After that, Naoki continued discussing various matters with Ereshkigal.
For instance, about the souls she protected, or the fact that she didn't need to bear everything alone… Though it was their first meeting, thanks to Arcueid, Ereshkigal's only friend, the two conversed very amicably.
At least it wasn't like Quetzalcoatl, who wanted to test his strength and fought him all afternoon.
And finally—
"My answer remains the same as before."
"Whether you're asking me to help fight Mother or to release the souls in these cages and work with Uruk, my answer is we'll wait until everything you've said comes true."
"If Mother truly descends, I will definitely provide assistance. After it's all over, I'll release the souls to return to the surface as promised."
That was Ereshkigal's bottom line.
The dignity and duty of a Goddess, which she had upheld until now, didn't allow her to stop halfway just because of someone else's words.
Sitting on Naoki's shoulder, Ishtar let out a soft sigh: "You're still the same as ever. Aren't you tired of carrying everything alone…?"
"Don't compare me to a jewel-brained fool like you!"
"You—Who's the jewel-brained one?!"
Perhaps fated to be at odds, the two sister Goddesses started bickering again after just a sentence or two.
Ignoring the awkward sibling duo, Naoki looked at Arcueid: "My task in the Underworld is done for now. I'm planning to return to the surface. Arcueid, are you coming with me?"
"No, no need~~~"
Arcueid shook her head: "I told you, I wanted to meet you alone, Naoki. If I go back with you, there are too many people up there, especially those two annoying Incubi."
"Besides, I can't leave Eresh alone in the Underworld!"
Arcueid was Ereshkigal's first friend. Though their meeting was full of surprises, Ereshkigal deeply valued her only friend, so Arcueid didn't want to leave her right away.
"But don't worry, Naoki. If we have to fight Tiamat later, I'll come to your side immediately to face her! After all, it's a situation where only I can help you!"
That was true.
If the opponent was Tiamat, only Naoki and Arcueid could confront her directly. As fairies, they could gain support from the planet itself, boosting their power to a level capable of facing her.
Others… even Rei wouldn't quite measure up.
Naoki smiled: "Alright, see you later then. In the meantime, be a good girl here and don't trouble Ereshkigal."
"I don't trouble anyone! I'll get mad if you keep spouting nonsense like that, Naoki!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah~~~"
Pulling back Ishtar, who was arguing with Ereshkigal, Naoki continued: "Time to head back, Ishtar—Goddess Ereshkigal, could you restore Ishtar's Authority and Divinity?"
"Oh, right, I almost forgot."
It wasn't just almost forgetting—Ereshkigal had genuinely forgotten about it. After all, stripping Ishtar's Authority and Divinity wasn't something she actively did; it was a passive manifestation of Ishtar's mythology. Ereshkigal didn't care much about such things.
Soon after, as her Divinity and Authority were restored, Ishtar, who had been the size of a palm, instantly reverted to her original form!
However…
Since she had been in Naoki's palm before, when her Divinity and Authority were restored, the situation immediately turned into Ishtar, now full-sized, being lifted with her rear supported by Naoki's hand!
(The texture's pretty nice—)
Just as that thought unconsciously crossed Naoki's mind, Ishtar, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger, broke free from his hand, covering her rear, and turned to kick him!
*SMACK!*
Catching the sudden kick, Naoki explained with an innocent expression: "Though I know why you kicked me, this could be called an accident, right?"
"An accident? Then what about you pinching me just now?"
"Oh, that was just a reflex, nothing to do with my personal desires."
Ask the wicked women at his house who made him accustomed to this. After all, similar situations happened every night, and a behavior repeated over thirty times becomes a habit—let alone Naoki, who had been doing it for ten years.
It had become instinct. Basically, his hand would start moving on its own when placed in the right position.
"Besides, why are you overreacting? In mythology, you're a Goddess who loves everyone she meets—you should be used to this kind of thing. You even seem fine flying in the sky with that revealing outfit; why weren't you embarrassed then?"
"That has nothing to do with this! You're looking at me with that kind of gaze? What's even in that brain of yours?!"
"Before you ask me that, change your clothes, will you?"
"…"
Watching the two suddenly start bickering for some reason, Ereshkigal asked Arcueid in confusion: "Arcueid, what are they…?"
"Hmm, so Naoki prefers that type?"
Arcueid completely ignored what Ereshkigal said, instead seriously recalling the earlier situation.
After arguing with Ishtar for a bit about their respective mindsets, Naoki let out a heavy sigh: "Haahhh… Forget it, I won't argue with you. I'm heading up."
"Eh?"
"See you again during the fight with Goddess Tiamat, Arcueid, Goddess Ereshkigal. Until then, please guide me."
With that, Naoki soared into the air with wind beneath his feet.
Seeing this, Ishtar hurriedly flew after him, heading toward the hole she had blasted into the Underworld.
Just as Naoki was flying upward—
"Hmm? That's…"
A platform surrounded by spear cages caught his attention.
It looked like a tomb, but the ground had been dug up, as if the tomb had been robbed.
"What are you looking at?"
Ishtar, flying to Naoki's side, asked: "Is there something special there?"
"No, nothing, just a bit curious."
(A dug-up tomb… that must be Enkidu's.)
(If there's a chance later, after defeating Kingu, I'll rebury him properly.)