Reincarnation into the Barrier Master

After leaving the room of King Sandanji and Nike, we went straight to the laboratory of the Sandanji Kingdom. Then, with my own hands, I gently took the white dog out of its cage, which was still in a deep sleep, and put it on the desk. Then May took out a yellow powder from her pocket and put it on the dog's nose and let him sniff it.

"It's all right now. He won't wake up for another hour, so let's do it while he's awake. Master, please deactivate the warding.

Hearing May's words, I release the warding. And so began the research of May and the Poseidonians.

They were very skillful in taking various samples from the dogs. Saliva, blood, hair... It looks as if they were even grinding some of the teeth. And they had done it in just a few minutes.

"Now I'd like to examine these samples. Thank you very much, master."

"Yeah? Are we done?"

"Yes. I would like to take it home with me, but I'm afraid that King Sandanji will not allow it. We were able to collect blood and other bodily fluids, so I think our research will advance considerably now.

"Okay, Mae. Let's go give this dog back.

"However, if you remove the warding, there is a possibility that the infection could spread. So..."

"I think we should leave the warding in place."

With this conversation, we returned to Nike's office. We couldn't see him because he had another audience, but I returned the dog I had borrowed from a soldier at the palace. I explained to him that the dog was most likely infected with Cirithrae and that we had locked him up in a ward. The soldier was surprised, but I told him that I had made a hole in the ceiling of the ward, through which he could put food and other things.

After that, I transferred to the laboratory in Agartha with May and the others, and we had a short meeting. It was decided that for the time being, the girls would be based at the research institute in Agartha, and would conduct research on Kirisrei, checking the situation in Sandanj from time to time.

Three days later. Sadakichi informed me that the Crimiana cultists had entered Agartha.

"This is very slow progress," he said. At this rate, it will be another three days before we reach the capital.

I look at the map and raise my voice.

"We're building a pretty big road, you know."

Knogen replies with a wry smile.

"You are building a straight road on the riverbank that four people can pass through side by side, aren't you?

"I see. That's going to take a long time.

"This is a serious matter, Mister Rinos."

It is Lafayence who is sounding impatient.

"If they build a road this wide, the cavalry will be able to come and go as they please. Crimiana wants to build a straight road to the capital of Agartha. It will be troublesome if they can transport both supplies and soldiers in the shortest distance."

"Hmm."

I cross my arms and think. Matkal sees this and opens his mouth.

"Master Linos, shall we just break the road in the shadows of the night?"

"No, Mato, I mean... how should I put it? Isn't it too good to be true?"

"Too good to be true?"

"No, you're making a path for us. We can use it later.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what Mr. Linos is thinking.

"Mat, think about it. It's true that we can get from Agartha to Garbee faster by ship. But the other way around is much more difficult. Now the only way is for strong men to pull the boats up to Agartha, or to walk. It's hard to walk on the riverbanks, isn't it? Horses have a tough time of it, too. So, it would be a great help to travelers to have a road."

"That's true, but if the road is built, the crimianas will..."

"I know. I know, Mat. I know that. I know that, Mat.

Knogen, who had been listening to the conversation between me and Mato, opens his mouth.

"Fourteen ships are already waiting off the coast of Garbee. If each ship carries 500 men, that means that 7,000 men will be heading for Agartha. And if we consider those coming by land from Heedata and other countries, tens of thousands of believers will pour into Agartha.

"What if... they want to feed Agartha?

Matkal raises his voice. I sigh and reply.

"Well, that's one way to look at it. Perhaps their real goal is to manipulate public opinion.

"Manipulating public opinion?"

"It would be easy to oust me from the throne if an overwhelming majority of people gathered and raised their voices."

"Master Linos, Master Linos is beloved by the people of Agartha. Even if Crimiana's people do something strange, the people of the city will not allow it.

"I think that Crimiana is also trying to create an excuse to attack Agartha by having the people of the city attack her in this way."

"d*mn! Abominable!"

"This is Matkal. Do not be angry like that. You've ruined a beautiful face. Well, Mr. Linos... I don't think we'll be able to leave her like this anyway.

"Yes. The general is right. It will be a problem later on if we let them all into Agartha so easily. But I have a plan.

"Oh, what's that?"

"Well, the timing is a bit tricky with this plan. I don't know if we will do it yet, so I will tell the general as soon as the time comes.

"Mmmmmm..."

Lafayence snarls with both eyes closed. Knogen watches him with a wry smile.

"Well, Klimiana is very good at this. I can't believe she's starting her migration at this time of the year. We can reach Agartha before the Irveg river rises, and even if something happens, we can't easily send reinforcements from Heedata and Lamarron because the Irveg river will be swollen for a while. This move must have been made in anticipation of that."

"Yes, it is. Well, we could eliminate them if we wanted to. Well, we've come a long way. Especially that little girl who brought the Pope's letter and the monk who was following her, we have to let them into Agartha, don't we? After all, they are going to create a paradise."

"So... you are saying that Master Rinos does not want the entire congregation of Klimiana in Agartha?"

"Yes. Not all of them are bad. They're the only ones who should be punished.

When will this measure be issued?

"Hmm. That hasn't been decided yet. I'll have to ask Mat to help me out, then, won't I?"

"I... I... I understand."

"Well, at any rate, the operation will be launched only after we receive word from Mr. Rinos. Until then, we must be ready to go out at any time. Knogen, Matkal, we must be on our toes."

They nodded vigorously at Lafayence's words. The three of them then left my room. As they were leaving my room, Lafayence was talking to Matkal. Matkal remained alone in my office.

"Mat, what's wrong? ...your face is all red, isn't it?"

"Uhhhh..."

"...ah, Lafayence said something erotic to you again, didn't he?"

Matkal's eyes are moving. He seems to have hit the bull's-eye.

"Let me guess. Let Mister Linos tell you in bed, right?"

Matkal shakes his head.

"Yeah? What did they say?"

Matkal's face turns red and he opens his mouth to say something difficult.

"He told me not to let go of Mr. Rinos all night... He told me to stay on top of him all night and attack him until he told me what he was going to do..."

For the first time in a long time, I burst out laughing.