Reincarnation into the Barrier Master

On a sunny afternoon, Linos was at his grandmother's house. Gon, who had been thrown into her mansion by Ferris and Ruara, did not return at dawn. Gon's presence in the house had already been erased, and no one was willing to pick him up. Linos had no choice but to take more offerings than he could hold in his hand and go to his grandmother, explaining the situation to her, and Gon was finally released.

Gon was sobbing. He even said that he would quit his position as the princess's servant and return to being an ordinary fox. He said that he had been punished so severely that he was afraid to even say it out loud, but it was all his own fault.

"Gon, it's going to be hard to go back to the house at this point. We'll go to the guest house in Agartha. I have a meeting with the King of Maintia to go to the red light district. I want you to be there."

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

With that, the two were transferred to Agartha.

The king of Maintia nodded his head in satisfaction as he listened. Then, he continued to gaze into the void for a while, as if looking into the distance.

"What is it?"

When Linos wondered about it, the king smiled and said something back.

"No, I just thought I could be a little more colorful. I'm not doing anything wrong, so I don't think there's any need to sneak around. But if we do it too publicly... It would be a problem for the king of Agartha, with my protection and everything. I'm just trying to think of a good idea."

"I can understand the king's feelings, but..."

Gon looks at Linos with a troubled expression on his face.

"King Agartha, do you have any good ideas?　No, don't worry about the cost. My father will pay for everything."

"No, no, King Maintia. The money you are going to spend is a tax paid by the people of your country, is it not?　The people of the country have worked hard and paid their taxes, and you want to use them for your own amusement?"

The king looks troubled at Linos' words.

"By the way, I am a king, but I have my own business. I earn my own food, don't you know?

"Uh-huh, King Agartha sounds just like my father, doesn't he?　But unlike my father, I have my own money. ...... Okay, okay. Then I shall borrow money for my games from the king of Agartha. And I will pay him back during my sojourn here. How's that sound?"

"How do you expect me to pay you back?　You can cry to the Great High King at ......."

"I won't cry. I have a plan. I like to draw. Let's sell the paintings and make some money. ......You're right, we should change our name. With the name of the main tier, people will think that we are selling only on our name, right?　Do you have a good name for it?　Oh, yeah, here's the picture I drew."

With a smiling face, the king handed Linos the diary he had drawn on the way to Agartha. He stared at it for a while, then looked up and opened his mouth to the king.

"You draw some ...... amazing pictures!

"Well, that's unusual. King Agartha is the first person to have ever said that my paintings are great.

"I don't know if the painting is good or not, but I think I can even smell it. Gon, take a look at this painting.

Linos hands the diary to Gon.

"See?　Can't you even smell the sweat?"

In Gon's hand was a scene of women working in the fields in a village where the king had stopped to rest on his way to Agartha. Gon stared at the painting and turned it back to Linos with a tilted head.

"I don't understand it very well. What an amateur thinks is good is often mediocre when a professional looks at it. It is best to show it to an art dealer or something.

"Really?　Is that how it is?　...... Okay. King Maintia. Then why don't you try your hand as a painter here in Agartha? Even if it's only 1G, it's good to earn it yourself, isn't it?　Yes, ....... As for the name as a painter, Echigoya would be fine."

"Echigoya ......?　...... Yeah, nice!　Sounds like an artist to me. Just as well, we'll use that name when we go to the red-light district."

Linos gave the name sarcastically, but the king was surprisingly pleased with it. Watching him, Linos opens his mouth further.

"And about the colorful town, I don't really agree with the name ...... for the glamorous, but if you want to call it ...... for the lively, I have an idea.

Hearing these words, the king's face turned surprised and his eyes immediately twinkled as he waited for the next words.

"How about a group of carpenters from Agartha?

"A group of people?　I've never heard this word before, but it sounds kind of interesting."

"Yes. I heard they used to do that in my hometown. I've never seen it myself, but I heard that young people would dress up in matching outfits and play in the red-light district.

"Do they dress together?　It's like an army."

"Yes. Yes. We will make the costumes suitable for playing in the red-light district. We must wear costumes that blend in with the city, but that are not vulgar, but rather exciting.

"Yes, yes, that's interesting. By all means, let me choose the outfit.

"What?　Wang, yourself?"

"I was just thinking I'd like to go into town and look at some of the stores. Just in time. Oh, I don't need an escort. We'll do just fine on our own. Right?　Patterson?"

Patterson bows with a look of bitterness on his face. The king, who has been watching him with a look of satisfaction on his face, turns to Linos again.

"You said you were with ...... a carpenter, didn't you?　Why a carpenter?"

Yes, most of the city of Agartha was built by carpenters. They are not given much credit for their work. It may be difficult for those who have wives, but I thought it would be a good idea to take single men to these games. Besides, they have the skills to guard the king, and above all, they are very caring men, so they will be able to help you in case you are in trouble."

"That's the king of Agartha. He's very thorough. I can see why you are called a great king. Now, if you would be so kind as to inform me of the number of carpenters who will be joining the band.　I'm going to start making the rounds of the stores in the capital."

"Is it just getting started?"

There's still time before the sun goes down, right?　If we don't decide soon, we won't be able to go forever."

So saying, the king left the room with his attendants. Linos called up Astes of Psyllus, told him to guard King Maintia, and left the room.

"Now, what are you waiting for? Shall we drop in at Mr. Gen's place and go home?

"Yes, I suppose so. It's almost dusk, so the work must be almost finished.

As they talked, they moved to the work site of Gen-san, a carpenter.

"Isn't that interesting!

Gen's apprentices and most of his friends were gathered at the site. When they heard Linos' proposal, they welcomed it with open arms, and the place was filled with excitement.

"Hey, you, what about Kaka?

"What?　Of course we're going to wind up with a good kaka!"

Let's sing a song or two and get on with it!"

A group of young men are talking with a twinkle in their eyes. Linos held them back with his hand and opened his mouth.

"We're not taking you for free, guys. I need you to do me a favor. The young master of the merchant family ....... I want you to accompany the young master of Echigoya, a store that deals in paintings. The red-light district is a dangerous place. I want you to protect him from getting hurt and from getting involved in any strange commotion.

"Why?　That's no big deal. We're second to none when it comes to brawn. Leave it to me!

"We're not looking for a fight. Just don't make a scene, okay?　In exchange, you are free to eat and drink as you please. Feel free to do so.

With these words, the young carpenters' spirits rise. Woahs and oohs echoed through the room. Then Gen-san, the master carpenter who had not been seen for some time, entered the room. A man who seemed to be Gen-san's younger apprentice spotted him and called out to him loudly.

Hey, bro!　You're coming, too, right?　They say there will be plenty to eat and drink!"

Mr. Gen's face turned into a scowl, and then a look of displeasure appeared on his face. The apprentice stood up and called out to him.

"Brother!　What's going on?

"Just when I thought you'd finally finished your work, you're back to talking about your carpentry job!　That's enough!"

"Carpentry work?　What the hell are you talking about?"

Gen-san wrinkles his eyebrows and opens his mouth to his younger apprentice, who is still wondering.

"Because you have a chisel and a stake, don't you?"