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

After defeating Grandoris and the other Diabolos, we checked the shrine's chamber, and it was in terrible condition. The ground was full of holes from the Inversa Sagitta, the walls had collapsed from Grandoris’s rampage, and there was barely a trace left of how it looked when we first arrived. The ceiling was the only thing still intact… though it had cracks with sand trickling down. 

Worried that it might collapse at any moment, we checked for any remaining monsters and then exited the cave.

“Phew, that was exhausting.”

“Thanks for everything. Go home and get some rest.”

“Indeed, I shall.”

Runa looked more exhausted than usual, with a weariness in her gaze. Although the ambushes made the battles relatively short, our fight with Grandoris was tough. Runa used her skills twice, and even though her bloodlust had subsided, it was no surprise she felt worn out.

Once we were outside, I stabbed the doorknob from the Dimension Room into a nearby rock wall. I pulled the knob toward me, opened the door, and there, lying face down just inside the entrance, was Freesia.

“…She really did faint, huh?”

“Sorry, but could you take her back and lay her down on a bed or something? She probably won’t wake up until tomorrow.”

“Understood. As much as I'd love to leave her on the floor, her skills were quite helpful this time. I’ll make sure she’s properly taken care of.”

“Was she that much of a handful while keeping watch?”

“More than just a handful. She was constantly causing trouble, running around everywhere… Does she think she’ll die if she stops moving? She even followed me to the bath and snuck into my bed while I was asleep… Ugh.”

“Just a little longer, so bear with it…”

With Freesia on her back, Runa seemed to be remembering her time watching over her, grinding her teeth with a dark expression. It seemed Freesia really didn’t calm down unless Noru or Sisya kept her occupied. I could almost picture her roaming around the room, causing trouble… I’d better head back soon.

After moving Freesia out of the Dimension Room, I called Estel using the transceiver. I’d already told Irina-san beforehand that I’d contact her by magic once it was all over, so there shouldn’t be any suspicion.

After a brief pause, Estel answered, and the moment she did, she yelled out.

“Big brother! Are you okay? If anything happened, I’ll be there right away—”

“I-I’m fine, so calm down!”

“…Good. I was really worried, you know.”

Even through the call, I could sense her relief. Despite having Runa and Freesia with me, it seemed I had worried her quite a bit.

“So, does that mean the plan was successful?”

“Yeah, thanks to Freesia and the others, we took them all out without letting a single one escape.”

“Wow, just the three of you managed to pull it off so well. So, we should head to the cave now, right? We’re a bit far off at the moment, so it might take some time to return on Dara.”

“Got it. I think it’s safe now, but there might still be other Diabolos around, so don’t rush. Stay alert as you come back.”

“Alright, I’ll let Noru and the others know. You be careful until we arrive.”

With that, Estel ended the call. Phew, I felt a bit relieved. Now all that’s left is to meet up with Irina-san and the others and restore the power of the shrine. I’d like to think there are no more Diabolos around, but it’s better to stay cautious. 

After all, from their perspective, they were ambushed and taken out without understanding what was happening. Even if there are some left, they probably wouldn’t attack us recklessly. They wouldn’t want to lose any more of their own, either.

“Aren’t you heading back home yet, Heiha?”

“No, I’ve got more work to do in the cave.”

“Being an adventurer seems tough. Call me again if you need anything. I’ll be ready to move at a moment’s notice.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you. I’ll let you know if things are all clear.”

Runa might usually be lazy, but she’s really helpful in moments like these. I wish she were like this all the time, but that might be asking too much.

After waiting for a while, I checked the map app and saw that Irina-san and the others were nearby, so I sent Runa and Freesia back home. Looking toward where Noru and the others were, I noticed something flying through the air toward us. It was Dara, carrying Noru and the others on its back, descending gradually toward the entrance of the cave where I stood. 

On the way there, they had landed much earlier, but it seemed they were coming directly this time, in a hurry. As Dara approached, someone leapt off and ran toward me. It was… Irina-san.

“Ookura-san!”

“Y-Yes!?”

Irina-san ran over and grabbed both my hands, squeezing them tightly. I never expected her to run toward me, let alone hold my hands… This is a surprise.

“I’m so glad to see you’re safe. You’re not hurt, are you?”

“Uh, no, I drank a potion, so I’m fine.”

“That’s good to hear… But, just in case, could I use some healing magic on you?”

“No, there’s really no need to—”

“You risked your life for Testudo-sama. Please, if only for the gesture, won’t you let me?”

“Oh… Well, if you insist, then please do.”

“Thank you! Then… Oh Lord, bestow your blessings upon this one.”

Her face lit up with a bright smile at my answer, and she began chanting what sounded like a spell. Immediately, my hands, still held by hers, started glowing, and a warm sensation coursed through my entire body.

Wow… It feels just like when Sisya uses healing magic on me. Getting my hands held by such a beautiful woman… I can’t help but grin. Good thing I’m wearing this helm!

Feeling secretly delighted at this unexpected reward, I let her continue the healing, but then Irina-san said something that surprised me.

“You are truly a brave man, Ookura-san.”

“Eh?”

“To return to a place filled with such monsters and drive them away all by yourself… That’s incredible.”

“I-I mean…”

With her hands still holding mine, Irina-san looked up at me with shining eyes, speaking with admiration. Whoa, am I being praised here? From Irina-san’s perspective, it seems like I single-handedly defeated the Diabolos and Grandoris… Yeah, I guess that is pretty amazing. What kind of fictional Heiha does something like that?

But there’s no way to explain it without sounding suspicious… Thankfully, only we know the full strength of those monsters from seeing their stats, so I’ll just play along with it. Besides, it’s nice to be admired by such a beautiful lady.

Just as I was basking in this pleasant feeling, a chilling voice sounded from behind.

“…Big brother.”

“Ookura-san, you look quite pleased with yourself, don’t you?”

I turned around to see Estel with a deadpan stare and Sisya smiling, albeit with a slightly ominous expression.

“Ugh!? No, um… It’s, uh…”

“Noru, they seem a bit scary, don’t they?”

Noru, who had arrived a little later, was backing away, clearly wanting nothing to do with this situation.

Wh-When did they get here…? And why do they both look so frightening? Under the watchful gaze of Irina-san, who tilted her head in confusion, I desperately tried to come up with an excuse.

---------------------------------------------------

After regrouping with Noru and the others, we re-entered the cave and headed towards the chamber where the shrine was located. Unlike the first time we entered, there were no traps, and no monsters were left, so even though we remained cautious, we could proceed smoothly. Estel's light magic illuminated the cave, and I couldn't help but feel reassured by the brightness.

Before reaching the shrine, there was something I had to tell Irina-san.

"Um, Irina-san, I'm sorry, but I need to apologize in advance."

"What is it, Ookura-san? There's no need to apologize for anything…"

"When we were defeating the monsters, we, uh… made quite a mess. The area where the shrine was is in pretty bad shape."

"There's no need for you to apologize, Ookura-san. Considering you were dealing with monsters of that magnitude, it's understandable. I'm sure Testudo-sama would understand as well."

Irina-san gave me a gentle smile. Phew, that's a relief. It seems like they might forgive us for the state of the shrine… I hope? Honestly, it’s in a much worse condition than I’d imagined… I’m a bit scared of what their reaction will be when they see it for themselves.

Feeling uneasy, we finally reached our destination, the chamber.

"This… this place is in ruins," Noru said, looking around.

"The cave looks like it's about to collapse…" Sisya added.

"Still, considering you were fighting those monsters, this isn't too bad, I suppose?" Estel chimed in.

Even Noru and the others were grimacing at the sight of the chamber. It must be pretty awful… All of this is Grandoris's fault!

When I cautiously glanced at Irina-san, I noticed that not just her but everyone from the temple had turned pale, their bodies trembling. They seemed about to collapse at any moment.

"Um…"

"Oh… I-It’s alright, Ookura-san! I-I was just a little surprised, but it’s really alright, yes, it's alright."

Saying that with a pale face hardly made it seem alright… Looks like we can’t leave it like this. We’ll have to ask Estel for help.

“Estel, can you use some magic to fix this, even just a little?”

“Oh, this is easy to fix. I didn’t get to help much in the battle, so I’ll put some effort into this!”

Estel, eager to help, grabbed her yellow grimoire and staff. She stuck the staff into the ground, and in an instant, the holes in the ground filled in and became flat, while the collapsed walls and cracks swiftly repaired themselves. Even the previously uneven parts of the chamber were smoothed out, transforming the space into a neat, square room.

W-Wasn't that a bit much…?

“Sisya, how does that look?”

“It’s… It’s incredible… Amazing, Estel-san! Thank you so much, thank you!”

“Hehe, I could make it even more extravagant if you’d like.”

“N-No! This is more than enough! Let me check something quickly; please wait!”

After bowing deeply to Estel, Irina-san hurried over to where the remnants of the shrine had been and crouched down, seemingly searching for something. Huh? Is there something she’s concerned about?

We approached to see what was going on, but it wasn’t clear what she was looking for. Irina-san and the others searched through the debris, but after a while, they seemed to give up and stood up with a disappointed expression.

“As expected, Testudo-sama's sacred object isn’t here. Not even a fragment remains…”

Ah, they were looking for the destroyed sacred object. If not even a fragment is left, did Freesia’s Inversa Sagitta completely obliterate it…? I’m sorry, Testudo-sama! Please forgive us!

"Irina-sama, there is no other choice. We should enshrine the sacred object we brought with us this time."

“…Yes, let’s do that.”

As I silently begged for forgiveness in my heart, one of the temple people took off the furoshiki they had been carrying on their back. Inside was a wooden box about the size that one could hold in their arms. When they opened the lid, it revealed a glossy black object.

“Is that the sacred object from the temple?”

“Yes, we’ll enshrine this here to grant Testudo-sama’s blessings upon this land.”

With Estel’s help once again, we built a new shrine from the rocks and placed the sacred object inside. After that, Irina-san and the others stepped back from the shrine, joined their hands, and began to pray softly. The shrine started to shine, and light spread throughout the chamber in an instant.

“So this is the blessing of Testudo-sama…”

“Mmm, even I can feel something happening, you know!”

“This power is what protects Sevarya from the monsters.”

Even I could feel the prickling sensation of what seemed to be some sort of powerful wave. I wasn’t sure if it was truly divine, but it certainly felt significant. While we were all marveling at Testudo-sama’s power, only Sisya seemed to have a puzzled, somewhat conflicted expression.

“Sisya, is something wrong?”

“Oh… It’s nothing. Please, don’t worry about it.”

Sisya gave a strained smile, placing a finger to her lips, signaling me to keep quiet. Is she saying it’s best not to talk about it now…? I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’ll just go along with it for now.

“So, does this mean the request has been fulfilled?”

“Yes, but we still need to restore the barrier, which will take over half a day… If the same kind of monsters come again during that time…”

Irina-san frowned in concern. Restoring the barrier takes that long, huh? And even if they do restore it, if the Diabolos come back, they’ll just break it again, repeating the same cycle. But we can’t just stand guard forever… What should we do…?

As I was pondering, Sisya, exuding confidence, suddenly started laughing.

“Hehe, I suppose there’s no choice. I’ll lend a hand!”

“Oh, you’ve got a plan? You’re not just going to take your clothes off, are you?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? I’m going to help put up the barrier.”

Oh, for once, she was serious about something. Wait, she can actually do that?

“Sisya, you can set up a barrier?”

“I am a priestess, after all. If I put my mind to it, I could create a seal so tight that air would never touch it again. Would you like to experience that, Ookura-san?”

“…Stop joking and just do it if you can.”

“Tch, you’re no fun.”

What the heck would she do if she sealed me off from air forever? Please, no!

“So, Irina-san, I’d be happy to help with the barrier. What do you think?”

“Yes! Please, I’d be so grateful! If Sisya-san helps, Testudo-sama will surely be pleased!”

Irina-san eagerly grasped both of Sisya’s hands, making Sisya’s face twitch slightly. I suppose that level of enthusiasm shows how much they’re counting on her. Can Sisya really create a barrier like that…? I decided to stay quiet and watch.

Sisya, along with Irina-san and the others from the temple, took their positions around the chamber.

“We’re starting now. Everyone, are you ready?”

At Irina-san’s signal, they clasped their hands and began praying. A magic circle appeared on the ground, and the area was filled with light.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful,” Noru said, awed.

“Yes. If only Sisya always looked this much like a proper priestess,” Estel added.

“It would be great if she were like this all the time…” I muttered.

Sisya, with her eyes closed and a serious expression, prayed intently. Yeah, she certainly looks the part in moments like this, despite usually deceiving appearances.

As we watched the scene, a dome of light began forming around the shrine within a few minutes. Once one was completed, a second, then a third, and so on, until there were five domes encasing the shrine. With that, the surrounding light began to fade away.

Hmm? I thought this would take about half a day, but is it already done?

“Huh… The barrier is complete already?”

While I was pondering this, Irina-san and the others from the temple looked around in confusion. Meanwhile, Sisya casually rotated her shoulders and strolled back over to us.

“Whew, setting up a barrier really is tiring, huh?”

Could it be that the process, which was supposed to take half a day, was completed so quickly because Sisya participated? Irina-san seemed to have the same thought, as she rushed over and grasped Sisya’s hands again.

“S-Sisya-san! You truly are an amazing priestess!”

“Hehe, it’s no big deal. Now this shrine won’t be easily breached. It has a monster repellent effect, a five-layered barrier, and even an auto-repair function! Plus, as a final touch, it’ll immediately regenerate and seal any attacker if all layers are destroyed at once!”

Hey, how many functions did you pack into that barrier?! As I was thinking it might be a bit overboard, Estel eagerly made another suggestion.

“In case the barrier is ever broken, should I also set up some traps? Maybe some auto-firing explosion spells that trigger when monsters get close?”

“Really?! That would be wonderful! Please, do!”

“Hehe, leave it to me.”

Irina-san, sounding delighted, agreed to add Estel's magic to the barrier. Hmm… I guess with this, the shrine should be more than capable of repelling any ordinary monsters?