"Aisha, you've come at the right time."
Just as Aisha was dazed for a moment, Lina walked up to her and spoke in a low voice.
"The one in the middle is Haruhime. I'm preparing to take them to see Goddess Ishtar."
It's really Haruhime?
Getting a definite answer from Lina's mouth, Aisha's expression became somewhat puzzled.
Wasn't she taken away by the Freya Familia? How did she escape?
And who are the two people next to Haruhime? Could they be from the Freya Familia?
Doubts rose in her mind one after another, but Aisha also understood that this was not the place for chatting.
Glancing at the passing men and women from the corner of her eye, she took over the three from Lina.
Aisha: "You go back to guarding the door; I'll take them to see Goddess Ishtar."
"Alright, I'll leave it to you then."
Lina waved her hand and ran off immediately.
How much Ishtar valued Haruhime could be seen from how she ran to the Guild every day to complain.
She was just an LV2; it's better not to get involved with Haruhime's affairs if possible. Leave it to Aisha.
"Everyone, please follow me."
Aisha led Lynn and the others further upstairs.
After reaching the thirtieth floor, the number of people around visibly began to decrease.
Seeing that the time was right, Aisha deliberately slowed her pace and came to Haruhime's side.
"Haruhime, were you captured by the Freya Familia before?"
"..."
Haruhime subconsciously glanced at Lynn.
Before coming to the Ishtar Familia, Lynn had specifically told her to speak less to avoid leaking information.
Facing Aisha's proactive inquiry at this moment, Haruhime didn't know how to answer for a while.
"It seems the key point is over here."
Aisha noticed Haruhime's small movements, and her gaze followed to Lynn.
"Friend, can you introduce yourself?"
"After all, I'm taking you to see Goddess Ishtar. Being secretive can easily lead to misunderstandings."
"Don't worry, it won't cause any misunderstanding."
Lynn took out a letter from his robe: "If you don't believe us, then give this letter to Ishtar first."
A letter?
Aisha frowned.
To be honest, she always felt something wasn't quite right, and she had an even worse premonition in her heart.
However, seeing that Lynn was unwilling to say more, she understood that continuing to ask wouldn't yield any good results.
Taking the letter, Aisha brought the three of them to the entrance of the top floor and stopped.
"You wait here for a moment."
After a brief instruction, Aisha walked up to the top floor of the palace, Ishtar's private room.
"Goddess Ishtar, Haruhime is back."
Ishtar was currently sitting on a luxurious sofa, enjoying the service of a handsome young man.
Hearing Aisha's report, she suddenly widened her eyes and stood up: "Haruhime is back?"
Aisha nodded: "She's currently downstairs, but there are two people in black robes and masks next to her who look very suspicious."
Speaking of this, Aisha handed over the letter she had just received: "This was given to me by one of them. He said you would understand after reading this letter."
"Let me see."
Ishtar reached out and took the letter.
After listening to Aisha's introduction, she was also very curious about the identity of the two people who brought Haruhime back.
[spirit]
The content of the letter was only two words.
At the same time, in the lower right corner of the letter, there was a black single-wing pattern that looked like a grim reaper's scythe.
"I see, so that's how it is."
Ishtar let out a light chuckle.
She was no stranger to this pattern.
This was the symbol of Thanatos, the god of the Evilus.
With this symbol as evidence, plus the hint of 'spirit' that only she could understand, the identities of the two people next to Haruhime suddenly became clear.
The visitors are Evilus.
Although she didn't know why the Evilus were with Haruhime, Ishtar didn't think too much about it.
If there were any doubts, she would know by asking in person later.
Ishtar: "Aisha, let Haruhime and those two guests come up."
Aisha: "Yes."
Ishtar: "By the way, you don't need to follow them up. Stay below and watch the entrance."
Not allowed to listen in?
Aisha was stunned for a moment, somewhat surprised.
However, Aisha was not a person with great curiosity.
Responding to Ishtar, she left the room and returned to Lynn and the others.
Lynn: "Well? Can we go in?"
Aisha: "No problem, go in."
After glancing over Lynn and Take-Mikazuchi, Aisha stepped aside to clear the path.
Aisha: "Just go straight up the stairs. I'll wait for you to come down here."
Lynn thought for a moment: "Can you do me a favor?"
Aisha: "A favor?"
Lynn nodded: "With the location of this palace as the center, clear out the people at the main entrance and the surrounding area."
Aisha: "?"
What kind of strange request is this?
Aisha frowned and was about to refuse.
But before that, Lynn's voice rang out again.
Lynn: "Just do as I say. I'll explain to Ishtar."
Aisha: "Alright then."
Recalling Ishtar's attitude toward the two of them just now, Aisha turned and walked down the stairs.
Watching her leave, Haruhime and Take-Mikazuchi breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
Haruhime: "Does this mean we've succeeded?"
Lynn: "Half-succeeded. You still remember the evacuation route we prepared before, right?"
Take-Mikazuchi nodded: "I've already memorized it. Even if we get separated, I can evacuate."
"Then let's go."
Lynn took the lead and walked forward.
At the end of the staircase, a luxurious, open-air hall came into view.
In the very center of the hall stood a beautiful woman, scantily clad and adorned with numerous ornaments.
The Goddess of Beauty Ishtar.
With just one glance, Lynn confirmed her identity.
That alluring aura, emanating from within, inevitably affected even him to some degree.
To prevent any mishaps, Lynn simply closed his eyes.
With the mask concealing his face, even face-to-face, Ishtar wouldn't know what he was doing.
On the other side, as Lynn and the other two entered the hall, Ishtar's gaze immediately fell upon Haruhime.
At such close range, she could clearly sense her own blessing upon the other.
"Goddess Ishtar."
Haruhime removed her mask and hood.
"Hmm, you seem to be in good condition."
Ishtar gave a slight nod, feeling quite pleased.
Haruhime was a crucial piece in her plan to crush the Freya Familia.
Her safe return was good news for Ishtar.
Thinking this, Ishtar looked to Haruhime's right.
Although Take-Mikazuchi had restrained his divine aura, Ishtar, being a fellow deity, could still confirm his identity.
Without a doubt, this was a god.
"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?"
"I am an ally of Thanatos. Specific details cannot be disclosed to you. You may call me Enyo."
"Enyo?"
Ishtar actually had an impression of this name.
According to Thanatos, there was a city wrecker calling himself Enyo who was cooperating with him.
Thinking this, Ishtar glanced at Lynn again.
Enyo had a powerful subordinate; undoubtedly, it referred to this person.
Ishtar pondered, "You brought Haruhime to see me; you must have something to discuss."
Take-Mikazuchi took a dagger from his robes: "I heard you plan to move against the Freya Familia. Coincidentally, I recently acquired a special weapon. You might be interested."
Ishtar let out a light laugh.
As expected of the sly old fox Thanatos spoke of, immediately presenting a bargaining chip she couldn't refuse.
Ishtar: "Speak. What is this dagger's use?"
Take-Mikazuchi: "Explaining is troublesome. I think it's better to demonstrate directly."
"Halt!"
From behind Ishtar, a handsome young man who had been silent stepped forward.
As Ishtar's personal guard, Tammuz, with his LV4 strength, was highly sensitive to danger.
Seeing Take-Mikazuchi approaching with the dagger, he almost instinctively blocked Ishtar's path.
Tammuz: "Divine One, if you wish to demonstrate the dagger's effect, I can assist."
Take-Mikazuchi: "Then I'll test it on you."
Take-Mikazuchi showed no panic.
Long before coming to the Ishtar Familia, Lynn had prepared multiple plans for different situations.
Being intercepted by Tammuz was still within expectations.
According to the plan, next...
Thud!
A dull sound echoed in the hall as Lynn, who had been poised to strike, appeared before Tammuz.
"So fast!"
Tammuz instinctively stepped back to create distance.
But at that moment, a crack sounded.
Under Tammuz's astonished gaze, Lynn's arm suddenly extended forward.
Boom——!
A vast, immense force crashed down. Tammuz, unable to dodge in time, was sent flying by the blow.
After that, Lynn's figure flickered as he followed up, landing another punch on Tammuz's head.
Long before coming to the Ishtar Familia, Lynn had activated the State of Selflessness to enhance his physical abilities.
Enhanced by the State of Selflessness, his current strength was comparable to an LV5 adventurer.
Two solid punches were enough; even though Tammuz was LV4, he couldn't withstand them. His eyes rolled back as he fell unconscious.
"Damn it! What are you doing?!"
Everything happened too quickly.
By the time Ishtar reacted, Tammuz had already lost consciousness and crashed to the ground.
On the other side, Take-Mikazuchi, now unobstructed, didn't miss the opportunity. He accelerated directly to Ishtar's front and threw a punch.
Boom——!!!
The heavy, forceful blow landed, sending Ishtar's body soaring into the air and flying out from the edge of the hall.
The top-floor hall was open-air; once thrown out, one would plummet over a hundred meters to the ground.
Sustaining a fatal injury, a deity would inevitably release their divine power, triggering the return mechanism to the heavens.
However, the moment divine power is released, it forms a pillar of light that devours everything around.
It was nighttime, and the area near the Ishtar Familia headquarters was filled with guests enjoying the nightlife.
Even though Aisha had been sent earlier to evacuate the crowd, many people still remained around the palace.
To avoid harming the innocent, Take-Mikazuchi rushed to the hall's edge immediately after sending Ishtar flying.
"Aim over there!"
Lynn, who had already positioned himself earlier, raised his hand, pointing to an empty area to the left front.
Take-Mikazuchi instantly locked onto the target, exerted force with his arm, and hurled the dagger he had been holding.
The dark dagger shot through the air, accurately striking Ishtar, who was still mid-air, several seconds later, carrying her body towards the uninhabited area.
"Enyo!"
Intense pain surged from her abdomen as Ishtar glared furiously at the figure at the hall's edge.
"Why! Why would you..."
Boom——!
Ishtar's voice was abruptly cut off.
The next instant, an intense white light pillar pierced the sky, illuminating Orario's night.
The Goddess of Beauty Ishtar, returned to the heavens!
...