Reincarnation into the Barrier Master

"Deer! There's a deer out there!"

"Protect the crops! Use your body as a shield to protect it!"

At dawn, I woke up to hear such voices. I rush out of my room. I see a group of soldiers heading for the deer and immediately follow them. I walk out of the castle and am met with a sight I never expected.

Deer had entered the field, which was supposed to be warded, and were devouring the crops. Soldiers covered the crops that had not yet been eaten, trying to protect the food from the deer. The deer, however, tossed the soldiers aside with impunity and proceeded to devour the crops.

Above all, my warding is a problem. I had set up the wards to prevent non-human creatures from entering the area, but now dozens of deer are easily entering the area. The warding itself has not been broken, but is still intact. Why in the world? My head is spinning. Calm down, calm down and think.

"It's over... this country is over..."

I come to my senses when I hear the soldier's muttering. I see that the deer that have devoured the crops are not satisfied with that, and are trying to devour the debris and leaves of the crops that they have devoured. And in the blink of an eye, the field is reduced to nothing but soil.

As we watched in amazement, the deer easily climbed over the high walls and began to move toward the forest. As they approached the boundary of my boundary, the deer emitted a lightning-like light and went out of the boundary. As I looked closer, I saw a fawn at the head of the herd, leading deer many times his own size into the forest.

"Oh no... this can't be happening..."

I heard a voice behind me. I turned around to see Lady Considine standing on the balcony of the castle, looking out over the fields. She noticed my gaze, gave me a glance, and immediately left the scene.

"Marquis, please go back to your room."

I returned to my room, urged on by a lady's maid who seemed to have followed me.

"My master's wards have been broken, sir?

"No way! When I was locked in, I couldn't get out no matter how I tried, and now a deer has broken that barrier?"

When I returned to the room and reported back, everyone turned upside down. I was not too proud, but I was confident about my warding. I had no idea that the deer would be able to cross my boundary.

"If my warding doesn't work, there really is no other way but to thin out the deer.

"Mr. Linos, I'll take care of it. I'll take down all the deer myself.

Ferris is always in good spirits. Surely, with the power of the dragon, it would be easy to thin the herd of deer. Just as I was thinking this, Prime Minister Yury appeared.

"I'm sorry, Marquis, but I need you to come with me right away."

What is it, sir?

The king has fallen.

"What?"

After breakfast a few minutes ago, he tried to stand up and fell, breaking his left arm. I wish that were all, but he complained of pain all over his body. His symptoms have not improved at all even when he was inside the ward of the Marquis' residence, and in fact, they seem to have worsened. I am sorry, but I would like you to remove the king's warding once and for all.

"Wow, okay."

Now the king has fallen. Despite the fact that we had put up wards that completely blocked out poisons and the like. What in the world is going on in this country? I can't think at all.

Prime Minister Yury leads me to the king's bedroom. In the room, the Dwarf king is already lying on his bed, having been healed by a healing sorcerer. At his urging, I release the wards I have placed on the Dwarf King.

"I am so sorry... I am so sorry... I am so sorry..."

"The Marquis of Bertham. No, it's not your fault. It's my own mortality.

All the crops in the castle are now dead...

I heard that, too. The other one's a messenger of God. It's no wonder your wards are broken.

"King Dwarf, I still think we should kill the deer. The Duchy of Niza will fall if we do nothing. Let me take the responsibility of killing the deer.

"The deer must not be killed."

The Dwarf King shakes his head emphatically.

"My king, why do you oppose the killing of the deer? I know that we Dwarves have an ancient law against harming deer. But this is an emergency. If we Dwarves cannot do it, why not leave it to the Marquis of Bertharm? Then the dwarves would not have harmed the deer!"

Despite Prime Minister Yury's desperate attempts to persuade him, the king stubbornly refused to budge, insisting only that the deer must not be killed.

"Does the king intend to... destroy this country..."

I have no intention of destroying the country. Perhaps the deer god punished me for the outbreak of deer. I have made my fortune by making good weapons and armor. I was too attached to it. I have made the country rich. But I forgot the heart of a dwarf. The present misery is its reward.

What is it that you must not forget as a dwarf?

"Create things that benefit the world and people, and hone your skills for that purpose."

"King! With all due respect, every Dwarf living in this land has dedicated his or her life to honing their skills! What is wrong with creating superior weapons and armor! You could have defended yourself against the demons! We could have stopped the enemy from attacking us!"

"Is it really for the good of the world? Have not many been injured by the weapons we have made? Well, okay. I do not have long to live. I'm sure the Deer God will restore this land to its former glory. I should be the one to die to make amends but I'm afraid I don't have the strength to die. Wait, all of you, until my life is done. Wait...

"My king!"

I left the Dwarven king's bedchamber in a fit of pique. The king would not give me permission to attack the deer. What could I do if he did? I return to my room with these thoughts in my mind.

Breakfast was already laid out for us in our room. It seemed that everyone had been waiting for my return and had not touched the food at all. I urged them to have breakfast, and I did too.

The cold soup, the hardened bread, the draining salad, each dish felt like a punishment for my inadequacy. In such a depressed mood, it was difficult to finish my meal, and I ended up leaving more than half of the food prepared for me.

After a while, Prime Minister Yury came to my room accompanied by Dr. Recolnais.

"I'm sorry... it was beyond my power..."

"There is no need for the Marquis de Berthaume to apologize. The Marquis's wards will not stop the deer. One of the options is gone. Now we have to choose the remaining option and put it into practice. And if that doesn't work, we can come up with a new plan.

The prime minister is not present, but Recolnais speaks eloquently from within his hood.

"You are right, doctor. We will do what we can, that's all.

"What do you intend to do?"

"We'll take down the deer."

But the king just told me that he won't kill them.

"Yes, that's right. You are right. But I must say... The king is no longer able to smelt the orihalcon which only the Dwarf king is allowed to do. He is no longer able to wield the heavy hammer of black steel. Therefore, it is safe to say that he is no longer qualified to be king. Therefore, your son, the next king, Garutoh-sama, will give the order to defeat the deer.

So you want me to join you in killing the deer?

"No, the King has given the Marquis a direct request, which I have come to convey to you."

"A direct request?"

I request that you return to the Heedata Empire at once, inform the Emperor of the devastation in the Principality, and ask for reinforcements in the form of relief supplies."

"While the Marquis de Berthaume is returning, we will restore the agricultural lands of the principality. We will do it. And by the time the Marquis visits the Duchy again, he will see new crops sprouting.

Recolnais beats his chest. I was more moved by the king's strong will to save his people at any cost than by Recolnais' confident attitude.

"...Your request for relief supplies to the emperor, I understand..."

You may leave tomorrow morning. Mr. Considine will protect you.

"Lady Considine? May I ask why?"

"Master Considine has been appointed as the leader of the deer attack, and we leave tomorrow morning."

Why is a woman, Lady Considine, being appointed?

In fact, Mr. Galtó is sick in bed with the same illness as the king. But it is not as bad as the King's, and it does not affect his daily life. However, when we go to battle, it is a different story. We don't want to harm his health.

"But is it safe for a woman to be the captain?

"Master Considine, despite his appearance, is very skilled in magic. The army of defeat will consist mainly of adventurers in the duchy. Many of them are skilled with swords, and with Master Considine's magic and adventurers' swords, we will be able to defeat them quickly. If you will be escorted by Considine's troops as far as the border of the Principality, you will be able to return safely to the Empire.

Thank you for your concern.

"Please make yourself at home tonight."

"My men will accompany you when you leave tomorrow. He is an excellent healer and will be of great help to you, Master Considine.

"You're a good doctor, I can always count on you."

To tell the truth, I wanted to go back to the imperial residence right now, but for some reason, I couldn't say that I would go back right away, perhaps because I felt guilty about what I had done. So I have no choice but to spend the night in the Principality of Niza. Then I went back to the house and told Rico and the others what had happened.

"I see... I'm sorry to hear that.

"It is strange that a deer can pass through the master's wards. I would like to visit the Principality of Niza once, if I am allowed.

"I'll look up deer in my university library."

"Goshujin-sama, please come back as soon as possible!"

The dining room in this house is really relaxing. More than anything, I was happy to see the relieved expressions on everyone's faces when they heard that I was coming back. I wish I could stay here forever, but I return to Niza with the dinner Rico and his family prepared for me, even though I am sad to leave it behind.

At night, when I went to bed, I could not sleep. I naturally wondered why my warding had no effect on the deer or the king. But more than that, I wonder what I can do to help the Dwarf king with his grim determination. I can't help thinking about that.

Perhaps it is because I have been thinking too much, but for the first time in a long time, I have had a sleepless night.