"So this is Ereshkigal's true form? She's completely different from before."
Ushiwakamaru remarked with some surprise.
"Well, of course she is. She's my sister, after all. It's only natural she'd possess beauty rivaling my own."
Ishtar gently smoothed her hair as she spoke with pride.
"Hmm... Back during your last visit to the Underworld, do you remember when you touched my hand? That familiar scent on you made me recognize you then. How could the friend I've always enjoyed speaking with so freely ever be some evil goddess?"
After having her identity pointed out, Eresh had already begun to blush. Not wanting her to feel overly embarrassed, Castorice offered her an easy way out.
"I see... I did think my disguise couldn't have been that shoddy..."
Eresh replied, scratching her cheek somewhat awkwardly.
"Do you remember what I told you last time? I said I'd bring you a gift when we met again."
Looking at Eresh before her, Castorice smiled, took a small box from her robe, and handed it to Eresh.
"This is..."
Eresh took the box and, under Castorice's smiling gaze, slowly opened it. The moment she saw its contents, her cheeks flushed scarlet.
"Isn't this a bit too soon? We've only just met... This kind of development is far too quick for me!"
Looking at the item inside the box, Eresh's face was burning red, her voice rising slightly in pitch.
Yet soon after, a hint of secret delight and satisfaction crossed her face. She took the object from the box and slowly put it on her hand.
Deliberately, she slipped it onto her ring finger, then casually brushed back her golden locks, ensuring the beautiful, gleaming gemstone ring was visible for all to see.
As a Servant, it's perfectly normal to know things beyond this era, right?
For a moment, Castorice noticed the others were looking at her with rather strange expressions.
As for the ring, she truly hadn't considered that implication initially... She didn't know why, but when she thought about preparing a gift, her hands had just naturally crafted this.
Seeing everyone's reactions now, Castorice realized she'd messed up. It seems people in this era also had the concept of what a ring signifies.
It's clearly before the common era; why do you guys have such notions already?
'Can you even influence an era thousands of years earlier?... You win.'
The ring wasn't expensive, made only from common gemstones. But the sentiment contained within was no less profound, for Castorice had made it with her own hands.
"Ahem, I understand your meaning. This ring shall be proof of our contract. From today onward, you are my Master!"
Noticing the looks on Ishtar and Ushiwakamaru's faces, Eresh gave a light cough, then directly extended her hand, decisively forming a contract with Castorice.
She hadn't originally planned to form a contract with her so soon, but with the ring presented, it served as a convenient opportunity.
"I will watch over you from the Underworld. And I will take good care of this sea of flowers for you. No matter what, there will always be a place for you here in the Underworld."
What followed was straightforward. After releasing the souls of Kutha and Uruk, this journey to the Underworld was successfully concluded. With no further reason to remain, the group prepared to leave.
After all, this is the land of the dead; it's best for the living not to linger.
"Wait, there's one more thing I need to discuss with you and King Gilgamesh."
As they were about to leave, Castorice suddenly remembered something.
She asked Ushiwakamaru and Ishtar to go on ahead, while she stayed behind to discuss a matter with Gilgamesh and Eresh. If this plan was feasible, they could minimize Uruk's losses during the final battle.
The idea was simple: pull the Underworld directly beneath Uruk.
She'd noticed it long ago—these demonic beasts had remarkably low resistance to death.
If, during the final battle, she and Eresh joined forces to breach the boundary between life and death, allowing the River of Souls to flow and become Uruk's moat...
Perhaps, in the end, Uruk might not have to face destruction.
--+--
Night, the bright moon hung high in the sky.
Only one day remained until Gorgon's scheduled annihilation of Uruk.
Facing the impending final battle, Castorice had prepared all she could. Now, all that was left was to do her utmost and leave the rest to fate. Rather than dwelling on unnecessary thoughts before the battle, it was better to conserve her energy and meet the dawn in her best possible state.
Just then, however, a knock came at her door.
"Are you asleep, Castorice?"
Ana's voice sounded softly from outside.
When she opened the door, Ana's figure came into view. But this Ana was different from usual; she wasn't wearing her black hood. Instead, she had taken off her large outer cloak, revealing her youthful form plainly before Castorice.
"Is there... something strange about me?"
Noticing Castorice's gaze, Ana spoke with a hint of discomfort.
"Not at all. Ana, without your hood, you're very cute. I couldn't help but look a little longer."
Castorice said with a smile, successfully bringing a faint blush to Ana's cheeks.
"It's quite late. Is something the matter?"
After inviting Ana into her room, Castorice asked curiously.
"Well... It's nothing. I just wanted to talk, that's all. Just a normal conversation, don't get the wrong idea!"
"Mhmm, I won't misunderstand."
Watching Ana, Castorice smiled and nodded.
"Never mind..."
Seeing her expression, Ana pursed her lips slightly and said no more.
Noticing Ana's silence, Castorice simply waited, allowing her to collect her thoughts without pressing further.
After a moment, Ana seemed to reach a decision. She suddenly straightened up, then pushed Castorice down onto a chair.
"Ana?"
Castorice looked at her, confusion in her eyes. Their position was now quite intimate; she was seated in the chair, her shoulders pinned by Ana's hands. She could even feel the other girl's slightly hurried breath.
The distance between them was close. All Castorice could do was let her hands rest limply at her sides, careful not to touch Ana's body.
"Form a contract with me."
Ana said.
Tomorrow was the final battle. Ana had already resolved herself; when the time came, she would perish together with Gorgon.
They were two parts of a whole—if the other died, she could not continue alone.
So now, Ana could no longer afford reserve. She spoke to Castorice directly.
The contract ritual was completed quickly. But just as Castorice thought it was over, she saw Ana take a deep breath, then straddle her lap.
"...As a Master, supplying your Servant with magical energy is only natural, right? Tomorrow is the final battle. I don't want any mishaps."
With that, she wrapped her arms around Castorice's neck and clumsily pressed her lips to hers.
--+--
T/N: Ain't Ana a child? or is it that because she's an aspect of gorgon that they're the same age? Also, was it just Castorice's hands or the entire body, cause idk
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.