"...I see."
Amber fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Does that mean... you approve of me?" Ereshkigal couldn't quite read Amber's attitude and had to ask directly.
"I don't know."
That was the only honest answer Amber could give.
"You're humanity's guardian. You probably understand human hearts better than I do." Ereshkigal wasn't ready to drop the subject. "What do you think of my actions?"
"Though I've walked alongside humans my entire life, I'm not as good at understanding others as you might think," Amber said.
Whether it was her past self, her current self, or even the role she played as the Phoenix Celestial, none were particularly skilled at comprehending human nature.
"...Is that so..."
Ereshkigal let out a soft sigh.
During her long, lonely years without anyone to understand her or speak with, this chance to finally connect with someone, to gain a friend, had sparked within her a desperate hope—a hope for recognition.
She wanted her experiences to be more than just buried memories feared and avoided by others; she longed for them to be celebrated.
"But at the very least, I know this much—you are a kind and gentle deity."
"Huh?"
The sudden shift in topic caught Ereshkigal off guard.
"Because you became the enemy of humanity's world precisely because you didn't want humans to suffer too much, right?" Amber didn't look at Ereshkigal, her tone remaining even as she explained.
"You want to create a world for both gods and humans. That makes you an enemy of humanity's world, not an enemy of humanity themselves."
"..." Amber's words warmed Ereshkigal's heart.
This casual conversation between friends was a novel experience she'd never had before, and the fact that Amber could understand her intentions made it all the more touching.
"But if we follow that logic, then I'm not truly humanity's guardian either—I'm a guardian of humanity's world."
Finally, Amber turned her gaze to Ereshkigal beside her.
"Neither of us cares about the survival of any single human or specific group. We both focus on humanity as a whole. Yet the paths we follow are completely different."
"But..! Don't you also exist in the human world as a celestial!?"
Hearing her new friend immediately position them on opposing sides made Ereshkigal anxious.
"My actions as the Phoenix have already proven my approach wrong." Amber sighed.
"Human children need embrace and care, but if you continue coddling them even after they've grown, you'll only stifle their potential. After all, you can't protect them forever. Humans who can't learn to live independently in this world will only be left behind by its constant changes."
"...I can't accept that!"
Ereshkigal pressed her lips together, retorting, "Maybe you're right, but the world I want to create is one where humans never need to grow to that point! In my world, humanity would never face elimination!"
"Such humans would be nothing more than caged animals."
"..!"
An obvious tension fell between them.
Ereshkigal wasn't particularly eloquent—or perhaps, even while practicing what she believed to be good deeds, she'd never received recognition or understanding. This left her with a deep-seated inferiority complex she herself hadn't even noticed.
This insecurity didn't make her doubt her capabilities; it only reinforced the thought, 'See, still no one can understand me.'
"I'm not rejecting your ideals or beliefs," Amber spoke again, breaking the silence. "For you, this might truly be an act of kindness."
Hearing this, a light sparked in Ereshkigal's eyes, quickly followed by indignation. "If you understand then—!"
"But just as you can't accept my methods, I can't bring myself to agree with yours either." The gray-haired Celestial's eyes held unwavering seriousness.
However, this emotional rollercoaster finally pushed Ereshkigal too far.
Her crimson eyes began glowing with golden light, divine power flooding through her—her intent clear. She'd never been a deity skilled with words; action always suited her nature better than explanation.
Yet, remembering that the woman before her was her first-ever friend, she forcefully suppressed the anger burning inside her.
Still, the lack of validation and the conversation's unpleasant end left her feeling dejected. All she could manage was a final defiant remark: "Such disrespect toward a goddess will not go unpunished! You will regret this in my underworld someday!"
With that, she took off into the sky with Maanna.
Amber: ...Did I just fail a dialogue check? I guess talk-no-jutsu really is a protagonist-only skill after all.
Fu Hua: 'At least your stance was clear.'
She didn't hesitate to praise her disciple now: 'No matter what you pursue, a firm position and unwavering resolve are essential qualities for standing on your own.'
Amber: Ah..? I just thought it sounded cool to say...
Though Amber didn't voice either thought aloud, to Fu Hua who could hear her inner voice, it made no difference.
Feeling that familiar twitch in her temple again, Fu Hua took a deep breath and decided to commence tonight's training immediately—dragging Amber in for a thorough beating.
Time flowed differently within the Feather Realm—stretching long during practice yet seeming to pass in a blink.
After experiencing a night unlike anyone else's, Amber finally completed her training as dawn's light arrived.
When Ishtar rejoined the group, she had no memory of last night's conversation between Amber and Ereshkigal.
After her grueling training session, Amber couldn't help but think dirty thoughts—wondering if Ishtar was just too weak, always getting her account hijacked. But unsure whether to bring it up, she simply shelved the matter.
The group traveled back from Kutha to Uruk, a journey taking three full days, before finally entering the ziggurat once more.
The moment Gilgamesh spotted them—particularly the miserable-looking Ishtar trailing at the back—he let out a loud, mocking laugh.
Bored and seeking entertainment, he chose to taunt her directly: "Welcome back, my excellent warriors! And you, the shameless goddess who ran away from home only to come crawling back! Do regale us with your thoughts on joining my ranks!"
Ishtar, who'd been trying to stay unnoticed, immediately rose to the challenge: "Join your ranks? Don't make me laugh! I only agreed to this strategic cooperation for Fujimaru and Phoenix's sake! I'm here to bring the sweet taste of victory to an incompetent king who hasn't won a battle in ages!"
She proudly tossed her head back. "When the time comes, you'll be crying, 'Ohhh! Ishtar truly is the goddess of victory! This is too humiliating!' before committing seppuku and handing Uruk over to my protection!"
"Absolutely not, you fool! My Uruk is currently enjoying consecutive victories! What outdated news are you reading?! And after I generously reopened your Eanna for you! You show not even a hint of remorse!"
Gilgamesh roared back.
"Remorse? I should be furious! Eanna was always mine! How dare you seal it and act like you're doing me a favor!" Ishtar shouted with equal vigor.
This kindergarten-level bickering left everyone else sweating in secondhand embarrassment.
"Both of you, that's enough!" Siduri finally intervened. "Your Majesty, please outline our next mission."
"Hmph! Since Siduri insists, I shall graciously overlook your insolence." Gilgamesh snorted before turning serious.
--+--
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.