Chapter 582

"Listen to me, Siduri! I'm over here... huh?"

Ereshkigal stopped abruptly mid-sentence, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"I... I... I'm hallucinating?" She rubbed her eyes.

"It's not a hallucination, long time no see, Goddess." Shirou smiled at her.

That refreshing and gentle smile was the one Ereshkigal remembered as his beloved boy.

"Huh? You're not hallucinating... Shirou!!!!"

Ereshkigal pounced on him!

Completely disregarding her goddess image, she rushed towards Shirou like an ordinary girl meeting her boyfriend, then cried out "Ouch!" and covered her head, falling to the ground.

Overwhelmed with excitement, the impulsive Queen of the Underworld forgot that she was separated from the living world by death.

"It really is Shirou... which means Ishtar's summoning was successful."

Ishtar puffed out her chest proudly and said, "Hmph, of course."

Who do you think I am? I am Ishtar, the mistress of heaven...

Ignoring the Goddess of Heaven, Ereshkigal met the boy's gaze with an overwhelming sense of excitement.

"Shirou... you're really back..."

"Yes, I'm back."

The two looked at each other, Ereshkigal smiled.

"Lord Ereshkigal, did you have something to say just now? You seemed so flustered."

Siduri offered a timely reminder that Shirou and Ereshkigal's perfect understanding made her somewhat jealous.

"Oh, right! Something terrible has happened!"

Ereshkigal realized what was happening and moved out of the mirror's field of vision.

Then a young girl was pulled out from the side.

She looks to be only about 10 years old, with an adorable appearance and slender figure befitting her age.

Her long, light blue hair was styled into a headband, and long, slender, striking curved horns extended from both sides of her head, while her round, reptilian tail swayed back and forth behind her.

Ishtar asked, "Ereshkigal, who is this child...?"

"Mother, you've come too?"

Shirou immediately recognized Goddess Tiamat's infant form.

The Goddess of Heaven paled. "Mother is, uh... wait, wait, wait, wait!? Is this child Goddess Tiamat!?"

Shirou nodded.

That young girl form was a split created by Tiamat in the state of "initializing herself and gaining new life," this initial form.

If we say that the adult version of Tiamat (alterego) is the wife who sees Shirou as a partner (husband) and dotes on him.

So the young girl in the present moment is slightly unhappy because she recalls the humiliation of the defeat in the Seventh Singularity, but even so, the "maternal love that wants to protect humanity" ultimately prevails in her girl form.

Tiamat to adults, mothers of young girls may need to be much more delicate and careful in their care...

Well, because she's a mother, no matter what bad things her child does, she'll eventually forgive them.

Upon Tiamat's appearance, the two goddesses and the high priest turned pale.

Shirou quickly explained, "Don't worry, everyone, Mother has reformed and has no intention of seeking revenge against Human History."

Upon hearing Shirou's words, the young girl showed a displeased expression.

"As for repentance and reformation, Mother did nothing wrong. Compared to this..."

Ishtar! And Siduri! It's Mother! I'm so happy to see you both!

"Oh... ah, um, hello... nice to meet you, Goddess Tiamat."

The high priest of Uruk responded to the greeting with trepidation.

Even though three months have passed, the fear from that time still lingers in her body, and it would be difficult to overcome it all at once.

Ishtar and Shirou spoke in hushed tones.

"Shirou, what... what's going on? Why is Mother there!?"

"It should be a chain summon."

Shirou thought for a moment and then analyzed.

"Goddess Tiamat has manifested as a chain reaction of the summoning ritual."

Haven't there been several similar cases before?

Quetzal is a chain summon of Tiamat, and Coatl Jaguar Man is a chain summon of Coatl Quetzal.

"Wow... such a thing actually happened..." Ishtar was dumbfounded.

"Shirou, Mother just tried, but it seems she can't get to your place," Tiamat suddenly said.

What happened?

The primordial maiden asked, "Didn't Mother die in the Underworld?"

Suppressed by Ereshkigal's Underworld Authority.

Its immortality was severed by the terrifying old man.

It fell under everyone's combined fire... and was ultimately obliterated by Shirou, along with its existence and destiny.

I'm so sorry...

Tiamat shook her head, indicating that it wasn't Shirou's fault.

"Because my mother is completely dead in this world, she can't return to the world of the living and can only stay in the Underworld..."

That's all. Sorry to bother you for the next while! Ereshkigal!

"Oh... Mother is going to stay with me!?"

Ereshkigal trembled all over, tears welling in his eyes as he pleaded for help from the crowd.

"Think of something quickly, Shirou..."

"I'm entrusting my mother to you, Ereshkigal."

"Even Shirou!!"

"Please guide me from now on, Ereshkigal! Hehehe!"

Tiamat happily embraced the Queen the Underworld.

Having sorted out the current situation, Shirou looked at Siduri: "What are your plans next?"

"The most pressing matter is still dealing with Lahmu's attack."

I never had such expectations, but now that we have Mr. Shirou...

Even eradicating the Lahmu people in the Persia Gulf is not impossible!

Several months later, hope rekindled in Siduri's eyes.

Shirou Amamiya is recognized by both Gilgamesh and Enkidu as the savior of Uruk.

As long as he's there--

I have a suggestion.

Ishtar suddenly spoke, and everyone looked at her.

"Shirou, you shall inherit Gilgamesh's position and become the new king of Uruk."

"Ah...?"

Shirou initially thought Ishtar was joking, but he soon discovered that the goddess's expression was incredibly serious.

"As expected, Uruk is no longer viable."

Even if we eliminate Lahmu, Uruk has no future in its current state and will be destroyed in the near future.

Ishtar's judgment was not unfounded.

Although Tiamat was defeated, the people of Uruk suffered heavy losses in that war.

A broken home can be rebuilt, but lost loved ones and friends will never return.

Most importantly, the people have lost their Wise King Gilgamesh.

Uruk has now lost its way.

All the survivors felt lost, helpless, and exhausted.

At times like these, the people need a hero, a king who can guide them out of the darkest hour before dawn.

"I think you're the perfect person for me, Shirou."

Ishtar stared intently into Shirou's eyes as she spoke.

The boy looked away. "... How could I possibly do that?"

"Don't be modest, Shirou. You can do it. You won't lose to that guy's king."

Ishtar spoke firmly, without the slightest doubt in her voice.

Apart from Gilgamesh and Merlin, no one in Uruk knew that Shirou had once been the King of Britain.

However, Ishtar, being a goddess, still sensed the almost divine charisma that Shirou deliberately concealed, a charisma similar to that of the King of Heroes.

Not just her--

"I'll leave things to you as well, Mr. Shirou."

Miss Siduri?

Shirou looked at the high priest in surprise.

After the death of the Wise King Gilgamesh, Siduri became the de facto leader of Uruk.

She was an outstanding talent that even the ill-tempered Gilgamesh could not find fault with, and she held the position of Uruk No. 2 for many years.

Of course, there could be no one more suitable to lead Uruk than Siduri.

She is familiar with every aspect of government affairs, understands every detail, and knows how to manage the country.

If it were a hundred years from now, Siduri might have become a distinguished Queen who would be remembered in history, but now it is the end of the Age of Gods.

The monarchy of Uruk--

The king of the gods must possess power beyond that of mortals in order to reconcile the balance between humans and deities.

Siduri knew very well that she could not save Uruk.

Just as Shirou had saved him in the past.

If anyone can change the status quo of this country, it must be him.

"This is my humble request... I beg you, Mr. Shirou, please carry on the will of King Gilgamesh."

"If the citizens knew that Mr. Shirou would be leading us from now on, they would be very excited."

"Miss Siduri..."

Leaving aside Ishtar...

During his time in Uruk, Shirou had been taken care of by Siduri, and it was really hard for him to refuse her request.

Shirou didn't find it troublesome at all; he had already decided to help Uruk to the end.

It's just that—because of my past experience as King of Britain twice—that I have some reservations...

It hasn't reached an unacceptable level yet.

"Just accept it, Shirou."

The goddess of the Underworld in the mirror, arms crossed, said, "I think this is a good plan. Ishtar does say something worthwhile sometimes."

"What kind of talk is that!"

"That's what my mother thinks too..."