Ever since conquering the sacred mountain, Ishtar had moved her temple down from the heavens. Now, at the highest peak of Mount Ebih, in Ishtar's temple, the goddess of Venus was waking up from her soft bed like a lazy cat.
"Mmm~~~."
She stretched her slender arms over her head, her round, full thighs curled up on the bed. With a look of drowsy satisfaction, she gave a big stretch.
"Nghh~~."
She shook her head, still a bit groggy. She had been so preoccupied with her marriage situation lately that she was a little tired. However, after much searching and questioning many gods, her efforts were not entirely fruitless. At the very least, she now knew where that scumbag who abandoned her was hiding.
"In all of heaven and earth, the only place I can't reach is... there." Ishtar rubbed her smooth chin, a sharp glint in her red eyes.
In fact, she had been suspicious ever since she met that black-robed man in the Cedar Forest. I mean, what kind of place was the Underworld? From ancient times, there had never been any mention of other gods there. And yet that man claimed to be a subordinate of the mistress of the Underworld, Ereshkigal?
Heh? Is that even possible? Does he really think I, Ishtar, am a one-track-minded idiot?
At the time, she hadn't said anything because the situation was not in her favor. But now, thinking back, the whole thing was full of holes.
"Hmph, hmph, hmph~, you actually dared to run to the Underworld. You really aren't afraid of death, are you?" Ishtar clenched her little fists, muttering indignantly. "I will find you. No one in this world dares to reject me!"
Ishtar got out of bed. She had made up her mind. For the sake of her pride, she would personally go to the Underworld and drag that bastard back. The dangers of the journey were completely thrown to the back of her mind.
Are you kidding me? I am the great goddess of Venus, Ishtar! The great being who conquered even the most ancient sacred mountain, Mount Ebih! The Underworld? It'll be a piece of cake.
At this moment, Ishtar felt like she was on top of the world. She put her hands on her hips, her round buttocks, clad only in a small pair of black panties, swaying from side to side, showcasing the allure of a goddess of beauty.
Ishtar draped a light shawl over herself and went to the treasury behind her temple. Looking at the scene before her, she couldn't help but clutch her chest, feeling a sharp, throbbing pain. The treasury, which should have been piled high with treasures, now held only a few scattered items. Although the important Authorities were still there, the vast quantities of jewels and lapis lazuli were gone. This made her mood, which had just started to improve, turn sour again.
However, as heartbroken as she was over her treasures, she hadn't forgotten her main objective. Striding into the treasury with a scowl, she began to equip herself with Authorities.
First, she put on a golden crown that condensed the primordial kingship of humanity. In her hand, she held a measuring rope and a rod for navigating the path. Then, she adorned her snow-white neck with a lapis lazuli necklace symbolizing the Authority of the heavens. On her wrists were bracelets of strength and war, and her flat chest was covered by a jeweled gauze garment.
Once everything was done, she nodded in satisfaction and left the treasury.
...
Outside the temple, she looked up at the sun, and as if remembering something, she said to the handmaiden following her, "By the way, I'm going on a long journey. If I don't return in three... no, seven days, go to the heavens and seek help from the gods. Tell them I've been kidnapped by a wicked woman and that they need to send someone to the Underworld to rescue me."
"Ah? My lady, what are you...?!" The handmaiden, Ninshubur, was stunned, her mouth slightly agape as she stared at her goddess.
"What? Didn't you hear me?" Ishtar frowned, slightly displeased.
"Y-yes, this servant understands," Ninshubur quickly bowed her head.
And so, after giving her instructions, the story of Inanna's descent to the Underworld began.
...
The Underworld was not a place one could just enter. Theoretically, one could just dig a big hole in the ground to get there. But doing so would be a clear declaration of war on the entire Underworld. As the ruler of the world below, Ereshkigal would not tolerate such a blatant challenge. You might just jump in, only to be zapped into charcoal by the Underworld's defense mechanism.
So, to avoid unnecessary trouble, Ishtar decided to follow the proper procedure. She first went to a cliff in the east, then descended into a bottomless, deep hole. After walking for who knows how long, when everything became dark and even the air felt heavy, she knew she had left the world of the living.
The moment Ishtar set foot in the Underworld, Ereshkigal, who was still enjoying her time on the surface with Li Lin, immediately sensed it. It couldn't be helped. Ishtar was her twin goddess; their divinities were connected. Not to mention, the woman was practically at her doorstep. It would be strange if she didn't notice.
"Strange, what is that stupid woman doing here all of a sudden?" Ereshkigal wondered, looking at the image revealed on the stone tablet of the Underworld. After a moment's thought, she understood.
"Heh, there are only a few reasons she would come here. Either she's feeling full of herself and wants to conquer my Underworld too, or she's here for something... or someone."
At that thought, Ereshkigal's eyes narrowed.
Don't be fooled by her tsundere and shy demeanor in front of Li Lin. She knew her own personality best. When she had told him she was a gloomy and boring woman, she wasn't entirely joking. She was extremely selfish when it came to her possessions. So selfish that she wouldn't hesitate to turn her own "other half" into her plaything.
"Come, you who knows not the thickness of the earth," Ereshkigal sneered. "If I don't string you up and discipline you thoroughly, then my name isn't Ereshkigal!"
P.S. Eresh's toy is naturally the protagonist's toy too ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). Hmm, I think I'll have a katsudon for lunch today. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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