Walking along the stone path suspended in midair, a heavy aura of the Underworld pressed down on them.
Dim.
Oppressive.
The surroundings were illuminated only by the faint glow of drifting souls, making every step feel heavier than the last.
"Senpai Shirou just said... the spear-cages around here are all holding souls?"
Following behind Shirou Emiya, Mash lowered her voice as she asked.
"That's right. Those are souls of the dead from the surface world. Once locked into the spear-cages by Ereshkigal, they can never escape."
"And those imprisoned here are souls Ereshkigal has taken an interest in."
"They won't gradually fade like ordinary souls. They're kept here for her amusement-until she grows bored of them."
Before Shirou Emiya could answer, Ishtar had already explained everything calmly.
After all, among the group, the one most familiar with the Underworld was undoubtedly her.
"..."
Mash's lips parted slightly.
Faced with such naked cruelty, she couldn't find the words to respond.
"But this is far too many."
Ishtar scanned the countless cages around them and frowned.
"This number has increased drastically compared to before."
"Did it surge after the formation of the Three Goddess Alliance?"
"Does that woman intend to build a kingdom of death?"
"She wasn't such a cruel goddess in the past."
"Who knows."
Shirou Emiya's voice drifted back from the front, interrupting Ishtar's thoughts.
"Whatever happened to her, we'll see it with our own eyes."
"We're here."
The four stopped in unison.
Before them stood a massive gate.
"To reach the palace where Ereshkigal resides..."
Mash looked at it carefully.
"We need to pass through seven gates like this, right?"
"That's right."
Ishtar nodded.
"Be very careful."
"These gates are extremely dangerous."
"The Gates of the Underworld are just and ideal. They judge the good and evil of a soul."
"They will ask a 'one-or-the-other' question."
"Since good and evil hold equal value, neither answer is inherently correct. Only the value of the person making the choice changes."
"In short, no matter what you choose, you'll face an annoying trial."
"So just pick whichever answer feels like it'll be easier to deal with."
Hearing this explanation, the corner of Shirou Emiya's mouth lifted slightly.
He already knew.
These questions were all aimed at Ishtar.
And they were all questions Ereshkigal liked.
"I wonder how different they'll be from the original timeline."
As memories of Ereshkigal surfaced, Shirou Emiya thought quietly.
"Answer! Answer!"
"O living ones who have fallen into the Underworld!"
"Answer for the way your soul exists!"
"It's starting!"
At the sound of that familiar voice, Ishtar instantly tensed, as if facing a great enemy.
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash, influenced by her reaction, both swallowed unconsciously.
"A question for the one steeped in sin-Shirou Emiya!"
"What?!"
"It's actually designating who answers?!"
Ishtar stared at Shirou Emiya's back, stunned, her thoughts racing.
"These two definitely have some kind of secret connection!"
Meanwhile, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash felt immediate relief.
"If it's Senpai Shirou choosing, then I'm not worried at all."
"Me too, Senpai!"
Faced with their absolute trust, Shirou Emiya smiled faintly.
He stepped forward and faced the gate.
"Ask."
"Though standards of beauty vary, an absolute exists."
"Black may triumph over white. Earth may triumph over heaven."
"In that case..."
"Between Ereshkigal and Ishtar-who is beautiful?"
"Ereshkigal."
"So fast?!"
"Why could you answer without any hesitation at all?!"
Ishtar exploded on the spot, her dissatisfaction overflowing.
"Huh?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"The answer to such a childish question is clear at a glance."
Shirou Emiya glanced at her calmly.
"You don't expect me to choose you and then fight our way through the entire Underworld, right?"
"Even so, you shouldn't say something that goes against your heart!"
Ishtar clutched her head and shouted wildly.
"No."
"I didn't say anything against my heart."
"That's exactly what I think."
The moment those words landed, Ishtar froze completely.
Stone-still.
Without looking back, Shirou Emiya crossed the gate and continued walking.
"Ms. Ishtar... are you okay?"
Mash asked carefully, watching Ishtar's stiff posture.
The next moment, Ishtar snapped back to her senses.
"Wait a second!"
She shouted after Shirou Emiya.
"What do you mean you weren't lying to yourself?!"
"Are you saying I'm inferior to that woman, Ereshkigal?!"
Unable to accept it, Ishtar rushed forward to argue-
Then stopped.
Something felt wrong.
"...What is this?"
She looked down at herself.
Her expression changed.
"My body..."
"Did it shrink?!"
At her scream, Shirou Emiya, Fujimaru Ritsuka, and Mash all turned to look.
Sure enough.
Ishtar had become noticeably smaller.
Then, an ethereal voice echoed from all directions.
"That's right."
"You've finally realized your own foolishness, haven't you, Ishtar?"
"You failed to descend into the Underworld."
"As long as that mythological fact exists, you cannot escape the curse of this realm."
"The Crown of the Wilderness."
"The Reed Measuring Rod."
"The Lapis Lazuli Jewelry."
"The Beaded Necklace."
"The Gold Bracelets."
"The Enchanting Breastplate."
"And finally-the Noblewoman's Attire."
"In the past, I stripped you of these seven treasures."
"That rule remains in effect."
"Since you have lost the Authorities bound to those treasures, you must now bear the debt personally."
"Do you understand?"
"Each gate you pass will reduce your body by one size."
"You will lose one-seventh of your divinity each time."
"After the second gate, you will fall to a lower-ranked deity."
"By the fourth gate, you will be weaker than a Gallu-spirit."
"And in the end..."
"You will become a powerless flying insect."
"A pitiful butterfly, crushed beneath my hand."
At the sound of that voice, Ishtar immediately recognized it.
"Tasteless."
"You've grown even more twisted, Ereshkigal."
"That's not true."
"I've already been quite lenient."
"From the moment you brought living humans into the Underworld, you should have fallen to the very bottom."
"But since you are willing to accept the Trial of the Seven Gates..."
"By the laws of the Underworld, your answers will be judged."
"Shirou Emiya."
"If you intend to defeat me..."
"You must overcome these trials."
"If you pass all seven gates safely..."
"I will welcome you personally."
"As the Mistress of the Underworld."
"Then wait for me, Eresh."
Shirou Emiya smiled.
Confidence radiated from his eyes.
"I'll defeat you myself."
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