Chapter 590

Ishtar asked, "Are you getting hot? Do you feel dizzy?"

Shirou shook his head. "Not at all."

Hearing him say that, the goddess couldn't help but frown in confusion.

"That's strange...?"

She decided to continue pouring the wine.

Let's keep drinking.

"Well."

Another glass of wine down the drain.

Ishtar observed Shirou's reaction again, but found that he hadn't changed at all.

What's going on? Why isn't it working?

This is a divine wine, crafted with my "Charm" Authority!!

Although Ishtar is a great goddess who wields many Authority, she is best known as the goddess of beauty.

She was the oldest goddess of beauty; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say so.

The well-known goddess Aphrodite (Venus) was deeply influenced by her and Ereshkigal, thus simultaneously displaying her aspects as both the goddess of beauty and the goddess of Death God.

The goddess Ishtar possesses the highest level of "Charm" Authority.

So-called Authority is a mystery that existed long before True Magic and Magecraft were born on this planet.

The world's benchmarks and laws.

Ishtar's Authority extends beyond humans and living beings; she can even control inorganic matter or abstract concepts.

The sky, the earth, the forests, the cities... even the world itself, all succumbed to the charm of this goddess.

Although the level of "Charm" Authority is reduced due to compatibility after possessing a human body, it should still be easy to win over Shirou.

Why is it having absolutely no effect?

Do you really think I'm that unattractive?

Venus, increasingly angry at the thought of using the divine sake to thwart her plan to force a relationship between herself and Shirou, poured herself a full glass.

Then, she began to feel her head spinning.

"Let's call it a night," Shirou said.

"Huh? Tonight's only just begun! You'd better drink too!"

Under the influence of alcohol, my tone became more rude than usual...

The goddess thought to herself, but this was actually an illusion caused by being drunk; she was always like this.

And so, Ishtar stayed in Shirou's room, drinking her wine in silence.

After a while, my body started to warm up.

Ishtar realized something was wrong.

Could it be that... the Authority of "Charm" has worked on me?

It's impossible for a goddess to be Charm by herself.

But Ishtar's situation is special—she is currently using someone else's body.

Even if the will of God cannot be interfered with, the vessel named Rin Tohsaka will still be affected by too much Authority being absorbed into it.

"... Gurgle."

Ishtar swallowed hard.

My body is getting hotter and hotter.

I can't take it anymore...

I'm already like this, what about Shirou?

The goddess looked at the young man beside her.

Shirou silently drank his wine, seemingly unaffected except for a slightly flushed face.

What the heck!

Ishtar pouted: My heart is pounding like this, how can you be so calm?!

Shirou's cheeks flushed slightly, but it wasn't from the goddess's Authority; it was from the effects of alcohol.

Doesn't that make it seem like I can't even compete with alcohol?

Ishtar was extremely annoyed.

Although he was annoyed, Shirou's calm demeanor actually seemed kind of handsome.

Not good...!

Ishtar swallowed hard.

Wow, Shirou so handsome tonight...?

He remained completely unmoved even when I tried my full Charm; he was so incredibly cool!

"Haa... haa... haa..."

Ishtar could no longer contain her emotions and grabbed the boy's arm.

Shirou frowned slightly, feeling a slight pain as his fingernail dug into his skin.

"You're drunk, Ishtar. Let me take you back to your dorm (Eanna)."

"I... don't want to go home tonight~"

Ishtar tried to coax him, but received a completely calm reply.

"No, I need to go back and rest."

"Stop... stop nagging!"

Ishtar went all out.

Unexpectedly, the divine wine she had carefully prepared had no effect on Shirou.

But she actually has another trump card.

Ishtar originally didn't intend to use it because it was too embarrassing.

But things have come to this point... even if it's out of spite, I'm determined to win him over!

Ishtar glared at Shirou while grabbing a glass full of sake and taking a large gulp.

Then, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Shirou's.

"...!"

Hmph, how about that!?

Ishtar, her head spinning, thought smugly: You never expected me to pull this trick, did you?

Shirou was genuinely surprised and stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

Although Shirou could have easily shoved Ishtar away, he didn't.

The goddess's awareness was higher than I imagined.

Shirou couldn't bring himself to disobey her wishes, so he could only let Ishtar do as she pleased.

"Ugh... whoa~?"

Half a minute later, Ishtar left Shirou's lips with satisfaction.

After calming herself down a bit, the goddess looked at the boy and observed his reaction.

"Heh... Shirou's eyes are getting glazed over, is he finally getting drunk?"

Shirou rolled his eyes. "Whose fault do you think it is that I ended up like this?"

Having come this far, Ishtar stopped pretending and laid her cards on the table.

"I won't let you fool me anymore, Shirou."

You are my husband, and I let you escape before... Today, I'll make it a reality.

As the goddess spoke, she reached for the wine bottle on the table; half of the divine wine remained.

But Shirou stopped him.

Shirou gripped Ishtar's wrist, making it impossible for her to break free no matter how hard she tried.

"We don't need that wine anymore..."

"Why...?"

Before Ishtar could react, she felt her body float up.

Shirou threw her directly onto the bed in the room.

"Ahhh...!"

Venus, the goddess who had been slammed onto the soft bed, rubbed her head.

"Wait, wait a minute, Shirou... don't be so rough..."

Ishtar's smile toward the boy was full of provocation.

"If you really want to stay with me, then stay."

With that, Shirou walked toward Ishtar.

Then------

"Ah..."

Shirou finally recalled the entire incident that occurred the previous night.

How I gradually fell into the goddess's sweet trap.

Shirou clutched his head in remorse: What have I done...!

Now that I've developed this kind of relationship with Ishtar, what will become of my life? Am I destined to be unable to disobey her, forced to obey her every command?

Of all the men in mythology who became her husbands, did any of them end up with a good ending?

Now that I'm back in the modern era, how am I supposed to look Rin Tohsaka in the eye again?

Oh well, there's no point in regretting it now.

Shirou sighed.

Since things have come to this, perhaps...

Ishtar looked up to observe his expression, then closed her eyes again.

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Image: "~~~", Location: "Images/1767636660-100430532-114306065. jpg"

Volume 8: 371 Ereshkigal Remodeling Project

Uruk's overall fighting strength is now vastly different from what it was before Shirou returned to this era.

They recruited wild Ibaraki-dōji and remnants of the Magical Beasts, and more importantly, Uruk's own combat strength was also enhanced.

The King's Cannon and the Nabistine's Fang are under construction and should be completed soon.

Young and middle-aged men in Uruk and neighboring countries have received systematic military training. Although they cannot fight against Lahmu, they can at least hold the enemy back.