"Hmph, it's rare to see this guy so quiet. I guess if you live long enough, you really can see anything."
Gilgamesh, who mere moments ago was declaring he'd eliminate the goddess, had now settled back onto his throne.
"This king's arrangements for you are recorded on the clay tablet. Follow Siduri from here. As for that useless goddess, just dump her wherever, no need to worry about her dignity."
That seems a bit too pitiful, doesn't it...
Fujimaru Ritsuka felt a wave of relief wash over him that Gilgamesh hadn't demanded Ishtar's death.
Amber similarly didn't wish to kill the goddess who wore Tohsaka Rin's face. Had Gilgamesh insisted on lethal measures, she might have been forced to take some rather drastic actions herself.
Soon enough, Siduri arrived before the group, clay tablet in hand.
She began reading from it, guiding them out of the ziggurat as she did.
She skillfully smoothed over several of Gilgamesh's rougher edges, explaining to everyone that the King truly did value their combat prowess.
She then detailed the arrangements he had made for each of them... mostly odd jobs within the city, with the exception of Fu Hua.
Fu Hua's assignment was completely blank.
'This probably means... I'm free to do as I please? After all, while I did lend a hand, I never explicitly stated my intention to aid Chaldea or Uruk...'
Just as Amber was thinking this, a soft groan came from Ishtar.
"Ugh... I... what happened...?" An unprecedented dizziness washed over Ishtar, making her intensely uncomfortable.
The world spun slightly from the strange vertigo. But she was a goddess, after all, superior to ordinary humans not just in body, but in mental fortitude as well.
According to Navigation's calculations, a force that would knock a normal person out for a day had only left Ishtar dazed for half an hour.
"No need to worry. You merely suffered a spiritual concussion," Amber said softly. "I controlled the force precisely. There won't be any aftereffects."
Being this close to such devastating beauty, even as a woman herself, Amber found it incredibly stimulating. Her voice unconsciously softened, becoming more careful and gentle.
Thankfully, she had Fu Hua's face and Navigation helping manage her expressions, otherwise she was sure she'd be making a complete fool of herself.
However, the 'beauty assault' worked both ways.
Seeing the face she'd already taken such a liking to appear right before her eyes, Ishtar felt her heart skip a beat.
As a goddess, she'd teased plenty of good-looking, pleasant humans before, yet now she found herself completely unable to muster any of her usual flippant remarks.
'Was I really influenced that much by that human?'
The thought flashed through Ishtar's mind. She quickly shook her head, banishing the notion, and floated up out of Amber's arms.
Realizing she'd been sneak-attacked by the person before her, Ishtar flared up in anger. "You dare assault a goddess? You disrespectful wretch!"
"It was not my initial intention," Amber replied, her tone measured.
"But had I allowed you to unleash that attack, it's unlikely any of the citizens here would have survived. I was left with no better choice."
"You pay lip service to my divinity, but your actions show no respect at all!" Ishtar shot a dissatisfied look at Siduri. "Siduri! Do something about her!"
As the chief priestess of Uruk, Siduri was a natural and convenient subordinate for the city's patron deity. Coupled with Siduri's exceptional piety and wisdom, Ishtar held her in high regard and was quite fond of her. With Gilgamesh absent, she naturally turned to giving Siduri orders.
"My apologies, Lady Ishtar," Siduri said, her skill in handling those of higher station evident. Her ability to read their moods was outstanding.
"This lady is not a resident of Uruk. The ziggurat holds no jurisdiction over her."
Seeing that Ishtar wasn't truly angry, Siduri even added a little fuel to the fire, following her own slight irritation: "Furthermore, if Lady Ishtar wishes to continue venting her displeasure, I must ask that you do so somewhere far from Uruk. Otherwise, the King will only dislike you more."
"Who needs that golden fool's liking?!" Ishtar retorted with disdain.
But, noticing the late hour, her mood for lingering had evaporated. She shot Amber one last glare before rising into the air, tossing down a final threat.
"It won't be this easy next time we meet, mark my words, you handsome little brat! And Siduri! If Gilgamesh ever drops dead one day, I'd still be willing to protect you and Uruk! Just raise a white flag and welcome me properly when the time comes!"
With that, she flew off without a backward glance.
"...She's certainly a willful goddess," Ritsuka said, offering Amber a wry smile.
Amber had to agree.
She put on such a haughty front, but somehow... even after being yelled at like that, Amber found it strangely hard to be angry. The predominant feeling was more one of exasperation.
'Maybe it's because her personality and looks are so similar to Tohsaka Rin's.' Amber felt a certain fondness for her.
Besides, from the clips she remembered, Ishtar would eventually join the main team, so she probably wasn't a completely bad sort.
Thinking this, Amber said, "I didn't sense any true malice from her. Perhaps her character is different from her conduct."
After that little interlude, Siduri led the group to a two-story stone house. She gave them some final instructions before taking her leave.
They first assigned rooms, then finally gathered around Mash's shield.
Seeing that they seemed to be preparing to use some kind of communication spell, Amber took the opportunity during their preparations to glance at her system.
[Congratulations, Host. A bountiful harvest.]
Navigation was the first to offer its felicitations.
Harvest?
Amber checked the Approval rating and was surprised to find that the original 3,700 had now increased to around 5,200.
'So much! Can we use this Approval for something?' Her heart thought of the benefactor who had awakened her, but after looking around the interface, she couldn't find any option related to that.
[The Administrator has already charted a course for the Host.]
Navigation's windows popped up, text scrolling continuously: [The Host is requested to use the Gacha system to refine and strengthen personal capabilities. The system's primary operational directive is to ensure the Host's survival.]
In simple terms, it meant she shouldn't worry about her for now, right?
Amber felt a pang of sadness, but had to admit the Administrator's arrangement was the most logical. If she were killed, the system bound to her wouldn't fare any better.
But... 'Am I really still in danger in this world?'
[No lethal threats detected.]
Then...
[A route has been set by the system. Please trust and follow the system's guidance.]
Amber wasn't the type to ignore good advice. Since this was the Administrator's plan, trusting her choice probably wasn't a bad idea.
'Then, let's use the Gacha, Mr. Navigation.'
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A/N: Just to clarify, the system means no harm, and the protagonist isn't perfect from the start. I hope everyone can understand that.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.