On the day after King Gilgamesh's passing, Fujimaru Ritsuka and her group returned to Uruk.
"Hmph, hmph. This time we won a complete victory."
As they passed through the city gates, Ishtar crossed her arms proudly.
"Once we're back, I'm definitely going to make Gilgamesh properly worship the power of a goddess."
Ana turned her head and looked at her without the slightest hint of politeness.
"Convincing Quetzalcoatl was entirely Fujimaru Ritsuka's achievement."
"What does that have to do with you?"
"Hah? How does it have nothing to do with me!"
"Then explain what you actually did."
At the city gate, Ishtar and Ana immediately began arguing.
Nearby, Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash, and Quetzalcoatl could only watch with helpless expressions.
Merlin, on the other hand, looked delighted as he observed the quarrel from the side.
Just as Fujimaru Ritsuka was about to step in and stop them, the soldiers guarding the city gate suddenly hurried over after spotting their figures.
"It really is Miss Fujimaru Ritsuka!"
"It's you, Mr. Gatekeeper."
The soldier was the same one they had met when they first arrived in Uruk.
Back then, he had even given candy to Ana, mistaking her for a child.
"Great. I finally caught you."
The gatekeeper spoke with clear relief.
"An order came from the Ziggurat last night. We were told that the moment we saw Mr. Merlin and the others, we were to notify you immediately and have you rush there as quickly as possible."
"Rush to the Ziggurat?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Merlin exchanged glances.
Both saw the unease reflected in the other's eyes.
Did something happen?
"I understand. We'll head there right away."
"I'll leave it to you, then."
Merlin didn't hesitate.
He immediately led Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others toward the Ziggurat.
When they entered, they saw Emiya Shirou already waiting inside.
"Senior Shirou!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka rushed forward.
"Did something major happen? Why were we called here so urgently?"
Emiya Shirou's expression was grave.
"It is a major incident."
"King Gilgamesh has passed away."
"What?!"
Everyone present cried out in shock.
Among them, Merlin's reaction was the strongest.
"That's impossible!"
"King Gilgamesh can't be killed!"
"He's someone who saw the future and chose to become a mage. He should've made complete preparations against assassination long ago."
"To avoid dying on the battlefield, he even promised me he'd remain on the throne to command."
"So who did this?"
"And how did they manage to kill someone like Gilgamesh?!"
Watching Merlin's anger rise, Emiya Shirou stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down, Merlin."
"The one responsible is Ereshkigal."
"The final member of the Three Goddess Alliance."
"The Mistress of the Underworld has exercised the authority of death over the surface of Uruk."
"Anyone whose physical strength is exhausted has their soul taken away in their sleep."
"King Gilgamesh died because of that."
"...Ereshkigal?"
This time, it was Ishtar who shouted.
"Why is Ereshkigal's name coming up here?!"
"Eh? Miss Ishtar didn't know?"
Mash tilted her head slightly.
"Miss Ereshkigal is the final member of the Three Goddess Alliance."
"I didn't know!"
The words left Ishtar stunned.
She immediately turned toward Quetzalcoatl, her face stiff.
Quetzalcoatl simply nodded in response.
That single gesture drained the strength from Ishtar's body.
"So it was Ereshkigal..."
She let out a long breath.
"It seems you've already figured everything out, Shirou."
"So what's the plan?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Emiya Shirou's voice was firm.
"We go to the Underworld and bring him back."
"That's why I've been waiting here."
He looked straight at Ishtar.
"Right now, the only one who knows where the entrance to the Underworld is... should be you."
"Go to the Underworld?!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash both turned to Ishtar at the same time.
"H-Hey, wait!"
Ishtar immediately waved her hands in panic.
"You can't just say 'go to the Underworld' so casually!"
"That's the Underworld!"
"It's a place where any Heroic Spirit or divine nature is rendered powerless."
"Down there, Ereshkigal is absolute law."
"No matter who you are, you'll get caught and punished by impalement!"
Her resistance was obvious.
"In that case, it's settled."
Roman's voice rang out from the communicator.
"Let's have a proper showdown and make King Gilgamesh owe us a huge favor."
Hearing that, Ishtar's expression froze.
Escape crossed her mind instantly.
Unfortunately for her, with Quetzalcoatl-the Sun Goddess-and Emiya Shirou watching closely, there was nowhere she could run.
...
"Waaaaah!"
Vimana hovered above Kutha City.
Emiya Shirou unceremoniously dropped the chain-bound Ishtar downward.
Under her desperate gaze, he then undid the chains capable of restraining even Prometheus.
"I get it, I get it!"
"I'll go to the Underworld, alright?!"
Completely defeated, Ishtar finally accepted the journey.
After agreeing to descend, she addressed Merlin and Quetzalcoatl.
"The members going to the Underworld will be myself, Emiya Shirou, Fujimaru Ritsuka, and Mash."
"Four people."
"You two will stay above."
She looked especially seriously at Quetzalcoatl.
"Quetzalcoatl, if you go down there, you'll just end up at someone else's mercy."
"Eh? Why?!"
Quetzalcoatl looked deeply dissatisfied.
Ishtar explained patiently.
"The Underworld produces side effects for divine beings."
"There, weak divinity stays weak."
"And strong divinity becomes weak."
"In the Underworld, only death and Ereshkigal, the Mistress of the Underworld, are supreme."
"But if a god dies and falls into the Underworld..."
"What do you think happens then?"
"I see."
Merlin nodded, understanding dawning on his face.
"A god would reject death, cause a disturbance, and return to the surface quickly."
"That would blur the line between life and death."
"Even gods must remain in the Underworld after dying."
"So the Underworld created a system to strip gods of their power."
"How fascinating."
"In that case..."
Emiya Shirou stretched his arms slowly.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"The main force of this trip ends up being me again."
"After all..."
"I don't rely on divine nature in the first place."
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