Embracing the Fearless of Death

Rovi wasn't sure what death felt like, having never truly experienced it.

But at this moment, he could feel the world, the aura of the Underworld.

Cold, desolate.

Yet it wasn't terrifying. Instead, it felt like a gentle touch across his face, so soft it stirred a desire to rest.

Eternal slumber was also oblivion.

This was what Ereshkigal, the Goddess of the Underworld, did most often in her palace.

Granting peace to departed souls.

The winds of the Underworld, what they brought to all life was precisely this kind of harm.

Although Rovi had completely transformed into the 'Key of Heaven,' allowing him to move freely in any environment, theoretically, he wouldn't die from this.

But after the last incident, he had 'learned his lesson'—at the very least, he now understood how to activate and deactivate his abilities.

He deactivated his abilities now.

Allowing himself to be touched by this aura of eternal sleep.

Of course, merely this level wasn't enough to make Rovi truly rest within it—death for him was always a transition, never a final destination.

So the moment his palm touched that deep current, Rovi steadied himself and continued forward... towards Ereshkigal.

His steps were firm, his gaze unwavering.

Even as the cold winds of the palace shaved away his skin and decayed his features, making him appear a hundred years older in an instant.

He transformed from a young man into an elder on the verge of death.

But... I said it, what I said wasn't a joke!

His meaning was already clear.

If you want to leave, you can.

Please take me with you, thank you!

Really—

I want to die!

Rovi would never let such a rare opportunity pass him by.

Thus, under his actions and gaze, Ereshkigal, who had taken over the body after Ishtar relinquished control, couldn't help but waver.

Why... what was he doing?

Even facing death, enduring the erosion of the Underworld's aura, and suppressing his fear of demise, he still wanted to see her, the one abandoned by the gods?

The Goddess of the Underworld covered her face, her heart filled with an indescribable complexity.

If Rovi knew her thoughts at this moment, he would surely reply, 'No, you've misunderstood. I'm just sweet-talking; I don't actually care about you.'

But unfortunately, Rovi had no ability to read the mind of a Goddess of the Underworld, nor could he decipher Ereshkigal's thoughts through the layers of dark wind.

So Ereshkigal had clearly misunderstood.

Her emotions were complicated.

But she felt she still couldn't meet Rovi.

Through the memories Ishtar had left her in this body, she already knew Rovi's identity.

He was Uruk's youngest Divine Priest.

And the King of Uruk's aide.

Young, yet already prominent in the human world, having achieved great success.

He was different from her.

Death was always lonely, even inauspicious.

Therefore, Ereshkigal could not, and did not want him to, lose all of this because of her.

However, what the Goddess of the Underworld didn't know was that Rovi was actually... quite enjoying it.

The feeling brought by the Underworld's wind wasn't painful. The further he went, the more a drowsy sensation permeated this mortal shell.

He knew that if he continued, he would die long before he even reached Ereshkigal.

To die without any pain—

Wasn't that exactly what he had longed for?

The opportunity was rare—Rovi's steps became even firmer, and Ereshkigal's heart wavered even more.

Stop.

Hurry up and stop.

Why do you have to go this far?

If Rovi stopped, he would no longer be eroded by the Underworld's aura and would even recover—because she had spent so long with only unconscious spirits for company, because death was her only companion, Ereshkigal was actually the gentlest person towards life.

Even without being influenced by humanity, she would still treat every soul kindly.

Regardless of life or death.

So she never thought of harming Rovi.

Yet, she hadn't expected Rovi to go this far for her.

Beyond worry, there was also deep emotion.

No one had ever gone this far for her.

No one had ever... so easily dismissed death for her.

'He's very good, isn't he?'

A voice, strikingly similar to her own, echoed in the Goddess of the Underworld's ears.

It was Ishtar, hidden within her, speaking to her: "Although he's an idiot... this kind of spirit is quite rare."

"Even the most devout followers rarely disregard death for the gods."

"He probably really likes you."

"Ereshkigal."

Ereshkigal knew, of course.

From the young priest's actions alone, she could feel his 'feelings' for her.

Avoiding him seemed no longer feasible.

What should she do...

"So hesitant, and you call yourself the ruler of the Underworld!" Ishtar's disdainful voice sounded in her ear, though a hint of envy and sourness laced her words. "Show the same courage you had when you killed me – Ereshkigal!"

Ereshkigal had once killed Ishtar.

Ishtar had intruded into the Underworld, initially just to accompany Ereshkigal when she had first fallen into the land of the dead. However, due to a misunderstanding in communication, they argued, and the Goddess of the Underworld, within her own divine domain, killed her.

Although Ishtar was later resurrected by Anu, the incident left a shadow on her, and to this day, she harbored resentment and dared not set foot in the Underworld.

Ereshkigal had been decisive when she acted back then.

Back then...

That's right.

Wasn't she, at that time, yearning for someone to accompany her?

Why was she avoiding it now?

The goddess of the Underworld suddenly understood.

'Thank you... Ishtar.'

'Hmph, it's nothing. Consider it a small compensation for when I spoke incorrectly to you. This is an easy matter for this goddess!'

As her thoughts echoed, Ereshkigal raised her head.

Her crimson eyes pierced through the dark Underworld Realm, looking towards the man walking on foot, his body growing heavier and older, yet his steps remained steady.

Rovi also saw the red light in the darkness.

He saw the goddess's eyes.

His body was already withered, aged beyond recognition... and he was even more ecstatic.

He was finally going to die!

But in the next second, the darkness ahead suddenly vanished, and the goddess hidden behind it suddenly revealed herself.

Golden hair flowed, a red cape fluttered, and fair, full legs supported her graceful form. Her hips, tightly bound by black fabric, outlined a beautiful curve, her waist slender and cinched, her chest soft and full. Because it was the same body, the goddess's appearance was naturally the same as Ishtar's, but the aura it exuded was entirely different.

Profound, gentle.

A quiet girl who brought a sense of peace and tranquility.

However, Rovi felt no peace at this moment; he only felt bewildered.

What do you want?

My body, how did it recover?

Hurry and change my Underworld aura back...

Why are you hugging me?

Rovi looked at Ereshkigal, who had suddenly embraced him.

Softness rippled and washed over him.

The girl opened her arms.

She pulled herself into his embrace... as if embracing the world.

At this moment, The girl who symbolized death finally had the courage to embrace the man who feared no death.