A/N: Sorry for mistake I uploaded chap 53(Now Properly updated) with the content of chapter 54
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Asia stared at him in shock.
Her emerald eyes widened, shimmering faintly under the moonlight. Unshed tears gathered at the corners of her eyes before her expression slowly shifted into a bitter smile.
"I… Hero-san…"
Her voice was soft.
"Do you know my story?"
Gilgamesh watched her quietly.
"Yes. I don't know the full details. Only that you were excommunicated because you healed that devil."
The moment he said it, her shoulders tensed.
"This… this…"
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Gilgamesh cut her off gently.
He placed his hand lightly on her shoulder.
Asia looked up at him.
Gilgamesh gave her a small, reassuring smile.
"I want to be friends with you."
His voice carried calm sincerity.
"I don't care about your past. You're a kind girl… and you seem like someone fun to talk to."
Asia's lips trembled.
"But I don't have common sense," she whispered.
Tears gathered in her eyes again.
"I've never lived outside the Church before."
She sounded like she was trying to reject him.
But at the same time—
She clearly didn't want to.
"That's easy to fix."
Gilgamesh shrugged slightly.
"You'll learn with time. I'll help you."
Asia shook her head weakly.
"I can't even speak Japanese, Hero-san."
Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow.
"We're speaking Japanese right now."
Her eyes widened.
"We are?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Magic."
Gilgamesh answered simply.
It was the truth.
He had already learned a spell that allowed him to understand and speak any language.
Asia blinked in surprise.
Then—
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
It was gentle.
Clear.
Beautiful.
But Gilgamesh's expression slowly grew serious again.
"However…"
Asia looked up.
His crimson eyes met hers.
"Being friends with me won't be easy."
His tone had become calm.
But heavy.
"As you've seen… I'm a hero."
"Heroes always have enemies."
"If you become my friend…"
His gaze hardened slightly.
"My enemies may target you."
Asia's eyes widened.
"You want a normal life, don't you?"
Gilgamesh continued quietly.
"I can tell."
"But if you stay close to me…"
"You won't have that."
For a moment—
His voice stopped.
His throat felt dry.
Everything he said was true.
But it was only a small part of the truth.
The danger surrounding him was far deeper than Asia could imagine.
Yet when he looked at her—
When he saw those hopeful eyes that still dreamed of living like an ordinary girl—
The words caught in his throat.
But Asia surprised him.
She smiled.
Not brightly.
Not happily.
But with quiet bitterness.
"I… don't think I'll ever have a normal life, Hero-san."
Her voice carried resignation.
"Not anymore."
She looked at him carefully.
"You're like me… aren't you?"
Gilgamesh blinked.
"You're talented."
Ah.
She understood.
She understood what he was trying to say.
"Yes."
Gilgamesh nodded slowly.
"Like you… I also have a gift from God."
His expression became impassive.
"But unlike you… my gift is not healing."
"It's destruction."
"Taking life."
Asia let out a small laugh.
It wasn't joyful.
"So wishing for a normal life was impossible from the start… wasn't it?"
"Yes."
Gilgamesh nodded again.
"We are chosen people, Asia."
"Unlike others, we are born with gifts and power."
"And power always attracts other power."
His voice was calm.
"It's impossible to live like normal people when others around us would be placed in danger."
He glanced at her.
"But you already knew that."
"Is that why you hesitated to be my friend?"
Asia shook her head immediately.
"No."
Her voice trembled.
"I knew… deep down… that I could be your friend."
"But I…"
She hesitated.
"You're afraid to abandon your dream."
Gilgamesh finished for her.
Asia's eyes widened.
"If you become my friend…"
"You lose the possibility of a normal life."
Gilgamesh continued quietly.
"You still hoped you might live like an ordinary person someday."
"But that chance disappears if you walk beside me."
He paused.
Then his voice softened.
"But at the same time…"
"You don't want to be alone anymore."
Asia lowered her head.
Her shoulders trembled.
Soft sobs escaped her lips.
"I… Gilgamesh-san…"
She used his name.
"I… it's impossible… isn't it?"
Her voice broke.
The moment she called him Gilgamesh—
It meant she had accepted something.
Her dream of a normal life.
It was gone.
Gilgamesh felt a tightness in his chest.
For a moment—
He almost wanted to cry for her.
But he didn't.
He couldn't.
She needed strength from him now.
"Yeah."
His answer was quiet.
Honest.
The two stood in silence.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
Five minutes later—
Asia slowly lifted her head again.
"I don't have a choice… do I?"
Her voice was small.
"We always have a choice."
Gilgamesh closed his eyes briefly.
"No matter what happens, there will always be a choice."
"The real question…"
He opened his eyes again.
"Are we ready to face the consequences of that choice?"
His gaze turned distant.
"Sometimes the consequences lead to death."
"But sometimes…"
"Death is better than the alternative."
Asia looked at him quietly.
Then she tilted her head slightly.
And smiled.
This time—
The smile was genuine.
"Then I choose to accept your offer."
Her voice was soft.
"Maybe I can't have a normal life…"
"But that doesn't mean I can't have friends."
Gilgamesh smiled faintly.
"Good choice."
"Our adventures won't be easy, Asia."
"I know."
She nodded firmly.
"But I'll stay with you."
Gilgamesh laughed softly.
The two of them stood together for a while, watching the night sky.
Eventually he spoke again.
"You should get some sleep."
Asia stood up slowly.
"Yes."
Then she looked back at him.
"What about you?"
"I'll stay a little longer."
She nodded and walked back inside.
Gilgamesh remained where he was.
Looking at the stars.
Asia reminded him of someone.
A name escaped his lips like a whisper.
"Gabriel…"
"Awake, Master."
A voice came from behind him.
Gilgamesh turned.
Mordred stood there.
Eating a cookie.
"Starving," she muttered between bites.
Gilgamesh sighed.
"Yes. And why are you awake?"
Mordred laughed lightly.
"Couldn't I ask you the same question?"
She sat down beside him.
Both of them looked up at the stars.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Mordred spoke.
"I think you were right about that conversation… Master."
Gilgamesh blinked.
Then he remembered.
A memory resurfaced.
Back inside the dungeon.
While they were fighting.
"Hey Mordred."
Gilgamesh froze several devils with a wave of ice.
"I heard your wish was to pull Caliburn from the stone."
Mordred paused mid-swing.
She glanced at him.
"That's right."
Her voice was firm.
"If I pull it out… my father will recognize me as king."
Gilgamesh tilted his head.
"But what will you do after becoming king?"
Mordred hesitated.
"I… don't know."
She lowered her head.
Gilgamesh summoned a sword and cut down another group of devils.
"I think you already know."
"You just refuse to see it."
Mordred frowned.
"I'm not seeing?"
Gilgamesh nodded.
The memory faded.
Back under the night sky—
Mordred continued speaking.
"I only wanted to become king to save my father from his isolation."
Her voice was quieter now.
"He was someone who couldn't laugh."
"Couldn't cry."
She looked up at the stars.
"If I became king… he wouldn't have to suffer like that anymore."
"I thought it would be enough if I simply carried what he left behind."
Gilgamesh listened silently.