In Type-Moon, it all starts with adopting Sakura.

As for why she came here to find Rin Tohsaka...

It's actually very simple.

Even if we know the solution and understand how to replace it, it will still take some time.

During this time, Hercules and the other Servants might realize something is wrong and try to stop her all at once, which would be too troublesome. So she needs someone who can help her divert other people's attention, and that's exactly what she needs. She found that person in Rin Tohsaka.

Ishtar...

In some ways, this Servant can be considered the most terrifying in this Holy Grail War.

Although she kept getting thwarted, she still had one trump card up her sleeve.

That's what Aozaki Touko has her eye on.

However, due to her personality, she would need to use some tactics to get this guy's help.

"What exactly are you planning?"

Although she was still unable to move, Ishtar realized when she saw Aozaki Touko's eyes that the girl in front of her must be up to something bad.

But the woman in front of me was confident, frightening, and mysterious.

And it also revealed without reservation its intention that "my target is you," but this left Ishtar feeling helpless.

After all, this did indeed restrict her human existence.

While Aozaki Touko deserves her respect for doing this, it doesn't mean she will let Aozaki Touko manipulate her.

She is a goddess, a great goddess. Even if she is bound by humans, she is still a goddess and cannot be used as a tool.

However, Aozaki Touko seemed to have seen through Ishtar's true nature long ago, so she said calmly, "Don't worry, Ishtar, I won't force you. I'm only here to cooperate with you, and I have no ill intentions towards you."

"Does 'no malicious intent' mean you're keeping me stuck in one place? And you said...cooperation?"

Upon hearing this, Ishtar frowned.

"Yes, it's about cooperation."

Aozaki Touko smiled slightly and continued, "The reason I imprisoned you was just for safety, please forgive me. And I know that your wish is to stay in this world and continue to enjoy life and money, right? I can help you fulfill that wish."

"You... want to help me?"

Ishtar was puzzled by her words.

"That's right, I'm the most skilled puppeteer. Making a body for you wouldn't be difficult for me. Besides, my savings are an enormous amount. Money is just a number to me now. If you like, I can give it to you so you can buy endless gold and gems. That's much more useful than your ghost money."

"You mean...you want to hire me?"

Ishtar quickly understood her intention.

"Yes, but it's not an employment, just a collaboration."

Aozaki Touko continued, "I can give you the money or even your life, all you need to do is a small favor for me. How about it? Would you be willing to cooperate with me, my goddess?"

"I……"

Hearing what Aozaki Touko promised, Ishtar was also a little tempted.

After all, life and wealth are things she craves. If she agrees, she can break free from Rin Tohsaka's body and be truly free.

but……

"I refuse!"

In the end, Ishtar looked into Aozaki Touko's eyes and gave this answer.

She, Ishtar, loved nothing more than saying no to these self-righteous guys.

Although she likes money and desires a physical body, that doesn't mean she wants to be used as a tool by humans. Or rather, according to her values, these things should rightfully be hers, so why should she listen to Aozaki Touko's promises?

And so, this extremely self-centered goddess made this predictable choice.

"I see... I really underestimated you."

Upon seeing Ishtar's response, Aozaki Touko wasn't annoyed at all; instead, she burst into laughter, as she had vaguely anticipated such an outcome.

"Since that's the case, there's nothing more to say. After all, you're the kind of person who won't listen to either soft or hard tactics."

She then snapped her fingers, returning control of Ishtar to her, and stood up, turning and walking straight toward the door.

"Heh, foolish humans, you didn't expect that, did you?"

Ishtar chuckled dismissively. "All the treasures of this world originally belonged to me. You actually dared to use my things to trade with me. You're really arrogant... Do you think you can trade with a god? You're just asking for trouble."

"Your things? The self-righteous one is clearly you, the one who arbitrarily declared world sovereignty, isn't he? The arrogance of a god, you truly embody it all..."

Aozaki Touko sighed as she walked away.

"Boring. You humans wouldn't understand something so obvious."

Ishtar tossed her hair. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll be merciful and let you go. Don't ever show your face in front of me again, you troublesome woman."

After making those harsh remarks, Ishtar planned to leave, not wanting to have anything to do with Aozaki Touko, this dangerous individual.

"While your words are indeed extremely arrogant, you are also right. For a god who possesses eternal life and youth, living a long time naturally leads to the belief that they are the most wonderful, and that all of humanity will respect them and offer them their best. But if you put it that way..."

Aozaki Touko slowly turned her head and said slowly, "You probably don't even know what kind of image you have in the eyes of humans, do you?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Ishtar paused, her brows furrowing.

It has to be said that Aozaki Touko's words really struck a chord with her.

This is a flaw that all immortal beings and gods have.

Because of their exceptional talent and extreme ego, they tend to overemphasize and dwell on the opinions of others and other matters. Simply put, things that humans might laugh off or easily forget, or that they might simply get angry about, become extremely troublesome when they are gods.

Especially for a goddess like her, she cannot tolerate the slightest imperfection or hear any words that are detrimental to her.

In the past, she was a terrifying goddess who blasted Mount Ebif into the ground in a fit of anger because Mount Ebif refused to praise her and offer up its peak. Feeling that humans did not respect her enough, she secretly unleashed a catastrophe of extinction.

"what do you mean?"

Ishtar turned her head, her golden eyes flashing with powerful pressure, but such tricks were useless against Orange, after all, she was no longer an ordinary person.

"Heh, it's just what it sounds like. I think you must be curious about how the world sees you, right? Goddess Ishtar, would you like to hear the answer from me?"

Aozaki Touko crushed her cigarette butt and spoke calmly, continuing to coax her.

“What a boring question,” Ishtar sneered upon hearing this, crossed her arms, raised her chin, and said confidently, “I am the goddess of love and beauty! I am also the embodiment of wealth and abundance. What else can the world say about me but praise? I think humans will regard me as a totem and their dream lover, right?”

Confidence, absolute confidence!

This is an old problem of Ishtar's.

She believed that as the goddess of love and beauty, everything in the world should cherish her.

This is her innate personality trait, but things often don't go as planned.

"Really? You really don't see yourself clearly. Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."

Aozaki Touko grinned, barely able to contain herself at the sight of this cerebral palsy goddess in front of her.

"Hey, what do you mean? Is there some exception to this?"

"Well, I can't say for sure. You should see for yourself."

As if she had been prepared, upon hearing Ishtar's question, Aozaki Touko pulled a book from her clothes without hesitation and tossed it to Ishtar.

"This is……"

Ishtar grabbed the old book hanging in mid-air and looked down. The words "Collection of Ishtar's Myths" were written in large characters on it.

The next moment, Aozaki Touko's voice came again.

"Take a good look, you pathetic goddess. Although some of what you say is a white lie, there are some things you'd better know. After all, it's truly pitiful and pathetic to be kept in the dark by only one person..."

After saying that, she disappeared without a trace.

"Tsk... what a despicable guy!"

Ishtar's veins bulged, extremely displeased.

In the past, anyone who dared to speak to her like that would definitely be killed by her, but this guy has ways to limit her actions, making it difficult for her to act rashly.

Moreover, to be honest, she was quite concerned about the accurate record and opinion that Aozaki Touko had mentioned.

This feeling is like the anxiety you feel when your dark past might be made public.

To mock Astraea, she had actually read through Greek mythology. When she saw how chaotic the Greek mythological world was, and how Zeus went to such lengths and did so many ugly things for a prophecy, she laughed at him vehemently.

I think they're really stupid.

At the same time, I feel that their pantheon is not as wonderful as hers.

The scene of fathers and sons killing each other has almost become a regular feature.

But that's only when viewed from a third-person perspective.

At this moment, Ishtar recalled that the foolish things done in Greek mythology had been written into storybooks and circulated. She realized, then what about their Sumerian mythology?

Although their Sumerian pantheon wasn't as powerful as Greek mythology, there were still some things that couldn't be easily revealed. Especially when she recalled the embarrassing things she had done in the past, Ishtar suddenly had a bad feeling.

Could those things have been recorded too?!

No, it's not possible...

She remembered that she had handled it very cleanly, and the humans on earth wouldn't dare to record her nonsense, so there shouldn't be any problem, right? After all, it's impossible for anyone to risk being killed by her to record her embarrassing moments, what would they gain?

Don't scare yourself unnecessarily.

Ishtar, don't worry, everything will be alright.

[Hahahahahahaha—! ! ]

Even so, when Ishtar thought of this, he immediately remembered a certain pleasant Mr. Kim.

No, maybe there really is someone that bored! There's a guy who's completely capable of doing something like that—a man who doesn't care about angering her at all, and would go to any lengths to drive her crazy! And that annoying guy actually has that ability!

How could I have forgotten about him?!

Thinking of someone, Ishtar swallowed hard, then lowered her head and cautiously glanced at the author of the book.

really……

It was written prominently above.