Editing Lugal Gigam:Chapter 1 (section)

=== Part 5 ===

I was dreaming.

I should call it a nightmare though.

Ah, I’m back here again.

In the midst of a moist dungeon, the ghastly me was shivering while hugging my knees.

The treatment here is awful.

A creepy incantation could be heard. My body was torn by stone knives. Something that was not me was implanted into me.

The apparition that invaded me caused sharp pains all over and tried to infuse with my mind and flesh.

Even if I want to go lose my self-awareness, my body was tied down on a blackish red slate. My mouth was stuffed with a gag so even speaking wasn’t possible.

This cycle repeated throughout the day and night.

Comrades who were in the same situation as me were taken away one by one only to never come back.

All we could do was let our eyes wander in the darkness and wait for our turn, scared like rabbits.

Even the screams and wails were all drowned in darkness.

I can’t take this anymore. Someone save me. I want to go home. If this is a dream, then please wake me up.

It was my turn again.

Despair clutched my heart, but there was suddenly a sensation of something soft touching my cheeks.

As if being invited, my eyelids opened. I was crying.

But a pair of ocean chive coloured gentle eyes were looking at me. My gaze met with hers.

Vivid scarlet coloured hair and emerald eyes. She looked to be a bit younger than me.

She was wearing a long dress-like foreign garment.

She spoke to me who was still floating in the boundary of reality and dreams while basking in the moonlight that came in from the window.

“Our meeting here is our <Destiny>.” 

I’ve heard that before.

---My memories became fuzzy for a moment.

It felt like déjà vu of that time when we first met on the top of that hill.

She was looking at me like this with the moon at her back at that time too.

She always called the fact that I met her after escaping our destiny.


“Oh geez. Why are you always so uncouth? It’s an emotional scene no?”

After that she suddenly pinched my cheeks hard with an indifferent gaze and forcefully brought me back to reality.

“I really want a sensible answer at times like this you know? Like ‘I acknowledge our destiny.’ Or ‘I love you too.’ Or ‘We’ll be together forever’. I won’t mind if you silently hugged me either.”

“Ow-ow-ow. Stop that. I’m up, I’m up.” After shaking her off, I got up.

“Even though I came here after all this time, you were just sleeping. And I was already tired of looking at your sleeping face.”

Raquell sulked while frowning her beautiful eyebrows in dissatisfaction.

“I don’t remember calling you though.”

I was too tired to even ask why she entered my room without permission. Even under normal circumstances, this Goddess of Kagushila is the tomboy type. And when it comes to me, she becomes plain cheeky. 

The {{furigana|Mistress | Elshu }} of Kagushila, Raquell.

For some reason, this cheeky goddess thinks that I am her soul mate, the person of her <Destiny>. No, rather she is certain of it. Even at the first time we met, she was sure of it from “way before.”

And for that reason, she persistently says it’s surely the guidance of <Destiny> and has been dangling after me ever since, as troublesome that may be.

And moreover, she pretended to be a completely “normal girl” when we reunited in Kagushila. Well, I who didn’t notice anything was at fault too I guess. I finally learned the truth after we became completely intimate, so even now our conversations are mostly like this. Rather, she completely loses it when I use formal speech.

She’s doubtful to me more than half the time.

Even if she is a Goddess and whatnot, she’s like a jinx to me.

Raquell was sitting beside my make-shift bed. I saw the window wide open behind her. It’s a broad window of a size that is very rare in this locality. As I thought, that’s where she usually invades this room from.

All I saw was darkness out there.

“You’re kidding right? It’s already night.”

I rose up while groaning at the muscle pain that attacked me and walked to the window.

The day was completely over and the sun had set. A fragment of the moon was shining with its gentle light from the skies.  The lamplights flickered from the windows of the various residences.

“How long have you been there?”

“Since afternoon I think. Geez that Shakan, just when I was wondering why he wasn’t coming back!”

I can quite imagine Shakan becoming like a cat in front of his master. Well, he reaped what he sowed.

“You could’ve waked me up earlier you know.” After I use {{furigana|<Hydra> | Mashyumaph }} , I become so tired that it becomes quite hard for me to wake up naturally.

“Because you looked really tired.”

She smiled vaguely and rested her chin on her palm while sighing. A {{furigana|< Truth > | Ni }}  of fire lit up on the sock-shaped lamp in a corner of the room.

“But then you started having a nightmare.”

She was wearing a completely red dress with embroidery and a long red sash. Her red hair was adorned with a rose shaped blue ornament. She also had a necklace on her neck and some moderate rings and bracelets on her hands and legs.

“Ah, is that so? So I was having a nightmare.”

Honestly, I’m glad that she woke me up. I might have collapsed if that dream continued
"No matter how many times Souya sees a nightmare, I will always be there to wake you up."


…From time to time, she talks like she can hear the voices in my mind. But Raquell, that’s impossible. As long as I am in this world, it’s not possible for me to run away from that dream.

After I got transported to <Kiengi>, I spent a whole day thinking it was a dream. But time still kept flowing calmly when hunger hit me and I was finally reminded that it wasn’t a dream. It was reality.

That was the first time I got to know of the fear of being in an unknown foreign land.

I didn’t know left from right. There wasn’t anyone I could count on. And I didn’t have a place to return to either.

I traded my school uniform and some accessories I had for bread for a while. I spent time on the edge of eaves. But that kind of makeshift life couldn’t possibly continue.

I got caught while stealing bread and was beat up by the locals.

Then they sold me off as if good riddance and before I knew it, I ended up in a dungeon where no light reached.

In the dungeon, there were a few more people in the same situation as me and I was treated completely like a test subject.

Now that I look back, that place really was abnormal. Even though now I am a bit accustomed to live in <Kiengi>, I still do not know what that place was and its purpose.

No matter what I asked or how I pleaded, it was all futile. Those black clad men tied me to a stone slate and cut open my body. Then they injected the <Essences> into me. The sharp pain was not something easily tolerable. For they directly tortured our nerves. And those who could not tolerate it fainted and turned into something between a beast and a human. They turned into “failures”.

I think I also became a little weird in that dungeon. As for the events that occurred there, I don’t quite remember as my memory of that time is fuzzy. I think they mixed some kind of medicine in my meals.

As for how I escaped, that also is a mystery. I don’t remember well but I think there were noises of what seems to be a conflict. Then there was an earthquake and the jail door was flung open. I crawled out the dungeon and I ran in a daze. The first time I met Raquel was there… I think.

I mean I do remember being protected by some weird girl, but because I was in a panic I just ran away without saying much. Much later, Raquell was the one who told me that it was her by the time I settled down in Kagushila.

Jin-san coincidently picked me up after my escape. It was when I was begging in the middle of a city.

The shock I received when I suddenly heard Japanese in the middle of a buzzing flood of foreign words is something that I probably will never forget.

After that, I came to Kagushila with Jin-san and for the first time here, I finally got to live like a human being. I learned a bit on the lifestyle of Kiengi and Babylon from Jin-san too.

But every time I remember about that dungeon, my body feels like it will collapse. This world isn’t a world where I can live. I will return to Japan no matter what.

“Like that’s possible. So what’s the reason you were waiting for me?”

“Fufun~”

She folded her arms in front of her non-existent breasts and rested her delicate cheek on her hands. Like a little devil, she acted as if she was pondering something and tilted her head cutely.

“That’s weird. I’m not the one who’s supposed to have the reason though~”

Grrr. So that’s it. The graceful Goddess came here to purposely ask for gratitude.

“Aye, yeah. Well you saved us. Technically.”

“Arere? Maybe I’m hearing things? Could it be that when it comes to me, a certain someone with an annoying mouth always says that I’m insincere and what not is mumbling and trying to avoid it when it comes to himself? That’s impossible right~?”

Grr. Damn you, illiterate fool who knows not the pride of a warrior. I shall not take this shame unspoken. I too have my own resolve!

“Raquell-san.”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh.”

“Thank you for saving us yesterday. I might’ve died if not for you.”

“That’s right!”

Finally, here comes the large nod after her long waiting.

“I knew it! Souya needs me. I was so worried about you. I mean, if I ever lost you, then what would happen to me? I couldn’t stop thinking about it...”

“By the way…”

“It’s too dangerous for Souya to go to Babylon, that’s what I think. You can’t use {{furigana|< Truth > | Ni }}, and you are so careless. More than ever, you should always be together with me and-------“

“That time, how did you know I was in a pinch?”

“------combine our powers to….what?”

She opened her emerald green jewel like eyes wide and kept blinking.

“You, could it be that you were always looking over me?”

“T-That’s…I-It’s a coincidence. Yeah. A coincidence.”

It’s swimming! Her eyes, they keep swimming like fish! Wow!

“You promised me that you would not do that anymore didn’t you?”

“I don’t have a choice! It’s Souya’s fault! I told you to come back before sunset.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Things in Babylon never go according to plan. You, don’t tell you’ve always been peeking on me like this?”

“That’s impossible! Honest! The {{furigana|< Miasma > | Ni }} in Babylon is way too thick. So I can’t see far without obstruction. You were only coincidently in the <Emulpa>’s range this time. And besides, isn’t it obvious that I would start to get anxious if you don’t return as planned?! Or are you saying if it was me who wasn’t returning, Souya would be completely fine?”

Uwah. She’s completely bursting up. But even though I am grateful, I can’t back down here. I hardened my heart and thoroughly told her,

“I’m grateful. Thank you for this time. But this time was an exception.” I stop once to emphasize my words. 

“I have to find a {{furigana|<Star Gate> |Kamul }}. Then I will return to Japan. That’s why I won’t stop going to Babylon. And I have no intention of asking Raquell for help.”

“Humph! I already know that.” Raquell unhappily said, while folding her arms.


She doesn’t really appreciate the fact that I won’t give up on going back. She doesn’t obstruct it but she won’t help either. That’s her stance.

Frankly speaking, I don’t really understand all the stuff she says about <Destiny> and soul mates and what not. I’m even more confused on why Raquell always chases after me with a face saying it’s natural that we’re soul mates.

But even though I don’t get it, it is after all a show of goodwill. But I can’t be spoiled by her and simply go along just because of that. I will leave this world sooner or later. And the more I get close to her, the more bitter our parting will be. Even a fool can understand that. There is nobody who would want to hurt those who lent him a helping hand with a smile. That’s the maximum limit for me.

But of course, she would get carried away if I said that and start discharging sentences filled with killing intent like “I’m really a sinful woman aren’t I?” And that’s exactly why you should never feed wild animals.

But… I guess I am being a little too hard on her.

Raquell was glaring at the lamplight while fuming. Her expression was a mixture of anguish and disappointment, which really pricks my heart because of the guilt. Even though she looks cute like a doll, she hates losing.

“Erm. But still, I really was in trouble this time. Thanks, really!”

It’s true that I narrowly escaped death this time around. And this situation makes me look like the one in the wrong. So it can’t be helped really.

“For now let’s just call that I owe you one. It can’t be helped so I’ll do anything to return it as long as it’s not too impossible.” Raquell looked this way with one eye while still being in that sulky pose.

“…..Really?”

“Ah well, yeah. But nothing impossible okay? I won’t do anything too crazy.”

“Fufun~…Well, if you want to thank me then maybe I’ll just forgive Souya with that this time.”
Chucking like the tiny villain she is, she came beside me by the window side. 

“You said you’d do anything right?”

“O-Oi! You did hear what I said right? I won’t do anything outside of my abilities. Nothing impossible!”

“Now now~ what should I do, I wonder?”

She showed a broad smile telling me she’ll disregard all my opinions. Damn, I’m getting some seriously bad vibes here. I hope she doesn’t think of anything too crazy.

--Well, in the end I was the one who wasn’t able to heartlessly chase her away, I guess I’m at fault too.

“Now that I think about it…”

As we were continuing our childish conversation, I suddenly remembered something.

“That {{furigana|< Scorpion folk >| Giltabrul }}   that attacked us, you saw it too right? It looked like it knew you? What the heck was it?”

“I don’t know. But maybe it was from the temple of Zarinnu. It had a familiar {{furigana|< Fear> | Ni }} clad on it. I’m surprised it managed to live till now.”

“Zarinnu was the God who was worshipped in <Ebadonigul> right? Are you saying that Napheel returned? Is that even possible?”

“The Black Rampart’s returning?”

Raquell made a face like it was unconceivable to her too.

“The reason we were sent to <Ebadonigul> was to investigate a certain rumor. They recently said something unknown has been coming and going there. Didn’t you hear anything from the {{furigana|< Overseeing Board >| Enshi }}
? Well it’s not like they’ll come to you for each and every small detail.”

“Uh-huh, I’m not interested at all either.”

The Guardian Goddess stuck her tongue out as if it didn’t concern her at all. Oi! Is that okay, Guardian Goddess?

“That {{furigana|< Scorpion folk >| Giltabrul }}  was lurking around in <Ebadonigul>. The outside was crude, the interior of the temple and {{furigana|< Saint-Tower >| Unil }} were roughly cleaned up enough to be usable.”

“Humph. But it’s impossible for Zarinnu to come back.”

“Why?”

“Because all the Nepheels that were worshipped in Babylon are all dead. They didn’t even leave behind their 11 pillars. They no longer exist in this world. Even Gods die Souya.”

Tranquil words filled with conviction.

Raquell is someone with many faces. When she is around me, she usually shows an expression no different from a 16 year old girl. But strangely though, she shows the expression befitting a 
Napheel when she comes out in the city. When Raquell shows an expression like she knows a world I know nothing about, I can’t help but become uneasy.

“O-Oh, so it’s like that.”

“Uh-huh. That’s why if I ever fall in danger, then Souya will protect me right?”

After stirring up that mild unease inside of me, Raquell returned to her usual self again.

“Oi, if there’s danger even you can’t overcome, then will I really be of any use?”

“Yes...?”

“Tsk. Don’t be like that even though you’re the one who said it.”

Well, I’ve no choice but to accept it with Raquell being so confident. Even if I think about it, I don’t have even a fragment of knowledge necessary for me to make a correct judgment.

But it was much later that we came to know about the truth that something even Raquell couldn’t have imagined has been continuing. That in Babylon where  {{furigana|< Truth > | Ni }} runs rampart, “nothing is impossible”.