During the trip, we had an idle conversation with Irina and her friends and were told how they spend their time in the temple and how much they believe in Lord Testudo.
　It seems that the followers of Lord Testudo who are active in the temple pray several times a day at a set time.
　It seems that sometimes it's forbidden but I haven't heard that much detail about it. After all, he's only a clergyman-like figure, so maybe he's strict in that area.
　Even during this trip, the girls were praying many times, albeit briefly due to their hurry.
　Unlike the priestesses of our party, they're really full of faith.
　........in a way, Sisha seems to be full of faith too.

　However, they seem to be lax with the average believer, they only need to offer a prayer of thanks.
　It is said that many people are religious because it keeps away demons and brings good catches of fish, and that's the reason why the temple exists.
　It's said that the fishermen will bring you the fish they've caught first thing in the morning.
　It seems that the residents of Sevalia also often visit the temple, and although they are religious, they have a good relationship with the temple.
　The existence of a guardian god is recognized by the state, and they have a certain amount of backing.
　If it's not sudden like this one and it takes time, they can request an army or a knightly order.

　It seems that Testudo-sama was a more recognized presence in this country than I thought.
　If you look into it, there are similar guardian gods in other areas as well.......

　We were invited to take this opportunity to ask how about us too, but I gave a vague reply and fooled myself.
　After the incident at the shrine, I'm still afraid of being punished, but since we're working together like this, I hope you'll forgive me.
　I don't know if she has feelings for Sisha in particular, but Irina-san was eager to talk to her, but she didn't seem to be able to engage with her responses, which were all difficult to respond to.
　So, after three days of being carried on the back of a big ray, we arrived at our destination.

"Be careful on the way down, everyone.

　Slowly Dara descended and we planted our feet on the ground.
　We didn't have to deal with any demons, and we were able to fly over mountains and trackless paths in a flash.
　A magic carpet is more than enough, but I'm going to need something that can move through the air.

Thank you, Dara. I'll come back to you later, okay?

　Irina-san strokes Dara and she shakes her pectoral fins in response before taking off into the sky.
　The other people in the temple just watch, and I wonder if Irina-san is the only one who can communicate with this ray?
　While having such doubts, we confirm this place where the shrine is located.
　Instead of the steep cliff where we found the shrine before, we are now at the entrance to the beach and the adjacent forest.
　From the air we can see the whole area, it's a green mountain with a huge difference in elevation. It's like a jungle.

...Is there a shrine here?

It would be very difficult to find a person who has never been here before, wouldn't it?

'The last shrine I found was right in view, but there's a big difference.

　Since it's called a shrine, I thought it would be in a place as easy to find as when we found it, but...
　Even if it is said that there is a shrine here, I don't believe it, or rather...I don't think we can find it.
　On the contrary, you're going to fall off the cliff into the sea while you're looking for it.

''There are some shrines that we dare to place in easy to find places so that Testudo-sama can watch over us. I believe that only a few of us who serve you know the exact location of all the shrines.

'I see, I suppose some people might want to pray to their patron gods when they are out and not just in the temples in the city.

Yes, I think that's part of the reason they put the shrine there so long ago.

　Sisha nodded her head unhappily, as if she understood such things as a priest.
　So he wasn't setting up a shrine to protect the area around Sevalia, but to serve that role as well?
　By placing them in prominent locations in various places, it seems that they can gather faith.
　Anyway, we've come to our destination, so let's get on with the plan to head there.......

'Hey sister, do shrines often lose their power like this one?　If it's even in an obvious place, they could play tricks on you, right?

　Estelle put one hand on her cheek and suddenly began to ask Irina a question.

'No, not at all. There have been rare occasions when their powers have been weakened, but not once since I served you have they been completely lost. The only prank is that some people touch the shrine out of curiosity. It's warded, so unless they use very powerful magic, they can't do anything else.

So this whole thing is just an aberration, huh?　It's not just a loss of power, it's a hidden shrine. If someone did this, it means they went out of their way to find it.

"...maybe so.

　To Estelle, who asks while smiling, Irina-san looks away and has a complicated expression on her face.
　The fact that that Estelle goes out of her way to confirm it, it doesn't seem to be just an affair.
　Indeed, from what I'm hearing, if there are people who have done harm, why did she choose a shrine in such a difficult place to find?
　If it's just to make the shrine lose its power, the shrine on that cliff, which is easy to find, should be fine.
　It's possible that they aimed for a shrine in this position because of the location, but.......looking at Irina-san's reaction, it seems unlikely.

'I want to ask one more question, but is that shrine an important place?　Well ... if the shrine doesn't fully function, something terrible will happen.

　When Estelle throws out the words with a cute smile, Irina-san is surprised with her eyes wide open.
　Estelle you didn't think you knew.............no, I don't think so.
　Probably just called a bluff. But I knew enough from the reaction I just had.
　It seems there's something here at the shrine that we don't know about, after all.
　As I silently looked at Esther and Irina-san, she finally dropped her shoulders as if she had given up.

''........Actually, the shrine we're heading to now had an important role among the shrines in the vicinity of Sevalia.''

'Hmm, that's why you were so desperate to find an escort at the Association. Why didn't you tell me?

I didn't want the outside world to know about it.

'Oh, it's sad that you didn't trust us.

No, I don't mean...!

Huh, I'm just kidding. No matter how trustworthy you are, there are always things you can't talk about.

　Estelle was smiling all the time in the current conversation, but that might have been scary in reverse, but Irina-san and the people in the temple behind her were shaking with blue faces.
　Estelle-san is really a person with good intuition.
　As for me, I'm afraid that there are things you actually know about me, but you're not telling me.
　I'll be careful about what Estelle says and does next time............It's a bit of a fear.
　'Well, I'll have to ask her first.

'So, what's your important role?

The shrines here served as a way station between the temple and other shrines. If the power was completely lost from this shrine, the shrines throughout Sevalia would also lose their power. That's why this shrine had an especially strong ward, and even parts of Lord Testudo's body were kept there.

Did that shrine contain that object from the temple?

　A part of that patron god's body was used to connect with the temple's deity!
　And if this shrine is completely ruined, the rest of the place will be ruined at once... isn't that a pretty bad situation?
　If that happens, the blessings of the guardian gods will disappear from the vicinity of Sevalia, and the demons might invade more and more.
　I didn't know that such a fact existed, although it seemed to be quite impatient in the association.
　It's hard to imagine that a shrine that tightly sealed would naturally lose its power, and the possibility that Diabolus is involved is strong.
　And if you think that those wards have been broken, it's hard to believe that they did it with just one body.

'If he knew that and went after it, he might be quite a troublesome opponent.......'

'Yes. Then it's possible that they're expecting us to come after they lose their power. I guess we'd better proceed with caution from here on out.

　I was originally prepared for the possibility that they might be there, but I'm starting to smell more danger than I ever imagined.
　It's not surprising that this forest we're about to enter has some kind of trap.
　I've set up the beacons and other equipment by dropping them in the air so that they won't be noticed, so I'm fully prepared to call Luna and the others when the time comes.
　I've contacted them and given them an estimated time of arrival, but I'm sure Luna isn't asleep or anything, right?