The next day. The religious group was still eagerly recruiting.

　So I decide to just listen and see what they have to say with an idea I came up with yesterday.

　I bought a mask with only white eyes hollowed out.

　It could have been something more innovative, but this mask was the cheapest, so we went with it.

　We interrupted a group of people who were enthusiastically engaged in missionary work, wearing the type of mask that has a cord over the ears and circles around the head.

'Here you go!'

　One of the believers hands me a leaflet with a smiling face.

　How can you talk to such a suspicious masked person?

　But for now, I take it in stride.

　On the leaflet, there is a large amount of information about the true Astaire religion. And how to really pray to the goddess and how to recognize the statue.

I'm sorry, do you have a minute?

　I called out to him.

　Then the believer who handed me the leaflets tilted his head with the same smile on his face.

'Yes, what is it?'

'I don't know much about this goddess Astaire, but is this guy really real?

Yes, it's real. Yes, it's real, and you can see and pray to the brave men and women of the old parties.

'Pray?　What do you mean?

'Prayer in this case is the perception that the magic power is taken with it. The prayer is carried by the magic power to the Goddess Astaire.

...... I see.

　Being sucked out of a magical power is an image of fear. This is because it means that the power is taken away from you.

　But the existence of a goddess has probably saved the human race and other species many times.

　That's the reason why people don't feel weird about her.

　And the way the leaflets tell us how to pray and recognize the statues means that the magic power is absorbed by someone other than the goddess. Or is she just dissipating and making us believe in her?

　Either way, as it stands now, there are groups that truly believe in the goddess and groups that don't.

　The reason I'm even more interested in this is because I've become a bored man, after all.

So, do you have any proof that you can really pray to Astaire?

　The bottom line is this one thing.

...... No evidence of this.

　The man gritted his teeth in frustration.

　No, there is no way to believe it if there isn't.

　It would be human psychology to turn to the majority when that happens.

But the Astaire religion's shoddy treatment of its followers and its bad reputation have been spreading lately. Such is the case with me, who used to be a member of the Astaire faith.

Hmm, so he was an ex-believer.

　That doesn't make it any less credible.

　I wasn't much interested in religion, so I'm sorry to say that I've never heard a bad word about it, of course.

'Well!　You are invited to become a true Astaire!

　The goofy believers are closing in.

　It's an abundance of spirit.

I'm sorry, but I'm interested in--

"d*mn pagans!　You're still in my way!

　A familiar man's voice rang out.

　He seemed more irritated than yesterday and this time he threw a stone. The stone, though small, hits the forehead of the girl who was working as a missionary.

''Kyah!''

You!　How dare you, Master Sufi!

Are you all right, Miss Sufi?

　The girl lets out a small scream and puts her butt on the ground.

　It looks like she's making it difficult again.

　As expected, it's too much this time. Everyone's blood is on the line. Even the stall holders and people who happen to be passing by are casting hostile glances at the man.

　The man was about to be lynched.

　But

No, I'm fine.

　The girl's panicked voice comes through.

　Everyone stops moving in response to it.

(Even in this situation? It's a difficult habit that can be described as an outlet for frustration, and yet you're still going to stop it.

　I even admired the girl's caliber.

　Moreover, none of them ignored the girl. It was a dignified voice with a dignified quality that could be described as innate charisma.

''Excuse me. It's not because we're blocking the way, it's because we're doing missionary work, isn't it?''

'Oh, ah, ......'

　The man nodded, looking vexed.

　This was because blood was flowing from the forehead of the girl called Sufi.

　She must be calmly looking over what she had done.

''Then I'm sorry. We will continue to stand in your way. If this is the case, the world will go in the wrong direction. In order to prevent that from happening, we must continue our activities in the future.

　The girl said honestly.

　She apologized once and for all, and then stuck to her opinion.

...... How can you be so imposing? Why are you sticking up for the biggest religion of all, Astaire!

Because Astaireism is wrong.

'So what?　But it's still up there!　The only people who stand with you are a bunch of freaks!　Because the only guy who's actually holding a leaflet in his hand is that guy over there in the suspicious white mask!

　...... weird white mask?

　I look around and all I see is me.

　Yeah, that'll be me.

　No, well, you know, whatever. Sorry about .............

No. There are not many now, but people who have distrusted Astaireism in its current form have joined the true Astaire religion. Not only that, but a few people who were not interested in religion in the first place are listening to us.

So, someone's watching you?

'If you keep raising your voice, you will respond. Whether it's positive or negative. Do what you think is right, even if it seems annoying, and if you're right, they'll support you, and if you're wrong, they'll never see the light of day.

......

　The man falls on his face.

　His grip on his hand seems to be caged in frustration.

'Is there something you're not happy about?

　The girl asked monotonously.

　The man nodded shakily.

'Yeah. I've got a shitty boss at work. I spend all day every single day flipping out and smiling affectionately ...... and thinking I can't help it for my family. But if I do this, I feel like I'm going to break down someday. ...... I'm going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

　The man revealed his own feelings.

　The girl countered to the man with a "yeah, yeah" and accepted him.

　I see.

　At least I don't feel bad about it. I'm just a little bit more interested in the true Astaire religion.