Chapter 479
"Because even if I kill him, it won't do me any good."
Moreover, if the Earth's surface lost the sun, human life would decline.
However, as proof of my remorse, I made a vow to Nergal—
He was required to leave half of his strength here!
"So that's how it is!"
Shirou instantly understood the goddess's intention: she must want the warmth of the sun to also envelop the Underworld, right?
"Nergal reluctantly obeyed the oath, but... alas, this was only the beginning of disaster."
Ereshkigal hung his skull in despair.
"I originally thought that if I obtained Nergal's Authority, I might be able to create a sun in the Underworld..."
This way, we can offer a little warmth to those souls... but!
"Ah, I understand. Goddess Ereshkigal, I will give you half of my Authority."
"However, this Authority is the force of plague borrowed from the god Ea; it is the Authority of disease and calamity!"
The moment the oath was taken, Nergal abandoned his Fourteen Guardians and fled back to the surface.
Shirou: "Huh!?"
Even after tens of thousands of years, Ereshkigal still clutches his head and screams when he recalls that experience.
"I've been tricked! What I really wanted was heating (a heater), but that guy forced this disaster on me! Waa..."
Shirou finally realized—this guy had messed up again at the crucial moment.
Although Ereshkigal received Nergal's Authority, most of them were related to plagues.
The most crucial Authority of the sun is completely unusable; as the goddess of the Underworld, her dark nature is only deepening...
So, why did I say "again"?
"That concludes my entire relationship with that guy, Nergal."
Ereshkigal slumped down, his white bones drooping as if all his strength had been drained.
"I'm sorry, I brought back sad memories for you," Shirou said.
"No, it's nothing..."
The mistress of the Underworld shook her head. "I've been brooding for ten thousand years, and I feel much better after confiding in someone. Hehe, hehehehehehe."
After that, Ereshkigal talked with Shirou about many things from the Mythological Era.
Although people are rarely seen in the Underworld, if one lives long enough, some events are bound to occur.
"Alright, let's now tell the story of the greedy and tyrannical goddess and her husband, the poor shepherd god..."
"My goddess, it's about time I went."
"Huh? Oh, is that so? It's already this late... Well, you may leave now."
Shirou sensed a lingering sense of satisfaction in Ereshkigal's tone, and so he spoke.
I'll come again tomorrow.
"..."
Ereshkigal remained silent for a long while before lowering his head in embarrassment and speaking.
"Yes, I'll be waiting for you here again tomorrow."
Time flies.
Another month passed in the blink of an eye as Shirou and the goddess lived together in the Underworld.
Ereshkigal didn't really understand what "love" was.
But she also vaguely sensed her special feelings for Shirou.
Lately, whenever I have a moment to myself, I think about that human.
I recalled the joke he told me yesterday.
I'm looking forward to seeing him sometime today.
As she thought about these things, the goddess felt a warmth in her chest.
Shirou--
Are you satisfied with your current life?
According to the Gallu Spirit, he seems to have completed the construction of the position.
Ereshkigal did not want to let Shirou return to the ground.
At first, it was because the ground was too dangerous, but now it's just the goddess's personal feelings.
At the same time, Ereshkigal also felt immense sorrow.
Shirou is still a living, breathing human being, yet he can never return to Earth.
After thinking about it for a very long time, she made up her mind.
I shouldn't continue imprisoning Shirou under the guise of "protection."
However--
"I didn't want anything; rather, I've already gotten what I wanted from the goddess."
Shirou casually declined the goddess's offer to grant him one wish.
He knew that if he simply said, "My Goddess, please let me return to the earth," Ereshkigal would do as he was told...
As long as Shirou is happy, the goddess is even willing to give him back his freedom.
But Shirou refused.
Oh, I see! Actually, I misunderstood!
Shirou actually wants to live with... me!!
The goddess was overjoyed and couldn't contain her happiness.
However, just as she began to look forward to her wonderful new life with Shirou—
Ereshkigal heard a rumor from Gallu Spirit.
After completing the construction of his residence, Shirou suspiciously began his next project.
He is secretly digging a tunnel back to the surface from the Underworld using a shovel created by Projection Magic.
"Ah..."
In that instant, Ereshkigal felt the world, which had been full of color and vibrant hues, suddenly dim.
Is that how it is?
So you... actually really hate living with me?
Are you just not telling me the truth because you don't want to provoke me?
"..."
The goddess looked lost and forlorn.
No, perhaps it was never truly ours to begin with.
Shirou's soul was both noble and beautiful, burning hotter than the sun Ereshkigal had ever glimpsed.
For the Underworld, such a person would be far too extravagant.
From the very beginning, it was a soul that I could not touch, a soul that should not be imprisoned underground.
"Waaah..."
Ereshkigal suddenly felt like crying.
But—if I cry, I feel like I've lost.
Don't cry.
After all, Ereshkigal had already decided that at times like this (when parting), one should smile.
Although parting from Shirou caused her pain and sadness, the thought that Shirou could gain freedom on earth made her happy for him.
So on this day...
Ereshkigal visited the tunnel that Shirou was secretly excavating.
"Huh? Goddess... what are you doing here?"
Shirou looked surprised.
She probably didn't expect Ereshkigal to leave her gun emplacements.
The boy showed no fear despite his secret project—a crime punishable by death for betraying the gods.
Ereshkigal poked his head out, staring blankly at the red-haired boy's masterpiece, speechless.
Shirou's secret digging of the tunnel should have taken only two weeks, but it was far more efficient than expected.
The red-haired boy scratched his cheek and smiled shyly, "I originally wanted to keep it a secret from you, but I didn't expect to be found out beforehand."
I know you're really enthusiastic, but isn't this a bit too much?
The goddess was utterly speechless.
The tunnel that Shirou dug was so huge that it seemed to be a product of the land of giants.
A passage with a diameter exceeding five meters could not only allow a human to return to the surface, but could even allow one's own enormous skeletal body to pass through. Huh?
"Etc..."
The goddess of the Underworld's voice trembled violently.
"Shirou, you wouldn't...?"
Ereshkigal suddenly understood something.
The truth that Shirou has been hiding from me lately about everything he's been doing:
This tunnel leading to the surface wasn't for Shirou himself—it was prepared to free Ereshkigal.
--
Volume 7: 311 Morgan: Using the techniques I taught you to pick up girls again, huh?
"..."
The goddess of the Underworld's mind went blank.
This person wasn't acting for himself, but rather had been considering Ereshkigal's situation from the very beginning.
"This is a rare opportunity... Now that I, as a goddess, have finally been given a second chance at life, I think I should fully enjoy the fresh air and sunshine on Earth."
Shirou planted the shovel in the ground, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said...
As the goddess gazed at the boy's face, a sense of disorientation washed over her.
The mission bestowed upon him by the gods was met with disdain by Shirou.
In order to free Ereshkigal from his bondage, he decided to physically excavate a connection between the earth and the Underworld.
Should I say the boy I fell in love with is a decisive, action-oriented person, or a complete idiot who doesn't consider the consequences?
Ereshkigal gave a faint, wry smile, then shook his head with a serious expression.
I appreciate your kindness, Shirou.
But that won't work.
Ereshkigal snapped out of her daze and returned to her usual calm demeanor as a goddess.
"The Underworld cannot do without me; I cannot leave the Underworld."
If Ereshkigal disappears, there will be no one to protect the souls left behind.