Slime Reincarnation

The first batch of piping-hot fried chicken was just done when the village chief declared the opening of the festival.

"Everyone! We shall now begin the Village Opening Festival! This year we also have the blessing of the Spirit-sama! Let us enjoy ourselves to the fullest!"

"Well, I’m not a spirit, and I can’t give any blessings, though..."

I don’t know how many times we’ve had this exchange, but apparently I’ve already become "Spirit-sama."

All I’ve actually done is roast a whole wild boar and fry some earth bird karaage, though~

Looking around, the villagers were all wearing colorful clothes.

"Those are their best outfits reserved for today. Normally they’re always working in the fields," the village chief explained cheerfully.

Besides the whole roast and fried chicken we prepared, the aunties were making stir-fried vegetables using produce harvested from the village. They were stirring the vegetables in a huge iron pot with a big ladle. It was very rustic, but it looked incredibly delicious.

The stir-fried vegetables were piled onto wooden plates. It was a free-for-all, help-yourself style.

"Whoa, this is amazing! So good!"

"These are the village’s vegetables, right!?"

"These would be a huge hit even in the royal capital!"

The crowd was really getting excited. Looking closer, it wasn’t just the villagers.

"Hoh hoh, our village’s vegetables have become very popular with merchants from Solnarini town and even from the royal capital. These are from the fields that received Lord Yabe’s water the other day. They grew much larger than usual, produced far more, and above all, they’re incredibly delicious. We’re planning to sell them as ’Miracle Vegetables.’"

Wow, these guys have serious business spirit. I never promised to keep watering the fields every day though!

Well, if it’s thanks to the water from the Miracle Spring rather than me, they can just go draw from the spring themselves. Still, since I live right next to the spring, I’m not too thrilled about people coming to bother it every single day.

Oh, the kids have gathered around Irina, who’s frying the chicken.

"Kids~ Here’s some delicious, delicious karaage~ Don’t get too close to the pot or the oil might splatter and it’s hot~ Line up properly~ There’s plenty for everyone~"

"""Okay~!"""

When she called out to them, the children answered obediently and lined up nicely. What good kids.

I skewered the fried chicken and handed one to each child.

"It’s hot, so be careful when you eat~"

"""Hafu hafu, so good~!"""

The earth bird karaage seemed extremely popular with the children too.

"Lord Yabe, can you bring out the next batch of earth bird? I’ll keep frying them one after another."

"Got it."

"Still, the children really listen to what Lord Yabe says, don’t they?"

Irina commented while dropping the flour-coated earth bird meat into the oil.

"Of course they do! After all, Yabe is a god!"

"Yeah yeah!"

"He healed my mom!"

"I bragged about him to everyone~"

The ones who came over were Kanta and little Chico. So these two had been bragging about me to the other kids.

By the way, I’ve officially ranked up from Spirit-sama to God-sama now. Why, though?

Since it was a good opportunity, I gave Kanta and Chico some karaage too.

"Delicious~!"

"So good!"

They loved it as well. While this was going on, adults who were intrigued by the children happily eating the karaage started coming over. Even the merchants who had been raving about the stir-fried vegetables joined in. For now, I decided to give one piece per person to see how it went.

"Man, this is good~"

"It’s delicious!"

It was popular with the villagers, but the merchants were even more enthusiastic than expected.

"What is this incredible flavor!?"

"What kind of dish is this!? Karaage, you said?"

"It’s piping hot and crispy on the outside, yet juicy inside!"

"Is this earth bird meat!? What’s the cooking method!?"

The merchants swarmed around us. Hahaha, it’s a huge hit~... Ah!

I’m still in my slime form, even if it’s teardrop-shaped. The merchants got a full view of me. What should I do? Is this bad? Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now.

"Hoh hoh hoh, we have already informed them that Lord Yabe’s appearance is due to the manifestation of Spirit-sama, and that showing any rudeness might incur the Spirit-sama’s displeasure, so please rest assured."

Umm, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to rest assured about that!

While that was happening, a performance started on the makeshift stage set up in the central plaza.

After several singers, the children’s play began.

Oh, next up is the Chick Corps.

...Lined up neatly, they were doing... belly dancing!? They had their wings together, lifting their little feet while going "piyo piyo" as they danced.

So, so cute! When did they practice this!?

They kept saying they couldn’t perform unless I watched and gave my opinion~!

So they secretly practiced behind my back, huh~

The only thing they showed me was the "piyo piyo" song!

Since the chicks are small, the audience had gathered quite close to the stage.

I noticed the wind spirit Sylphie and the earth spirit Belhia watching over the chicks.

"You’re doing great~!"

"Keep it up~"

So those two trained them? It’s nice that they’re getting along, though.

After the Chick Corps, for some reason the Fang Wolf Corps moved onto the stage in neat rows.

They lined up and sat down. Are the Fang Wolves performing too? 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Then the water spirit Wintia came out holding a conductor’s baton for some reason.

She stood at the center of the stage, bowed to the audience, and Loga and the others bowed as well.

Wintia raised her baton with a sharp motion and gave it a swing.

""""Wawawawa~fu!""""

They began singing in perfect unison. As Wintia rhythmically waved her baton, Loga and the Fang Wolves performed a beautiful round (canon).

"Wawawawafu" "Wawawawafu" "Wawawawa~fu"

Ohh! To think the Fang Wolves could show such unity—it’s truly wonderful!

Both the Chick Corps and the Fang Wolf Corps received thunderous applause. I’m glad it went well.

Oh, the wild boar seems to have roasted nicely too.

While praising the chicks who had been tending the fire and turning the spit the whole time, I started preparing to carve up the main wild boar.