After defeating Grandulis and the others, I checked the hall where the shrine was located and found it in a terrible mess.
　The ground is full of holes due to Inversagitta, and the walls have collapsed due to Glandoris rampaging and hitting bodies here and there, so there are few vestiges of the first time I came here.
　The only thing that's safe is the ceiling... although it's also cracked and sand is raining down on it.
　After checking to see if there are any other demons, we left the cave, thinking it was about to collapse at any moment.

'Oh dear, I'm tired,'

Thanks, man. Go home and get some rest.

Yeah, I'll have to do that.

　Luna has a more dour zit-eyed look than usual.
　The battle was short in time with all the dark strikes this time, but the fight with Grandulis was a struggle.
　I used my skills twice, and even though my bloodsucking urge has subsided, is it any wonder Luna is tired?

　After going outside, I stick the doorknob of the dimension room I retrieved into the nearby rock wall.
　

''.................This guy really is going to pass out.

'I'm sorry, but take him home with you and put him to bed or something. He shouldn't wake up until tomorrow.

'All right. I'd like to leave him on the floor as it is, but this guy's skills helped me this time. I'll make sure he gets it right.

"...Was it that loud while you were away?

It's not noisy. It's always wandering around, making a lot of noise... does this thing die if it stops moving?　He follows me into the bath, and when I'm asleep, he sneaks in... kuh.

'Just be patient with him for a little while longer...'

　Luna gritted her teeth and looked gloomy as she carried Freesia on her back, remembering that she was away from home.
　It's like she won't be quiet unless Nol or Sisha is with her, after all.
　I can see them moving around the room and messing around...............................I need to leave early.

　I carried Freesia out of the dimension room and placed a call on Esther's walkie-talkie.
　I made an excuse to Irina-san and the others beforehand that I would contact them with magic when I'm done, so they shouldn't be suspicious.
　After a few moments, Esther answered the call and the first thing she did was to shout out at the opening.

''Brother!　You're okay!　If anything happens to you, call me now--

Buchanan, you're safe!

''I'm glad. I was really worried about you.

　I could hear him breathing in relief, even through the call.
　Even though Luna and Freesia are with you, it looks like I've worried you quite a bit.

So, if you're safe, does that mean the mission was a success?

Yeah, and thanks to Freesia and her friends, we didn't miss a single one.

'It's amazing that the three of us can do so well together. So we're going to head to the cave now, right?　I'm a little far away now, so I think it's going to take me a little while to get back on the Dara.'

'All right. I think it's safe now, but there may still be other Diabolus out there, so don't rush and come with caution.

'Yes, I'll tell Noll and the others that. You take care of your brother until we get there.

　Saying that, Esther ended the call.
　Phew, I guess it's a relief now. All that's left is to meet up with Irina-san and the others and revive the power of the shrine.
　I'd like to think that Diabolus isn't around anymore, but we still have to be careful.
　But from their point of view, it's a situation where they've been beaten up for no reason, and even if they were there, the chances of them attacking us are low.
　They don't want to needlessly add to the casualties.

"Aren't Heihachi and the others going home yet?

'Yeah, I'm going to have to go back into the cave now to do something.

It must be tough being an adventurer. Call me if you need anything else. We'll be ready to move on for the day.

Yeah, you're on it. I'll let you know if I think I can handle it.

　Luna is always lazy, but she's so helpful in these situations because she's so cooperative.
　........If I wanted to, I'd want her to do that all the time, but it can't be helped.

　Then I waited for a while, and after confirming on the map app that Irina-san and the others were near, I sent Luna and Freesia home.
　While I was looking in the direction of the Noles, I saw a flying object coming towards me.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get to the entrance of the cave I'm in.
　I'm in a hurry, are they planning to come directly to me, even though I disembarked much earlier on the way there?
　When Dara was right in front of me, someone jumped down from the top of it and ran up to me.
　It was.........Irina-san.

''Okura-san!

What?

　Irina-san ran up to me and grabbed both of my hands with the same momentum and tightened her grip on them.
　I didn't expect Irina-san to run up to me...and I was surprised that she held my hand.

''I'm really glad to hear that you seem to be safe. Were you hurt?

'Yes, yes, I've had my potions too, so I'm fine.

I see.... But let me cast a recovery spell just in case.

No, no, you don't have to...

'You have risked your life for Master Testudo. Will you at least accept my sentiments?

Okay, well, I'll take care of it then.

'Yes!　Thank you!　Then ... our Lord, grant him your grace.

　When she heard my reply, her expression brightened with a puff, and Irina-san began to chant something that looked like an incantation.
　Immediately after, my hand held in hers starts to glow and something warm goes around my whole body.
　Oh........it's the same feeling I had when Sisha used her recovery spell on me.
　I'm sure you'll have a grin on your face to have such a beautiful woman hold your hand.
　I'm glad I'm wearing a helmet!
　As I was secretly rejoicing in my perks and letting her recover as she was being treated, Irina said something surprising.

'Okura-san is a very brave person, isn't she?'

What?

Returning to a place with all those demons, and then getting rid of them on your own... it's amazing.

No, no...

　Irina-san looks up at me with her sparkling eyes as she clasps my hands and mouths the words.
　Oh come on, you don't think this is me being respected!
　From the point of view of Irina-san, who doesn't know what happened, I've defeated Diabolus and Grandulis on my own.......

　That's certainly amazing, what kind of fictional Heihachi is responsible for such a great battle result?
　
　........But it's nice to be respected by a beautiful woman like this.

　As I was thinking about this, I heard a creepy voice from behind me.

''........Onii-san.

Okura-san, you look quite happy.

　When I turned around, there was a zit-eyed Esther and a smiling Sisha standing there.

''Ew!　Oh, no ... well ... you know?

They both seem to be scared of each other...

　Nol, who came late, is backing away as if he doesn't want to get involved.
　I, how long have you been here........I mean, why are you both acting so scared!
　I struggled to mend my ways as Irina-san looked on as she tilted her head in front of me.

●

　After meeting up with Noll and the others, we entered the cave again and headed to the hall with the shrine.
　Unlike the first time I entered, there are already no traps and no demons, so I was able to proceed smoothly despite being on guard.
　Esther's light magic illuminates the inside of the cave, but I still feel safer when it's bright.
　Now, I have to say something to Irina-san before we enter the shrine.

''Well, you see, Irina-san. I'm sorry, I have to apologize in advance.

How did you do this all of a sudden?　There is nothing to be apologized for, but...

'When I was defeating the demons, I did it quite flamboyantly. The place where the shrine used to be is in a terrible state.

''Mr. Okura-san doesn't have to apologize for that. After dealing with such a demon, it was inevitable. I'm sure Master Testudo would understand.

　Irina gave me a soft smile.
　Phew, that's good. With this, I wonder if the devastation of the place where the shrine was located can be forgiven...?
　Honestly, it's in worse shape than I imagined it would be... I'm afraid of what it would look like in person.
　With that anxious thought, we arrived at our destination, the hall.

''This, this is........desolate, isn't it?

The cave is about to collapse at any moment...

But is it any better to take on that monster?

　Even the Noles looked at the hall and pulled a face.
　That's how bad the devastation here seems to be.......this is all Grandulis' fault!
　I looked at Irina-san fearfully and saw that it wasn't just Irina-san, but all the other people in the temple were blue in the face and their bodies were trembling.
　They were wobbling on their feet and looked as if they would fall down at any moment.

''Um.........''

It's okay, Okura-san!　Soooo, I was a little surprised, but I'm really okay, yes, I'm okay.

　Even if you say that with a blue face, I don't think it's okay at all.......
　I can't leave it like this after all, and I'll have to ask Estelle to help me.

''Esther-san, can't you use magic to fix it, even if it's just a little bit?

''It's easy to fix something like this. I'll do my best for not being able to play a role in battle.

　As if to say we've been waiting for you, Esther is straining with a yellow grimoire and a wand in her hand.
　When I thrust my staff into the ground, the hole in the ground is raised and flattened in the blink of an eye, and the cracks and crumbling walls are quickly repaired.
　In addition, even the original bumpy area was flattened, and the hall where the shrine used to be located was quickly replaced with a beautiful square space.
　Hey, isn't that too much...?

Sister, is this all right?

'Oh my God that's amazing Esther!　Thank you, thank you!

Hmm, you can make it even more gorgeous.

No, no!　I've had enough!　I just need to check a few things, so please hold on!

　As I bowed deeply to Estelle, Irina-san ran over to where the wreckage of the shrine was, and she seemed to be crouching down and looking for something.
　Hm?　Is there something on your mind?
　We went up to it and looked at it too, but we didn't know what we were looking for.
　Irina and the others were looking around for the wreckage, but after a while, they gave up or stood up with a disappointed look on their faces.

''After all, is there no Testudo-sama's divine body? I can't believe there aren't even any pieces left...''

　Ah, you were looking for the broken goddess.
　There's not even a piece left, you don't think it was erased by Freesia's Inversagitta.......
　''I'm sorry, Master Testudo!　Please forgive me!

'Irina-sama, it can't be helped. I will enshrine the object I brought you this time as a new deity.

Shall we do that?

　As I was desperately pleading for forgiveness in my heart, the temple man took down the furoshiki that he was carrying and unwrapped it.
　The object wrapped in it is a wooden box large enough to hold, and when you open the lid, there is a shiny black object inside.

Is that the deity enshrined in the temple?

Yes, we will enshrine it at the shrine and bless this land with the blessings of Lord Testudo.

　Then I asked Esther again to make a shrine out of rocks and place the deity inside.
　After that Irina-san and the others left the shrine and put their hands together and muttered and prayed, the shrine began to shine and the light spread out in an instant.

''So this is what you call Testudo-sama's blessing.......''

Mmm, even I can tell something is up!

You're using this power to protect Sevalia from the demons.

　Even I felt a tingling, wave-like thing of power on my skin.
　I don't know if it's sacred, but it feels amazing.
　While we were surprised to feel Testudo-sama's power, only Sisha could see him tilting his head and making a complicated expression.

''Sisha, what's wrong?''

'No ... it's nothing. I hope you don't mind.

　Sisha smiled bitterly and put her index finger to her mouth to signal me.
　Does that mean it's better not to talk right now...?
　I'm not sure, but I'll follow it quietly.

''Does that mean the request is accomplished?''

''Yes, all we have to do is re-wire them again and it will be over... but it will take more than half a day, and if the same kind of demon comes again...''

　Irina-san raises her eyebrows in annoyance.
　It's going to take that long to reestablish the wards?
　And even if you do, if Diabolus and the others come again, they will destroy it and it will be the same thing all over again.
　But I can't keep an eye on them, so what should I do...?
　When I was troubled by this, Sisha began to laugh with an air of confidence.

''Ufufu, it can't be helped. Let me take off my skin!''

'Whoa, you got a better idea?　You're not going to just take your clothes off or anything, are you?

'What nonsense are you talking about? We're going to help you set up your wards.

　Oh, you seemed so confident for an unusually serious reason.
　I mean, I don't know how you could do that!

You were able to put up wards, weren't you?

"I'm a priest myself, after all. If you put your mind to it, you can even seal it so that it will never touch the air again. If you want to experience it, Mr. Okura, would you like to experience it once?

"...stop joking around and do it if you can.

God, it's so dull.

　You can't just seal me up like that!　Don't ever let me touch the air again.

So, Miss Irina, if you would be so kind as to allow me to assist you?

'Yes!　We'd love to have you!　I'm sure Master Testudo will be pleased if you're willing to cooperate with Mr. Sisha!

　Sisha's cheeks are pulled back by Irina-san, who grabs her hands in a gash and presses in.
　
　
　Including Sisha, Irina-san and the people in the temple took their positions in pieces.

''Then let's begin. Is everyone ready?

　At Irina's signal, I clasped my hands together and began to pray, and then something like a magic circle appeared on the ground and filled the surroundings with light.

''Oh, it's a beautiful sight!''

'Yes. That makes Sisha look like a real priestess, too.

I wish he was like that all the time.

　Sisuha also closes her eyes and prays with a serious look on her face.
　Hmm, just because he's scamming the appearance, he's really looking like this at a time like this.
　Then as I watched the scene, within a few minutes, lights on the dome began to form around the shrine.
　As soon as I thought one was formed, two or three more domes covered the outside of the shrine, one after another, and when five were finally formed, the light that had filled the surrounding area disappeared.
　Hm?　I thought you said it was going to take half a day or so, and now it's over?

''That ... the warding is already complete ...''

　As I was wondering, Irina-san and the people in the temple were also looking around as if they were confused.
　In the midst of such a situation, only Sisha walked over to me without a care in the world, turning her shoulders.

''Huh, I'm tired of putting up wards after all!

　You don't think Sisha is in on it, so the work that takes half a day to do is already done?
　Irina seemed to have had the same idea, and she ran up to Sisha again and clasped her hands in his.

''Si, Sisha-san!　You are an awesome priestess after all!

''Uh-huh, not so much. With this, I don't think this shrine will be easily breached anymore. Not to mention, it's got demon avoidance, and the five-layered wards have automatic repairs!　And to top it all off, if you don't destroy it at the same time, the wards will instantly regenerate and seal the attacker, with the added bonus of sealing it off!

　Hey, how much functionality did you put into your wards!
　When I thought it was overkill, this time even Esther started making suggestions with enthusiasm.

''I should also set up something so that I won't have to worry about the wards being broken. How about automatic interceptive blasting magic that responds to demons?

'Really?　We'd love to have you!

I'll take care of it.

　By Irina-san who raised her voice as if she was impressed, even Estelle's magic was added to the wards.