A fact I had somewhat forgotten was that this place was ancient Sumeria.
A place open about sex, with a class system, and where gods actually existed.
The latter two were familiar, but the first one was the problem.
As a man with a rather conservative Confucian upbringing who had lived twenty years in Korea and forty in Japan, there were too many sexual customs I simply couldn't accept.
"…Couldn't that be the case?"
"Having sex in someone else's house?"
"I heard that girl, Shamhat, is a sacred prostitute. When you let her into your house, it was as good as giving your tacit consent to her actions… umm…."
According to Ereshkigal, it was partly my fault for not having done my research.
The priestesses who serve the gods are also tasked with handling sexual desires.
They are called sacred prostitutes, and Shamhat was merely performing her duties.
While pleasure might be a goal of intercourse, for her, it was an extension of her work.
"Still, taking over Marduk's bed is unforgivable. If you wish, I will place a curse on her. A priestess of Ishtar is, in a way, half my priestess as well."
At the word 'curse,' I quickly shook my head.
Ereshkigal was still a god, after all. There were times she treated humans carelessly.
"No. First, let's go back… and check if they've finished what they were doing. I'll decide after that."
"Okay. Just trust me. As the goddess of the Netherworld, my power is in no way inferior to Ishtar's!"
Come to think of it, why was Ereshkigal on the surface again?
I tried to question her, but she kept her mouth shut.
In any case, we returned to the house together.
When I opened the door, the foul stench of lovemaking... wasn't there.
Instead, Shamhat was passed out on the floor, and someone who looked very much like her was standing there.
Hair that reminded me of green grass. Beautiful green eyes that seemed to hold nature itself.
They stood there nobly, their eyes downcast.
Even though it should have been our first time meeting, they didn't feel like a stranger.
"Clay? Is that you?"
"Marduk."
I was certain. It was the clay.
"Marduk. Yes. I can finally say your name. I'm happy."
With not a single thread on their body, she, or rather he, smiled at me.
The reason their gender was unclear was because their body was literally strange.
Looking only at the upper body, you would think it was a woman with small breasts, or perhaps a man.
And when you lowered your gaze to the lower half, only question marks would appear.
Where the genitals should have been, there was nothing. It was just covered with smooth skin.
"…What did you do?"
"While spending the night with Shamhat, I created a body that resembles her. The physical body is truly fascinating. This is the first time I've felt so uplifted."
I had sex with the clay and it became a person!
…Right. That can happen.
I stopped thinking.
"Good for you."
"Yes. My body's adjustments aren't perfect yet, so there are still some differences, but… if I do this."
Bulge. It appeared.
My eyes were about to rot.
I wanted to kick the dangling thing on his lower half right away.
But the perverted goddess behind me had a different idea.
"Ah… awawa."
"Ereshkigal? Why are your eyes sparkling?"
"When did I! N-no, I'm not!"
Ereshkigal is a crazy pervert.
X.
Ah. In the Sumerian age, it's natural to get excited when you see someone's genitals.
O.
If I thought too deeply about it, I'd just end up being the fool.
I just accepted it as it was and moved on.
"First, put some clothes on. I have a few sets of clothes you can wear…."
"No. Wait, Marduk,"
he said, in a slightly chilling voice.
My usually quiet intuition was blaring red alarms like crazy.
It was the same kind of warning I felt when the fairies landed in hordes on the Orkney Islands.
I immediately turned around.
"Huork! W-what the!"
"Call me Enkidu."
Enkidu, with a gentle smile on his face— lunged at me.
An incredible speed. I couldn't react.
The overwhelming pressure from the weapon of the gods crushed me. Even though he was shorter than me, I felt the illusion of looking up at him.
"Marduk."
"Why are you saying my name so scarily?"
"I. While spending the night with Shamhat, I realized something."
He swept his hair back refreshingly. The fresh scent of vegetation dizzied my nose.
"Becoming one is a truly pleasant feeling. I want you to feel this happiness too."
"D-don't you dare."
A disgustingly huge monstrosity raised its head.
"Let's become one, Marduk."
"You son of a bitch!"
I broke through the wall of the house and escaped.
My heart was pounding like crazy. I kicked off the ground and ran, even changing my limbs into those of a beast.
I have to get away. I have to get away from that crazy gay bastard.
A chill ran down my spine, so cold it felt like it was freezing.
Cold sweat poured down my face like mad.
"Wait, Marduk. Why are you rejecting me?"
"Because I'm not a fucking gay!"
That lunatic.
I was gritting my teeth and running at full speed, but that thing was smiling as it caught up to me.
Beneath that fresh smile was a dangling staff.
I won't lower my gaze, not even if I die. Reaffirming my resolve, I pumped my legs.
"Gay? Ah. You're talking about intercourse between two men. It's alright, Marduk. The first time is always the hardest. I'll make you happy, too."
Even as I tried to shake him off, the weapon of the gods scoffed and caught up to me.
The gap between us was steadily closing. Enkidu's scent grew stronger.
The goddamn crazy gay was getting closer.
My vision went dark.
I saw someone with fox ears beyond the bushes.
"Tamamo? Huh?"
I headed there, but there was nothing.
"To… Toneriko!"
I saw a white, pointed hat behind a tree. But of course, no one was there.
My desperate heart was causing hallucinations.
My mind was going blank from the stress. I couldn't think of anything.
I have to live. I can't let myself get penetrated.
"Whose names are you calling?"
"Hyaaaaaaaaaah!"
Enkidu appeared right in front of me.
Not watching the ground, I took a magnificent tumble forward.
My forehead was cut open. I felt no pain.
"Marduk. Why do you reject me?"
"Get away! Get the hell away from me!"
Even when I threw mud at him, he didn't back down.
Instead, he only looked at me with pity and closed the distance.
"Egh… Uwaaaaaack!"
My vision blurred until he looked like three people.
The ground and sky flipped.
"Marduk? Marduk!"
And just like that, I lost consciousness.