Leave a Comment / Reincarnation into a barrier master / By IX
On the evening of the day after we returned from the Sandanji Kingdom, Matokal arrived in the Agarta capital city with the carriages she had led when we departed, along with the expected several bishops.
The bishops arrived on horseback, all of them skillfully handling their horses. Just by looking at them, one could tell that these bishops of the Crimeana Church were not ordinary individuals.
As soon as they arrived in the capital, they were escorted by Matokal to the audience chamber in the guesthouse.
“King Agarta, it’s been a while. Our divine oracle from Crimeana-sama has guided us here. We are eager to receive it, and so we have come,” Vielle said with a shining look in her eyes, speaking with a smile. I responded to her with a wry smile.
“Receive it… huh. Did it look like an elegant journey as you were swaying in the carriages, or is it just my imagination?”
“Not at all. I earnestly wished to arrive in Agarta’s capital under Crimeana-sama’s guidance as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I cannot ride a horse. Therefore, I prayed fervently for Crimeana-sama to hasten our arrival in the capital while we were swaying in the carriages. Our wish has been granted, and we were able to have this audience before sunset. We are grateful for Crimeana-sama’s blessings,” Vielle said, assuming a prayerful pose.
“Hmm. Indeed, it seemed quite speedy for you to be transported here, but wasn’t that thanks to the skill of the carriage handlers and Matokal, who led the way and guided us safely along the shortest route?” I inquired.
“No. Of course, the people who handled the horses and those who led us… they were all splendid. I believe they were also blessed by Crimeana-sama. Furthermore, I think they exerted more than their usual strength,” she replied.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. When I looked at Matokal, she was shaking her head in disbelief.
“It’s a nice way to think about it. You could live life more comfortably with that perspective.”
“King Agarta, we humbly request to receive the divine oracle,” a young boy who had been standing next to the young girl seemed irritated by my laughter and addressed me somewhat angrily. I continued to smile and responded to the young boy.
“Well, don’t be in such a rush, young one. Beggars who rush receive less, as they say.”
“Young one…”
Whether my words had offended him or not, the boy glared at me. Vielle gently placed her hand on the boy’s shoulder to calm him.
“King Agarta,” a well-spoken voice echoed throughout the room. It was Bishop Kohreshi.
“Oh! Kohreshi, isn’t it? Long time no see. I’m glad to see you’re well. Very glad indeed,” I nodded in an exaggerated manner. Kohreshi did not take the bait and spoke calmly.
“King Agarta, if it pleases you, could you please share the contents of the divine oracle with us? For us, the divine oracle from Crimeana-sama is of utmost importance. Please understand.”
The young girl and boy, as well as the six bishops, all had their eyes fixed on me. I cleared my throat and straightened my posture.
“Let me ask you this: Right now, off the coast of Galby, there are several of your ships arriving, aren’t there? Are all the people on those ships coming to Agarta?”
The Crimeana followers exchanged glances and confirmed something among themselves. Then, Vielle spoke up.
“Yes, believers from all over the world wish to assist in making Agarta a paradise. It is believed that devout believers will arrive here shortly.”
Upon hearing this, I feigned exasperation and covered my face with my left hand.
“Oh, I see. So that’s it. What Crimeana-sama said was…”
“What do you mean?” Kohreshi inquired calmly.
“Listen up, Kohreshi. Crimeana-sama said this: ‘Do not gather believers.’ ‘Do not gather them,’ she said. It seems she will not permit believers to gather in one place.”
“What does that mean?”
The young boy interjected.
“I don’t know. I’m just trying to convey what I heard in a dream to you all. If you want to know the meaning, young one, you should ask her yourself… in heaven!”
The boy stared at me with wide eyes. I continued speaking without paying attention to his reaction.
“So, it seems that all the Crimeana followers arriving off the coast of Galby will come to Agarta… How many are we talking about? Not just ten or twenty, right? Even with a conservative estimate… several thousand? In that case, won’t it go against Crimeana-sama’s oracle, the one that says ‘Do not gather believers’?”
I scanned the Crimeana group. Their expressions had all turned solemn.
“Please, inform the believers in Galby. ‘Do not go. Do not come.’ If you go, you will meet dire consequences,” I said.
“I regret to say,” Vielle began in a soft voice, “Is it possible that the divine oracle received by King Agarta is not truly from Crimeana-sama herself?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Forgive me for saying this, but… Agarta is the land where the Demon Lord once descended. There is a possibility that a similar malevolent being may descend. Perhaps, a malevolent god has intruded into King Agarta’s dreams?” Vielle suggested.
“Why do you say that?”
The young boy stepped forward.
“Our supreme god, Crimeana-sama, always bestows her blessings on gatherings of believers. Our Crimeana Church has prospered thanks to this. It doesn’t quite make sense that Crimeana-sama, of all deities, would give an oracle prohibiting the gathering of believers, especially to King Agarta. I believe it would be wise to thoroughly reconsider this matter,” he said.
All of the Crimeana followers nodded in agreement with Vielle’s words, and the young boy spoke again.
“What Vielle-nee-sama is saying makes perfect sense. By the way, I heard that King Agarta has not yet been baptized. If you were to receive our baptism and become a devout follower of Crimeana-sama, and then receive her divine oracle once again, we would be satisfied. Crimeana-sama is a generous deity. Even if she didn’t initially accept the divine oracle, if it pertains to a matter of life and death for us believers, she will surely grant the oracle once more. First and foremost, let us perform King Agarta’s baptism.”
The young boy extended both his hands forward, as if he were about to embrace me while speaking. Watching this, Vielle looked at me with an affectionate gaze.
“Cassel’s words are correct. It is possible that King Agarta is inhabited by an evil demon. If we continue like this, not only King Agarta but also his family, his retinue, and even the entire nation of Agarta may suffer calamity. Just like when the Great Demon Lord descended… We should not repeat such a tragedy. Our supreme deity, Crimeana-sama, will protect us from such evil entities once we have been baptized. Please, King Agarta, accept our baptism.”
“King Agarta, Vielle-sama is right. I have heard that you possess an impressive sword… However, that sword may not be capable of slaying malevolent demons. Our Crimeana-sama will protect us from such malevolent beings. Please, do accept our baptism,” another bishop added.
Vielle and Cassel wore wide smiles on their faces. I listened to their words attentively, and once they finished, I stood up and straightened my shoulders.
“Ahem. Invoking the Nine-Syllable Mantra, no malevolent demons, evil spirits, or wandering souls shall trouble us.”
…A subtle tension filled the audience chamber. Linos muttered quietly, “He doesn’t know the script,” under his breath.
“Uh… ahem. Well, that’s the way mountain ascetics do it! I’d have made the conversation more lively if you’d responded with something like that… but I guess you don’t know it? Ah, never mind. Let’s get back to the point. Well, believe it or not, it’s up to you all. If you can’t believe what I’m saying, do as you please. Just know that I won’t be responsible even if divine retribution falls upon you.”
I said that and turned my gaze toward Kohreshi.
“Kohreshi-kun, do you understand what I’m saying?”
Kohreshi furrowed his brows deeply and stared at me without speaking.
“Oh, by the way, Kohreshi-kun, that thing will be given to you on that day, at that time, in that manner, as I mentioned before. Are you looking forward to it? How fortunate, right?”
Upon hearing my words, Kohreshi’s expression tensed even further.
“Well, aside from the baptism, there are other matters to discuss, right? The rest can be decided by all of you after consultation, don’t you think?”
Saying this, I dismissed the Crimeana group.
“…Linos-sama, are you sure it’s okay to provoke the Crimeana followers like that?” Matokal asked with a worried expression.
“Don’t worry, Matokal. If they don’t act, that’s fine. If they come to Agarta in large numbers, we’ll deal with it then. Now, let’s see how they respond.”
I smiled mischievously. Matokal watched me with a tense expression.
Leave a Comment / Reincarnation into a barrier master / By IX
On the evening of the day after we returned from the Sandanji Kingdom, Matokal arrived in the Agarta capital city with the carriages she had led when we departed, along with the expected several bishops.
The bishops arrived on horseback, all of them skillfully handling their horses. Just by looking at them, one could tell that these bishops of the Crimeana Church were not ordinary individuals.
As soon as they arrived in the capital, they were escorted by Matokal to the audience chamber in the guesthouse.
“King Agarta, it’s been a while. Our divine oracle from Crimeana-sama has guided us here. We are eager to receive it, and so we have come,” Vielle said with a shining look in her eyes, speaking with a smile. I responded to her with a wry smile.
“Receive it… huh. Did it look like an elegant journey as you were swaying in the carriages, or is it just my imagination?”
“Not at all. I earnestly wished to arrive in Agarta’s capital under Crimeana-sama’s guidance as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I cannot ride a horse. Therefore, I prayed fervently for Crimeana-sama to hasten our arrival in the capital while we were swaying in the carriages. Our wish has been granted, and we were able to have this audience before sunset. We are grateful for Crimeana-sama’s blessings,” Vielle said, assuming a prayerful pose.
“Hmm. Indeed, it seemed quite speedy for you to be transported here, but wasn’t that thanks to the skill of the carriage handlers and Matokal, who led the way and guided us safely along the shortest route?” I inquired.
“No. Of course, the people who handled the horses and those who led us… they were all splendid. I believe they were also blessed by Crimeana-sama. Furthermore, I think they exerted more than their usual strength,” she replied.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. When I looked at Matokal, she was shaking her head in disbelief.
“It’s a nice way to think about it. You could live life more comfortably with that perspective.”
“King Agarta, we humbly request to receive the divine oracle,” a young boy who had been standing next to the young girl seemed irritated by my laughter and addressed me somewhat angrily. I continued to smile and responded to the young boy.
“Well, don’t be in such a rush, young one. Beggars who rush receive less, as they say.”
“Young one…”
Whether my words had offended him or not, the boy glared at me. Vielle gently placed her hand on the boy’s shoulder to calm him.
“King Agarta,” a well-spoken voice echoed throughout the room. It was Bishop Kohreshi.
“Oh! Kohreshi, isn’t it? Long time no see. I’m glad to see you’re well. Very glad indeed,” I nodded in an exaggerated manner. Kohreshi did not take the bait and spoke calmly.
“King Agarta, if it pleases you, could you please share the contents of the divine oracle with us? For us, the divine oracle from Crimeana-sama is of utmost importance. Please understand.”
The young girl and boy, as well as the six bishops, all had their eyes fixed on me. I cleared my throat and straightened my posture.
“Let me ask you this: Right now, off the coast of Galby, there are several of your ships arriving, aren’t there? Are all the people on those ships coming to Agarta?”
The Crimeana followers exchanged glances and confirmed something among themselves. Then, Vielle spoke up.
“Yes, believers from all over the world wish to assist in making Agarta a paradise. It is believed that devout believers will arrive here shortly.”
Upon hearing this, I feigned exasperation and covered my face with my left hand.
“Oh, I see. So that’s it. What Crimeana-sama said was…”
“What do you mean?” Kohreshi inquired calmly.
“Listen up, Kohreshi. Crimeana-sama said this: ‘Do not gather believers.’ ‘Do not gather them,’ she said. It seems she will not permit believers to gather in one place.”
“What does that mean?”
The young boy interjected.
“I don’t know. I’m just trying to convey what I heard in a dream to you all. If you want to know the meaning, young one, you should ask her yourself… in heaven!”
The boy stared at me with wide eyes. I continued speaking without paying attention to his reaction.
“So, it seems that all the Crimeana followers arriving off the coast of Galby will come to Agarta… How many are we talking about? Not just ten or twenty, right? Even with a conservative estimate… several thousand? In that case, won’t it go against Crimeana-sama’s oracle, the one that says ‘Do not gather believers’?”
I scanned the Crimeana group. Their expressions had all turned solemn.
“Please, inform the believers in Galby. ‘Do not go. Do not come.’ If you go, you will meet dire consequences,” I said.
“I regret to say,” Vielle began in a soft voice, “Is it possible that the divine oracle received by King Agarta is not truly from Crimeana-sama herself?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Forgive me for saying this, but… Agarta is the land where the Demon Lord once descended. There is a possibility that a similar malevolent being may descend. Perhaps, a malevolent god has intruded into King Agarta’s dreams?” Vielle suggested.
“Why do you say that?”
The young boy stepped forward.
“Our supreme god, Crimeana-sama, always bestows her blessings on gatherings of believers. Our Crimeana Church has prospered thanks to this. It doesn’t quite make sense that Crimeana-sama, of all deities, would give an oracle prohibiting the gathering of believers, especially to King Agarta. I believe it would be wise to thoroughly reconsider this matter,” he said.
All of the Crimeana followers nodded in agreement with Vielle’s words, and the young boy spoke again.
“What Vielle-nee-sama is saying makes perfect sense. By the way, I heard that King Agarta has not yet been baptized. If you were to receive our baptism and become a devout follower of Crimeana-sama, and then receive her divine oracle once again, we would be satisfied. Crimeana-sama is a generous deity. Even if she didn’t initially accept the divine oracle, if it pertains to a matter of life and death for us believers, she will surely grant the oracle once more. First and foremost, let us perform King Agarta’s baptism.”
The young boy extended both his hands forward, as if he were about to embrace me while speaking. Watching this, Vielle looked at me with an affectionate gaze.
“Cassel’s words are correct. It is possible that King Agarta is inhabited by an evil demon. If we continue like this, not only King Agarta but also his family, his retinue, and even the entire nation of Agarta may suffer calamity. Just like when the Great Demon Lord descended… We should not repeat such a tragedy. Our supreme deity, Crimeana-sama, will protect us from such evil entities once we have been baptized. Please, King Agarta, accept our baptism.”
“King Agarta, Vielle-sama is right. I have heard that you possess an impressive sword… However, that sword may not be capable of slaying malevolent demons. Our Crimeana-sama will protect us from such malevolent beings. Please, do accept our baptism,” another bishop added.
Vielle and Cassel wore wide smiles on their faces. I listened to their words attentively, and once they finished, I stood up and straightened my shoulders.
“Ahem. Invoking the Nine-Syllable Mantra, no malevolent demons, evil spirits, or wandering souls shall trouble us.”
…A subtle tension filled the audience chamber. Linos muttered quietly, “He doesn’t know the script,” under his breath.
“Uh… ahem. Well, that’s the way mountain ascetics do it! I’d have made the conversation more lively if you’d responded with something like that… but I guess you don’t know it? Ah, never mind. Let’s get back to the point. Well, believe it or not, it’s up to you all. If you can’t believe what I’m saying, do as you please. Just know that I won’t be responsible even if divine retribution falls upon you.”
I said that and turned my gaze toward Kohreshi.
“Kohreshi-kun, do you understand what I’m saying?”
Kohreshi furrowed his brows deeply and stared at me without speaking.
“Oh, by the way, Kohreshi-kun, that thing will be given to you on that day, at that time, in that manner, as I mentioned before. Are you looking forward to it? How fortunate, right?”
Upon hearing my words, Kohreshi’s expression tensed even further.
“Well, aside from the baptism, there are other matters to discuss, right? The rest can be decided by all of you after consultation, don’t you think?”
Saying this, I dismissed the Crimeana group.
“…Linos-sama, are you sure it’s okay to provoke the Crimeana followers like that?” Matokal asked with a worried expression.
“Don’t worry, Matokal. If they don’t act, that’s fine. If they come to Agarta in large numbers, we’ll deal with it then. Now, let’s see how they respond.”
I smiled mischievously. Matokal watched me with a tense expression.
