"...I wonder, did my advice truly reach her? No—I must believe. I will believe! If it is Olga Marie, she will surely see it through!"
(I have to believe... Olga Marie is my friend! I have to believe in her!)
"...The battle is nigh. My... my wish is..."
"...Now that you mention it, Mother, what exactly is your wish? It seems I never did ask."
"—I am..."
"————I see. So that is your desire."
(—In that case, I... I cannot afford to stop now...)
"...Kingu...?"
"A job well done, O Goddess of the Underworld."
"N-No! I won't let this get me down! In this world, there is no failure that cannot be undone! The only true failure is losing the will to look up after you've stumbled!"
The group watched with faint, warm smiles as the goddess pulled herself together, rising once more with renewed vigor.
(Yes, exactly. That's the way you should be, Ereshkigal.)
(Where does she even get this sudden burst of positivity?)
The two kings nodded to one another. In truth, the strength required to remain undaunted even after having one's "dark history" paraded in public was formidable. Ea bowed their head in genuine admiration.
"It must be so. A goddess who remains pointlessly proactive even in the gloomiest of circumstances. The 'you' of old was a nightmare to deal with—slaying whatever you desired, defiling what you could not possess out of spite, and sequestering yourself in a high palace simply because no one visited... But it seems you've finally realized what it feels like to be the one on the receiving end, Ereshkigal, the Saintly Goddess of Mapo."
The King of Heroes spoke with a low, mocking chuckle. Ereshkigal blinked in bewilderment before snapping back.
"Ugh, even the noisy King of Heroes had to show up. And besides..."
A voice resonated directly in Ea's mind.
[Hello. Um, you were called 'Ea,' right? I am Ereshkigal, Mistress of the Underworld. I'm sorry it's so cold here... I'll give you some noblewoman's raiment I snatched from Ishtar later, so please, don't let your body take a chill.]
Ea beamed at the goddess's courtesy.
—She is so kind! Ereshkigal is truly a gentle soul!
"So she can perceive Ea after all. How pathetic, Ishtar—so obsessed with your own power output that you lack the sensitivity to notice such a presence."
[Wait, that little gnat over there hasn't noticed? ...Even though this soul is so beautiful, shining with such translucent brilliance... Is she actually stupid?]
(She is. Long time no see, Ereshkigal.)
[Enkidu is here too?! This is starting to feel like a high school reunion...]
(I'm here as well!)
[The—The Beast of Calamity—wait, what?! You're already fully grown! And in a form I've never seen! What have you been eating? You're sparkling with so much altruism it's blinding! It's too bright!]
(That, my dear, is the power of Precious Power!)
Amidst the relentless telepathic chatter, the Caster King cut through the noise with gravity.
"Forgive the intrusion, Ereshkigal. Pardon this King who knows not how to read the room."
"...What? You're a King who just showed up uninvited. You're a nuisance just by being here, so hurry up and go home. You're in the way! And your 'Fu-haha' laughing is deafening!"
"Hmph, playing coy, are we? Despite the fact that I died of shock from the Mapo Tofu you offered me."
"Wait, what? I don't know anything about that! Besides, what kind of food makes people die just from eating it?!"
(I mean, she's got a point. That is confusing.)
Ea and Fou nodded in synchronization. Enkidu simply tilted his head, wondering where it all went wrong.
"Fine. If contradictions arise, support the narrative as you see fit. I leave it to you, Ea."
—Me?! U-Understood!
"Ereshkigal! Though you are the guardian deity of Kutha, you sided with the Three Goddess Alliance. —That sin is heavier than that of any other goddess!"
The Wise King's condemnation shook the very foundations of the Underworld. The trial of the Goddess had begun.
"Is he actually going to invoke his Royal Authority?"
Ea asked back, sensing the shift in the King of Heroes' tone.
"A King who has obtained the Dingir can, at the cost of all he holds, judge and execute even a God. —Such is the decree of Mesopotamia. To punish the divine is also the duty of one who rules as King."
—One who holds royal authority can punish even a God...
(By Mesopotamian rules, anyway. Judging rights and abilities is a different story, though.)
Ea nodded deeply, realizing the sheer weight of a King's role in this world.
"The 'Clay Tablet of Heaven's Decree' which falls under his jurisdiction... though 'that' is the final key, I shall not pursue it for now."
"Invaders are repelled by force. But the betrayal of a compatriot is judged by the world itself. That is the essence of Royal Authority. Surely, you understand this."
"...Yes. A King with the Dingir can punish even a god at the cost of his own life. So? Are you going to kill me at the price of your soul?"
"...That depends on your answer," the King replied with a smirk. "I ask you, Ereshkigal! Why did you join the Alliance? Did you truly intend to abandon the culture of Sumer and the protection of its people?!"
"—Is that all you have to ask?! Do not look down on me, King of Uruk!"
Ereshkigal's eyes ignited with the golden light of divinity.
"My duty, my role—none of it has changed! I am Ereshkigal, the one entrusted with the Underworld! My raison d'être, my very destiny, is to gather every human soul into these depths! I fulfill that purpose with all my might, without a shred of regret or self-reproach!"
She raised her spear high, pointing it at the King.
"If you dare to obstruct my duty—if you seek to disturb the peace of the dead—then it is you! You who shall perish beneath my divine authority!!"
"Hoh—a magnificent declaration! In that case, I shall question your 'sin' no longer! Simply offer up your head! I shall judge your folly through your total defeat!!"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"