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Upon hearing the Underworld goddess's words, Asher could only sigh. Then, under a gaze from the darkness, he stepped deeper into the palace.
There was no choice. To rescue Gilgamesh, he had to endure this humiliation and enter the palace.
"Wait, just you wait!" Ishtar was clearly displeased but couldn't stop Asher. At this point, she was only the size of a figurine, and her tiny hand vigorously slapped Asher's face, though it felt more like a tickle.
"Oh my? I was wondering why there's been a buzzing sound like an insect. Isn't this Goddess Ishtar? How did you end up in such a pathetic state?" Ereshkigal said with a provocative tone, trying to ignite Ishtar's anger.
"A pathetic little insect like this, I could just gently pinch her to death with my finger."
"Enough nonsense! I wasn't talking to you!" Ishtar gave the Underworld goddess no pleasantries, instead vigorously patting Asher's face. "Wake up! Don't you know the consequences of staying in the Underworld for too long?"
"I know," Asher said.
Although the Underworld was a place living people could potentially reach, the environment here was simply too harsh. The temperature alone made it unsuitable for humans to stay for extended periods, and the constantly diminishing fate energy was another crucial factor.
If a living person stayed here too long, even if they returned to the surface, they would immediately die due to their weak fate energy, from accidents including but not limited to car crashes, choking on water, or choking on food.
"But the rules of the Underworld don't seem to affect me
much, so don't worry too much," Asher said.
Whether it was his Servant status, Odin's magic, or the
blessing of the goddess of death Morgan had once given him, Asher felt no discomfort upon entering the Underworld.
"No, that's not what I meant!" Ishtar said angrily, "You're a god, aren't you? Wouldn't you feel embarrassed to humbly kneel before another god?"
"And look... that's kneeling! Wouldn't your legs get numb after a while?!"
"Cough... It doesn't have to be kneeling; sitting normally is fine. Ultimately, staying in the Underworld is a punishment for him," the Underworld goddess's untimely cough came from the side.
"Did you hear that?" Asher turned to look at Ishtar, whose expression had become stunned.
"Ahhh! You're so annoying, you idiot! Go die, idiot!" Soon, Ishtar covered her face with both hands, looking utterly despairing.
The Underworld goddess let out a triumphant laugh: "Don't worry, although it's a punishment, as a god, I will face you in my true form. Be grateful for my benevolence, and then."
A steaming mist seemed to rise from the giant skeleton monster's body, and then, its massive form gradually dissipated.
"Be astonished by my beauty, unknown Servant!"
As the goddess's last words fell, her true form appeared before Asher.
"How is it?! Are you surprised? Was your vision greatly impacted?!" Ereshkigal stood with her hands on her hips, proudly raising her chin, an expression of triumph on her face.
From her appearance, she and Ishtar looked quite similar.
The biggest difference, perhaps, was her dazzling golden hair.
Yes, everything else was quite similar, including their chests.
Asher, who had already anticipated this, didn't react
much, at most, he was slightly surprised.
Ereshkigal saw that Asher didn't show the reaction she expected, and recalling her grand entrance line, a wave of intense embarrassment washed over her. She said nervously, "Why aren't you reacting at all, hey... say something..."
"Ah, yes... I am very surprised," Asher said, his tone like someone reciting lines.
"You're just humoring me, aren't you?!" Ereshkigal cried out in despair, tears seemingly welling in her eyes.
Asher quickly added, "I'm serious. I really was quite surprised earlier. I didn't expect the Underworld goddess to be such a beautiful girl."
Whether Gilgamesh could leave depended on this goddess's mood. If he angered her, it would be troublesome.
However, Ishtar's voice inconveniently chimed in: "You don't need to specifically comfort this guy. After seeing me, it's perfectly normal to feel nothing when you see her appearance."
"You have no right to speak here!" Ereshkigal glared at the figurine-sized Ishtar standing on Asher's shoulder, her eyes full of fury.
"Oh my, did I hit a sore spot and now you're flustered?"
Ishtar covered her mouth, a look of disdain on her face.
Ereshkigal took a shallow breath, then slowly exhaled.
After finally calming herself, a faint smile returned to
her face: "No matter what, it's better than a certain exhibitionist, right?"
"What"
Almost instantly, a string in Ishtar's mind, pricked at a sore spot, snapped. She sharply raised her head and glared at Ereshkigal, who was now looking at her triumphantly.
"Alright, alright, both of you calm down..." Asher felt a massive headache. He truly regretted letting Ishtar come along. If he had known these two would argue the moment they met, he wouldn't have brought her in for anything.
"Goddess of the Underworld, can you please release Gilgamesh's soul?" Asher asked.
Ereshkigal was startled. "Did you come here for this?"
"Otherwise?"
"That's true. Come to think of it, normal people wouldn't just come to the Underworld twice for no reason," Ereshkigal chuckled, her hand against her mouth, then raised her eyes and said, "Be very grateful to me.
Normally, it's impossible for the dead to return to the
surface, but I don't have the time to weave him a... cage, so I'll let him go."
Did she mean to say "dwelling" just now? Asher thought to himself.
Clearly, because the term "dwelling" didn't fit the Underworld goddess's cold and heartless image, Ereshkigal quickly changed it to "cage."
"Be very grateful to me, unknown Servant" Ereshkigal paused here and curiously examined Asher. "By the way, what's your name? It feels strange calling you 'unknown Servant' all the time."
"Asher, or you can call me Ash."
"Is that so?" Ereshkigal again looked Asher over, seemingly trying to get a clear look at his face, but his wide hood mostly obscured his features.
Honestly, she was quite interested in this "good child" who had honestly answered several of her questions last night.
Noticing Ereshkigal's gaze, Ishtar unconsciously frowned, feeling inexplicably annoyed.
Although Asher had nothing to do with her, this kind of gaze still made her feel very uncomfortable.
"Hey, idiot, don't be fooled! She's the Underworld goddess, the god who represents human death!" Ishtar reminded
him from the side.
"I know she's the Underworld goddess," Asher said, "but
does her identity really matter?"
"Eh?" Ishtar was stunned for a moment, and Asher continued:
"I also know a goddess of death myself, but she has a very good personality. After all, even for a god, presiding over death isn't something she chose, is it?"
Ultimately, it was simply because the Underworld needed a god, not because Ereshkigal herself decided to become the Underworld goddess.
Ereshkigal looked up, her eyes suddenly sparkling.
So, even the goddess of the Underworld could be liked and recognized by people...
No, no!
Ereshkigal shook her head violently.
I am the Underworld goddess; I am an existence meant to destroy humanity!
Ah... but wouldn't that completely contradict what Asher
just said? Presiding over death doesn't mean one is evil.
He thinks I'm a good child; if he knew I wanted to destroy humanity, wouldn't I become a bad child?
Ereshkigal held her head, shaking it vigorously, looking incredibly conflicted.
"Are you here to greet this King, Asher?"
Just then, Gilgamesh's voice suddenly rang out, drawing all three of their gazes.
Outside the palace, a golden-haired man was striding towards them.
"Gilgamesh, you knew I'd come?" Asher asked, looking at the approaching man in confusion.
"Of course, everything in this world is within this King's prediction."
"Even your own sudden death?" Asher placed his hand on his chin. "No, that's not right. You shouldn't waste magic for such a trivial matter. You've summoned so many Servants, you shouldn't have much magic left."
"Hahahaha, Asher!" Gilgamesh looked at the bewildered young man. "Some things are best known in your heart.
Speaking them aloud is disrespectful to the King!"
Gilgamesh's meaning was clear: just know it in your
heart; don't always undermine me.
Ishtar looked left and right, then couldn't help but let out a snicker.
It was quite a rare sight to see that King getting
flustered.
Gilgamesh paid no mind to Ishtar's unrestrained laughter and looked at Asher, saying, "Let's go. It's time we left this gloomy place."
Back to working overtime?
Asher complained inwardly, then shook his head. "Sorry,
I'm afraid I'll have to stay here for a few more days."
"Hmm?" Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow. "Why? Have you been swayed by the Underworld goddess's superficial beauty? If so, this King will truly be disappointed in you, Asher."
"Where did your mind go? I'm staying to save you!" Asher retorted irritably.
"Oh? Tell this King about it," Gilgamesh asked with interest. So, Asher briefly recounted the events he had encountered.
Upon hearing the end, Gilgamesh agreed to Asher's plan and then prepared to leave on his own.
"Why don't you leave with Gilgamesh first?" Asher turned to the miniature Ishtar standing on his shoulder.
"Huh? You want me to leave with that guy?" Ishtar asked in disbelief.
"What I mean is, you leave the Underworld with Gilgamesh first, and then you can go wherever you want," Asher paused slightly. "Or, if you don't mind, you can go back to the temple dedicated to you in Uruk and rest there."
"Do you think that's possible?" Ishtar glanced disdainfully at Gilgamesh. "Unless this golden flashy guy apologizes to me and begs me to come back, then I might consider it."
"Hahahaha, what a huge joke. Uruk is enough with this King; why should I beg a impoverished goddess to return?
Uruk doesn't need this incompetent goddess who is of no use whatsoever, and her temple has no place for her to reside."
"Huh? I'm a god of Uruk! Do I need your permission to return to my own temple?!"
Do these two just argue whenever they meet?
Asher pressed his hand to his forehead, letting out a heavy sigh. Just then, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he poked Ishtar's face with his finger.
"What do you want?!" Ishtar was in a rage and gave Asher no pleasantries.
"Why don't you just come back then?" Asher asked.
"Didn't I say? As long as that King properly apologizes to
me and begs me, I'll seriously consider it." Ishtar simply sat on Asher's shoulder, turning her head away in a huff.
"You know that's impossible," Asher said helplessly.
"Then there's no possibility of negotiation."
"But I can prepare over ten bags of jewels as offerings
for you." Asher continued.
Since Gilgamesh had implicitly approved of this, Asher naturally didn't have to worry about a shortage of jewels.
After all, that King's treasury likely contained countless treasures.
Ishtar looked incredibly conflicted, but in the end, she still shook her head firmly: "Two conditions: offerings, and you leave here with me right now."
Did this goddess take the wrong medicine...?
Asher was somewhat speechless.
Whether he left or not didn't seem to have anything to do with Ishtar, did it? Was she just trying to compete with Ereshkigal?
"You go back with her," Ereshkigal, who had been silent until now, suddenly said with a smile.
Asher was startled. "What about our previous agreement then?"
"It's fine. You have more important things to do, right?
Go back first."
She's letting me go so easily?
Asher still couldn't quite believe it and looked at Ereshkigal again, only to find that she seemed serious.
So he tried asking again, "Then we'll be going?"
"Yes, go," Ereshkigal smiled.
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