The Scum Goddess's Py Deal

Ishtar, though not a direct witness to Uruk's battle for survival, was able to reconstruct the situation from scattered reports.

The refugees swept along with the tide of demonic beasts, rushing mindlessly towards Uruk's northern defenses, met a tragic end.

War is never merciful, nor is it a game that can be replayed at will.

Even when faced with thousands of refugees gathered at the city's base, the Uruk generals responsible for defending the line could only make a cruel choice.

After all, it was easy to breach the North Wall and let these refugees in, but to seal the gap and stabilize the front line in a short period was as difficult as climbing the heavens.

And the tide of demonic beasts, biting at their heels, was looming, right before their eyes.

Their appearance was very much like a pack of lions driving prey into an encirclement, thereby causing chaos.

It was clear that these monsters were sharpening their claws, waiting for the opportune moment to attack.

If trouble broke out here, the defenses painstakingly built by humanity would be finished!

The Northern High Ground, previously overrun, had fallen due to similar negligence and soft-heartedness.

While the people below the city were pitiable, were those behind them, the people of Uruk, any less so?

To avoid their homeland becoming the ruined state of Babylon, they had to harden their hearts.

Therefore, after that battle, less than one in a hundred refugees who reached the North Wall of the Absolute Demonic Beast Front managed to survive.

Including those dragged away by demonic beasts on their escape route, those who died of illness, those who died from exhaustion, and those who killed each other, the real death toll was likely even more staggering.

It was fortunate that this group did not head towards the Babylonian defense line.

However, even so, the extended escape distance and the numerous uncertainties along the way resulted in heavy losses for these few dozen people who chose a different path.

According to the man's account, after entering the Mount Epiph mountain range, they encountered more demonic beasts and were scattered.

Currently, he was the sole survivor of the team he was with.

"Human, there is no need for sorrow, nor regret. You have done very well!"

Ishtar's expression turned solemn as she gently patted Samael's shoulder, offering comfort, her gaze softening.

Besides harvest, love, and marriage, she also presided over the divine office of war.

Therefore, Ishtar held a strong fondness for soldiers who fought bravely and possessed battlefield wisdom.

"By the way, since you managed to escape, why didn't you run towards any cities or settlements?"

"If you can't find your way, and seeing as you've tried so hard, I can give you a ride on the Sky Ark Ma'anna."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ishtar wished she could slap herself.

Gems! He ran off, what about the gems? What a slip of the tongue!

Just as the goddess was regretting her words, Samael, who had picked up most of the scattered gems, looked solemnly at Ishtar with a grave expression.

"Lady Ishtar, the reason I ventured into the sacred mountain is precisely because I heard of your fame as the goddess of war and wished to make a trade with you."

"As for the reward, it will be these gems that we brought from Uruk!"

A trade?!

What trade? I'll do any trade!

Ishtar's eyes brightened, and she keenly sensed an enticing prospect, wishing she could discard all pretense and shout at the slow-speaking fellow.

"Ahem, state any request you have. The gods are merciful."

However, as soon as the words left her mouth, her inner thoughts were replaced by a statement that maintained her image, her demeanor appearing reserved and elegant.

"Merciful? Heh..."

"If the guardian deity of Uruk could be as enlightened as you, why would we have taken the gems from the temple?"

Samael let out a mocking cold snort, unconsciously tightening his grip on the bundle, his knuckles turning slightly white from the excessive force.

Then, as if to vent, the man thrust the gems into Ishtar's embrace.

Were these gems from Marduk's temple? No wonder the quality was so high!

Ishtar's eyelids twitched. While excited, a hint of worry appeared in her eyes.

That King of Kings was the guardian deity of Uruk, and in a sense, these gems were somewhat connected to him.

Even if Marduk had not responded to the pleas of the people of Uruk, anything placed in a temple was, in theory, already divine property.

However, greed and poverty gradually overcame Ishtar's apprehension towards Marduk.

Besides, Uruk is gone, and your people have lost all hope in you, turning to offer sacrifices to me. Even if there's an inquiry, it won't be my fault, right?

What if...

What if anything?! Once it's in my pocket, it's mine! Not even Father Anu can take it away!

Ishtar, displaying a completely miserly demeanor, clutched the bundle stuffed with gems and, baring her fangs, fiercely vowed in her heart.

At this moment, Samael picked up a fallen clay tablet from the ground and fell into mournful remembrance.

Ishtar leaned in curiously and saw that the content appeared to be the war and reconnaissance records of a Uruk general, containing much information about the demonic beast tides.

On the back of the clay tablet, he also pinpointed the location of the Blood Temple, the source of the beast calamity, within the Fir Forest, based on the march and activity routes of the demonic beasts.

This item was invaluable to Uruk, who was resisting the beast tide, its importance beyond words.

And from the pauses between the lines and the detail of the survey data, Ishtar subtly sensed a strong scent of blood.

To obtain this precise information, who knew how many people had already sacrificed their lives.

Perhaps this group that broke into Mount Epiph had detached from the main body of refugees and taken such a long detour precisely to preserve this precious clay tablet.

Combining multiple pieces of information, the goddess was now fully convinced of the identity and mission of the soldier before her.

"Lady Ishtar, my entire unit perished under the claws of that pursuing blue dragon, the Bashum!"

"I was too useless to avenge my comrades. Besides you, no deity would listen to a mortal's plea!"

"So, I beg you, for the sake of these gems, eliminate that blue dragon!"

Samael's voice was suppressed and filled with grief, his gaze fixed intently on Ishtar.

Let me go slay a dragon?

The goddess's breath hitched slightly, her expression becoming somewhat strained.

"Do you mean to say that even you, who presides over war, are unwilling to avenge us?"

"Then forget it. I'll use these gems to recruit mercenaries, organize people, and find a way to reach the Fir Forest to eliminate that blue dragon!"

Sensing Ishtar's hesitation, Samael, in a flurry, tried to snatch the bag of gems from the goddess's hand.

"What are you saying! It's just a dragon! Leave it to me!"

Ishtar forced a smile onto her face, tightly grasping the gems and patting her somewhat meager chest, taking on the responsibility.

"Yes! Thank you, Goddess!"

The honest and straightforward soldier nodded earnestly, sighing in relief as if the bag of gems in his hands was a burden and a responsibility.

Ishtar, maintaining a fake smile, muttered to herself.

No matter what, I'll get my hands on the gems first.

As for dragon slaying? I didn't hear anything just now! Whoever wants to do this troublesome thing can do it.

What if I'm found out? What of it?

Heh, does he dare to demand repayment from a goddess?

Well, well, it's rare to find such gullible sheep who believe people so easily.

If I don't fleece them thoroughly and let them know what real pain is, won't they be even more easily deceived in the future?

Ah, I am indeed too kind.

Eager to avoid the person involved and return to count her spoils, Ishtar immediately summoned the Sky Ark Ma'anna, which was suspended in the sky, and leaped onto her vessel.

Before departing, the goddess vaguely felt as if she had forgotten something important.

Why did I come here in the first place?

But after a moment's thought, her mind, filled with the sparkle of gems, remained a muddled mess.

Never mind, it doesn't seem like anything major. It's more important to hide these gems first!

Then, the Sky Ark Ma'anna turned into a streak of light and headed towards the temple on the mountaintop, returning fully laden.

"You just handed over a whole bag of gems to her so easily? Didn't you leave any binding contract or anything?"

"Don't you know her reputation isn't exactly the best?"

"Tsk, so you actually get tricked by a god after all..."

The Soul Cage at her waist flickered slightly, and Shamhat's tone carried a hint of schadenfreude.

"Is that so?"

"She might be making a profit now, but I definitely won't lose out in the future!"

The Ancient Snake narrowed its eyes, gazing at Ishtar's receding back, the corners of its mouth curving upwards.

Speaking of which, how much of the ore from Gilgamesh's treasury should I deduct?