The goddess Ishtar joined the party.
Normally, getting Ishtar to help would not be easy at all, but with Tiamat in the group, Ishtar could only reluctantly choose to come along.
She really could not handle that "authoritative" look in Tiamat's eyes.
"Ah… why is Mother following all of you?" Ishtar asked weakly, utterly baffled.
Even though this was Tiamat's smaller vessel, the moment Ishtar saw her, her first thought was that the sky was about to fall.
She knew exactly what it would mean if Tiamat truly returned to reality. It would mean destruction. Total extinction.
Thankfully, this was only a smaller vessel of Tiamat, not the real Tiamat herself. That finally let Ishtar breathe a sigh of relief. Did she really have to be this terrifying?
"I just happened to meet Tiamat, we got along really well, and then I invited her to use her Divinity to manifest an avatar," Koji said.
Ishtar had no response.
She had never expected Mother to be brought out in such a casual way.
Forget it. Better to just stay by Mother's side.
Still, she somehow felt like she was getting the short end of the stick. Why had he not brought her into the team with Mualani and the others yet?
"You should be a Holy Sword Wielder, right? How were you summoned into this era?"
Ishtar looked at Arthur. She had never seen the Holy Sword of the Stars before, but she was a goddess. Naturally, she could sense it.
Whenever a Holy Sword Wielder was needed, it was usually because an enemy capable of endangering the planet was going to appear. And most of those enemies came from outer space.
"Perhaps it is the arrangement of fate. If Master requires me, I am naturally willing to do what little I can," Arthur said with a faint smile.
Ishtar curled her lips. If the Holy Sword of the Stars unleashed its full power, that was no trivial matter.
"Oh, right. Don't you all have a few too many Blessings on you?" Ishtar asked as she looked at Koji's group, especially Koji. He was practically bright enough to blind her.
The Blessings on Lumine and the others had all been granted by Koji. Most of them were for survival and defense. They had not asked for the kind that boosted offensive power.
To Ishtar, this was utterly shocking. Even gods did not possess this many Blessings.
A strange phrase suddenly popped into her mind.
A Blessing that had become sentient.
"That many?" Koji had never counted. As long as they were useful, that was enough.
Ishtar rolled her eyes. What a shameless humblebrag.
Night fell, and the sky darkened. The group stopped to make camp and lit a bonfire.
Koji had a great many dishes from Teyvat stored in his space. He was not lacking in Mora, and food stored there would not spoil, so it was perfect for camping.
"Ishtar" was unusually wearing a cloak, hiding her slender, graceful figure.
Koji understood instantly.
This was not Ishtar right now. This was the Underworld goddess Ereshkigal logging in for the night.
Arthur and the others noticed as well. Arthur sensed it through instinct, while Tiamat saw through the current "Ishtar" at a glance.
"Mmm~"
"Ishtar" ate the delicious food, and an expression of complete bliss appeared on her face.
How could a place like the underworld, where not even living people existed, possibly have food? Although a god would not starve to death even without eating, who would refuse the chance to enjoy delicious food?
If Ereshkigal wanted to eat, she could only do so by logging in at night and borrowing this body to taste food.
And this time, the food was especially delicious. It did not feel like something from this era at all.
"Aaaaa—?"
Tiamat slowly walked over to "Ishtar" and stared straight into her eyes.
"Uh… Mother…"
"Ishtar" called out softly, clearly startled.
In truth, when she first learned that Tiamat had descended into reality, she had been far more terrified than this.
She had probably already been seen through. After all, this was Tiamat. There was no way something like her logging in could be hidden from her.
Tiamat nodded and said nothing.
After all, Ereshkigal looked like a good child.
Then Tiamat ran into Lumine's tent and hugged her while sleeping. Having a body pillow was more comfortable.
"Eresh, nice to meet you," Koji said with a smile.
Now only he and "Ishtar" were left.
Time to lay the cards on the table.
"Huh?"
"What is Eresh?"
No one had ever called her that before, and her heartbeat immediately sped up.
"Ereshkigal is a bit too long, so Eresh is easier to say. It rolls off the tongue and sounds much more intimate," Koji explained.
"I ask you, do you really think it is appropriate to address a goddess of the underworld like that?"
"Ishtar's" voice turned low and heavy, as though she had slipped fully into the role of the underworld goddess, giving off an oppressive feeling.
As the goddess of the underworld, even the other gods kept their distance from her. In the eyes of her people, she seemed to carry some kind of ill omen.
Compared to a goddess like Ishtar, who was doted on by the gods, her reputation was not exactly good. After all, who would want to get close to a deity who ruled over death?
"…Of course it is. Eresh is adorable, gentle, kind, and unbelievably cute when she gets shy. She is also very responsible. If someone had to choose between Ishtar and Eresh, I think nine out of ten people would choose Eresh," Koji said.
There was really nothing wrong with Eresh's personality. Compared to a spoiled goddess like Ishtar, the goddess of the underworld was simply too lovable.
"!"
Hearing such straightforward praise, "Ishtar's" face instantly turned red, and she completely lost her composure.
Even her black hair unconsciously changed into brilliant gold.
Koji laughed inwardly.
She really was an easy goddess to win over. A direct attack was the most effective approach.
"I-I'm not as great as you say…"
"Ishtar" said shyly, her heart surging with a joy so intense it almost overwhelmed her.
Someone actually thought she was better than Ishtar.
This was the first time in her life she had ever heard such strange praise.
"Of course you are. Don't tell me you do not even believe in yourself?" Koji said with a smile, shaking his head.
"If it were you, and you had to choose between Ishtar and me, then would you also choose…"
"Ishtar" looked at him with curiosity and anticipation. She wanted to hear Koji's answer. When compared to Ishtar, she found this kind of comparison especially interesting.
"If I had to make a choice, and choosing both was not an option, then I would choose you first."
"Want to be friends? My name is Koji, a rising Starwalker of the Sun-Never-Sets World." Koji held out his hand.
"Friends… yes. You are my, Ereshkigal's, first friend."
"Ishtar's" heart trembled as she clasped Koji's warm hand.
The word friend was something she had never possessed before.
Now that she had the chance to have it, how could she possibly refuse?
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]