Chapter 10: Let’s Celebrate the Revival of the Well

"...So, where does the Spirit usually reside?"

"...Like I keep saying, I’m not a spirit..."

"Hoh hoh hoh, well, let’s set that aside for now..."

For some reason, I’m currently sitting right in the middle of a slightly elevated seat in the village’s central plaza where the well is located.

Since everyone is gathered and there’s going to be a meal, I changed from Drone Mk. II back into my teardrop form and shifted my color to a beautiful cobalt blue. Pure light blue would have made me look way too much like a certain RPG character. Not that anyone in this world would get the reference.

I successfully revived the well and resolved the village’s water shortage. In gratitude for solving the drinking water crisis and as partial compensation for the trouble they caused Kanta and his family, the villagers decided to hold a festival with everyone’s participation. However, since they had been struggling so badly due to the water shortage, they couldn’t prepare that many luxurious dishes right away.

"But some of the crops in the fields have become really lively, and there are vegetables that have grown quite large. Let’s harvest those!"

Muniji took the lead and headed out to gather vegetables.

I wonder if I can help with something too...

"Logan."

『Yes!』

"Can you and your subordinates hunt some boars, rabbits, or other game around the village?"

『Of course, Boss! Hunting is what we wolf-fang tribe excel at the most.』

Logan grinned. Yeah, I’ve gotten pretty used to his fierce smile by now.

"By the way, you’re speaking normally instead of using telepathy, but you can understand what I’m saying?"

I asked Logan directly since I was curious.

『Yes, no problem at all. I don’t know why, but I can understand everything you say. It seems my subordinates can understand you as well.』

As he spoke, three more wolves appeared in front of me like the wind.

"Can you guys understand what I’m saying too?"

『『『Yes sir! We understand perfectly!』』』

"I see. Above all else, it’s a blessing that I can communicate with all of you. Go ahead and hunt!"

『『『Yes sir!!』』』

Led by the three who had come forward, all sixty wolves vanished in an instant. They must have headed out of the village to hunt.

I just hope they don’t get too fired up and overdo it...

Hm?

"Huh? Logan, you’re not going with them?"

I called out to Logan, who was sitting solemnly beside me without moving an inch.

『Yes. I have the most important duty of protecting Boss.』

When I spoke to him, Logan answered with a sharp, serious expression. But his tail is wagging like crazy.

Still... my bodyguard?

"You don’t have to guard me all the time, you know. You could go hunting with everyone today."

『Hunting used to be the happiest time for us wolf-fang tribe, but now there are even happier moments.』

"Hm? What moments?"

『When I’m by Boss’s side.』

...LOGAAAAAAN!!

If no one else were around, I might have hugged him and cried. But there are tons of villagers here. I have to restrain myself.

"I-I see."

My cobalt blue body isn’t turning red, right?

While all this was happening, Logan’s subordinates returned surprisingly quickly. They work fast!

...They definitely got way too motivated, didn’t they~

Dust clouds rose from the village entrance. It looked like they were dragging their prey behind them.

『『『Boss! We have returned!』』』

"Oh, welcome back~ Whoa, that’s quite a lot."

『Haha! Since there seemed to be quite a few humans, we put in extra effort to show off Boss’s dignity!』

The prey was brought in one after another. Giant boars: four, five, six...

Smaller rabbits were also piled up into mountains.

"Uoooh—! That’s an amazing number of catches!"

"And they’re all huge boars!"

"Look at all those rabbits too!"

The villagers grew excited. Well, it really was an incredible amount of game. There’d be plenty of meat to go around.

『Good work, everyone.』

Logan praised his subordinates in a deep, dignified voice. He’s really trying to look like a proper leader, huh, Logan-san.

"""Uoooooooh——!!"""

The villagers near the entrance were getting hyped up.

『What’s this?』

With a zuzozzo sound, several wolf-fang tribesmen dragged in a massive bear.

『Boss! This is the biggest catch of today’s hunt!』

Before me was a giant bear. It was bleeding quite a bit from various places, though.

"T-This is...!"

The village chief looked at the giant bear in shock.

"It occasionally comes near the village before hibernation, and sometimes damages our fields and livestock. But it’s far too large for us to subjugate, so we could only stay vigilant and leave it alone."

And they took it down. No wonder the chief looks so relieved.

『This is a Killer Grizzly. At under 5 meters in length, it’s actually on the smaller side for its species, but it’s still a major threat in the forests near human settlements. It was truly fortunate that we were able to take it down today.』

Oh, so it was actually a pretty dangerous creature. The name "Killer Grizzly" says it all.

Still, with a body this big, there’s a lot of meat. The villagers will be thrilled.

Logan sure knows a lot about beasts.

『This Killer Grizzly is a magical beast like us. We wolf types and these bear types have always been at odds. They can be quite formidable if you let your guard down. Their meat is a bit tough, but it’s delicious.』

Really? Bears usually have a strong smell in my mind, but I guess it’s fine. We can just share it with the villagers.

"The boars and bear will provide useful pelts too. Feel free to use them in the village."

"I-Is that really alright? You’re giving us all of this?"

The village chief looked at me with a surprised face. Well, we don’t have any use for pelts ourselves.

"Yeah. We don’t need the pelts. Just make sure everyone eats their fill of meat today. You can process whatever’s left into jerky and keep it for the village."

When I said I’d only eat some today and give them the rest, the villagers seemed deeply moved.

"We received meat and pelts from the Spirit! Today is the pre-celebration for the Village Opening Festival! Let’s enjoy it to the fullest!"

"""Waaaaah~~~~~!!"""

The villagers brought out precious alcohol they had been saving. They also drew water from the revived well and distributed it to everyone.

"Village chief, what is the Village Opening Festival?"

"It is a festival we hold once a year to commemorate the founding of the village. That’s why we call it the Village Opening Festival. It’s coming up very soon. However, with the well drying up, we thought we wouldn’t be able to hold it properly. Thanks to you reviving the well, it looks like we’ll be able to celebrate safely."

The village chief spoke with a joyful expression.

"I see. Then we’ll help with the Village Opening Festival too. We’ll hunt another batch of game like today and deliver it to the village."

"Oh! That would be wonderful! We would be honored if the Spirit would also join us!"

The village chief then offered me a cup. I decided to extend a tentacle to accept it.

"To the revival of the well and the Spirit’s protection— cheers!"

"""Cheers!!"""

Hey, I keep saying this, but I’m not a spirit, okay? The actual spirits are separate, you know?

Also, when did I ever give you my protection? I don’t have any cheat abilities like that!

"Hey~ Can you guys hear me?"

I spoke softly into the empty air.

"I can hear you."

"We can hear you."

"I’m listening~"

"Why are you letting them treat you like a spirit?"

The water spirit Wintia, wind spirit Sylphie, earth spirit Belhia, and fire spirit Freya appeared behind me. Why is Freya the only one who looks annoyed?

"I’m being treated like a spirit... Is that okay with you guys?"

I asked, feeling a bit anxious. What if there’s some Great Spirit out there who gets mad at me for impersonating one? Still, being treated as a spirit is probably safer than being treated as a monster.

"Well, I think it’s fine? Personally, it makes me happy because it feels like Yaabe has become one of us!"

Water spirit Wintia, this "boku" girl really hits me right in the heart~. I’m super happy.

"If you’re not doing anything bad by pretending to be a spirit, then it should be okay... right?"

Wind spirit Sylphie is so kind~. She always gives off a gentle, refreshing breeze-like feeling.

"Big sister will wrap you up and protect you, so it’ll be fine~"

Earth spirit Belhia is a gentle big-sister type, but I have no idea what she actually means. Yep.

"If you do anything evil while pretending to be a spirit, I won’t forgive you!"

Fire spirit Freya... no comment.

"You should comment on it!"

As the village chief poured me water from the revived well, I started thinking that being treated like a spirit might not be so bad after all.