Ishtar sat up in bed at dawn, her skin beneath the quilt glowing a delicate rose red from the night’s intimacy, a newfound sense of comfort enveloping her entire being, surging through her flesh, making her unconsciously stretch her limbs and give a contented murmur.
So, this is how pleasant it feels to do such things.
No wonder the men in the city flock to the Temple, mingling with those divine prostitutes all day.
Oh, right, let’s be professional.
Don’t forget the necessary procedures.
Ishtar smacked her forehead and, after fumbling with the Magic Circle Diagram, tossed something over.
Luo En glanced at the six copper coins that fell onto the bed, somewhat bewildered:
"Your payment; you did well last night."
Ishtar clapped her hands, her words tinged with a deep satisfaction and joy.
Luo En was momentarily taken aback, and then a certain strange deja vu arose in his heart.
Getting paid after sleeping together, isn’t this behavior called ’being a client’?
So, I was the client here?
Luo En immediately came around, his expression darkening as he exclaimed indignantly:
"What do you take me for?"
The tone was all too familiar.
Ishtar understood right away, and after fiddling with the Magic Circle Diagram again, she teased:
"Not enough, huh? You greedy little cat, you’re a tough one to satisfy."
Soon enough, Luo En happily received three silver coins.
However, seeing his payment for selling out his kidneys for a night, he became even angrier.
"According to the market rate, this is as much as I can pay."
While Ishtar righteously said so, she also carefully picked up the six copper coins from the bed, stuffing them back into her small treasure trove that even a rat would cry over.
As a multifunctional Great Goddess, she simultaneously wielded divine authority over war and agriculture, love and beauty, life and reproduction, among others. Farmers, warriors, merchants, and kings from Uruk all needed to make sacrifices to her.
And among these, there was naturally a particular profession—prostitution.
As with most primitive myths, the Babylonian Divine Era was strongly rooted in fertility worship, and neither deities nor humans considered the pleasure of the sexes shameful.
This open atmosphere even extended to the Temple, giving rise to a more specialized type of professional—[Divine Prostitutes]:
They were often young, beautiful women who, while serving as priestesses of the Temple, were also skilled in the art of the bed, serving the believers who came to worship in the name of God and earning funds for the Temple. Or they would personally head to the front lines and serve the bravest warriors with their alluring bodies, responsible for boosting their morale.
Although, due to their unique status and not-so-harmonious relations with the Pantheon of Gods, there weren’t many deities who dared marry Ishtar.
But even if she hadn’t eaten pork before, she’d seen pigs run.
As for market conditions, and who should be paid what price, she knew it all too well!
To be fair, a newcomer fetching three silver coins once was already industry-top level.
Any more might raise accusations of price gouging.
Listening to Ishtar lecture him assertively on Uruk’s customs, Luo En’s face became darker, and a sense of intense humiliation grew within him.
Do you really take me for someone who sells kidneys?
Moreover, even if I were to sell, I shouldn’t be this cheap, right?
On War God Mountain, the Goddesses transported entire cartloads of gemstones, gold coins, ores, and Magic Guidebooks just to be alone with me.
Even when Judas betrayed Christ, he received 30 silver coins from the Roman governor.
And yet, with you, I only get 3?
—That’s crossing the line!
Luo En, consumed with rage, sneered as he threw the three silver coins back:
"You don’t have to give me this. Moreover, I’ll give you thirty — in gold."
To not only not have to pay after enjoying oneself but also receive extra tips? Is such a thing possible!
Ishtar, looking at the three silver coins she regained and the bag of unexpected clinking wealth, was instantly taken over by unparalleled excitement.
At that moment, Luo En finally showed his true colors, a sinister grin spreading across his face:
"So, the going rate is three silver coins per session, right? The money’s been paid, and you’ve accepted it. Now it’s my turn!"
The moment he finished speaking, the roles of hunter and prey, buyer and seller, client and service provider were reversed.
The Great Goddess of Uruk, clutching the heavy money bag, officially opened for business with a cry of lament.
After three days of fierce battle.
Looking at the exhausted Ishtar sprawled on the bed like a puddle of mud, Luo En, satisfied, concluded the combat.
Indeed, for cost-effectiveness, this Great Goddess of Uruk stands unrivaled; for just thirty gold coins, one could fully savor all the services.
But then, the future Shepherd and the future Lucifer lay in the same bed and even debated over who was the client. There was something peculiar about that, wasn’t there?
Soon enough, Luo En shook his head, dispelling a small pang of guilt.
The Bible’s reference to Babylon as the Great Whore symbolizing desecration and desire not only points to Rome and Nero but also to Babylon and Ishtar in the original texts.
As the Shepherd of the Mortal World, purifying such evil through personal sacrifice is part of his duties.
Yes, quite justified!
Having resolved this internal conflict, Luo En contentedly got up, got dressed, and entered the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Ishtar.
Soon enough, a delicious and sumptuous breakfast was ready on the dining table.
The aroma of food wafted into the bedroom, causing Ishtar to wake up like a shark smelling blood, and she dashed to the dining table with lightning speed, reaching for the tender, juicy lamb chops on the plate.