"Enkidu, shall we head back to Uruk?"
At this moment, Ophis was more concerned about Enkidu than the gods' affairs. She was about to pull him back to Uruk when Enkidu stopped her.
Though Enkidu was nearly powerless, Ophis paused and didn't move.
"No, let's stay here for a while."
Enkidu gazed down at Uruk from the hilltop, seeming to sigh.
"Compared to that palace, which offers only splendor, I'd rather see a bit more of this beautiful world before the end."
Ophis sat down beside Enkidu.
"Hey, Ophis," Enkidu spoke after a long silence.
"I'm actually feeling a bit unwilling."
Ophis didn't immediately respond, so Enkidu continued.
"I love... I've always loved this world."
Enkidu lay back and extended her hands towards the sky.
"This world is so beautiful... the earth where I was born, the distant sky, the mysterious sea... Everything is so beautiful. And the animals and people... It's hard to let go."
"Enkidu, do you regret it?" Ophis asked softly.
"Regret..."
Enkidu shook her head.
"No, I won't regret it. This was my choice from the beginning."
"Because of the lock?"
Ophis's question surprised Enkidu.
"Yes... Ophis noticed," Enkidu said with a bitter smile.
"That's right. I am the lock. My duty is to reconnect the divine and the mortal realms, to bind them together. But now, fulfilling that duty is impossible. My actions and my very existence have already negated the mission that this 'body' named Enkidu was born to carry."
Enkidu was meant to be the link between gods and humans. However, her love for the world and humanity led her to choose a different path—one that severed the bridge between gods and humans.
In the end, Enkidu chose to end her own life along with the mission she was meant to fulfill.
"Even so," Enkidu continued, her bitterness fading into a warm smile, "I can accept this ending. I've received more than I could have ever imagined."
As a weapon, Enkidu's life was meant for battle. But meeting Ophis had brought her unexpected fortune.
"Being able to meet Ophis, I feel fortunate."
Just as Ophis felt a familiar warmth and tranquility when she saw Enkidu's smile, Enkidu felt a sense of happiness in Ophis's presence.
Enkidu's heart was pure, while Ophis's was simple and untainted. In a way, they were deeply compatible.
But if what Enkidu said was true...
So why?
"Why are you crying, Enkidu?"
Enkidu's smile remained gentle and holy, yet tears streamed from her eyes.
"Yes... it's probably because..."
Wiping her tears, Enkidu looked at Ophis.
"Compared to this world, there are things I can't let go of."
Ophis tilted her head in confusion.
Perhaps Enkidu was referring to her.
However...
"I don't understand. This body will never die completely. Past, present, and future, I am eternal. You don't need to worry about me."
"Eternity..."
Enkidu closed her eyes.
"Eternity... After I die, who will understand you, Ophis, who is so elusive? Your eternity is for you alone. Thinking about this makes me weep."
Ophis was elusive because she isolated herself from the world, constantly pursuing an unreachable goal.
Who could accompany such a being?
"Enkidu doesn't understand. I am Ouroboros. I am a self-contained cycle, and I don't interfere with others."
Ouroboros represents a continuous cycle, inherently isolating itself from external influence.
But...
"I knew that already..."
Enkidu shook her head.
"Though I don't know what Ophis is, I knew from the first moment I saw you that you couldn't be touched or interfered with. Even though I had no reason."
Enkidu reached out to touch Ophis's cheek.
"Even so, I still touched you. When you were most vulnerable, I took the chance to touch your uninterrupted existence. At that moment, I felt I understood your heart a little."
Despite the weakness of her cursed body, Enkidu's hand reached out, only to be caught by Ophis.
Holding Ophis's hand, Enkidu's smile grew brighter.
"Even if you say Ouroboros is a being that doesn't interfere, it's probably not because you don't want to... but because you don't know how. Ophis, although you can't be touched, it's precisely because of this that you don't know how to actively connect with others. It must be very lonely."
"Even if Enkidu says so..."
Ophis shook her head.
Even as Enkidu said, she didn't need to touch others.
It didn't make sense.
She had endured loneliness in her original world line, so there was no reason she couldn't do the same now.
Unnecessary and futile actions were pointless.
"Hey, Ophis..."
At this moment, Enkidu spoke again.
"Can you promise me one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Love on my behalf, love everything I love."
These words were unexpected, even to Ophis.
The atmosphere settled into a calm silence.
Ophis closed her eyes gently.
At that moment, she understood.
This must have been Enkidu's plan all along.
So...
After a long pause, Ophis opened her eyes and looked at Enkidu.
Then, to Enkidu's surprise, a smile appeared on Ophis's face.
The answer was clear from the start.