The finger-separated kiss was both long and fleeting, like a dragonfly skimming over water.
When Rovi finally regained his senses, the girl before him had already disappeared. In her place stood the proud and haughty Goddess of Venus once again.
"Hmph! You sure got lucky!" Having retreated several meters away, Ishtar crossed her arms, baring her teeth aggressively. She looked fierce—but the lingering flush on her cheeks betrayed the turmoil within her.
Of course, she couldn't remain calm.
After all, she and Eresh shared the same body. Once Eresh's consciousness had returned to the Underworld, Ishtar—regaining control—naturally felt the lingering effects of the Netherworld goddess's emotions.
"Next time—" The more intensely she felt it, the more unsettled Ishtar grew. "Next time, I'll definitely make you see the beauty of this goddess clearly!"
"You'd better wash your neck and wait!"
Leaving behind these bold words, Ishtar vanished abruptly—
As if fleeing the scene.
She needed to calm her racing heart and the strange feelings it stirred within her.
Eresh had already fallen completely.
Ishtar definitely wouldn't allow herself to follow suit.
It would be truly...unbearably embarrassing. Still, she couldn't resist leaving one last taunt behind.
Rovi stood motionlessly, gazing quietly at the now-empty alley.
He lightly touched his lips, as if the fleeting sensation still lingered.
The night gradually gave way to dawn, a distant ray of morning sunlight piercing the darkness. Shaking his head slightly, he realized he'd experienced yet another unexpected night.
But it wasn't bad at all.
Though the Netherworld goddess's blessing did present a minor problem for Rovi, nothing in the world was truly immortal. History was full of heroes with supposed immortality who'd ultimately perished.
He could even try using the [Key of Heaven]'s power to toggle the blessing's effects on and off, turning this passive state into an active skill.
Thus, Rovi's mood was still rather good.
"Well, En's probably waiting… I should head back now."
With this thought, Rovi took a few steps forward, glanced behind him briefly, then strode away from the alley for good.
...
"Hahaha! Truly worthy of being a talent personally chosen by this wise and mighty king!"
Before Rovi had even stepped into his residence—still standing just outside the gate—he heard loud, unrestrained laughter echoing from within the courtyard.
"To think that even the goddess of the Netherworld couldn't resist your charms!"
Rovi glanced around worriedly, wondering if the neighbors would be disturbed. Fortunately, this neighborhood housed Uruk's elite; their residences were large, with excellent soundproofing—and even if disturbed, none would dare complain.
He walked along the flat stone path and pushed open the gate. Bright morning sunlight filled the spacious courtyard, lush greenery framing every corner. On top of the roof stood a shining golden figure, shouting triumphantly down at him.
Rovi pressed a hand to his forehead, then glanced aside toward the doorway, meeting eyes with the figure emerging from inside.
"Rovi, you're back!" En cheerfully hopped toward him, emerald-green hair swaying gently in the breeze, pure white robes floating softly like clouds. Barefoot, Enkidu gracefully stepped across the lush grass.
Rovi fondly rubbed Enkidu's head, then pointed upward toward the person on the roof.
"When did that guy get here?"
"Just recently," En tilted his head slightly. "Then he climbed onto the roof and started yelling nonsense—he's annoying, but he seems rather amusing, too."
It appeared Enkidu still held a grudge over Gilgamesh's earlier hostility.
Since Rovi had interrupted their original battle, Gilgamesh and Enkidu hadn't truly recognized each other's worth. Right now, the only thing linking the [Wedge] and the [Lock] was Rovi—the [Key].
"You damned mongrel—dare ignore the mighty king?!"
Seeing Rovi pay him no heed, Gilgamesh instantly grew irritated. He leaped down from several meters above, landing firmly upon the grass.
Rovi spared him a glance. "I've no interest in entertaining a lunatic who's lost his mind this early in the morning."
"Indeed, a wild dog will always remain a wild dog, no matter how carefully one tries to domesticate it," Gilgamesh scoffed coldly.
"True enough. For instance, you never seem able to speak in ways that ordinary humans can understand," Rovi retorted meaningfully. Glancing again at Gilgamesh—shirtless, adorned only in his golden skirt-like armor—he asked, "Did you visit Siduri?"
"She is, after all, this king's most loyal tool. If she truly collapsed, it would inconvenience me greatly!" Gilgamesh responded dismissively.
"Keep up that tsundere act," Rovi clapped his hands sarcastically, leading Enkidu toward the doorway.
Gilgamesh followed closely behind.
Though influenced by the Age of Gods, the furniture of this era remained quite simple—nothing beyond basic tables and chairs. Rovi filled a bowl from a large water jar and offered it to Gilgamesh.
"Forgive my poor hospitality—but I figure this should suffice for you to rinse out that terribly foul mouth of yours this early morning," Rovi said dryly.
Gilgamesh didn't refuse, casually accepting the bowl.
"In consideration of your entertaining performance earlier, I'll forgive your insolence just this once." Gilgamesh sat comfortably upon a stone chair, then burst into laughter again, his scarlet eyes narrowing in amusement.
He studied Rovi closely, as well as the delicate, girl-like Enkidu standing obediently nearby.
His lips curled into a particularly mischievous smirk.
Though he hadn't been physically present earlier, this time—with both in the same city—Gilgamesh, who possessed the highest class of [Clairvoyance], had caught vague glimpses of Rovi's encounter. Even if blurred, the scenes were clear enough to view without resorting to "future sight."
Putting aside Enkidu, who wielded power equal to his own—
That even the Netherworld goddess had been charmed…
"Tell me—how exactly did you accomplish it?"
Rovi, who had just taken a seat across from Gilgamesh, raised an eyebrow at the question.
Casually swirling the water in his bowl, the golden-haired king continued, "Teasing Ishtar was one thing—but how did you make the goddess of the Underworld fall so hopelessly for you?"
"Even bestowing upon you a blessing that such a goddess can only grant once?"
Goddess of the Underworld? Fallen hopelessly?
For some reason, Rovi felt Enkidu's gaze beside him suddenly shift subtly.
"Rovi," En tilted his head innocently, emerald-green eyes sparkling with curiosity as he smiled sweetly. "Who's this goddess of the Underworld?"
Rovi: "..."
Why am I suddenly getting this weird sense of déjà vu?
Gilgamesh had to have done this intentionally!
Rovi shot the king a sideways glare.
Gilgamesh, however, was laughing gleefully.
Indeed, this king absolutely did it intentionally—did you honestly think this king would always let a mongrel like you snap at me?
Now was his moment to counterattack!
"Foolish mongrel!"
Gilgamesh spat these two words, then laughed even louder in absolute triumph.
From his smug expression and boisterous laughter, he truly looked like an overly excited husky—just shy of rolling on the floor and prancing about in pure, shameless delight.