Wait! Was I Seriously Just Reincarnated As a Cat?-Chapter 36: Nekoria, My Very Own Village!

Alright, sweet! I just woke up a few hours ago and now we already have three new alliances which just happen to be humans. Everything was looking good in the hood.

But before I did anything else, I needed to decide on a name for the village, since it felt empty without one.

[Let’s see. Greenwater Village? Naaah, doesn’t sound cool enough. Hmmm... maybe Swamp Haven? Naaah. We left the swamp long ago and now we have forest beasts. What about something like Nekoria... yeah, Nekoria! I like that name! It fits perfectly!!]

Alright, now it’s settled, I’m naming this village Nekoria, and that’s final. But first, I needed to establish how this whole thing was gonna work. I’m completely lost in the sauce.

Currently, I was walking outdoors after talking to Rowan, Aristella, and Conndo, just watching how everything was unfolding. A bunch of beasts were building houses made out of straw, wood, and mud, while others simply planned on scavenging for food and water.

It was a whole operation that I was unaware of, which isn’t good if I’m gonna be their ruler.

I needed to get down to the bottom of this before we make any more advancements.

Maybe I should talk to Stoneback.

"If I can find him that is!" I blurted out loud as I walked through the village in search of him.

But all of a sudden, one of the frogs scurried past me, causing me to gently place a paw in front of him, halting him in place.

"Hey! Quick question, who’s in charge of... all of this?" I gestured vaguely at everything.

The frog froze as their eyes went wide before he dropped into a deep bow.

"Stoneback, one of the Ministers; the turtle you named, My Queen! He oversees construction, patrols, food distribution, and discipline!

"...Of course he does." I sighed. "Thanks."

The frog immediately scurried off like his life depended on it.

Okay. Stoneback was a Minister. That sounded... important. A little too important all things considered.

Just what the hell did he not do! I freaking appointed him as my greatest warrior, and next thing you know, he ends up being the Minister of this village.

"Jeez Louise, I guess he’ll be second in command or something at this point. Ugh, I know nothing about building kingdoms... maybe I should’ve read more Webnovels when I was back home."

I then proceeded onwards, following the sound of deep thumping—primarily wood meeting earth—until I spotted him near the edge of the village.

Stoneback was supervising a group of turtles reinforcing a palisade wall as he barked orders with surprising efficiency.

"...Ah, there he is!"

I ambled forward, hopping onto a nearby stump to catch their attention.

"Stoneback!"

He turned instantly as he widened his eyes before slamming a fist to the ground and bowing.

"My Queen! What may I do for you? Have you come seeking questions about the village?"

"Funny you mention that." I said, flicking my tail. "First of all, yes! And secondly, the village officially has a name now."

Stoneback’s eyes practically sparkled at my comment.

"It does?!"

"Yep. It’s called Nekoria!"

Stoneback straightened his reptilian body, reverently.

"Nekoria... the Land of the Queen!"

"Wait, I did not say that second part!" I immediately cut in.

He ignored me completely and turned to the others.

"HEAR THIS! BY DECREE OF OUR QUEEN, THIS LAND SHALL BE KNOWN AS NEKORIA!"

All of a sudden, a wave of cheers echoed through the village.

"NEKORIA!"

"PRAISE LADY KEIKO!"

"LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!"

I cringed so hard my whiskers twitched.

"...Sheesh, you guys are gonna attract wild beasts at this point" I muttered.

Stoneback turned back to me with a proud posture.

"What are your next orders, My Queen?"

"About that..." I hopped down and padded closer. "I actually wanted to ask you something. When did all of this...." I waved a paw at the village. "Become a fully functioning operation?"

Stoneback tilted his head.

"A few days after your evolution."

"...Eh, seriously?"

"Yes." He bowed respectfully. "A few days after your evolution, we worked together to build a village in your name. I’ve assigned roles. Builders, scouts, hunters, guards, caretakers. Frogs as the offense. Turtles as defense. Snakes as transport, while dragonflies scout from above. Each species contributes where it excels."

I just stared at him, completely freaking baffled.

"...You guys made a government." I said out loud before Stoneback nodded.

"Yes, in your name!"

"...Without asking me, though??"

"Yes! It was our way to repay you for saving us from Croak’mar, and to express our loyalty."

[...Did I accidentally just speedrun Civilization?! Holy crap!]

"...Awesome, I guess?! Um, thank you guys, very much!"

"Anything for you, Lady Keiko."

I recollected my thoughts until I finally knew the next thing I was gonna say.

"Alright..." I cleared my throat. "Then I need to understand how Nekoria works. If I’m the queen, I can’t just... wing it, ya dig?"

Stoneback bowed again.

"Then I shall explain everything. From patrol routes to food stores to emergency protocols."

Emergency protocols? That phrase alone made my stomach get butterflies.

"...Yeah." I said, nodding. "Start with that."

As Stoneback began explaining, I looked out over Nekoria—my village—there were beasts and humans. Multiple species are all living together at once.

I couldn’t believe it, did I really have my own village? It all feels surreal. It feels like I’m gonna wake up from a dream at this point.

But this is real. All of it is real!

"First and foremost. Greenwater Predation Force! All swamp beasts are part of this Military Unit. But rising to the top, right beside it, is the Heartwood Vanguard! All forest beasts are part of this Military Unit. We work together in your name to keep Nekoria safe."

Whoa, both of those names sounded extremely freaking cool—but the downside is—I wasn’t the one who named them. How unfair!

"Furthermore, I was appointed as the Minister of War by the masses of Nekoria from my outstanding ideas and strategies. The Frog was appointed as Minister of Internal Affairs, while The Snake was appointed as Minister of Economy."

I just stared at him as if I knew what any of this stuff meant. New flash, I freaking didn’t!

"The Dragonfly was also elected as Minister of Research, and with his help, we have been in the process of developing potions to fight back against future enemies and to protect ourselves."

The Frog. The Snake. The Dragonfly.

All of them didn’t have a name, unlike Stoneback, whom I used to call ’The Turtle.’

Man, I really suck as a ruler, huh? I need to go on a naming spree, otherwise, I’d be unaware of who’s who.

"Okaaaay... I think I get it."

I replied, evidently confused.

"...Mostly."

I quietly added.

Stoneback didn’t seem bothered by my hesitation, if anything, he looked rather pleased; like a general proud of a ruler who was finally asking the right questions.

"Then I will simplify it!" He said. "You give direction. We handle execution. Nekoria exists to protect you, and to protect itself!"

[Eh, is that really it?]

I flicked my tail, staring out at the village again. Beasts walked freely between huts, some bowing when they noticed me, others just smiling.

"...Okay." I said. "Then here are my orders as Queen of Nekoria."

Stoneback immediately straightened up.

"I am listening."

"Stop bowing every five seconds!" I said out loud. "You’re gonna throw your back out."

There was a pause as he stared at me.

"...Understood." He said, bowing again before catching himself. "That one didn’t count."

A couple of foxes snickered before immediately freezing and pretending they hadn’t.

I sighed and shook my head.

"Next!" I continued. "No one does anything big without running it by me first. Big as in, new laws, executions, wars, summoning scary stuff, or... government tampering or whatever."

Stoneback nodded seriously.

"That is reasonable."

"And third!" I hesitated, then gestured vaguely. "I want names. Like proper names! ’The Frog’ and ’The Snake’ sound like villains in a bedtime story."

Stoneback stared at me.

"You wish to name them personally?"

"Yep." I said firmly. "If they’re gonna help run Nekoria, I wanna know who I’m actually talking to. So I’ll make a list of names for everyone, and give it to you. That way you’ll execute the job flawlessly."

That earned me a deep, respectful nod.

"It shall be arranged."

I hopped down from the stump and padded beside him, lowering my voice a bit.

"And Stoneback?"

"Yes, My Queen."

"...You don’t have to put ’in your name’ after everything." I said. "I didn’t save you guys so you could worship me. I did it because it was the right thing to do. Capeesh?"

For the first time, Stoneback hesitated.

"I understand, My Queen. Forgive me and my undying loyalty, I shall refrain from being over the top." He said with a reptilian smile, using all of his willpower not to bow his head.

It caused me to release a small laugh—or in other words—a cute meow.

"Alright, good! Now we’re getting somewhere."