"Ugh…"
"What's with you?! How dare you treat me like this—do you even know who I am?!"
On a desolate plain not far from Uruk, Ishtar—subdued by Roy and crew, her mana sealed by Merlin, and her limbs bound with chains—refused to settle down. She thrashed, yelled, and tugged at her restraints.
Even so, her mouth never stopped, spouting off about her noble status and greatness.
"Yeah, yeah, sure…"
"Mistress of the Heavens, Goddess of Venus, epitome of beauty, Mesopotamia's grandest deity—Ishtar, right? You've said it dozens of times. Tired yet? Want me to grab you some water so you can rest before going on?"
"Since you—"
As Ishtar geared up for round two, Roy—fed up with her noise—ripped a rag from Merlin's robe and stuffed it in her mouth.
"Mmph, mmph, mmph…"
With Ishtar's desperate, silenced expression, the group felt the world hush at last.
"Much quieter now. First time I've met something chattier than Merlin—and a goddess, no less."
Roy sighed, eyeing the finally still Ishtar.
Thanks to possession, she bore Rin Tohsaka's visage, her personality and power tempered by it—making her an easy takedown.
Otherwise, even with four of them, toppling Mesopotamia's Mistress of the Heavens on her home turf would've been no joke—unless they hired a Berserker to join the fray.
Mash hesitated, staring at the bound, flushed beauty. "This lady… is she really the Venus goddess Ishtar? She feels… different…"
The mythic Ishtar—wild and ruthless—clashed hard with this pitiful Aqua-like figure, stirring Mash's doubts.
"That's normal. She's not here in her true form—just possessing a devotee's body. Her personality's influenced, and her strength's heavily capped," Roy explained patiently.
"Otherwise, the real Ishtar wouldn't bother asking questions. She'd have bombed me from the sky, rummaged my corpse for what she wanted, and laughed it off if she got it wrong—no guilt, no care for anyone."
"That's the true Mistress of the Heavens."
He pointed at Ishtar, tears welling in her eyes, looking ready to sob.
"…"
When had the pampered Mistress of the Heavens ever faced such indignity?
Bound by mortals, displayed like a trophy—no trace of divinity left.
In myth, she'd have stormed Anu or Enki's palace, throwing a tantrum until they punished these insolent humans.
But the gods were gone.
Mesopotamia's deities had retreated to the Reverse Side of the World, abandoning this land.
She'd snuck down, answering a follower's call out of boredom—a lone goddess.
Now, in this mess, no divine savior would swoop in.
No doting father Anu, no gentle Ninsun, no Gramps Enki…
No gods left in Mesopotamia to aid her.
The spoiled Venus goddess's tears fell.
"Huh? She's crying?!"
Roy faltered, caught off guard by her tears.
Why's she crying first? Did I go too hard? She attacked me—I wasn't even planning anything harsh… You're a goddess, the famed Mistress of the Heavens! Crying in front of mortals—what's that about? Where's your divine pride?
"Roy-senpai… she's crying…" Mash noted.
"I see that."
Roy rubbed his head, a headache brewing.
He'd only meant to give her a light lesson and call it quits.
But now? How could he keep going?
Rin's face aside, with everyone watching—and Ishtar's spoiled nature lacking real malice, just dim-witted flaws—he couldn't hit a crying girl.
"Roy-senpai…" Mash stepped closer, soft-hearted. "What do we do with Miss Ishtar? You're not still…?"
"Sigh, what else? She's like this—let her go…"
Roy sighed, crouching to unchain Ishtar and lift Merlin's spell.
Leaning close, he whispered, "I was gonna drag you, Uruk's guardian goddess, to Gilgamesh as a greeting gift. But for Mash's sake, I'll let you off. Don't be so reckless next time."
His devilish murmur sent a shiver through Ishtar, her face paling.
Handed to Gilgamesh as a gift? She couldn't fathom it.
Siduri might stop him from doing much, but her pride and dignity would be toast.
She pictured Gilgamesh mocking her, carving her disgrace on a tablet, and displaying it across Uruk forever.
The great Mistress of the Heavens, a laughingstock to the gods?
She'd rather die!!
"No, no! Anything but that!! I'm sorry—I don't want the treasure!"
Spitting out the rag, Ishtar wailed.
"I'm sorry, let me go! Don't take me to Gilgamesh!! Take my treasure—it's yours, okay?!"
"…"
Still fixated on that dumb treasure?
Watching her bawl uncontrollably, Roy sighed, patted her head, and soothed, "Relax, I won't take you to Gilgamesh."
"Huh? Really?!"
Her sobs stopped instantly, eyes sparkling with joy as she looked up.
The flip stunned the onlookers.
Mood swings on a dime—crying one second, beaming the next.
This a goddess? Some emotional control.
Not quite the reliable deity they'd imagined.
"Really. Get up already."
Roy nodded, pulling the kneeling Ishtar to her feet.
Assured, she sprang up.
After that ordeal, her view of Roy shifted.
Sure, he was a shameless thief stealing her treasure. But he hadn't done anything weird while she was helpless, so her opinion softened a bit.
In her mind, all Mesopotamia—humans and gods—should adore her.
Too busy preening, she never considered Roy hadn't taken her treasure.
Freed, Ishtar didn't bolt. She turned to Roy, still wary but hesitantly voicing her plea.
"Um… mortal—no, brave one. Can you give my treasure back? It's a gift from Anu, really important to—"
Before she finished, Roy—done explaining—pulled the Grail Tezcatlipoca took from Kingu and tossed it to her.
"Last time: I didn't take your treasure. The mana you sensed is this Grail."
"…"
Ishtar blinked at the gleaming cup, then at Roy's blank stare.
Silence fell. Neither knew what to say.
Awkward as hell.
Up close, she realized the mana she'd felt was this cup. Meaning…
She'd randomly targeted Roy, pigheadedly assumed he'd nabbed her treasure, got schooled in a misunderstanding, and suffered for nothing?
In seconds, her dignity evaporated.
Even the shiny Grail lost its allure. Mortified, she shoved it back to Roy, face burning.
The grand Venus goddess, unable to recognize her own treasure, picking a fight and getting thrashed…
No impact? As if!!
But Roy wasn't keen on tormenting this dimwit further.
You don't bicker with an Aqua.
Sick of wasting time, he cleared things up, rallied the group, and headed for Uruk to meet Gilgamesh.
Ignoring the humiliated goddess, they resumed their trek.
"Hey, wait!!"
As Roy moved, Ishtar grabbed his sleeve.
"What now?"
Turning, Roy asked, irritation creeping in.
Was she stirring trouble again? He'd been lenient, letting her off easy—no punishment.
If she kept pushing, he'd have to teach her a real lesson.
"Wait, you… human! You beat me, touched my perfect body—name yourself!!"
Ishtar stared earnestly.
"Huh? My name? No big deal."
Roy paused, then obliged. "Roy, Master here to fix the Seventh Singularity, and a magus."
"Roy… weird name, but I'll remember it," she muttered, mulling it over before declaring, "You humiliated the Mistress of the Heavens—this isn't over. One day, I'll make you kneel, kiss my feet, and beg forgiveness!!"
"…"
Roy stared, deadpan, at her latest outburst, lifting a finger.
"As you command, Master."
Karna stepped up, spooking Ishtar mid-rant. She leaped onto Maanna and zipped into the sky.
"You wait, Roy! I mean it!"
Hands on hips, she crowed from Maanna, "One day, you'll grovel, lick my feet, and plead for mercy!"
"Not done yet?"
Pushed too long by this Aqua-wannabe, Roy's patience snapped—veins bulging. He nodded at Karna, signaling an attack.
Chased by a fireball, Ishtar scurried across Mesopotamia's skies once more.
Truly, the Mistress of the Heavens was full of pep today.
___
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