The journey to the Underworld was uneventful. Though it was the Underworld, perhaps because Naoki was wearing clothing that disguised him as one of the dead, there were no obstacles along the way.
Aside from Ishtar's occasional chatter, their descent to the Underworld could be described as smooth.
Until now.
"So, this is the Gate of the Underworld?"
Naoki gazed at the stone gate standing before him and asked Ishtar: "Did you fail because of this gate when you descended to the Underworld before?"
"Though I hate to admit it, yes."
Ishtar nodded reluctantly.
In Sumerian mythology, Ishtar, the daughter of the Sky God, felt invincible after conquering Mount Ebih. She then descended to the Underworld with burning ambition, ready to conquer it as well.
However, the result was that her seven authorities were stripped away during the descent, she lost all her divinity, was brought naked before Ereshkigal, and was ultimately pierced with spears until she was riddled with holes.
"I remember you were cursed from that moment on—passing through the gate would cause you to lose your authorities and divinity… It's impressive that you still dared to come with me to the Underworld."
"Don't you know too much? I never told anyone about the curse from the Underworld and Ereshkigal." Ishtar frowned. "But so what? Do I look like someone who's scared? Besides, the body I'm using now is your acquaintance. Are you planning to let me die?"
She was using Rin's body to her advantage.
Naoki gave a wry smile: "You're bold because you have a shield."
"It's called wisely utilizing resources—So, do you need me to explain the Gate of the Underworld?"
"No, no need, I know."
The Gate of the Underworld.
A gate that questions the virtue and vice of a soul.
Through multiple-choice questions, it assesses the composition of a soul based on the respondent's answers. If the gate deems the soul virtuous, nothing happens. But if it deems the soul wicked, the soul receives Divine Punishment from the Underworld's mechanisms. It is a just and rational gate.
There are seven gates in total.
When Ishtar descended to the Underworld before, she was immediately judged as the most wicked soul for answering all seven questions incorrectly, resulting in her authorities and divinity being completely stripped.
And now, it was Naoki's turn to face these gates.
[Answer~ Answer~]
As Naoki arrived before the Gate of the Underworld, the carvings on the stone gate emitted a faint glow, and along with the light, a long, authoritative female voice echoed through the vast Underworld.
[O living being who has fallen to the Underworld~~~ Answer the nature of your soul~~~]
"Multiple-choice questions are coming. You need to answer carefully, or you'll have your powers stripped like I did, and facing Ereshkigal later will be troublesome."
Ishtar warned with good intentions—if Naoki answered incorrectly, she would immediately leave the Underworld!
[Then~ a question for the sinful 'Natsukawa'~]
"It even specifies my name? Though I expected as much… What's the question?"
[Though standards of beauty vary, they remain absolute~~~ Black can surpass white~~~ Earth can surpass Heaven~~~ The Moon can surpass the Flower~~~]
[So, Ereshkigal or Ishtar~~~ Which Goddess is more beautiful?]
(As expected…)
Naoki's expression suggested he already knew. Though the question's content was slightly different, it was broadly the same.
Now, he just needed to answer Ereshkigal.
"Wait!"
Ishtar suddenly interrupted Naoki as he was about to speak: "This isn't the same question I got when I came here! Shouldn't the gate's questions be the same?"
"Really? But the answer's still the same. Choosing one of the two Goddesses."
"Even if you say that, it's kind of annoying." Ishtar stomped her foot. "Whatever, just answer the question. The answer's obvious—just say my name loudly."
Ereshkigal was the Goddess of Vegetation and Decay. Ishtar was the Goddess of Beauty and Harvest. Logically, without knowing the actual situation, everyone would likely choose Ishtar.
After all, she was a Goddess explicitly designated as the 'Goddess of Beauty' in her authority, the prototype for the Roman Goddess of Beauty, Venus, and a true embodiment of the word 'beautiful.'
Honestly, Naoki also found Ishtar very beautiful and charming, especially after wearing the clothing he gave her.
But—
"Saying your name might not work."
"Huh?" Ishtar frowned: "Are you saying Ereshkigal is more beautiful than me? That gloomy figure?"
"I'm not saying that. It's just, considering the actual situation, you two should be equally matched right now. After all, the body you both use as a vessel for your Pseudo-Servant is the same."
Ishtar possessed Rin's body to manifest as a Pseudo-Servant. When she manifested, Ereshkigal was also summoned through Chain Summoning, and due to this, Ereshkigal should currently be influenced by Rin as well, including her appearance and personality.
In other words—
"My appearance and Ereshkigal's are the same right now?"
"Probably. The details might differ, but overall, they're about the same."
Naoki continued: "So, it's not appropriate to compare which of you is more beautiful right now. Besides, we're in the Underworld. Morally and logically, I should consider the host's feelings. What kind of guest visits and doesn't praise the host?"
"Ugh~~~~"
Ishtar understood Naoki's point, but even though she understood, she was extremely unwilling to admit that Ereshkigal was more beautiful than her.
"So, you're going to say her name?"
"No, we need to use a compromise method here."
Thanks to years of being surrounded by women, Naoki had mastered a few tricks for dealing with them. In a situation where two women ask you to choose which is more beautiful, the best solution is…
"In my opinion, both Goddesses are equally beautiful—"
*CRASH!*
As soon as Naoki finished speaking, a massive chain appeared out of nowhere and whipped his body, sending him flying into a nearby stone pillar. Ishtar also added a magical blast for good measure.
Though she understood, Ishtar felt it was absolutely necessary to harshly punish Naoki's neutral approach of trying to please both sides.
"Ow, ow, ow…"
Climbing out of the stone pillar, Naoki brushed off the small rocks from his clothing: "That hurt. Is this the Underworld's punishment? That chain looked a bit familiar…"
"That's not important. What's important is your answer." Ishtar pressed. "Just say Ereshkigal, short and simple. I'll hold back a bit—after we get back up, I'll beat you up."
"Then I'll kick you flying in return."
"Hey! What's wrong with me venting a little!"
Naoki raised two fingers: "You're not my family, and you're not my wife. Why should I be your punching bag? If you're stressed, go smash Mount Ebih randomly—why hit me?"
"You—Hmph!"
After hesitating several times, knowing she might still need this man to protect her later, Ishtar could only swallow her frustration.
She'd settle this with him later!