"Really... I ... I will definitely be scolded by you... but... I still want to stay with you longer... It’s been so long... I also want to be willful occasionally..."
[The goddess of the underworld feels tired and uncomfortable.]
[This situation is getting stronger and stronger.]
[At first, it was just a little weak, then dizziness, and now it is all over her body.]
[However, it is not yet unacceptable.]
[If it is just this little cold-like symptom, then it is nothing to her at all.]
[Thinking that when the main passage to Uruk is completed.]
[Can meet you anytime and anywhere.]
[Spend daily life at a closer distance than now, and even have more shy and exciting things happen.]
[Just thinking about it makes her very excited.]
[There is an unprecedented sense of happiness in her chest, and her legs can’t help but close together.]
[Because of the persistence and love in her heart.]
[She has also honed her acting skills to the extreme to cover up for the person she loves. This kind of spirit is not to say that she is firm and persistent, but also can be said to be a foolish goddess who is in love and intoxicated.]
[Although, it is as painful as when she was alone in the past.]
[But she feels that this is not just pain, but also happiness.]
[After many days, she came to the underworld again.]
[Because he was thinking about Ereshkigal’s strangeness last time, you were restless, and your intuition has been working.]
[So, you specially adjusted the time this time, and the time to reach the underworld was much earlier than originally expected.]
[In the past, if it was at the scheduled time.]
[Ereshkigal would have been waiting for you on the stone bridge early, but this time you came early. Naturally, you didn’t see the familiar beautiful figure on the stone bridge.]
[Not only Ereshkigal misses you.]
[Whenever dealing with Uruk’s government affairs, you will inadvertently think of the subtle appearance she showed when you were with Ereshkigal last time, as if she was holding on to something.]
[Of course, you can’t confirm this.]
[She hides this little detail quite well, so well that you can’t be sure if it’s acting.]
[Going down the stone bridge all the way.]
[Because of the authority given by Ereshkigal, you can reach the palace unimpeded.]
[Arriving at the palace, what you see there is——]
The palace is still cold and barren.
Even if Moran brought warmth and flowers to the underworld, Ereshkigal still didn’t build her own palace first.
In her eyes, other people are more important.
Her own affairs can be put aside.
"Mo, Moran...?! Why are you... here...!"
Ereshkigal obviously didn’t expect this.
Her face was flustered.
She was lying weakly on the smooth stone bed piled up with stone pillars, and her round face had an unprecedented pale color.
Whether it’s panic or anxiety.
She tried to sit up from the stone bed.
However, she didn’t even have the strength.
Her willow-like arms were constantly trembling, and she couldn’t hold on before she sat up.
Seeing that she was about to fall on the stone bed.
At the moment when Ereshkigal was about to fall, those familiar and warm arms hugged her.
"...Your body temperature... is so cold!"
Moran suddenly widened his eyes.
A few days ago, he just felt that Ereshkigal’s divinity was accompanied by coldness, and he didn’t think too much about it.
It is normal for the goddess of the underworld to emit cold air.
But even her skin is so cold.
She was not half a month ago.
Just looking at Ereshkigal’s tired and weak appearance, there was no trace of blood on her face.
"Ereshkigal... what’s going on!?"
Moran knew his premonition was correct.
Fortunately, he trusted himself.
If Ereshkigal had continued to cover up like that, who knows how serious it would have become.
"Cough, cough... I’m... I’m sorry... I originally thought... I could hold on..."
Ereshkigal forced a smile.
She didn’t want to appear so pained, nor did she want Moran to look so distressed.
Indeed, the man before her was filled with heartache.
His arms holding her were strong.
[She thought you would come later, giving her time to adjust her condition.]
[At least, she thought she could hold on a little longer.]
[However, she underestimated your observational skills and Moran’s care and love for her.]
[But, what is this feeling?]
[Even though this body feels like it’s tormented by illness, why do I feel so happy in his arms?]
[As expected, she’s a greedy and foolish goddess.]
[Ereshkigal knew there was no hiding.]
[She also knew she would be scolded.]
[Now that she’s been exposed, she has nothing to hide and can only explain everything she’s done.]
[Those private decisions made out of longing.]
[Numerous abuses of power.]
"...You really... really are... hopelessly foolish..."
Moran was both angry and annoyed.
But, upon learning that Ereshkigal had made this series of actions out of excessive longing for him.
He felt a sense of joy in his heart for some reason.
Was it the joy of being loved?
He wasn’t sure, but the annoyance in his heart was definitely the greater part, and extremely complex emotions churned within him.
In the end, it could only turn into a helpless sigh.
"Ugh... Moran... scold me if you want... I know you must be very angry..."
Ereshkigal also knew she shouldn’t have done this.
However, she couldn’t suppress that longing.
Compared to Moran holding her in silence now, she would rather Moran scold her.
"...I’m so angry I don’t even know what to say. I’m wondering why there’s such a foolish woman like you in this world."
"Ugh... I can’t help it... I just miss you too much... seeing you only seven days a month is too tantalizing... cough cough..."
Ereshkigal was still very weak.
The strength to speak was squeezed out.
She had made a vow based on her divinity, never to use her power for herself.
If she used her power for herself, she would lose it and weaken. This vow was absolute and could not be changed, just like a sunflower chooses to follow the rules of photosynthesis.
Rather than a vow, it was her way of life.
She still doesn’t regret it.