The Delinquent's Grand Order

City of Uruk

From where they were, travelling out the forest to Uruk was a journey that should have taken several days. Thankfully, it was rapidly removed as several of them could fly. The ones supplying the Servants with Mana as well were far beyond the meagre limits of most humans, so slowing down was no issue. Even Mash herself could have easily followed the flying group with just her bare legs. The only reason Mash didn't go that far was due to the fact that her Grail Blessing could only be activated temporarily. If several Goddesses were running around in this place, then saving it for that was better rather than some running.

Kuro and Yu naturally having wanted to be carried by Keiji as they flew, but Merlin and Mash were both the ones he had to carry. Not only were they the heaviest, but Mash could provide support with her shield and Merlin was a court mage of Artoria herself. He may not have known much, but he put trust in the capabilities of the Grand Caster candidate.

"Is this too fast for you... Miss Director?" Illya asked Olga.

Olga shaking her head. "I can manage this. Thank you," she said, though she felt awkward in how it was a tiny girl doing the big job of carrying her throughout the ancient civilization.

Miyu and Ana, the more silent ones, tuning in with each other as Miyu continued without Ana commenting on anything. 'I wonder if this is how Illya and Kuro felt when they first met me?' Miyu thought, as even without the gushing air, Miyu doubted Ana would consider striking any conversation.

"Merlin, are there any locations that are safe?"

Merlin didn't respond right away, smiling as he continued breathing in the fresh air. "Oh, sorry. It's been awhile since I've been outside."

"Weren't you just out right now?" Kuro muttered.

Merlin nodding, uncaring of how he made himself out to be; Olga and Mash pressing him to answer. "Uruk would be the only safe refuge around these areas. Northern Mesopotamia has been overrun by Demonic Beasts. Southern Mesopotamia has been consumed by a mysterious jungle. And with Solomon's influence on this place being an enigma, if Babylonia falls and Uruk is wiped out, I'll have to say goodbye to human history."

"Sure doesn't sound like you are all that bothered about it!" Illya replied, sounding a bit concerned how cavalier the half-incubus sounded regarding humanity's demise.

"Oh, I'm bothered. Very bothered. I won't be able to the stories you humans play out. That will be a true tragedy."

"Ignoring the fact I can drop you at any second, Merlin," Keiji started, his senses coming out wider as he nodded to Mash, who flung her shield, ripping several Demonic Beasts, then coming back, "do you know anything else about this Goddess Alliance?" Keiji finished.

"Well, I know the True Name of one of them. The goddesses consist of the northern Goddess of Demonic Beasts, the southern Goddess controlling the jungle, and a soaring, troublesome Goddess with no fixed residence," Merlin explained, the mention of the last one making the majority of them lock minds as to who that likely was.

"Where did you even come from? I guess it was luck that you were in the forest as well, but what were the both of you doing there?" Yu asked, a bit of an interrogating edge to her words as she looked at both new party members.

Ana didn't bother making eye contact whilst Merlin was positive as always. "I was out searching for an object known as the Tablet of Destinies in the Cedar Forest, but it turned out useless. King Gilgamesh sure likes to send me on fruitless errands," the man spoke, an exasperated sigh like a stressed employee.

'That Gilgamesh?!'

Everyone from Chaldea rightfully having mixed reviews with that knowledge. The despot, Archer Gilgamesh is all they knew about. Olga clutching her fists the hardest, having felt the intense monster that was Gilgamesh before. Whilst the Lion King was overwhelming in her Noble Phantasm's od output, Gilgamesh's endless supply of different Noble Phantasms spanning every legend possible was another absurd threat that had her concerned when seeing it in action.