"Master, I think I..."
Mash stared blankly at her legs as they floated up.
Was she... flying?
"...It feels strange." Since Mash could fly, Fujimaru Ritsuka naturally could as well.
Lawrence had likewise received the authority to move freely through the Underworld, but she had little interest in the sensation of flight. She merely watched Ereshkigal, whose presence was clearly weaker than before, with concern in her eyes.
Sharing her own authority...
Though being in the Underworld lessened the burden on her somewhat, for a god to divide their divine authority was undoubtedly to tear apart the very foundation of their existence. For Ereshkigal to do this—
"Ereshkigal!"
Annanu flew straight back, looking at Ereshkigal with trembling eyes.
"You—"
But the words in his chest were cut off directly by Ereshkigal.
"Annanu, please do not stop me over this matter."
Ereshkigal had finally regained some of the dignity and bearing of the mistress of the Underworld. She looked at Annanu sternly and held out one hand toward him.
Annanu forcibly swallowed his words, though his gaze remained anxious.
"But you—"
"This is my world, my Underworld." Ereshkigal walked past Annanu and stood atop a massive boulder. Looking down at Tiamat below, whose movements had all stopped as if she had sunk into some kind of silence, she narrowed her eyes. "Those two hateful creatures treated my Underworld as a battlefield for slaughter, causing the Gallu spirits to perish in terror. I must make them taste the wrath of the mistress of the Underworld!"
"This is my choice, Annanu. Even if I love you, I will not allow you to interfere with my choice."
Holding her spear, the majestic ruler of the Underworld gazed calmly at Annanu.
Annanu calmed down as well. Under Ereshkigal's gaze, he could only nod.
"...I understand."