Wait! Was I Seriously Just Reincarnated As a Cat?-Chapter 37: Things Are Going Great

After talking things out with Stoneback—and successfully preventing him from bowing himself into early retirement—I decided to take a break from being a ruler.

All this politics, government talk, and building village stuff seemed like a lot of work and it got me drained.

Even though my freaking stamina points are super high.

I padded through the village at a relaxed pace as my tail swayed side to side, and I just observed everything in front of me.

But not as a queen. Just as Keiko.

Frogs were hauling baskets of berries and roots toward a central storage pit. Snakes slithered alongside them, helping carry logs wrapped around their bodies like living cranes.

"...You guys are way too organized." I muttered.

A squirrel zipped past me, stopped abruptly, then zipped back.

"L-Lady Keiko!" It squeaked. "Do you prefer roasted acorns or honey-glazed fruit for tonight’s meal?!"

I blinked multiple times, trying to process all of this.

Okay, first of all, I don’t even know these forest beasts, and here they’re talking to me like we’ve been together for the past few years. This must’ve been the cause of Stoneback, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

"...Ah, so I have options?" I asked

The squirrel nodded rapidly.

"...Surprise me." I said.

The squirrel gasped like I’d bestowed a divine revelation and ran off yelling.

"SHE SAID SURPRISE ME, WE MUST GRANT HER AN EXTRAORDINARY MEAL!"

I stared after it in complete disbelief.

"Is everything I say a big deal around here? Sheesh."

[[Yes. You’re ruler.]]

"Spiritus??" I shouted, looking up to the sky as if they’d be there. "I swear you chime in at the most random times!"

As I continued walking, I spotted Rowan near the edge of the village, standing stiffly while a fox and a deer debated the durability of his armor. He looked deeply uncomfortable.

"...It’s iron." Rowan said, likely for the fifth time.

"Yes, but why iron?" The fox asked. "Wouldn’t bone be lighter? You humans hunt beasts all the time so why not use their corpses?"

"And why do humans wear so many layers?" The deer asked. "Are you always cold?"

Rowan looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

I walked over and sat beside him, smirking as much as a cat could.

"Pwehehe... enjoying the hospitality?" I asked innocently.

"...They are studying me like an artifact." He muttered.

"I guess that means they like you!" I said. "Or they’re deciding if you’d taste better roasted or boiled."

He stiffened up, widening his eyes.

"...That was a joke." I said. "Probably."

Rowan sighed.

"...Your village is strange."

"Yeah, I know." I said, nodding my head. "I just recently learned it’s turning into an organized government, so there’s that." I lowered my head. "Iya iyaaa..." Huffing a sigh, it earned me a sideways glance from Rowan.

"Hmph. You do know that you act like a human sometimes just for you to be a beast?"

I looked up at him, wide-eyed.

"Eh? Pfft, nahhhhh. This is just your first time seeing beasts talk. We’re all chill like that!"

He said I acted like a human? Well shucks, I hope so, even though I got reincarnated as a cat, I still do wanna retain my human qualities, like morals and personality. I can’t fall to the primal side—even though I nearly did when I almost ate that frog.

Nearby, Conndo was crouched next to a group of frogs, enthusiastically explaining spear techniques using his own weapon. The frogs listened with way too much excitement as they even picked up sticks with their four-fingered hands, mimicking the motions and croaking loudly every time he struck a dramatic pose.

"And then, wham! Right in the kneecaps!" He shouted proudly. "A spear has many uses! Don’t underestimate their power, trust me. They can be used like a stick, they can be thrown, and they can also be used to stab or slash! Super versatile, huh?"

The frogs erupted into cheers.

"Wow, he takes a lot of pride in his usage of spears, huh?" I asked.

"You have no idea." Said Rowan, crossing his arms.

Meanwhile, Aristella sat beneath a tree, surrounded by curious beasts as she demonstrated small magic tricks—floating lights, gentle warmth spells, and harmless illusions. A rabbit gasped when a tiny glowing bird formed in midair.

"It’s beautiful..." The rabbit whispered.

Aristella smiled at their comment. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Magic should inspire wonder, not fear!"

Wow, I totally forgot she was a mage, and a darn good one at that. She could cast so many spells which was impressive. Magic in this world was complex compared to skills, considering you needed common skills like Magic Control or Magic Dominance to even control them.

And that’s not it.

Even after you obtain those common skills, you must then proceed to learn your first spell through a process known as Skill Fusion.

From what I learned so far, everyone had Skill Fusion, and it is only possible when compatible skills interact under controlled mana flow through one of the common skills, Magic Control. Mana flow allows you to connect with, and control your mana properly in order to use magic and skills more efficiently.

With Skill Fusion, I combined Magic Control with my Poison Manipulation skill, and now I have the spells; Toxic Cloud, Poison Stream, Poison Fang, and Paralysis Touch.

But what about Aristella? She must’ve had a crap ton of skills if she can cast light and illusion spells. I’m impressed.

Eventually, Aristella noticed me staring and waved at me from afar.

"Ah, Lady Keiko!" She called out. "Come here!"

Uh oh, that kinda tone meant participation.

[Maaaan, give me a break.]

"You too Rowan!" She said.

"Me??" Rowan pointed at himself. "I would rather mind my business, thank you."

"Come here!" She said again, but much louder, shaking him up.

"Tsk... fine!" He muttered, stomping over like an angry child as I padded beside him.

"Aristella must have some royal blood in her or something..." I muttered.

Eventually, we did as she was told, and I hopped onto a nearby rock as several beasts immediately made space for me like I was royalty again.

[I’m on break, dang it. I’m mentally exhausted!]

Aristella smiled warmly at both of us.

"I was just showing them how magic can be used safely. Would you like to demonstrate a spell too?"

Every pair of eyes turned toward me which made me stiffen. Frogs. Foxes. Rabbits. Even a bear cub that I swear hadn’t been there a second ago.

"N-No pressure, Lady Keiko!" Aristella said, somehow making it worse.

I glanced at Rowan, who very clearly mouthed good luck while absolutely not helping.

"...Alright." I sighed. "But I’m not blowing anything up!"

I closed my eyes and focused, feeling my mana pool swirl within me. Undergoing Mana flow allowed me to bring about my mana as I lifted a paw and released it.

"Toxic Cloud!"

A green vapor formed above my paw, swirling like fog as I controlled it carefully.

The beasts all gasped at my display of skill.

"Ooooooh!"

"Lady Keiko controls poison like art!"

"So cool!"

"That’s our Queen!"

I grinned at their comments, feeling a bit prideful in my abilities, but there was one thing about magic that made it difficult in my opinion; you needed to say the spell out loud for it to work.

It sounded super chuuni at first, but there was a reason for it, from what I learned so far.

When using spells, you must say their names for the Grand System to recognize them and shape them into existence. Despite it being some omnipresent system that’s supposed to know all things, it still needs confirmation. As dumb as that sounds.

But hey, I’m not the one who made it! Maybe there are limitations to Spiritus Mundi that I’m unaware of or something. Who knows. I’m still a kitten.

"Ah! Fantastic! Your spell usage is incredible, Lady Keiko!"

I lowered my hand, dissipating the toxic cloud as I felt my heart thump at her comment.

"Thanks." I said, nodding my head. "But you made a risky bet assuming that I knew magic. You could’ve embarrassed me if I didn’t!"

I earned the laughter of the beasts nearby as she even covered her mouth, amused by my comment.

"I had faith." She said. "You don’t carry yourself like someone who can’t use magic."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" I asked, squinting at her.

"Very much so." She proclaimed, nodding her head.

The beasts around us seemed even more excited now, talking among themselves and stealing glances my way, like I’d just performed a miracle instead of basic poison freaking poison control.

I hopped down from the rock, stretching my paws and flicking my tail.

"Okay, my magic show’s over!" I announced. "If that’s all Aristella wanted, in order to excite the baby beasts, then I’m gonna go be lazy for a bit!"

There was a collective sound of disappointment.

"Awwww..."

"I wanted to see more."

Aristella giggled, patting the nearby bear cub.

"Don’t worry everyone, I also called my friend Rowan up here for a reason."

They all suddenly turned his way once she gestured at him.

"Tsk..." Rowan sucked his teeth, already annoyed.

"Rowan, would you like to be the Guinea pig?"

Oh boy, that didn’t sound fun.