"Is that... Protection of the Underworld?!"
As Merlin gently pulled back the sleeve on Samael's right arm, a faint heat radiated from the exposed skin. Fading slowly was a strange pattern—red and black in hue, engraved with three red petals and a divine sigil at the center.
Ishtar, keeping a cautious ten-meter distance from the ancient serpent, stared at the symbol. The moment she recognized her own divine name etched into it, painful memories surged back.
Ereshkigal! So it really was you, you lunatic! What did I ever do to deserve this?!
She shuddered, recalling her last visit to the Underworld—stripped naked and impaled by her dear "sister" Ereshkigal. The memory alone made her tremble with rage and dread.
"Hmm... it's a defensive Magecraft reinforced with a stacked divine seal. And it's got targeted activation."
"It only triggers when the specific threat gets close and makes physical contact. No wonder Ana and I were unaffected."
The so-called "laid-back" great sage, actually quite well-versed in Magecraft, held Samael's arm and examined it carefully before confirming his conclusion.
"You're not even dead—so how did you end up involved with that woman Ereshkigal?"
Ishtar's face darkened further as she began circling Samael like a hawk, her expression growing more ominous and wary.
"We were talking up close in the hallway last night and nothing happened. This didn't appear until this morning."
"If there was anything suspicious... it was after you sneezed. It was like you turned into someone else."
The ancient serpent spread his hands with an innocent expression, feigning confusion—though in his heart, he'd already pieced it together.
So Ereshkigal knocked him out last night... just to carve a defensive enchantment onto him? One specifically aimed at Ishtar?
Weren't you two supposed to be bonding again? Why drag me into this mess? What even is this situation?
Samael, who hadn't exposed himself but was still caught in the crossfire, could only stew in frustration, completely baffled.
"The Uruk Summoning Ritual! Two sides of the same coin! I get it now!"
Ishtar clapped her hands together in sudden realization.
"No wonder I've been zoning out so much lately! So that's what's been going on!"
After a few quick questions, her expression gradually shifted into one of deep grievance and seething resentment.
"Oh, so I didn't go looking for you, and you still came to pick a fight with me, huh?!"
Worried about exposing himself, Samael had carefully curated the conversation when letting Ereshkigal take over—leaving out or tweaking anything that might reveal too much.
Naturally, Ishtar, who already had a bone to pick with her older sister, pinned all the blame on Ereshkigal.
Her gaze snapped back to Samael, intense and burning.
Samael's scales prickled. That look—like it could bore a hole through him—made his serpent instincts scream to flee.
"What are you thinking? Calm down! Look, this isn't my fault. Take it up with the actual culprit, not me, alright?"
But Ishtar suddenly softened her expression into a false, sweet smile.
"Relax, relax! Do I look like the kind of goddess who's unreasonable?"
"Yes."
Samael answered sincerely, recalling her many questionable deeds. Behind him, both Merlin and Ana nodded without hesitation.
Ishtar's face froze. But thanks to her impressive self-control, she forced a smile through gritted teeth.
"Not important. That's all ancient history."
"What matters is the future, right?"
"Honestly, what do you think of me?"
Samael sighed, staring at the goddess before him—hair scorched, face speckled with soot, a complete mess.
"If you've got something to say, just say it."
He had a nagging feeling Ereshkigal's grudge against Ishtar might be tied to him in some way.
Given that Ishtar had been tolerable lately, he figured he might as well lend a hand—if he could.
"Raise your left hand."
At the stern request of the great goddess, Samael complied seriously.
Ishtar curled her fingers into a horizontal grip. As golden Ether particles swirled and condensed, a divine construct shaped like a golden-white arrow took form.
In a flash, the tip of the arrow struck the back of Samael's left hand.
Within seconds, a sequence of wedge-shaped divine sigils rapidly etched themselves into a crown-like pattern of seven golden-white branches. With a faint sting, it branded itself into his left arm.
"Hmph! So what if you've got Protection of the Underworld?"
"Trying to grab what I've got my eye on? That's a bit greedy, don't you think?"
Crossing her arms with smug satisfaction, Ishtar lifted her chin at the slightly dazed Samael.
"You should be grateful—I gave you a top-tier divine sigil!"
"From now on, you are this goddess's shepherd-priest!"
Even that old rival from the Underworld is willing to crawl up just to steal from me now?
Hmph! Clearly, this goddess's judgment is flawless!
The more people fight over something, the more valuable it must be! No doubt about it! First, I claim it and stamp it as mine—that's the smart move!
You think this is the Underworld where you can do whatever you want?
Please! Up here, I'm in charge!
Last time you stabbed me without a shred of mercy, and now you want to steal from me too?
Tch. Tell me not to do something, and I'll do it just to spite you!
Want something from me? You'll never get it!
Otherwise, what was the point of everything I endured before?!
As Ishtar's inner monologue spiraled, the corners of her mouth kept lifting until they curled like a beckoning cat—radiating pure, smug satisfaction, ready to burst into laughter at any moment.
But after a short pause, the gratitude, reverence, or even mild panic she expected never came.
Instead, Samael looked completely calm... and maybe just a little annoyed.
That blank, slightly judging expression hit Ishtar like a slap.
"Hey! I'm a goddess, you know! The real deal!"
"Being chosen as my shepherd-priest is the highest honor any Urukian could dream of!"
Ishtar ruffled her own hair in frustration, shuffling closer to Samael and grumbling.
"Can we go now?"
"The people in Eridu are still waiting for us to save them, Lady Goddess..."
Samael stopped, turned, and replied dryly, placing a hand on her shoulder as he gave a serious reminder.
The moment he made contact, Ishtar's pupils shrank to pinpricks. She recoiled like a startled cat, fur on end.
Too late.
Red and black lightning crackled from Samael's body, zapping her again and launching her into the air. With a shriek, she smashed into a bush, her landing every bit as pitiful as before.
Nearby, Ana—hauling a bundle of food nearly her own size—wrinkled her nose. A strange thought surfaced in her mind.
...It smells kinda nice.
Samael stepped forward, reaching out instinctively with his right hand.
But before he could touch her, Ishtar—who had looked half-dead moments ago—suddenly sprang to her feet like she'd been reborn, leaping several meters away, her face full of panic.
"You—you stay away from me!"
Everyone heard her shrill, off-pitch scream, tinged with an almost tearful tone.