Reincarnation into the Barrier Master

"...... is ready."

The messenger stood quickly in front of me and bowed. To be honest, I'm not very excited about this. I just have a bad feeling. I don't have a life-threatening premonition, but it's something like ....... It's like being summoned to the staff room by the gym teacher, even though you haven't done anything wrong.

Rucker had been brought in close by. I didn't need to use my presence and magic detectors. I knew immediately that he was coming. What is it ....... I sense a beastly presence. I suppose it's the same for the soldiers. When Rucker came close to me, the soldiers who were standing by my side were looking around.

I sigh and sit up heavily. Matkal follows behind me. Honestly, I want to hug him. I'm sure it would soothe me. I want to calm down and confront him, but I don't think she would shake her head.

Worst case scenario, I can put up a ward to make him disappear: ....... Thinking of these things, I walked on.

Rucker was waiting behind a white curtain. As he was the king, there were no ropes on him, and he was sitting on a chair, albeit a crude one. But he was surrounded by soldiers, ready to attack at a moment's notice.

When his eyes met mine, Rucker's expression changed instantly.

He looked ...... honestly ignorant. He had a dull face that lacked any semblance of intelligence.

No, wait. He is the king, after all. There are fools among us, but I've heard that this man is a man of some merit, a man of some stature. We should not be too arbitrary in our judgments. ....... I tell myself that.

I take the seat that has been prepared for me. Matkal and Knogen, who have been waiting right next to me, take their seats after seeing me sit down. Rufana is not present because she is in charge of the security for this tour. She is behind the curtain, just behind Rucker, watching us.

"Are you sure you are Subkriner Epas Rucker III, King of the Kingdom of Subkriner?"

Knogen asks in a quiet voice. Rucker nods slowly, glaring at me.

The fortress of Hiyama is our territory. Shall we ask why it was attacked without notice?

Rucker's body trembled at Knogen's question.

"There is no reason to start a fight."

"Oh."

"We take what we want because we want it. That's all there is to it."

"You are the King of the Kingdom of Subclina, and at the same time you are in charge of the military affairs of the New Crimiana Church Army. Is this military action at the behest of the Church of Crimiana?"

"Don't ask me such questions."

"......"

"They would know better than anyone that my actions are not in accordance with the wishes of the Church of Crimiana ......, Master Vieille."

Knogen slowly turned his gaze on me. He looked as if he had nothing more to say.

"I am Bartham Darke Linos, King of Agartha. This battle has been an unfortunate one indeed. Our soldiers suffered no casualties, but a few of your soldiers lost their lives. I express my deepest condolences to them."

"It is nice to see that you can offer your condolences to our dead soldiers, even though they are our enemies. ....... Thank you."

Rucker then slowly bows his head. At that moment, his body jerked.

"......"

"Master Rucker, what is it?"

Knogen calls out to Rucker, who has stopped moving altogether. But he remains silent.

"Mr. Rucker, ......"

"He can't move now. We've set up wards."

"Mr. Linos, ......"

"He's trying to grab me every chance he gets. It's a bit of a hassle, so I've had to take away your freedom. You can relax. I can move from the neck up."

Rucker slowly looks up as I speak. His eyes were red and cloudy.

"I don't like you, you little shit."

"......"

"You offer your condolences to the dead soldiers?　You must be laughing at me as you say so. You have moved armies with your own desire and caused the loss of lives. You played me for a fool and brought this battle to an end without losing a single soldier. That must be exhilarating for you.

Not really.

Kill him.

What?

I said kill him.

You know, ......

"I no longer have any hope of living. I cannot take your life. No matter how hard I try, my suffering will never go away. Then I would rather you bury me with your own hands.

"Don't be so selfish. I'm just trying to make things easier for you and Vieille. I'm telling you, I don't think taking my life is going to move Vieille's heart.

"Huh, is that because you have completely stolen Vieille-sama's heart?"

"No, it's not that. I'm not interested in Vieille. No, I want you and Vieille to get along. But ...... Vieille is not so ...... about you. Can't you do something about it, at all? I don't know you well enough to make a guess. By the way, if you were to go out with Vieille, what would you do to her?"

Rucker remains silent, staring at me. His breathing is becoming ragged.

"Wow, I'm ......."

"What?　What?"

"I want to hug you."

"What?"

"I want to hug...... that small, soft,...... fluffy body of yours with all my might. I want to hold her as long as I can. I want to keep hugging it."

"Um, hey, hey, hey. ......, that's not what I meant. ......"

"I will not let go. I won't let go until I die. I want to suck that beautiful face ...... lips ...... for hours on end. ....... I want her beautiful skin all to myself. I want to cleanse every inch of her skin, her ass, her legs, her arms, her body, every inch of her body, with my tongue. I'll cleanse it like no one else's. ....... I will take it all for myself. And I will serve at Vieille's side until I die, or even if I die and go to the Lord God, or even if I am reborn. I will protect my Lord Vieille forever and ever. ....... I will make my Lord Vieille happy."

Listening to Rucker's story, I feel sickened by his obsession. I didn't know he had this kind of emotion in his gut. ....... I'm talking about that Vieille. He must have known he was feeling this way. This guy may have suppressed his desires in front of Vieille, but he may not have been able to control them perfectly. The atmosphere that he was giving off must have been felt by Vieille, and that is why she disliked him so much. Women are sensitive to such an atmosphere.

Suddenly, she looks at Matocal, who is standing next to her. She is looking at Rucker with a calm and unperturbed expression on her face.

"Uuuu...... His Holiness the Pope....... Vieille-sama ...... Vieille-sama ......"

Rucker found himself shedding tears, even in public. A big man like a sumo wrestler is crying like a child. ....... He is ugly as hell, but the purity of his heart that can love someone so much is precious to me.

"This is tough. This disease is hard to cure."

"Disease?　Does this king have a disease?"

Matkal reacted to my words. He looked surprised, as if he had not expected it.

"Yes. He is sick. And a very serious one at that.

What's the name of the disease?

It's obvious, isn't it? I'm in love with you.

Matkal slowly took his eyes off me: .......