『Yes, yes. I'm glad you're hap—HYAA?!』
Fou had latched onto Ereshkigal's face.
"TRY-HARD FOU! AMATEUR FOU!"
"G-G-Get off meeee! I haven't finished saying hi to Master and Enkidu yet—!"
"Heh. Air. It seems your Beast has found a rival."
—I hope they push each other to new heights!
Being pushed along by Enkidu, the Beast and Ereshkigal left the room...
"Now, next—Hm?"
Suddenly, alarms blared through the Command Room. Security protocols engaged.
"This reaction...! Gil-kun!"
"The woman who never learns," the King spat, standing from his throne. "Being targeted by an Evil God is a troublesome fate. She simply cannot keep her hands off my treasury."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN EVIL GOD?! I'M THE GODDESS OF BEAUTY!!"
A goddess was currently prying open the summoning circle, forcing her way through.
—Y-You're...!
"Don't think you can give me the cold shoulder forever...! I am the Goddess Ishtar! The Goddess of Goddesses who thrives in adversity! A... curse... like this... won't... stop...!!"
Covered in the dark, wicked marks of a Primordial Regression, Ishtar was attempting to force her manifestation into Chaldea.
"I have my pride, too—! I won't let it end with me being made a fool of—!!"
"I don't care."
Gilgamesh snapped his fingers.
『GAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!』
From a golden ripple, the massive right hand of Marduk emerged.
"Even my big brother?! Wait—"
『HOI.』 (The hand gave her a massive flick)
"No way—?! I did all this only to be blocked here?! For real?!"
"I have no need for you. An ally more troublesome than an enemy is the last thing I want. Scurry back to Mt. Ebih."
"I-I won't give up! Even if I fall, a second or third Ishtar will surely appear to help you! Wash your necks and wait for me—!"
—She has a terrifyingly aggressive 'helpful sister' spirit...!!
"Is that so? Then I shall return the 'First' you without question. Farewell, Useless Goddess."
The spatial gate slammed shut.
"I will definitely, definitely join Chaldea!! I'm never giving up! You better remember this, Goldie—!!!!"
With a final parting scream, Ishtar vanished.
"...I have nothing to say."
"Ishtar... thanks for helping us with Gugalanna, though..."
Everyone stared at the wrecked summoning room in a daze.
"Let's take a break. We'll clean up and clear our heads."
"Good idea. This is what happens when gods have too much time on their hands... even a universal genius like me can only offer a wry smile," Da Vinci said.
They hurriedly cleaned up and finished the rest of the summoning more concisely.
"Lancer, Medusa. Nice to me—..."
Ana took one look at the carnage, understood everything, and started helping with the cleaning.
"Who is that?! A bird? A beast?! No! A drifter living in the wild! It's the Jaguar Ma—ah, this is bad. I can't read the room, but I can feel the exhaustion. Yes, as a 'Nawal,' I must help out, nya..."
Even Jaguar Man shrank back and joined the cleanup effort.
"Hey everyone! Sorry to keep you waiting! Sorry for worrying you!"
Into the room walked Roman, looking cheerful and bright.
"Roman-sama?! Are you alright?!"
"Yeah, sorry for the scare! I'm fine!"
"Roman... about Magi☆Mari, um..." Rikka tried to broach the difficult subject.
"Ah, it's okay now! I've moved on!"
"Really?! Doctor, you finally...!"
"Yeah! Magi☆Mari is real!"
"...Eh?"
"Magi☆Mari exists! She's alive! It's just that the person managing her was a piece of trash! The Magi☆Mari who healed me is still alive! Yep!"
"Roman-sama... oh dear..."
"Hey, why are you crying?! It's fine! I've reached a breakthrough, so I'll think about that camel thing, too!"
"Romani, that's generally called—"
"Don't say it, my pupil," Da Vinci whispered. "It's his own way of coping..."
"He's looking like Tem Ray after he got oxygen deprivation," Rikka noted.
Roman laughed heartily, ignoring the pitying gazes of everyone around him.
—He has chosen the path of standing up again. What a precious, beautiful decision... That strength is the true strength of humanity that Roman has gained!
"...Hmph. Believe that if you wish. To borrow the words of the King of Conquerors... it is a pathetic, unbearable sight..."
And so, the group reflected on the terrifying depths of idolatry, while Air remained impressed by the pointless resilience of the human heart.
[NG Summon: Earth]
[Hello, it's me, Merry-san. I thought I'd be summoned now.]
"Eh?"
"Merry-san?! The Merry-san from the urban legend?!"
"No way, that's impossible..."
[Hello, it's me, Merry-san. I'm right in front of the summoning gate now.]
"She's coming... she's definitely coming..."
"Is it because of the Japanese legends?! Is this okay?! Is this allowed?!"
[It's me, Merry-san.]
"Here she comes—!"
[Now... eh? A lottery ticket?]
"...?"
[...It's me, Merry-san. I just received my lottery ticket.]
"U-Um, okay?"
[It's me, Merry-san. ...I... I didn't win the lottery...]
"!?"
[Summoning Failed]
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