Chapter 530
Ishtar crossed her arms and complained, "Hey, at least listen to what they're asking before you agree..."
Tch, that's why I hate sheltered princesses like you who are so naive and gullible...
"Nonsense! Mind your own business!" A faint blush rose on the goddess of the Underworld's cheeks.
Shirou said, "Ereshkigal, I want Goddess Tiamat to fall into the Underworld."
"Ah?"
Ereshkigal and Ishtar blinked in perfect sync, 400% synchronized.
"That's right, Mistress of the Underworld, the glorious task of entertaining Goddess Tiamat is entrusted to you."
Gilgamesh curled the corners of his mouth. "If Mother cannot die in a world with life, then simply push her into a world without life!"
If Tiamat remains in the Underworld, she'll become "the last life on earth," right? And thus, she'll become someone who can be defeated!
"!!"
Dr. Roman and Da Vinci's eyes lit up.
"Wait, wait, wait... wait a minute! I just said we fell into... right? Here? The Underworld?"
Shirou nodded seriously. "Yes."
Ereshkigal opened his mouth slightly: "Uh--"
Gilgamesh excitedly, "Ereshkigal, goddess of the Land of the Dead! I, in the name of the king, command you!"
Open the Gate of the Underworld throughout Uruk and sink the Beasts of Calamity that falsely claims to be the Goddess Tiamat into the earth!
This is your duty, and your only redemption, given your past misdeeds as one of the Three Goddesses!
"No, impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
A chorus of fierce opposition came from within the mirror.
"You want me to move the Underworld under Uruk?! How could I possibly do something so reckless?!"
"So... it really can't be done..."
Shirou looked sad and sighed as he rested his head on Siduri's shoulder.
"Waaah!"
Ereshkigal pursed his lips. "But... well, I guess I have no choice but to do it! It's Shirou's request!"
"Can you do it?" Shirou asked eagerly.
"Uh... I guess... I guess so." Ereshkigal shyly avoided her gaze.
"But! I know how to do it! I do know how to do it! But please give me some time to prepare!"
How long is "a little time"?
Ereshkigal turned his back. "It's already difficult enough just in City of Kussa, which is under my jurisdiction."
Such a vast city would normally have taken ten years to barely achieve.
Mash: "Ten years?"
Shirou: "Originally?"
Ereshkigal stood with his back to the crowd, looking somewhat awkward.
"However, actually, because of my previous hatred for Uruk, I had this intention a long time ago..."
So in just three days, just three days... I can be ready.
Gilgamesh: "..."
"Wow, that's amazing, Miss Ereshkigal!" Ritsuka and Mash exclaimed happily.
"Is... is that so? Then all those curse rituals I secretly performed every night were worth it, hehe."
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, is it?" Ishtar said speechlessly.
Gilgamesh: "Hahaha, well done, Ereshkigal! But I have something to discuss with you later!"
After seeing off the goddess of the Underworld, the strategic meeting continued.
The impossible became possible in Goddess Tiamat's conquest.
However, the key is how to slow her down.
Two days until Goddess Tiamat arrives in Uruk.
There are three days left until the gates to Ereshkigal's Underworld are ready.
Next, everyone must strive to gain a precious day.
"I'll take care of it; I'll take responsibility and keep Mother occupied for another day."
"Mr. Shirou!?"
Even though Shirou has already obtained the Grand Spirit Origin, he has absolutely no chance of winning against Goddess Tiamat.
Beast was originally an opponent that required the combined might of seven Grand Servant to contend with.
Moreover, Goddess Tiamat was accompanied by the ultimate weapon of the Mesopotamia pantheon, tens or even millions of Lahmu, who were protecting their mother's journey.
Shirou could indeed buy Tiamat a day, but...
Gilgamesh objected:
"No, no, Shirou, you're our trump card, shouldering the crucial responsibility of defeating the beast that has fallen to the Underworld— "
Don't forget why you obtained this Spirit Origin in the first place.
"If even Shirou can't be mobilized, what are we supposed to do? Axe of Marduk is already damaged..."
Gilgamesh smiled confidently, "No need to worry."
"I have already seen the path to victory, after all, we have Ishtar on our side."
Ishtar pointed at herself, dumbfounded. "Huh... me?"
Dr. Roman realized, "Ah! I see, what the goddess Ishtar said is indeed true!"
"Oh, right! Ishtar will definitely handle it easily!"
"That's right! As expected of Miss Ishtar!"
"Yes! Just as Mr. Merlin said!"
"As expected of Miss Ishtar!"
The hymns of the goddess Venus echoed throughout the tower.
Shirou walked up behind Ishtar and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm counting on you, Ishtar."
"Okay, okay, since Shirou says so... No! Something's not right!"
Ishtar suddenly snapped, triggered by some bad premonition.
"W-What's wrong? Why is everyone suddenly so agitated?"
The king's laughter echoed throughout the hall.
Hahahaha, this guy is actually pretending!
It's truly infuriating that they know how to display their trump cards... but they don't need to do such despicable things anymore.
Come quickly, call forth your Gugalanna!
Gugalanna--
In Sumer mythology, Bull of Heaven serves the goddess Ishtar.
It is the largest and most ferocious Mesopotamia, and also the ultimate and strongest scorched earth weapon.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Ishtar received the Bull of Heaven from her father, a result of Anu's arrogance.
Gugalanna drained the Tigris River, causing an eight-year drought in the Mesopotamia world.
Although Gilgamesh and Enkidu were at their peak at the time, eventually joined forces to defeat this divine beast, it was only through their bond and the power of the Law of the Chains of Heaven.
Originally, the power of the Bull of Heaven was far greater than that of the strongest duo in Uruk.
"If it's Gugalanna, it's not impossible for him to even hinder Goddess Tiamat's progress!"
"I've also heard it from the people of Ur! Gugalanna, the servant of the goddess Ishtar, is a fearsome divine beast!"
Quetzal made no attempt to hide his fawning attitude. "And how wonderful the goddess Ishtar Coatl!"
I've heard that even the gods couldn't tame this divine beast, yet you can wield it with varying degrees of severity, commanding it with complete freedom!
Ishtar's lips twitched. "Yes... yes, that's right."
That Gugalanna... is it like my mount (legs)?
But everyone's giving that guy way too much credit, isn't it? Gugalanna isn't some amazing guy.
It should be said that the guy was completely useless in the face of his mother's divine power...
"Gugalanna! Gugalanna!"
"Ishtar! Ishtar!"
Triumphant cheers erupted around them, Ishtar, her face deathly pale, uttered, "Ugh, gurgle...!"
Gilgamesh frowned slightly, sensing something was amiss:
"What's wrong? You look a little strange."
Normally, you would have already burst into loud laughter and started showing off your ancient Gugalanna weren't even your own...
Hey, you bastard, could it be that you're not—"
Ishtar lowered her head as if resigned to her fate.
"... Yes, I don't have... Gugalanna."
"What!?" The South America god exclaimed in surprise, bursting out in English.
"I don't have it, I lost it! I don't know where I lost it!"
Ishtar said dejectedly, "It should have fallen in the north, but I can't find it anywhere!"
In the past six months... we've searched all over Babylon, but we haven't found a Shadow of that guy Gugalanna!
Gilgamesh, unable to bear it any longer, launched into a tirade of curses.
"You... you idiot goddess! What do you think I wanted to do by bringing you into this group?!"
Ultimately, Ishtar was forced to stand as punishment, holding a clay tablet inscribed with "I am the incompetent goddess."
Night fell.
The war council failed to reach a conclusion that satisfied everyone, Gilgamesh announced that it would be dissolved that day.
Ritsuka suggested, "Let's go help out at the Nabistine's Fang."
"King Leonidas and his men are guarding that place now; it's none of your business."
Gilgamesh announced, "Your fatigue should have reached its limit; it's time for you to rest."
"Let each of you rest and recuperate. Although it's only a short time until dawn, this will likely be your last rest in Uruk."
"Mr. Shirou, aren't you going back to the embassy tonight? Miss Ishtar will also be spending the night there."
Ritsuka, who was preparing to leave the God Tower, noticed that Shirou hadn't followed.
"Ah, I have a little something to take care of. See you tomorrow, Ritsuka."
Gilgamesh gave Shirou a meaningful look, then left the hall without turning back.
The once bustling tower suddenly became deserted.
Shirou arrived at the observation deck.
He was just about to take off when his wrist was grabbed.
"Shirou? Where are you planning to go?"
Siduri stared into the boy's eyes and said, "The king instructed me to keep a close eye on you and make sure you don't do anything foolish..."