I was thinking about Gilgamesh & Kiara. Their dynamics is a power struggle of who can outdo the other, standing on opposing ends of the spectrum despite being equally hedonistic & selfish to a blasphemous degree. Gilgamesh is one not bound to common philosophy or idea, but in the end his philosophy is founded on trial emboldening the spirit to become something greater. In CCC, Gilgamesh states that he endorses a world that is “harsh on humans” & sees “world where humans destroy themselves” as meaningless. In a sense, Kiara embodies the latter ideal, where humanity indulges in all sources of pleasure & corruption to where their bodies become bloated & vile. That is not to deny the past Kiara accrued in becoming a modern-day messiah—Kiara has done much in saving others, becoming such a prominent figure that even the Holy Church feared her presence—but it is in my opinion that Gilgamesh actually despises such savior archetypes because it involves not only the selflessness of one person, but also the considered saving of the masses regardless of choice or will:
Gilgamesh: …Unpleasant, isn’t she. Desiring nothing, demanding nothing…no, she has desires. Unselfish and demanding nothing, wishing to save all humanity. I’ve seen mountains of fools who say they’ll say humanity for the sake of the happiness of the majority. There are also those fools who, suffering from their desires, continue to search for an answer by bettering their own karma. However — that one is a union of both of these ends. It appears that that woman truly intends to sacrifice her own life to all human beings. Were her wish to be granted, she would be neither a saint nor a hero. …she would be the most repulsive of all human beings, called the messiah.
Gilgamesh sees a selfless good as meaningless & wasteful. There is nuance to this, however. He does not fully discard the notion of becoming a good person, but he perceives a level of moderation in that “goodness” as long as one remembers to maintain self care & avoid fully throwing themselves to the pyre for something as grand as saving the world. It is for this why he mocks saints like Jeanne for her selflessness & why he is seen here mocking Kiara for her own approach towards life. He also has moments of cutting Kiara off because he dislikes hearing her speak, & while one might see that as a natural part of Gilgamesh’s personality, he is also someone who actively enjoys hearing the thoughts of others & their worldviews (e.g. Kirei in Fate/Zero).
That being said, Kiara is also someone who is able to stand her ground against Gilgamesh—power level notwithstanding:
Gilgamesh: You come this far only to surrender? What was your name, Sesshouin? Just what are you thinking?
Kiara: It’s…how shall I put it? I’ve grew bored of my long ascetic existence in the end…Hakuno, in the Labyrinth, there’s an Ego pursuing you, yes? Envious of that, I…I wanted to try having you chase after me like a wild animal, just once.
Speaking like a bashful maiden, Kiara gives this outrageous explanation. Even Gilgamesh seems struck dumb by that reply. Ah, this is, clearly, the incarnation of charm that can make you lose your way, regardless of your sex.
Bear in mind that Gilgamesh is a shameless individual who readily casts aside his clothing to show off his “golden body” for all to see; concepts of sexuality ought to be child’s play for him, yet he is seen dumbstruck by Kiara’s mannerisms. While Gilgamesh stands at the apex among Heroic Spirits, that is not to say that he cannot meet his match in places—as seen here when conversing with Kiara. They are both experts with regards to the individual & the human condition, albeit in different ways. They are both incredibly perceptive people & powerful in their own right, they are especially selfish people but where they diverge is through intent. Despite—rather, because of—his arrogance, Gilgamesh fundamentally cares for humanity & wishes to see it blossom by overcoming their struggles; Kiara is someone who wishes to see that flower rot & indulge herself in the depravity, seeking to manipulate & participate in the ruin herself.
