Hello, Goddess of the Sun

Fwahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahaha! Welcome back, splendid heroes!

And you, shameless goddess, who came back with them! Tell me how it feels to have joined my army!

Nobody joined your army, you idiot!

I, the wise and farsighted goddess Ishtar, have simply entered into a business partnership with Fujimaru!

Just you wait. This one's going to be an amazing Master!

And until then, I'll bring him back to life even if he dies or explodes!

...Heh. There's no need to say who the real winner is here. And when that happens, this is what you'll be screaming:

"Oh, Ishtar! You truly are the goddess of victory! I am so very, very ashamed. Guess I'll have to kill myself!"

I'm not going to die, you fool! I even liberated Eanna, your resting place, and you haven't repented at all!

Of course I haven't! I'm actually really mad! Eanna was mine to begin with!

So why'd you steal it!? Argh! I knew I shouldn't have come!

Please, both of you, stop.

The patron deity appears before us... For a priestess such as myself, there is no greater honor.

Let us forget about the damage report from the farmers, as well as the other things, and celebrate her return.

Humph. You heard her, Ishtar. The High Priestess says so.

Tch... I can't be bossy around Siduri... She's the most faithful of the Uruks, and the ideal priestess...

It looks like Ishtar isn't able to push Siduri around.

From the look of things, maybe King Gilgamesh and Ishtar will be able to work together!

Well, whatever. We can deal with rehabilitating you later. We have more pressing issues.

？！

That's right. Now that we know Gorgon is an incarnation of Tiamat, we have a powerful weapon at our disposal that we can use against her...

The axe of the god Marduk, who ripped open Tiamat's throat, is still kept within Eridu.

This axe will be the key to defeating Gorgon.

Eridu... The first city in Sumerian mythology where the divine right to rule was given.

But now it's covered in jungle. I see, so that's why...

I told you, there's an order in which to defeat the goddesses. First Ishtar. Then the one in the south. Then the one in the north.

So, how about it, Ishtar? I bet you know who the Goddess of the Jungle really is.

Many of the heroes I've summoned so far have gone into the jungle, trying to learn exactly that. None returned.

Only a very powerful Divine Spirit could defeat such Servants.

...Of course not. That's also a Divine Spirit, but it's only a secondary one. Next time, I'm skinning it for its pelt.

So we can just ignore her, then? Personally, I'm relieved.

After all, if she were one of the three goddesses, I have no idea how we'd deal with her!

？！

I'm curious about Jaguar Warrior, but talk about her later! ...So? What is the True Name of the Goddess of the Jungle?

...Well, I guess I could tell you that.

The goddess that holds dominion over the south is the "Winged Snake"...

A fellow goddess of Venus, and the great bird of the sun. The wind of Mesoamerica! Quetzalcoatl!

Quetzalcoatl! The conquering King of the Mayans? The Toltec sun god?

That's demiurge caliber! She might be even more powerful than Gorgon!

Wait, wasn't Quetzalcoatl male, anyway!? Why's she a goddess?

Oh, that's right. Humans wouldn't know.

The place you call Mexicothe region of Mesoamerica, that ishas a very different mythology.

Their gods are said to not be from this planet, but to have come from the sky.

When an asteroid collided with Earth, "something" that came with it survived and infected the plants...

Eventually it became a microscopic organism that changed the local animals into "gods," and built that area's civilization.

The deities of Mesoamerica move from one human to another. One of those vessels was probably a female.

Th-thank you for that incredible information, goddess! There's still so much about Earth we don't know!

Quetzalcoatl... Hmm... With human history incinerated, I can't see the future of this Mesoamerica you talk about.

Doctor Roman! Gather information on this goddess!

I know nothing of any deities who were able to come back to life in the A.D. era!

...! Master, that felt like an earthquake just now!

Forgive me, my king! An urgent message from the south gate of Uruk!

The south gate has been annihilated! They're requesting reinforcements!

...An enemy attack!? What were the lookouts doing!? How could they miss a horde of Demonic Beasts?

They say...it's a single enemy!

A woman calling herself Quetzalcoatl has destroyed the gate with her bare hands and entered Uruk!

She's heading straight for the ziggurat!

Get the citizens out of here now! She's coming! She's charging in!

Spearmen, form up in three rows! If ten soldiers won't hold, attack with thirty!

You in the rear, press forward! We're going to force her back with everything we have!

Raaarrrgh! We'll put an end to your killing spree right here!

Mm, you've got spirit! But this isn't a tag team match, no!

I said one at a time, no? Naughty kids who can't wait their turn... Hmm... What to do...

I know! I'll juggle you till you cool off! Okay, uno, dos, tres...!

Impossible! She's tossing the soldiers about like toys!

Oh no! That's too high! She's throwing them too high! They're gonna...! Nooooooooo!!!

Oh my. You're terrible at plancha, and also terrible at landing? You won't be top-tier luchadores like that, you know!

Si, in lucha libre, it is important for both the attacker and defender to nimbly break a fall!

You got that, niños? Before you learn any techniques to defeat others, you must learn to protect yourselves...

If you can't do that, you're no match for me, no matter how many of you there are!

Nnnnnno good. Everyone, retreat, retreat! We are no match for her!

Wait for the warriors of Chaldea! Until then, until then...

...Until then, we'll do as she requests! ...You said you won't complain if we go up one-on-one, yes!?

Claro! Try to pin me for a three-count, yes!

We have arrived at Uruk's southern market! As King Gilgamesh ordered, we

Over there! Oh, look out!

How unfortunate! You're so tiny! Muy pequeña!

W-waaah! For some reason she came diving in spread-eagled!?

I won't let her... Soldier, get out of here! Hurry!

Y-yeah!

Wow! Qué técnica! What an amazing aerial attack! I'll give you forty points, yes!

But you stole my opponent! So rude, yes! That match wasn't decided yet, no?

Interfering in a luchador match is against the rules!

Mm. So. That. Means.

Wha... Wind coming from below our feet!? Waaaah, it's lifting us up!?

The penalty will be... My one hundred meter ring-out toss! Adiós, muchachos!

Waaah! I'm... faaaaaalling...!

...Wait, I'm alive!

？！

Hurry and retreat! We'll take care of the rest!

Y-yeah...! Thanks, we'll leave it to you, cutie!

Hmm. Is it against the rules for someone to show up and catch a falling luchador?

I think it is... Buuuut if the audience loves it, I guess it's okay!

After all, we don't fight to kill our opponents... We fight to give courage to the people!

Aaaanyway, are you my next opponents?

Good, you've got some pep! I'll fight each and every one of you till your hearts give out!

So that's the Mesoamerican goddess, Quetzalcoatl...!

...She scares me, Master. I've never experienced anything like this before.

She is laughing like she's having a great time! A laugh with no hatred or animosity!

Yet, she isn't hesitating to kill... It's insane! I don't know what to do!

？！

Talk later. She's coming! Your enemy is the highest-ranking Divine Spirit there is: a true goddess!

She's not like Gorgon who used the Holy Grail to become a goddess, nor a Pseudo-Servant like Ishtar!

Everyone, proceed with the utmost caution! Staying alive is more important than defeating her!

Our attacks aren't doing anything...! It seems she possesses some kind of special skill...!

Oh, are you guys Servants?

Then, is that cutie over there the Master from elsewhere?

Indeed. That's Fujimaru from Chaldea, the last Master of humanity.

I know it's late, but I'd like to confirm. You're Quetzalcoatl, from the Three Goddess Alliance?

Claro que sí!

I'm the big sister who came all the way from Mesoamerica to destroy Uruk a little, yes!

？！

... ...

...Why did you clam up like that? That shouldn't be a difficult question...

...Ahaha. You, Master of Chaldea, are my type, so I was just a bit surprised, yes!

Disciplined, righteous, and earnest. That hits all my buttons! So much so, you deserve a penalty!

If Fujimaru will marry me, I don't mind being on your side!

MAAAAAARRY!?

What did you just say!?

(Hahaha, this goddess is weirder than anything I could imagine! The story is getting complicated now!)

Ay no. After all, that would be a bit childish. Goddess-ish, but childish.

Now. Why destroy Uruk? I'll at least answer that question.

It's because we were called over by Mother to kill humans.

It is our purpose here, and we can't change it. So, that's what we'll do.

But, how I do so is up to me, no? It'd be boring to just drop the sun and burn everything, no?

Yes! I want to have fun. I don't want to fight out of hatred. Sooooo...

I decided that no matter who I'm against, I'll kill them one by one, and that's how I'll eradicate humanity, yes!

？！

Sí! So I won't use my Authority as a goddess! Because that tires me out, yes!

Objection! Great goddess Quetzalcoatl, I'd like to point out that you used your Authority in our battle!

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I-I'm cheating? Hehehe... Being scolded by a younger Master is a first. Makes me blush!

But you need a trial like this. Just going easy won't help anyone grow.

That's how you learn, yes? Humans are like that, yes?

So she wants you to find her weakness during the fight...! But no matter what we do, that divinity is

Oh, relax! See, I'm going back soon, yes!

I only fight one hundred people a day! Any more than that, and I start forgetting my opponents.

I wouldn't want to make fighting a chore, no! Death matches should always be of the highest quality!

So, everyone, adiós! I'll be back tomorrow at dawn to kill another one hundred of you!

Quetzalcoatl is disappearing into the jungle, riding a pterosaur that flew by...

Are you...safe now? No, I see another Servant approaching!

This... This magical energy...!

Oof, oof, oof! Sheesh, Kuku works jaguars so hard.

Transporting warriors she knocked out. Why is she making her best furriend do this?

That ludicrous hooded guise...!

？！

Hey, guys! It's been a while! But hold on a sec, I'm working right now!

Wha... Jaguar Warrior is stacking the fallen soldiers one after another onto a cargo sled!

She's going to take them away! Master, we need to stop her...!

？！

Whoa. Stop and leave the goods? I will not, no! That's not how the world works. Reality is harsh, you know.

Kuku is ruthless! She never holds back when she punches me!

So do you really think such a cold-blooded bird would forget to assign bodyguards for a mission this important? ...Oh... I guess she did...

So, the forest furriends that I cherry-picked will protect me! To me, my great Jaguar Underlings!

Roarrrrr!

Whew! Look at these sturdy Jaguar Underlings! Boys and girls...we're not letting you sleep tonight...!

Well, I'm going home and drinking a Tequila Sunset while eating crocodile! I'll leave the rest to mew guys!

The jaguar-headed warriors are attacking! Master, your orders!

Hmm, well this is an altogether new problem. To think Quetzalcoatl would come barging in herself.

What a nuisance! If she keeps tearing up the city, that'll affect morale on the Demonic Front!

The craftsmen and soldiers have left the southern market. At this rate, the king's little side project will...

Side project...? King Gilgamesh, what are you making?

...No. Nothing.

(Sigh) Siduri, must you be such a killjoy? What's the point of making a secret weapon if it's not being kept a secret...

Ugh, this is all because of that insane goddess! Ishtar! She's one of yours!

Make yourself useful! Do something about her!

Hey, she's not one of mine! She's from a completely different culture!

Really. She's a different class and uses different weapons. Other things like the amount of skin showing and our alignments are generally the same.

(So that means the two get along, Senpai!)

(Shh, stay quiet...! She'll just get distracted. Even if it's true, don't mention it, Mash!)

We're totally different! There aren't that many muscle-headed goddesses like her!

Fou? Foufofo, fofofofooou?

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...Well, there's no denying that she's a nuisance.

Like the way she picks fights with humans one by one. She's got a weird idea of eradicating humanity, but I guess she'd call it integrity.

And, if she's coming tomorrow, that means she intends on killing one hundred people every day.

Yes. Exactly one hundred soldiers fell victim. The corpses were carried off, so we can't even bury them...

Even if we wanted to fight, we're no match for her. Don't you have a plan of some sort, Dr. Roman?

Eh? You're asking me!? You guys have Merlin over there!

Use that clairvoyance or whatever, and take a peek at what Quetzalcoatl is doing!

I'd really like to do that, but I can't overuse my clairvoyance. I'm using my magical energy for other things right now.

At any rate, she'll definitely pick up on it if I observe her.

And as many a myth has shown, goddesses don't respond well to being peeked on. Isn't that right, Ishtar?

Yeah, I'd kill them. I'd use my Authority, my Noble Phantasm, everything I have, and blast wherever the peeper is to oblivion!

See? Do you want to piss her off like that? I don't! And THAT'S why I can't use clairvoyance to check out Quetzalcoatl.

...I see. I wish you'd told me earlier that you were restricting your clairvoyance.

No wonder something seemed a bit off about you, Merlin. You had already done everything you could.

I'm glad you understand. So, Romani Archaman, what is your proposal?

All right, I shall give my opinion as Chaldea's operations commander.

Currently, there is no way to intercept Quetzalcoatl. That said, we aren't in a condition to leave her alone.

Which means we have to get proactive. We strike at Quetzalcoatl's home base.

Originally, Quetzalcoatl was a goddess that had absolutely nothing to do with Sumer.

So how is she demonstrating such heightened Divinity and Authority?

It must be because a temple dedicated to her worship was built somewhere.

The other day, when Fujimaru went to investigate Ur, there was a particularly strong magical energy response coming from the south.

Even in a jungle full of mana, that response was so strong you knew it was special.

That must be Eridu, the city that King Gilgamesh was talking about. If Quetzalcoatl is occupying that city,

we can assume that she has created a temple in her name there. To establish a temple, you need a symbol that represents the deity.

Quetzalcoatl is said to possess two treasures: the Jade Sword, Macana, and the Sun's Pilgrimage, Piedra del Sol.

Either of those would certainly work to establish her place of worship. So...

...Destroy the symbol, remove the temple's power, and diminish Quetzalcoatl's Divinity.

Exactly, Ana. After that, if we face Quetzalcoatl, there is at least a small chance of victory.

And with Ishtar's help, we'd be more than a match for her.

Oh, you're relying on me?

I didn't want to fight other goddesses, but if it's Fujimaru's request, I have no choice.

Of course, if it was a certain useless king asking, I'd just have laughed myself silly and refused!

... (Grinning)

...He totally sees through her... There's no way Ishtar can win this one...

I guess it's settled, then. Fujimaru, I have a new mission for you.

I authorize the second stage of our goddess extermination plan! Go through the jungle and head to Eridu!

There, defeat Quetzalcoatl, and also recover the divine tool stored in Eridu.

Retrieve Marduk's axe, the weapon that killed the goddess Tiamat!

Two days to reach Eridu, four days round trip!

Hurry! As soon as you return, we'll start preparations for the battle with Gorgon!