We came to Suwa City in Nagano Prefecture.
We took a break at the Suwa Service Area.
I decided to ask Niekawa’s son if he knew anything about Nagano God.
“I do. It was a huge boom a little while ago.”
“So you do know… But honestly, it just seems like a shady Cult Group to me.”
“Indeed. But the rumors are true, you see. In fact, my Wife, too, her health deteriorated after childbirth, but when she went to Nagano, she recovered just like that.”
“…Does that mean you’ve been to where Nagano God is, Niekawa-san?”
“Yes, as an escort.”
Oh, seriously? Lucky. Looks like I can get some information.
“Do you know where they are?”
“Yes. There’s a shrine dedicated to Nagano God in Azumino.”
“Azumino… is”
Before I could ask where, Tenri displayed the results of her search on the monitor.
It seemed to be a town right around the center of Nagano.
She’s really fast at her job, my super-competent little sister…
“If it was so famous, why did it decline?”
“From what I’ve heard, it was apparently the result of overly zealous believers running rampant, you see.”
“Believers… running rampant?”
“Yes. Apparently, one woman tried to make Nagano God the sole state religion of this country, you see.”
Where did freedom of religion go…?
“If they went that far, people around would obviously be put off, right?”
“Exactly as you say, you see. From around that time, the number of people calling Nagano God’s believers a suspicious religious group increased.”
It’s not that Nagano God is bad, but rather those overly zealous believers are the problem, aren’t they…?
“Nagano God-sama is actually amazing and a good God, you see. They treated my Wife free of charge.”
“Free of charge, huh…”
“Yes. That’s why it’s sad that they’re currently treated like a shady religion, you see. I think there are others who feel the same way I do.”
So there are people grateful to Nagano God.
And at the same time, people who harbor dissatisfaction.
『What Niekawa’s son-shi is saying appears to be true. I’ve scanned past social media posts from ordinary people, and indeed, many expressions of gratitude towards Nagano God were found.』
Tenri-san, you’re seriously fast at your job.
And as for my super-competent older sister…
“Master~”
Energetically, Sinri was waving her hands from a distance.
“Look at that! It’s called Lake Suwa~! It’s a biiig lake~!”
She’s completely in tourist mode.
Aargh, honestly.
I headed towards Sinri.
Indeed, there was a large lake. Apparently, it’s called Lake Suwa.
Living in the city, you rarely get a chance to see a lake.
Unlike the sea, you can see mountains right beyond the lake.
“Wha- What the heck is that…”
That’s when I noticed the lake water was murky, like sludge.
“What’s wrong, Master?”
“Sinri, what do you think when you look at that lake?”
“What do I think…? That it’s a beautiful lake~”
…Strange. What I’m seeing and what Sinri is seeing are different.
『It appears only a God can perceive the Abnormal Phenomenon.』
“Seriously? Does it look like a normal lake to you too, Tenri?”
『Affirmative.』
It’s strange for the lake water to become like sludge, and it’s even stranger that only a God (me) can see the abnormality.
“Tenri, its true nature is, of course…”
『Yes, it’s protected and unsearchable.』
I don’t know if this is Nagano God’s doing.
But it’s certain that a dangerous situation is unfolding before my eyes.
“Master, you basically don’t understand anything, do you? What things do you understand? Addition, maybe?”
Is it because she’s constantly being berated by her little sister that she’s started making fun of me too…?
“Tenri, make sure to scold her properly.”
『Isn’t that a parent’s job?』
That’s too true… I’ll do it properly. Next time.
“Sinri. There’s an abnormality at Lake Suwa, do you know the extent of the damage?”
“Ye~s… Huh? Whoa? It seems only the hospitals in Suwa City have an unusual increase in Hospital Patients. They say all the causes are unknown.”
“Why are they hospitalized?”
“Apparently, everyone is suffering from unexplained debilitation.”
What are the Public Security guys doing?
If the number of Hospital Patients increases rapidly in a short period, wouldn’t you normally think something’s strange…?
『The information is being altered and then reported.』
Well, the enemy seems to have a concealment Skill (or magic), after all.
In any case, the information that the number of Hospital Patients in Suwa City is abnormally increasing is being reported upwards in an altered state.
“Something is definitely happening, huh.”
“Master, are you deploying?”
“Yeah. I don’t think I can just leave it alone.”
Can’t be helped.
“Master, why are you such a softie?”
“That’s not true. I just want to maintain my own peace of mind.”
While I’m taking it easy, there are people suffering. I can’t tolerate such a situation.
『That’s hypocrisy. You only help those in trouble within your line of sight.』
“In the first place, I don’t think of myself as good at all.”
Then Sinri puffed out her cheeks.
“Tenri, retract your statement. Our mother is a very good person, you know.”
You… you say good things sometimes.
『…My apologies. You’re right. The fact that you’re looking after that social misfit over there instead of abandoning them already makes you quite the softie.』
“Yeah, yeah- huh? A social misfit… who?”
Tenri fell silent. I also fell silent.
“Hey!? Master!?”
Well now, let’s go help some people.