Reincarnation into the Barrier Master

After Vieille and his friends left Agartha, Rinos and his family had regained their serenity. Rinos was still shuttling back and forth between Agartha and the capital, keeping an eye on the movements of Klimiana, and working hard on his political affairs.

Rico continued to take care of the daughters, and May devoted herself to her research. The medical research institute in Agartha was gaining fame all over the world for discovering how Cirithrae and Leroyance were transmitted and for creating preventive and curative medicines for them. Moreover, the fame of the institute, and thus of May, who headed it, increased as a result of the free distribution of such medicines to countries all over the world. Today, May is called a "saint" or a "great sage" and is respected by researchers around the world.

Although the institute seems to be operating almost without regard to profitability, it is in fact very well funded, supported by huge donations from various countries. Why do they receive such huge donations?　It is rumored that there is some kind of black dealings between Agartha and its enemies, especially the Church of Crimiana and its vassal states, but in reality, Agartha has introduced a so-called naming rights system, whereby drugs developed or buildings and rooms constructed are named after the country or king in proportion to the amount of donations received. The reason for this was that It began when Nike, King of Sandanzi, sent an enormous amount of gold coins to Agartha in return for a gift of prophylactic medicine for Cirithrae.

At first Linos tried to refuse the gift, but Nike insisted. With the gold coins, he built an annex to his laboratory, where he tried to develop special medicines for various diseases. When a more effective cure for chilisray was developed, Rinos and his colleagues named the drug "Sandanji". This name became known throughout the world through researchers and apothecaries, and the country of Sandanj was able to get rid of its negative image as a country where Cirithrae was widespread. Countries that took notice of this advertising power made donations to the Agartha Medical Research Institute, aiming to improve their own national image.

The institute, thus well-funded, is now devoting itself to research on Geisha, which is said to be the most difficult to cure, and expanding the hospital attached to the institute, accepting many patients and aiming to improve its medical technology.

One day, as autumn was deepening and Rinos' birthday was approaching, he went out to the sun on an impulse. The war against the Church of Crimiana had estranged him from the girls. Of course, he had been making offerings to them, but he had not been able to offer a wide variety of offerings, so this time he visited them with a new product that he had created, and also to unveil it.

"Oh, it's been a long time.

When Linos sees him, his eyes drop to the ground. She looked forward to his visits, for he always brought her something delicious to eat.

It's been a long time, Ohi-sama. I'm sorry for all the requests I've made this year. I also brought you some new sweets. I hope they are to your liking. ......"

With these words, he unfolds a rectangular paper package in his hand. From it appeared a beautiful, golden pastry.

It is a pastry called "Castella".

"Oh, yes. Castella. It's not hard. Chie, Saae, take this.

Shizuku, shizuku, the two ladies carry the sponge cake under the princess. She ate it without cutting it, as if she were eating a banana. Sandille, who was watching her, wrinkles her brow and asks Linos.

"Rinos-sama, is that pastry supposed to be eaten in one bite like that?

"No. ....... It is supposed to be cut into bite-size pieces and eaten a little at a time.

"Yes, that's right, that's right. Oh, my dear princess, such a vulgar way of eating is not ......"

Sandille was about to make his usual small talk, when suddenly the grandmother's exclamation echoed through the room.

"My God!　This is delicious!　It's delicious!　I like it!　This too shall be offered!　We will make an offering!　Oh, and don't ever, ever offer Sandy Uni."

Hi, sweetheart!

"Yeah, shut up!　...... hmm?　You are running low on titles. Your skills are too many for my eyes to take in, but they seem to have cleared up a bit.

"What?　Are your titles decreasing?"

Linos hurriedly activates the appraisal on himself.

Control of human mind: Blessing lv.5, Cultivation lv.5, Warding magic lv.5, Detecting presence lv.5, Detecting magic lv.5, Evasion lv.5, Insight lv.5

Humanistic control...... creates a strong trust between people around them.

Oh!　Some titles are missing. And new titles have been added. It seems that the "Cant Skills" have been merged again. The new title is apparently a trust-building skill.

"Apparently, it builds trust between those involved. And it seems to be proportional to the amount of MP. In your case, your MP is almost inexhaustible. For this reason, it seems that the majority of those who live in the land of Agartha are bound together by a relationship of trust.

"That's some serious skill ......."

"The human heart is a weak thing. No matter how powerful magic or weapons you have, they can easily perish without trust. In that sense, by having the effect of connecting people's hearts, your skill may have more defensive power than warding.

"As a warder, I think I have the best skills."

Before I knew it, I had acquired tremendous skills. Isn't it great to have such a strong trust between yourself and your friends? Maybe this skill of mine had something to do with the fact that the people of Agartha were not interested in the doctrine of Klimiana or her missionary work.

I politely thank the princess and leave the place. Then, thinking that I should ask Peris to mass-produce sponge cakes, I moved to the residence in the capital, and found that the back door was slightly open. What an imprudence! Even though it is protected by wards, this kind of carelessness is not good. I try to surprise them a little by stealthily entering the house. I hear women whispering in the dining room.

"...... is this medicine.

"Thank you. I don't want to go through that pain again. ......

"Don't worry. Master Mei and I have taken great care in preparing this medicine, and it should not be a burden on your body at all.

"Thank you, Roni. Please don't let Linos know about this.

I'm sorry, sir.

I don't want to cause you any unnecessary worry.

"It's all right, Rico-sama. I and Roni will do our best to support you.

Mae, Roni, I'm sorry to bother you.

"It's okay. The medicine I gave you was made to look like Jasro nuts. Take one every morning when you wake up. You don't need water or anything else. People around you will not feel any discomfort, as it will look like you are simply rinsing your mouth.

"Thank you, Mae, Roni. I'll be sure to thank you."

"No, we just want you to have a painless stay, Rico-sama, that's all. ......"

Cold sweat trickles down my back. This is not what a healthy person would do. Why bother to make the drug look like Jasro's fruit?　Why do you have to hide from me that you take drugs in the first place?　What was all that suffering?　What is happening to Rico's body ......?

I sneak outside and take a deep breath. Then I regain my strength and enter the house again. Rico needs to explain this place to me.

"...... what?"

There was no one in the house. Was that story I just heard an illusion?

"Huh?　What's going on?"

"Whoa!　You must be Peiris. ....... Welcome back."

Peris gave me a dubious look. While I was doing this, Ferris, Ruara, Gon and the others returned. Gon reported that there had been new developments in the Church of Crimiana, and while they were discussing various matters, May came into the dining room with Allyria.

"Toutan. Hold me."

"Oooooooh, Arilia ~ come here~"

......And so, it turned out to be the usual lively dinner time.

On this day, Roni was also having dinner with us. Apparently, she had come for a medical checkup with Rico and the children. So, what I said earlier was not an illusion. However, I am a little afraid to ask her about it here. Besides, she is now eating Roag fish with all her heart. It is a white fish with an elegant taste like sea bream, but she loves it grilled with salt, and eats it whole, and that is exactly what she feels so good about. She eats the whole fish, even the eyeballs, saying that the cheek meat is delicious and the eye meat is delicious, and not only that, she also carefully loosens the meat from the bones and eats it.

I was impressed by his appetite and tried to find the right moment to talk to Roni, but the chance did not come, and I was forced into the bath with my two daughters.

I washed their bodies while being pushed around by the energetic girls, and finally got out of the bath. Just as I was finally taking a rest, Soleil came into the room. I remembered that today was her day. I wanted to ask Riko what was going on, but Soleil, whether she knew how I felt or not, quickly took the mount from me and violated my body as if she was going to attack me.

The next night, when I finally got a moment alone with Rico, I made up my mind to ask her what was going on.

"Rico, I want to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"It's about Rico's body."

"......If you had noticed, you would have?"

"......"

"Just in time. Linos, I was going to say not today, but I don't think I'll be able to ...... be with Linos for a while after today."

"Rico, what do you mean?　Is ...... that bad?"

"No. ....... May and Roni made me some medicine, so I'm fine now."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier!　All right, let's do some restorative magic. Hold on a second."

It's no use. Please don't do this.

"Useless?"

"Yes, it's no use. It's not something that can be cured with restorative magic.

"Rico ...... no way ......"

"Yes, that's not possible."

"You mean to tell me that you have an incurable disease that neither ...... May nor ...... Roni can ...... cure!"

I was yelling out loud. Rico rolled his eyes in surprise.

"An incurable disease......?　What are you talking about?"

"You can't heal me with restorative magic, can you?"

"Linos ....... No, sir. I am ...... this."

Rico takes my hand and puts it on his stomach.

"What?　Is this ......?"

"Yes. I'm pregnant."

"Pregnant?　What?　Huh?　Huh?　No way.　Seriously?"

"It seems that we are just about to enter the second month. I was going to tell Linos when things had calmed down a bit more. ....... This time, I will give birth to a boy.

"Rico!　Rico!　Rico!　Rico ohhhh."

Without thinking, he embraces Riko. But I hugged her too tightly, and she started to cry out in pain. Without thinking, I let go of her body.

"Rinos, you're going to crush the baby!"

"Sorry ....... But why do you need May and Roni to make you medicine?　Morning sickness?"

"If you get pregnant, you won't be able to get ...... that ...... out, so ......."

"Oh ...... that one. ...... sure, that's right."

"It's not hard on the body, and so far so good, so there's nothing to worry about."

"Rico ....... Take care of yourself. I hope you give birth to a healthy baby.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm sure I'll give birth to a healthy baby.

Rico smiles broadly. Oh my God, he's really cute. He's so cute.

"I'm really, really happy. Thank God, thank God."

...... A small thank you for all you do for us. Thank you.

"Hm?　What did you say, Rico?"

No, I didn't say anything.

"Huh?　I think I heard some voices. ....... Oh well. I'm still an idiot. I can't believe I didn't know Rico was pregnant and assumed he had an incurable disease. ....... No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

I apologize while scratching my head, and Rico smiles and opens his mouth.

"No. The truth is that I have a disease that will not be cured until I die. Rinos is right.

"What?　Seriously?　What's that disease ......?"

I ask Riko as I sit upright on the bed and gulp down some spit. She looks at me and smiles again on her pretty face.

"It's ...... love sickness. I will be in love with Linos until the day I die.

"Rico ......"

Linos hugged Rico again. This time he held her gently as if he were holding a treasure. He vowed to protect this treasure, Riko, until his death.