The Dark History of the Past (Continued)

As for why she came here to find Rin Tohsaka...

It's actually quite simple.

Even if we know the solution and understand how to replace it, it will still take some time.

During this time Hercules Heracles the other Servant might realize something is wrong and try to stop her all at once, which would be too troublesome. Therefore, she needs someone who can help her divert attention from others, and she found just the right person in Rin Tohsaka.

Ishtar...

In some ways, this Servant can be considered the most terrifying in this Holy Grail War.

Although she kept getting thwarted, she still had one trump card up her sleeve.

That's what Aozaki Touko has her eye on.

However, due to her personality, she would need to use some tactics to get this guy's help.

"What exactly are you planning?"

Although she was still unable to move, Ishtar realized when she saw Aozaki Touko's eyes that the girl in front of her was definitely up to something.

But the woman before me was confident, frightening, and mysterious.

And she made no secret of her intention that "[my target is you]", but this left Ishtar feeling helpless.

After all, this did indeed restrict her human existence.

While Aozaki Touko deserves her respect for doing this, it doesn't mean she'll let Aozaki Touko manipulate her.

She is a goddess, a great goddess. Even if she is bound by humans, she is still a goddess and cannot be used as a tool.

However, Aozaki Touko seemed to have seen through Ishtar's true nature long ago, so she said calmly, "Don't worry, Ishtar, I won't force you. I'm only here to cooperate with you; I have no ill intentions towards you."

"Does 'no malicious intent' mean you're keeping me stuck in one place? And you said... cooperation?"

Upon hearing this, Ishtar frowned.

"Yes, it's about cooperation."

Aozaki Touko smiled slightly and continued, "The reason I imprisoned you was just for safety, please forgive me. And I know that your wish is to stay in this world and continue to enjoy life and money, right? I can help you fulfill that wish."

"You... you want to help me?"

Ishtar was puzzled by her words.

"That's right, I'm the most skilled Puppet Master. Making a body for you wouldn't be difficult for me. Besides, my savings are an astounding amount. Money is just a number to me now. If you like, I can give it to you so you can buy endless gold and jewels. That's far more useful than your ghost money."

You mean... you want to hire me?

Ishtar quickly understood her intention.

"Yes, but it's not employment, just a collaboration."

Aozaki Touko continued, "I can give you the money or even your life, all you need to do is a small favor for me. How about it? Would you be willing to cooperate with me, my goddess?"

"I..."

Hearing what Aozaki Touko promised, Ishtar was also a little tempted.

After all, life and wealth are things she craves. If she agrees, she can break free from Rin Tohsaka's body and be truly free.

But...

"I refuse!"

In the end, Ishtar looked into Aozaki Touko's eyes and gave this answer.

She, Ishtar, loved nothing more than saying no to these self-righteous fellows.

Although she likes money and desires a physical body, that doesn't mean she wants to be used as a tool by humans. Or rather, according to her values, these things should rightfully be hers, so why should she listen to Aozaki Touko's promises?

And so, this extremely self-centered goddess made this predictable choice.

"I see... I really underestimated you."

Upon seeing Ishtar's response, Aozaki Touko wasn't annoyed at all; instead, she burst into laughter, as she had vaguely anticipated such an outcome.

"Since that's the case, there's nothing more to say. After all, you're the kind of person who won't listen to either soft or hard tactics."

She then snapped her fingers, returning control of Ishtar to her, then stood up and turned to walk straight towards the door.

"Heh, foolish humans, you didn't expect that, did you?"

Ishtar chuckled dismissively. "All the treasures of this world originally belonged to me. You actually dared to use my things to trade with me? How arrogant... Do you think you can trade with a god? You're just asking for trouble."

"Your things? The self-important fool is clearly you, the one who arbitrarily declared world sovereignty! The arrogance of a god, you truly embody it all..."

Aozaki Touko sighed as she walked away.

"Boring? You wouldn't understand something so obvious."

Ishtar tossed her hair. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll be merciful and let you go. Just don't ever show your face in front of me again, you troublesome woman."

After making those harsh remarks, Ishtar planned to leave, not wanting to have anything to do with Aozaki Touko, this dangerous individual.

"While your words are indeed extremely arrogant, you are also right. For a god who possesses eternal life and youth, living a long time naturally leads to the belief that they are the most wonderful, and that all of humanity will respect them and offer them their best. But if you put it that way..."

Aozaki Touko slowly turned her head and said gently, "You probably don't even know what kind of person you are in the eyes of humans, do you?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Ishtar paused, her brows furrowing.

It has to be said that Aozaki Touko's words really struck a chord with her.

This is a flaw shared by all immortal beings and deities.

Because of their exceptional talent and extreme ego, they tend to overemphasize and dwell on the opinions of others and other matters. Simply put, things that humans might laugh off or easily forget, or that they might simply get angry about, become extremely troublesome when they are gods.

Especially for a goddess like her, she cannot tolerate the slightest imperfection or hear any words that are detrimental to her.

In the past, she was a terrifying goddess who blasted Mount Ebif into the ground in a fit of rage because Mount Ebih refused to praise her and offer up its peak. Feeling that humans did not respect her enough, she secretly unleashed a catastrophe of extinction.

What do you mean by that?

Ishtar turned her head, her golden eyes flashing with powerful pressure, but such tricks were useless against Aoko, after all, she was no longer an ordinary person.

"Heh, it's just what it sounds like. I think you must be curious about how the world sees you, right? Goddess Ishtar, would you like to hear the answer from me?"

Aozaki Touko crushed her cigarette butt, her tone remaining calm as she continued to gently persuade him.

"What a boring question," Ishtar sneered, crossing her arms and raising her chin confidently. "I am the goddess of love and beauty! I am also the embodiment of wealth and abundance. What else can the world say about me but praise? I think humans will regard me as a totem and their dream lover, won't they?"

Confidence, absolute confidence!

This is an old problem of Ishtar's.

She believed that as the goddess of love and beauty, everything in the world should cherish her.

This is also her innate personality trait, but things often don't go as planned.

"Really? You really don't see yourself clearly. Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."

Aozaki Touko grinned, barely able to contain herself at the sight of this cerebral palsy goddess in front of her.

"Hey, what do you mean? Is there some kind of exception?"

"Well, I can't say for sure. You should see for yourself."

As if she had been prepared, upon hearing Ishtar's question, Aozaki Touko pulled a book from her clothes without hesitation and tossed it to Ishtar.

"This is..."

Ishtar grabbed the old book hanging in mid-air and looked down. The words "[Ishtar Mythology Collection]" were written in large characters on it.

The next moment, Aozaki Touko's voice came again.

"Take a good look, you pathetic goddess. Although some of what you say is a white lie, there are some things you'd better know. After all, it's truly pitiful and pathetic to be kept in the dark by only one person..."

After saying that, she vanished without a trace.

"Tsk... what a despicable guy!"

Ishtar's veins bulged; she was extremely displeased.

In the past, anyone who dared to speak to her like that would surely be killed by her, but this guy has ways to limit her actions, making it difficult for her to act rashly.

Moreover, to be honest, she was quite concerned about the accurate record and opinion that Aozaki Touko had mentioned.

This feeling is like the anxiety you get when your dark past might be made public.

To mock Astraea, she had actually read through Greek Mythology. When she saw how chaotic the Greek Mythology was, and how Zeus went to such lengths and did so many ugly things for a single prophecy, she laughed at him mercilessly.

I think they're really stupid.

At the same time, I felt that their pantheon was not nearly as wonderful as hers.

The scene of fathers and sons killing each other has almost become a regular feature.

But that's only from a third-person perspective.

At this moment, Ishtar recalled that the foolish things done in Greek Mythology had been written into storybooks and circulated. She realized, then, what about their Sumerian Mythology?

Although their Sumerian pantheon wasn't as powerful as Greek Mythology, there were still some things that couldn't be easily revealed. Especially when she recalled the embarrassing things she had done in the past, Ishtar suddenly had a bad feeling.

Could those things have been recorded too?!

No, impossible...

She remembered handling it very cleanly; the humans on Earth wouldn't dare record her nonsense, so there shouldn't be any problem, right? After all, it's impossible for anyone to risk being killed by her to record her embarrassing moments—what would they gain?

Don't scare yourself unnecessarily.

Ishtar, don't worry, everything will be alright.

[Hahahaha--!!]

Even so, the thought of Ishtar immediately brought to mind a certain pleasant Mr. Kim.

No, maybe there really is someone that bored! There's a guy who's completely capable of doing something like that—a man who doesn't care at all about angering her, and would go to any lengths to drive her crazy! And that annoying guy actually has the ability to do it!

How could I have forgotten about him?!

Thinking of someone, Ishtar swallowed hard, then lowered her head and cautiously glanced at the author of the book.

Really...

It was written prominently above.

Author: Gilgamesh.

Translator: Mage's Association

In that instant, Ishtar could immediately picture Gilgamesh's smug face.

But that doesn't make sense. She did a massive cleanup, clearing the entire area thoroughly. Even if it was recorded, there's no way she wouldn't have found a single clue, right?

Suddenly she seemed to see it again--

[Hahaha, you foolish goddess! Did you think I didn't know you'd wait until I died to come back and destroy the evidence? I've already hidden these stone tablets so that everyone in the future will know your true colors! How wonderful, Ishtar!]

That annoying Gilgamesh!

Ishtar gritted her teeth in frustration.

Absolutely capable of it! That arrogant Gilgamesh absolutely capable of doing something like that!

Suddenly, Ishtar, who had been feeling utterly hopeless, could no longer deceive herself. She opened the book and began to read, and on the very first page, she saw it.

A poem that Gilgamesh once wrote for her.

It was clearly written above:

Ishtar.

Whom did you love for a long time?

Come here, let me count your lovers.

For your lover from your youth Tammuz,

You want him to cry several times a year;

Although you love that spotted sheep-feeding bird,

Yet they still hunted it, breaking its wings.

Let it hide in the trees and cry out in anguish, "My wings!"