"Alright, this is the Underworld. What do you think?" Ishtar, who'd slowly descended, looked at the three figures on the ground and asked with a laugh.
"I... I barely managed to block the landing impact with my shield..." Mashu turned to look at Ritsuka beside her. "Senpai, are you hurt?"
"I'm fine... no injuries. But doesn't Ishtar have any teleportation magecraft...?"
Feeling his whole body stiff from the impact, Ritsuka asked with a grimace.
"Of course I know teleportation magecraft, it's a simple matter," Ishtar replied helplessly.
"But what comes after teleporting is the scary part, right? What if my power gets sealed the instant we arrive? Wouldn't we just fall to our deaths? Since we can just dig our way here anyway, it's better to avoid using teleportation if we can!"
"The comms are connected. I was worried we wouldn't be able to observe the situation in the Underworld, but it seems I was worrying over nothing."
Roman's voice also came through the bracelet. "But then again, this is just underground in the city of Kutha, right...?"
"Huh? I thought it was another dimension... Is this the Age of Gods?" Mashu looked at Ishtar.
"Can't speak for other Age of Gods, but in Mesopotamia, the heavens, the earth, and the underworld all exist on the same 'tapestry'," Ishtar nodded.
After all, this was an era where gods and humans coexisted. But there was no need to explain too much. Seeing that all three were unharmed, she took the lead and strode ahead.
"Anyway, follow me. I've been here once, so I know the way fairly well."
As she followed Chaldea's group further in, Amber focused on sensing the energy around her.
Even though this was the Underworld, the concentration and quality of Mana here was even greater than on the surface.
Was it because there was no life here, or because everything was composed of spirits?... Regardless, her power hadn't diminished in the slightest.
Under Ishtar's guidance, they soon arrived before a gate. Though it was called a gate, it looked more like a pile of three stone pillars stacked together.
"This counts as the first entrance," Ishtar explained. "The Gates of the Underworld are the Gates of Truth that interrogate the virtue and sin of souls. Good and evil are equivalent; only the human values behind the choices change. Therefore, no single choice is inherently correct."
"Anyway, both choices are pretty annoying, so just pick the side that feels easier for you."
As she spoke, she pointed. "Just listen to the question, think of your answer, and walk through the gate."
No sooner had she finished speaking than a voice echoed from the Gate of the Underworld.
"Answer me—"
"Answer me—"
Wasn't that Eresh's voice? Why was she pitching it so low..?
Amber felt confused.
"Living one who has fallen into the Underworld—Fu Hua."
"Huh? Does the gate specify who answers?" Ishtar was taken aback, then looked at the three behind her. "Speaking of which, who is Fu Hua?"
"Huh..?"
The question gave Ritsuka and Mashu pause.
The always straightforward and somewhat naive Mashu swept her puzzled gaze between Ishtar and Amber before she couldn't help but ask, "Aren't the two of you friends? Fu Hua... is the Celestial's true name."
Ishtar: "..." Now that she mentioned it, the title 'Phoenix Celestial' was bestowed upon her by the Emperor...
Amber: "..." She had introduced herself to Chaldea at the very beginning, but since everyone kept calling her 'Celestial' or similar titles, she'd forgotten she hadn't introduced herself properly in a long time...
The Gate of the Underworld suddenly flashed with a dazzling light, which then slowly faded away.
The heavy, yet melodious voice continued, "The standards of beauty are myriad, yet absolutes still exist. Black triumphs over white, the earth triumphs over the heavens. Therefore—between Ereshkigal and Ishtar, who is the more beautiful?"
"...?" x4
"Wait!? This is different from before, isn't it!?" Ishtar's eyes practically turned gold in her panic.
"Great, a completely irrational question. So, what is the Celestial's answer?" Even Roman, who usually enjoyed watching the drama from the back, was laughing at the question.
"You know the right choice, don't you! Fu—Hua—!"
Ishtar whirled around to glare at Amber, her golden eyes filled with obvious menace and threat. Already feeling guilty, Amber could only nod. "It's Ishtar..."
"Correct. Just choose the easier answer, the one that follows your heart."
Hearing this, Ishtar's expression instantly brightened. She smoothed her long hair, confidently showcasing her charm.
"Although I was sure you'd say that—after all, one is the goddess of plants and decay, the other the goddess of beauty and harvest. The answer is obvious, but thank you anyway."
"You—IDIOT—!"
The stone gate, which had been glowing blue, turned red. A massive bolt of lightning instantly crashed down upon Ishtar.
"Ishtar!?" Ritsuka and Mashu hurriedly supported the briefly stunned goddess.
As for Amber...
Amber didn't dare help.
Both Eresh and Ishtar were her friends. Now that Gilgamesh had unexpectedly fallen into the Underworld, she was here to ask a friend for a favor—to release Gilgamesh.
Even if they ultimately had to fight, that was for later. For now, she needed to maintain the mindset of a supplicant.
This first gate had directly exposed a question that made it difficult for her to face Ishtar. Not wanting to upset Ishtar further, she'd given the answer without thinking.
And that answer had gotten Ishtar struck by lightning.
"It's... Ereshkigal..."
"Cor—rect—"
Upon hearing this answer, the red glow on the great gate finally vanished, and the entire structure turned back into unremarkable stone.
"There's no need to go against your true feelings, Fu Hua!" Ishtar, having regained her senses, spoke with annoyance.
"This isn't about your answer! That woman is deliberately chipping away at my divinity! You should just answer correctly!"
"After all, this is Eresh's territory. Unless absolutely necessary, there's no need to forcibly oppose her," Amber reminded, seeing Ishtar's clearly unyielding expression.
"Eresh!?"
Ishtar's expression grew even angrier. "Since when!?"
If the Gate of the Underworld had spoken Amber's name, she wouldn't have been surprised—it was the Gate, after all. But for Amber to casually use the relatively intimate nickname 'Eresh' now carried a completely different meaning. These two clearly knew each other from before!
"..." Amber just felt cold sweat running down her back. She evaded the core issue, playing dumb with her reply. "Because her name is Ereshkigal, right? Using Shenzhou's pronunciation, 'Eresh' is easier to say."
"Hmph! Fine!"
Ishtar didn't press the matter, but added, "From now on, you must give the 'correct' answer every time! We absolutely cannot let that gloomy goddess have her way any longer!"
"...Alright."
--+--
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.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.