The moment he opened his Mystic Eyes, Higashino Kanade clearly saw Ishtar mooching food and drink among the crowd, and a pleased smile rose to his lips.
The perspective shifted to Ishtar.
A month ago, while collecting tribute from a passing merchant caravan, Ishtar learned that Higashino Kanade had left Uruk. Clever as she was, she immediately realized he had gone to another Singularity.
When the tiger left the mountain, the monkeys became kings.
When Higashino Kanade was around, Ishtar did not even dare approach Uruk, much less collect tribute. As a result, the temple she had built on Mount Ebih had remained unfinished.
How could I, the great Goddess Ishtar, not even have a place to live?
Taking advantage of Higashino Kanade's absence, Ishtar came to Uruk to collect—extort—tribute, using the people of Uruk's money to build herself a grand and magnificent temple.
However, Mount Ebih was bleak and had little to eat. Once Ishtar's desire for lodging had been satisfied, she turned her attention to entertainment. Uruk happened to be flourishing and novel due to cultural influence, so Ishtar simply treated the place as her own home, eating and living there for free as she enjoyed a carefree and happy life.
With Higashino Kanade and Gilgamesh both gone, Uruk is mine! I can do whatever I want!
With that mindset, Ishtar came to Uruk again today to freeload.
As she flew over Uruk, Ishtar discovered that the city was holding a grand festival. Fun-loving by nature, how could she possibly miss it? She immediately descended, snagged several skewers of grilled meat for free, and asked the stall owner while eating.
"Mortals, what are you celebrating?"
"Goddess Ishtar, we are celebrating the King's return."
"So that's what it is." Ishtar chewed the grilled meat in her mouth, then suddenly