Goodbye, Goddess of the Underworld

Back in Kutha. You certainly got there fast.

Although, I suppose Ishtar slowed us down since we had to drag her the whole way...

Ugh... If only Quetzalcoatl wasn't around... I could've escaped...

Give it up, Ishtar. You promised Fujimaru too, right?

If you say you're on their side, you stay on their side until they betray you or fall.

Isn't that dedication the universal pride of all goddesses?

Okay, okay, I give up. I'll tag along on your trip to the underworld.

But only Fujimaru, Mash, and I are going in.

Quetzalcoatl and Merlin, you stay here. Especially you, Quetzalcoatl. You would be a sitting duck down there.

...? Yuk ak katán!? (What are you saying!?)

Divinity works negatively in Kur. The weak stay as they are, but the strong are weakened.

Death and its queen, Ereshkigal, rule supreme there. What do you think happens when a god dies in Kur?

I see. They'd go wild, say things like "I do not accept death," and then just head right back to the world above. There'd be no life or death anymore.

Even gods must remain in the underworld once they die.

So that's why there's a system that nullifies their powers. Fascinating.

Even knowing what it's like in the underworld, Ishtar, you challenged it anyway. You're amazing.

Mash... You're not saying that sarcastically... You're just a goofball. I can't possibly get mad at you...

I went down to the underworld because I was arrogant.

In the myths surrounding me, I was spoiled, praised, and knew no fear.

So I laughed off the perils of the underworld, and challenged it using seven Authorities.

I felt nothing was impossible for me after conquering Mt. Ebih. But the result was a miserable defeat. A complete, total loss.

I would have loved to have seen that, yes!

Worst-case scenario, please make sure at least Fujimaru and Mash return, yes!

...You do realize that's not what "worst-case scenario" means, right?

We'll either all return after defeating Ereshkigal, or we fail and everyone is trapped. It's only one or the other.

That's why I'm having you two remain here. If it comes to that, then it's your turn.

Figure out a way to strike a deal with Ereshkigal to get her to return Mash and Fujimaru to the living world.

All right. For the good of our mission, I shall remain behind! That said, though, you're a strange one, Ishtar.

You're walking into a battle you don't think you can win. Do goddesses mature when they become independent from their fathers?

Say whatever you want. Anyway, where's Ana? You didn't bring her?

No... She hadn't returned to the Chaldean Embassy. We didn't have time to wait or look for her, so we left her behind.

I see. Well, she'd be useless in the underworld anyway. So I suppose that works out regardless.

...Then, let's begin. Are you really okay with this, Fujimaru?

No time to hesitate, huh. Fine, I'll share your enthusiasm!

How, you ask? Hehehe... Like this, of course!

？！

Mash, take care of Fujimaru! Merlin, Quetzalcoatl, stand back!

Load the tide-convergence rounds in Maanna's bow cannons! Output at isosceles of 1/3 the lapis lazuli!

Gate of Kur, shatter! Let the light of An shine through the skyless Ki! In other words... I'll blow a giant hole in the ground!

All right, success! This is the underworld, Fujimaru!

Owwww... Are you all right, Master? I managed to guard you with my shield... I think...

？！

I-I can teleport, too. But if I teleport into the underworld, it'll be scary afterwards.

If my powers are sealed the instant we arrive, we'll all just fall and die.

It's better if we don't have to teleport. You can get to the underworld by digging through the ground, after all.

Huh...? What did you just say!?

Good, I got through! You said you were going to the underworld, so I was worried I might not be able to observe you. Guess I was wrong!

I mean, you're really just underground! The real-deal Age of Gods is amazing! The underworld is physically linked to the real world!

S-so it's true!? It wasn't, like, some area in another dimension!?

Of course. In the Age of Gods, the heavens, the earth, and the underworld are all situated on the same layer of scroll.

The afterlife and the world of the skies become metaphysical only after the end of the Age of Gods.

？！

Yes, truly a surprise... This underground cavern is unthinkable by our understanding of geology...

Oh? Senpai, what are those? Those long, narrow things scattered around... They look like birdcages...

...o...uh...o...ooh...

...There are lights floating around inside them... Too many to count...

...It's best you don't get near them. Those lights are the souls of the deadof humans who have died on the surface.

...!

？！

Yup. Ereshkigal's soul cages. Souls trapped in there can never return to the world of the living.

When the physical body dies, the soul starts to fade, then disappears. But Ereshkigal doesn't let that happen.

She cages up the souls of humans she likes, and keeps them at her side to enjoy for tens of thousands of years.

Bare souls like thathumans without a bodyfeel cold. Very cold.

So they start to freeze, beginning with their limbs, until they eventually become living ice.

One would rather fade away than feel that painbut these trapped souls can't even do that. They have no freedom.

Until Ereshkigal bores of them, they have to stay there like that, writhing in torment.

...Then, the souls that withered to death on Earth are here, too?

Most likely. There are more soul cages here than before. Probably thanks to the work of the Three Goddess Alliance.

...I wonder if she's trying to make a kingdom of the dead? She was never cruel like this in the past...

？！

Over there. On the other side of the narrow cliff path. Ereshkigal's palace is beyond the seven gates.

She can't step one foot outside of that place.

So, she's trapped inside too? Ereshkigal, a goddess?

Who knows? They say it's what the gods decided. But it's none of my business.

Anyway, this is where Fujimaru and Mash come in.

We'll start by going through the first gate over there. Doing so will help you understand the rules of the underworld.

So she says, Senpai... Well, to start we should get closer to it...

Answer me... Answer me...

You who live... You who have fallen into the underworld... Tell me how your soul should be...

...Fujimaru, you'll get a binary sort of question. The underworld gates are fair and logical, and their job is to test whether a soul is good or evil.

Good and evil are equal in value. Only the values of that human, the chooser, change... So there's no right answer.

No matter which you choose, we will have to deal with an annoying trial. Just pick whichever answer seems easier.

Now, sinful Fujimaru, answer me...

(Huh? He got called by name...?)

Standards of beauty seem diverse but are absolute. Black wins over white, the earth wins over the heavens. Then...

Ereshkigal or Ishtar. Which is more beautiful?

Hold on a sec! That's different from before!

All right, a question with not a scrap of logic! Which is it, Fujimaru!?

Heh, of course! You'll be absolutely fine. I thought as much, but thanks, Fujimaru!

It's not a hard choice when one is a goddess of rot and decay, and the other beauty and bounty!

If it's a beauty contest one thousand out of one hundred people will choose me, of course!

NIIITWIIIT...You...shall...die...

Argh! Betrayed at the very first gate!? Oh, I get it. That's not it. This is a battle of wits!

I-isn't that right? As long as you compliment Ereshkigal, the enemy will weaken. That's what this means, right!?

AWWWKWAAARRRD... But...ve...ry...well!

Enemy forces have been defeated! Looks like we can move on, Senpai!

？！

It sounded like pure evil to me! ...I hope it's not going to be like this the whole time...

Well, maybe it was just a one-off thing?

Ishtar and Ereshkigal are the goddesses of the heavens and the earth. That makes them good benchmarks for comparison.

I hope so. Now then, we just need to pass through the gate itself...

Yes, it doesn't seem like there's any kind of trap either. See? I went through it and nothing's happening, Ishtar.

Seems so. That's a relief. Thanks, Mash.

？！

Augh!

Ishtar!? What happened? Is something wrong!?

Owww... Something shocked me... But I'm fine, I just got the chills when I passed through the gate.

I don't see anything...anything...

Hey, do you feel something weird?

？！

Right!? I've obviously shrunk, haven't I!?

Indeed you have. Do you finally see what a fool you are, Ishtar?

Your last descent into the underworld ended in failure. So long as that myth exists, you cannot escape the curse of the underworld.

The crown symbolizing the wilderness, the reed measuring rod, the lapis lazuli choker, the bead necklace, the gold armlet, the gorgeous brooch...

And last, the garment of ladyship. I once robbed you of these seven treasures.

The rule remains unchanged even now. If you don't have an Authority that corresponds to them, you yourself will have to pay the price.

Don't you see? You will become smaller every time you pass through a gate. You will be robbed of your divinity one-seventh at a time.

By the second gate, you will be a low-rank Divine Spirit. By the fourth gate, you will be even weaker than a gallû.

And by the end, you'll be a powerless bug. A sad little butterfly that'll be crushed within my hands.

How nasty! You've gotten even worse than before, Ereshkigal!

...That is not true. I've given you some mercy at least.

Normally, you and that human would've been dropped into the pits of the underworld the moment you brought the living here.

However, if you take on the trials of the seven gates, your fate will be decided by the laws of the underworld.

Fujimaru. If you've come to defeat me, overcome those trials.

If you safely pass through those seven gates, then I, the ruler of the underworld, shall welcome you here as visitors...

W-we're in trouble now! Ishtar cannot go on like this!

...No. I'm moving forward. I expected something like this.

I told you I wouldn't be much use fighting in the underworld, remember? This doesn't really change anything.

You, me, and Gilgamesh too. The moment we reached the underworld, there was nowhere to run.

Before we get used to the cold of the underworld, we need to defeat Ereshkigal and escape. Otherwise Uruk will perish.

Which means we have no choice. So prepare yourself, Fujimaru.

...You're right. Ereshkigal is also one of the Three Goddess Alliance.

We're going to have to fight her anyway. Defeating her here would be for the best, really.

Move forward, Fujimaru. It looks like we don't have much time.

The underworld is part of the present world, but just being here drains your vitality and the strength of your destiny.

The strength of your destiny is, let's see... Think of it as the intrinsic luck necessary to facilitate the continuation of life.

No matter the life form, we are constantly using this type of luck to avoid mortal danger.

If this significantly drops in a person, they will get into a nasty accident. Like getting hit by a car while on a walk.

The underworld's filled with death, so there's no need for it. It's a world that doesn't need any luck.

That's right. That's why if you stay here too long, you won't live long even if you get back to the surface.

Now do you understand how this place works? Then let's hurry up and get to the second gate already.

Answer me... Answer me...

Although money and riches continue to flow, only one is worthy to own all. Only one can manage the wealth of the world.

In other words...which goddess is worthy of this wealth, Ereshkigal or Ishtar?

Alright, we're lucky it's another easy question! You don't even have to think, Fujimaru!

Of course! That's my specialty! Leave Chaldea's fund management to me!

OUT... WHY...HAVEN'T...YOU...LEARNED?

R-right, let's give the job to Ereshkigal on purpose and let her go bankrupt, right!?

We're gonna make her show how terrible she is at it to demonstrate the difference between us... That's the plan, right!?

SAFE... YOU...MAY...PASS...

...I got cursed again... I guess it's useless even if I block it with magical energy at max power...

At this rate, not only will I be unable to fight, but Ereshkigal will crush me like a bug...

Are you sure? It doesn't look like your bow's destructive power has declined at all...

You may be shrinking, but you are still helping in our battles.

Sorry, I've about reached my limit though. Soon I'm going to run out of energy, so I'll leave the fighting to you two.

...This isn't good. We're only at the second gate. How far can we go without Ishtar...?

Yes, of course. I shall do my best, so I don't let you down, Senpai!

Weren't you listening to what I just said!? I told you that it's tiring me out, so I can't!

？！

The third gate's ahead. The enemies of the trials are definitely growing stronger. I hope we can get through this one as well...

Choosing answers that favor Ereshkigal is clearly making the battles easier, but...

No! I don't care! No matter how tough it is, there are some things that a woman just can't give up, Mash.

Looking at these other goddesses, I know I'm better! Better than all of them! But I just can't lose to this one woman.

It's a battle with a hopelessly irritating rival!

？！

Didn't know you had that much spirit in you. You've certainly got a big mouth, you little brat.

...? Wait, are you literally turning into a LITTLE brat, little brat? Fwahahaha, now that's amusing!

You must be worried descending through the underworld like this! Fujimaru, little brat... You're finally at a loss!

There's someone behind those rocks! Master, allow me to attack!

？！

Fwahahahahahahaha! Good work coming to retrieve me!

You must be scared of the chilling cold of the underworld, you fools! Do you need someone experienced like me to guide you through here?

You're King Gilgamesh!

What are you doing here!? We thought Ereshkigal captured you!

Heh. The underworld is like my backyard. I know how things work down here. I've been here numerous times.

I did accidentally die, but before the gallû spirits came, I hid in the shadows. There, I held my breath and meditated, and then... Presence Concealment EX.

After I got away from them, I was sitting here contemplating what to do, when you lot came! That's all!

？！

You too, Fujimaru. Knowing how reckless you are, I knew you would come down to the underworld.

...It was a good thing he wasn't captured by Ereshkigal, but it ticks me off to see this guy so perky down here...

If you had been cursed like me, that would've at least been interesting...

Fool. The curse of the underworld is only for the living. I'm dead, so I needn't worry about any of that.

However, that also means that I am subject to Ereshkigal's laws as well.

Even if I wanted to return to Uruk, I wouldn't be able to leave the underworld without her permission.

And I don't think she'd let me leave this world so easily either. So, you know what to do, right, Fujimaru?

I, the king, command you to pass through the gates of the underworld, and punish that wretched Ereshkigal for me!

Well, yeah. That's why Fujimaru came here in the first place.

The order of things flip-flopped, but you're going to help us defeat Ereshkigal too, right, Gilgamesh?

Leave it to me. I will show you the difference between that itty-bitty brat there, and me, the king.

By the way, why did you shrink? Have you finally decided that your insignificance should be reflected in your appearance?

I've been telling you, it's Ereshkigal's curse!

Agh, jeez, I knew I shouldn't have come to save you!

Hahaha. This fool, hahaha. You? Come to save me? Am I dreaming?

Did I somehow die AGAIN while I was down here and start hallucinating?

Yeah, if that was the case, we could've just left you here. Why don't you just drown in your own stupidity, Goldie?

You're quite the swimmer, aren't you? You were so absorbed in swimming that a serpent stole your precious herb of immortality.

Argh, what a foul way of pointing out my traumatic past! So this really isn't a hallucination... This is the real Ishtar!

But...that doesn't make sense.

If this isn't a dream, what is this slightly less irritating Ishtar doing here?

Are you saying something came over you? Or are you trying to be sweet to win over Fujimaru?

Ugh, stop. Just stop talking, Goldie! I don't know what you're talking about, trying to win Fujimaru over!

Um, please, you two. Let's leave the Uruk-opera behind and head to the third gate. See, over there...

...Answer meee... Answer my question pleeease...

How sad. It's been shouting all this time, but after being completely ignored, it lost its confidence...

Oh yes, that's right. You have my permission to speak, third gate. What do you ask?

...Who is more worthy of your trust and respect? Who is more worthy of victory?

Who is a more suitable ally?

？！

Gu...h...

Fwahahahahaha! That was laughable! The ruler of the mountainous land of Aratta is no match for Uruk!

Try and come at me again!

(Huh? Gilgamesh is in a really good mood! I never thought I'd see him smile like that.)

Yes, yes. It's been a while since I've fought. I forgot my royalty and got a bit carried away, I suppose.

I believe he's referring to the Lord of Aratta, the rival of Enmerkar, the first king of Uruk.

King Enmerkar came two generations before King Gilgamesh. He was also tricked by Inanna...

Ishtar cajoled him into attacking the land of Aratta for its abundant ore.

Oh, is that what happened? Sorry, but I don't remember aaaaany of it☆

？！

...And shrunken again... Father would be so sad if he saw me like this...

Fwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hey, Fujimaru, Doctor Roman!

Do you have something to remember this moment!? Like that clicking thing!

You should weep for me!

Gagfh!?

What the hell are you doing, fool!? That was some force! If Mash hadn't covered me, I would have fallen into the Abyss!

That was like a huge cat came at him with all the force of a freight train! That'd... Yeah, that'd push you over...

？！

Ah, the Abyss, yes. In Mesopotamia, there are the heavens and the earth, the underworld under the earth, and beneath that, the Abyss.

The Abyss is a sea of nothingness. The gods Abzu and Tiamat came from that dark sea, and created Mesopotamia.

You could call it the primordial sea that existed before life itself.

Now that Enki, the god who managed the Abyss, has disappeared, there would be no returning if you fell into it.

That's where King Gilgamesh sought the mystic herb of immortality, right?

Now that you mention it... I heard that Enkidu also had some dealings here in the underworld, didn't they?

If I remember correctly, King Gilgamesh ordered Enkidu to go to the underworld, then Enkidu told him all about it when they returned.

...

(That smile says the king is trying to ignore something he doesn't want to remember!)

You're pretty knowledgeable, Mash. But the truth is actually much worse than that.

Goldie over there was really into his new invention, a musical instrument, and had a party for three days and three nights.

Ereshkigal was fed up with all the noise so she opened the gate to the underworld, just a little.

The king was pretty drunk, so he accidentally dropped his instrument into the hole.

He was furious; you should have seen the tantrum he threw!

Enkidu couldn't just watch the king rage, so they went down to the underworld alone.

And so Enkidu went and took a look at the underworld, showed their gratitude to Ereshkigal, and returned to the surface.

Argh! This all happened because you kept asking for help! Something like, "There's a snake...

...in the Huluppu Tree! Help me! Waaaah!" If I hadn't cut down that tree, I would never have made the instrument!

...Hold on a second. "Showed gratitude to Ereshkigal..."

So Enkidu has some relationship with Ereshkigal?

Yes. Enkidu hated Ishtar, but was respectful to Ereshkigal.

...Ereshkigal was the one who took in Enkidu's remains. We couldn't leave the remains of a weapon of the gods on the surface.

The thought was that they could rest in peace if they were entombed in the underworld. But...

I knew there was time before you lot appeared, so I visited Enkidu's grave. However, their remains had disappeared.

Ah! So the young man that called himself Kingu is really Enkidu!?

A rebooted Enkidu... Is that it? But...Enkidu's soul was destroyed by the gods.

I can understand if it was as a Servant, but Enkidu couldn't have been revived as a living being in this era.

It's just as you say Ishtar. That Enkidu isn't Enkidu.

Even though Enkidu was buried, there were things that still resided in the body. That is now what we see.

...Buried, but something left in the body...? ...Is that possible? But if that's the case

He calls himself Kingu, right? Then just think of him as that.

Anyway, we can see the fourth gate now. Let's have fun with the next question we get.

Answer me... Answer me...

There is no reward in faith... Prayers are merely offerings...

People do not hope for blessing from the gods, they simply offer their prayers and labors... They are slaves for life...

In which case, answer... The fastidious goddess that has the right to accept such precious labor would be...

DE...SP...AIR... YOU...ARE...BLIND...!

H...O...P...E... BEST...OF...LUCK...TO...YOU...

Sorry, but I think that's enough! When did this turn into Whose Goddess Is It Anyway!? This is serious!

...? Doctor, is there a problem with that?

As Ishtar said, they're all very important questions. This is really teaching me a lot.

What...did you say...!?

No. Mash is becoming a bad girl... Ishtar's lifestyle is a bad influence on her...

What's that supposed to mean? Ereshkigal is the one asking weird questions. It's not my fault.

I'm not sure about that. Ereshkigal's problems are your problems.

If the roles were reversed, I think you would have prepared the same questions.

Th-that's not true. I would have been much more clever and circumspect about asking stuff like this!

(So you wouldn't really ask anything different! That's Ishtar for you!)

Ah! The gate shocked me again... I think I'm getting used to this, which is kind of scary...

...Fantastic. It was funny to start, but now it's becoming a problem...

We can't keep losing strength, even if it's Ishtar's. If things keep going like this, fighting Ereshkigal will be difficult...

Just what level of divinity is Ereshkigal? Is she the same rank as you, Ishtar?

No, she's not quite on Ishtar's level.

She's an old goddess like Ishtar, but in terms of raw power, she's not as impressive.

Ishtar was a daughter of the heavens, so she got everything she wanted.

The gods spoiled her, and tended to her every beck and call.

Also, Ishtar got Enki, the god of the Abyss, drunk, and robbed him blind.

That was pretty bad. It was the greatest heist in the history of the gods. It was also pretty funny, even to the other gods.

Enki got completely smashed, and gave all of his divinity to Ishtar. When he woke up he had nothing left.

Ishtar had already loaded all his wealth onto Maanna, and was on her way back to the surface.

Enki went into a panic and had his slaves chase after her, but the Boat of Heaven was far too fast.

Enki was in tears.

He wrung his hands and screamed, warning that a stupid, bratty girl was going to run the heavens and the earth, and begged for help.

The gods and humans that were watching screamed out,

"Take a look at that driving technique!? Who would have thought the Boat of Heaven could be used for drift racing!"

"No one can catch up to that! Surely her driving mastery will go down in legend as the Drunk and the Divine: Underworld Drift! No one in Uruk could ever be faster!"

I hate to admit it, but even I thought so too! Ishtar had been hiding her true colors up until then!

Oh, whatever do you mean?

The Boat of Heaven's automatic transmission was broken that day, so I just switched to manual gear.

And I always carried nitro in my boat, just in case I needed it. Always.

What do you think, Fujimaru? THIS is the patron deity of Uruk. Now do you understand how I feel?

？！

In the end, the Boat of Heaven had engine trouble and stalled just before the harbor in Uruk. Tragedy was averted in the nick of time.

As you can see, this is the story of Ishtar, a goddess who coveted everything she saw. On the other hand, Ereshkigal did not desire anything.

...When the underworld was created, she was sent to become its ruler and foundation.

Someone had to maintain the underworld, and Ereshkigal was unlucky enough to have that responsibility thrust onto her.

Ereshkigal had only just been born when she was cast into the underworld and became the mistress of the depths of the earth.

She managed the spirits of the dead for tens of thousands of years without being able to spend a moment on the surface or in the heavens.

That's...so sad. I wouldn't have thought to feel bad for her before,

but I do now. ...It's not just that she couldn't leave...

The worst part is that she couldn't see new worlds or meet new people.

...

In exchange, Ereshkigal became invincible in the underworld.

Even the gods cannot go against her laws in the underworld. Just ask that tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny girl over there.

But outside the underworld, her special privilege disappears. She's about mid-level in terms of divinity, I'd say.

Also, if she's up against someone who's alive, then she has to kill them first, or the laws of the underworld won't go into effect.

So the only ones that aren't affected by Ereshkigal's laws are Fujimaru and Mash.

I see. So that's why you were waiting for Fujimaru.

Hmph. Someone who's alive and can put up a fight, basically.

My only concern was that Fujimaru might get killed by the gallû spirits the moment he entered the underworld.

But it seems that Ishtar prevented that. She dropped to the underworld with you and protected you when you were most vulnerable...

Did you get a bit less dumb? Maybe your negative qualities like debauchery and stinginess canceled each other out and made a positive?

Who you calling debauched? As if! You don't know me, Goldie! So stop talking!

And I'm not stingy; I'm financially responsible!

I have a reason for collecting jewels! Don't believe everything Goldie says, Fujimaru!

Answer me... Answer me...

Existence is the practice of curtailing waste. Living is the practice of cultivating waste.

It is the duty of the wise to eat finely, to scheme, and to find happiness.

However, listen. Unlimited intake of nourishment invites excess flab. If you were to live your life, that would be...

You're being judgmental Fujimaru! Not all Chinese restaurants are bad for you!

You can just exercise after you eat a lot of fats! The same with meat!

You can achieve balance that way! Forget excess flab on your waist, you can prevent it in your heart!

FATFATFATFATFATFATFATFATFAT!

Yes, home cooking is good for the liver. That's the secret to longevity and better sleep.

White rice and barley rice should be a 1:6 ratio. There's no problem with eating meat, but chicken tenders are recommended daily.

Plus there are certain vegetables that have a bunch of antioxidants which prevent aging. Make sure you eat a balanced meal!

Really!? I'm going to eat so many red peppers now!

GOOD... TRULY...GOD...TIER...

Ugh, I'm now palm-sized... This is so pathetic... I can't even cry...

Among all Sumerian gods, no, among all gods everywhere, I'm probably the only one to have to endure something so awful!

You're right... For starters, I'll take my fabulousness down a bit... And I'll be a tad kinder to everyone...

I've come to understand a tiny bit how the weak feel...

I now know that being protected is honestly a nice feeling...

I hope so. But knowing her, I'm afraid she would be willing to sacrifice her life just to keep me like this.

If so, I'd have to destroy myself, and take the world with me... Oh, but since I get the entire treasury of Babylon,

it'd be a shame if I didn't use it up before I self-destruct... I wonder how many millennia it will take?

？！

Hey. You there. No time for idle chatter.

We've passed through all seven gates. The hall ahead is Ereshkigal's palace.

Ereshkigal is a member of the Three Goddess Alliance. So, she's someone you have to defeat no matter what.

Now that I am helping you, victory is guaranteed. That's all fine and good. However...

I shall leave it to Fujimaru to decide how we deal with her after we defeat her. Think well on how to handle Ereshkigal.

This is...the palace of Kur... Um... It's just a wasteland.

If this is a palace, this is all too

That's what the underworld is. Not one gorgeous thing exists here.

Isn't that right, Ereshkigal? O queen of the gallû spirits who gazes at the sky of darkness?

...You speak as if you know. You are merely a demigod king.

Fear, pray, and despair, humans.

I am the keeper of death, ruler of the underworld, the one who tramples the sacred mountain...

I am Ereshkigal of the Three Goddess Alliance.

So that's Ereshkigal...! I'm getting chills down my spine, Master...!

I can see the temperature hasn't changed, but I feel cold all over!

According to our measurements, current atmospheric conditions at your location are... Impossible, the barometric pressure is at 500 hPa!?

That's the equivalent of being atop a mountain over 5,000 meters tall! That place isn't cold! It's high up!

The temperature drop is from adiabatic cooling. It's probably minus six degrees Celsius now!

That's the lower limit for biological activity! Not only will you suffer from decompression sickness, but your pulmonary cells will explode!

You must defeat Ereshkigal before that happens, Fujimaru!

...So frail. Simply revealing myself to you is enough to destroy you.

The commander of Chaldea seems to be a coward. How...disappointing.

Ha. You act like the big bad boss of a mountain. That's a little silly, even for you.

First of all, there's no one anywhere who wouldn't be scared after taking a look at you.

Death, maggots, mold, and filth. It's like the air inside a coffin took shape.

That's what you are, Ereshkigal.

All living animals are created to fear you.

Oh? Did I hear a little bug buzzing about? Why, look, there's a tiny, pitiful goddess down there.

How can something so small make so much noise? Shall I crush you between my fingers, little bug?

Hah, so this is the real you! How pathetic!

You hate the beautiful because you are ugly. You place your throne at the top of a sacred mountain because nobody visits.

You're just taking your issues out on everyone else! To think you're my other half... Ugh, it's so pathetic I could cry!

Sure, if you want to kill me, go on ahead! Right afterwards, you'll be nothing but the ugliest woman in Sumer!

Just like before, no matter how tiny the rest of you is, your stupid mouth is cavernous. Fine. You said I was ugly?

It seems absurd to reveal myself to the likes of you, but a goddess cannot let an insult stand!

Very well, I shall reveal my true form to enrap You know what, no! I'm sick of talking like this!

I'll give you a special peek! Be prepared! This is my true form as a goddess!

Wha

Oh!?

Geh.

Aha!

Humph, are you surprised? You're surprised, right? You look surprised!

The guise of a gallû spirit was only a temporary one, of course!

I never showed my true self even to the Sumerian gods. Look upon me and be shocked, Fujimaru!

？！

Wh-what's with that reaction... You look terribly disappointed...

Why? Isn't this how it goes? The part where you look at me and see your dear friend?

Human books said that was SURE to work! Don't you have even the slightest bit of romance in you!?

S-Senpai, you're not surprised!? Ereshkigal's guise is, well...

？！

Huh!? You knew? How!?

？！

Y-yeah... But... You knew the whole time?

That you were speaking to me, not that louse, on those nights?

But, how? When did you realize this!?

？！

Wh-Wh-What...!?

Y-You knew, and you let me say said such embarrassing things? I said them all to you?

Noooooooooooo!!! This wasn't how it was supposed to be! Not like this!

...It seems Ereshkigal has collapsed, cradling her head like you have dealt a blow. Do you want to defeat her now, Master?

？！

No, that's not how it goes! My plans are ruined, but that is that, and this is this!

The plan to kill you here hasn't changed. Two more days until Gorgon assaults Uruk.

Before that, I will conquer Uruk and seize its Greater Grail. Then, the world of humans will be over!

Every last human on the surface will be trapped in the underworld, and become my property.

That is my choice. Ereshkigal's very first choice of her own free will.

...Fujimaru. If you're going to stand in my way, I will show no mercy, even to you.

...Don't look at me like that. It makes it harder for me to kill you.

...!

I-in any case, brace yourself. Now that you've come to the underworld, my power is absolute!

？！

Your pardon. Going to interrupt from the sidelines, Ereshkigal. I never was great at caring about the mood.

...What? I had no intention of killing you. You ended up here because you worked yourself to death.

I have no need for you. You're a nuisance in the underworld, so go get yourself killed by Gorgon or something.

Heh heh, quite the mouth you've got. You really are similar. You two are like sisters.

Shut up! I'm not an embarrassing naif like she is!

What!? What part of me do you think is embarrassing!? I'm a terrifying goddess of death!

Save the goddess improv sketch for later. Do as much as you please when we don't have to see it.

Ereshkigal. You are the patron deity of Kutha, and yet joined the Three Goddess Alliance.

Of all your sins, none is greater. None even comes close.

Though I may be dead for the time being, I can still convict you under my royal authority.

Invaders are meant to be defeated by force, but the world itself judges traitors to their own.

That is how royal authority works. You should be fully aware of that.

...Yes. If it is a king who has gained Dingir, he can punish even a god by exchanging everything he has to do so.

That is the rule of our world. So what? Are you going to kill me in exchange for your life?

...That will depend on your answer. Now, answer me, Ereshkigal!

Why did you join the Three Goddess Alliance!? Have you abandoned your duty to protect Sumer's people and culture!?

Of all the things I thought you'd ask! Make no mistake, king of Uruk!

Neither my role nor my obligations have changed one bit! I am Ereshkigal, the one entrusted with the underworld!

I exist to manage all humans... all souls within the underworld. That is my destiny!

I have no regret or remorse for dedicating all I have to that task!

If you bar my way, I will destroy you with my Authority!

Oh. A marvelous statement. If so, I have learned all I need to know about your sins.

Now, present your head so we can make this clean! Your defeat will serve as punishment for your sins!

Just what I hoped for. I'll skewer you all on my lance without tormenting you.

...But before that, I'll ask one question. Fujimaru.

I have managed the souls of the dead here for a numbingly long time. Entertainment, joy, sadness, friends to call my own...

I didn't have any of those, while I watched my other half fly freely through the heavens.

You accuse ME of a crime? After all this, you point your finger and say collecting souls is wrong?

Is nobody going to commend me for all the work I've done...a job I did all this time all by myself?

That's right! I knew you would understand!

...Heh, hehe. Ahahahahahahahahaha! Then, I no longer have anything to fear!

I was not in the wrong! If even one human agrees with me, then...I am true righteousness!

Ereshkigal is transforming...! Your orders, Master!

I shall kill you. First, you'll die! And then afterwards, listen to my story...!

That is your responsibility, as the only one in this world who sees that I'm not evil!

...Eh?

You don't understand, fool? That one isn't foolish enough to compliment what should be normal.

It's fine to lament the obligations given to you. It's also fine to abandon them and pursue an alternate path.

However, bemoaning the obligations that you chose to uphold dutifully is evil,

and to praise that pain is an insult only to yourself!

What should be praised is the triumphs you achieved! The pain in your heart is for you alone.

Nobody else can understand your wounds. But your work is worth praising.

...That is what Fujimaru is telling you.

...Fine. I will make you regret such an audacious response.

I am Ereshkigal. A goddess sacrificed by the gods to protect the silence of death.

This hatred, this pain... You called it insignificant. Now I shall make EACH of you feel it!

Ereshkigal is transforming...! Your orders, Master!

Sing the song of pain in the depths of the earth! Try with all your might to correct what you call my folly!

Aaaaaaaaah!!!

Nice! I'm back to my normal size! Now victory for Fujimaru is guaranteed!

And it looks like my bonds have come undone, too! I must return to my physical body in Uruk immediately...

But it seems there's still a certain matter to take care of. Go ahead, finish her off, Fujimaru.

...

...Yes. You still need to cut my head off.

This is a just end for a goddess who tried to take control of Uruk after being cajoled by the King of Mages' flattering words.

It seems you have accepted your fate. Why not at least give us an excuse to spare you?

Fujimaru sees everything in a positive light, so if you say you're going to turn over a new leaf, I'm sure he'll consider it.

？！

Unnecessary. I will not beg for my life.

You are the goddess of fertility, so if given the chance, you would survive until the end. But I'm different.

For the goddess of death to reject death, that would be a foul thing indeed. As the goddess who captured many souls, I shall die here.

Ereshkigal... Master. It seems her mind is made up. I don't know what to say.

When a person doesn't deny their guilt and seeks death... What should we do in such a situation?

？！

Humph. It's too late to talk about such matters now.

I told you before. I intended to wipe out everyone in Mesopotamia.

I was going to gather all of their souls here in the underworld and then become the one who rules them all.

Gorgon wants to annihilate the human race out of vengeance, since humans stole everything from her.

I tried to exterminate humans out of a desire to dominate. Wouldn't you agree there is no greater evil than that?

？！

...You're persistent. Just lop off my head already.

As the queen of the land of the dead, I lost to humans. As a goddess, I lost to Ishtar.

...No. The fact that I didn't kill you when we first met in Kutha had already ruined my plans.

I despise the living. If you're not going to become one of my dead, don't try to understand me.

...Fool. Such behavior ill becomes a goddess, and leads her nowhere.

...! Senpai, there's someone behind EreshkigHuh!?

...N-no. I... I

Child. So immature, so stubborn. Save your petulance for another time.

Ereshkigal...! Who the hell are you!?

Ishtar's arrow did not hit...! Who is that old man...!?

Calm yourselves. Look, and see. What this sword severed was not her bond to life, but to this misbegotten alliance.

I'm stunned! You didn't just cut me in half!? Like in myth!?

Ereshkigal...! Master, Ereshkigal isn't injured!

So who are you, old man? The only living human in the underworld is Fujimaru.

You may not be dead, but no ordinary man could have done what you just have.

It wasn't me. Nor the Mage King. Nor Chaldea. Old man...who called you here?

A good question. Little and less has been achieved here, and so I have come from the Abyss to set events in motion. I appear here as a friend from another land.

Ereshkigal. You hide the truth with so many lies.

If you can yet feel shame, answer me: Why have you striven to create a land of the dead?

O caretaker of souls, do you not love humanity? Is that not why you sought to claim them as your own?

？！

...! Wh-what?

Of course not. I only love the things I own. Only my souls locked up in cages!

Look at this land! A sky without light, a surface without reflection, mud without budding flowers!

There is no pleasure to be had here. There is nothing. I don't even know what the souls are saying!

But there is silence and tranquility. When it comes to peaceful repose of the dead, this land has no equal!

I don't care about the humans and their lives on the surface. I only love those who fall to this land!

So I could never feel any love for the people on the surface!

？！

W-with what? I speak only the truth. The only humans I am interested in are dead ones

Mistress of the underworld... Bloody flower consigned to the depths of the earth, even you know the lie in your words.

You do not love the dead. You love all humans, each fated to die.

Death was gentle, not a terrible thing in your hands. You gave yourself to your duty in safeguarding the souls in your care.

You cast your lot with the alliance meaning to safeguard as many souls as you could, protected here in your realm.

Though none may understand, though you may stand alone in a sea of souls, you sought to keep them safe here...

...Here in your kingdom of silence.

... But...there were so many that I...

What are you talking about? The bodies of those who died from exhaustion are all stored away.

If you release them from your soul cages, they'll all come right back to life.

Really!?

Obviously. Compared to the damage Gorgons inflicted, your death toll by exhaustion is negligible.

The population of Kutha is nine hundred, and there are three hundred injured in Uruk! That's just 1,200 people in total!

Such a small number could fit comfortably beneath the ziggurat. It's that simple.

In terms of actual damage done, you're at the bottom of the list in the alliance, Ereshkigal.

Th-that's shocking in its own way! I tried as hard as I could!

...Well, you can have the last word. Say something, Fujimaru.

...Such power, such destruction... That's... You're asking a lot, Fujimaru.

...

R-really? I had no such intention, but that was what you've been going for this whole time?

...Then I have no other choice. After all, I am a goddess. I-I-I-I shall accept that responsibility.

？！

Then you'll help us fight Gorgon too, Ereshkigal!?

Does this mean the end of the Three Goddess Alliance!?

W-well, yes. Otherwise, that scary old man would have... Huh?

Doctor, the old man in the robe has disappeared! He was here just a minute ago!

...? Uh... Who? What old man in a robe? I didn't see anyone who fits that description...

...So you swear you'll never attack Uruk again? And while you're at it, form a contract with Fujimaru?

I will never attack Uruk again, but I cannot form a contract with Chaldea.

I have my pride, Ishtar. I'm just paying off my debt by helping Fujimaru.

I cannot offer a contract until after that. I am the Queen of Kur. Unlike you, I don't allow myself to fall into debt.

A contract should deal with both parties equally, in a fair manner. ...Therefore, I must first prove my worth by saving the world.

Huh. Well, that's bold of you. What will you do, specifically?

I-I'm going to start thinking about that right now! I should have plenty of chances! Probably! ...Maybe!

Excuse me, Doctor.

I don't really understand what Ereshkigal is trying to say...

Oh, you see...

"If Fujimaru gets in a pinch, I'll make a cool entrance and repay your kindness that way. But wait until something like that happens."

That's what she's saying.

Y-yes. Me too. I'll wait for the time when you get in a bind so you can summon me for help.

？！

And so, I will return to managing the underworld! I will grant you permission to depart, so go back right away!

Of course, I will keep a careful watch for the Gorgon battle.

Ishtar? If you commit a blunder and wink out of existence, I'll take over your vessel for you.

So I hope you die in vain real soon. See you!

I suppose all's well that ends well. Time for me to go back to Uruk, then.

It is almost time for the showdown with Gorgon. Let's hurry. ...But there is one last thing.

Ishtar. According to myth, you descended into the underworld.

I'm sure you couldn't help but notice Ereshkigal had a grudge against you. So, knowing that, why did you come?

That's the biggest mystery of all Inanna's anecdotes. I'm curious, too. So why, Ishtar?

...Why? Well, because I didn't like the situation, of course.

It was the story of how the gods ordered her to never leave the underworld. I had to do something after hearing a sorry story like that.

I wanted to tell her, "Just drop your duties in the underworld, and leave."

That's why I went to meet Ereshkigal. To give her that advice.

Heh... Fwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! And then you were stripped naked and murdered. Perfect! You're hopeless, woman!

Still, starting a quarrel like that is so you! No wonder Ereshkigal got mad!

"Easier said than done!" is what she would've said!

？！

I know, right? So this is a win for me. No matter what form, she did leave the underworld.