Ishtar Familia's home appeared even larger up close. The main tower stood taller than the two smaller ones at its sides. It was where Ishtar and her strongest followers resided, while the other two towers were less important.
On the bridge, a couple of Amazonesses stood with their weapons drawn, all of them looking like strong warriors. The footsteps of a barefoot Amazoness approached quickly, hurrying to inspect the new visitors.
"Stand right there, you two!"
One Amazoness left the formation and came our way. She had long brown hair tied in a ponytail, and her honey-colored eyes shone in the moonlight, revealing her beauty beneath her warrior's strong posture.
"Hello, Eihyia! It's good to see you again!" Hermes waved as the Amazoness approached, and she responded with a firm smile at his greeting.
"It's good to see you again, God Hermes. Are you here because our goddess called you or on some other business? Also, mind explaining who this masked person is—a new Familia member?"
I caught her interest, while Hermes smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Your goddess called me for trivial business matters, and this is my follower, Niall. He doesn't like showing his face for some reason, so don't mind him, hehe."
The Amazoness took a good look at me and tilted her head in confusion, but Hermes didn't let her push further, and he moved forward. Eihyia's long ponytail swayed gracefully in the wind as she nodded to the other girls, allowing us to pass across the bridge to the main tower of the Ishtar Familia. Hermes thanked her, and we moved on as he held my shoulder, likely trying to calm me down, though I was perfectly calm.
The air above the river encircling the towers was cooler; I noticed Hermes clutching his cloak as we passed through. Our short journey over the bridge ended as two more Amazonesses met us on the other side. This time, no action was needed; they simply let us pass without any issue. Hermes just waved and continued forward. After a few moments, we stood before a huge tower that rose high into the sky.
"Remember, Niall—don't speak unless spoken to, and even then, help yourself by acting according to your role as a follower. You can be difficult to handle most of the time, so don't bring us any trouble. Ishtar is very dangerous when she gets angry."
Hermes was fully serious as he spoke, his gaze fixed on the entrance doors rather than on me. Once we were ready, he knocked, and the doors opened.
Inside, the main tower revealed nothing less than a magnificent display of wealth. The walls and nearly everything else showed that Ishtar had spared no expense.
Two Amazonesses watched us as we entered, closing the doors once Hermes was fully inside. The well-built walls shielded us from the chilly air outside, offering a comfortable warmth within.
There weren't many Amazonesses around, just a few wandering the hallways and glancing at us with curiosity. But the main attraction was directly ahead—none other than the goddess Ishtar herself.
She stood a little taller than me, her dark skin hinting at her undeniable beauty, even I had to admit. A crown shone atop her purple hair, and her brown eyes assessed us with a mix of curiosity and interest.
"Glad to see you, Hermes. I see you've brought a follower with you."
She held a smoking pipe with a grace befitting the goddess of beauty. As I took in her appearance, I noticed the abundance of jewelry she wore. We stood in silence for a moment until Hermes, with me by his side, approached her.
"It's nice to see you again, Ishtar. You look as beautiful as always… I hope you don't mind my companion being here. He's quiet and trustworthy."
Hermes scratched the back of his head, clearly worried that Ishtar might respond negatively. Her silence for a moment didn't help ease his concern. After a long look at me, she returned her gaze to Hermes.
"Of course, but is there any reason he's wearing a mask? Just looking at it, I can tell it's crafted from top-quality materials. Tell me, is he from the Far East?"
Even though Ishtar appeared calm, like she had the upper hand in this conversation, I could sense a hint of worry in her words—a worry that I might know about Haruhime, especially given her assumption that I was from the Far East.
"He's not from the Far East; it's just the mask that gives that impression. He's fond of kitsune masks, so I helped him buy one. He's very capable for a follower, but he doesn't like showing his face and rarely speaks."
Hermes smiled warmly as he spoke, effortlessly spinning a lie that Ishtar seemed to accept, though I could feel the lingering stares of other Amazonesses in the room.
"Very well, then. Let's go upstairs to discuss our business. Bring your follower along, if you insist," Ishtar said, leading us up the staircase, her arms crossed in a way that accentuated her chest. Hermes tried his best to stay calm in the face of Ishtar's charm, and I had to admit, he was handling it well.
We climbed the winding staircase that led us to one of her private rooms, furnished with opulent decor, a king-size bed, and luxurious clothing strewn about.
A large window provided a stunning view of the red-light district, with moonlight filtering in, casting a faint glow over the room.
Once Ishtar closed the door, soft lights illuminated the room, allowing us to see each other. Two guards stationed outside ensured no one would intrude on our conversation.
I hadn't recognized any familiar faces from the anime or novels—just a mix of Amazonesses, similar to those found anywhere in Orario. Ishtar and Hermes sat on a plush mattress with a fancy table between them.
As the two began to discuss what sounded like dull economic matters, I took the opportunity to close my eyes and focus all my senses. Everything around me grew silent until I started picking up various noises from within the tower.
The first sounds were the soft moans of both men and women from what I assumed were rooms downstairs. Other rooms had similar sounds, though the insulation seemed well-made to muffle them.
The Ishtar Familia used their home to entertain customers, drawing in eager men—but those men were always at risk of being taken advantage of, and things could be even worse if that detestable Toad took a liking to one of them.
From below, I then heard screams and desperate cries from a man begging for mercy. Then, silence, followed by the revolting voice of the Toad mocking him. That was when I stopped listening, deciding some things were best left unknown.
"Have you been able to find another Killing Stone?"
Ishtar's gaze drifted toward the window as she asked this, side-eyeing Hermes. The sly god visibly shuddered, worry flickering across his face at the question.