"What kind of trump cards are you still hiding? You're just a human, but I can't figure you out at all."
On the way out of the underworld, Ishtar walked ahead of Roy, her mood sullen. She sighed, her expression conflicted as she spoke.
"Raising a sun in the underworld, creating a flower field, and even winning over that gloomy goddess Ereshkigal. It's like you're capable of anything, like you're more of a god than me."
"A god? I'm not a god, nor can I become one. Just think of me as a human who's mastered a few miracles."
Roy shook his head with a smile, not claiming divinity.
"Just a few miracles… ugh…"
Ishtar didn't bother arguing with this guy who seemed oblivious to the magnitude of his deeds. Let him say what he wanted.
How to describe this situation?
His mana reserves were monstrous, supporting multiple Divine Spirits without any strain, an extraordinary feat in itself.
If an average mage's mana was like water in a bottle, Roy's was an entire ocean, constantly replenished by countless rivers.
His mana was inexhaustible.
Ishtar had never fought with such abundance. Given enough time, she felt she could unleash her Noble Phantasm repeatedly.
Right now, she was in peak condition. With this mana source, defeating the Mother of Genesis didn't seem impossible.
"Get ready, Ishtar. After we finish up, we're heading to the Blood Fort Andromeda, the Goddess of Magical Beast's territory, to scout and assess the enemy."
Roy reminded her as they walked. "You might run into an old rival this time, so brace yourself."
"My old rival? You mean that impostor Enkidu?"
Ishtar wasn't clueless about Roy's hint.
She'd seen that fake Enkidu while riding Maanna, speeding through the Mesopotamian plains in search of cattle.
That figure in white with long green hair, she'd never mistake it. It was Enkidu's appearance.
Curious, she'd steered Maanna closer and noticed something off.
Though the aura was similar, she was certain it was a fake.
Enkidu's death was partly her doing, and their relationship, strained by Gilgamesh, had been hostile.
Yet this resurrected Enkidu didn't attack her on sight. Instead, it urged her to leave and not interfere with its plans.
That confirmed it was an impostor.
Back then, as a Demi-Servant with limited mana and disadvantaged against Enkidu's compatibility, Ishtar had fled rather than fight.
In the past, she'd have avoided battling that fake Enkidu, why invite trouble when victory wasn't guaranteed?
But now, with unlimited mana, she felt fearless, ready to crush that impostor.
Brimming with confidence, she was eager to test how much of the real Enkidu's Chain of Heaven this fake had replicated.
But Roy's next words doused her enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water.
"No, not Enkidu. I already dealt with that impostor. The enemy this time is Humbaba."
"Huh? Hum… baba, not daddy!"
Hearing that name, etched deep in her memory, Ishtar froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"No way… that monstrous beast was revived too?!!"
"After I took out the fake Enkidu, the Demon God Pillars invading this Singularity transferred its consciousness into the forest guardian, Humbaba."
"So, we're likely facing Humbaba, the Goddess of Magical Beast, and multiple Demon God Pillars."
"So…"
"Who? Fight Humbaba? Me?"
Ishtar pointed at herself.
"What's wrong? Of course it's you. Don't tell me the great Goddess Ishtar lacks confidence?" Roy teased, his expression playful.
"Haha, I'm totally confident! Who do you think I am? But if it's Humbaba…"
Hearing it was her old nemesis, Ishtar's face stiffened. Though she kept up her bravado, her confidence evaporated. She fidgeted, saying, "How about… we change the plan? Like, you scout the intel, and I cover you from outside."
"What's this? Is our Lady Ishtar scared?" Roy smirked.
"Of course not! I'm not afraid of Humbaba!!"
"I'm the embodiment of love and beauty, Mesopotamia's greatest Venus goddess. I'd never fear a mere beast. It's just… I really don't want to face that monster again."
Sure, sure, trembling all over but still talking tough.
Ishtar was undeniably the darling of Sumerian myth.
Spoiled by the heavenly gods and fueled by her own brash personality, she feared nothing.
She stormed the underworld, tricked Enki, and even razed the fearsome Mount Ebih, dreaded by the King of Gods.
In all of Sumerian myth, few things scared her. Ereshkigal was one, and Humbaba was another.
She couldn't forget how, coveting Humbaba's Golden City, she ignored the gods' warnings and challenged it, only to be utterly defeated.
Not only did Humbaba capture her, but it strung her up with vines on a cedar tree for seven days and seven nights.
Those helpless, desperate days left her with an unforgettable, dreadful memory.
Facing Humbaba again? She was genuinely reluctant.
"Haha, don't worry. If Humbaba shows up, I'll handle it. You just clear out the beasts and hold off any Demon God Pillars. Then, at the critical moment, get me out with Maanna. We're scouting their strength, not destroying the Blood Fort Andromeda or the Goddess of Magical Beast. I won't put you in danger, Ishtar."
Seeing her sour expression, Roy stopped teasing and assigned her a simpler task.
As a Servant, Ishtar might be at a disadvantage against Humbaba, who'd defeated her before.
In the worst case, Humbaba could counter her completely. Rather than risk her dragging him down, he'd test Humbaba's strength himself.
He wanted to see just how powerful this forest beast, capable of trapping Karna, really was.
"Alright, alright. If it's just clearing beasts, I'm fine. Demon God Pillars are no trouble either. Leave it to me."
Ishtar patted her flat chest, confidently accepting Roy's task.
Beasts or Demon God Pillars? No problem.
As long as she didn't have to face Humbaba.
"By the way, Roy, do you really like Ereshkigal?"
Ishtar suddenly asked.
"Of course. Who wouldn't like a girl like her?" Roy answered matter-of-factly.
"Ugh, you're such a scumbag and a flirt!!"
Sighing at his response, Ishtar pounced, grabbing his shoulders and shouting, "If you like her, take responsibility!! That dummy's totally fallen for you, her soul's practically floating after you."
"…I like her, sure, but liking doesn't mean love. Are you dense?"
Roy looked at Ishtar helplessly, baffled by her goddess-level leap in logic.
Why was she so set on labeling him a scumbag? He hadn't done anything wrong.
"Why assume I'm in love with Ereshkigal after just meeting her? Because of her looks? Her power? Something else?"
Rubbing his temples, Roy said wearily, "I like Ereshkigal for her dedication, her duty, and I admire and pity her. That's why I raised a sun and planted flowers in the underworld."
"But that dummy's feelings for you aren't just that!! You're not from this timeline, you'll leave eventually. After defeating Tiamat, are you going to leave her alone in the underworld again?" Ishtar asked urgently.
"Isn't that where you come in? You can keep her company."
"Huh? Me?"
"Yeah, Ishtar, you like Ereshkigal too, don't you? Take care of your sister."
"The Sumerian gods are gone, and the Age of Gods is nearing its end. Soon, her burdensome duties will conclude. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
"…Duty, duty. You two are hopeless."
Ishtar quickened her pace, pouting.
"If you really like her, take her with you. The Age of Gods is over, what does humanity need an underworld for? Leaving her here alone again, what kind of man are you, you scumbag?"
"You're really…"
Roy rubbed his temples, exasperated by Ishtar's words. She was infuriating, but he couldn't be mad, she genuinely cared for Ereshkigal.
He sighed. "Abandoning our duties for love or anything else is irresponsible to life and to ourselves."
"If everyone was that selfish, the world would fall apart. Who'd keep fulfilling their duties?"
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