Chapter 982: Chapter 982: Heaven’s Brat · Ishtar
After settling the Underworld goddess’s girlish-heart problem, Bell returned straight home.
’That girlish-heart issue was pretty serious, but it turned out well.’
’Next comes the core.’
The foundational construction of the new world was essentially finished. What remained was a core similar to a "Miniature World."
As he thought about it, Bell sat down in his room, his slightly stiff back leaning against the soft chair. Resting his chin on one hand, he continued mulling over the matter.
’The core itself isn’t much of a problem. I’m almost done with it anyway.’
During his recuperation at home, Bell had been resting while also working on the creation of the core. The difficulty lay in linking it to the "Simulated Star Creation Map" and to "Human History," thereby elevating the world into yet another "Miniature World."
Yes, this was essentially an act of dividing things up. But so what?
What was being divided wasn’t two-digit Authority, but four-digit Authority. Would the two-digit existences within the Miniature World really rush in and cause trouble over a batch of four-digit Authority?
If they truly did, then it would only prove one thing: they didn’t have the qualifications to reach the single-digit realm.
’For the sake of a smooth road ahead, they wouldn’t care much about damaging the interests of the four-digit level.’
’Still, to avoid unnecessary trouble, I should probably toss something over as a buffer.’
Among the two-digit existences, many had no interest in going higher. Because they couldn’t see a clear path toward the single-digit realm, they believed they had no chance at all.
So what if that path to the single-digit realm was laid out plainly before them?
Only a visible road forward was truly tempting.
As that thought crossed his mind, two incomplete divinities and spiritual frameworks appeared in Bell’s hands.
’At the end of Human History, there are only two paths that can overturn what has been erased.’
’The Theory of Divine Creation, and the Theory of Human Creation.’
’When the world is destroyed, when both gods and humans reach their end, only those who defined the world have the power to face the winds of decay.’
’A single-digit can only be defeated by another single-digit.’
’In my name, I will push the Miniature World into turmoil.’
Naturally, Bell had no intention of choosing the Theory of Divine Creation. His choice was the Theory of Human Creation. But in truth, it didn’t really matter which was chosen. All causality ultimately converged on whether the world was created by gods or by humans.
These two theories were both paths toward becoming a single-digit existence, and both were incomplete single-digit divinities and spiritual frameworks.
With these two roads laid out before it, would the Miniature World descend into even greater chaos?
Bell was already looking forward to it.
Of course, this wasn’t something to be done right away. Only after the "Miniature World" was fully completed would it be truly explosive to throw these two incomplete spiritual frameworks into Human History. By then, neither humans nor gods would spare a thought for the "Miniature World" anymore.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
The sound of knocking interrupted Bell’s thoughts.
He adjusted himself slightly and responded toward the door.
"Come in."
The person outside entered the room. It was Ishtar.
"Why are you here?"
Standing at the doorway, Ishtar immediately put on an unhappy expression, hands on her hips.
"Why do you look at me like that? You were completely different when you were with Artemis."
"How could that be the same?"
Bell treating Artemis differently was perfectly normal. Given his relationship with Artemis, of course it would be different.
"The Ishtar of this world did some seriously brain-dead things. She even runs a brothel in the Genkai. She’s a goddess who’s been ridden by thousands. What kind of look do you expect me to give you?"
At those words, Ishtar’s face twisted with a mix of strangeness and outright disgust.
"Ugh... that’s disgusting."
If Ishtar from this world heard that "disgusting," she’d probably shatter on the spot—especially since it came from Ishtar of another world.
"She doesn’t actually act like she’s in heat in front of normal people, does she?"
"In reality, she does. Most of the time she’s acting like that, and she even keeps a lot of ’pets.’ You know what I mean, right?"
At that, Ishtar couldn’t hold it in anymore. The hairs on her arms stood on end. She even stepped back slightly, looking at Bell as if he himself had become something filthy.
"You touched her too?"
That left Bell utterly speechless. Why did she get that impression?
"Do you like touching dirty things?"
"No."
"Good. Neither do I."
With that, Bell shot her a blank look.
"With so many goddesses in my house, why would I go anywhere near a goddess like Ishtar? That one’s the type who thinks, ’I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll take customers.’ That ’public bus’ image is already burned into everyone’s mind."
"Tch. Has she completely confused beauty with lust?"
At this point, Ishtar felt that this world’s Ishtar had clearly gone down the wrong path. Just imagining all kinds of random people being able to climb onto a goddess with money made her feel that the goddesses of this world were cheap beyond belief.
"What kind of goddess would degrade herself like that? Showing herself to humans in the Genkai? Putting up with all sorts of bizarre creatures... Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up."
"A goddess without even a shred of dignity or authority? She’s nothing but trash."
That was pretty harsh. Bell couldn’t help but glance at Ishtar.
"Aren’t you the same?"
"Hah!?"
That line instantly set Ishtar off.
"Don’t joke with me! I’m the goddess of beauty! I govern beauty, not desire! As the Lady of Heaven, everyone in this world should love me and fall for my beauty. Since when would I ever need to lower myself to chase someone?"
"Humans in the Genkai being fascinated by me and falling for me might not be my intention, but it’s only natural! I’m the blessed Lady of Heaven. It’s only right that I receive all the love in the world."
After saying that, Ishtar lifted her chin high like a swan, as if proving just how justified her words were.
"What about Gilgamesh?"
"Don’t mention him!"
Just hearing that name made Ishtar bristle.
"All humans should be in love with me, captivated by my beauty, but that lunatic actually called me a sow. Every time I think about it, I want to tear that bastard to pieces!"
"..."
"In this world, there’s no love I can’t obtain, only love I don’t want! That guy is an aberration. Completely unmoved by my beauty, and he even dared say something like that."
Watching Ishtar rant like a spoiled child, Bell felt like he could physically sense Gilgamesh’s headache. That level of self-centeredness was probably worse than Gilgamesh himself. Or rather, when two people that self-absorbed collided, it would be stranger if things didn’t explode.
Still, it was precisely because of this extreme self-centered rant that Bell became certain that the Ishtar of the Type-Moon world was a spoiled child raised by Anu. She had a god’s pride and dignity, unlike the Ishtar of this world who’d become a "public bus."
Even after sorting it all out, Bell couldn’t help complaining inwardly.
’Ishtar and Ereshkigal really are complete opposites. One is extremely self-centered, and the other is extremely self-effacing.’
