"Alright, next. I wonder who will be called."
The circle began to spin again.
"Yoo-hoo. I brought some snacks."
At that moment, Enkidu "logged in" carrying a butter cake, their hair tied in twin-tails and wearing an apron.
(Enkidu! Hey! Give me some cake! Give me!)
"Of course. Here, say 'Ahh'."
(Ahh—)
—Hello! Thank you for taking care of Fou!
"That's quite a stylish hairstyle. A change of pace?" Gil asked.
"Just a whim. You have to change the exterior every now and then. Want me to give you an 'Ahh' too?"
"No need. I'm saving that role for later."
"Fufu, I thought so."
As Enkidu laughed freely, Rikka stared at them, mesmerized.
"Enkidu would make a great magazine model..."
"Yes. They are very graceful..."
"But they're terrifying when they actually get moving," Olga Marie reminded them.
"I wonder who's calliiiing me scaaaary?"
Enkidu turned into a puddle of mud and slid right in front of Olga Marie's face.
"I-I-I'm sorry! My apologies!"
"Ahaha, it's just 'Mischievous Enkidu.' Sorry, I couldn't help myself."
—So free-spirited...! Truly the King's one and only friend!
"Indeed. They possess the mental fortitude to abandon a friend being bitten by a Mimic chest if necessary."
"Geez, are you still holding a grudge about that?"
"My torso was nearly separated from my legs! Regardless! Manifest, Heroic Spirit! Show yourself!"
He called out almost desperately, and then—
"Goddess of the Underworld, Ereshkigal! Making a 'cool' entrance! Nice to meet you!"
The friendly mistress of the underworld, the MVP of the Uruk chapter, had arrived.
(? That's strange... I feel like I've met her before...)
『Oh, it's me. Yes, yes. It's only natural I'd come for Rikka's sake.』
The Director and the "Cyber-Ereshkigal" shared a nod.
"ERE-CHANNNNN!!"
『GAAAAAAAAA!!』 (Fou lunged)
『Ah, thank goodness...』
『Ereshkigal-sama has come as well. It's getting livelier by the second.』
Rikka, Siduri, Raikou, and the King all celebrated her arrival.
"T-To be welcomed this much... I'm so happy...!"
Ereshkigal blushed and fidgeted bashfully.
(She's a goddess with a different 'attribute' than Air. It's not the 'solemn preciousness' of Air, but rather a behavior that earns praise for being 'cute.' That is...)
—That is...?
(Trying too hard! She's idol material—she's calculating. But compared to me, her 'Try-Hard Level' is a mere 5. She's trash. She can go home.)
Fou snorted derisively.
"Hey, you 'beautiful' beast over there! Don't go making things up! I'm actually 'Cool & Beauty,' you know!"
"LAUGHABLE, FOU! YOU MAKE ME LAUGH, FOU!"
"Grrr, why is this animal so salty toward me?!"
—N-Now, now! Ereshkigal-sama. Thank you truly for your help in the battle of Uruk! Without your aid, we could never have calmed Tiamat. Thank you so much!
Air gave a deep, formal bow.
『No, it was because everyone worked so hard. Good work, Air. I have a proper present for you, too.』
With that, Ereshkigal handed seven gifts to the King of Heroes.
"As a first-class goddess, I haven't forgotten my dowry. In honor of you as King, take these."
They were the Authorities stripped from Ishtar—the seven garments, the proofs of the Divine Lady's vanity.
"Keep them. I don't need them."
"Hmph. It seems those of the Underworld are truly good of heart. Keep that attitude while you help polish our Master."
—I-Is this okay?! Air wondered.
These were divine artifacts. Could they really be handed over so casually?
『Of course. You already know what true beauty is, don't you? You understand that the beauty of the world can't be expressed by things like this.』
Ereshkigal gave Air a wink. Air nodded in realization.
—Thank you, Ereshkigal-sama!
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