Slime Reincarnation

Irina burst energetically out of the Adventurers’ Guild.

"Alright, Master! Show yourself with a big boom! Let’s make the Guild Master speechless!"

As Irina pumped herself up, I stuck just a tentacle out of the backpack, spun it around, and bonked her on the head.

"You idiot!"

"Ow!"

Irina turned around with teary eyes.

"What was that for, Lord Yabe?" she complained while rubbing her head.

"I can’t go out looking like a slime, so I asked you to be my proxy, remember?!"

"Ah..."

Even Captain Chicklet was sighing on Irina’s shoulder with an expression that said good grief. Getting made fun of by the chick too... This girl is a total klutz no matter which way you slice her!

"Uuuu... Sorry, Lord Yabe."

Irina slumped dejectedly.

That said, I had already resigned myself the moment Irina got all fired up and started trash-talking the Guild Master. Now the problem was how to disguise my appearance. Thankfully, we had the military funds we earned from that duel.

"Irina, we’re going shopping right away. The real shopping spree will come after we get the bounty for the monsters we defeated, but first we need to buy items to hide my appearance."

"Ooooh... Lord Yabe. So you really do have a secret plan for my sake... Mmph—!"

I didn’t let her finish and sealed her mouth with a tentacle.

"I’m not letting you say that out loud. What are you blurting out in the middle of a crowded street?"

"Mmph mmph mmph!"

"Come on, let’s go look at armor first."

Keeping her mouth covered, I used another tentacle to smack her butt and set off.

"Welcome."

It was a shop run by a stern-looking old man. When I asked around for a place that sold solid armor on the street, this shop was recommended, so we stepped inside. I was looking for something sturdy.

"Lord Yabe, what kind of armor are we looking for?"

"Full plate armor—the kind that covers the entire body. Nothing less will do if I want to stay completely hidden."

"I see. How about this knight-style armor?"

"Hey, missy, that full plate is way too heavy. Forget it, forget it. Go with this leather armor instead."

Well, of course. Since I’m just riding in the backpack, anyone looking would think Irina was the one shopping for armor.

"Shopkeeper, may I try it on for a moment?"

Irina asked the owner in the back.

"You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you? Do as you like. But if you scratch the armor, you’re buying it. By the way, that full plate costs five gold coins."

"Hmm! That’s quite expensive!"

But I didn’t care. I got permission, so I was trying it on. I slipped inside the full plate through the gaps and reshaped myself to fit the entire suit, including the limbs.

"Now, let’s move around a bit."

Clank. Clank.

"Ooh! How is it, Lord Yabe? Is it comfortable?"

It moved, sure, but fighting in this would be rough. Since I was supporting the armor with my tentacles, I couldn’t attack with them, and metal armor would make it impossible to use Lightning Bolt anyway.

"Wha—! W-w-w-what the...!"

Hm? Oh, the shopkeeper was staring at us. Irina wasn’t wearing the armor, yet the armor was walking around on its own. Yeah, that’s bad.

"H-how is this even...?"

I urgently shoved a tentacle into Irina’s ear.

"Ahhn! ...Lord Yabe, my ear... is sensitive..."

『Shut it! Tell him: "I am an Armor Controller who manipulates armor. I came looking for armor that suits my control style, but nothing feels quite right. I’ll come back another time," and then get us out of here immediately!』

"I-I am an Armor Master... Goodbye!"

Who the hell is an Armor Master?! Anyway, we bolted before things got noisy!

We left the armor shop in a clattering rush.

"What’s an Armor Master supposed to be?"

"Didn’t you tell me to say that, Lord Yabe?!"

Irina puffed out her cheeks and complained.

"I never said ’Armor Master’!"

What even is an Armor Master anyway?

"More importantly, where are we going next?"

"Since armor didn’t work, next is mage. Let’s buy a robe. So, the magic item shop."

"Understood! I’ve gathered information that there’s a good shop in the back alley!"

We headed to the magic shop at a hurried trot. ...Magic shop, huh?

"Excuse us..."

We entered an extremely dimly lit store.

"’Catherine’s Magic Shop’... Is this place okay?" I muttered without thinking.

"What do you mean, ’okay’? That’s rude."

Whoa! The old lady who should have been behind the counter suddenly appeared right in front of us. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Uwah! You startled me!"

"What is it, missy? You alone?"

"Uh, yeah, pretty much."

Your reaction is super suspicious, Irina.

『Show me the robes that mages wear.』

"I’d like to see robes that mages wear. Could you show me some?"

The old lady tilted her head.

"You’re not a mage, are you? Why do you need a robe?"

"Ah, I’m looking for one for my master to wear."

"Oh? So your master is a mage?"

"Something like that. I thought I’d surprise him with a present."

Oh, nice excuse. That also explains why the person himself isn’t here.

"Regular robes are piled up over there. You can’t afford the fancy enchanted ones anyway, right?"

The old lady glanced at us. Ugh! Being pegged as broke feels bad, but it’s true we don’t have money. Just wait until we get loaded from monster subjugation, you old hag! I’ll buy the expensive robes and a staff!

"Yeah, a regular robe is fine for now. Also, I’d like to see the staffs that mages use."

"The good high-quality staffs are displayed in the back, but you don’t have the money anyway, do you?"

She hit the nail on the head, but did she have to say it like that?

"Lord Yabe, how about this color?"

Irina pulled out a cream-colored robe from the pile and shook the dust off it with a whoosh.

I’ll try it on for now. I slithered out of the backpack and draped the robe over myself from above.

Ooh, this is nice. The hem dragged on the ground a bit, but controlling it with tentacles alone was fine. Since it was a robe, I barely felt the weight.

"Lord Yabe, how about this staff with the red gem?"

"Oh, this looks cool."

Judging by the color and everything, I was pretty confident I looked exactly like the legendary great mage from that classic RPG Dra—Quet. It was a completely pointless confidence, though.

"Wow! Lord Yabe, it suits you perfectly!"

Irina clasped her hands in front of her chest and praised me. It was kind of embarrassing.

"W-what the—?! Missy, what in the world is going on?!"

Ah, crap. I forgot the old lady was still in the shop.

『I am a Robe Master. I can even manipulate the robe I’m giving to my master as a present.』

"I am a Robe Master... Wait, what the hell is a Robe Master?!"

"What do you mean, ’Robe Master’? And why is that robe and staff floating?!"

The old lady grew suspicious and started approaching.

『Let’s just pay and leave.』

"Ah, we’ll take these for now. Checkout please."

I stood in front of her as if blocking her path and announced we were paying.

"The mage’s staff is two gold coins, and the robe is three silver coins."

Irina paid the old lady with gold and silver coins, making sure there was no change.

"Thanks for your business. So, what’s going on here?"

The old lady tried to peer into the robe. Don’t come any closer, hag—I’m not into that.

『Irina, let’s go! Make a quick exit!』

"Ah, yeah. Old lady, we’ll come again sometime."

With that, Irina hurried out of the shop, the robe still floating fluffily beside her.

"If anything comes up, drop by again!"

The old lady’s voice echoed behind us. "Catherine’s Magic Shop"... Yeah, we probably won’t be coming back.

I walked beside Irina, wearing the robe and holding the staff.

It was my first time walking around town on my own "feet." It felt a little moving.

Now, let’s go cause another ruckus at the Adventurers’ Guild.