When Eresh let those words slip out, it could be said she had summoned up all her courage.
For her, this really was a once-in-a-lifetime chance—because she had appeared in a form close to her true body.
Ereshkigal could not leave the Netherworld. As mistress of the underworld, once she left, not only would great swaths of death appear in the human world—even the Netherworld itself would suffer enormous disruptions.
But now, she could.
Even if only for a short time.
Yet during this span, Eresh could indeed be here, moving freely!
An impulse that surged up from nowhere.
A "confidence" that had surfaced out of nowhere—finally, at this moment, had turned into a concrete act!
Though her face could not be seen clearly, the words of the goddess could still be heard by all, and the crowd held its breath.
Rovi looked at Eresh before him, holding his hand.
She stared at him, cheeks flushed, her heart racing wildly—but from the very beginning, her words had not been a question.
They were… a demand.
A god's demand of a believer.
"You really are forceful…" he said.
"Don't… don't talk nonsense. This is the blessing of a goddess, so just take it… mmph…" Words that, from any other god, would have sounded supremely arrogant, lofty beyond reach—yet from Eresh's mouth, somehow seemed almost cute.
Forget it.
Rovi glanced toward the remains of the Bull of Heaven, scattered now into nothing but wisps of cloud.
It probably wouldn't be able to reform to its previous state anytime soon.
Might as well treat it as a chance to relax for a moment.
Rovi wanted to die.
He believed he would, sooner or later.
The great plan had already been set.
Seize every chance—but there was no need to rush headlong.
With that thought, he nodded, not refusing.
But in truth, Eresh herself didn't really understand what a "date" meant.
Perhaps… it was simply like friends walking together?
Mm… maybe a little closer than friends.
So thought the goddess.
They bid farewell to the people, heading eastward toward the Euphrates.
The air blowing against their faces regained its old dampness; the river once more rushed and roared, bursting forth as though from a broken vessel.
"So beautiful…" Eresh stopped on the riverbank, gazing fixedly at the scene before her, dazed.
Golden hair tips swayed, mingling with the flutter of her crimson robes.
Such flowing scenery was something the eternally silent Netherworld could never have.
Naturally, this was the first time Eresh had ever seen it.
Still holding her hand, Rovi averted his eyes toward her profile. "It really is beautiful."
"Rovi thinks so too?" Hearing his words, Eresh turned to him instinctively. She had thought, for someone who had always lived on the surface, such sights would long since be commonplace.
But when her gaze met his—she realized he wasn't looking at the river at all.
He was looking at her.
And speaking of her.
Eyes that didn't avoid. Meaning that didn't conceal.
So, in an instant, the mistress of the Netherworld turned crimson again.
"You—you, what were you just saying…" Her lips moved stiffly, the words dry.
She didn't know how to respond.
Should she reply, 'You too'? It felt far too embarrassing…
Rovi laughed—thankfully, this time not with Gilgamesh's ridiculous tone.
Almost ruined the atmosphere he'd worked so hard to build up.
When he got back, he'd definitely curse that golden bastard out… Rovi, righteously, dumped the blame on that far-off king in Uruk.
He let out a quiet breath of relief.
What could he say—being with Eresh, really did feel… light.
It wasn't the odd delight of clashing with Gilgamesh, nor the natural comfort of being with Enkidu.
This was a calm, a peace of the soul.
Not only for Rovi.
For Eresh as well.
"It's really strange, Rovi." With a long exhale, she brushed aside a strand of gold hair. A bright smile blossomed on her delicate face.
She looked forward, murmuring softly as if to herself: "Clearly, everyone else fears me. Clearly, everyone wishes to stay as far away from me as possible. Yet you are the first—willing to risk your life just to draw closer to me…"
Not afraid of death.
Even… longing to approach death.
This was, at first, the reason Eresh had been drawn to Rovi.
Can I just say that I genuinely want to die? Rovi's lips twitched slightly.
This wasn't about fear or lack of fear.
It was about deeply, deeply wanting it.
Eresh didn't wait for him to answer—she only tugged his hand again, leading him forward.
No destination. Just following the wind.
"Rovi, tell me… are we friends?" Her voice drifted into his ears, like a quiet song.
He looked at the girl walking beside him.
The flush at her ear-tips.
Though, truthfully, back at their first meeting, Eresh had already decided her answer. Still, she yearned for confirmation.
Even in asking, her heart was uneasy.
"Of course…" Rovi replied. "Not anymore."
"Eh!?" Eresh froze, whipping her head around. Then, in the next instant, realization dawned: "Hmph… I am the goddess who rules the Netherworld!"
She made a mock-ferocious face. "If you say we aren't, then we aren't?"
"Things like this can't be forced," Rovi said matter-of-factly.
"But I insist!" The mistress of the Netherworld muttered, her face pink. "B-but… d-don't get the wrong idea. I don't really want to be friends with you!"
"This is only… for the dignity of a goddess!"
Her grip tightened, hand holding his closer.
The unease in her heart, at last, found its calm.
She knew Rovi was deliberately speaking in reverse.
And Rovi, more than anyone, knew that if he had answered directly, with Eresh's nature, she would've turned shy and tongue-tied.
But if he teased her instead, it would stir that proud, tsundere core—
And make the air between them lighter.
"Then, finally…" Eresh brushed back her golden hair, eyes meeting his straight on.
The last step forward—lips brushing lips—the radiant goddess of the Netherworld instantly nestled into Rovi's arms, face lifting against his ear.
White thighs pressed close against his legs; warmth flickered across his narrow waist; her hips shifted, swaying faintly.
The soft goddess leaned to his ear, whispering:
"Our next meeting—until then, Rovi-san!"
Rovi blinked, staring at the suddenly empty embrace, the lingering fragrance still drifting in the wind.
Eresh was gone.
Because her time was up.
Even with the Key of Heaven, she could not stay in the human world without limit.
Her time was over—
The goddess had to return.
But in the end… Rovi lifted his gaze toward the remnants of the Bull of Heaven, those black "clouds" rising in pillars around it.
Before leaving, she had shaped the winds of the Netherworld into a cage, binding the beast that had "killed" him.
Slowing its regeneration.
At the last moment—she had "helped" Rovi.
Or perhaps—it was the goddess avenging the harm done to him. And more than that, declaring: she would always stand at his side. Whatever he faced—even if it meant enmity with all the gods—she would not hesitate.
Rovi did not know whether to feel glad or to sigh.
But then again…
"Just now, that counted as being in the Netherworld, didn't it?"
Half in the underworld, half in the living world.
Inside, only a short while had passed.
But in the present world—
"It's already been seven whole days!?"
Rovi looked up toward the sky.
Watching the sun rise and the moon fall.
And in that instant, reached this conclusion.
---
T/N: oh no is enkidu gonna die now
"Mm. If you've read this far, I suppose you're at least a little invested."
"If you want to support the translator, there's a Patreon here: patreon.com/wisetl. It's optional—think of it as tossing a few extra coins on the counter. Early chapters are just a bonus side-effect of that support."
"This place also has its own strange currency… Powerstones. For every 100 Powerstones the story gets, you'll receive 1 bonus chapter. 100ps = 1 chp, 200ps = 2 chp, 300ps = 3 chp… you can do the math."
"If you'd rather talk than throw money or stones, there's a Discord: discord.gg/wisetl. Go there if you want to complain, theorize, or poke the translator for more updates. Just don't expect me to mediate your arguments."
Say thank you to Maomao guys