Praise the Goddess! (I)

"You said it yourself, if you mess up, don't blame me for not being polite!"

After saying that, Ishtar rode Maanna and quickly ascended into the sky through the hole in the roof.

"So, you really plan on helping that embarrassing goddess save face?" 

Watching Ishtar's disappearing figure, Gilgamesh asked as he turned his gaze toward Arkhan.

Arkhan glanced at him slightly helpless.

Even if this Goddess of Venus was unreliable, she was still a powerful force worth pursuing.

Why did Gilgamesh always look so disdainful to her?

Gilgamesh clearly understood his expression, so he leaned back on his throne and began explaining in a somewhat laid-back tone.

"There's an old saying in Uruk that said 'ziggurat wasn't built in a day', so if you always have a goddess causing trouble around you every day, you'll understand why I'm like this."

Recalling his encounter with that goddess just now, Arkhan had to admit that Gilgamesh had a point.

Ishtar was indeed too unruly and willful.

"Although that woman is quite embarrassing, if we consider her as a manpower, she barely passes... After all, she's still a goddess." Gilgamesh supported his head up with his hand, a hint of interest in his eyes. "So, what's your plan?"

"Ishtar just wants the respect and offerings from the people, right? As long as we satisfy her, isn't that enough?" Arkhan said casually.

"No, she only wants offerings." Gilgamesh retorted with a poker face.

"..."

Arkhan was silent for a moment, then coughed lightly before turning to look at the chief priestess beside him.

"Siduri, can the temple still conduct rituals as usual?"

Siduri hesitated for a moment and then nodded slightly.

"Most of the people in the temple have been reassigned elsewhere, but if needed, I can summon them back. However, the scale may not be as grand as before."

"It's okay, as long as we can still hold it." Arkhan waved his hand.

"Are you planning to invite Goddess Ishtar to participate in the ritual?" Siduri asked cautiously as she sensed his thoughts.

"Is there a problem?" Arkhan smiled.

"Well..." Siduri looked conflicted.

Although she respected Ishtar, she also knew how bad the reputation of this goddess was.

Could a mere ritual really save the shaky image of this goddess in the hearts of the people?

"Don't worry, just focus on conducting the ritual and just leave the rest to me." Arkhan said calmly with a smile.

Siduri turned to Gilgamesh and upon seeing him nod, she nodded slightly at Arkhan.

"I understand. I'll arrange it right away."

===

As Gilgamesh's capable aide, Siduri's efficiency was indeed very high. In just two days, she completed the arrangements for the ritual.

On the day of the ritual, the people who had been notified in advance gathered in the square in front of a ziggurat, crowding together with curious eyes watching the priestesses and priests on the high platform.

"In reverence to our gods, you are the guardian of the self, the bestower of abundance, you are the beautiful being, the supreme goddess..."

Siduri, standing on the high platform, glanced at the crowd below with the corner of her eye, seeing most of them wearing indifferent and careless expressions, she couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Siduri is personally conducting the ritual, looks like she really wants to restore the reputation of that disgraceful goddess."

Inside the throne room, Gilgamesh remarked as he sat on the throne, with Arkhan standing beside him, both watching the ongoing ritual.

Although they were quite far from the ritual location, with their vision, the distance was not a problem at all.

"But it's a pity, doesn't seem to be having much effect... No, those who still hold devout beliefs for that disgraceful goddess up to now are the crazy ones."

As Gilgamesh added that, he boredly let out a chuckle before turning his head to Arkhan beside him.

"This time, I've even put my chief priestess on the line. If this doesn't work, I'll lose face big time. So, can you tell me what you plan to do now?"

"Don't worry, you'll see soon enough." Arkhan replied calmly.

Gilgamesh was about to speak again when his gaze suddenly focused.

"That is..."

"Looks like it's about time." Arkhan's lips curled slightly. "Watch closely, Gilgamesh, the real ritual is about to begin."

Soon, a commotion erupted in the crowd.

"Wow, look up!"

"What are these?"

In the crowd watching the ritual on the square, there was a sudden exclamation, people looked up and noticed that at some point, light particles began to fall from the sky, each particle shimmering with a dazzling golden color, appearing like countless magnificent jewels descending from heaven.

"So beautiful..."

Some people curiously reached out to touch these particles, only to find that they didn't land on their hands, but seemed to merge into their bodies.

"They disappeared!"

"Were they entered our bodies?!"

People couldn't help but feel a little frightened, having unknown objects invade their bodies didn't seem like a good sign at all.

Some even suspected it might be some kind of ominous curse.

However, they soon realized that the reality seemed somewhat different from what they imagined.

"Huh? Why do I suddenly feel like my body is much lighter..."

"Is it just me? Why do I feel like my strength has also increased a bit..."

"My wound... is actually healing...?"

After the initial chaos settled, people quickly realized that these light particles didn't bring any negative effects, but instead improved their bodies!

Farmers, tired after a day's hard work, shed their exhaustion and became energetic again. Soldiers, who had once been wounded on the battlefield, watched as their wounds healed rapidly. Those who were sick also found their conditions improving bit by bit.

It was as if bathing in light particles was a miracle, making everyone's physical condition much better than before!

This was indeed a miracle!

'Wait, a miracle?'

Finally, someone in the crowd reacted and turned his gaze toward the priests and priestesses on the high platform.

'Could it be that this is really...'

As the person thought like that in amazement, another person in the crowd suddenly shouted.

"This is the blessing bestowed by the Goddess of Venus!"

"Yes, that's right, who else could do such a thing besides the goddess?"

"The compassionate goddess not only didn't punish us for our disrespect but instead bestowed a blessing upon us!"

"Praise the goddess!"

The square instantly became extremely noisy, with one person after another kneeling on the ground, devoutly praising the Goddess of Venus, Ishtar.