Chapter 476
He was merely accepting Gilgamesh's commission to venture into the Underworld to investigate Enkidu's remains...
How could they possibly bring offerings to a goddess who no longer exists?
Rather, it would be more accurate to say that Ereshkigal never accepted any offerings from anyone.
The goddess of death, whom everyone avoids like the plague, could not possibly receive offerings and worship on earth.
He must have lied to please his goddess.
Since it was able to detect my presence after entering City of Kussa, it must be a cunning human.
The goddess declared, "Don't think I'll be deceived by your sweet words."
"No, it's true! I really did bring offerings!"
Shirou took out a pre-prepared offering from his pocket—a cloth bag.
"..."
The mistress of the Underworld was stunned.
She had expected the red-haired boy to pull out gold, silver, and precious jewelry, but instead he showed her an unremarkable bag.
Eerie blue flames shot out from the dark eye sockets on the skull.
"You... you... how dare you fool me--"
Shirou felt like he was about to be frozen into an ice sculpture by the goddess's wrath, and hurriedly explained:
"These are flower seeds I got from a flower shop in Uruk when I was helping out there!"
This is a special product brought from the earth, offered to you, goddess Ereshkigal!
Before arriving in Uruk, Shirou was indeed unaware that Ereshkigal had already appeared in Mesopotamia.
He thought he was entering the world of the dead, where his master had departed—
Even so, Shirou held death in high esteem, still prepared appropriate offerings.
Offering sacrifices and condolences to a goddess who no longer exists is the only thing he, a stranger in a foreign land, can do.
"--!"
A gust of wind swept through the underground Underworld.
This is probably what they mean by "eerie winds."
Did those souls imprisoned in the cage of guns sense the mistress's inner turmoil and tremble along with her?
"That's terrible."
The goddess murmured.
After a long silence, the enormous Gallu Spirit Queen uttered an angry question.
Look at this country! A sky without light, a ground without sunshine, soil without flowers!
There's nothing here—no sunlight, no life, just the silence of death!
Azaka seeds... What is the point of offering me such a thing!?
"..."
Shirou then realized he had stepped on a landmine.
The "flower seeds" option, offered as a sacrifice to the Queen of the Underworld, is absolutely terrible.
"... Feel sorry."
Shirou lowered his head, filled with remorse.
At that moment, for some reason, he remembered what Tohsaka had said—
I really am a fool who doesn't understand women's hearts.
Now, even if she kills him, he'll accept his fate.
"I will not kill you. I will take away your freedom."
The skeletal woman, the mistress of the Underworld, spoke coldly.
"I will imprison your body and soul in this underground place, and keep them by my side—forever."
"... I see."
Shirou nodded, accepting Ereshkigal's judgment with complete composure.
"Come with me."
After the giant Gallu Spirit said that, Shirou, resigned to his fate, followed.
They traversed a desolate underground wilderness that bore a striking resemblance to their predecessors, and then passed through seven magnificent gates.
Ultimately, the man and the god arrived at a completely new, open plain.
This plain wasn't filled with guns imprisoning souls like a cemetery; it was simply empty.
Only rocks and the chill seeping from the cracks—a true wasteland of death.
"My Goddess, where am I?"
Shirou looked at the white-boned goddess, whose size was more than twenty times his own.
Haven't you heard the story of that foolish Goddess of Heaven?
After passing through seven gates, one arrives at the palace of the goddess Ereshkigal.
"This is the palace of the Underworld... Uh, come to think of it... this is just an ordinary wilderness."
Shirou looked around in astonishment.
The Hades Palace, as he perceived it, should have been quite magnificent, even if it couldn't compare to the palace of the Sky God.
The pitch-black castle, with its imposing presence, has a three-headed vicious dog chained to its towering gate, which is over twenty meters high.
"If this is considered a palace, then it's far too..."
What are you expecting? This is what they call the Underworld.
Ereshkigal said calmly, "There is nothing magnificent here."
To actually attempt to plant flower seeds in such a world, I really want to know what's going on in your head.
"..."
Shirou couldn't find any words to refute him, so he said nothing.
Ereshkigal seemed to have vented his emotions enough, and then he snorted.
You may stay here.
Do not wander around, as the Gallu Spirit roaming the Underworld will actively attack any life that still possesses a physical body.
Only in my palace can you be considered truly safe.
Remember, your body, mind, soul, and freedom are all mine.
You are not allowed to have suicidal thoughts, understand?
Seeing Shirou nod obediently, the White Bone Goddess turned around and prepared to leave.
Just then, a voice came from behind—
Where can I find my goddess?
"What?"
"I'll stay here obediently, but it shouldn't be a problem if I occasionally go to chat with the goddess, right?"
"Looking for me... to chat?"
Shirou said, "This palace has nothing at all. Even I sometimes want to find someone to chat with to relieve my boredom..."
"If you have some free time, could you chat with me?"
The boy's matter-of-fact attitude left Ereshkigal completely bewildered.
"You really dare to make such an outrageous request."
"After speaking with you, I found you to be a very understanding goddess, not as terrifying as the rumors suggest."
Shirou frankly expressed his true thoughts.
Having committed that serious diplomatic blunder, he wouldn't have any complaints even if the goddess reduced him to ashes.
Rather, if a tyrant in Uruk had encountered a similar situation, Shirou would probably have been dragged away and beheaded by the guards.
"It's not that scary, you really dare to say that."
The skeletal goddess observed Shirou's face and asked, "Aren't you afraid of my appearance?"
Shirou said, "Although I was a little surprised at first, it's actually not so bad. Rather, it's more like—"
"Or what should we say?"
The red-haired boy scratched his cheek somewhat embarrassedly.
"That might sound a bit presumptuous, but for some reason—I feel a strange sense of familiarity with the goddess."
"... Hmm."
The atmosphere around Ereshkigal trembled violently as she turned toward the skull's head.
"What a strange human being... Fine, whatever you like, I don't care anymore!"
Hmph, if you want to find me, come to the coordinates directly below City of Kussa...
I'll always be waiting for you at Gun Prison Plain, where we first met!
As soon as she finished speaking, the Bone Goddess flew away in a panic, as if fleeing in disarray.
So you were willing to wait for me.
Shirou stared blankly at the goddess's departing Shadow.
The sense of friendliness I mentioned earlier wasn't something I said to flatter the goddess.
He did indeed feel a strong sense of familiarity with the terrifying-looking Queen of the Dead.
Clumsy yet clever, passive yet stubborn, he always makes one feel uneasy.
"... call."
Shirou let out a long breath.
After Ereshkigal left, the surroundings became a little warmer.
That being said, this so-called palace was nothing at all and completely unsuitable for human habitation.
Although Shirou doesn't need to eat after entering the Underworld, he still needs to sleep.
First, I need to build my own place to live.
You can't just lie down and sleep in the wilderness, can you?
Then, as a small favor, let's build Lord Ereshkigal's temple as well.
Okay, let's get started.
"Territory Creation"
This is one of Shirou's few Magecraft abilities that are above average.
In his previous life, he learned earth Magecraft from the savior Ash.
In addition, there's the experience gained in this life of repairing, renovating, and maintaining the Amamiya Residence.
Shirou was very confident in his civil engineering skills.
Regarding his future after graduating from high school, he even seriously considered whether to join the Fujimura Group or Asagami Construction and become a glorious mortar worker.
Well... it seems like I have no future.
Shirou stretched his limbs, which had been paralyzed from falling into the Underworld, and began preliminary preparations for building the base.