That protagonist is trash; I could do better!

The high priest, Siduli, asked in bewilderment, "Your Majesty, why are you laughing?"

"Humph."

"High Priestess Siduri, this is not a question I need to answer, but... it is a topic that suits you very well. Take it and study the report on this clay tablet. With your intelligence, you will soon find the reason why I am laughing, and then you will know just how cold-blooded and cruel the magician you are praising really is."

Hall shrugged at the assessment of King Gilgamesh, having faced the same dilemma in the world of "No Game No Life": how to follow the natural way.

“A research topic…” Siduri took the clay slab with both hands.

"Magician Hall, I have witnessed your contributions to Uruk. In the past two months, your achievements have been worth two-thirds of the Holy Grail. The remaining third will be offset by the last mission."

"The final mission." Hall's expression turned serious.

King Gilgamesh nodded and said, "To be precise, it's the final task plus six months. As long as you complete this task and wait for six months, I will bestow the Holy Grail upon you. Perhaps it won't even take six months. I can guarantee that when you need to use the Holy Grail, it will be in your hands. Uruk cannot be separated from the Holy Grail for the time being, please understand."

Beside her, Siduri wondered if there was something wrong with her ears; the Hero King Gilgamesh had actually said the word "please."

Holmer nodded, agreeing with King Gilgamesh's statement. Given his character, it was highly unlikely that he would break the agreement or make empty promises.

"You can complete the final mission whenever you want. I will retain your status as an investigator in Uruk. Whether you choose to rest or do something else is entirely up to you."

"I'm used to finishing my work before taking a break."

“Siduli, give him that clay tablet.”

"As ordered."

Siduri stepped down and handed another mud tablet to Hall.

Hall glanced at the mission details written in cuneiform script.

Kusa City

Recently, there has been less and less contact between Kusa City and Uruk. King Gilgamesh noticed something was wrong and sent the duo Amakusa Shiro Tokisada and Fuma Kotaro to investigate, but they both disappeared.

These two unlucky guys still couldn't escape the convergence of the timelines.

The mission requires investigating the anomalies in Kusa City.

Hall chuckled. What difference was there between this mission and giving it away for free? Hall could even announce the mission's completion in person and inform Kusa City that it had become part of the Underworld.

However, doing so is too abrupt and unconvincing.

After leaving the Uruk Palace and returning to his dormitory, Hall used the Underworld Mirror to contact Ereshkigal and inquire about the whereabouts of Amakusa Shiro Tokisada and Fuma Kotaro.

In the mirror, Ereshkigal replied cheerfully, "Ah~ Gilgamesh's subordinate, quite capable, but overconfident. He barged into Kusa City and dared to stay until night. He's currently imprisoned in a specially made gun cell. Because he's a rare item, it's impossible for him to go back even if he wants to."

The goddess of the underworld, dressed in a dignified and beautiful black gown, has been contacting Hall through the ancient mirror of the underworld before possessing Ishtar's body each time she has experienced what happened before.

"King Gilgamesh's task for me was not to save them; it required me to investigate the city of Kusa."

Ereshkigal asked curiously, "Aren't you well aware of the situation in Kusa City? Why don't you just tell King Gilgamesh that it has become part of the Underworld? That way, no one will come to this city anymore."

"It feels a bit too boring to complete it so easily."

Upon hearing this, Ereshkigal looked somber and muttered dejectedly to himself, "Yes, the so-called underworld is just a place where the dead live. There's nothing there, and it's not interesting at all."

The world where the dead reside...

Hall recalled a bold idea he had once had, and a subtle smile appeared on his face.

Chapter 413 Dark Soul

"Ellie, how about we play a game? Hmm... I should say a creative game, since you're interested in interesting adventure stories."

"That's right, creating games? Like chess."

In the Uruk era, when entertainment was scarce, or rather, nonexistent, even simple board games could be addictive.

Hall chuckled meaningfully, "It's not that simple. The game is a role-playing game, and I've already thought of a name for it: Dark Souls."

"Role-playing... I'm sorry, I don't really understand. Dark Souls? That's a strange name. How exactly do you do it?"

"I'll be going to Kusa City tomorrow night. Let's talk after we meet."

"You're coming to the underworld? Really!" Ereshkigal was overjoyed.

She was almost ready to fulfill her bet with Ereshkigal, proving that she didn't like dead humans, but rather humans who would die someday.

Hall shut down the Mirror of the Underworld and pondered how to carry out his audacious idea.

Is there a more luxurious and practical "game engine" in the world than the Underworld? With the power of the goddess of the underworld, creating a live-action version of Dark Souls would be a piece of cake.

Ereshkigal believed that humanity was growing too fast and had not yet learned how to accept the world, and that the existence of gods was essential for humanity.

Humans can only accept reality by blaming God for all injustices.

In other words, it's roughly the same mentality parents have when they worry about their children leaving home.

Around this theme, from the basics to the concepts and the background, Dark Souls is the most suitable, only needing a slight change of background.

For example, assuming the goddess of the underworld disappears, a series of cruel scenarios are set up to test human nature and whether, as Ereshkigal said, humans cannot live without the gods and accept reality.

As for the "players," Fujimaru Ritsuka, who will be arriving in this world in a few months, is undoubtedly the one.

Incidentally, complete the task assigned by Gilgamesh to explore the city of Kusa.

And also...

Hall extended his right hand, and an old bell fell into his palm—an item he had obtained from the first Hassan in the Sixth Singularity.

It just so happens to come in handy, and besides, if we don't use it now, there'll be no other place to use it.

······

As night fell, the dormitory gradually became lively. Gilgamesh's summoned Servants returned to rest, and with Merlin present, the atmosphere was anything but quiet.

Hall inevitably introduced Anna to everyone, while Tiamat simply referred to her as a familiar.

Of course, neither of their identities were revealed.

It wasn't Amakusa Shirou Tokisada or Fuuma Kotaro on night duty today, so no one was too worried about their absence from the dormitory tavern. With humanity on the verge of collapse, it wouldn't be surprising if any of the summoned Servants suddenly disappeared.

In other words, instead of worrying about others, it's better to be responsible and loyal, and enjoy the present.

This is probably the current situation in Uruk, where ordinary people, who have been told by the King that humanity will be destroyed in six months, are still trying to live their lives.

In the tavern on the first floor of the dormitory, Hall, Olga Marie, Merlin, a group of Servants, and Dr. Roman from Chaldea gathered together.

Ushiwakamaru, his eyes reddened and slightly drunk, said while drinking: "Even though two Servants have already gone missing in Kusa City, King Gilgamesh still intends to send you, Hall, to investigate the situation."

Merlin chuckled and said, "This shows that King Gilgamesh trusts Hall very much."

Ushiwakamaru explained, "I didn't mean to question King Gilgamesh's decision, I just felt it was too sudden."

Hall: "I accepted this task myself."

Olga Marie said worriedly, "Kusa City? That's the city where I met Hall, isn't it?"

Ushiwakamaru asked curiously, "Do you know anything?"

"No, we just encountered a group of strange undead there."

Leonidas I’s voice was deep and resonant: “Undead, they don’t seem to be uncommon in this era. They often appear on the battlefield at night, which is a good training opportunity.”

Using the undead to train soldiers—truly befitting the King of War.

Hall listened silently.

Olga Marie frowned, shaking her head with lingering fear: "That's not how it is. Those undead are very powerful. They can appear during the day, and the surrounding temperature drops rapidly every time they appear."

Merlin stroked his chin, lost in thought: "As the temperature drops... does breathing become more difficult?"

"Yes."

Merlin said knowingly, "I see. Those are not undead, or rather, they are recognized undead."

"Approval?"

"That's right, Garulaling, the god of death, was recognized by Ereshkigal, the goddess of the underworld and became its messenger."

Does the underworld still exist in this world?

Merlin said regretfully, "I'm sorry, I'm not sure about that either."

The conversation ended quickly.

Ushiwakamaru looked at Anna, who was silently holding a cup of warm goat milk, and asked curiously, "Where is Anna from, you Servant?"

Anna looked at Hall, who shook his head and said, "There are special circumstances surrounding her appearance, which are not convenient to explain now."

"I was being presumptuous." Ushiwakamaru smiled apologetically, raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp: "I'll use this glass of wine as an apology."

Leonidas I laughed loudly: "Hahahaha, I heard it from the soldiers. Don't let her small size fool you, she's not as strong as a kitten. She can take on dozens of magical beasts by herself. Amazing! In Sparta, a normal child her size could only take on a lion."

Merlin looked Anna up and down, muttering to himself, "It should be about the same, no, maybe even a little older. My child will only be able to defeat a qualified knight by then."

Hall glanced at Merlin. In Merlin's heart, the Knight King Artoria was like a daughter; it wouldn't be wrong to call her his child.

The projection of Chaldea left Dr. Roman speechless: "Are you parents who compare your children to others?"

At this moment, Da Vinci's projection popped up and said urgently, "Excuse me for interrupting your conversation. A powerful spirit origin has been detected rapidly approaching you. Its strength is not that of an ordinary Servant. In Uruk, there is only one spirit origin with this level of power!"

boom!

A loud bang came from the courtyard.

"Goddess Ishtar".

A moment later, under everyone's gaze, Ishtar strolled into the tavern, smiled and nodded at Leonardo da Vinci's projection: "Thank you for your explanation. Yes, there is only the goddess Ishtar, who is both beautiful and powerful, and trustworthy."

"Oh, this is quite an unexpected guest," Merlin said with a light laugh.

Ishtar stepped into the dormitory hall, looked around, and fixed her gaze on Hall: "So many people living in this small room? You must be having a hard time, Hall. If you beg me, I might consider letting you live in my temple."

All eyes turned to Hall, speculating about the relationship between the two.

Hall shook his head and said, "No need. It's more lively with more people. I'm very comfortable here. What do you need me for so late at night?"

"The liveliness isn't unpleasant. I just came to see you after hearing you were back." After a pause, Ishtar's eyes lit up when she saw Olga Marie. She looked Olga Marie up and down and said with a smile, "That person is you. She's my type. From now on, the three of us will be competitors."

Olga Marie looked bewildered: "What?"

“You’ll find out later.” Ishtar glanced at Hall and smiled mysteriously; it wasn’t her place to explain.