So this is the Dragon Shrine."
"It's smaller than I thought."
In the open space before the Dragon Shrine, I look up at the shrine that looks like it's made from white concrete.
The plaster is probably made with earth magic so it looks like concrete. It's a method of construction I saw some in the royal and duchy capitals.
The roof of the rectangular building is shaped like a dome, so it somehow looks like an astronomical observatory.
『--Dragon! M-my name is Bar-Baut of beastkin! I challenge you to a fair fight!』
The introduction carried by the wind sounded intermittent.
Seen from behind, the owner of the voice is standing in a round-shaped arena as large as a track field.
It's surrounded by three cliffs, it seem the top of the cliffs are the napping spots of the lesser dragons.
I can't see due to the crowds, but according to the map, it seems there's a deep valley between the back of the Dragon Shrine and the round arena connected by a suspension bridge.
It seems the place beyond the valley is a prohibited ground, there's no one there besides the aforementioned beastkin man.
"That beast lad is already at his third day huh?"
"He couldn't do anything against dragon-sama, poor him."
"He's powerless and only looking for death."
The gossips around us conveyed the situation.
There were some dangerous words, but there's no need to mind it.
The jeers from the spectators flung to the man were grating, so I urged Liza to enter the Dragon Shrine.
When we entered the shrine, we came to a place directly under the dome, the ceiling was high.
A slanted ceiling on the deep is opened, we can see a part of the napping lesser dragons on the cliffs from here.
Some of the worshipers are praying while looking up at that lesser dragons.
--Rather than that.
The mural inside the dome is wonderful.
Religious painting are depicted there, similar to the one in Seryuu City's Parion Temple.
"Nobleman of foreign country, would you like to make an almsgiving."
An Orange Scalekin girl who was wearing high-exposure miko clothing called out.
Almsgiving--even though she's asking for donation for the shrine, she's bearing herself coldly without trying to flatter me.
Her atmosphere is somehow similar to Liza.
While I was thinking so, the girl kept staring calmly like a doll.
Liza called me in a quiet voice, "Master", I feel ashamed of my ill manner.
"I'm sorry. I was lost in thought."
I apologize to the miko girl and take out a small bag with 10 Saga Empire gold coins from my pocket, then I put it on the tray for almsgiving the girl is carrying.
I might come here as Satou later, so I used Saga Empire gold coins to reduce the chance of getting exposed.
"....So much."
The miko girl showed her first surprised reaction when she peeked at the glittering gold coins in the small bag.
A miko with low exposure clothing who noticed that quickly approached us.
"Oh my, what a devout you are! As a senior miko, I'll guide you from now on."
A Red Scalekin senior miko smiled with her whole face.
She has light makeup but her sweet perfume tickles my nose.
"--The one who's showing his face right now is 『Shippu』-sama. He's still young so he likes to play games of tag with the kingdom's Wyvern Riders."
The senior miko who's pulling my arm explains about the lesser dragon that can be seen from the skylight.
It seems this Dragon Shrine isn't a shrine that worships the Dragon God.
The object of faith seems to be the whole dragon kin itself.
"Ah! Did you see the black tail who peeked just now? That's the oldest 『Bouryu』-sama! He rarely ever nap on the ground!"
It's good that she's excited and all but her ample breasts are deforming on my arm.
It feels nice so I don't mind, but the junior miko is touching her own breasts sorrowfully, so please leave it at that.
Contrary to the carefree senior miko, I could hear rustles and armor's sounds from the direction of the Dragon Shrine's entrance.
"Oy, that--isn't that someone from the Five Scale Houses?"
"Yeah, he's probably going to do the 『Dragon Challenging Ceremony』."
Intrigued by the worshipers' words the Attentive Ears skill picked up, I turn around.
There's a macho.
A big lizardkin warrior wearing luxurious armor.
He looks like a handsome man even though he has lizard face.
In fact, the lizardkin girls in the Dragon Shrine are passionately looking at the maccho warrior.