NOVEL NEXT Chapter 132: ʕ•̫•ʔ---Ziggurat
The core fragment led us to an ancient-looking, towering structure, its sheer size looming over the surrounding landscape like a monolith from another era.
What was most shocking, though, was how familiar it seemed—its architectural design bore striking similarities to the place where we'd found Amaterasu trapped.
The difference? This structure was far larger, with many levels, and fully intact.
Cuneiform writings adorned its surface, etched into the stone with intricate care.
Above the grand entrance, a massive inscription loomed, its markings bold and unyielding, demanding attention.
"Whoa! What is this place?" I exclaimed, craning my neck to take in the enormity of it.
"This looks ancient! I didn't know this place had a huge building that could rival modern shopping malls. And what's with those funky squiggly writings?"
Amaterasu's golden eyes widened as she took in the sight. "It's cuneiform," she murmured, a touch of awe in her voice. "I believe this building is called a Ziggurat."
"Ziggurat?" I echoed, stumbling over the unfamiliar word. "Wait, hold on—you can read that?"
Amaterasu ignored my question entirely, her gaze still fixed on the inscription. "And you weren't entirely wrong," she said.
"This place is, in a way, what you might call a shopping mall. But not for goods. It's a place where knowledge and information can be traded—and stored—for safekeeping."
I raised an eyebrow. "So… what you're telling me is this is just a giant bookstore, right?"
Amaterasu turned to me, deadpan. "It doesn't say 'bookstore.' It says Ziggurat Information Mall." Her tone was so matter-of-fact I nearly laughed out loud.
"I hate to burst your bubble there, sun goddess," I said with a smirk, crossing my arms. "But where I'm from, we call that a bookstore."
Amaterasu turned her gaze toward me, her expression somewhere between unimpressed and slightly offended.
"A bookstore?" she repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief.
"You mean to tell me that in your world, structures imbued with ancient knowledge and millennia of history are casually reduced to—what, a commercial hub for fiction and cookbooks?"
I shrugged, trying not to laugh. "Or a fancy library. But since it's called a mall, my best bet is it's definitely a giant bookstore. Throw in some overpriced coffee, maybe a section for scented candles, and you've got yourself the full experience."
Jiuge let out a laugh behind us. "I must admit," she said, grinning, "I find this comparison delightfully amusing. Imagine if the ancient Babylonians had known their grand temples of wisdom would one day be equated to… a modern book retail chain."
Amaterasu raised her chin slightly, her divine dignity clearly ruffled.
"For your information, Carl, this is no ordinary structure. Its purpose is far beyond your mortal bookstores."
She gestured to the towering Ziggurat. "Here, knowledge is currency, and the cost of obtaining it is far greater than a handful of coins or colorful paper."
"Sure, sure," I teased, waving her off. "But I still bet they've got a self-help section in there somewhere. Maybe even a clearance rack."
Amaterasu sighed. "You are impossible. I'm starting to feel annoyed by you."
"Get in line," Jiuge chipped in from the back, her tone dry as a desert. "We've all been here for a while."
I spun around, feigning shock. "Oh, come on! Am I really that bad?"
"You're like a persistent mosquito," Jiuge quipped, her lips twitching with the hint of a smirk. "Always buzzing in someone's ear. Hard to ignore, impossible to swat."
Amaterasu glanced at Jiuge, and for the first time, they seemed to share a moment of solidarity. "She's not wrong," she said, her expression softening into something suspiciously close to amusement.
"Wow, betrayal from all sides," I muttered, holding my chest in mock pain. "I thought we were a team. Guess I'll just go sulk in the corner."
"Please, by all means," Jiuge said with a mock bow, gesturing toward the shadow of the Ziggurat.
Agnos let out a soft chuckle. "Now, now, children. Behave."
He shifted his attention to the structure, his gaze thoughtful, as he stepped in closer to inspect the cuneiform carvings. "The Babylonians... lost to time, their legends erased. Even before Mythica, their name didn't appear in any records. It's like they never existed at all."
He placed a hand on the cool stone, his eyes narrowing with interest. "And yet, here it is—proof they were here all along, hiding in plain sight."
The weight of his words settled over us, and for a moment, we stood in silence, the towering Ziggurat casting its ancient shadow over us.
The core fragment tugged me again, its light pulsing with a sense of urgency, guiding me toward the closed entrance of the Ziggurat.
"Looks like it wants me to enter this ancient bookst—uh, Information Mall," I muttered, eyeing the entrance with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
Amaterasu shot me a side-eye. "If you call this a bookstore one more time…"
As we moved closer, the moment the core touched the door, the cuneiform writings on the wall flared to life, glowing bright and vibrant. The door rumbled, then slid open with a low groan.
Inside, I was immediately struck by the opulence.
The place was massive—an ancient mall, if a little too quiet. The floors gleamed, the columns stood tall and proud, and everywhere, cuneiform symbols filled the walls.
But the most striking thing? It was empty.
No customers. No bustling foot traffic.
Just silence.
The ground floor was split into sections, like a mini-mall.
Above each entrance, massive cuneiform signs hung, their meaning unknown to me but clearly marking each space. Some entrances had single doors, some had wide double doors, as if entire sections had once spanned multiple shop lots.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the space, pleasant yet automated.
"Welcome to Ziggurat. Your one-stop mall for information and knowledge of the entire existence. For help and directory, please visit the Information desk located at the central lobby."
"Well, that was helpful," I said, glancing at my godly companions. "I wonder if they also have a basement parking—"
I paused when I caught the unimpressed looks from the three gods beside me.
Clearing my throat, I quickly amended, "Err... Let's head to the information desk." I flashed a sheepish smile, hoping they'd let that slip.
The pulse of the core fragment felt stronger now, like it was pushing us forward. I nodded, more confident than before. "Can't wait to see what this ancient mall's hiding."