"Uh, an accident, an accident."
The ancient serpent swore solemnly, leaning close to his Master's ear as he spoke with earnest sincerity. The warm breath brushed her earlobe, sending a shiver of numbness through it. Her delicate body softened, a faint moan slipping out.
After a brief hesitation, Samael whispered gently.
"Snakes still have that habit of clinging close. Should I… sleep somewhere else?"
"No… don't… stay like this. Don't move…"
Ereshkigal bit down on her teeth, her flushed face turning to the side in resignation.
"I promise!"
Samael's gaze was steady, his voice serious.
"..."
Soon after, the sound of rustling reached her ears. Ereshkigal looked down to see a claw sliding up from her lower abdomen.
"This isn't my fault, it's moving on its own…"
The ancient serpent explained with an expression of sincerity.
"Liar…"
Ereshkigal's cherry lips pressed tightly together, her face crimson, heat seeming to rise in waves above her head.
But before the goddess could voice her flustered protest, a shadow fell across her, and her rosy lips were sealed by a soft touch.
Mmm…
Her muffled response grew weaker with each rise and fall of her chest, her gasps growing faint. The hands that had been striking the serpent's back lost their strength, unconsciously slipping into an embrace around Samael.
Two figures intertwined, bodies and breaths melding, breaking past taboos and the restraints of life itself.
As the saying goes, "Only rub, don't go in." But when the temptation is right in front of you, who could truly resist?
Especially when dealing with a tsundere. If feelings flow naturally, to move things forward, one must be bold—hesitation only loses the chance.
Tonight, from the moment Ereshkigal asked him to stay, her fate was sealed. She was bound to fall into the hands of this shameless creature who knew exactly how to grasp a person's heart.
...
As the two figures in the main hall became entwined, a voice filled with moans echoed in sync from a room in the side hall.
On the bed, Ishtar frowned, rolling over and over in her quilt, but the heat in her body refused to subside.
"Hah!"
The goddess suddenly sat up, her hazy eyes unfocused, her smooth shoulders half-bared. She pressed her hands against her chest, only to feel the sticky sensation of sweat-soaked skin.
For some reason, her body tingled with a slow, teasing itch, as though countless ants were crawling and nibbling across her skin.
So hot! So annoying!
Ahhh! I can't sleep! What's happening to me?!
Ishtar buried her hands in her long hair, tugging and twisting until it became a tangled mess. But no matter what she did, the burning within her only grew stronger, as though she were being set aflame from the inside.
Strangely, she could faintly hear a call, pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat, as if beckoning her from a certain direction.
Half-dazed, she rubbed her bleary eyes, leaned against the wall for support, and stumbled forward, following the pull.
When she finally regained her senses, she realized she was already standing before the doors of the main hall. From within came moans, soft and lingering, like the cries of a cat.
Bang!
Ishtar's mouth twitched. She broke through the defensive spell on the door and stepped inside, face dark as night. At the surge of her Mana, the hall instantly lit up.
Shit! Unbelievable!
Just as a certain shameless creature was "playing" his intimacy-building game with his Master, the roar of the front door shattered the moment.
The ancient serpent's pupils shrank to pinpoints, and he instantly stood, shielding his Master so Ereshkigal wouldn't be exposed to the eyes of any intruder.
Beside him, the goddess of the underworld was in an even sorrier state. Her face was flushed deep red, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her expression dazed as though still caught in the afterglow.
When the pair finally realized who had entered, it was as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over their heads. Embarrassment and guilt filled the air, heavy and suffocating.
"You... why are you here?"
Ereshkigal forced her expression into a mask of authority, pretending nothing had happened as she asked casually. But her eyes flickered with unease, clearly betraying her lack of composure.
Why am I here? With all the noise you're making, how could I not come?!
And worse, you didn't even call me…
Ahem, no—what I mean is, you didn't even warn me, so I could block the shared perception in advance!
Ishtar leaned against the doorframe, her face shifting between light and dark as her mind swirled with conflicting thoughts.
After a moment, the goddess gathered herself, a cold smile curling at her lips. She walked gracefully into the room, came to the bedside, and looked down at the pair before her.
"Tsk, Mother asked us to take care of this guy..."
"And you've already taken care of him so well he ended up in your bed?"
Such a sharp jab made Ereshkigal, who was already easily flustered, choke on her breath. Her body froze, and she couldn't get a word out.
"Ahem, it was my idea. As a pet, being close to my Master is instinct."
Samael coughed dryly, shifting the blame to himself, his face tense as he endured Ishtar's piercing stare.
You're still my sacred marriage partner! By rights, if anyone should be close to him first, it should be me!
The Great Goddess crossed her arms, grumbling inwardly.
The serpent's defense of Ereshkigal only made Ishtar's chest tighten with jealousy. No matter what, even if something was worthless, if it was hers, it should remain in her hands. Having it taken and flaunted before her was something she could never tolerate.
After a moment, Ishtar's eyes glimmered slyly. She stepped forward with a smile, grabbing Samael's arm, intent on dragging the serpent out for a proper "lesson."
"Forget it, your Master needs rest. I have plenty of experience raising pets—let this goddess teach you how to behave around your Master!"
"Smack!"
But a slender arm shot out and caught Samael's other wrist. As his Master, Ereshkigal's face tightened, her tone sharp.
"Plenty of experience raising pets? Haven't you already caused enough trouble with Gugalanna?"
"Samael is mine to raise. I don't need you teaching me!"
A powerful force yanked from the other side, nearly pulling Ishtar off her feet and sending her tumbling.
Tch! I almost forgot, she's a gorilla with Strength A! So what if she's strong?!
The Great Goddess instantly braced her weight, using both hands to pull Samael toward her. Her teeth clenched, her face twitching as she let out a strained grunt.
"You're raising him? He's also my Shepherd Priest!"
"And besides, Mother told us to take care of him together. That means he belongs to me too, doesn't it?"
Caught in the middle, Samael felt his body creak and tear from within. His bones twisted, his muscles stretched to their limit, his skin threatening to split apart.
"He's mine! Don't steal him!"
"You think just saying so makes it true? I have a claim too, and I'm not letting go!"
"I'm the older sister—you have to listen to me!"
"I'm the younger sister—you have to give way to me!"
"Earth subdues Heaven—what I say goes!"
"Heaven covers Earth—I stand above you!"
"You promised to return him to me before!"
"You've had him long enough—the trial period's over, it's time he goes back to his rightful owner!"
One on the left, one on the right, the two goddesses bickered and pulled, each staking her claim over Samael as if he were a prize to be won.
Samael's vision began to darken. His ribs cracked audibly, and he was certain if this went on, he'd soon be split in half.
The serpent braced himself, drawing on monstrous strength to stay upright, forcing out a smile uglier than crying as he croaked a desperate suggestion.
"Stop fighting! I'll sleep in the middle—you both get one side. That way, no one loses, alright?"
At his words, both Ishtar and Ereshkigal, still locked in their tug-of-war, gradually loosened their grips. Their eyes met, and they nodded in reluctant agreement.
It… did sound like a solution.
Bang!
Released from both sides at once, Samael's chest seized with pain. Stars burst before his eyes as he toppled headfirst to the floor.
...
(50 Chapters Ahead)
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