After discussing with Luna and the others and preparing to go to the escort, we headed to the Temple of Testudo, where we were to meet up with Irina and the others.
　I figured we should meet up with them at the association where the horse stables are nearby... but it looks like they have something to do before we leave.
　When we arrived at the temple, Irina-san and three other people from the temple were gathered at the entrance waiting for us.
　It seems that they are already ready to go. Did I make you wait?

'Sorry to keep you waiting.

No, I hope you don't mind, ma'am. I know it's an emergency, but we're asking for the impossible.

So, how do you want to handle the move?　Irina and the others are going to ride in the carriage, aren't they?

No. Leave the transportation to us. Come on, Dara.

　The moment Irina-san muttered a word that sounded like her name and clasped her hands together, a huge object flew up on the other side of the temple.
　The whole thing was a flat, blue, horizontal silhouette with a long, slender, sharp tail going up and down as it flew towards us.
　Isn't that.......a stingray!　It's huge, more than 5m in length in the side alone.
　I mean, it's flying in the sky, but.......what the hell is that? That's a UMA on par with the skyfish!

　The stingray flew slowly down to near Irina.

''Allow me to introduce you. This is Dara of Kaelmlaia, who, like me, serves Master Testud,

　When Irina pointed her hand at him to signal him, the stingray did a somersault in response.
　After that, her body never reached the ground, and she floated in place.
　What the hell is going on here.......I was stunned.

''What is it, what is this child!　It's lovely!

　Noll screamed and approached the stingray, flailing at the touch of his body.

'Noll, that's where you react first.... Let's start off by being surprised that you're floating.

It looks so big and strong. Are you a demon?

He's not a monster. Master Testudo sent me.

...demons, right?

That's why it's a messenger, not a demon!　Dara is a messenger of Lord Testudo, who has lived in the temple since ancient times!

Oh, really?

　Irina-san put her face close to my words and shouted at me.
　Soo, that's a great sword fight. Couldn't you stand to be called a demon by your guardian god's messenger?
　
　More importantly, the fact that you called me at this time means.........

''Well, so........does that mean we're going to ride this messenger to our destination?''

'Yes, Dara usually helps us with our transportation. Dara also helps us with our regular shrine visits.

　As Irina gently strokes her body, the stingray appears to be happy to shake its pectoral fins, though it's not apparent from the outside.
　I knew it was going to move on this stingray.
　........No matter how I look at it, it looks like a demon, but it's quiet and seems to understand Irina-san's words.
　Even if it's a demon, it doesn't look like it's just a demon.

''Just like Moffoot, he's a friendly boy, isn't he?

Master Testudo doesn't seem to have been influenced by the presence of the entity, so he's a family man.

'You're going to ride this baby to your destination? It looks pretty strong, and it doesn't look like we're going to be on the road.

　Moffat was affected and yet he's able to operate in the town normally, so does that mean there's something special about these rays?
　Besides, it looks strong like Sisha said, so let's just take a look at the status.

　------
　Dara ●Race: Kaelmlaiah [State] Attendants
　Level: 85
　HP: 186,500
　MP:5600
　Attack Power: 3800
　Defensive Power:2600
　Agility: 225
　Magic Resistance:60
　Intrinsic Ability Floating Psychosensitivity
　Skills Talespear, Poison Tail
------

　What the hell?　One, isn't it strong?　It really doesn't look like we're in for it.
　Dara, he's much stronger than Diabolus........
　It looks like it's as strong as the bosses of the labyrinth and the nuclear demons of the Great Defeat.
　.........hmm?　This state of affairs was also an item in Diabolus, wasn't it?
　Also, the fact that it's called "household" means that Master Testudo sent it to you?
　Does this keep you unaffected and allow you to operate normally in the town?

　'Well then, we'll be leaving. Please be careful not to fall off. Dara, please.

　For now, we finished checking our legs and got on the back of the stingray to leave for the shrine in question.
　As you can see from its status, Dara didn't even flinch even though there were a total of eight of us, four of us and four of Irina's friends on it.
　After carrying us, Dara quickly jumped up into the sky above the temple and began to move out of town at a certain height.

"Oh, wow.......you can fly pretty high, huh?

'Right. This way we won't have to deal with demons on the road.

　I thought it would be a horse trip, but I didn't expect it to be a flying ray trip.
　I mean, are there many flying fish-type demons in this area?
　There were some skyfish, and it seems there are some tornado sharks or something like that.
　Well, thanks to that, it's going to be easier than I thought, so it's okay.
　........Oh, how to set up the beacon.
　I guess I'll just have to wrap it up in a centimeter tablature and drop it without Irina and the others noticing.

'It feels good! I'm sure Freesia would be happy if she was with you.

You'd be better off not bringing him along...

'It's going to be a lot of trouble with all the frolicking...'

　Even the magic carpet was hard enough, I wonder what would happen if I put it on this stingray....
　His speed is slower than the carpet, but he has that much altitude, so if he fell, he'd probably get seriously injured.
　
　As if she was listening to our conversation, Irina-san started talking to me.

'Is the person called Freesia the one who came with you guys last time?　I know there were some little ones here.

'Oh, yes. Those two are kind of acquaintances.

'I see. You both looked nervous, but...

'No, no, don't worry about it. I just wasn't used to the atmosphere of a place like that.

　At that time, Luna and Freesia were wary of entering the temple because of Testudo-sama's influence.
　That seemed to have made them worry about what was going on.

The first thing you need to do is to take the kids with you to the temple again, if you'd like. At that time, I will introduce Dara to Freesia and the others.

'Are you sure!　You must definitely take them with you!

　Noor is as pleased with Irina-san's suggestion as she is with her own.
　Hmm, Freesia would be happy if she could get a ride on this stingray.
　But if we go near that temple, both of us are going to be wary again... I wish there was a way to avoid being affected like Dara, even if we don't become a military family.
　Then, for a while, Irina-san was guiding Dara to her destination while calling out to her.

''Um, Sisha-san. I'd like to ask you a few questions, if that's alright?

　Suddenly, Irina called out to Sisha.

'Yes?　What is it?

You're a high-ranking priest by all appearances, aren't you?

Hmmm, I guess you found out. After all, you can't hide the aura that comes through my body.

　Grinning, Sisha is puffing out her chest with a smug look on her face.
　It's very hard to look like a high-ranking priest at this point in time with these words and actions, but.......rather, Irina-san looks more like a high-ranking priest.
　I'm not sure what those who can use recovery magic feel about each other, to come up with something like this.

''Since you visited the temple the other day, I wondered if........ How much practice does it take to get that much... which person does Sisha-san devote her faith to?

It's a secret. But I pray every day with an unwavering will. My motto is "One day a day".

'One day a day...?　I don't know what it is about you, Sisha, but you also have a deep faith. I will try to follow your example and work harder too!

'Uh-huh, good luck with that!

　Irina is looking at Sisha with her hand on her chest and her eyes sparkling.
　Stop it, stop trying to lead a pure person in a bad direction!　You can't emulate this guy!
　I mean, didn't I just say something plainly dangerous?　A day in a row....

Can I help you?　Have you ever wondered what my religious beliefs are?

...No, no, no. I just have a bad feeling about this.

'It's boring! It's okay if you're at least a little bit interested in me.　Well, it's a secret.

You don't want to tell me what you're talking about, do you? I'm curious about it.

'I have a bad feeling about it too, but I'm curious...'

　I feel like I've heard something I shouldn't have....
　With an indescribable atmosphere, we rode on the back of a large stingray to our destination.