At this moment, you are unaware that you are already being watched by Ereshkigal, merely listening intently as the shrine maiden beside you continuously recounts the stories of her city’s deity.
It could be said you’ve gained some new understanding of this goddess, Ereshkigal.
For example, you learned that this goddess would occasionally secretly possess the shrine maiden’s body to come out and play, and after having her fill of fun, she would secretly return the shrine maiden and pretend as if nothing had happened, among other such behaviors.
Hearing this, Doros couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
He never expected the Goddess of the Underworld to have such a side.
But that’s just right.
This is the Ereshkigal he recognizes—the Goddess of the Underworld, Ereshkigal, who rules over countless Garula Spirits in the underworld.
And also Eresh, who still retains a maiden’s curiosity and innocence.
Ereshkigal, who was listening nearby, couldn’t help but blush slightly.
It wasn’t her fault—all the underworld affairs were arranged at that time, and Ishtar wasn’t bothering her.
She just sneaked up for a little look.
Who knew she’d still be discovered…
Even though she hadn’t been caught all those previous times…
Ereshkigal looked at the shrine maiden’s expression, seeing her seemingly accustomed demeanor, and a bad premonition gradually grew in her heart.
Could it be…
they actually knew all along about her secretly possessing the shrine maiden to come out for a look?
Even though she never stayed possessed for too long each time…
At this moment, Ereshkigal only felt darkness before her eyes.
Her dignity as the Goddess of the Underworld…
Immediately, Ereshkigal ceased concealing her aura.
The presence symbolizing the Goddess of the Underworld slowly spread from around the divine statue.
The shrine maiden nearby was the first to sense this somewhat chilly yet spring-breeze-like aura.
She promptly turned her head away, pretending as if nothing had happened.
Doros had been listening with great interest, and seeing the shrine maiden’s sudden change in demeanor, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
They were just getting to the climax, but he soon understood what was happening.
He too sensed that unusual feeling.
Discussing a deity in their very presence—this was great disrespect.
Unless you possessed power like Gilgamesh’s, capable of contending with the gods.
After Ereshkigal descended, the shrine maiden led you forward to begin the true ritual.
The ritual procedure here was similar to what you understood from before—something like a report, blah blah blah, then stating the reason and Demands of the ritual.
Just as the shrine maiden explained your situation and stepped back, something happened that would remain etched in the shrine maiden’s memory for life.
“Such is the situation.
This youth named Doros has come to request your Blessing.” The shrine maiden then bowed and retreated.
Ereshkigal also looked toward Doros, examining him carefully.
Hmm, though still young, his body was already quite well-developed.
It seemed even Gilgamesh of Uruk, being half-human and half-divine, didn’t possess this level of physical strength at that age.
The more she looked, the more astonished Ereshkigal became.
This youth named Doros truly brought her many surprises.
Although his face still held some youthfulness, Ereshkigal could say that if nothing unexpected occurred, he would definitely reach Gilgamesh’s level in the future.
No, it wasn’t impossible for him to even surpass Gilgamesh.
As the mistress of the underworld, if she lacked even this ability to judge people, then these years of hers could be said to have been lived in vain.
After understanding Doros’s general situation, Ereshkigaral manipulated the divine statue to emit a stronger aura, effectively giving her response.
Then, she also invoked her own authority to bestow a Blessing upon Doros.
“Boom”
“Boom”
Just as this Blessing was about to be completed, Ereshkigal clearly felt an abnormal tremor in the underworld.
Immediately, a Garula Spirit came forward to report on this tremor.
Faced with this situation, she was somewhat at a loss—this was her first time encountering such a circumstance in the underworld.
However, this peculiar tremor came and went quickly.
But ultimately, she was the Goddess of the Underworld.
Confronted with this sudden event, she swiftly arranged a response plan.
Ereshkigal also prepared to personally investigate after bestowing the Blessing.
Only when she turned her gaze back to Doros did her jade-sculpted face adopt a stunned expression, her ruby-like eyes showing an incredulous look.
She then understood why the underworld had trembled just moments before.
At this moment, in the temple…
Doros stood before Ereshkigal’s divine statue with a cautious demeanor, as if wondering whether he had recently shown any disrespect toward the goddess.
When the Blessing first began, Doros could clearly feel a cool but not cold aura slowly infusing his body—a sensation like finding a shady stream in summer and soaking his feet in it.
He even found it somewhat enjoyable.
But just as he was immersed in that feeling, suddenly an even colder aura rushed into his body as if with reckless abandon.
That feeling, Doros thought, was almost exactly like being stripped naked and thrown into a blizzard.
[The Underworld’s Blessing, acquired.]