[Your probing actions seem to always be skillfully evaded or deflected by Ereshkigal through various means.]
[At times she puts on the majesty of a Goddess, at other times she uses the busyness of Underworld affairs as an excuse, but the panic that flashes through those ruby-like eyes always makes you feel like there is an opening to exploit.]
[Your inner conviction grows stronger.]
[Just when you thought this “tug-of-war” would last for a long time, an unexpected interlude broke the stalemate.]
[Perhaps it was the aftermath of the battle with the Bull of Heaven, but for some reason, it impacted the stability of the Underworld.
Or perhaps the divine power of the rampaging Bull of Heaven was too immense, causing the space at the edge of the Underworld to suddenly experience violent tremors.]
[As the mistress of the Underworld, Ereshkigal sensed the anomaly immediately.
Her expression changed slightly, and she could no longer be bothered to maintain her feigned composure, grabbing your wrist.]
“Hold on tight, Doros!
The Underworld has encountered…
a small situation!”
Before she finished speaking, your vision blurred, and the surrounding scenery instantly switched from the Goddess of the Underworld’s bedchamber, which carried a faint floral scent, to a desolate zone where space was constantly tearing and reforming like a shattered mirror.
This was the boundary of the Underworld, a place ordinary spirits could never reach.
Doros saw countless Garula Spirits scrambling, trying to “nail” the fractured spatial rifts with their bone spears, but with little effect.
The air was filled with scorching divine power and the aura of thunder from the Uruk battlefield, clashing violently with the cold, deathly aura of the Underworld itself, emitting a teeth-gritting sizzling sound.
“It’s that idiot Ishtar!” Ereshkigal gritted her pearly teeth, anger appearing on her pretty face, “Causing trouble in the living world is one thing, but to dare to affect my Underworld!
It seems the lesson from last time wasn’t profound enough!”
Not interrupting early, not interrupting late, but at this very moment…
You silently added another debt to Ishtar’s account in your heart.
Ereshkigal released your hand and took a step forward.
She then shouted, “Watch closely, this is what a true Goddess of the Underworld is!”
In an instant, massive divine power surged from her petite body, her black dress fluttered without wind, and her long golden hair flowed like sunlight.
In her hand appeared that iconic, gun-cage-shaped divine artifact, decorated with a red gem at the top.
“In the name of the mistress of the Underworld, this realm shall return to peace!”
Stamping the gun-cage onto the ground, a dark red ripple rapidly spread out with her at the center.
Wherever the ripple passed, the shattered space was smoothed over as if by an invisible hand, and the violently clashing energy gradually subsided.
Doros stood behind her, watching this scene that could be called heaven-and-earth altering, feeling immensely shocked.
This was the true power of the Goddess of the Underworld, a completely different person from the shy appearance she occasionally revealed to you in daily life.
After handling the border crisis, Ereshkigal turned around.
The anger on her face had not completely dissipated, but when she looked at you, her eyes softened slightly: “It’s fine now, just some small issues…
Hmm?
Doros, what is that expression on your face?”
You subconsciously touched your face, only to realize you were staring at her in amazement.
You couldn’t help but blurt out: “I just thought…
Goddess Ereshkigal just now was very cool!”
“C-cool?” Ereshkigal clearly hadn’t expected Doros to say this.
She froze for a moment, then her fair cheeks were dyed a shade of red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
She averted her gaze in a panic, muttering softly, “T-this, what’s so cool about this…
Maintaining the stability of the Underworld is my job to begin with…
A-and, it’s not like it’s because of Ishtar…”
Watching her become flustered again due to this straightforward compliment, that urge to “probe” popped up in your heart again, and it was stronger than ever before.
(Don’t underestimate the bonds of the Underworld, hey!)
Doros took advantage of her momentary distraction to step forward, closing the distance between them.
“It’s not just now,” Doros said, gazing into her slightly evasive red eyes with a sincere tone, “All this time, I have felt that Goddess Ereshkigal is truly remarkable.”
“Managing the vast Underworld alone, protecting the peace of the souls, and even…
willing to bestow blessings upon an ordinary human like me, granting me the [Blessing of the Underworld] and the duties of [High Priest].”
Doros paused, lowering his voice even further, with a hint of probing curiosity: “So, I have always been wondering, does the Goddess have some special…
towards me…”
“Sp-special what!
Absolutely not!” Ereshkigal, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, abruptly interrupted your words, even the tips of her ears turning bright red.
“I-I am just fulfilling my responsibilities as a City-State deity and contractor!
Yes, responsibility!
Kusha is my City-State, and you are the High Priest I acknowledge, nothing more!”
The more she spoke, the softer her voice became, until it was almost like she was talking to herself: “It-it’s not because I think you are…
a bit special…
or that I find you agreeable or anything…”
After saying this, even she felt she was protesting too much, and she froze on the spot.
Watching Ereshkigal, who was clearly so shy she was about to smoke, yet still trying to put on a brave face, a warmth rose in Doros’s heart, along with…
a hint of satisfaction like a successful prank.
Not pressing any further, Doros just looked at her with a smile and said softly: “Is that so?
So it was just responsibility…
I understand.”
Doros’s reaction actually made Ereshkigal even more uncomfortable.
She snuck a glance at Doros, and seeing the knowing smile on his face, she became even more shy and angry, unable to help but stomp her foot: “Y-you, what are you smiling at!
Stop laughing!”
Flustered by the “I understand,” Ereshkigal, in order to escape this awkward atmosphere, stiffly changed the subject.
“A-alright!
Since the Underworld boundary is stable, it is time for you to return to the living world!” She tried hard to make her voice sound calm and authoritative, “Kusha still has many matters that need you, its High Priest, to handle.
Staying in the Underworld all the time, what does that look like!”
Doros looked at her cheeks, which were trying to look serious but couldn’t hide their crimson flush, and nodded readily: “Yes, as the Goddess commands.
However…” You deliberately dragged out your tone.
“H-however what?” She immediately looked at you vigilantly.
Doros smiled and performed a solemn priestly salute: “Before I leave, could I once again gaze upon your glory, Goddess?
After all, the opportunity to have such a close audience with the Goddess is truly rare.”
Upon hearing this, Ereshkigal’s face turned even redder, but this time she did not immediately refuse or retort, just slightly turned her face away and gave an almost inaudible “Mm,” which counted as tacit consent.
She stood there, her long golden hair and pale skin setting each other off, like a quiet and stunningly beautiful painting.
[With Ereshkigal’s help, you safely returned to the living world of Kusha.]