The goblin village buzzed with excitement the morning after the battle. For the first time in weeks, there was laughter instead of wailing, hope instead of despair. Goblin children chased each other between huts while the wolf pack lounged nearby, tamed and obedient, their glowing eyes watchful but no longer hostile.
All of it centered on one figure: a small, glowing slime.
"Great one!" the goblin leader bowed. "You have saved our tribe. We are forever in your debt."
Luminus squirmed modestly. "Eh, don't mention it. Honestly, I didn't even know I could *eat* a wolf that big until it happened."
The goblins exchanged nervous but reverent glances. To them, the sight of the slime devouring their enemies whole was nothing short of divine.
Luminus sighed inwardly. *Man, these guys really think I'm some kind of god. Back home, nobody even noticed when I skipped lunch for three days straight. Now suddenly I'm a village hero? Talk about a glow-up.*
He bounced toward the wolves, who bowed their heads instinctively. "So… they're mine now, huh?"
> **"Correct."** the Ethereal Guide confirmed. **"Wolf pack now bonded under user's alpha authority."**
"Cool," Luminus muttered. He squished up onto the back of the largest wolf, who didn't resist. "Guess I've got a mount now."
The goblins gasped in awe. "Truly, the great one is unmatched…"
"Yeah, yeah," Luminus said, wobbling. "But if you guys want to survive, we need more than luck. You're weak, your homes are falling apart, and you don't even have proper weapons."
The leader lowered his head. "It is true. We lack strength… but we will follow any command you give, great one."
Luminus hesitated. His human instincts screamed *Don't get involved.* Yet… these goblins were looking at him with such desperate faith. It tugged at something inside him.
"…Alright then," he said. "From now on, I'll take responsibility. I'll help you grow stronger."
The goblins erupted into cheers, voices echoing through the village.
---
Later that day, Luminus sat in the village center—well, "sat" as much as a slime could—pondering his next move.
"Guide, what's the fastest way to make goblins stronger?"
> **"Answer: Bestowing names."**
"Names?"
> **"Correct. Monsters who are given names by higher beings evolve, increasing their power and intelligence."**
Luminus perked up. "Wait, seriously? So if I just… name them, they'll get stronger?"
> **"Warning: Naming consumes magical energy. Excessive naming may exhaust user's reserves."**
Luminus hesitated. "So there's a risk, huh? Still… it might be worth it."
The goblin leader approached, kneeling respectfully. "Great one, may I ask something shameful? None of us have names. Would you… grant us that honor?"
The entire tribe stared at him with wide, pleading eyes.
Luminus wobbled nervously. "Uh… yeah. Sure. Line up, I guess?"
---
The first goblin was the leader himself.
"Hmm… you've been brave and loyal. Let's call you… *Goruk*."
The moment the name left his voice, the goblin shuddered. His body glowed faintly, muscles expanding, posture straightening. His eyes sharpened with newfound clarity.
"I… I feel… stronger!" Goruk gasped, staring at his own hands.
The other goblins gasped. "Amazing! The great one truly has divine power!"
"Whoa, it actually worked," Luminus said. "Alright, next!"
One by one, he named them. A timid goblin became *Rina* and grew taller, her frame lean and agile. A scrawny boy became *Tark*, his arms swelling with muscle. The sickly children gained color in their cheeks, standing with new vigor.
But each name drained Luminus. With every glow, he felt a piece of his energy slip away, his body dimming slightly.
"Ugh…" he groaned after the fifteenth goblin. "I feel like I just pulled an all-nighter at the office…"
> **"Warning: Magicule reserves at 30%."**
Luminus puffed. "Alright, that's enough for today. Any more and I might actually faint."
The goblins bowed gratefully. "We are reborn thanks to you, Great Luminus!"
He winced. "Stop calling me 'Great Luminus.' Just Luminus is fine."
They ignored him completely.
---
As night fell, the newly named goblins gathered, showing off their changes with pride. Their huts seemed less fragile already, filled with laughter and confidence. For the first time, this ragged tribe felt like a real community.
Luminus watched quietly, a strange warmth bubbling inside him.
*In my old life, I couldn't even take care of myself. Now I'm responsible for an entire village? …Guess reincarnation really does give you a second chance.*
From the edge of the forest, a pair of golden eyes watched silently.
Drakion's voice echoed faintly in Luminus's mind, their pact allowing the connection. "*Not bad, partner. You are already gathering followers. Perhaps you were fated for this.*"
Luminus chuckled. "Yeah, well, fate or not… I'm not gonna let them down."
He turned his gaze back to the village, where goblins and wolves mingled peacefully under the moonlight.
A slime, once a weak joke of a creature, had taken his first steps toward becoming a leader.
And the world was beginning to stir.