"Lady Ishtar, we'd like to ask you about the Three Goddess Alliance."
Hearing Fujimaru Ritsuka's question, Ishtar showed an expression that clearly said I knew it.
"I figured it would come to this," she said lightly. "So? What do you want to know?"
"What we want to know is very simple."
Mash stepped forward. Her posture was straight, her voice earnest.
"Why did the goddesses attack Uruk? What are the true names of the other goddesses? And who summoned you?"
"Please answer us."
Ishtar didn't respond right away.
Instead, she looked at Mash and asked calmly, "What's your name?"
"My name is Mash Kyrielight."
Mash answered without hesitation.
"Mash Kyrielight... I see. And you?"
Her gaze shifted.
When Ishtar looked at him, Emiya Shirou replied in an even tone.
"I'm Emiya Shirou."
Then, gesturing to the others beside him, he continued.
"These three are Fujimaru Ritsuka, Merlin, and Ana."
"Emiya Shirou..."
Ishtar repeated the name once, then curled her lips slightly.
"Fine. Since you've all foolishly told me your names, I'll answer your questions-within what's permitted."
Bound by chains, she still managed to speak with unmistakable pride.
"First."
"The reason the Three Goddess Alliance attacked Uruk is simple."
"To dominate this land."
Her tone was straightforward.
"However, my goal is to dominate humanity. The northern goddess wants to dominate the earth itself."
"On those finer points, we don't see eye to eye."
"As for the southern goddess..."
She paused.
"How should I put it? Cultural differences. I can't read that one at all."
"But regardless of our differences, we're competing under our own rules."
"Whoever destroys Uruk first and claims the Holy Grail collected by Gilgamesh becomes the final victor."
"When that happens, the other two will either leave this land-or become subordinate gods to the winner."
She tilted her head slightly.
"How about it? Very simple, right?"
"So it really is about the Holy Grail..."
Merlin stroked his chin thoughtfully, already reorganizing the information in his head.
"The Holy Grail...?"
Mash frowned slightly.
"I remember Dr. Roman saying that the Holy Grail King Gilgamesh possesses isn't the Holy Grail sent by the Mage King Solomon."
She looked at Merlin with doubt.
Before heading into the dense forest to investigate Ur, Dr. Roman had shared his analysis with them.
The Holy Grail in Gilgamesh's possession was fundamentally different from the ones they had recovered before.
Because of that, they had originally suspected that the true Holy Grail sent by the Mage King Solomon was in the hands of the goddesses.
But now-
It seemed a new contradiction had appeared.
After a brief silence, Fujimaru Ritsuka, who still couldn't connect all the dots, asked again.
"Then what about the true names of the other goddesses?"
"No comment."
Ishtar answered immediately.
"Within the Three Goddess Alliance, there's a ban."
"We are forbidden from attacking each other. We can't interfere with one another."
"And speaking the true names of the other two goddesses violates that ban."
As she said this, her expression changed subtly.
Her gaze shifted to Emiya Shirou.
"Just like you, Emiya Shirou."
"You wouldn't go around spreading the secrets of your close friends."
"Speaking ill of someone behind their back is shameful behavior-for a goddess who values rules."
She lifted her chin slightly.
"Even if you kill me, I won't reveal their true names."
"Do you understand?"
"I do."
Emiya Shirou nodded once.
If she had said that much, then the information was clearly impossible to obtain.
And more importantly-
She was a future ally.
There was no reason to force the issue and turn her into an enemy right now.
Besides.
He already knew who the other two goddesses were.
"If it violates your creed, then forget it."
"Senpai Shirou?"
Mash turned toward him, clearly wanting to say something.
Before she could speak, Emiya Shirou raised a hand, gently stopping her.
Seeing his gesture, Mash closed her mouth.
She trusted that he had his reasons.
"Very good."
A satisfied smile appeared at the corner of Ishtar's mouth.
"I like noble humans."
"Then next..."
"Only one question remains."
"Who summoned us?"
She paused, then spoke with an unusually serious expression.
"I was summoned by priestesses through spirit mediumship."
"But the other two goddesses were indeed drawn here by the Holy Grail."
"As for whether this is part of the Mage King Solomon's scheme..."
She shook her head.
"I wouldn't know."
"That aligns with our expectations."
Merlin nodded confidently after hearing everything.
"The reason Goddess Ishtar's attacks have been less aggressive than the other two is likely related to her summoning method."
"Why did you join the Three Goddess Alliance in the first place, Goddess Ishtar?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had been listening quietly until now, finally asked.
Her tone was puzzled.
"Ha."
Ishtar scoffed.
"Because I'm dissatisfied with you humans, of course."
"Since you're going to be wiped out by the other goddesses anyway, I figured it'd be better if you died by my hands."
She finished speaking, then shifted her gaze.
"I've answered your questions."
"So now, it's my turn to ask one."
Her eyes settled squarely on Emiya Shirou.
"Like those people from Chaldea, you don't belong to this era either."
"Then tell me."
"What's your purpose?"
"Me?"
Emiya Shirou paused for a moment.
Then he answered plainly.
"Of course it's to defeat all the goddesses and save this world."
"You really dare to say that."
Ereshkigal-disguised as Ishtar-let out a laugh that was half anger, half disbelief.
"Then there has to be a reason."
"For someone to come up with such an arrogant goal, there must be a reason, right?"
"The reason?"
Seeing how focused she was on him, Emiya Shirou felt an unexpected urge to tease her.
"Does the Mandate of Heaven for a Hero count?"
"At this moment, the goddesses trying to destroy Uruk are clearly the villains."
"And as a Hero, isn't it only natural for me to subjugate them?"
"...Ha?"
"What kind of stupid reason is that?"
Ereshkigal's brows knitted together.
She was clearly uninterested.
More than that-she looked genuinely displeased.
Mandate of Heaven.
Just hearing those words annoyed her.
"Stupid?"
The corner of Emiya Shirou's mouth lifted slightly.
"In stories and biographies, isn't it standard for the Hero to defeat the Demon King and marry the Princess?"
"Unfortunately, this world doesn't have any beautiful Princesses."
"Only Kings wearing overly revealing outfits."
"That part's a bit uncomfortable."
As he spoke, Emiya Shirou stepped closer.
He stopped directly in front of her.
Then, without hesitation, he raised a finger and lifted her chin.
His smile was calm.
"If that's the case..."
"After I defeat a goddess, I'll take her for myself."
"She'll be my trophy."
He leaned in slightly.
"How about it?"
"That shouldn't be boring anymore, right?"
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