Sword Art Online Crossover: They're all close friends, how did I become a player?

Enkidu... Enkidu!

The King of Heroes held his friend's body tightly in his arms, the once warm body now devoid of human warmth.

His best friend... died.

The beautiful green hair had lost its luster and hung dryly on the ground.

Those beautiful, spring-like eyes were also tightly closed, and their long eyelashes remained completely still.

His slender limbs hung limply, and the exquisite white robe prepared by the king was stained with dust because of his dear friend's fall.

His dearest friend... Enkidu, is dead.

The King of Heroes refused to acknowledge this fact, and he kept calling out his friend's name.

Enkidu...

My dearest friend, I love him so deeply.

I conquered difficulties with him, but now he is dying as divine punishment, a death predetermined for mankind.

It was all because he rejected the goddess's marriage proposal, and it was they who killed the Bull of Heaven together.

So why!

Why!

Is Enkidu the target of all divine punishment?

...My dearest friend.

Will my crying wake him up?

He collapsed onto his best friend's body, weeping uncontrollably, and desperately chased away everyone who tried to take him away, ignoring all advice.

Even after seven days and seven nights when her tears had dried up, she was unwilling to let go.

“My friend…the thought of you living a lonely life from now on brings tears to my eyes…” In a daze, he seemed to hear his friend’s voice.

After losing his best friend, the king felt that the whole world was terrible.

So he embarked on a journey to find the elixir of immortality, hoping to snatch his dearest friend back from the clutches of death.

But that damned snake, it swallowed the elixir!

...He still couldn't win back his best friend, and the king felt even more empty inside.

……

"Snapped"

The sound of a book closing rang out, and a pair of slender, bony hands placed a book titled "The Epic of Gilgamesh" on the bookshelf.

The Saniwa, who had traveled back from the First Dynasty of Uruk, rubbed his temples in pain.

Although he had been in Uruk for more than six years, only six days had passed in modern society.

It truly feels like a day is equivalent to a year.

He was in the library of Beika City at the time, and as soon as he returned, he contacted the citadel.

After learning from Kitsunenosuke that Yamanbagiri Kunihiro had helped him get a leave of absence from school, several sword spirits anxiously traveled to different historical periods to search for his figure.

They are currently scattered in different times and spaces and have not yet returned.

After having Kitsunenosuke inform the spirits that he had safely returned to the modern world, Yu Bai uncontrollably walked into the library.

He wanted to take a closer look at the descriptions in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

but now……

No, what's causing this inexplicable feeling of guilt?

"Answer the phone! Answer the phone!" A phone call suddenly rang in the quiet library. After silently apologizing to the people who looked over at the sound, Yu Bai quickly silenced his phone and left the library.

Outside the library, Yu Bai looked at the caller ID on his phone: Xiao Jing.

Reluctantly, I answered the phone. This guy wasn't someone to be easily fooled.

"Moses Moses?"

"Yu Bai? You finally answered the phone?" Atobe Keigo on the other end of the line stared blankly at the connected call for a second.

A while ago, Yu Bai suddenly disappeared, not coming to class, and they couldn't reach him by phone. This made Atobe Keigo and Oshitari Yuushi very worried, fearing that Yu Bai might have encountered some danger.

Although the teacher later told them that Yu Bai's family had arranged for him to take leave a few days earlier, saying he would be going abroad for a while, the perceptive Atobe Keigo and Oshitari Yuushi still sensed that something was amiss.

The two men had known Yu Bai for three years and knew the composition of his family, as Yu Bai sometimes invited the tennis club members to his home for meals. Yu Bai's parents weren't in Japan, so if they were the ones who asked for leave on his behalf, it was impossible for him not to inform them before leaving.

Instead of disappearing suddenly like this, besides, what are you doing abroad and can't even answer the phone?

During those long and anxious six days, Atobe Keigo and Oshitari Yuushi's moods felt as if they were tightly shrouded by heavy clouds. They dialed Yu Bai's number countless times, but it was like throwing stones into the sea, with no response whatsoever. But today, the call was actually answered.

Hearing his friend's voice coming from the other end, Atobe Keigo silently breathed a sigh of relief, his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxing, but were soon replaced by an uncontrollable rage.

"You! You've been gone for six whole days, and you haven't answered your phone. Renzu and I thought something had happened to you! How awful!"

Indeed, I encountered an accident. I unexpectedly traveled to the Uruk period of the Mesopotamian civilization and unexpectedly became a part of history. So, I can be considered a historical figure now?

As Yu Bai listened to Atobe Keigo's words, which were full of anger yet concealed concern, he finally felt a real sense that he had returned to the real world.

"Don't worry, Jing, I'm fine. It's just that the place I went to this time was a bit far away, and my phone couldn't get a signal. Please tell Yushi that I'll be going to class tomorrow."

Atobe Keigo's tone still carried a hint of unease, "Are you really sure you're alright? Yu Bai, if you need any help, just ask me."

"Okay, okay~ I'm not talking anymore. I just got back and am about to go home. See you at school tomorrow."

After calming Atobe Keigo down, Yu Bai hung up the phone. He went to a secluded corner, and after a flash of white light, Yu Bai returned to the citadel once more.

……