"So many people! So this is the future world? It feels like a completely different path of development from Uruk."
'Why is the holiday shopping street so crowded? Why is the daytime mall so bustling with noise?'
Pondering this, Siduri looked around excitedly.
No longer wearing the traditional high priestess robes of Uruk, nor the ever-present veil, the girl had her hair tied into two bunches, her face exquisite, her slender figure seeming somewhat fragile.
However, though described as slender, Siduri's figure was actually quite good, and she simply had the elegance of a bone-structure beauty at first glance.
Gentle, kind, just seeing Siduri's figure brought a sense of healing. Siduri was very curious about Snowfield City's development.
"It's really wonderful, just as Ishtar and Gilgamesh described."
"Is this the kind of place where they met Ryuya?"
Behind Siduri, a girl tugging at the Uruk high priestess robes was also petite. Compared to Siduri, her striking golden hair was her distinctive feature.
Her radiant, brilliant appearance seemed to gather all that was good into a sacred form. Ereshkigal was also super interested in all these modern facilities.
"Ereshkigal-sama, this world is so happy, just like Uruk."
"Yes, Siduri. And here, no one knows our identities, so we can come out and shop."
In Uruk, as one of the top goddesses, Ereshkigal no longer needed to guard the underworld and could go out freely. But her high divinity and identical appearance to Ishtar meant she was easily recognized by the people of Uruk, leaving her with no freedom.
In Snowfield City, although her exceptional looks drew many gazes, compared to Uruk, this life atmosphere of ultimate freedom made Ereshkigal feel much more relaxed.
"Eresh-nee, Siduri-nee, didn't Papa ever take you shopping before~~?"
Beside Ereshkigal and Siduri, the princess with golden hair and red eyes was none other than Brunestud's younger sister, Arcueid.
Looking innocently at Ereshkigal and Siduri, the Command Spell on the back of her right hand glimmered.
"Ryuya-sama was busy with official matters, so..."
Even after marrying Ryuya, Siduri's gentle and shy nature hadn't changed. Except for a few excited moments when she would call him by name, she usually addressed Ryuya, as well as Female Gil and Ereshkigal, as '-sama' or 'King'.
"Ah? Really not? Hearing that suddenly makes me feel so fortunate."
After arriving in Snowfield City with her sister Altrouge, Command Spells appeared on the backs of Arcueid and Altrouge's hands.
With the appearance of Ereshkigal and Siduri, three of the four had soft personalities, so they naturally got along very well.
Somehow the conversation turned to Ryuya's name. After confirmation, Brunestud Sisters finally confirmed that the Sun-Crowned King mentioned by Siduri and Ereshkigal was their father, Ryuya.
Never imagining their father had such stories in other worlds, they listened to Ryuya's past journey in Uruk like a legendary tale, then told Siduri and Ereshkigal about the Eternal Night Empire.
"Arcueid, Altrouge, when Ryuya took you shopping, was it fun?"
Hearing that Ryuya had taken Arcueid and Altrouge shopping before, a clear envy appeared on Ereshkigal's face.
She remembered back in Uruk, Ryuya seemed to have taken Ishtar to the lands of other races. According to Ishtar, in the demon capital of the Demon Tribe, they even rode on rocking horses together.
"It was fun! Father took us to eat delicious food, play with fun things, see beautiful sights..."
Actually, they weren't the least bit interested in shopping itself, as evidenced by Arcueid and Altrouge never leaving the Millennium Castle in their own world.
The reason shopping seemed fun was most importantly about who was accompanying you.
"The life you describe... I'm really envious."
"That's it! When I see Ryuya again, I'm going to make him go shopping with me too!"
Secretly psyching herself up, Ereshkigal spotted a shop selling hats.
"Ereshkigal-sama, do you wish to buy a hat?"
Sensitively noticing the desire in Ereshkigal's eyes, Siduri smiled.
"Yes, but..."
Looking at the crowd nearby and then at the clock on the wall, Ereshkigal replied, "It's almost noon. Should we go for lunch first?"
"It's almost noon already?"
Hearing Ereshkigal say that, Arcueid also felt a bit hungry and commented on how gentle and considerate Ereshkigal was.
"Then let's continue shopping after lunch."
They were in no hurry in Snowfield City, casually enjoying themselves all over the world. In Altrouge's view, rather than painstakingly searching for this or that, it was better to simply enjoy life.
Having absolute trust in Ryuya, whether it was Arcueid and Altrouge, or Siduri and Ereshkigal, they all believed that Ryuya would definitely come to their side at the appropriate time and help them handle everything.
The four of them looked around the street. Having already eaten their fill of various street foods like gyoza, takoyaki, and yakitori, they finally chose a restaurant that looked quite upscale.
"How about this one?"
"Sounds good. It looks nice."
As the four stepped through the restaurant's main door, in a private room on the top floor at that moment...
"Praetor, why aren't you eating?"
Eating the various luxurious foods on the table elegantly, but stopping after just a taste of each, the girl speaking wore an elegant, noble red dress.
Logically, the color red placed extremely high demands on the wearer, and ordinary people simply couldn't carry it off. But before this girl, the gorgeous color seemed to become merely her accessory.
As the food gradually disappeared into Nero's stomach, the Emperor of Rome, the Human King of the Eternal Night Empire, looked at her Master before her, wondering why the other girl wore such a troubled expression.
"Praetor, what worries you?"
"I... We..."
Gently pursing her lips, completely unfamiliar with everything around her, Eriri, who had been drawing at home, didn't know why, but the drawing in her hand had inexplicably transformed into a familiar figure.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in another unfamiliar place, while the stinging pain on the back of her hand made her blood feel hot.
"Oh? So you are my Master? You seem to have an artistic talent. Then from today onward, let us get along well, Praetor."
Smiling at Eriri, the girl named Nero Claudius spoke these words.