Guest: It's a matter of trust. For now, Kurumi admitted that they are powerful and allying with them might be not a bad option.

Indigo One: It's horrible and disgusting… and I love it!

marhaenaldi123: thank you!

Chapter 22: The Pool

Ishtar and Ereshkigal were sitting underneath the shade of the umbrella, resting in leisure. Ishtar has her eye shades on while Ereshkigal content on watching everything around her. The smile on her face was enough for Ishtar to be relieved, as long as Ereshkigal was happy, Ishtar was happy too. There is no amount of gems that could replace Ereshkigal for Ishtar.

Yes, they were in their swimsuit attire. Ishtar was in her white and gold motif two piece, and she was proud of her body as she lied down. Meanwhile, Ereshkigal was in her magenta one-piece with a golden skull adorned on her neck. If one would pay attention, their swimsuit attire was based on their actual battle attire.

A generous amount of male and female gaze were set upon them, specifically on their body. Ishtar was quite proud of her beauty while Ereshkigal was as ignorant as she was. Of course, their on-the-spot fans remained within their respective distance, afraid that they might sully them by their tainted touch and offended these swimsuit goddesses, not knowing that they are actual goddesses.

Ishtar raised her glazed glasses, and squinted when she noticed someone familiar by the pool.

It was Shidou together with Kotori, with Tohka and Yoshino nearby, playing and splashing by the pool. Ereshkigal and Ishtar also planned to swim in the pool, but not right now. It seemed that the Shidou was enjoying his time with his ladies as well as her sister. It was an interesting sight for Ereshkigal. They were also aware that Shidou was Master's neighbor as well as an agent of Ratatoskr.

It was completely coincidental that Shidou's group and the goddesses went into the pool park at the same time but Shidou was oblivious of them ever, although he would steal a glance at them, curious why a crowd gathered around them.

Ritsuka ordered them to act as a normal human for a meantime to hid their identity. They also have muted their divine and Heroic Spirit signature or lest the surrounding people will fall unconscious and Ratatoskr and DEM might target them. It was an easy thing though with the help of Circe's magecraft and Scathach's runes, they can appear as an ordinary human. Though Ishtar didn't care, Ereshkigal was jubilant about it. Millennium of being in the underworld has made the Goddess of the Underworld excited about this unexpected prospect.

Also, regarding the Spirit codenamed Berzerk, Ishtar felt annoyed, even after they went into the pacific, searching for other insane challenge. On that night, Kaguya and Yuzuru followed the goddesses to their mansion and infiltrated it to their hearts content. Their butler and maids has a field day cleaning their mansion because of the twin Spirits. Ishtar was exasperated, since it took a considerable amount of their budget just to make the repairs.

They thought they have their revenge when the twin Spirits challenged them into a sports battle and won without breaking a sweat. Of course, they channeled a small amount of their divinity to give themselves the advantage and won without any repercussion.

They thought the Twins will leave them alone but the worst came for them.

They are now calling them Masters and was prostrating before their presence much to their horror. Luckily, that's also the time they are on their way to the Pacific the next day. Ishtar couldn't help but worried that they will come back one day.

Also, they have reported it to their Master but Ritsuka advised them to be on the lookout for the twins the next time they will come back.

Ishtar was suffering from headache every time she thought of the Twins. For her, they were obnoxious.

The Red Devil of Venus realized that she needed to relax and forget the twins for a meantime.

Shidou was pulling Kotori to a café he spied earlier upon their arrival, much to Kotori's annoyance. She thought that the Ratatoskr was behind this but when Shidou took out his earpiece and put it in his pocket, she was midly panicked.

"C'mon, I heard that they serve some delicious delicacies here." Shidou said as he recommends it. Kotori was suspicious.

"…and who said it was worth it?"

Shidou was visibly hesitant to speak this time, he can't just tell that Tonomachi recommended it to him.

"…forget it that I've asked." Kotori said as she forcibly held Shidou's hand which made her heartbeat harder every minute and blushing a lot. Her brother was oblivious as usual.

They managed to enter the café without any problems. Inside, they were greeted with numerous customers filled every seat Shidou could see. He was disappointed, if it wasn't for the fact there was a vacant one from the far side. Shidou has this suspicion that somehow Ratotoskr managed to make it vacant for both.

Anyways, it was a blessing in disguise for them. Shidou immediately pulled Kotori to the vacant table.

"Slow down, Shidou." Kotori warned as she reluctantly let her brother lead the way.

"I know." Shidou just assured her.

They sat immediately without a beat, Shidou scanned his surrounding before he stared at Kotori.

"What do you think, do you like this place?" Shidou asked her.

"Not bad… You have a taste for places like this… although…" The commander of Ratatoskr said before he gave her an accusing stare. "Maid café? Really?" Yes, there are some maids routing every table, entertaining some gullible customers. Shidou and Kotori didn't expect it.

Well, Shidou wasn't at fault either. This is the first café that his eyes landed on and it doesn't help that Tonomachi mentioned this café coincidentally to him the last time they talked. He never realized that Tonomachi recommended it to him because of the maid waitresses and not from the food. Shidou still have some faith on their food on the menu.

A maid happened to approach their table in time. Shidou was about to order their meal since the said maid was also carrying a menu. Shidou glanced at her face before he needed to double-take.

The maid waitress that approached them was different from the others. She was dressed in a gothic black maid outfit. Shidou also noticed that the waitress' skin complexion was unhealthy pallor; skin as white and smooth as a porcelain. Her hair, although reaching only her neck, was white as snow too. Shidou wondered if she's an albino of some sort.

Shidou cowered instinctively when the maid stared at her straight with her stern, yellow eyes at his soul. He doesn't know why, but he felt an intense pressure on his shoulder the longer he remained near this waitress. It doesn't help either that she was entirely emotionless like Tobiichi but this maid was perpetually frowning.

Shidou felt it was eternity until Kotori literally punched his face lightly.

"Wake up, you idiot! Don't you see you are gawking at her for a full minute!" Kotori scolded him as she was already on the table, crawling before him. Shidou realized what he was doing and apologized at her many times. He panickly set himself down before the maid and lowered his head against the floor many times.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" Shidou repeatedly apologized.

"Hmmp, how rude…" the waitress said before she sighed, still maintaining her cold stare drilling into Shidou's back of his head. "… It is expected though… you are forgiven by the king." The maid waitress said before she left their table with their menu having written by Kotori for them. A group of men hollered before her and even the other maids bowed when she passed by their way. Shidou glanced at her again, wondering if she's the owner of the café.

"Shidou!" Kotori was now scolding her again and it made Shidou looked back at her own sister.

"What!?"

"Why are you on the ground!?"

Shidou then realized what he was doing. "I-I don't know?"

Kotori was fuming already and if Shidou were to act clueless this time. Without any thought, she lauched herself from the table and assault Shidou unwittingly.

Little did Shidou know, Kotori was angry because she was jealous of the maid waitress.

The café has fewer people by the time Shidou and Kotori left the establishment. They were quite satisfied by the time they left. It was nearing closing time for the café but Ishtar and Ereshkigal chose this time to enter the café. They have trailed the Itsuka siblings for a meantime. They were quite aware that somehow, the Shidou boy was attracting chaos of some sort, and Ishtar could see he was harboring Spirit energy inside him. No doubt, Shidou was the one Ritsuka was referring too.

Someone was cleaning the table where the Itsuka siblings have used, and both the goddesses was familiar who it was.

It was Artoria Pendragon, the altered one, better yet known as Saber Alter. Saber Alter also noticed the presence of the two goddesses and chose not to turn back to them as she was still busy.

"Oh, Saber Alter? Never thought I would see you in the maid café."

"Never cared." She said without a glance, in fact, she was quite focused on wiping the table, a thing that made the maids working here to be inspired and admired her trivial job. Charisma at work folks!

"Anyway, we're here to say hi to you." Ishtar said.

"Acknowledge."

"How rude…" Ishtar looked around the place, it was indeed prim and in condition. Maybe ordering one meal might be sufficed for them, but they have priority for now.

"Have you've seen some guy and his sister here?"

At that moment, Saber Alter's cold, golden eyes glance toward Ishtar. "Shidou and her sister named Kotori? Yes of course. I am quite aware of whom I am talking to."

"Where are they though?"

"Already left."

"That's it?"

Saber nodded silently and resumed from her job. "Are you following them?"

"Yeah, Master's order."

"Hell, I care."

Ishtar just pouted in annoyance. "How rude." Ritsuka has placed her trust at Ishtar because they are coincidentally at the same place with Shidou. She was ordered to observe Shidou only and do not take any actions that might harm anyone.

When Ishtar thought it was time to leave the café, a large explosion can be heard. The Servants knew too well where it came from.

Shidou could be in trouble.