"Hahaha, don't mind it too much. If you want to learn, I can teach you later. The soul you saved is saying thank you to you."
"Th-thank you… Is that… Is that so… That's great… I was worried that the cage wasn't comfortable enough."
Ereshkigal breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking at her concerned about the souls, and recalling her previous tsundere attitude,
it was really amusing.
Her tsundere attribute couldn't be hidden; her attitude was stern, but her actions were efficient.
"Ugh… Ugh ugh ugh ugh, what… what's with that smiling expression of yours?"
"No, it's nothing. I'm just more convinced after seeing it myself. Ereshkigal, you're really kind."
"K-kind! This is just my usual work! You don't need to praise me like that…!"
Ereshkigal turned away again.
This time, even her ears were red.
As expected, she had no ability to resist Moran's straightforward praise.
If Moran did something even bolder,
it wouldn't be an exaggeration if she fainted.
[You and Ereshkigal return to the foundation of the palace]
[There, she uses her goddess authority to raise a platform for the two of you to sit together]
[You successfully saved the soul of a child]
[And because of this, Ereshkigal tells you many things from her heart]
"I'm just doing what I can, that's all… I originally wanted to make the Underworld better. But, as you know, Moran, I failed. I didn't get either the authority of the sun or the authority of life…"
"Ereshkigal, these things…"
"I know, you don't need to comfort me. I know a little bit too. But thank you anyway. Moran, I'm really, really happy that you want to comfort me."
Ereshkigal hugged her knees.
Her smile was very bright.
However, it made people feel a little sorry for her.
"—The taste of earth, the scent of flowers, the color of the wind, the height of the sky. Heh, everything on the surface is just what I've heard. If that's all it is, the Underworld is no worse. Because the surface is full of living things, it's too dirty!"
Ereshkigal argued.
However, her far-fetched but hard-to-hide envy made Moran not know what to say.
"After seeing the surface, it made me realize that my Underworld is several times quieter! And it's wide and clean! So I don't, I don't envy it at all!"
Ereshkigal's tone was very firm.
Her expression didn't match her words.
Her appearance of biting her lip unwillingly almost had the words "I don't want to admit it" written on her face.
Even if the Underworld was destroyed,
Ereshkigal's mouth would probably still be hard.
"…Really not envious? I remember, you used to bury seeds in the Underworld, trying to make flowers bloom, didn't you?"
"As expected… I can't hide it from you… You really know everything… You really aren't polite at all… Yeah, it's a lie to say I'm not envious, of course I'm envious…"
Ereshkigal hugged her legs.
Her face was buried lower and lower.
"I buried seeds, but after thousands of years, not even the seeds sprouted, let alone flowers…"
[Even now, she can still recall it]
[The garulas and dragons summoned by her authority said a lot to her after this incident]
"There's no need to feel sad about it."
"The Underworld is a barren land, not because you're incompetent."
[Although her familiars always said that to her]
[Ereshkigal could only hold back her tears and gaze at the sky, watching her dazzling other half in the sky]
"The Underworld doesn't need flowers at all."
"Because those aren't necessary existences at all."
[That's right, she could only answer her familiars like that]
[So, in the end, she would say stubborn words—]
"I don't want flowers. If they really bloomed in this dark land, that would be pitiful."
[But in fact, that's what she said because she couldn't get them]
[If there was a chance to make flowers bloom in the Underworld, Ereshkigal would only make one choice]
[She would fill the Underworld with warmth]
[Making this country an immaculate and beautiful ideal land]
[Even though these are very lonely memories]
[But when she talks about them with you now, she can't help but smile. It's hard to tell if she's mocking herself or happy to have someone to tell her true feelings to]
[Thank you for making your first friend]
[Thank you for this wonderful exchange]
"What if I said you had a chance to see them?"
Suddenly, Moran said this.
Even Ereshkigal was stunned for a few seconds.
"Moran… what did you say…?"
"What if I could let you see flowers and sunlight? Let them fill this cold and barren Underworld."
"Th-that's impossible! I've tried so many times! I've worked so hard so many times! If it really could…"
Ereshkigal bit her lip.
She didn't want to cry in front of Moran.
"The possibilities of this world are always expanding. Even gods can't see everything. Ereshkigal, if I said I could do it, would you believe me?"
Moran's gaze was unwavering.
Her attitude, without a trace of confusion or superficiality, made Ereshkigal's heart tremble slightly.
It was hard to say she didn't trust him.
What's more, she really wanted hope.
So—
"I want… I want to believe you… but…!"
"If that's the case, then there's no problem. Since this is your wish, then let me fulfill it for you."
Moran smiled happily.
Then, a pinkish-purple light flashed in his hand.
A delicate and beautiful fragrant flower bloomed.
Its full, blooming petals were presented in front of the goddess, giving the cold and barren Underworld a vibrant color.
Next, Moran will present a wonderful performance.