Chapter 105: The King's Summon

Yuta sat cross-legged on the floor of his dimly lit room, surrounded by the faint hum of energy in the air. His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the system notification flashing before him.

[Influence Value Reached Threshold]

[Next Summon Available]

It had been a while since he had last summoned a figure from another world, and the thought of what lay ahead made his pulse quicken. His recent accumulation of influence, thanks to Johan's chaos, had skyrocketed. He could feel the surge, almost tangible, coursing through him. Whoever he was about to summon, it was bound to be someone significant.

The familiar carousel appeared once again—a glowing virtual wheel filled with the images of powerful warriors, mages, rulers, and more. The images flickered, spinning faster with every second, their radiant forms a blur of potential allies—or enemies.

"Here we go again…" Yuta muttered, his eyes glued to the rotating images. He'd had good experiences with this before. Mostly. But this time, he wasn't about to let fate handle everything. He had a feeling that, with this much influence, the stakes were even higher.

He took a deep breath and commanded, "Stop."

The carousel slowed, the images becoming clearer with each passing moment until it came to a gradual halt. The figure that now stood before Yuta's eyes was impossible to mistake. His golden armor gleamed, his red eyes radiating arrogance and authority, and his posture was that of a man who saw the world as his dominion.

Gilgamesh.

"The King of Heroes…" Yuta whispered to himself. He had known this day would come. Summoning a figure as grand and powerful as Gilgamesh had always been a possibility, but now that it was happening, Yuta felt the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders.

The golden light intensified as a portal opened before him, and through it stepped Gilgamesh, his presence overwhelming, his gaze scanning the room with immediate disdain. Yuta met his eyes, refusing to shrink back. If he was going to summon someone like Gilgamesh, he wouldn't approach him like a groveling servant. No, this was a king, but Yuta had earned the right to stand as an equal.

Gilgamesh's smirk grew as he took in Yuta's calm stance. "So, it is you who summoned me? How amusing. And here I thought I had seen all that was worth seeing."

Yuta stood up, dusting himself off. "I didn't summon you to entertain myself, Gilgamesh. I called you here because I need someone strong. And I assume, given your reputation, you're more than up for the task."

Gilgamesh's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by Yuta's lack of deference. "You speak as if we are equals, mortal. Do you believe yourself worthy to stand in my presence, much less command me?"

Yuta smirked, not backing down. "Command you? No. I'm not here to give orders. I'm here to partner with you. If you're as wise and powerful as your legend claims, you'd know the difference."

For a moment, silence filled the room, tension hanging between the two. Yuta could feel the weight of Gilgamesh's judgment, the sharpness of his gaze as if measuring him against an unseen scale.

Then, to Yuta's surprise, Gilgamesh chuckled—a deep, amused laugh that echoed throughout the room.

"Well, well. It seems I've been summoned by someone with a spine." Gilgamesh crossed his arms, his tone shifting from disdainful to interested. "Very well, Yuta. You've piqued my curiosity. But know this: I am not here to follow your whims. I will act as I see fit. If our goals align, then perhaps you will find my assistance useful. But if you bore me…" His eyes flashed dangerously. "Then I shall leave you to your own fate."

Yuta gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Fair enough. But I doubt you'll find what's happening in this world boring. Johan's chaos is tearing everything apart. And Lelouch, well… he's out there plotting something big. They're both forces that could reshape everything. I need allies who can help tip the balance."

Gilgamesh considered Yuta's words for a moment before tilting his head back, gazing down at Yuta with a regal, appraising look. "You speak of tipping balance as if it matters. Power is all that decides the fate of worlds. The strong will rise, the weak will fall. I care not for your balance, but if it means I get to crush those who dare challenge my dominion, I may entertain this for a while."

Yuta met his gaze evenly. "As long as we understand each other."

Gilgamesh smirked again, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Very well. Let us see how far you can go before you break."

Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain...

Lelouch stood under the perpetual drizzle of the Land of Rain, his eyes scanning the horizon. His plans were progressing smoothly—his revolutionary army was starting to form, but there was something more. He felt a shift, a ripple of energy that disturbed the status quo. His eyes narrowed as he processed the sensation.

"Yuta," he muttered, a faint smile touching his lips. "It seems you've called in reinforcements."

Lelouch turned away, retreating into the shadows. He had preparations to make. The board was shifting, and new players had entered the game.

Back to Yuta and Gilgamesh…

Yuta walked through the streets of the village, Gilgamesh by his side, the King of Heroes striding with an air of supreme confidence. Villagers gawked at the sight of the golden-clad warrior, his presence drawing all eyes toward him.

Yuta could hear the whispers, the murmurs of confusion and awe as people tried to figure out who the man next to him was. Gilgamesh didn't even acknowledge them, his attention solely on Yuta as if the rest of the world was beneath him.

"You do realize," Gilgamesh said, his voice cutting through the quiet murmur of the village, "that these insects are not worth your time, yes? If you wish to accomplish something, you should start by surrounding yourself with individuals of value."

Yuta shrugged, unbothered by the comment. "Everyone plays a role, Gilgamesh. These people might not be warriors or kings, but they're part of this world. Without them, everything falls apart."

"Hmph." Gilgamesh gave a dismissive snort. "Spoken like a ruler who values sentiment over power. Remember, Yuta, the strong rule. The weak exist to serve."

Yuta chuckled softly. "And yet, even you had your Enkidu, didn't you?"

For the first time, Gilgamesh's expression shifted ever so slightly—surprise, followed by a sharp glint

of recognition. His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the arrogance in his gaze softened, replaced by something deeper.

"You know your history," Gilgamesh said, his voice quiet yet carrying weight. "But don't think for a second that comparing these commoners to Enkidu will grant them any value in my eyes."

Yuta offered a small, knowing smile. "I wasn't trying to compare them. Just pointing out that even the strongest need someone by their side. A true king knows the value of alliances, not just power."

Gilgamesh said nothing, his gaze shifting away as if contemplating Yuta's words. The silence between them stretched on as they continued their walk, the tension subtly easing as if both were coming to an unspoken understanding.

Back at the Inn...

The night had settled in, and the two found themselves in a small inn that Yuta had arranged for the night. Gilgamesh, unimpressed by the modest surroundings, leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he stared out the window at the village below.

"I'll have you know," Gilgamesh began, his tone dripping with displeasure, "this is far beneath the luxury I am accustomed to. If I weren't feeling generous, I would have leveled this entire establishment by now."

Yuta, sitting at the small table in the center of the room, poured himself a cup of tea, completely unperturbed by the king's complaints. "Noted. But we're in the middle of nowhere, so it's either this or sleeping outside."

Gilgamesh's eye twitched, but he said nothing. The idea of him, the King of Heroes, sleeping on the ground like a commoner was clearly intolerable.

A knock came at the door, and Kenji, Yuta's friend and companion, entered with a tray of food. He looked between Yuta and the regal figure of Gilgamesh, giving a nervous chuckle as he placed the tray down.

"I, uh, brought dinner. I didn't know what Gilgamesh liked, so I just guessed."

Gilgamesh glanced at the food with the disdain of someone who'd been served leftovers from a peasant's table. "This… slop? You expect me to eat this?"

Kenji scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, I mean, it's the best they had. It's not exactly the royal palace here."

Yuta couldn't help but laugh at the situation. "Maybe if we get through this mess, we can find you something more fitting of your status, Gilgamesh."

The King of Heroes scoffed, but there was a slight twitch at the corner of his lips, a hint of amusement. "Very well. I will tolerate this for now, but only because I deem it beneath me to waste my time complaining further."

Kenji let out a sigh of relief, sinking into the chair beside Yuta. "Man, this guy is something else. How are you dealing with him?"

Yuta smiled. "By not dealing with him. I let him be himself."

Kenji blinked, confused. "And that works?"

"It works better than trying to argue with him."

Kenji shrugged. "Fair point."

Later that Night...

As the fire crackled in the small hearth, Yuta sat across from Gilgamesh, a quiet tension lingering in the air. Despite the King's overwhelming presence, Yuta felt comfortable, more so than he would have expected.

"Gilgamesh," Yuta started, breaking the silence. "Why do you fight?"

Gilgamesh glanced at him, surprised by the sudden question. "Why do I fight? It's simple—I fight because it is my right as the King of Heroes to dominate. There is no one who can stand before me."

Yuta took a sip of his tea, nodding thoughtfully. "But that's all? No grand ambition beyond that?"

Gilgamesh's expression darkened, but not with anger—more with reflection. "Hmph. You speak as if you understand what it means to hold the power of a king. Ambition is for those who seek what they cannot have. I already have everything."

Yuta leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Even so, there has to be something you're aiming for. Even a king needs a purpose."

For a moment, Gilgamesh was silent, his eyes distant as if considering Yuta's words. Then, with a resigned sigh, he stood up and approached the window, looking out at the village beyond.

"My purpose?" he muttered, more to himself than to Yuta. "Perhaps I've already found it."

Yuta watched him quietly, sensing that there was more to Gilgamesh than the arrogant king he presented himself as. But before he could probe further, Gilgamesh turned back to him, the arrogance returning to his expression.

"You ask too many questions, Yuta. If you wish to survive in this world, you should focus more on your enemies than on my motivations."

Yuta chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Fair enough. But don't be surprised if I keep asking."

Gilgamesh smirked, a glint of approval in his eyes. "Do as you please. You're more entertaining than most."

The Next Morning...

The sun hadn't fully risen when Yuta, Gilgamesh, and Kenji set off toward the village's outskirts, where reports of Johan's minions causing havoc had surfaced. As they walked through the misty forest, Kenji's nervous energy was palpable.

"So, uh," Kenji began, scratching his head, "you think we'll run into any trouble today?"

Gilgamesh scoffed. "Trouble? There is no trouble for a king. Only minor inconveniences."

Kenji shot Yuta a worried glance, whispering, "He really believes that, doesn't he?"

Yuta just smiled. "Welcome to traveling with Gilgamesh."

As they continued through the forest, the tension of the upcoming battle weighed on their minds, but Yuta found himself oddly calm. With Gilgamesh by his side, they were bound to face more challenges than ever before—but Yuta wasn't afraid.

He had summoned a king, yes, but more than that, he had found someone who, for all his arrogance and power, was willing to listen. And in a world filled with chaos, destruction, and revolution, that was more valuable than any weapon or jutsu.