Chapter 581
With the establishment of the temple, Ishtar finally gained power approaching that of the Age of Gods.
Even so, she alone was powerless against more than three digits of Lahmu.
Uruk's military system had already collapsed during the final battle.
However, even if all the soldiers who guarded the Northern Wall back then were still alive, they would not be able to fight against Lahmu, who possessed the strength of Divine Servant on his own.
"We need help..."
"In the Divine Tower, "Ishtar, Siduri, and Ereshkigal said.
"Summon Heroic Spirit! Just as Gilgamesh summoned seven Servant, let us summon new Servant to protect Uruk!"
After some discussion, the three reached a consensus.
Use the Greater Grail Uruk left behind by Gilgamesh to Heroic Spirit Summoning once more.
What Ritsuka Fujimaru and the others took away was Solomon's Holy Grail; the Holy Grail of Uruk had always remained in the Gate of Babylon.
A land that has just hosted a summoning ceremony typically needs decades or even centuries to accumulate enough spiritual energy to perform another summoning.
But no problem, Uruk has Ereshkigal, the wisest goddess of Mesopotamia.
During the final battle with Goddess Tiamat, the Goddess of Earth of Uruk opened the Underworld, allowing the soil to be transformed by consuming sufficient resources.
In this way, a quarter of the resources left behind by Gilgamesh were consumed.
The treasure vault, once said to contain all the treasures on earth, now has very little left.
Ishtar's heart was bleeding, but she had achieved her goal in the end.
"I will preside over the summoning ceremony..."
Siduri's words were immediately rejected by Ishtar.
Because we don't know what kind of creatures we'll summon.
The Goddess of Heaven looked at the sister goddesses in the mirror with a mischievous grin. "Perhaps the one who comes is an evil goddess who will kill the summoner."
"Gurgle...!"
Ereshkigal's face turned deathly pale.
She murdered the chief Miko of Uruk in order to conceal her existence.
The summoning ceremony was presided over by Ishtar.
The time was set for 2 a. m., the perfect time for the goddess.
In the basement of the Divine Tower, Ishtar used molten gems to inscribe a summoning circle.
"Shut it down. Shut it down. Shut it down. Shut it down."
Repeat five times. But then, the overflowing engravings are broken.
"─────anfang (setting)."
A vortex of magic swirled around the Goddess of Heaven.
"Announcement."
"Your body is beneath me, my fate rests on your sword."
"If you follow the destiny of the Holy Grail, if you follow this will and this principle, then answer me."
"I hereby swear."
"I am the one who accomplishes all good deeds in the world, and I am the one who conveys all evil intentions in the world."
"Entangle your three great incantations for seven days, come forth from the Circle of Restraint, guardian of the scales—!"
Perfect!
Ishtar curled the corners of her mouth into a smile.
Even he was amazed by his own competence.
This way we'll definitely get the strongest Servant!
"Call..."
Ishtar exhaled and opened her eyes.
"Huh?"
There was no one in the basement of the tower.
The air was filled with an overwhelming concentration of magic, yet nothing was summoned.
Just as Ishtar was puzzled --
The tower itself trembled violently.
What's going on?
Ishtar frowned, lifted her feet off the ground, and flew towards the top of the magically pulsating tower.
"Siduri! What's wrong!?"
"Lord Ishtar! Lord Ishtar!"
The usually composed and serious high priest collapsed to the ground.
She covered her lips, which were hidden by a black veil, her voice choked with sobs.
Ishtar had only ever seen Siduri like that at someone's funeral.
I remember that time Shirou was imprisoned by the evil Queen of the Underworld for more than three months.
Everyone thought he was dead, but he appeared unharmed at his own funeral.
Ah, those were the days... No! Now is not the time to reminisce about the good old days. What happened?
Ishtar shook off her distracting thoughts and looked in the direction Siduri was looking.
"Ah..."
Ishtar unconsciously opened her mouth slightly.
On the Void Throne where Gilgamesh departed—
The red-haired boy rested his chin on his hand, crossed his legs, and his face was filled with a complex expression that was both helpless and relieved.
"Still as bossy as ever, Ishtar... I'll provide after-sales service."
"Shirou!!!!!"
The Goddess of Heaven flew over and pounced on the boy.
Volume 8: Chapter 366 Shirou: You have truly caused me great suffering!
"Really? Gil is gone."
Shirou stroked the goddess Ishtar, who was clinging to his lap, while listening to the explanation from the high priestess Siduri.
"Although the King appeared in the Underworld as Servant, he returned to his throne after the battle."
"Well, that's understandable, since he was able to manifest because of Solomon's Holy Grail."
After handing the Holy Grail to Ritsuka and the others, Uruk's Spacetime Distortion was restored, and he lost the foundation to continue manifesting in the world.
As for Ishtar's continued existence, it's probably because she's a native deity, which is a completely different matter.
Then, you took advantage of this property by rebuilding the temple of Ereshkigal.
Ereshkigal, who had perished after his Spirit Origin was burned in the final battle, has returned to the Underworld.
Ishtar said, "Although I'm reluctant to admit it, that girl and I are like two sides of the same coin, which is why things went so smoothly."
Shirou muttered, "It's been three months since I left Uruk..."
"?"
Siduri noticed that the boy suddenly looked at her abdomen.
Ah...
The priest's long face flushed slightly.
Fortunately, the veil concealed her expression; otherwise, her shyness would have been obvious.
Three months ago, on the eve of the decisive battle, Siduri sneaked into Shirou's room and begged him to spend a pleasant night with her.
That night--
Although there is no clear evidence yet, Siduri is convinced that she is pregnant with Shirou's child.
This is a woman's Instinct; a new life is growing within her.
This is probably what Shirou cares about as well.
Siduri thought to herself, "Since only three months have passed, there's no visible change in my appearance. Actually, I'm a little anxious..."
She instinctively placed her hand on her flat stomach; it probably wouldn't be long before it started to swell...
At that moment, Siduri and Shirou's eyes met, and both of them turned away shyly.
"What, dead? Both of you?"
Ishtar sensed the strange atmosphere and looked up at the two of them with a puzzled expression.
"No, it's nothing. Let's continue our previous topic."
Although Goddess Tiamat was defeated, the aftershocks of her return have not dissipated.
In that Persia Gulf, hundreds of millions of Lahmu still lie dormant, occasionally launching attacks on Uruk.
Moreover, these attacks are becoming more and more frequent over time, and I'm really worried that they might one day fully awaken.
At that time, the Mesopotamia world that everyone fought so hard to protect would truly perish.
Shirou nodded. "I see, I understand everything now."
That's why you thought of using Gilgamesh's method to summon Servant to help.
"I didn't expect it to be Mr. Shirou who came."
The high priest said apologetically, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Shirou... we've caused you trouble."
Her voice was filled with remorse.
Siduri knew how selfish this request was, but besides Shirou, she couldn't think of anyone else who could save Uruk.
"Don't say that, Miss Siduri. I've also received a lot of help from everyone in Uruk, and I'll definitely help if I need anything."
"But..."
Siduri frowned slightly.
She was indeed very upset.
Shirou is not a Heroic Spirit, but a living, breathing human being.
He had already returned to a peaceful life, but because of their obsession, he was forced to return to this dangerous era.
"Really... thank you so much." Siduri bowed her head deeply.
"Hey, Shirou, what were you doing when I summoned you?"
Ishtar asked curiously.
Shirou rolled his eyes, speechless.
He was in his room, making his bed while chatting with Tiamat...
By the way, where's Tiamat?
Just then, a mirror emerged from the ground of the tower.
A thin gray mist shrouded the mirror, an aura unique to the Underworld.
"Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!!!"
Accompanied by a seductive female voice, Ereshkigal, the mistress of the Underworld, makes her entrance.
"Please calm down, Lord Ereshkigal. What happened?"