Chapter 85: The Proposal
To say I was shocked would be the understatement of the century.
I stared down at the literal Goddess of Love and War kneeling before me on the marble pavement, holding out a velvet box containing interlocked cosmic rings as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I had never expected a woman to go down on one knee for me, let alone an ancient, world-renowned deity asking for my hand in marriage after a two-hour stroll.
It took a solid five seconds for my brain to reboot. The moment my senses returned, I instinctively scrambled backward off the stone bench, putting a good three feet of distance between us.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I choked out, staring at her like she had lost her mind.
Ishtar blinked her dark, enchanting eyes in genuine confusion, remaining gracefully on one knee. "What do you mean? I’m asking you to marry me."
I shook my head frantically, waving my hands. "I know what you’re asking, but why are you doing it?! Are you right in the head?! We met literally two hours ago in a market alley, and now you’re proposing marriage?!"
Ishtar’s brows furrowed slightly as she looked thoroughly perplexed by my reaction. "Why are you acting so shocked? Don’t you want a breathtakingly beautiful, immortal goddess as your wife? Why on earth are you rejecting me?"
I pressed two fingers against my temple, letting out a heavy, exasperated breath as I rubbed my forehead. "Ishtar... just tell me why you’re doing this so suddenly."
Ishtar didn’t get up. She remained on one knee, looking up at me with an unbothered, completely matter-of-fact expression as she began listing her reasons.
"First of all, you’re one of the exceptionally rare beings who can remain completely immune to my passive charm authority, yet you still treat me like a normal person," Ishtar explained smoothly. "I genuinely enjoyed my time with you today."
"Second, I am the Goddess of Fertility and Sexuality. Yet, in my four thousand years of existence, I have never been in a proper, committed relationship, nor have I ever had children. My divine authority constantly compels me toward motherhood, but I have never acted on it because I could never find anyone worthy of me. But now that I have found someone I genuinely value, why should I force myself to go slow or hold back? I want you to become the father of my children."
I stood there on the stone plaza, completely speechless at her absolute lack of a filter.
"And third," Ishtar continued, a proud, self-assured smirk returning to her lips, "I want my children to inherit the best traits possible. Your bloodline, carrying the authority of Origin, matter a great deal to me. That is why I want to marry you. Honestly, Seth, you should be immensely proud a divine goddess is kneeling before you and asking for your hand."
I stared at her for a long, heavy moment. The surreal atmosphere faded, replaced by a quiet, steady calm in my chest.
I let out a soft, tired sigh.
"No," I said clearly.
The single word hung in the air between us.
Ishtar froze. The confident, alluring smile on her face completely faltered. Such an outright rejection was clearly something she had never experienced in her thousands of years of existence.
"W-What?" Ishtar fumbled, her jaw slightly parting in bewilderment as she stared up at me. "N-No? Did... did you just say no?! Why?! Is it my appearance?! I can alter my physical form to become even more beautiful if that’s what you prefer—"
"Ishtar, stop," I interrupted, giving a firm shake of my head. "Your appearance isn’t the issue at all. You are undeniably one of the most drop-dead gorgeous women I have ever seen."
I looked down at her, my voice turning quiet and serious. "But I look for a lot more than physical beauty in a relationship. This is way too sudden. And honestly... I really don’t like the way you’re looking at a potential life together."
Ishtar blinked, taken aback. "What does that mean?"
"You’re treating marriage like a high-tier business transaction," I explained calmly, resting my hands in my pockets. "You don’t actually want me, you want my bloodline, my immunity to your authority, and the potential of my Astral Soul to produce strong offspring. I don’t want my relationships built on a contractual calculation."
I took a half-step back, offering her a polite, apologetic nod. "So, I’m sorry, but my answer is no. Besides... I already have a girlfriend back home. When the time comes, I plan on marrying her first and foremost. Even if I eventually end up in a harem, Yerin will always be my first wife."
Without waiting for her to respond, I turned on my heel and walked away, stepping off the marble plaza and blending into the crowded, evening streets of Uruk.
Behind me, Ishtar remained on one knee, holding the open velvet box in stunned silence as she stared at my departing back until I vanished into the bustling crowd.
As I walked aimlessly down the glowing stone avenues of the city, a quiet, bittersweet weight settled in my chest.
Deep down, a small part of me felt bad for rejecting her so flatly in public. But as I navigated past the groups of chatting beastfolk and flying constructs, a cold, familiar taste lingered in my mouth.
It reminded me far too much of my past life, back when I was an overworked, invisible restaurant waiter. Back then, people only cared about what I could provide: food, service, convenience. Nobody cared about who I was as a person. I was just a utility, a tool to be used and discarded.
Seeing Ishtar look at my Astral Soul and my genes as high-value commodities to strengthen her bloodline hit that exact same sore spot. I had promised myself when I got this system that I would never let anyone treat me like an empty tool ever again.
[Seth...] Paige’s voice chimed inside my mind, unusually soft, gentle, and comforting. [You did the right thing, Host. Sincerely.]