So, is this the house where Shuichi and Haru live?

　As soon as the introductions were over, Roomba asked, curious about the building.

'No, it's not. This is a building called a shrine, a place to deliver prayers to God.

'Oh, so Kagura has a god too? What the hell kind of guy is that?

'You're a water god. It's mainly rice that supports Kagura's diet. He is often enshrined in rice paddies and irrigation canals, beside the sea and in rivers that are connected to water. As you can see in Kagura, major floods can occur because of its proximity to the sea and rivers. At times like that, we offer prayers to the water god.

　Shuichi answers Lumumba's questions without hesitation.

　Looking at the wooden sword at his waist, he is a boy who aspires to be a swordsman, but he also seems to be well versed in his studies. It's a big deal, unlike my sister who is somewhere else.

　But is this place a shrine to the goddess of water?

　This is understandable for Kagura, who lives in close proximity to water.

"What does this water goddess look like?

'According to the old lore, when you ruled over the flood, you saw a water-dragon figure that seemed to climb into the heavens, so it's generally accepted that you are a water-dragon figure.

　Shuichi points to the shrine while saying that.

　I looked at the decorations and ornaments in the shrine, and sure enough, they were decorated with ornaments that represented waves and water dragons.

　When Roomba saw them, he muttered, "Hmm," and then whispered in my ear as if he had an idea.

'It's a dragon, Al. If that thing gets out of control, it's your dad's turn.

'No, you can't take down a dragon that is indeed an object of faith. The Kagura people will be angry with you.

　When I answer that, Roomba laughs with amusement.

　Is there such a thing as a water dragon in the first place?　I thought, but in the kingdom, Nord Dad actually defeated a dragon that existed, so it's hard to say that he's not there.

　As for the Water God, I think it's just that the old people made a big deal about the rising water stream being like a dragon or something.

''But the god of the kingdom is just some old guy out there, and the god over here is pretty cool.

What kind of a guy is the god of Al and Rumba's country?

　Haru was listening to Shuichi's explanation with boredom, but he asked with a twinkle in his eye if he was curious about our country.

''.........uh, what was the name Al?''

It's Mr. Misfirito, the God of Creation.

　Roomba scratches his head and looks at me, but I answer for him.

　It's the same as the country name, so let's at least remember its name.

What kind of god is that?

　Spring asked me, and I managed to recall the words of the old man I met in the square of the royal capital, and I said

''.........Well, as I recall, he is the god who created everything in the world, and we have our lives because of Misfirito-sama, the creator god. That's why people thank Misfirito-sama every day.

...the god who created all the world?

...What a prideful god, huh?

　After hearing my explanation, Shuichi and Haru muttered with a divine look on their faces.

　It seems like a horrible thing to say, but I can't even defend it since I even said I created everything.

　I'm just a drinking old man out there, and I'm just a goofy old man, in a manner of speaking. He's the god who made me reincarnate in another world, so I'll follow him in my heart.

'By the way, what were Shuichi and Haru doing at the shrine where they prayed to the water goddess?

Independent training!

　Haru said cheerfully when I asked, and Shuichi nodded hawkishly before opening his mouth.

'The stairs here are steep with lots of steps. It's good for training your legs and feet.

　What a boy with a terrible idea.

　This is what it means to be fearless and young. It's insane to use these hundreds of steep steps for training. Is Shuichi a dominant person?

'Ah, the stairs here are hard. Sounds like a good way to work out your legs and feet.

'Right?　Because legs and feet are the foundation of a fighter's life!　As I said, the rumba is well-trained in its legs and feet.

　For some reason, Lumumba and Shuichi started having a strange conversation with each other, so I turned to Haru.

'Shuichi has a wooden sword, so he can tell it's a swordsman's training, but Haru?'

　Spring doesn't look like she's wearing a kagura outfit for ease of movement, nor does she look like she's carrying a wooden sword. Could it be that even a girl like this was training to climb the stairs or something?

　I asked out of curiosity, and Spring was so proud of me for listening to her.

''I'm a wizard, you know!　When I'm in independent practice, I'm training for magic alone!

'Heh, I see. Just like Al.

　But when Roomba said this without pause, the spare smile crumbled.

'Nah!　So is Al!

Yeah, well, you know.

　When I answer that, Haru looks a little unamused.

　Apparently, she wanted to show me some magic and get cheeky.

　.........What can I say, this girl has a rich expression and it's easy to understand what she's thinking.

''Huh?　Well, let's have a little practice, shall we?　I was actually a bit curious about what he and the swordsman were doing!

I'll do it!　I, too, am interested in the way these exotic adventurers fight!

　Just as I was thinking this, they were getting along with each other and practicing shooting at each other.

Al, let's practice our magic shooting skills too!

　Inspired by this, Spring also looks excited and makes a suggestion to me.

''Eh?　No. It's not safe to shoot magic at each other, is it?

'What the hell, Al!　You're a wimp for a man's nature!

That's right, I'm a wimp. I'm a coward who can't practice dangerous magic shootouts.

What, you're a man and you admit it?

Yeah, I'm a wimp and a coward.

''Gugu, the guys around me and Shuichi would be on board with this...''

　Haru looks frustrated that I'm not on board with it, or maybe it's not funny.

　It's too simple for Shuichi to be taken in by that.

　It's a good thing that you can't ignite a fire with such poorly written words for me, whose mental age is thirty-four years old.

　In a past life, my sister said such words to me, and I was beaten to a pulp as soon as I got on board. You're going to have to learn, indeed. In times like these, you have to be like flowing water and keep your mind unmoved.

Al, you're an idiot!

I'm an idiot.

Cowards!

Yeah, I'm a coward.

"Alfried!

'Yeah, yeah, I'm Alfried - and don't make the name Alfried itself sound like a bad word!

　What was that last word? You couldn't help but react strongly to it.

'Haha, Al has a funny reaction.

　When I tell her to protest, Spring laughs innocently, probably amused by my reaction.

　I'm not a pet or a spectacle........

''That's why we're shooting magic at each other!

　No, I don't know what the reason is.

　If I continue to keep up with Haru's pace, we might end up in the flow of shooting each other for whatever reason.

　Besides, since a while ago, it seems like every time Haru says something about shooting magic at each other, I get a sharp look from behind the shrine.

　Could it be Haru or Shuichi's bodyguard or something?　The signs don't seem to be coming out alone.

　It's not a good idea to hurt someone who's in a position to be escorted anyway.

　We should propose a compromise here that Spring would agree to.

''Just bumping magic against each other isn't fun and will only be dangerous, so let's have a different game.

Hmm?　Play?　What kind of games do you play?

　When I suggested it, Haru nodded her head curiously to see if she had attracted some interest.

　I shifted from practice to play, but the reaction is not bad. It's not that you want to use magic, but you just want to have fun.

''Then let's play Jenga.''

Yeah, yeah?