicinal effects, she could at least gain significant benefits to boost her strength and growth more suitable for battle. But upon further consideration, it would be wise to limit her growth since her mental age was still young.
There were many things she needed to experience, so Gilgamesh deemed it unsuitable for her to undergo the physical changes he planned to make. Therefore, he decided on several different blood rituals.
"I'll be back; I'm going to get the main ingredient for the rituals..." Gilgamesh disappeared after saying that, leaving Eris and Roxy alone.
"It's incredible, isn't it?" Eris dipped her feet into a puddle of water and said, "I never thought Gilgamesh would regain his memories of his past life. It was a bit surprising when I first heard it."
"Yes, that was quite surprising... I met him when he was younger, and he was a genius at whatever he pursued. For him, barriers didn't exist, and he could be the best at anything he set his mind to. He talked to me about his memories from his past life and expressed concern, thinking that the chances of him finding a wife were slim, so he supposedly chose me as a candidate." Roxy smiled as she recalled the young Gilgamesh.
Eris nodded as she listened to Roxy's story. Roxy, who had a delicate appearance, seemed to be quite open with her acquaintances. "Was there anything special in his choice of you?"
Roxy shook her head and said, "There wasn't, perhaps he saw something in me that wasn't easy to find in other people. During that time, I taught him magic, all the magic I knew back then, and when our paths were about to separate, he told me that when his memories fully awakened, he would forget about me."
Eris's heart squeezed with sadness upon hearing this poignant story. She couldn't help but imagine the sorrow Roxy must have felt knowing that her student would forget her after their parting. She truly didn't wish that upon anyone, especially not someone dear to Gilgamesh.
"I suppose you've traveled to many places. Have you ever thought about getting married? Gilgamesh jokingly told me that he would marry the first three women worthy of all his love, although it's certainly much better that way since when he becomes a King, he'll need many descendants." Eris was very open about this topic and didn't feel embarrassed discussing it, given her noble background.
Roxy tightened her grip on her staff and said, "I have an idealized image of a man, but I've never experienced anything romantic before. I guess that's because I've been deeply immersed in magic since I became a sorceress, so something like a relationship is the last thing I've thought about."
"In the end... everyone focuses on their initial goals before falling in love, I suppose that's the case in most situations." Eris wondered what would have happened if she hadn't become engaged to Gilgamesh and said, "But it doesn't matter. I'd like you to be one of those three wives, as I've grown very fond of you. I hope our friendship blossoms to the point of being like sisters."
Roxy was surprised for a moment. Then, she understood what was truly happening in the nobility and that Gilgamesh was interested in becoming a King. After a few seconds of thought, she said, "I don't know yet; it's not something that typically happens overnight."
Eris smiled and said, "That's true. We should have something to eat before Gilgamesh returns. I have some very good chocolates in my bag."
"I like chocolates."
...
A few hours later, Gilgamesh had returned with large quantities of blood, and his body was obviously covered in it when he returned. Therefore, the first thing he did was wash off the blood with the readily available water.
Upon his return, he saw Eris and Roxy engaged in friendly conversation, and he smiled, realizing that they had gotten to know each other much better.
"All right, Eris, your blood ritual will begin in a few seconds." Gilgamesh poured the blood into a large container and warned, "Remember, don't push yourself too hard during the transformation, and ask for my help when you want to stop."
Eris showed a serious expression and said, "No problem."
After helping Eris step into the container filled with blood, the effects began to take place, and she, who had appeared calm, soon clenched her teeth in pain.
"Aaaahhhh!"
"Is it that painful?" Roxy cast a thoughtful look at Gilgamesh, who was closely monitoring any changes.
Upon hearing this question, Gilgamesh said, "Blood rituals are an ancient and powerful form of enhancement. It's said that these rituals have the ability to reconstruct the bodies of mages or warriors, removing wounds and scars. Additionally, they can purify the soul, eliminating spiritual impurities that afflict practitioners. The rituals also provide an improvement in physical strength, dramatically increasing the capacity of those who undergo these procedures for enhancement."
"Not only that, but the senses of those participating in these rituals sharpen, allowing them to perceive the world at a deeper level. Finally, accelerated growth is one of the most astonishing rewards, as it allows the younger ones to develop their strength, battle senses, and, on some special occasions, their bodies, reaching their full potential in a short time."
Eris, who was writhing in the liquid, soon experienced a series of bone cracks, and her head began to emit a kind of abnormal energy. She clenched her teeth and endured as long as necessary to harness the costly components used in these types of rituals.
Gilgamesh shook his head as he pulled Eris, who had fallen asleep, out of the liquid and said, "She's so stubborn; she should have come out earlier if she felt so much pain."
After taking Eris to the lake to clean her blood-covered body, Gilgamesh returned her to a quiet spot for her to rest.
Upon his return, he saw Roxy looking at the hole in the ground and asked with some hesitation, "Are we going to do this together, without clothes?"
Gilgamesh thought for a moment and said, "Nothing will happen. I'll be on the other side, and I promise to keep my eyes closed until the ritual is over. While we're apart, the effects will be the same, and we'll finish faster before the medicinal effects wear off."
"Okay, well..." Roxy watched as Gilgamesh undressed and, without looking at her, entered the red liquid right in front of her.
"Don't worry, I won't look, and besides, the liquid completely covers our bodies."
Roxy hesitated for a moment but ultimately removed her clothes and entered the blood ritual. If Gilgamesh is telling the truth, this ritual would enhance all aspects of her body, and perhaps her complex of being small might end today.
However, after a few minutes, Roxy started feeling very strange beyond the pain and the cracking of her bones. "What's happening to me?"