Chapter 86: Confession? Making friends!
You are a homegirl.
Every day, you stay in your dark and deep little room in the underworld (although it is a bit big) without sunlight, living on your own imagination - imagining flying freely in the sunny earth like Ishtar, trying all kinds of new and exciting adventures, and even... being loved and needed by people on earth.
But unfortunately, you can't do it, because you are a responsible homebody and have a lot of things to deal with, so you can only stay at home.
But today! A guy who exudes a lively atmosphere actually broke into your own home by force! (Sevenfold Gate: Are you polite?)
What's even more outrageous is that this guy even called out your name accurately! Then he gave you that...sunny, gentle smile, called out your name, and asked you, "Can you surrender?"
What would you do as a homegirl?
Of course, it is to show your dignity as the owner of the house!
"Who are you?!" Ereshkigal's voice rose an octave, with obvious stuttering and panic. She pointed the weapon in her hand in Xiling's direction without any deterrent effect.
"Why did you break into the underworld?! And you came to me?!"
Too fast! He is too fast! I didn't even have time to prepare! At least let me change my image! Get into the right posture to sit on the throne! Right now, I look like I just finished my work, my hair is probably a little messy, but how can I look like the Lord of the Underworld?
Xiling looked at the goddess in front of him, who was as nervous as a primary school student who the teacher had called out for a question. His original intention of making a quick decision and convincing the other party physically before talking was forcibly suppressed.
He always feels... guilty about punching a face that was filled with social panic.
Ignoring the trembling spearpoint pointed at him, Xiling used the gentlest expression he could muster and smiled at her, hoping to soothe her restless emotions.
"Oh, my name is Xiling, I'm a hero, and I came to the underworld specifically for you."
To prove his harmlessness and friendliness, Xiling even took a small step forward and extended his hand for a handshake to the goddess of the underworld, symbolizing peace and friendship.
He hopes the other party can feel his sincerity.
However, he seemed to be pushing it a bit too hard.
"Come for me?! Specifically for me?!"
Ereshkigal's brain instantly overloaded, every syllable exploding like fireworks in her mind. The man before her, with his sun-warmed smile and the hand he extended towards her...
Boom--!!!
This, this, this! Isn't this the scene from those stories she'd secretly read, where a brave hero, after enduring countless hardships, reaches a cursed place and passionately confesses his love to the one he loves? The setting might have changed from Earth to the underworld, but the core elements were still there! Just for her! Breaking through seven gates! Extending his hand with a sunny smile!
"Could it be... could it be! Did you come to the underworld just to pursue me?! Like in the story?!"
Ereshkigal felt her cheeks burning as if they were on fire, and her heart was beating so fast that it almost jumped out of her throat.
But the next second, the cold reality, like the chill wind from the underworld, instantly blew away her bubble of fantasy.
"That's not right! Ereshkigal, what are you thinking about?" She shook her head vigorously, her golden hair swept across her hot cheeks, and the shyness in her eyes was instantly replaced by self-mockery and sadness.
"How could it be possible... that someone would like the goddess of the underworld? People only fear death, the underworld that brings death... and even more so, I, the goddess who controls death..."
Forcefully suppressing her turbulent emotions, Ereshkigal once again tightened her grip on her spear, attempting to steel herself with a harsher tone:
"Stop joking! Tell me the truth! You went through so much trouble to break through seven gates and force your way to my presence, but what on earth is your purpose?!"
Xiling tilted his head as if puzzled. He seemed to have no idea of the other person's complicated mental journey. He simply and seriously repeated the fact that seemed to be a matter of course to him: "But I really came here for you."
Speak in a calm tone and state the facts.
But these words, which were too straightforward and too firm, instantly pierced through the wall that Ereshkigal had built for herself.
The weapon was ruthlessly discarded by its owner at this moment, and it made a dull sound when it hit the cold earth.
Ereshkigal seemed to be petrified, but the next second, she suddenly covered her burning cheeks with her hands, squatted down with her back to Xiling, and curled herself up into a ball.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!" A suppressed scream escaped from between her fingers.
"He's serious! He really came here just for me! But I don't even know him! I don't even know his name! I've never seen his face! What the hell is this!"
Ereshkigal's fingers unconsciously drew circles on the ground. She spoke so fast that it was like she was casting some high-speed earthbinding spell. The words were almost inaudible:
"What should I do, what should I do... Saying something like that right away... It's too sudden... Even the goddess of the underworld needs to be prepared... If a human scares a god, it will scare the god to death, okay... Ahhhh, this is so embarrassing. Did I say something weird just now? He must have heard it; he definitely heard it. I'm done for..."
Xiling stood there, looking at the figure with her back to him, emitting a strong aura of escapism and drawing circles frantically on the ground, and fell into deep confusion.
"Eh? Is staying in the underworld for too long... it turns someone into this? Is it a mental disorder caused by too much stress?"
Xiling took a tentative step forward.
"Excuse me..."
Almost the moment he approached, the squatting girl leaped up like a frightened rabbit! She spun around, her face still flushed, her long golden hair plastered to her cheeks from the excessive movement. She closed her eyes tightly, as if using up all her strength, and practically roared in Xiling's direction:
"I'm sorry!! I'm so grateful that you came to the underworld just for me! But! I don't have that intention at all right now!!"
She took a deep breath, as if reciting a prepared defense line, "So, so! You're a good person! Really!!"
Xiling: "…"
The world seemed to have been paused. The gentle smile on Xiling's face froze completely, and his train of thought completely short-circuited.
Xiling blinked blankly, tilted his head, and looked at the goddess in front of him with confusion. After several seconds, he squeezed out an extremely short syllable from the depths of his throat, full of confusion and puzzlement:
"Ah...?"
Why are you being treated as a "good guy" for no apparent reason?
However, the goddess's output was obviously not over yet. She closed her eyes and started the rapid-fire mode.
"And, and! Mesopotamia is facing a very, very serious End Times crisis! I have a lot of important work to do! I need to build soul cages! I need to dig holes! I also need to prepare a reception plan for Uruk! I really, really don't have time to think about anything else! So, so! Please leave now! Please!"
Faced with the other party's mumbling, Xiling could no longer hold back and took a step forward and put his hands on the other party's shoulders.
"Please calm down and listen to me for a moment."
"Hmm!" Ereshkigal suddenly opened her eyes. Like a frightened deer, she was forced to raise her head and met Xiling's serious eyes.
The distance between them was closer than ever before. She could even feel the aura from him that didn't belong to the underworld. She quickly lowered her head as if she had been burned, the blush on her cheeks deepening again. She twisted her hands together helplessly, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito's: "...Okay, okay..."
Because they were closer, Xiling could see Ereshkigal's current appearance more clearly. Her hands were moving around restlessly, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Combined with her previous declaration of rejection...
Case solved! What I just said was taken as a confession by the other party!
Now it's time for the troubled ones to switch.
What to do? What to do now! Xiling's brain CPU began to overclock to its limit.
Explain the misunderstanding? Say, "You're mistaken, I'm not here to confess my feelings?" No, no, that would be too cruel to a goddess who just mustered up the courage to reject you.
Especially since she's acting so... socially anxious? Continuing with the topic of "confession"?— What a joke!
What should I say at this time? Tell me the power of the hero!
It was as if the hero's divine power really responded to Xiling, and Xiling's mind immediately became clear!
"Can't you—" Xiling blurted out, his voice a little dry due to the tension just now, but his eyes were unusually bright, "—become friends with me now?!"
"…Huh???"
Ereshkigal suddenly raised her head, her red eyes filled with great confusion.
Friend?
Did she hear correctly? Not "lover"? Not "pursuit"? But... "friend"?
Turns out…turns out she was mistaken! A complete misunderstanding! The other person wasn't expressing that kind of…that kind of heart-stopping love to her.
He wants to... make friends?
So... they're friends? So they're friends! They're friends!! I was completely mistaken!
"Friends..." Ereshkigal repeated the word in a low voice, as if she was tasting a candy she had never tasted before.
Not a confession, just making a friend...
That...isn't it better!
Compared to so-called love...
The word "friend" has an irresistible magic to the lonely goddess of the underworld!
Her red eyes gleamed with an unprecedented light of anticipation! She subconsciously clasped her hands in front of her chest, as if in prayer, and looked at Xiling cautiously and in disbelief.
"Really? Really...are you willing to be friends with me? With me...the goddess of the underworld? With me...the goddess who only brings death?"
Her voice was filled with uncertainty, as if confirming a dream that was too good to be true.
Xiling looked at the light that suddenly lit up in her eyes and raised a smile that was more sincere and more relaxed than before. Xiling nodded vigorously, his voice firm and clear:
"Of course! I just don't know if you're willing to be my friend."
"I am willing!"
How could she not want to!
——
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A/N [Author Note]:
Xiling: Everyone! Be my friend!
Author: Everyone! Give me votes!!