That protagonist is trash; I could do better!

"Next comes the declaration of victory. Just how much treasure will we receive...?"

Ishtar murmured merrily and floated down from mid-air, following behind Hor, and ascended the altar from the ground to pay homage to the feathered serpent god.

Having witnessed the true power of Quetzalcoatl, she knew very well that if it weren't for Hall, her chance of defeating Quetzalcoatl would not even be one in a thousand.

The residents of Eridu watched this scene in disbelief.

"Could it be... that the goddess lost?"

"I have absolutely no idea what happened. She suddenly disappeared and then suddenly reappeared, and the goddess looks like she's in a very difficult state right now."

"Unbelievable! Humans can actually defeat a goddess!"

"Hey, what should we do next?"

"The envoy from Uruk has won. Shall we return to Uruk?"

Hall climbed the steps of the altar step by step, and came before Quetzalcoatl, calmly looking at her disheveled state.

Quetzalcoatl slumped to the ground, looked up and saw Hall, her eyes slightly open, looking somewhat bewildered, and finally forced a resigned smile: "I didn't expect that I, the eldest sister, would lose. I've shown people my embarrassing side."

Hall nodded and extended his right hand to her: "Now we're even."

"Even if both are settled?"

"The last time we met, you defeated me. Although you killed me once, my soul was unharmed."

Quetzalcoatl shook his head and said, "That was the request of the goddess of the underworld."

"Then consider it repaying the favor she owed on her behalf."

Quetzalcoatl hesitated for a moment, then grasped Hall's right hand and stood up, her smile returning to its cheerful and friendly tone: "It was truly a fierce battle. Even if you lost, I'm still very happy, big sister."

Ishtar couldn't wait to interject, "Winged Serpent, before you two got closer, you didn't forget your promise, did you?"

"Of course, there are actually three people participating in this no-holds-barred wrestling tournament. I can grant each of you one request, as long as it is within my power."

Ishtar's eyes lit up: "Then give me all your treasures!"

"No problem, and you, Mr. Magician."

Hall shook his head and said, "I don't have any special requirements."

So far, Hall doesn't really have any need for Quetzalcoatl.

As for Marduk's Axe, Quetzalcoatl paid it no heed. Hall had also analyzed it with his Mystic Eyes during this time, but was not very satisfied with the results.

To use the Axe of Marduk, one must possess divinity at the level of a chief god; to analyze the Axe of Marduk, one must possess divinity above that of a chief god.

In other words, Tiamat has no chance before she officially appears.

Ishtar's eyes lit up, and she stepped in front of Hall first, frantically winking at him: "He means to give this right to me, right~ my dear Master~?"

That greedy woman.

Hall nodded indifferently.

Quetzalcoatl readily accepted: "Alright."

······

Night fell, and Eridu was even more lively than the day before. Firelight illuminated half of Eridu, and Quetzalcoatl commanded the pterosaurs to bring back more food from the dense forest for the celebration.

Although Hall and his group couldn't quite fit into the atmosphere, they still enjoyed it.

At this moment, in the secluded grove of Eridu.

Quetzalcoatl sat on a rock gazing at the starry sky, and the figure of a young girl emerged from the shadows of the dense forest—Ishtar.

She is Ereshkigal, the goddess of the underworld who borrowed Ishtar's body.

"Lost?"

"We have lost completely, without any excuses." Quetzalcoatl smiled calmly.

"how?"

Quetzalcoatl shook his head: "You shouldn't be asking me that question."

"..." Ereshkigal bit his thin lips.

Quetzalcoatl continued, "The only one who can answer your doubts is the one who can defeat him."

"If even you lose, you know that's impossible."

"That's right. His purpose in coming to this world, the perspective he has on issues, whatever his plans may be, are probably already clear, just like the Magic King Burning Humanity. So if you want to know, you might as well ask him directly. He should be able to tell you."

Ereshkigal shook his head. "This matter ends here."

“No problem,” Quetzalcoatl readily agreed.

The fact that Ereshkigal was willing to trust Hall, and that there were still reservations between them despite this unconditional trust, speaks volumes.

And the agreement she made with Hall.

If the current situation is what Hall expects, she doesn't want to break it.

Or rather, Ereshkigal had a vague feeling that after shattering everything that was now, she and Hall might be in an irreversible situation.

This feeling became even stronger after the world of Dark Souls was built.

That's why Ereshkigal felt anxious and wanted to get even the slightest bit of information from Hall through Quetzalcoatl.

Try your best to salvage the situation and prolong the time you two can be together.

Ereshkigal shook her head with a self-deprecating laugh, saying that all her hard work was ultimately for her own selfish desires.

But she had been fulfilling her duty in the underworld for so long, sacrificing countless things to gain this encounter, and though she was in pain, she was unwilling to give up.

"Even if it violates my duty as the ruler of the underworld, even if it means losing everything, I am willing to do it."

Ereshkigal's gaze gradually hardened.

Quetzalcoatl watched Ereshkigal disappear into the shadows, her emerald eyes filled with tenderness, and murmured, "So lovely, but this pure longing will only bring pain... No, the object is him, so there's no need to worry too much about the ending."

Quetzalcoatl, who possesses a human side, could not possibly fail to see Ereshkigal's simple-mindedness.

······

On the other side, Hall sat on the ground, with a large banana leaf in front of him serving as a plate for food, piled high with fruit and meat.

Before them was a bonfire, around which the laborers of Eridu danced in celebration.

Hall didn't find the crude dance interesting, but he still enjoyed the lively atmosphere.

On the other hand, Merlin seemed perfectly at home at the banquet, chatting and laughing with the women of Elidu surrounding him, occasionally eliciting giggles from them.

Of course, there were also envious and jealous glances from the men next to me.

Anna is also very popular with women, and is basically in a state of being fed.

"Hall".

Ereshkigal appeared behind Hall and whispered in his ear, "Could you walk with me alone for a bit?"

Her long, black hair cascaded down, adorned with the sweet fragrance of flower petals.

"Ah."

Hall stood up and handed a fruit he had just tasted that tasted good to Ereshkigal.

"Thank you." Ereshkigal obediently accepted it with both hands.

They left the lively banquet together and walked along a quiet, dimly lit forest path.

"Being able to defeat that winged serpent should have felt quite unexpected, but since that person was you, I don't know how I can calmly accept this fact."

"Thanks to Ishtar's help."

Ereshkigal shook his head and said seriously, "I know her strength very well. She can't win alone."

Ishtar was punished by her in the Underworld, so I have a relatively clear understanding of Ishtar's strength.

You don't seem very happy.

Ereshkigal puffed out his cheeks and said unhappily, "That's not true at all... Okay, I am a little annoyed, but don't ask me why."

Hall shrugged, somewhat unable to fathom the thoughts of the goddess before him.

"award."

Hall asked, somewhat puzzled, "What reward?"

"Of course, it's whatever reward you want."

Hall was baffled: "I won against Quetzalcoatl, why should I get a reward from you?"

"Don't be so fussy. Don't ask such probing questions. Anyway, I'll grant you any reward you want." Ereshkigal blushed and looked away.

"Anything is fine?"

"Ah."

Seeing her shy and flustered appearance, Hall was speechless for a moment. This was a blatant hint. After thinking for a moment, he embraced her slender waist and kissed the girl's cherry lips under her surprised gaze, savoring them slowly.

After they relaxed, Ereshkigal's bright eyes became misty, and she leaned weakly against Hall, whispering softly, "But this is hardly a reward."

Hall grinned wickedly: "Of course not."

"what?"

Hall deployed a magical barrier to shield himself from external perception, and incidentally created a small passage to the underworld, allowing Ereshkigal to appear in his true form.

It can only be manifested to a certain extent; it cannot utilize powers or other abilities.

Ereshkigal was baffled, not knowing what Hall was trying to do.

Ishtar's clear voice rang out: "I'm really impressed with you. I don't care if it's you and her if I'm in a good mood, but she's quite sensitive."

Since the goddess of the underworld can descend in her true form, she naturally does not need Ishtar's body as a medium, and the goddess sisters can coexist within the barrier.

"?"

Ishtar approached Ereshkigal and whispered an explanation in her ear.

Ereshkigal's eyes widened, her pretty face completely flushed with embarrassment, and she stammered, "Together!?"

Ishtar smiled and said, "You don't want to? If you don't want to, then just hand him over to me tonight."