When I Reincarnated, I Became Even More of a Gorilla

Elena smugly showed off her magic tool, but since we don’t even know what it was in the first place, we can’t say anything. Well, I could somewhat guess what it was from her mood, so it’s not that I’m completely clueless.

I get what Elena was trying to say. She probably meant that wearing that collar-shaped magic tool would prove that I was a familiar even if I walked down the street. However, I feel like that’s something that can only be used in places where familiars are common, so I wonder if that would even work here?

[Well, I see your point, Gorimatsu. This certainly is a magic tool that proves one is a familiar, but its function goes beyond that.

[Oog. (Unn.)]

[I’m a student of the academy. If I attend the academy, then so does the familiar, right?]

Right. However, how does that relate to its functionality?

[The monster that wears this becomes smaller in size!]

Elena glanced at me again with a smug look on her face, her chest puffed out. Well, that’s somewhat predictable, so I hardly felt surprised, but Misha and the Captain seemed surprised, so it must be a rare magic tool.

Let’s act surprised with them.

[That’s awesome.]

[That’s an unusual function.]

[Oooog. (Amazing.)]

She should feel satisfied with all this flattery. Since it’s not something that negatively affects me, there’s no need for me to avoid it, so I’ll just accept it.

[I’ll put it on you then?]

[Oog. (Unn.)]

The scene would turn out regretful if she ended up not being able to make me wear the collar, so I bent over and held out my neck. I’ve actually been observing the soldiers’ weapons up to this point, and no matter what they do, I don’t think they’ll be able to penetrate my fur. That’s why I don’t mind holding out my neck unprotected.

Elena tips her toes a bit higher and puts the collar-shaped magic tool around my neck. The magic tool itself doesn’t look like a dog collar; it has a bandana-like design in a relatively nice and simple color.

[There. How about it, Gorimatsu?]

I wait for a moment while checking the feel of the collar on my neck. If I feel anything wrong, I’m ready to tear it off immediately.

However, after a minute or so, nothing happened. At most, it seems to be absorbing a miniscule amount of mana. Instead, it stopped absorbing magicules from the air, so I guess that means that earlier, it was absorbing magicules to maintain its function, and is now absorbing mana from me.

Well, it’s no real harm.

[Oog, oog. (Unnn, it’s alright.)]

[I see, that’s good. Look, you’re starting to change.]

As Elena says this, my body begins to change, becoming smaller and smaller. My line of sight is also getting lower and lower, with my body feeling like I’m riding a roller coaster.

[Whoa!]

[That is……]

[As expected of a magic tool I bought at the academy. It’s a good thing I spent my allowance on it. With its effect, it’s no wonder it cost 5 gold coins.]

The Captain and Misha briefly exclaimed, but I couldn’t really tell because I couldn’t see myself. However, I don’t know how much 5 gold coins are worth. Clueless about the common sense about monetary value, it’s hard for me to get what she meant.

I ask Elena about the monetary value.

[Oog? Oogo oogo. (Hey, Elena? Can you tell me the value of money?)]

[Yeah. Well, there are four main types of money. Iron coins, copper coins, silver coins, and gold coins. There are also platinum coins, but they’re only used for transactions between countries. A hundred each coin is equivalent to the next.]

[Oog. (Thanks.)]

[No, rather than that, do you want to look at your own appearance?]

Elena says she will show me what I look like. I thought I had just become smaller and that my appearance hadn’t changed, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

[Look.]

[Oog. (Thanks.)]

I used the hand mirror handed to me to check my appearance. Since my eye level has dropped significantly……. holding the hand mirror in one hand isn’t a struggle at all. It seems like my physical strength is still the same. Or rather, everything else seems to be unchanged except for my appearance. I’m still the same LV4 Gorilla…… no, I guess I’m a LV5 Gorilla after the bear battle.

This may be me saying this, but the me reflected in the mirror looks cute. I’m like a chibified gorilla, like a gorilla plushie.

I can understand why the Captain was at a loss for words. I look too cute. As a man, being like this makes me speechless. Well, I don’t really mind that much though. In the end, I’m a gorilla after all.

[Oog, oog oog. (Unnn, isn’t it fine?)]

[Right? Errr.]

Elena agrees with me and carries me this time. Hmmm, I really feel like a plushie now. However, when I said everything else seems unchanged except for appearance, it seems like what’s unchanged was actually appearance and weight.

It goes without saying, but I’m quite heavy with the collar off. I think I’m heavier than a truck. Although I cringe at saying this myself, people should be able to deduce how much I weigh from various factors like muscle mass.

Well, let’s leave it at that. What’s important now is that I’m being carried like a plushie.

[Onee-chan, me next! Uwahh, he’s so soft and fuzzy~~]

Misha took me from Elena and stroked my back. I wonder if my fur has gotten better now that I’m smaller. I think it felt very stiff when I bathed myself.

Elena had already touched it earlier, and with how she’s now touching it again, it really must be feeling good. Well, it’s all good as long as they’re happy.

[Gorimatsu-chan, when you’re like this, you’re like a regular gorilla!]

[You’re right. It’s hard to believe he’s a Goldback. The golden furs on his back have turned black.]

[Ooga? (Seriously?)]

I checked the fur on my back in the mirror. Looking at it, it really was black. I have become a normal gorilla huh. I think that golden fur looked better than just having black fur though.

Elena held me in her arms again and stroked my back as if she was comforting me.

[Well, don’t worry about it. Both Gorimatsus look cool, okay? You’re a handsome gorilla.]

[Oog? Ooga. (Really? Then that’s okay.)]

[Umu.]

I’ve heard about a handsome gorilla in my previous life, but I wonder if I’d also be handsome as a gorilla? Wait, could it be that I was actually born as a wrong animal right from the start!?

……Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter now.

Now then, I guess we better get moving. The Captain and the other knights are apparently going to explain the situation to the residents.

Well, it certainly would be a surprise if a gorilla suddenly came toward the town huh. Moreover, I’m apparently called <Sage of the Forest>. I thought of myself more of a King of the Forest though.

After we saw the knights off, we started heading off to Elena and Misha’s house.

I heard that the two are the daughters of this territory’s lord and I think we’re going to that lord’s house. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of place it will be.

I have been living in the forest and a cave in this life, so I’m looking forward to civilized buildings. The exterior walls that I can see are impressive enough, but I’m really looking forward to seeing the house.

I’m even shorter than the 8-year-old Misha and I can’t run with them, so it looks like it’s my turn to be carried around.

[Come on, let’s go.]

[Onee-chan! Let me carry Gorimatsu-chan this time!]

[Yes, yes.]

Seemingly helpless about her sister’s demands, Elena handed me to Misha, and we headed for the gate to enter the city. At the gate, being the daughters of the lord, we were easily allowed inside.

Then, the scene that unfolded before me was that————

————-Everything was huge.

Well, of course, they would be. I’m currently 50cm tall, and my line of sight would be one-fifth the height of a house.

However, I can tell it’s a good city because the houses are well-lined up and the people are cheerful.

I can only speculate, but I wonder what Frontier Count Gladysbalt, who I’ll meet later, Elena’s father will be like?

[Gorimatsu. Welcome to the Capital City Grandis.]