My name is Yame.
The name of the girl who arrived on my island was Urza. She wasn't a princess, but rather the daughter of a Village Head. I couldn't help but wonder just how wealthy a village had to be for her to live like this.
Oh, and they’d already figured out I was a member of the Demon Race. I wasn't exactly trying to hide it, but I hadn't planned on being proactive about sharing it either, just to avoid any potential friction. I wondered how they realized? Perhaps the four God-kin accompanying Urza or the Ice Monster had seen right through me.
Well, it didn't really matter. To explain my situation to Urza and her group, I guided them to my base. I figured seeing it for themselves would be faster than explaining. However, once they saw my home, Urza and the others looked at me with incredibly pitying eyes.
Wasn't that a bit rude? It kept the rain out perfectly well—even if it was admittedly useless against rain coming in from the side.
At any rate, since I had guests, I did my best to serve them my prized tea, only for every single one of them to spit it out. Wasn't that also a bit rude? It was delicious. And it definitely wasn't poisonous. I just hoped they’d forgive the fact that the cups were seashells of assorted sizes.
The birds were currently... taking cover. Yes, good birds.
As I introduced the wooden doll Ivan and spoke about my lifestyle on the island, they actually started crying. Seriously?
As I listened to what Urza and the others had to say, I realized there was a massive gap between my understanding and reality. Almost none of the countries I knew still existed. Only the Demon Kingdom remained.
And on top of that, the Demon Race was apparently serving the Dragon Race. There had been talk of such a thing before I went to sleep, but there had been so much opposition that I never thought it would actually happen. What on earth had happened while I was out?
I had thought things changed too much for just a hundred years, but it seemed I hadn't been asleep for a mere century. Apparently, Urza knew some members of the Demon Race, so I decided I would ask them for details when I met them. Since they were taking care of a Dragon child, they had to be very good-natured individuals.
I didn't need to know their names yet. Even if I heard them, I wouldn't recognize them. I didn't have many acquaintances among the Demon Race back in the day. The few I did have were quite intense... Ah, Urza definitely shouldn't get involved with that lot. They were very harsh toward anyone who wasn't a Demon, and honestly, they were just weird. It was better not to know them. Haven't you heard the saying, "To know of them is to meet them"? That was a common phrase back before I went to sleep.
The God-kin had apparently changed their name to the Angel Race. Was this one of those things? Did they mess up so badly that they became too ashamed to call themselves God-kin anymore? That seemed likely. After all, they were God-kin. It was impossible for them not to mess up.
As I was nodding in understanding, the God-kin—ah, the Angel Race. Sorry, sorry. The four Angels asked me about the God-kin I knew. I told them honestly, sticking strictly to the facts. I didn't exaggerate one bit.
Despite that, the four Angels insisted I was exaggerating and wouldn't back down. Honestly, were they perhaps hoping that I would say I was exaggerating? I suppose the truth was pretty awful, but it was the truth. The unwavering truth. Even if I claimed I was exaggerating, the facts wouldn't change.
However, when I cross-referenced my stories with what the four Angels told me... wait. Had I been asleep for about two thousand years? Was I imagining things?
I wasn't. When I heard that the God-kin I knew were the grandmothers or great-grandmothers of the current Angel Race Elder, it felt like the undeniable truth. Just what had happened to me? I didn't think I was the type to oversleep that much. But then again, I had lost enough power that I couldn't even fly anymore... hmm.
Well, I decided to think about that later. First, I had to talk with Urza. I had claimed this was my territory, but my only basis for that was the fact that I lived here. If she told me to hand it over, I was prepared to do so.
However, I didn't want to give it up for nothing. I wanted something in return. That said, if she just handed me money and threw me out to fend for myself, I would be in trouble. I was absolutely certain I would be in trouble. I mean, I thought I could survive anywhere using the experience I gained on the island, but that would just be "surviving."
What I sought was a safe lifestyle. Life on the island was fulfilling in its own way, but I kept dying. It happened less often lately, but I still died. When I thought about that, life on this island was just too harsh. I did want to leave. Or, at the very least, I wanted to live safely on this island after it was developed.
I conveyed those desires to Urza without hiding anything. There was no point in being coy. In response, Urza decided to take me back to her village. She told me that what would happen after I left the island was beyond her authority, so she wanted me to consult with her father.
I didn't mind at all. From Urza's demeanor, her father's village had to be a wealthy one. Which meant it was a safe village. Wonderful. Honestly, if they just let me live in that village, that might be enough. I’d pull my weight. Believe it or not, I was a reasonably famous Demon before I went to sleep. Reasonably. Emphasis on "reasonably." It wasn't like everyone knew who I was.
In any case, while I had to consult with Urza's father, there was the fundamental issue of Urza needing to judge whether this island was suitable as a present for him. So, I spent about three days guiding them all over the island.
I was so jealous of the four Angels who could fly. On the other hand, the Ice Monster was incredibly knowledgeable. He knew all sorts of things that I had only learned through painful trial and error. Also, his cooking was excellent. I suppose part of it was the quality of the ingredients Urza brought, but I felt like I was eating a proper meal for the first time in ages. And this was preserved food? Why was it so delicious? Maybe because the flavor was so rich?
The Ice Monster was great, but he was loud. The things he said were always correct, but it felt like he was hitting you over the head with that "correctness." Urza seemed to find him annoying too. I wondered if the Ice Monster was more of a mentor to her than a butler.
While I was guiding them, I was allowed to stay on the airship. Having a private room where I could feel safe... I cried a little. The fluffy bed made me so happy.
After looking around the island, I received a passing grade from Urza. Thank goodness.
And so, I prepared to leave the island. I boarded the airship and left the place in the care of the birds and Ivan. I cracked plenty of hard nuts so the birds wouldn't struggle to find food.
"Even if I don't come back, you stay healthy, okay? I'll be mad if you go and die on your own."
Though, I had a hunch that I might end up coming back again.
...I just hoped it wasn't because the outside world was so terrifying that I came running back.
Oh, I should bring my shield. Yeah, that’s a good idea.