Wait, I Reincarnated as a WHAT?!

Chapter 9

-Percy-

Listening to the lying weasel of a lawyer, Percy didn't even bother to hide his scowl. The little bastard wasn't even trying to hide how blatantly in Vesta's pocket he was, Vesta hamming it up with the excess bandages and slings. With all the healing potions that Percy had given to the guards he knew they'd have enough to treat injuries even if the Minister had taken more than a single punch. Yet nobody had spoken up about the situation.

The pipsqueak couldn't even get the order of events right!

Getting an idea, Percy reached out to Wise Girl "Hey, can you combine my 'Menace' and 'Thought Communication' skills into something?"

"I can. But why-…oh, I see." The skill that seemed to have the personality and spirit of Annabeth along with her voice sounded like she was rolling her eyes "You and your loopholes. I can see where you're going with this."

"Hey, technically correct is the best kind of correct." Percy thought back happily.

In the Armed Nation of Dwargon, nobody was allowed to speak without the express permission of the king during a trial, so both sides are assigned proxies to speak for them. But there were options that didn't involve speaking.

"New skill created, 'fearsome aura'." Wise girl informed him as he felt her push the new ability to the forefront of his mind. Focusing, he narrowed his eyes at the proxy who was supposed to be defending him and the dwarves but had only been shit talking them while kissing Vesta's ass. Instantly, the worm paled, smoothly rehearsed words becoming a stammered mess. The sudden change was easily noticed by everyone in the room, guards shifting their stances even as the King straightened in his throne.

"You vile Monster!" the Proxy for Vesta put two and two together, or simply made an assumption through bias "How dare you attack a respectable citizen of Dwargon?!" Percy just smirked, making sure everyone could see his expression even as he pointedly didn't speak.

The knights around them tensed, looking ready to try something before the King leaned forward "Defendant, I ask of you directly, are you the cause of the sudden change in your defense proxy?"

"We have no defense proxy." Percy retorted, using the fact he was addressed directly to speak up "Only a miserable liar who'd been bought by a traitor to your country." The gasps from the knights and the various court officials at his 'shocking' statement filled the room, but Percy ignored them "Vesta is a liar, a coward, and a traitor. As is the 'proxy' who isn't even trying to hide that he's bought. Honestly, with how blatant this is I can only assume one of three things currently."

"Oh?" the king, rather than look offended, seemed amused "And what would those be?"

"I've heard about you from Kaijin, and from what he said and what I've seen here with you not reacting to that shit stain's actions then I can only think of three possible meanings. Either you're gullible enough to not be able to see when Vesta and the bought off proxy are lying, making me question Kaijin's stories. You could be fully aware and just not care, which would also throw what Kaijin said into question. Or, you're fully aware and you were waiting for something to happen before you spoke up." Kaijin and the brothers were gaping at his words, as were Vesta and the proxies.

"Insolence!" a knight by the king's side took a furious step forward, the other knights around the room all readying their own weapons. Their potential attack was cut off by Gazel Dwargo laughing boisterously.

"My, my, you are a bold one." The King looked amused, "And shrewd, to pick up on a loophole within our laws so quickly. I will address your points momentarily, if you don't mind me speaking to an old friend first?"

"Go ahead." Percy shrugged, letting things play out. Gazel Dwargo was certainly powerful, and had one hell of a poker face, but his gut said that the man wasn't cruel or gullible.

"It's been a while Kaijin." The King turned to the blacksmith, his face remaining a composed stoic mask "Have you been well?"

"Yes, my Lord." Kaijin snapped out of his shock from Percy's blunt statement, "And I'm relieved to see you are also in good health."

"I intended to ask if you'd be at all interested in returning to my ranks, but from what I understand you have sworn to return to your Slime Companion's village." Dwargo observed them, surprising Percy with that piece of knowledge.

It surprised the proxies, officials, and Vesta too judging by their widened eyes.

"You…you are aware of my arrangement with Percy?" Kaijin blinked owlishly at the king who chuckled, but Percy could hear the sadness and tiredness in the sound, as opposed to the genuinely amused laugh from the bold shock Percy had given before.

"One of my Ministers claims to be assaulted and you thought I wouldn't have my people look into it?" the King looked tiredly at Vesta who paled "The girls at the bar all spoke of the situation, each taken aside before having a chance to make a group cover story. Yet each and every one of them gave an identical testimonial…that does not match that of the defense proxy." Dwargo rose up, the two proxy's paling further, "Furthermore, I spoke to the Captain of the Guard. He was quite vocal about praising you Percy, after your cooperation during that investigation and your generous gift, a barrel of potion capable of complete recovery to save the lives of my subjects."

"M-my K-King." The still stammering defense proxy reached out shaking hands as if pleading, Vesta's eyes meanwhile widening at the statement about the potion.

"Silence!" Gazel's voice boomed like thunder, actually staggering the lying man back "You are to remain silent unless told otherwise." the implication was not lost on any in the room, "Vesta…step forward." Gazel's voice showed a hint of sadness, of someone who was done given second chances.

"Yes, my King." The Minister was nervous but stepped forward regardless.

"Vesta, I am saddened today by the fact that I lost what I though to be a loyal retainer." Gazel's stared down imperiously, Vesta's face going slack in horrified grief "Once upon a time I had great hopes for you. I waited for years after the failure of the magi-soldier project. I wanted the truth from you…but it seems I can wait no longer, and it is too late for further excuses. You are no longer a Minister; you no longer serve me." To many, this punishment would be seen as a slap on the wrist, but Percy could see Vesta's expression. The man was absolutely crushed, dropping to his knees as tears ran down his face.

"Kaijin…Percy, you may go." The King sat back, Percy wondering how much of his stoic expression was his default business mode, and how much was to hide his own rage and grief over the situation, "Safe travels from my kingdom." The dismissal couldn't have been more obvious.

-Gazel Dwargo-

Sitting in his study, Gazel swirling a glass of brandy in his hand as he waited for the arrival of his spymaster.

"The Proxy has been detained your majesty." Hearing her arrival, he glanced over his shoulder at Anrietta, his loyal shadow capable of passing as an elf despite her dwarven blood.

"Good." He nodded "I have a new assignment for you. I wish for you to follow Kaijin's new Master and observe him."

"The slime, your Majesty?" Anrietta seemed somewhat surprised "Are you hoping I will discover the method by which he made a potion of complete recovery?"

"I believe it to be a skill, but confirmation would be useful." Gazel admitted "But no, the reason I wish for you to follow them is to determine how to handle him going forward."

"How to handle him?" Anrietta seemed stunned even as he could see her planning out how to best follow and observe the target.

"His strength is too great to leave unwatched." Gazel tightened his fist "His power…it is on par with that of the Storm Dragon Veldora. Combined with shapeshifting, the potions, and the other skills I've heard people say they saw him use, it makes one thing perfectly clear. That slime will be either a great ally, or a devastating enemy."

"Kaijin has always been loyal to you, your Majesty." Anrietta stated as she rose to fulfill her new task, "I do not believe he would throw his allegiance in so readily to one who would wish harm to Dwargon."

"I know, but I will take no chances." She took the dismissal in his words for what it was, vanishing into the shadows to complete her new role.

-Percy-

"Alright guys, we're almost there." Percy grinned, currently in his Hobgoblin form as they returned to the village, "We'll be able to see it once we crest the hill."

"I'm glad." Kaijin grimaced, even as he held on tight to the wolf he was riding, "No offense, but I'm not exactly-" the dwarf looked somewhat nauseous "a fan of fast travel."

"You'll get over it." Percy laughed as they got to the top of the hill, his amused laugh becoming a stunned gasp at the sight that lay before him.

"I thought you said that you didn't have anyone who could make houses?" Kaijin was just as wide eyed as Percy was, rubbing his eyes as if he was seeing things.

"We didn't when I left." Percy assured them, noting the forming buildings and walls. Strikingly familiar buildings and walls. Added to that, he could see a lot more people moving around than had been there when he went to Dwargon.

"Other villages must have heard about you, Sir." Rigur spoke up, his wolf standing at Percy and Romulus' side, "They probably wanted to try and get your protection."

"Well, in for a penny, in for a pound." Percy sighed, "Let's get going everyone. Judging by the movement I see down there; they've noticed our return." Sure enough, Rigurd was waiting for them at the gates along with a massive horde of goblins, more than Percy could count.

"There are approximately five hundred new goblins." Wise Girl spoke up to his unasked question.

"Lovely." Percy sighed in his head "Since I'm actually well rested now, do you think I can name them all without passing out?"

"Yes, you should be capable of naming all five hundred without suffering magicule exhaustion." Wise Girl confirmed.

"So, Rigurd," Percy turned to the big muscle-bound Goblin Lord "I noticed a lot of new buildings that weren't here before."

"Yes, my Lord!" Rigurd straightened happily, "One of our new residents helped make them. She was found by the Goblins as they came to our village and protected them on the journey." The hobgoblin paused, somewhat hesitant "She did say that she was looking for someone named Perseus, one who had a mark like the one on your arm. She has one very similar."

"Where is she?" Percy demanded, mind racing as he tried to figure out who from his world this might be, and how they got here. Seeing Rigurd point, Percy spun around, going still in shock as he saw the towering figure of a minotaur approaching. They were gargantuan, towering even over Rigurd as they carried large slabs of stone and timber logs with ease. But even through the massive frame, the curved horns, and other monstrous features, even more familiar ones stood out.

The name slipped from his lips as he gaped in shock "Reyna." And she burst with golden light.