Slime Reincarnation

Baron Harknar’s estate wasn’t especially large. The land itself wasn’t especially expansive either. Which meant it probably wasn’t valuable enough to justify forging a debt document just to seize the land and building. This really did seem to be a scheme targeting Baron Harknar’s former wife herself.

Flauzea Harknar. That was her name. Being a baroness whose husband had passed, she was apparently addressed without the "von" now.

Nobility, honestly, I still don’t quite get it. Not something I’d ever want to be, that’s for sure.

"Hey! You got the money ready or what!" "If you don’t have the cash, we’re taking the land and the house!"

Looking over, about ten thuggish looking men had gathered in front of the estate’s entrance.

"Now, now, everyone, please calm down a little. Flauzea! I’ve come to save you! Please, come to me. There’s nothing more to worry about."

Standing there was a short, plump, balding man, oily and greasy looking, sporting a thin little mustache, suffering from what you might call a triple curse of unfortunate features.

"Oh..."

That was probably the notorious Viscount Teraelo. Yabe himself hadn’t had much confidence in his own looks back on Earth, so it wasn’t like he meant to mock Teraelo’s appearance just for being short, plump, and balding. But that oily smile, the sheer unpleasantness oozing off him, the underhanded, cowardly scheming written all over his face, none of it felt remotely decent. A presence that inspired nothing but disgust. And the way he addressed her, Flauzea, without honorifics, as if she already belonged to him.

If I’d been standing right next to him, I’m confident I’d already have punched him.

"This guy’s a total write off."

Peeking quietly through the window, Yabe felt that Viscount Teraelo was thoroughly finished as a human being.

The Harknar estate’s entrance stayed firmly shut. The thugs shouted angrily outside, Viscount Teraelo’s disturbing voice mixed in among them.

I quietly hid myself by the window of the central room on the second floor, and gave Flauzea, waiting beside me, the signal to go.

Flauzea nodded silently. She stood by the window and threw it open.

"Oh, Flauzea! There’s nothing to worry about anymore. I’ll protect you! Now, come, jump into my arms!"

Whoa, seriously gross! I nearly gagged.

"I’m tired... I won’t belong to anyone. I’m going to join him. It ends here now... goodbye."

Flauzea said this and stepped away from the window frame. And in the next moment, flames began rising from inside the estate.

"Ahh! Flauzea! You lot! Get in there and save her, now!"

"Y, yes sir!"

"Man, could that relationship look any more suspicious."

I quietly watched their reactions from the window.

"Is this really okay!? Really!? You’re the one who told me to set the whole building on fire, Yabe! Don’t come crying to me later saying it wasn’t allowed, it’s too late for that now!"

Freya said this while setting the building ablaze.

"It’s fine. Go all out. If it burns well, I’ll give you a reward later."

"A reward from Yabe! Alright, I’ll do my best!"

Boom! Boom!

Flames burst from the roof and windows.

"...Isn’t this a bit much?"

"Eh!?"

She gave me a look like, seriously? But don’t look at me like that.

"Sylphie, use the wind to block any sparks from spreading to nearby buildings or trees."

"Leave it to me!"

"Belhia, reinforce the walls’ strength so the mansion doesn’t collapse from the fire. Also, seal the entrance door from the inside with earth magic."

"Got it~"

"Wintia, if it looks like the fire’s about to spread too far, put it out."

"Ready to extinguish anytime!"

The full spirit squad, mobilized entirely for Flauzea’s grand disappearing act. Today, I’d be pulling off quite the vanishing trick, I suppose.

"H, hurry up and save Flauzea!"

The thugs tried smashing the front door with hammers, but reinforced by Belhia’s earth magic, the door didn’t budge an inch.

The fire spread through the whole mansion, turning into a full blown blaze.

"Ahhh, Flauzea..."

Viscount Teraelo dropped to his knees, trembling. The thugs stood frozen, stunned.

Eventually, the firefighting brigade gathered, buckets of water in hand. Sorry to make them work for nothing, but let them do their job for now. Once Teraelo and his men cleared out, I’d have Wintia snuff the fire out in one strike anyway.

And then, right on schedule, Viscount Korzea arrived.

"What in the world happened here! Is Baroness Harknar safe!? Could it be that you people set this fire!"

He shouted this, accusing Viscount Teraelo and his men on the spot.

"Absurd! It wasn’t us! She set the fire to the mansion herself!"

Viscount Teraelo desperately tried to defend himself.

"Then are you saying it was you who drove her to it!"

"Ngh..."

Exactly as planned, Viscount Korzea laid the blame squarely on Viscount Teraelo and his group. It was essential that everyone present come to understand that, in the end, it was Viscount Teraelo’s group who bore responsibility for her death.

Eventually, the fire consumed the entire mansion, burning it to the ground.

"Ahhh... it wasn’t me! This isn’t my fault!"

Saying this, Viscount Teraelo scrambled into his carriage and fled the scene. His hired thugs scattered as well. Once the fire had died down, the firefighting brigade headed home too. The capital guard, who’d come to check on the scene, said they’d conduct their inspection the next day and left as well.

Viscount Korzea watched them all go until they were out of sight, then let out a sigh.

And then, from the mansion just moments from being reduced entirely to ash, Yabe and the others emerged, completely unharmed.

"Tempest Barrier held up beautifully."

The combined spell of Wintia, the water spirit, and Sylphie, the wind spirit, Tempest Barrier, a powerful ward of water and wind that had shielded them from the fire’s heat and smoke the whole time.

"Now then, all that’s left is having Viscount Korzea confirm Flauzea’s death, and we’re done. I’ll have the Coluna Frontier Count’s household hide her for a while, and bring her along with me when I head back home near Kaso Village from the capital."

"...I’ve been indebted to you for everything, haven’t I... you’ve even given me a new life..."

Flauzea said this, tears falling.

"That bastard Teraelo will surely face divine punishment eventually. You don’t need to worry about anything anymore, just take your time and rest."

"Indeed, as far as the capital is concerned, you have already passed away. There is nothing left for you to worry about now. You deserve to find happiness, for the baron’s sake as well."

At my words, Viscount Korzea echoed the same sentiment.

"...Everyone... thank you so much..."

Flauzea bowed her head, tears streaming down her face. When she lifted her face again, there was, just barely, the faintest hint of a smile.