「So, is this the place where Shuichi and Haru live?」


  After the self-introduction, Roomba - who was curious about the building - asked.

  「No, that’s not it. This building is a shrine, a place where you send your prayer to God.」


  「Ohー, so there is also a God in Kagura, huh? What kind of God is it?」


  「It’s a Water God. Since it’s rice that sustains Kagura’s diet. It was often worshipped near the sea and river, near rice fields, and irrigation channels that are connected with water. As you can see in Kagura, since it’s close to the river, and sea, there are also times where there’s a great flood occurring. At that time, we offer prayers to the Water God.」


  Shuichi readily answers Roomba’s question.

  Looking at the wooden sword at his waist, he’s a boy who aspires to be a swordsman, but he looks to also knowledgeable with his studies. An admirable boy, unlike a certain sister somewhere.

  Regardless, is this where the Water Goddes is worshipped?

  If Kagura’s daily life is closely related to water then I can understand that.

  「What does that Water God looks like? 」


  「Acoording to the old legend, it is said that people saw the figure of what appears to be a dragon ascending to the sky when the land was submerged by the great flood, so it is generally believed that the Water God is a water dragon. 」


  Shuichi says as he points his finger at the shrine.

  When you look at the ornaments and decorations in the shrine, it was certainly decorated with ornaments that look as if they’re representing waves and a water dragon.

  「Fuuーn」Roomba muttered when he saw that, then whisper close to my ear as if he remembered something.

  「It’s a dragon, Al. If that thing starts to rampage then it’s your father’s turn, y’know 」


  「No, that’s their target of worship, after all, so you can’t subjugate it. The people of Kagura will be mad」


  Roomba amusedly smiles when I answer like that.

  In the first place, I wonder if there is something like a water dragon in this world? So I thought, but Nord-tousan actually defeated a dragon in the Kingdom, so I can’t say for certain.

  As for that Water God, I think that the people of the past were just panicking because of something like a rising water current that looks like a dragon.

  「Nevertheless, the Kingdom’s God is an old man so I think the god here is cool.」


  「What kind of God is the one in Al and Roomba’s country?」


  Haru was listening to Shuichi in boredom, but perhaps she’s interested in our country that her eyes shine as she asked us.

  「……ahー, what’s the God’s name Al?」


  「It’s the Creator God Misphilt-sama」


  I answer in exchange for Roomba who looks at me while scratching his face.

  At least remember the name since it has the same name as the country.

  「What kind of God is it?」


  So I tell them, while somehow recalling the words of the old man I encountered back at the royal capital’s plaza when Haru asked.広場で


  「……uhmm if I remember correctly, it’s the God that created everything in the world, and it’s also thanks to the Creator God Misphilt-sama that we have our lives. That’s why people should be grateful for Misphilt-sama every day.」


  「……a God that created everything in the world?」


  「……kinda haughty God isn’t it?」


  Hearing my explanation, Shuichi and Haru muttered with stern expressions on their faces.

  I feel that they said something harsh, but I said that the God created all things, so I can’t argue about it.

  He’s pretty much an easygoing old man, though he’s just a careless guy. It’s the God who reincarnated me to another world, so I’ll follow him inside my heart.

  「By the way, what were Shuichi and Haru doing at the shrine where you offer a prayer to the Water God?」


  「It’s independent practice!」


  When I ask that Haru cheerfully answered, Shuichi also nodded calmly and said.

  「That’s because the steps in this place are a lot and it’s steep. It’s good to train your legs」


  Such a terrifying thought coming from the boy.

  Perhaps it’s the so-called fearlessness of youth. You’re crazy if you’re using something like steep stairs with such a lot of steps. I wonder if Shuichi is an 'M'?

  「Ahー, the stairs here are tough after all. It’s going to be a good thing to train your legs」


  「Right? Legs are the foundation for those who fight after all! Indeed it’s just like you said, Roomba’s legs are also well-trained aren’t they」


  Roomba and Shuichi started to talk together, so I turn to Haru.

  「I know from looking at Shuichi’s wooden sword that he’s practicing to become a swordsman, but what about Haru?」


  Taking what Haru is wearing into account, it doesn’t look like Kagura's clothes for ease of movement, and I don’t see him having a wooden sword. Don’t tell me, that a girl like this is also here to train by climbing the stairs?

  As I got curious and tried to ask her, Haru threw out her chest as if she’s glad that I asked.

  「That’s because I’m a magician! When it’s time for voluntary practice I’m doing magic training by myself!」


  「Heeー, is that so. It’s the same as Al」


  But, when Roomba said that without a moment’s delay, her calm smile crumbled.

  「Naa! Al is the same!?」


  「Un, well」


  When I answer like that, Haru makes a slightly uninterested face.

  It seems like she wanted to show me her magic so that I will fawn over her.

  ……how should I put it, she got a rich expression so it’s easy to understand what she’s thinking.

  「Oh? Then, why don’t the two of you try practicing magic together by shooting at each other? I’m actually a bit curious about a swordsman’s move! 」


  「Let’s do it! I’m also interested in the way adventurer’s from a foreign country fight!」


  Just when I’m thinking about that kind of thing, it appears that those guys got into a mutual understanding and decide to spar.

  「Al, let’s also have a practice match with our magic!」


  Haru also suggests the same thing to me excitedly, perhaps she got inspired by their action.

  「Ehー? Don’t wanna. It’s dangerous to shoot magic at each other, isn’t it?」


  「What the heck Al! You’re such a scaredy-cat even though you’re a man!」


  「Yeah, that’s because I’m a scaredy-cat. I’m a coward who can’t spar using dangerous magic.」


  「Naa, so you admit that you’re a coward, even though you’re a man!?」


  「Un, I’m a scaredy-cat and a coward 」


  「Gugugu, even though they will be tricked if it were the other guys around and Shuichi……」


  Haru said regretfully, maybe she found that it’s not interesting that I don’t get tricked.

  I mean for Shuichi to be tricked, he’s so simple, isn’t he?

  Still, such a childish remark won’t be able to provoke me - who is 34 years old in mental age.

  My sister also said that kind of thing to me in my previous life, and as soon as I got provoked, I got completely beaten up. So I’ve naturally learned about it. At a time like this, you should have an imperturbable heart, like flowing water.

  「Stupid Al!」


  「I am stupid」


  「Coward!」


  「That’s right, I’m a coward」


  「Alfried!」


  「Yep yep I’m Alfried――uhh, don’t say it like the name itself is an insult!?」


  What the heck is that last remark. It made me unintentionally react to that strongly, see?

  「Ahaha, Al has a funny reaction」


  Haru innocently smiles when I said that as if to object to her remark, perhaps she found my reaction funny.

  I’m not a pet nor an exhibition………


  「That’s why we’re going to spar with magic!」


  No, I mean what do you mean that’s why.

  If I keep on following Haru’s pace like this, then it could lead to me going with the flow and spar with her one way or another.

  And I felt a sharp gaze coming from the other side of the shrine since some time ago, every time Haru said that she wanted to spar with magic.

  Was it Haru and Shuichi’s guard? From their presence, it seems like it’s coming from a single person.

  In any case, it would be bad to injure a person that is being guarded.

  I should suggest a middle ground to convince Haru right now.

  「Just exchanging magic is not fun, and it’s also dangerous so let’s play something different」


  「Hm? Playing? What kind of game are we going to play?」


  Perhaps her curiosity was piqued when I try to suggest that to Haru, she tilted her head to the side questioningly.

  Her attention shifted from practice to playing a game, not a bad reaction there. I don’t want to use magic, anyway, it’s fine if we can have fun.

  「Then, let’s play Jenga」


  「Je, Jenga?」