After a while, we arrived at the at the snowy city—'Estona'.
I was thinking that we might need to buy some warm clothes, but
turned out everyone didn't particularly feel cold even in their normal
equipment thanks to the Phoenix Seal.
Hence, we quickly checked into an inn before going out to gather
information.
According to the residents, Falgara Summit, which could be seen
from the city, was connected to the god and thus it became the
people's object of worship.
At the same time, we heard a disturbing story.
It was said that once a year in Estona, 'the most beautiful woman in
the city was sacrificed as an offering to the god'.
It might sound like an abominable custom when you heard only that
bit, but the sacrificed women actually wouldn't be killed, and they all
would be released within a few months to a few years.
Though it seemed that they would have no memory of what had
happened during the time, and the residents found that strange.
Nevertheless, the reward seemed to be great; the god often gave the
people of the city rare corpses of flying dragons and ores, and by
selling them the people of Estona were able to thrive.
"Fumu. It's not quite a symbiotic relationship but, is it really the doing
of the goddess of thunder?" asked Arca.
"Yes, I'm also a little skeptical. In the first place, Fluga-sama is a
goddess—in other words, a 'female'. I can't think of the reason as to
why she would ask for beautiful women as sacrifice." Magmell shook
her head.
But it seemed Ophir had different opinion from them. "Really? What
if she's simply a 'lesbian'?"
"No, how could a goddess be a lesbian…" Magmell sighed as if she
was exasperated. But Ophir might not necessarily be wrong as there
was the precedent of Turbo-sama who loved children, so it might not
be that strange if there was a goddess with a lax sense of virtue.
Well, it was better than if she was a man-eater.
If that was the case, my image of her might take a dive… "Still, if she
really is a 'lesbian', I'm somewhat worried about bringing you all
along. It'll be troublesome if she takes an interest in you."
"My, is that jealousy I hear? Fufu, you don't have to worry. No matter
what happens, I'll always be yours and yours alone." Saying that,
Zana came to snuggle up to me but,
――Yank.
"Oh?"
"Zana-san, stealing a march is no good." Just before she could,
Magmell pulled her back and chided her.
But.
"Fufu, but it looks like you're too late anyway."
"Huh...?" After following Zana's line of sight, Magmell saw me
being squeezed by the other three.
"I'll always be with Exa, too."
"Umu, me too. So pour your love on me to your heart's content."
"Here, I'll warm ya with my body. Feels good, aight?"
"Y-yeah…"
With Tirna latching on to my right arm, Arca my left arm, and Ophir
my back, I was fully armed.
"Hey, what are you all doing!?"
Of course, Magmell's angry voice echoed in the room.
◇ ◇
Anyways, we continued our discussion and reached the conclusion
that it'd be better for the girls to come along instead if Fluga-sama
really was a lesbian so as to get on her good side, and so I ended up
visiting her with full members of the party.
Besides the warning Terra-sama once gave us: 'it'd be best to visit
her last', there was also the fact that she was the goddess who
governed over 'destruction'.
Hence, the next morning we headed to Falgara Summit with more
caution than usual.
Although yesterday it was snowing so heavily that we could hardly
see, today the sky was clear enough that you could say it was a fine
day.
Before long we reached the top.
There, all we could see was a world of snow white.
"Exa-sama, look at that."
"Oh?"
Having found an altar that was probably used for the sacrifice, we
landed close to it.
Of course, there were no signs of people around, and we couldn't
find a single monster, either.
"Okay, let's call out to her right away." Nodding, I raised my voice
and called for Fluga-sama. "Fluga-sama! If you can hear me, please
answer! Fluga-sama!"
――Rumble rumble.
""""""!""""""
An omen immediately appeared.
The clear sky suddenly began to be covered in thunderclouds.
Then.
――Rumble rumble CRACK!
"Kyaa!?" Magmell squealed.
――Squeeze.
"Hey, don't take advantage of the confusion to hug Exa," said Arca.
"I-I can't help it!? I-I'm afraid of thunder!?" Magmell shouted back.
――CRACK!
"Kyaa!?"
――Squeeze~.
""""...""""
Then, for some reason, the other girls came crowding around me.
"Ah~, I'm afraid of thunder too," said Ophir in a monotone.
"Yeah. So am I," Zana echoed.
"Mm, me too. I'm a mermaid, after all," Tirna nodded.
"Gosh, thunder is so scary," Arca remarked.
"No, weren't you all totally fine just now!?" Magmell retorted.
"Uhh, everyone…?"
We're in the middle of calling out to a really scary god here… As I let
out a small sigh,
"—Having women serve you in front of this great me, you're quite
brave, human!"
""""""—!?""""""
All of a sudden, angry voice that clearly belonged to a woman
echoed in the surroundings, and then the figure of the goddess
appeared with a flash of lightning.