He had failed again.
There was no need to think much about it. Seeing the situation before him, Rovi realized it instantly.
The aura from the Underworld had completely dissipated. All the lives that had originally been lost had returned, and having regained their youth, they no longer looked feeble and at death's door.
Clearly, the Goddess of the Underworld had taken back the aura she had brought of her own accord.
If Ereshkigal had realized what Rovi intended, then given the "kindness" inherent in her divinity, it was only natural that she would take it back.
But what was this situation now?
Rovi lowered his gaze from the street ahead, illuminated by the frosty moonlight, all the way down to the figure in his arms.
A dark golden crown tilted back, golden hair spilling from beneath it and brushing against his chin. He could not see her face, but he could clearly feel the soft warmth of the goddess pressing her face against his chest.
Ereshkigal—the Goddess of the Underworld—held him tightly.
He really wanted to pat her head and ask her... Sis, what are you trying to do!?
But he managed to hold himself back.
That would have ruined the mood too much.
Rovi was not an idiot. Though it was a little hard to understand, he knew that he could not understand only because he had never experienced what Ereshkigal had.
But he knew why her state of mind had changed.
...His performance had gone overboard again!
He pressed a hand to his forehead.
But since things had come to this, Rovi never dwelled on them.
He just had to keep it up.
At that moment, the night breeze drifted past, accompanied by soft murmurs, and Rovi heard a sound from within his embrace.
"Thank you..." She kept her head lowered, her voice equally soft. "For letting me know that someone still remembers me. That someone still... admires a useless god like me so much."
The burning warmth of her face pressed against his chest testified to the goddess's unease and embarrassment.
Rovi had never been a saint.
Although this was not his main purpose in approaching the Goddess of the Underworld, if possible, Rovi would not reject the prospect of sharing a beautiful story with her.
A bond with a god
would not merely become further proof for his ascent to the Throne of Heroes.
It would also prove Rovi's humanity as a person... As for Ereshkigal, such a kind and gentle goddess, he admitted he was rather fond of her.
This was unexpected, but perhaps it was not an entirely bad moment.
"She really is quite useless." The words reached Ereshkigal's ears as she lowered her head in embarrassment. She froze, then instinctively looked up.
Then she saw a young, handsome face, and the amusement in Rovi's eyes.
"I mean—what kind of god would not dare respond to the request of someone who admires them?" Rovi smiled.
"W-What? I was afraid you wouldn't be able to bear it... That's right, that was why!" Ereshkigal opened her mouth and offered a dry defense.
But the more she spoke, the more confidence she seemed to regain... Or rather, the more she found reasons for herself. "I am a cruel goddess who symbolizes death. What right does a mere human have to face the Embodiment of Death?"
Rovi rubbed his chin, looking curious. "Does the Embodiment of Death cry too?"
"Huh? Huh—!??" Ereshkigal instantly panicked. She instinctively took two steps back and quickly rubbed the corners of her eyes.
Only to find nothing there at all.
"You actually dared to trick me. You're awful..." Ereshkigal's face turned even redder.
The Goddess of the Underworld had no tears at all.
She had definitely been tricked by this guy—
If it had been Ishtar before, she probably would have started arguing with him immediately, right?
They clearly had the same appearance, yet they gave off completely different feelings.
Rovi spread his hands. "I wasn't lying. Look... Didn't you really cry?"
There was indeed a sparkling glimmer in his palm, shining brightly in the darkness.
Ereshkigal froze.
At first glance, it did seem like a crystalline teardrop.
But when she took it from Rovi's hand, she discovered... it was an extremely tiny key, sealed within an icy, snow-like crystal.
Something capable of opening the Gate of the Human World—
"No matter what happened before, from now on, you will have the 'tears' of the human world." That was what Rovi said.
Ereshkigal stood stunned, unsure how to answer.
Had he prepared this specifically for her?
The Goddess of the Underworld clenched it tightly in her palm, then nodded firmly. Seeing her accept it, Rovi was relieved... He had made this key using the power of the Key of Heaven.
It could open any door where its holder was.
And it worked both ways!
Ereshkigal could use it to try leaving the Underworld, while Rovi could also enter it whenever Ereshkigal was in the Underworld—
There was another way for him to seek death... Rovi thought himself quite clever.
"I've received Rovi's gift." A faint blush surfaced on the goddess's face once more. She caressed the warm crystal in her palm, and her crimson lips curved into a lovely smile. "I should give Rovi a gift too."
"In the name of a goddess, I bless you so that from this day onward, you will no longer suffer the corrosion of death or the Underworld..."
"This is a Goddess's Blessing I have never given anyone before!"
Rovi: "..."
Then what was he supposed to go to the Underworld for?
He was about to refuse when he discovered that Ereshkigal, who had just moved away, suddenly drew close again.
The golden-haired girl rose slightly onto her toes. Amid the fragrant breeze brushing his face, fingers as pale as jade touched his lips.
Then her moist crimson lips pressed against her knuckles—
Rovi's eyes widened as he looked at the face so close to his own. An enticing flush showed through the goddess's fair skin.
Freedom from the corrosion of death had never been an ordinary Goddess's Blessing.
It was the most sincere prayer of the Underworld Goddess, a mark bestowed upon the one she loved...
Will you remember this moment?
Ereshkigal closed her eyes and silently asked herself.
For her, this was a beauty she had never known since her birth.
But no, she would not.
She would not remember this moment.
Because of the "key" clenched in her hand, because of him, she would remember every moment from now on.
Her close crimson lips curved upward.
The Goddess of the Underworld smiled, like a flower that had never bloomed in the Underworld...
So she fell for him just like that...
Ishtar, hidden deep within the goddess's vessel, sighed silently.
It was not impossible to understand—if she too had been imprisoned in darkness and alone for tens of millions of years, then someone suddenly risking their life just to be with her... Ishtar's reaction would not have been any better than Ereshkigal's.
But thinking about it carefully...
I suddenly feel so jealous! Ishtar's teeth ached.
She felt that her existence was terribly out of place.
She was practically becoming a giant light bulb—
Unfortunately, Rovi had no idea what Ishtar was thinking, much less would he say, "You came at just the right time," to her when she currently had no physical form at all.
If you enjoy this book, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.
At the request of many readers, VIP members can now enjoy an ad-free feature.
Click to view
Before you continue