Using Gacha to Increase My Companions and to Create the Strongest Girls' Army Corps

After being treated to shellfish by Roken-san and his group, we took a brief tour of the port before heading home for the day. The fish we bought at the market was promptly cooked by Nooru for dinner and served as fried fish. It had been a while since I’d had fried fish, and it was delicious... I wouldn’t mind having this for a while. And after dinner…

“Mmm! These shellfish are delicious!”

“Hehe, aren’t they just? The fisherman taught me the best way to grill them!”

Having heard about our day, Sisuha wanted to try grilled shellfish, so we bought some cheaply from Roken-san on our way back from the port. The shellfish we ate at the port were delicious, and I wanted to try some more myself, so it was perfect timing. In addition to the grilling method Nooru learned from the fisherman, I experimented with butter and soy sauce.

Despite having already eaten plenty at the port, Nooru was eating the shellfish with great enthusiasm again. This guy's stomach is bottomless... I’m enjoying the seafood from Sevarya too, so I can't really say anything.

“Ah, I could use a drink with this.”

“Don’t just think about drinking all the time…”

“What are you saying? Enjoying delicious food, getting drunk on fine liquor, and admiring Runa-san… There’s no better life than this.”

Wagging her finger and making a "tsk-tsk" sound, Sisuha declared boldly. Although she said she'd like to have a drink, there was already a bottle of liquor on the table… she was clearly ready to drink. She continued enjoying the grilled shellfish while also glancing at the corner of the room with a silly grin on her face.

“Runa-chan, you look great! Now we match!”

“...Annoying.”

“Still, you go along with it, don’t you?”

“If I refuse, she’ll make a fuss. I’ve given up.”

Held by Freesia, with a hood adorned with cat ears, Runa was there, looking lifeless. Ever since the idea of putting a hood on Runa came up, Freesia had been begging her every day, and it seemed she finally gave in. Yep, Runa does look good in a hood. Sisuha, with her hand on her cheek, gazed at her in delight.

“Aha… To be able to see such an adorable Runa-san, I must thank Freesia-san for her selfishness just this once.”

“...Freesia, Sisuha also seems to want one.”

“Huh! Really, Sisuha-chan?”

“Wha!? N-no, I’m sorry, Runa-san!”

Runa shot a sharp glare at Sisuha, who hurriedly apologized. Seriously, this one always has something unnecessary to say. In the end, Runa accepted the hooded look and, without much concern, continued to play with Mofuto. This little girl is remarkable, throwing away shame and pride just to avoid trouble.

“You’ll be coming along tomorrow, right, Sisuha?”

“Yes, I only had business today, so it’s no problem.”

“By the way, what were you doing today?”

“I was treating some acquaintances and visiting the church for a bit.”

“Oh, you went to the church?”

Acquaintances… Oh, right, when we met in town, she was treating some elderly folks. So she’s been continuing to give them massages and such. But what’s more intriguing is that she went to the church. I didn’t think she had a shred of religious devotion…

“I am, after all, a humble priest. It’s only natural for me to offer prayers at the church.”

“It doesn’t sound convincing at all when you’re saying it with a drink in your hand.”

“That’s that, and this is this.”

While eating shellfish, Sisuha drank the alcohol that had somehow appeared in her cup, her cheeks flushing. I’ve never once seen her pray, but… could it be true? Well, I’m not in any position to judge; she can spend her free time as she wishes.

“Are we going to that shrine tomorrow?”

“It’s still just sightseeing, but yeah.”

“If that’s the case, why didn’t we go today?”

We didn’t go to the central shrine in Sevarya, where the guardian deity is worshipped, today because…

“I wanted to bring Sisuha along.”

“To think Ookura-san wants to bring me along so much! This, this, this!”

Sisuha, slightly tipsy, nudged me with her elbow while grinning. Annoying!

“Is that so, big brother?”

“No, no, that’s not it!”

Estel asked with a blank expression while tilting her head. Scary! Don’t look at me with such a straight face!

“A guardian deity was mentioned, so I thought Sisuha, who seems to have a sense for such things, might pick up on something if we brought her along! … And if there’s any curse, maybe she could calm it down.”

“I see, Freesia also sensed something at the shrine, so Sisuha might feel something too.”

Freesia had dismissed it as just her imagination, but after hearing Roken-san's story, I started to wonder if there really was something there at that time. We hadn’t done anything to harm the shrine itself, but the timing of the Skyfish flying by was too coincidental. If there really is a guardian deity, maybe bringing someone like Sisuha along, who is strong in that area, could help us learn more. Even though she didn’t seem like much of a priest today, she did say she’s one, even if just a bit. Besides, if it’s Sisuha, she might even punch a god into submission, so she’s quite reliable.

“Well, that’s a good reason. Although, I’m a bit jealous now.”

After hearing my explanation, Estel smiled and came closer, then sat on my lap. Phew… I didn’t expect to get this kind of pressure from Estel instead of Sisuha. Guess I’ll let her sit on my lap for a while.

“Um… Sorry to interrupt, but what exactly is a guardian deity?”

“Oh, right, I forgot to mention that.”

I had told them about being attacked by the Skyfish, but I hadn’t explained about the guardian deity we heard about today. I shared that there was an ancient guardian deity, shrines scattered across the region, and it was said to keep monsters away…

“So, that’s why something seemed to be clinging to your back when you came home yesterday, Ookura-san.”

Looking over my shoulder, Sisuha muttered that. Huh… what?! Something was clinging to me!?

“N-no way!”

“Yes, just kidding.”

“Hey, don’t mess around!”

“Haha, sorry.”

Sisuha giggled and stuck her tongue out playfully. She was teasing me again… she really made my heart race!

“Well, if that’s the case, I think I can help. My prayers can calm even the most violent gods, and if it’s a spirit, I can just make it rest in peace by physically striking it.”

“Well, that’s reassuring…”

I doubt a god could be calmed by her prayers, but she is still the most reliable person among us. The best-case scenario is that I’m overthinking it, and it has nothing to do with a guardian deity. Anyway, it looks like we can bring Sisuha along tomorrow.

“What about you, Runa?”

“I’ll go along tomorrow.”

“That’s unusually enthusiastic of you, Runa.”

“Yes, I’d like to see the unknown town at least once.”

Apparently, the little recluse is at least a bit interested in the port town. We hadn’t gone anywhere as a group since Freesia was summoned, but now there are six of us. When I think about it, we’ve really increased in number.

“If we’re going, we might as well go for a boat ride tomorrow! It should feel wonderful!”

“Yeah! Even just being at the port felt great with the wind!”

“Come on… For someone who gets carsick, getting on a boat is like walking into hell.”

“Oh… that’s right…”

Realizing how prone she is to motion sickness, Nooru’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. She seemed so eager to get on a boat… Perhaps with Sisuha’s healing magic, it might be possible. Maybe after visiting the shrine tomorrow, we could consider going on a boat ride.