Frankly speaking, Ishtar's descent into the Underworld in mythology was nothing short of a life-sized Waterloo-level embarrassment.
At least, it certainly felt that way for her personally.
"You people are laughing at me now, but just wait—once you're faced with the questions of the Seven Gates, I'd love to see how you plan on answering!"
Ishtar stormed ahead, full of resentment, prompting Rozen and Mash to exchange a look and smile faintly before following her.
"Fou! Fou!"
Fou cried out cheerfully but still remained obediently perched on Rozen's shoulder.
Before long, a door finally appeared before the group.
It was a stone door, adorned with carvings of animals along its frame, looking ancient and timeworn.
Ishtar brought Rozen and Mash right to the front of it.
"Here we are. This is the Gate of the Underworld."
Ishtar glared at the stone door as though it were her mortal enemy.
"It'll pose a series of binary-choice questions to visitors in order to judge their morality. If you don't want your power stripped away before you even meet Ereshkigal—like what happened to me—then answer according to your true heart. If you do that, even if punishment is handed down, it shouldn't be too severe."
With that, Ishtar very decisively stepped aside—clearly not planning to go first.
After all, last time she descended into the Underworld, the result was utterly miserable. Naturally, this goddess had no intention of answering the gate's questions again.
"Senpai..."
Mash gave Rozen a tentative look, seemingly wanting to step forward in his place.
But Rozen wouldn't allow it.
"I'll go."
He patted Mash on the shoulder as he spoke.
"But—"
Mash looked like she wanted to protest.
From her perspective, she was clearly the best candidate.
As Rozen's Servant, and as his fully contracted familiar, it was only logical—emotionally and rationally—for her to face the questions.
That way, if punishment were handed down, she'd be the one to bear it.
Besides, she had high Magic Defence and wouldn't truly die in a conventional sense. As long as Rozen, her Master, remained alive, she could be resummoned with mana over and over again. Given that, it made perfect sense for her to step forward.
But Rozen didn't agree.
"They say the laws of the Underworld don't apply to the living, so it's safer for me to go."
In contrast, Mash—while not technically a dead soul—was now both a pseudo-Servant and Rozen's familiar.
Strictly speaking, she could no longer be considered among the living. There was no guarantee the laws of the Underworld wouldn't affect her.
So Rozen decided it was best that he be the one to step forward.
"Just stay back and watch, Mash."
With that, and despite Mash looking like she had something to say, Rozen stepped forward to face the stone door.
"Zing..."
In the next instant, the animal carvings on the door lit up.
"O living being who has fallen into the Underworld, answer now according to the course of your soul."
A cold, emotionless voice echoed from the door.
"Here it comes!"
Mash's nerves kicked in.
"Be careful!" Ishtar also grew visibly tense, as though past trauma was surfacing.
"The questions are coming—remember to follow your heart. If you do that, then the Gate of the Underworld, which is fair and impartial, will—!"
But she didn't get to finish.
The question echoed clearly for all to hear.
"It is well known that standards of beauty vary, and yet an absolute does exist."
"Black surpasses white."
"Earth surpasses sky."
"Then, between Ereshkigal and Ishtar—who is more beautiful?"
As that question rang out, the entire world seemed to go still.
"..."
Ishtar's expression froze; she could no longer speak a word.
"..."
Mash was stunned, completely speechless.
"..."
Back in Chaldea, Olga Marie, Da Vinci, and Roman—who were nervously anticipating some deep and difficult question—all went utterly still.
"..."
Rozen's mouth twitched. Any semblance of calm and composure evaporated instantly.
"..."
A heavy silence fell over everyone.
Only the door's voice continued, impatient and insistent:
"Answer now~~~ Answer now~~~ Hurry up and give me an answer~~~"
It sounded almost like a curse. Or perhaps a grudge. Maybe even anxiety?
Either way, the voice echoed relentlessly, pressing them for a response.
No one said a word.
"Phew..."
After a long pause, Rozen took a deep breath and turned to Mash.
"I've thought about it, Mash. I really think... you should answer this one."
He said this while patting her shoulder like he was sending her off on a noble mission.
"Eh? Ehh?!"
Mash now looked panicked and full of protest.
Meanwhile, Ishtar began trembling all over.
"What kind of stupid question is that—!?"
Ishtar shouted.
"This isn't how it's supposed to work! The questions of the Gate of the Underworld are meant to judge the morality of souls! It's supposed to be obscure and philosophical—not some beauty pageant nonsense!"
She ranted and raved like a market vendor, but it had no effect at all.
"Answer now~~~ Answer now~~~ Hurry up and give me an answer~~~ It's not that hard, is it~~~"
The door kept nagging relentlessly, giving off the sense that if no answer was given, it wouldn't open.
"Senpai..." Mash looked very troubled. "This is way too difficult for me after all. I think you'd better do it."
Despite her earlier resolve, Mash now gave up without hesitation.
What else could Rozen do?
He had no choice but to answer honestly.
"I've never even seen what Ereshkigal looks like—how am I supposed to know if she's beautiful or not?"
That genuine response caused the door's voice to falter.
But really, it was only logical.
"Both times I've seen Ereshkigal, it was just her using Ishtar's body. I've never once seen her real face."
Rozen gave a reply that no one could argue with.
"Then what about Miss Ishtar?" Mash asked hesitantly.
"Of course I'm beautiful!" Ishtar declared without hesitation.
"I'm the Goddess of Beauty! Widely acknowledged as the most beautiful goddess in Mesopotamia! This question is completely meaningless, okay?!"
Although she said it with absolute certainty, Rozen had this to say:
"Yeah, but honestly, I'm not exactly inclined to agree you're all that beautiful."
Rozen replied dryly.
"Besides, isn't the body you're using right now borrowed from someone else? It's not even yours, is it?"
That shut Ishtar right up.
In the end, the question was simply unanswerable.
"Unless you come out and show me what you look like."
Rozen suddenly smiled mischievously.
"So? Do you dare? Or are you only brave enough to appear using Ishtar's body? If that's the case, I have no choice but to assume you're just too ugly to show your real face."
"..."
The door fell completely silent.
"Rumble..."
Suddenly, the stone door began to tremble—and slowly opened.
And not just this one. Even the distant gates beyond started opening one by one.
The legendary Seven Gates, which was said to require answering seven questions and passing seven trials to open, was—on this day—opened all at once by a single human's challenge.
"Come on in~~~ If you've got the guts~~~"
With that furious, flustered voice from the gate, Rozen was left speechless.