Floor 1　Father of the Child

Elpis: Mmm...Ahh!

Cang Bi: “She seems in pain...I think it should be safe to land as we’re already far away from the Eldus’s base. Just check on her first.”

 

Landing at the lakeside, Cang Bi gently put Elpis down on the ground. To stay low profile, it switched to the earthling form and crouched down to examine Elpis. Holding her swollen stomach, Elpis was murmuring in agony.

 

Elpis: Enkidu...Help me…

Cang Bi: “Enkidu...I’ve heard this name somewhere…”

 

Cang Bi was startled by Elpis’s scream before he could dig deeper in his mind.

 

Elpis: AHH! Hurts...It hurts…

Cang Bi: “Wait...Is she going to labour...What should I do...Wait. Someone’s coming!”

 

Cang Bi guarded Elpis vigilantly as the leaves rustled. Very soon, three Eldus walked out of the bushes.

 

Eldus A: Great. We found that earthling!

Eldus B: We’ll get credited by Enlil as long as we bring the earthling back. Let’s——Ah!

Eldus A: What are you doing——!

 

The two Eldus were killed by the third Eldus before they could finish the words. Cang Bi was shocked as he looked at the two corpses on the ground.

 

Cang Bi: “What happened...Was it an in-fighting?”

 

Cang Bi didn’t get a clear image until the third Eldus came into the light, who was a woeful handsome male.

 

Cang Bi: Why did you save us?

Enkidu: ...It’s because I’m Enkidu, the father of her child.

Cang Bi: Huh! Wait, Enkidu...I recalled. Leonard mentioned that Elpis was the favourite of an Eldus, and the name of that Eldus is Enkidu!

Enkidu: Yes, you’re right. I’m Enkidu the Eldus.

 

Enkidu came to the tormenting Elpis, lifted her up and laid her on his lap. The familiar scent might have acted like a painkiller as Elpis’s contraction had stopped, who fell asleep out of exhaustion.

 

When Enkidu stroked her cheek, there was a deep affection in his gaze; then he sighed, as if mourning for all regrets in this world.

 

Enkidu: I raised her. I’m her father, but also her lover...

​

​

Floor 2　Enkidu’s Enthusiasm

On a grassfield with plentiful silvergrass and halos-transporting pipes, there was a man named Enkidu napping peacefully. Feeling the soothing breezes, his mind drifted back to the old times in his hometown…

 

Back in the old days, Enkidu was looked down upon by his peers, but it never bothered him much. In contrast, Enkidu felt even more carefree than before, for he could focus on the research that intrigued him.

 

This day in the furthest of the desert, he was observing the mana contained in some crystals, which were scavenged from Galaxia.

 

Enlil: Whoa!

Enkidu: ...Enlil, I think you should do a research on the reason why you trip yourself every time you meet me.

Enlil: Sure. I’ll tell you when I figure out why, but it might take you a lifetime to wait.

Enkidu and Enlil smiled when their gazes met. There was an exclusive connection between them.

Enlil: I still have some questions about the memory reconstructing circle. Can you help me with that?

Enkidu: How come a genius like you seeks help from a fool like me?

Enlil: Enkidu is no fool at all! Frankly speaking, you’re much smarter than me, but it has to arouse your interest first. You pour all your effort to pursue everything you long for. Am I right?

 

Enkidu would like to answer but a childish shout woke him up——

 

WHOA!

 

Waking up from the dream, Enkidu saw an eight-year-old girl trip in front of him, resembling Enlil in his dream. When he was about to give the girl a hand, a man came over——Kingu the Eldus who had been Shamash’s favorite lately.

 

Kingu: Sorry. Looks like I just disturbed your nap.

 

Kingu’s apology did not sound what it meant because of his playful tone, but Enkidu was not offended at all. His attention was all caught by this little girl in front of him. Intrigued by Enkidu’s reaction, Kingu told him about the girl.

 

Kingu: Her name is Elpis, an earthling produced two weeks ago.

Enkidu: ...She has Enlil’s life sequence...

Kingu: You…you’re right. You’re the first one who discovers it. No wonder Enlil would invite you to this venture.

 

Ignoring Kingu’s compliment, Enkidu crouched down to stare at Elpis.

 

Enkidu: Kingu, I want her.

Kingu: No way. Every earthling has a record. If Shamash finds out, you and I will be dead.

Enkidu: Don’t worry. I’ll give her back to you, but before that let me instruct her.

Kingu: ...Alright. If you insist, I’ll let you take her. And I’ll come to you every seven days to boost her growth.

 

Kingu then left with a wave of his hand, leaving Enkidu and Elpis alone on the grassfield looking at each other. Anyone could tell that Elpis would become gorgeous just by looking at her innocent facial profile.

 

Enkidu: Would you like to go home with me?

 

Enkidu asked Elpis softly while stroking her cheek. The innocent Elpis scanned Enkidu out of curiosity. Then she gave a pure smile.

 

Elpis: Sure!

​

​

Floor 3　Monumetally Different Individuals

Yet the outcome was not as Enkidu expected as Elpis’s intelligence was way slower than Enlil’s. Not only that, but he was annoyed by the ill Elpis, who got a fever after the growth boost. When Enkidu was planning to send her back…

 

A banging noise startled Enkidu when he almost fell asleep. Leaving his room, he found that Elpis had dropped onto the floor, panting in agony. While he was returning to his room after putting her back, another bang stopped him——Elpis dropped onto the floor again.

 

Enkidu: Well...Looks like I have no choice.

 

Scratching his scalp in frustration, Enkidu brought Elpis back to his own bed. After putting her down, he laid down to prevent the same accident from happening again.

 

Elpis: Mmm...Enkidu...There you are...So good…

Enkidu: You’re ill. Go to sleep.

 

All of a sudden, Elpis got up and kissed Enkidu on the cheek, who pulled her away in shock.

 

Elpis: What...what were you thinking?

Enkidu: ...Stop overthinking. I won’t leave you.

 

With that promise, Enkidu had no choice but to continue instructing Elpis. When he took her to the first battle practice, her gift amazed him.

 

Enkidu: “Despite having Enlil’s life sequence, Elpis was a monumentally different individual than Enlil. She has the combat talent that Enlil lacks.”

 

While Enkidu was absent-minded, he failed to notice an approaching beast that was ready to engulf him——

 

Elpis: Mmm!

 

Enkidu was enraged when he saw Elpis get bitten to bleed. He launched a mana strike to blast the aggressive beast away.

 

Enkidu: Elpis!

Elpis: I’m so glad that you’re safe…

Enkidu: You’re the one who got hurt! Painful?

Elpis: Yes, but I’ll feel pain here if I see you get hurt. It'll be much more unbearable than getting hurt physically. I’m relieved as long as I can protect you.

 

The heart-wrenched Enkidu  held Elpis’s hand tightly. His firm hand grip from Enkidu worked as a cure to Elpis, who managed to get up and kissed Enkidu on the cheek.

 

This kiss was not as hot as the last one, but it ignited the emotions lurking deep inside Enkidu’s heart. As the breach of his soul was filled, the flatline in his life started pulsing again, and everything looked beautiful as brand new in his eyes.

 

Ever since that kiss, Enkidu and Elpis had become much more intimate. He taught her all the knowledge he had in his brain; He shared with her the things that he treasured the most. Whenever she was happy, the joy was his too. Enkidu was not aware of that special kind of affection until that night...

​

 

Floor 4　Name the Affection

This day in the morning, he found Elpis crying.

 

Enkidu: Elpis, what’s wrong?

Elpis: Enkidu…Boohoo...I might be dying.

Enkidu: Huh? How come… Which part of your body doesn’t feel well?

 

Elpis blushed when Enkidu asked about her well-being. Hesitating for a while, she eventually whispered her situation to him. Surprised at first, Enkidu then searched his knowledge bank for the answer.

 

Enkidu: That means...your body is mature.

 

Although the physique of Eldus still contained reproductive system, the evolution process had eliminated most of their sex characteristics, which was the reason why Enkidu had no idea to solve Elpis’s mystery. At last, he called Kingu for help.

 

Kingu then assigned a female Eldus to teach Elpis how to deal with her mature body. By the time everything was settled, the nightfall had already arrived.

 

Enkidu: It’s been a tough day. Go to sleep.

Elpis: Enkidu...I’m still scared...Can I sleep with you tonight?

Enkidu: ...One night only.

 

It didn’t take Elpis too long to fall asleep. When Enkidu almost fell asleep, he felt the touch of Elpis’s body in his arms.

 

An inner impulse woke up when Enkidu felt Elpis’s soft body and her pleasant aroma. Before he lost the last bit of sanity, he rushed out of the bed to calm himself down with a cold shower.

 

Enkidu: “That was...lust...No way...It can’t be! I was turned on by Elpis——”

Enkidu: What’s...the feelings I have for her?

 

Enkidu discovered the question that night, and it was answered in the near future——Elpis’s last growth and her ability test.

 

The fully grown earthlings must go through a series of tests in order to identify the ability of each individual. The result would determine their future positions. Elites would be enlisted in the combat division, which was the most privileged group among all earthlings.

 

Elpis earned herself the combatant qualification with her overpowering strength. Meanwhile, Enkidu left before the result announcement, heading straight to earthling’s preparation room.

 

Elpis: Enkidu! I win! Now I can become a soldier and protect you!

 

Despite all the painful injuries she had, Elpis was still smiling purely like their first encounter. Enkidu could feel nothing but regret.

 

Enkidu: “I shouldn’t have taught her how to fight...All I want is nothing but her carefree smile...I want her to be with me forever...I love her so much…”

 

Recognising his true affection, Enkidu pulled Elpis into his arms to hold her tight. He buried his face into her aromatic hair and mumbled.

 

Enkidu: I will save you...at all cost!

 

The memory trip ended here. As Enkidu looked into Cang Bi’s eyes, the determination in his gaze had deeply moved Cang Bi.

 

Cang Bi: “He...really loves Elpis very much...The affection has changed him…”

Enkidu: To create a world for me and Elpis to live and love freely, I must bring down my sinful fellow. So...

Enkidu: Please let me join you!

 

Intertwined fates had added uncertainties to the olden war, which also pushed the situation to the climax...