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[FTMWDK] Chapter 459: Die?
🕑 Added 2024-06-03 00:53:25 +0000 UTCAfter deciding on everyone's respective tasks, Gilgamesh impatiently waved Arkhan and the others away.
Just before leaving, Arkhan glanced back and saw Gilgamesh back on his throne, picking up a nearby clay tablet to deal with today's unfinished works.
Arkhan couldn't help but sigh at Gilgamesh's situation.
Not only the administrative system of Uruk was still relatively primitive, but the constraints of the era made truly high-end talents scarce. Moreover, since Uruk was currently at war, the country's potential was almost squeezed to its limits.
This naturally led to a constant stream of sudden incidents, leaving everyone scrambling, ultimately leaving everything for Gilgamesh himself to handle.
Gilgamesh's demigod body endowed him with extraordinary power and endurance. Under normal circumstances, he could even fight for two days and nights without feeling tired.
Unfortunately, he wasn't truly a god.
Two-thirds of his divinity mainly focused on his soul and existence, with physical enhancement being secondary.
In other words, in situations of prolonged exhaustion, he might still be mentally alert, but his body could be nearing its limit.
Watching the weariness between Gilgamesh's eyebrows, Arkhan figured that death might not be far off for him.
However, he also knew that even if he pointed it out, Gilgamesh wouldn't change his ways, and might even rebuff him for meddling in his matters.
"Siduri, how long has it been since Gilgamesh rested?"
Arkhan asked the chief priestess who led him and the others.
"Lord Arkhan has noticed too?" Siduri turned around, her eyes visibly concerned as she sighed. "His Majesty hasn't closed his eyes for seven days and nights."
"Seven days and nights, damn, he's playing with fire." Merlin clicked his tongue.
Even though as a half-incubus, he didn't need sleep, he still wanted to avoid the exhaustion and mental depletion that came with it. Of course, if there were an unlimited supply of fine wine and dozens of charming, attentive beauties, he might consider challenging it.
"You didn't try to persuade him?" Morgan couldn't help but glance sideways.
Once, she also had pushed herself to the brink for the sake of research, but even then, she hadn't gone as out of control as Gilgamesh.
Her longest record was five days and nights without sleep.
During that time, she was in a daze, worse than being drunk, feeling as though she had been beaten with a sack over her head for a day and a night. Her brain was practically unable to function normally, seeing double of everything, and she almost blew up her entire magic workshop because she mistook potions.
Since then, she refused to engage in such inefficient and foolish behavior.
"Persuade him... I've tried to persuade him several times..." Siduri chuckled bitterly. "But it's no use. As long as His Majesty sets his mind on something, no matter who advises him, he won't change his decision. It's like he's determined to struggle with Uruk until the very end... His Majesty... he's always been so stubborn..."
"Rather than saying he's stubborn, it's more like he's willful... simply doing what he thinks is right without considering anyone else's opinion. Coincidentally, I also have such a willful king by my side."
As Morgan said that, she glared fiercely at Arkhan, her meaning clear without words.
Arkhan rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward as he turned his head away.
'Willful? That seems about right...' Siduri smiled helplessly.
Since returning from the journey for immortality, her king had changed in many ways, but this spontaneous nature of his hadn't changed much.
However, his willfulness in the past was directed toward others or the gods, but now it had turned toward himself.
Even Siduri herself couldn't say for sure whether this was a good thing or not.
Morgan crossed her arms and snorted coldly.
"I think you guys should just stop bothering about him. Honestly, that guy seems to be in pretty good spirits to me, doesn't look at all like someone who hasn't rested for seven days and nights."
"Gilgamesh is a demigod, his state of mind is no different from that of a god. This amount of exhaustion won't make him lose his mind." Arkhan chimed in. "Unfortunately, his body can't withstand this amount of pressure. If this continues, he'll eventually succumb to exhaustion and die."
"You mean... His Majesty might die?"
Siduri rarely lost her composure, her face showing obvious panic and anxiety as she paced back and forth restlessly.
"No, I have to try persuading him again. This time, no matter what, I must make him rest... I'm sorry, Lord Arkhan, I may not be able to personally escort you to your residence, I'll arrange for another priestess to guide you. Please forgive me."
With that, the chief priestess intended to walk back toward the throne room, but Arkhan stopped her.
"Actually, there's no need to be so nervous. Don't forget, this is the Age of Gods. Even if Gilgamesh really dies, we can bring him back from the underworld."
"How can you say that!" Siduri exclaimed anxiously. "The underworld is full of the remains of the dead, and the number of souls is countless, not to mention the ruthless and cold-hearted goddess of the underworld. Even Goddess Ishtar suffered a big loss at her hands back then. Trying to retrieve someone from her, it's not that easy."
"But what makes you so sure that Gilgamesh will listen to you?" Arkhan asked calmly.
"I will reason with him even if it costs me my life!" Siduri's eyes shone with determination. "This kingdom can survive without me, but it absolutely cannot survive without His Majesty!"
"Gilgamesh has just lost his most important friend, and now you want him to lose his most trusted aide?"
Arkhan's calm words pierced Siduri's heart like a sharp knife, causing her breath to catch.
"Alright, if you're really concerned about your king's condition, tell him I have a way to ease his fatigue."
Sensing the right moment, Arkhan didn't push Siduri further and revealed his true intention.
"You have a way, Lord Arkhan?" Siduri's eyes suddenly lit up.
"At the very least, it won't leave him teetering on the brink of sudden death like he is now." Arkhan shrugged his shoulders.
Siduri took a deep breath and bowed deeply to him.
"Thank you, Lord Arkhan. If you can truly help His Majesty, then all the people of Uruk will be grateful... I need to inform him of this immediately, please excuse me."
With that, Siduri turned and headed back to the ziggurat, though this time her steps were not as hurried as before, but rather more composed.
