Reincarnation into the Barrier Master

Cassel, standing there like a ghost, was nowhere near his former elegance and intelligence, nor the air of pride that is often associated with smart children. Only his eyes were shining brightly as he stared at the Pope. From his eyes, one could read the emotions of anger, hatred, and fear. But that is all we can sense; we feel nothing else from him.

"Cassel: ....... Is it Kassel?"

The Pope was so impressed by the transformation that he involuntarily checked with the cardinals who were around him. The cardinal, who received his approval, explained to the Pope in a whisper.

"His Holiness the Pope: !!!!".

Cassel's voice echoes in the spacious papal office, almost like an exclamation.

"The Church of the Crimiana will perish if things continue as they are!

The people in the pew froze in their tracks. The Pope, however, is the only one who accepts his outburst with a soft face.

"Agartha is a nation that defies the Way of Heaven!　This is a nation that must not be allowed to get away with it!　It is a nation that must be destroyed!　Indeed, the King of Agartha said he was the servant of the Great Demon King!　But what about the countries we stopped in on our way back to Aphrodite!　No matter how many times I have explained the dangers of that country, no matter how many times I have told them to send their troops to Agartha, not a single one of them has come to bring the hammer down on that country, on that king!　What is happening to our Crimiana cult!　Why don't you destroy the Church when there is a nation before you that does not follow the Way of Heaven!　You despise the words of the Lord God!　Such a nation, such a people, such servants of the evil gods, must be destroyed!　You must!"

The Pope nods slowly and speaks to Cassel in a gentle voice.

"Cassel, what is wrong with you?　What has happened so far?

I, more than anyone else, believe that the Lord God's teachings are correct. His teachings are the only ones that can lead mankind to true happiness. Nations and people who do not follow his teachings must be eliminated!　Our Church must protect and bring happiness to the devout followers of the teachings of the Lord God. Agartha and the nations associated with it have denied the teachings of the Lord God, and have even sent the pious believers to their deaths!　I resisted against it and received this many wounds, including the loss of my left arm. Agartha, the king of Agartha, is an evil man who rebels against the Way of Heaven!　Such people must be destroyed!　However, not a single nation that has adopted the Klimiana religion as its state religion has made a move to diminish Agartha. Is this what the Crimiana religion wants?　If we allow this to continue, the Church will perish!　If the Church is destroyed, it means that the Lord God is defeated!　I can't stand that!"

No one could interrupt Cassel, who was talking as if he were possessed by something. He is breathing heavily, his shoulders rising and falling, as if he is losing strength.

No wonder. How many deaths has he already had? In the forests of Agartha, his body has been eaten and gutted by demons thousands of times. More than once he was poisoned. There were times when my body was paralyzed and I could not move. He walked step by step towards the home country of Klimiana, suffering all kinds of pain.

The word "hell" is not enough to describe the indescribable suffering he endured on this journey. The fear of being attacked by demons, the constant hunger, thirst, and exhaustion, and the journey through the forest with no signposts... Sometimes he even jumped off a precipice. While doing these things, he went through the forest with the very thought of dying. He found himself in the kingdom of Biyur, the western neighbor of Agartha. There, fortunately, he was protected by a priest of the Church of Crimiana and finally returned to Aphrodite.

Cassel is still breathing heavily. But his penetrating gaze is still fixed on the Pope.

Laughter echoes through the Oval Office. The one who is laughing is none other than the Pope himself. How many years has it been since the man known as "the smiling monster" laughed out loud? The faces of all the people in the room were tense at the sight that no one had expected.

The Pope remembered. When he was a young man, he had been betrayed and persecuted in the country he had been assigned to, and had holed up in a fortress with a few believers. He could not forgive. He could not forgive the country, the people, who did not agree with the wonderful teachings of the Lord God and persecuted his pious apostles. As he looked at the approaching army, his heart was filled with intense hatred.

When he was driven to the verge of starvation without food, he gave his followers a medicine that was still in the process of development. Then the soldiers became deathless soldiers and attacked the enemy army. The enemy army was helplessly overrun by them because of their extraordinary fighting style. And when it was over, there were the dead bodies of all those who had given the medicine and dozens of times more than the dead bodies of the enemy army.

The Pope remembered that scene. He remembered with nostalgia that his feelings at that time were the same as those of Cassel.

"...... I must be getting old. I didn't think Cassel could teach me that. ...... I guess so. We must get rid of those who disobey the heavenly ways and help those who follow the heavenly ways. This is our mission. You forgot that ....... I may have been letting those who disobey the Way of Heaven go unchecked for too long.

The Pope looks kindly at Cassel with a satisfied smile.

"So, Cassel. What must be done to ensure that the Church of Crimiana does not perish?"

Cassel looks at the Pope in silence for a moment. Then he opens his mouth.

"First of all, we must eliminate the traitors and those who disobey the Way of Heaven from our Church and from among our followers.

"Law ....... Are you saying that there are traitors in this Church and among its followers?"

Yes. Yes, sir.

What is it?

"First of all, Cardinal Reyerlance, Bishop Kleiferich, Bishop Arisgard, and ...... Sister Vieille."

A murmur fills the office. They had not just called the Pope's grandson a traitor to the fanatically faithful Vieille. Cassel will be killed by the Pope for this statement. Everyone in the office thought so.

"May I ask why?　Cardinal Reigns is your paternal uncle. You would have your own family executed by your own hand?　Vieille is no different."

Contrary to their expectations, the Pope was as calm as ever. Then Cassel continued again.

"Cardinal Rayalance did not support us in Agartha, even though he was in the empire of Heedata. The same goes for Bishop Kleiferich and Bishop Arisgard. Both of them were the liaison between the Duchy of Niza and the Lamaronian Empire, yet they did not support us in Agartha in any way. What can we call this but betrayal?　I am afraid I did nothing for the special Zimoke of His Holiness the Pope. What could be a greater sin? And ....... Sister Vieille has been ...... entrapped by the evil minions of ...... King Agartha."

"Oh ...... wait, Master Cassel!　I don't believe that in the presence of Mr. Vieille, that is ......."

Unexpectedly, one of the bishops opens his mouth. Cassel turns his piercing gaze on the bishop.

"Think about it!　The congregation that tried to defeat the king of Agartha were all killed. And I've got all these wounds. But what about you, sister Vieille?　Didn't he return home unscathed?　You didn't think it was funny!　That's what I think will destroy the Church. It was only because the evil god opened her body, laid waste to her, and took her soul that she was able to return unharmed!　How could you not see that!　...... But the Lord God has not forsaken the Church. The fact that I have returned here alive is the best proof of this. I was attacked by demons many times and my life was in danger, but I did not lose my life except for the loss of my left arm. This must be the Lord God's will to save Klimiana!"

"...... Okay, Cassel. As for Vieille, I'll have to look into it. She has already left for Krefalaise. First of all,...... could you investigate Cardinal Reyerance, Bishop Kreiferich, and Bishop Arisgard?"

The Pope commands Cassel in a gentle tone.

I am awed. But, Your Holiness. My sister will one day return to you. When she does, you will be able to ....... And King Agartha... I will not forgive him. I will make sure of it. I will make sure of it.

The Pope smiles a big smile.

"I see. I'll be counting on you then, won't I?

It was a month later that Cardinal Reyerance, Bishop Kreiferich, and Bishop Arisgard were crucified in Aphrodite's Square for their treason. It was Kassel himself who put the finishing touches to the trio: .......