Looking at Ishtar's tearful, pitiful face, even Ryuya felt a bit embarrassed.
'I should have just gone to Uruk. This is getting awkward.'
Thinking to himself that maybe starting to rally the other tribes from Uruk would have been more reliable, but since the process with the Demon Tribe had already begun, Ryuya figured he might as well see it through now that he was here.
"Ishtar, stop crying. How about I take you out to have some fun?"
"Huh?"
Her sorrowful expression instantly stopped. She carefully peeked through the hands covering her eyes, looking at Ryuya's apologetic face. Ishtar remembered she had asked him many times to take her out.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Really, really?"
"Really, really. Stop asking. So, are you coming or not?"
"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I? This lady hasn't had any fun since coming to the Demon Tribe's territory!"
Snorting proudly, Ishtar had visited human and other Phantasmal Species' cities before, but she had always gone alone.
Whenever something unpleasant happened, she would get angry, and each outing ended quickly with her blowing up on the spot.
Having never experienced being taken out by a friend, she suddenly felt Ryuya was really nice.
"Let's go then."
"Fine. Since you've invited me so sincerely, this lady will reluctantly accompany you."
Her tsundere tone finally salvaged a bit of her goddess dignity. Ishtar bossily pushed Ryuya out of the room, saying 'Wait a moment', before closing the door.
After a while, waiting in the living room, Ryuya wondered what the Venus Goddess was doing.
'Did changing clothes really take this long?'
Calling out Ishtar, he received a fierce, albeit cute, reply.
"What's the rush? Don't you know a goddess needs a lot of time to change?"
The door opened, revealing a completely refreshed Ishtar.
Gone was her usually somewhat conservative silver-red gown, replaced by a plain white dress with layers of lace patterns and red thread on the cuffs, elegant yet carrying a noble air.
Her long black hair, no longer adorned with a crown, was neatly styled into a dignified updo. The whole person seemed to have evolved from a brash goddess into an ethereal fairy.
Watching Ryuya stare dumbfounded, Ishtar thought to herself that she was indeed naturally beautiful.
"So? Ryuya, is this lady beautiful?"
"Beautiful, very beautiful."
Even Ryuya had to admit at this moment that Ishtar truly possessed the natural gift beloved by the gods. Her beauty only needed a slight touch to possess charm rivaling anyone else.
Perfectly blending Eastern and Western elegance and depth with her goddess quality, she was truly breathtaking.
'Hah... Men.'
Satisfied seeing Ryuya's surprised expression, Ishtar turned and walked out the door, her steps even quicker by three parts.
Not looking back at all, leaving only a back view, she fully demonstrated what it meant to be cool, as if she were taking Ryuya out, not the other way around.
There was just one problem... which was...
'This girl, is she that happy? She's even walking out with the same hand and foot moving together?'
Watching Ishtar leave in a rather strange posture, Ryuya sighed and caught up. The 'date' to help the creditor relax had begun.
Strolling along the demon-filled streets, looking at the shops lining the road, Ishtar's eyes were full of curiosity.
Having never been to the Demon Tribe's territory before, and getting silently criticized by these creatures with twisted aesthetics every time she visited, today the Venus Goddess felt her mood was excellent.
She couldn't be bothered with what those demons thought, and her own happiness was the most important!
"Ryuya, Ryuya, those armors look really impressive!"
"The craftsmanship is alright, but it can't compare to Dwarven forging. It's worlds apart from Noble Phantasms."
"Ryuya, Ryuya, what are those cosmetics? I see many demons buying them!"
"Elven products. You know those guys extract a lot of good stuff from the forests. They have a particular obsession with beauty. Although demons don't like elves, trade isn't a problem."
"Ryuya, I'm a bit thirsty."
"What do you want to drink? I'll buy it."
"Hehe... let's get the 'second cup half-price' one. I see many demons queuing for it."
Finally getting her hands on a drink she'd never had before, Ishtar took one sip, frowned, and started spitting it out, muttering, "It doesn't taste good."
Then, she gave hers to Ryuya and took the one from Ryuya's hand, taking a delighted sip.
"Why are you taking mine?"
"Yours tastes better!"
"Aren't the flavors the same?"
"Yours is clearly better! What? This lady even gave you her dowry, and you're stingy about a drink?"
Staring at Ryuya with her big crimson eyes, Ishtar said angrily.
"Fine, fine, whatever makes you happy."
Continuing their stroll, Ishtar, like a curious baby, asked Ryuya about all sorts of things she didn't know, even questioning why underwear with a hole in the middle could be sold.
"This clothing... adult matters. Why are you, a kid, bothering about it?"
Finding it really hard to explain why the underwear had a hole in the middle, Ryuya pulled Ishtar away from that lingerie shop, only to see a foot massage parlor next.
'What the hell? Are demons this modern?'
Muttering to himself about the diverse development of the other tribes, Ryuya almost wondered if he had entered a modern-world urban village. Otherwise, how did everything that should and shouldn't be here all show up?
"Ryuya, Ryuya, look at this, look at this!"
Suddenly stopping in front of a certain shop, Ishtar excitedly pulled Ryuya and said, "This looks fun. Let's try it, how about it?"
"This..."
Looking at the huge 'Children's Store' sign in front, Ryuya noticed Ishtar was pointing at a row of mechanical horses. These were clearly Goblin designs, made by the Dwarves.
"Mary had a little lamb… Little lamb, little lamb..."
Very magical lyrics started playing. Yes, what Ishtar wanted to experience was exactly those flashing, rocking rides… though here they were rocking horses.
"Ryuya, how about we ride this one?"
Her exquisite face showed an excitement she had never had before. Ishtar clearly genuinely wanted to ride it, her determined gaze shocking Ryuya.
"I don't think so."
Shaking his head, Ryuya refused without hesitation.
"Why not? It looks so fun!"
"This is for children. How old are you still playing with this? It's too childish."
"But I've never played with it before!"
"Never played before doesn't mean you can now. Absolutely not."
Trying to stop Ishtar from riding the rocking horse, Ryuya admitted the thing was attractive with its lights, songs, and movement. But he and Ishtar were adults, and they needed to learn self-control.
Unless they returned to the age of wearing open-crotch pants, they absolutely could not ride this. Absolutely!
"I even gave you my dowry, and you won't even let me play with a toy? Are we still friends?"
Facing Ishtar's dowry-based attack once again, two minutes later, cheerful music sounded in front of the children's store.
"There was a farmer who had a dog, and Bingo was his name-O...."
"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed..."
As the cheerful tunes played, the darling of the gods, the candidate for leader of the third-generation God Kings, Ishtar, and the legendary Sun-Crowned King, Ryuya, were experiencing the most socially embarrassing day of their lives...