Ishtar
Ishtar was annoyed.
She had flown all over Mesopotamia these past few days, but she still couldn't find her precious Bull of Heaven.
So, where exactly did she toss that wretched thing?
Why couldn't she summon it no matter what she tried?
Ishtar, flying aimlessly in the sky, scratched her hair in frustration.
The Ishtar present now had manifested as a Pseudo-Servant possessing a Human. Ishtar's original personality was quite stubborn, and her words and actions showed no respect for the Human she possessed, but her temperament was actually heavily influenced by that Human as well.
Ishtar's true self was both merciful and cruel. However, because the personality of the Human she possessed leaned toward kindness, her cruelty was suppressed deep down, with only the kind aspects showing on the surface.
Ishtar, who manifested as a Servant, had fundamentally not changed at all. Since the nature of the vessel, Rin, was the same, there was nothing to be done about it.
However, Rin possessed a trait that Ishtar previously lacked: patience.
Although Tohsaka Rin was a genius, she was also someone who never shirked from hard work. She understood the meaning of patience, and because of this, she exerted some influence. In other words, Rin was the one who had grown up independently after losing her father at a young age, while Ishtar was the one who had been pampered by her omnipotent father until the very end.
Unlike Zhuge Liang, who was also a Pseudo-Servant, Ishtar's personality as the vessel did not manifest itself; Ishtar continued to think and act as a goddess. However, under Rin's influence, Ishtar's tenets—'If I do this, I can only be considered a god of destruction, right?'—had changed.
The goddess Ishtar's original philosophy was that only she herself was the most beautiful existence, while the Servant Ishtar's was: 'If someone more beautiful than me appears, then work hard to become even more beautiful than them.'
'Kill everyone who defies me' and 'killing people' became 'that's too much, just beating the other person until they cry is enough.'
'Give preferential treatment to those who believe in me' became 'only grant power equivalent to the level of faith to those who believe in me...'
Just like that, Ishtar's cruel side had been adjusted because of Tohsaka Rin's perspective. Moreover, Ishtar herself was unaware of the situation regarding Rin, who was her vessel.
Having completely transformed from a wanton and arbitrary goddess into just a somewhat awkward, good girl, Tohsaka Rin had truly contributed significantly.
Just as Ishtar was wandering around in irritation, she suddenly saw a burst of fire bloom on the land below.
Then, an entire forest was instantly reduced to ash.
Ishtar, who had been searching for the Bull of Heaven like a headless fly, subconsciously lowered her altitude upon seeing this.
She had been searching for so long anyway, a little more time wouldn't hurt; she might as well go see what the commotion was about.
She wanted to see if the Three Goddesses were making another move. After all, she was Uruk's patron goddess, so she had to do something eventually.
On the land below, looking at the group of Demonic Beasts that had been finished off in one strike, the priest standing nearby clutched his forehead and said, "Lady Kiana... if possible... please do not be so... violent."
"A few hundred Demonic Beasts would have been enough to feed everyone for a long time."
Now, you've turned them all to ash with one sword strike...
"Ah? Sorry," Xia Yu scratched the back of her head, embarrassed. "Didn't I hear the village chief here say that there is very little arable land? By burning the forest directly, doesn't that save everyone the time of clearing the land?"
"That wood ash can also fertilize the soil."
"This..." The priest was stunned upon hearing this. "In other words, we can begin land reclamation now?"
"Ah, it's actually not that simple," Xia Yu glanced at him. It was clear he probably didn't know much about agriculture, but that was normal; everyone had their own expertise, and he was responsible for hunting Demonic Beasts.
"Although the surface forest has been burned away by me, there are still various tree roots and stones under the soil layer, all of which need to be cleaned up."
"It doesn't matter, my lady, it doesn't matter," the village chief nearby had long been excited. "Without those towering trees above, the remaining tree roots and stones won't be that difficult to deal with!"
"It's just that I can't burn the things under the soil layer along with them," Xia Yu shook her head regretfully. "Otherwise, it would damage the soil quality."
"Well, Lady Kiana is the one who thinks about the long term," the priest immediately began to flatter her. "Even if we lose those hundreds of Demonic Beasts, if we can gain a large piece of farmland, it's still a win for us when you count it up."
"By the way, what did you mean by wood ash being able to fertilize the fields?"
"It means it can make the wheat yield higher," Xia Yu said casually. "It's just a simple composting technique, and I have more of it here—"
Before she could finish her sentence, she looked up.
She saw that arrogant goddess flying in mid-air, looking at her without blinking.
Beside her was the legendary Boat of the Heavens, Maanna.
The massive bow-like weapon, the Boat of the Heavens, Maanna, was a ship of the gods that galloped across the Mesopotamian world and was also the interstellar transfer gate (Gate) connecting Earth to Venus. However, because she was a Pseudo-Servant, the teleportation function was basically sealed.
It could only be used for flying around.
"Hey, you—yes, you," she landed slowly, came before Xia Yu, held her head high, and asked, "What is your name?"
"Me? I am Kiana Kaslana," Xia Yu replied with a laugh. "You can just call me Kiana."
"Very well," Ishtar nodded in satisfaction, then opened her arms toward Xia Yu. "Revere! Bow down! Cheer!"
"Before you stands the Goddess of Venus, who represents beauty, harvest, and war—Ishtar!"
"Such a beautiful girl, I permit you to become my priestess!"
She reached out a hand toward Xia Yu. "Come, kiss my fingertips and offer your loyalty to me!"
Hearing this, Xia Yu almost subconsciously went to kiss them.
Mm, mainly because this body really wanted to. Yes, it was just like that.
Blame it on you! Kiana! Look at your instincts! (Gestures pointedly)
"Mm, Goddess Ishtar, right?" Xia Yu suppressed the impulse and crossed her arms. "The legendary patron goddess of Uruk?"
"Hoh, so you recognize me after all," Ishtar said with great interest.
Meanwhile, the priest and the villagers nearby had already bowed to the ground.
For the priest, Ishtar was his goddess, so how could he not bow? For the villagers, this was even more normal; whenever a god arrived, regardless of whether they were strong or not, what qualifications did they have to resist?
"I am very sorry, Miss Ishtar," Xia Yu put on a serious face and rejected her. "Please allow me to decline your invitation."
"Hm? Why?" Ishtar furrowed her brows. "Looking at your current state, are you working for that arrogant mongrel Gilgamesh?"
"What's so good about him? He's just a paranoid fool, an idiot! Uruk is doomed if it continues to follow him!"
Saying this, she reached out to brush her hair and said narcissistically, "Only the Goddess Ishtar can help Uruk survive! And fight against the Three Goddess Alliance."
"After all, only a goddess can fight a goddess!"
Watching her confident demeanor, the corners of Xia Yu's mouth curled up slightly.
"No, it has nothing to do with Gilgamesh," she smiled and said, "It's mainly because I am devoted to Ereshkigal, so naturally I cannot have a change of heart~~~"
"Who is Ereshkigal?" Ishtar was utterly bewildered. Was there any goddess in all of Mesopotamia more beautiful than her?
"She is the legendary Mistress of the Underworld, Lady Ereshkigal," Xia Yu revealed a look of longing on her face. "That peerless Flower of the Underworld is the most steadfast faith in my heart!"
"What?! Is it that gloomy guy???" Ishtar's jaw almost dropped to the floor. "There is actually someone who likes her???"
"I can't let that pass," Xia Yu frowned. "Ereshkigal is not some gloomy guy!"
"No, she has such a cute name like 'Ereshkigal'?" Ishtar had an expression of 'the sky is falling'.
"Oh, that's my affectionate nickname for her," Xia Yu reasoned.
"An affectionate nickname, too?" Ishtar almost lost her footing. "No, what exactly is your relationship with her?"
"Actually, I come from outside of Mesopotamia," Xia Yu explained. "Because of some reasons that are hard to explain, I suddenly appeared in this world."
"And my first stop was Ereshkigal's Underworld, where I met her," Xia Yu said, looking blissful as she fell into memories. "She is truly a cute lady, wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh, sorry," she suddenly glanced at Ishtar. "I forgot that in mythology, your relationship doesn't seem very good."
"How about it? Does the Goddess of Harvest and War, Ishtar, want to settle the score for past grudges here with me?"
"I am not such a shallow person!" Ishtar said in a fit of pique. "What exactly did she say about me to you—"
"Oh, about that, she didn't say anything," Xia Yu shrugged. "Mainly because, as the Mistress of the Underworld, she still has to maintain the demeanor she ought to have."
Ishtar's face twisted upon hearing this. Did that mean she didn't have any demeanor?
What exactly was going on with this person in front of her?
She was actually interested in that gloomy person and even praised her as the Flower of the Underworld... were there flowers in the Underworld?
In mythology, Goddess Ishtar chose to break into the Underworld due to her own arrogance, and then she was 'educated' by Ereshkigal.
But in Moon history, the reason she broke into the Underworld was that she couldn't bear to see her younger sister, Ereshkigal, wallowing in self-pity in the Underworld, so she wanted to break in and take her out to enjoy the world.
A very awkward way of thinking, right?
However, although her intentions were good, there were still too many problems with her actions.
She was self-centered, spoke her own mind, and didn't consider the consequences at all.
For one thing, why didn't Ereshkigal go out? Was it that she didn't want to?
No, she wanted to more than anything, but as the Mistress of the Underworld, she really could not leave.
If something went wrong, the life and death order of all of Mesopotamia would lose control. Who could afford that responsibility?
So this was also where Ishtar's willful side came in. As long as it was something she thought of, no matter what consequences it brought, she would go all out to do it.
Even if the price was that all of Mesopotamia would fall into chaos, she would not hesitate.
Deep down, she cared a lot about this sister.
When the Goddess of Demonic Beasts first appeared and Mesopotamia encountered its greatest crisis, the priests immediately remembered their protector, that aloof goddess.
Then, in a successful summoning, they called forth the goddess they believed in, but this goddess was simply too willful.
After being summoned, she wandered everywhere, not knowing what she was looking for.
Of course, they hadn't realized that there were actually two results there.
One of them had just hidden herself.
But because she was too tsundere and always helped people without asking for anything in return, in the eyes of most uninformed people, the one in front of them was the genuine 'Three Goddesses'.
"Hmph, originally, even if you had rejected me, I wouldn't have done anything to you," Ishtar eyed the young girl in front of her. "But you are actually a follower of that gloomy woman, so I cannot let you go!"
Magical Energy stirred around her, and the Boat of the Heavens, Maanna, floated up slowly.
"I must take you back and interrogate you properly!"
"Do you provide meals?" Xia Yu asked with wide eyes.
"Provide... ah? Provide meals?" The momentum Ishtar had just gathered vanished instantly.
"Yes, if you want to take me back, at least you have to treat me to a meal," Xia Yu said righteously. "Don't tell me you want a free ride?"
"I... you..." Ishtar was completely baffled.
She had originally only heard that this person had some connection to the gloomy woman, so she wanted to bring her back to ask how Ereshkigal was doing now.
She didn't dare break into the Underworld again, so she could only start asking from the people around Ereshkigal.
"I don't care, you must come back with me today!" Ishtar used a goddess's privilege.
"Alright," Xia Yu agreed immediately. She wanted to see Ereshkigal tonight anyway.
"You agreed just like that?" Instead, it was Ishtar who felt a bit guilty. "Will there be any problems?"
"Of course not," Xia Yu smiled. "You are a goddess; what can a mere Human like me do?"
Hah, killing myself laughing. The Herrscher of Flamescion could rub Ishtar into the ground.
But there was no need to tell anyone else about that.
"That's true," Ishtar believed her quite simply.
Mainly, looking at the resilient gaze of the heroic girl opposite her, she felt that she definitely wasn't lying to her.
"Hmph, count yourself sensible!" Ishtar patted the Boat of the Heavens, Maanna, beside her. "Come, sit on it. From now on, you are the Goddess Ishtar's war booty!"
"Alright," Xia Yu sat on the Boat of the Heavens, Maanna, very obediently, and then turned to the priest. "By the way, when you go back, help me tell Tomoe Gozen and the others that I won't be back for dinner for the next few days."
"Hmph, remember to tell Gilgamesh in passing that if he wants her to live," Ishtar held her head high, "he should bring Gems to trade for her!"
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T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me.
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