When Ereshkigal posed her question, Castorice tilted her head slightly in confusion. After a moment's thought, she still couldn't quite find the right words to answer.
Why, indeed?
Where was the need for a "why"?
She simply didn't want to see lives extinguished before her eyes—that was reason enough to protect them, almost instinctively.
Although she had been sheltering people these past few days, Castorice had never really stopped to ponder this question.
"Isn't it only natural for the strong to protect the weak?" she said softly.
"Natural, you say?" Ereshkigal raised an eyebrow. "More often than not, the strong bully the weak—that's what's common."
"I'm afraid I can't agree. Those who raise a hand against the weak aren't strong—they're cowards. The truly strong should challenge those stronger than themselves."
"So even if these people fear you, even if they avoid you, you'd still protect them?" Ereshkigal pressed, hearing Castorice's denial.
That single question left Castorice briefly silent.
"They don't fear me—they fear death. Being afraid and keeping their distance after witnessing my abilities… that's only natural."
A faint trace of sorrow surfaced in Castorice's eyes. Her slender fingers lightly brushed a nearby shrub, and in the blink of an eye, the once lush green bush withered and dried up before their eyes.
"Life ought to fear death—it's instinct. I, too, once believed this power was a curse bestowed by the Titan. But now, when this same power can save so many lives, I see it as a blessing. Without this gift, I wouldn't have been able to protect so many people these past few days."
Castorice gazed at Ereshkigal with a gentle smile. Moonlight spilled across her face, illuminating her like a divine maiden.
Looking at her, Ereshkigal felt a stir in her heart.
Truth be told, without Castorice's unique abilities, even with Merlin and Ana by their side, it would have been impossible to lead so many survivors across so many lands.
Just by using her power, Castorice could make the demonic beasts cower, not daring to approach.
Of course, there was a limit to how many she could protect. Fortunately, the number of survivors they'd encountered so far hadn't exceeded that limit.
Yet, in a way, that wasn't a good sign—it meant the number of survivors in other cities had dwindled to a pitiful few.
They had passed through several cities along the way, yet so far, they had gathered only fifty or sixty survivors—not even a hundred!
Could death… also offer shelter?
Ereshkigal stared at Castorice, momentarily lost in thought.
"Death is terrifying, yes. But it's precisely because they fear death that humans can shine so brightly in the face of adversity."
"If death were no longer fearsome… humanity would become something truly strange, wouldn't they? It's because they fear death that a parent would throw themselves before a beast to save their children—just like those two I found, who held on until I arrived."
"Once, a mentor told me: 'Journeys become great, and epics become magnificent, precisely because all things must eventually fade. So do not resent fate—embrace it with reverence.' At first, I didn't understand those words. But after arriving in this world, after using my power to protect others… I've come to understand, little by little."
Castorice folded her hands over her chest, her expression serene as she spoke softly to Ereshkigal.
Here I am, a goddess of death, yet moved by the words of a mortal…
For a moment, Ereshkigal was at a loss for words.
After all, she had always believed that death was the most despised existence among the living. Even as a goddess of death, she couldn't escape that perception.
For so long, she had carried a trace of resentment—why was she the only one bound to her duty, guarding the cold and unfeeling underworld? But after this conversation with Castorice, that resentment seemed to ease, if only a little.
It wasn't much, but it meant something.
Though their time together had been brief, Ereshkigal had already developed a genuine fondness for Castorice. Before meeting her, Ereshkigal had always been alone.
So when she saw Castorice, she couldn't help but feel drawn to her. After all, Ereshkigal could see it clearly:
Castorice shared the same essence as she did. And yet, the more she interacted with her, the more Ereshkigal realized that despite bearing the power of death, Castorice cherished life more deeply than anyone.
Even though a single touch from her could bring death…
Logically, she should have grown indifferent to death by now—just like Ereshkigal herself.
As much as she wanted to talk longer, time was running short.
Dawn was approaching, and if they lingered any further, that Ishtar would wake up. For now, Ereshkigal wasn't quite ready to reveal her identity to Castorice.
"Let's talk again when we have more time. Ah-choo!" Ereshkigal stretched, and perhaps because the night breeze had grown chilly, even a Servant's body couldn't help but react.
Ishtar's outfit was, after all, a bit too breezy.
And in that split second when she sneezed, a flash of shimmering golden hair briefly illuminated her figure—the true form she had kept hidden now revealed once more.
But it lasted only a moment.
By the time Ereshkigal opened her eyes again, her body had already reverted to Ishtar's form.
"Till next time," Castorice said softly, waving as she watched the other depart.
Her luck had been fairly good—shortly after arriving, she had already earned the favor of two goddesses.
Ishtar might be unreliable, but her combat prowess was formidable. Having her as an ally would prove useful later on.
As for Ereshkigal, she was even more crucial. If Castorice hoped to recover the Titan's Coreflame, Ereshkigal's help would be essential.
The Coreflame might not necessarily be in the underworld, but the chances were high.
And even if it wasn't, having Ereshkigal's assistance would make things much easier.
She still hadn't encountered The Last Master or the Shielder, and though she felt everything would work out, her intuition told her to prepare for multiple scenarios. After all, relying on oneself was always more dependable than relying on others.
As the campfire gradually died down, a pale glow spread across the distant horizon. Then, under Castorice's watchful gaze, a blazing sun slowly rose into the sky.
It meant they were about to reach Uruk.
Beyond the hill, they could see the towering city walls—and beneath them, a roaring tide of demonic beasts.
This was the true Absolute Demonic Front.
And now, Castorice and the others faced one final challenge: how to lead these dozens of conspicuous survivors through that horde of monsters and into the safety of Uruk's protection.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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