Editing Lugal Gigam:Chapter 1 (section)

=== Part 4 ===

We headed east and followed the White Avenue after leaving the Anzu gate.

The White Avenue that runs across the whole of Kagushila (which in fact is not that big of a city) has milky white tiles embedded in the road. That’s where it got its name. Seems like it was the same stuff that covered the glittering white {{furigana|< Saint-Tower >| Unil }}  <Emulpa> near the center of the city.

The paved white road extends from the Anzu Great Gate, which is the entrance to Babylon, passing right by the walls of the central sacred precincts where the <Emulpa> is situated, till Mushufsu Great Gate, which is mainly used for communication with the neighboring towns. Many caravans pass through the Mashufshu gate everyday.

The White Avenue leaves quite the impression because most of the other streets of Kagushila are just simple treaded down earthen roads.

Things for sale are arranged under the eaves of the linked houses and in workshops on either side of the busy road.

The reason why it’s crowded even though it’s still early in the morning is because of the people returning from the riverside fish market. Even though most of them are dark skinned and blacked haired, there was also a large percentage of people with completely different features and costumes mixed in. It’s a place where you won’t really stand out even if you have a rather unique appearance. So it’s quite convenient for  {{furigana|< Outsiders >| Ba’a }} like me.

“Geez, what the hell were you trying to do? Suddenly running off your mouth like that!”

I complained to Xuyen who was walking next to me while gulping down bread in front of a diner. There was some grilled mutton in it too, so it kind of felt like a doner kebab.

“And it doesn’t have anything do with Xuyen. In the first place, you weren’t supposed to be that type of character.”

“Nn, that’s not true.” 

He finally turned back to normal... wait no! Why does he sound somewhat strangely irritated? 

“I only talk when necessary. Souya’s the one who doesn’t speak properly when you’re supposed to.” 

“Gofu!!!” 

Damn I choked... was he waiting for the tsukkomi? Rather, why the hell was he the one displeased?

“Liar, you don’t even speak a tenth of what’s necessary. And in the first place, when exactly does it matter? Those were my true feelings, and I think that was enough for that situation. And a reason like ‘thanking’ me isn’t enough. I’ll refuse any wasted relation with every fiber of my body. And shouldn’t you already be aware of that?” 

“But it makes you the one who looks like the bad guy. That’s one of your bad points.” 

Yeah, I guess that’s right. 

I understand what Xuyen is getting at. 

I don’t want to stand out as much as possible. I try to minimize my relations because I want to avoid any hassle, which the other party often misunderstands.


And that’s also kind of troublesome. 

But… 

“You are over thinking it. I don’t think anyone will really care that much about what I say.” 

“Jin-san knows more about that bothersome stuff than me. So I’ll leave it to him.”

“……”

Even in a small town like this, there are many opposing political factions in the shadows. They say humans are a species that’ll end up forming a political faction if you gather 3 of them in one place so I guess it can’t be helped.

Kagushila is administrated by an {{furigana|< Overseeing Board >| Enshi }} of three. 

The military commander from the city state of Jimbil was exiled even though he was a nobleman of the guardian deity, Varna Mumetena.

The great merchant whose trade network reaches the whole <Kiengi> and beyond, Wulwenki.

The princess who lead her tribesmen from the fallen city of Gibil, Ryuil Shimty.

It was these three who cooperated to revive Kagushila by building the walls of the city and cleaning up a corner of the fallen Babylon with their personal soldiers.

But they are only cooperating as “business” partners and nothing more. Rather, they openly declare each other as rivals in the city. That’s why each of them are trying to recruit excellent people as “chess pieces” to boost their influence in the city “just in case.”

For example, our leader Murakami Jingorou is in Princess Ryuil Shimty’s group. Chief Laashi.IL’s backer was the great merchant Wulwenki. Of course, Nobleman Varna Mumetena also had some influential “guests.”

“The more people you know, the more troublesome it gets. They interfere too much and before you know it, you’ll be caught up in some weird power strife. It’s a headache if you have to watch your back every second.”

“Mmm-hm. Sure is.”

“I’m gonna go home after finding a usable {{furigana|<Star Gate> |Kamul }}. Jin-san and Gwen-san said to immediately enter the {{furigana|<Star Gate> |Kamul }} if I spot one though.”

{{furigana|<Star Gate> |Kamul }}, the gate through dimensions.

They say it’s originally a facility for the Napheel to reach the heavens.

But if an <Outsider> who originally shouldn’t be in this world steps through it, a altering power comes into play and you can once again return to your original world. At least that’s what they say.

But a problem occurs if an <Outsider> steps though it. It short circuits and loses its powers. In other words, it breaks apart.

{{furigana|<Star Gate> |Kamul }} are the crystallization of the {{furigana|< Truth > | Ni }} and wisdom of the gods. Even though it’s Babylon, or rather the ruins of Babylon, I can’t really expect much. No one knows how many are remaining but I don’t think it’ll be enough for all those who want to go back.

There’s a limited entry for the return trip and the tickets are first come first serve. In other words, you have to spot one first and immediately cross it if you don’t want others to get ahead of you.

The two adults in our {{furigana|<Parties>|Ildam }}, Jin-san and Gwen-san, both seem to have no intention of returning. I haven’t asked them the reason yet since I’m afraid it might cause me to change my mind too. So I’ll just take on their goodwill for now.

“That wouldn’t be possible if it was another {{furigana|<Parties>|Ildam }}. That’s why I don’t plan on relying on anyone other than Jin-san. Although it’s a different matter if they want a fretter like this time.”

“Mmh-hm, me too.”

“Hey, if you went to another {{furigana|<Parties>|Ildam }} you’d be fighting with them every day right? I mean the only one with this much patience should be me.”

““Mmh-hm.”

Tsk. This guy doesn’t get sarcasm. Well it’s good that his mood got better

“Well, I guess I was a bit too blunt. But I’m not the kind of guy that wants other people to give me face or become famous. Rather, it’s the opposite. That’s why for that kind of talk, I want to stay as far away as possible. And besides, that guy just now…what’s his name…”

“Kabutou.IL.”

“Oh, that’s right. I kind of had a feeling it was a bug’s name.”

“Insect?”

The language translation functions of the tower of Babel are outstanding. But I guess it won’t work in this case.

“No it’s nothing. I just didn’t like that guy’s haughty attitude. But I guess I was also a bit childish there.”

“Nn Souya doesn’t speak up when it’s necessary.”

“Geez I get it already. Leave the preaching to Gwen-san will you?”

There was another reason for that though. Kenny-san was at Laashi.IL’s place.

All of the <Outsiders> who want to go back to their own world are in a sense each other’s rivals, even if that’s Kenny-san.

Every single one of them risks their lives to scavenge Babylon. And if they get the chance, then they’ll probably outwit you no matter how close you are.

Certainly though, it feels bad to say that about someone I owe so much.


As we chatted, I and Xuyen kept on walking down the avenue. After a while, we heard a procession of bells, harps, and gongs up ahead. Hearing that, the pedestrians all moved to the side of the roads hurriedly like an automobile when an ambulance’s siren is heard from behind.

“Nn, that’s Raquell-sama’s procession.”



Suddenly we saw a procession; a palanquin with a jade throne set on it was being carried over at the other side of the white avenue.

Damn! I forgot! Today was the day she patrols the city.

“That bastard…this wasn’t intentional was it?”


It’s not impossible, since she’s the type who would do this just to take the upper hand.

Imitating the others, we also bowed down and joined our hands in front of our chests.

“Err… like this right?”

Though Raquell doesn’t like it when I do this.

But this much can’t be helped. I mean I’ll definitely stand out in a bad way if I just stand there when everyone else is paying their respects.

The nuns of the temple soon passed by us while ringing their bells and gongs just as I recalled that naughty but wonderful face. 

Following that was the palanquin carried by eight soldiers.

The palanquin went forward in the serene morning light.

And on the exquisite jade throne sat a girl.

Just as I looked up towards her to check, my line of sight suddenly crossed with her almond shaped eyes.

Oi! That’s too fast damn it.

Even though I should have gotten used to it already, I felt startled as I felt being swallowed up by those shallow ocean chive coloured eyes.

She was smiling with pride. Sometimes I wonder if those glossy lips can only go “Fufun~”.

Kagushila’s {{furigana|Mistress | Elshu }} , Raquell.

{{furigana|< Radiance >| Meram }} , the guardian goddess of Kagushina. Called the “Wings of Twilight,” she who looks like a teenager is said to be a Nepheel that no other god would dare to pick a fight with.

Dressed in madder red coloured dress {{furigana| dress |Sari }} , her slim limbs gave the impression of a girl who was about to face puberty. Her exposed right shoulder showed white skin like smooth alabaster. Her braided hair looks like the colour of an autumn sunset.

She had a coronet on her head that was embed with lapiz lazuli, gold, and rubies. The same were for the clips and bracelets. Her sash was embedded with gold and silver pearls. The flower rings and bracelets on her legs were also embedded with gems. Overall, she was a sparkling and blindingly dazzling figure.

Her naïve fairy like  face sometimes looks alluring and seductive while sometimes looking haughty and prideful which makes her hard to approach.

At the very least, I think it’s useless to make a statue of her. I mean no matter how skilled the sculptor is or how much spirit he puts in, it’ll all look like a failure when compared to Raquell herself.

She is simply too graceful.

Even though there was a sunshade above her to block the sun, she looked even more conspicuous than when the sun shone on her. It was as if she was being illuminated in the shadows by an invisible light.

Just by being there, it was impossible to ignore her. She simply steals away your eyes. That aura, or rather charisma, can be treated as some sort of magnetic force. Or maybe it was what the locals called {{furigana|< Fear> | Ni }} , a possibility that can’t be written off.

{{furigana|< Fear> | Ni }}. <Authority of Fear>. A terrifying power.

It was an unevenly distributed power that was said to be the source of all magic. In the legends of Babylon from earth, it would be described as something like spiritual power, magical power, or the kind that could not be seen with the naked eye but can be comprehended. 

Napheel. They resemble humans but are a completely different species. It doesn’t seem to be a false legend.

Rather, Oi! You should look forward already! And return to the usual stale face!

She totally looks like she’s going to wave her hands this way without hesitation. The chance of her jumping off the palanquin is devastatingly high too. I pray that she’ll leave here fast, or else she’s going to do something that defies common sense again. Yeah, definitely!

Ah, god…No, I’m not talking about you. Tsk, look that way already!

Probably because I could convey my desperate prayer with that eye contact, the whimsical goddess left the palanquin while giving me a deeply meaningful side glance.

“Haa…that was exhausting…”

That goddess is no good… my neural system is going to collapse first at this rate.

This is really discouraging. That was like the finishing blow after all that happened yesterday.

I stared at the procession playing flutes and gongs with dead eyes while waiting for it to get out of my sight.

“Hmm? That’s weird.”

There was a giant white lion walking heavily behind its master’s procession. It had a majestic white mane that shook as it walked in an elegant motion common to felines. Usually it would be in the very front, although it would just loiter around lazily.

“Shakan…”

{{furigana| Great Lion | Oojishi }}. In other words, it’s a giant male lion. Its species were extinct in my era but they still exist freely in the current Mesopotamian era. They would usually be a size smaller than their relatives in Africa but Shakan is the opposite.

It’s big. Rather, it’s stupidly huge! It made the lions I saw back at the zoo look like kittens. I mean its gigantic mouth was the size of my head. Its body was 3 meters in height. And the four legs? Their presence were staggering. If it stood up on its hind legs, then there was no choice but to kneel down.

“Gau.”

The Great Lion Shakan was Raquall’s patron sacred animal. Patron sacred animals are special types of spiritual beasts that follow their master’s commands by their side as a mount. In other words, it’s a pet. But whether Shakan has self-awareness of that fact is another story. He seems to think he is Raquell’s protector or guardian.

“Rawr.”

Shakan walked in front smoothly and as if greeting us, gave a soft growl.

The folks around us went back to their everyday lives after seeing off the procession. The fact is that Shakan lazily roaming around the city is a common occurrence. Other than the extremely curious, people won’t mind it. As long as Raquell remains as Kagushila’s {{furigana|Mistress | Elshu }}, this city is something like a playground to Shakan.

By the way, there are also times when it roams around while carrying its master on its back. During those times, Raquell uses her {{furigana|< Truth > | Ni }} to conceal herself so normal people won’t notice.

“Nn. Good morning.”

“Yo, what’s up. You need something?” 

But Shakan did nothing. As if waiting for something, it moved its giant cat mouth in front of me.

“It seems she told him to receive a verbal massage from you.”

“Haa? Oi Xuyen you, do you understand what Shakan is saying?!”

“Nn. Somewhat.”

“Holy cow! I don’t get it at all though.”

The hell’s with that? Is this some kind of telepathy between silent people?

Shakan was patiently waiting. He’s so hard-boiled. Normally he never uselessly roars or rages. He’s calm and majestic like a king.

But a verbal message? Why would she---AH! I get it.

“Did Raquell tell you to ask me about yesterday?”

He waved his tail as if giving a confirmation.

“Well, that is…you know…”

I was a bit puzzled on how to reply.

Well I can’t really write it off. I mean if she didn’t use her {{furigana|< Radiance >| Meram }} to drive that {{furigana|< Scorpion folk >| Giltabrul }} away, I would’ve turned into a skewer right then and there. 

Regretfully, Amagi Souya’s adventure would’ve ended there.

But she promised me she wouldn’t do “things like that” anymore. It was quite an important limiter for me. If she forgets about that promise though, she becomes wild and drags me into her actions, and things become like I’m in her debt. And that’s ABSOLUTELY not a good thing.

I’ll have to carefully avoid that for now with a suitable…

(Souya doesn’t speak up when necessary)

“Argh…”

I glare at Xuyen who was beside me. Damn it, saying something weird like that.

“It’s your fault you hear me!”

“Nn…?”

As revenge for Xuyen’s actions, I ignored his question.

“Shakan, there’s a lot I want to say but for now, just go and tell her I said thank you for saving us.”

“Gau.”

Seems like he was satisfied with that as he suddenly turned around and walked away calmly like a monarch. He really is too hard-boiled. He doesn’t unnecessarily mingle with anyone.

“Oh! If it isn’t Shakan-sama. Please wait a moment. I have already finished that thing from the other day. Please take a look to see if it fits your tastes.”

Pyon! Responding to the voice that came from the corner of a roadside bar, Shakan’s ears abruptly stood up.

“This, what are you doing? Hurry up and bring the jar over.”

After the bar’s Okami gave the instructions, the employees of the bar swiftly brought out a huge jar from inside. As they removed the clay seal, the smell of beer drifted about.

“It’s the first of the season. Please have a taste. It’s all thanks to Goddess-sama.”

Shakan snorted pridefully for a bit and unlike ever before, he tottered forward with a burst of energy. After he reached the storefront, he waited for a bit and then suddenly hugged the jar with his front legs.

“Wait wait wait wait WAIT!”

I couldn’t help but yell out. 

What the hell is with that? I mean aren’t I super lame for thinking he was cool for a minute? And what happened to relaying my massage to Raquell?

“You’re going to drink? You’ll be yelled at again.”

“G-Gau!!...”

Shakan’s confused gazed moved between the jar and our disinterested faces. But that hesitation only lasted for a moment.

“Rawr!!” 

There was a flash of light in the Great Lion’s eyes! He made his decision.

“Says he’s going to drink even if he gets yelled at.”

“Just now, I think I somewhat understood that too.”

Shakan was hard-boiled. However, he loved to drink. Even though I was quite the drinker myself, I can’t help but pray he keeps it moderate.

After that, we left Shakan who happily thrust his muzzle into the jar. Well it’s a daily occurrence.

“Shakan… if he didn’t have that habit he’d be so reliable. When it comes to alcohol, he immediately turns into a lazy cat.”

“Nn. But this morning, he was the one who told us you were okay.”

“I see.” 

That’s understandable. If it was Shakan, then it wouldn’t be weird if he knew about our situation. 

“Then the reason why Jin-san and the others didn’t come was….”

“Nn, because both Souya and Kenny were okay.”

“Tell that stuff to me earlier! And I was about to flare up at boss here.”

“If you’re okay, they said the training starts after three days like normal.”

“Argh. Is Gwen-san a demon or something? No way. I’m not going. Tell her I got beat up so bad that I can’t even walk.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Geez. Why are YOU the one like a serious honor student! That woman has serious sadism issues. If we do as she says, my body is going to be the first one to fall.”

I almost reached my place as we chatted so I separated from Xuyen.

I live on the second floor of a certain wealthy merchant’s secondary residence. That person is usually in another city state at this period of time and only uses this place when his caravan arrives here for business. Usually his employee and his family live here so I’m borrowing a room on the second floor. 

I climbed the steep staircase to the second floor as if I was crawling. Entering my room, I took off the ragged mud, dirt, blood, and sweat stained leather garbs that were barely enough to cover me. Then I changed into a set of dry clothes and dived into the makeshift blanket-futon on the floor. I hugged the pillow and I slept into dreamland in no time.