The Water City, a Hundred Years On
Have you ever stopped to think how much the world can change? A day is enough for a person's heart to turn, a month for the seasons to shift. So then, what about a hundred years? Impossible to imagine, isn't it?
I learned that answer in the cruelest way possible. Following behind Eunha, we walked through the night without rest. We even spent a night lodging in a village along the way. It all went smoothly.
That village felt unfamiliar too. But it was such a tiny place that I simply shrugged it off — a new spot must have sprung up, I figured, nothing to dwell on.
And at last, we arrived before a building made of great white marble. The words Checkpoint were carved plainly into its face.
Honestly, I never even got the chance to read them properly.
The city spread out beyond the building had stolen my attention entirely. Water stretched in every direction. The whole landscape looked as though it had been submerged underwater.
Pristine white towers soared into the sky, and canals wound between them. Bridges crossed the waterways, and countless little boats slipped silently beneath them.
Blue flags hung from every building, and artificial waterfalls cascaded here and there. My gaze kept drifting back to the enormous clock tower rising from the very heart of the city. Where on earth am I?
"What do you think? This is Busan — a city on the sea."
Eunha flung both arms wide with a proud face. She looked ready to bolt off somewhere at any moment. So energetic.
"Outsiders call this place the City of Water. Surprised, right? We have over a hundred canals, so as long as you take a boat, you can get anywhere in the city. And when the lanterns come on at night, it's truly beautiful."
I know the name Busan, but it never looked like this. My head was a tangled mess trying to grasp what on earth had happened. It bears the same name, yet it's a completely different place. Could this be a dream?
It was achingly beautiful.
And yet it brought me no joy at all.
Maybe it's just pointless grumbling…
Maybe it's simply something I refuse to accept.
It should have been a place I knew, yet somehow not a single thing looked familiar. It was as if I'd been dropped into a fantasy world without warning.
"…You're really saying this is Busan?"
The words slipped out of me, barely a whisper.
My hands were trembling. Fear, perhaps.
I barely managed to hold down the nausea.
…Whew. Let's settle our heart, slowly.
"I'm curious what you think of it, Lady Artesia."
"…Hmm. Well. It's quite exotic, isn't it?"
"Right? It's our pride and joy!"
Eunha kept chattering beside me, but I did my best to tune her out. I simply couldn't figure out how to process any of it. This isn't right — even as my mind tried to understand, my heart kept roiling.
How many years would it take for an entire city to change this much? I was afraid to learn that truth. For now, all I felt was a sinister premonition crawling up my spine.
I forced my voice steady.
It didn't shake, did it? I'm sure it was fine.
I'm working hard on my expression too, you know.
"What year is it now? If you don't mind me asking."
"You said you fell into a trap inside a dungeon, right?"
"Yes. It's left me all muddled about time."
"I understand. It happened to me once, too."
She blinked. Then she answered as if it were nothing. Calmly, to the point of cruelty. I listened to her words in silence.
"It's 2320. Oh my? A-are you all right?"
It felt like the ground had dropped out from under my feet. The era I lived in was the early 2200s. Which meant more than a hundred years had passed since then. I couldn't believe it. Truly.
A hundred years. A hundred years? Really?
My mind went completely blank.
Strength drained from my legs all at once.
My body began to tip sideways.
I nearly collapsed right there.
But I didn't fall.
A firm arm had caught my back before I knew it. It was Nemesia. She called to me in a low voice — one steeped in worry.
"Milady, are you quite well? You are pale."
Nemesia murmured quietly. Thank goodness she was here with me. Thanks to her, I was spared from putting on an unsightly display.
Though it's still a struggle, mind you.
I held back my answer and gently took hold of her sleeve. Even a moment would do — stay by my side like this, just for now. That's what I meant to convey.
"Lady Artesia?! What's wrong, are you hurt? D-did you catch some disease in that village? Th-this is bad! Do you have a fever?!"
Eunha rushed over in alarm, her face full of worry. I couldn't bring myself to speak. My head was a complete wreck. I needed time to pull myself together.
I'd assumed the time I spent as a slime was at most a few days — but only now did that old saying about time flowing differently inside dungeons come back to me, sharp and bitter.
To think it was actually true.
Or perhaps all those years had passed in the span I lay unconscious after becoming a Demon Lord. There were endless things to doubt.
The people I used to know. The companions who once talked me down. Surely none of them remain now. Everyone in this world who remembered me is gone.
How am I supposed to accept that?
"…Lady Artesia. Lady Artesia!"
Eunha's voice brought me back to my senses.
Looking at her face, I knew I couldn't keep falling apart like this. I am a Demon Lord now. An ordinary life is no longer possible. So then I certainly couldn't crumble over a few lost years.
I slowly pushed myself upright.
And forced the corners of my mouth upward.
Yes. I'm fine. I'm fine. Really.
"…I just felt dizzy for a moment. I'm sorry."
"Are you sure? You looked terrible there for a second."
"We've been walking so long, that's all. Sorry for worrying you."
"If you feel unwell, please tell me anytime."
Eunha didn't press any further, though a trace of doubt still lingered on her face. Even so, I counted myself lucky she let it go. Slowly, the turmoil in my chest began to settle.
Nemesia quietly withdrew the arm that had been supporting me. I gave her a small glance of thanks. Hmm? Her cheeks are a little flushed.
Only after the brief commotion died down did we finally step inside the checkpoint. It was fairly bustling within. Armed guards were lined up, verifying the identities of the people in queue. Nerve-wracking.
I had nothing to prove who I was — that was the problem, right now and here. If anything went badly wrong, Eunha would step in to mediate, but anxiety is a stubborn thing. Inconvenient, honestly.
A guard approached. A woman with white hair and horns. Add to that a fox beastfolk with twitching animal ears. An odd pairing by anyone's standards.
"Please present your identificati… oh? Oh my?"
The sentence abruptly cut off.
He'd recognized Eunha's face.
What a relief. No trouble after all.
"Lady Eunha?! You've returned at last!"
The guard hurried over and bowed deeply at the waist. So the rank of nobility really does carry that much weight still.
"Y-you've finally come back, my lady! Do you have any idea how worried everyone was when we lost contact with you?! The Lord has been on pins and needles day and night!"
Truthfully, I'd been skeptical. I wondered if she was really a noble at all. But seeing the guard bow and scrape like that, there was no room left for doubt.
Eunha scratched her head awkwardly under the guard's gaze and answered. Somewhere along the way, the eyes around us had all turned this way.
"Ah, well… I'm sorry for worrying you all. Some things happened. I set out on patrol with adventurers and soldiers and ran into a terrible accident. It very nearly cost me my life."
She gestured toward me and Nemesia with her hand.
At once, the eyes of the whole crowd converged on us. These people are far too curious — I want to run away somewhere. Please stop staring like that. Ah! You there! Your gaze is a bit lecherous, you know!
"If it weren't for these two, I wouldn't be standing here today. They saved my life. So please, don't subject them to any unnecessary rudeness."
Only then did the guard take a second look at us. His attitude was completely transformed from moments before. You could practically feel the respect in his eyes. Still, I wanted to get out of here fast.
"I-is that so. If they are your saviors, my lady, then they are most honored guests to us as well. If we committed any discourtesy, we humbly beg your forgiveness."
Wasn't this the same man who'd been so coldly demanding identification just moments ago? This is why the power of authority is such a sweet thing, truly. Not that Eunha gives any of it a second thought.
"Discourtesy? Checking identity is only proper."
When I answered, the guard stepped back with an apologetic air. That meant we were free to leave now, right? But then Eunha turned and gave me a deep, formal bow.
"Lady Artesia. I… I'm sorry I never properly told you who I was. The truth is, I hold the title of baron as well. I even serve as acting lord in my father's stead."
"Oh? I thought you'd told me everything."
"I only said I was the lord's daughter, didn't I? When we first met, there was hardly time…. I'm ashamed it took me until now to say it properly."
I was baffled for a moment. If anyone here owed an apology, it was me. I'm the one who hid my identity and lied through my teeth. What was there to feel sorry about over something so small?
"Everyone has their circumstances."
"Still, it weighed on me, hiding things from the person who saved my life. I just can't let things like this slide. Are you really sure you're all right with it?"
Concealing my identity as a Demon Lord in front of someone this honest left a foul taste in the pit of my stomach. Compatibility-wise, I'd say we're just about the worst possible match. Honestly, it's a lot of pressure.
"Living like that must be exhausting."
"Yes. But that's simply who I am."
"Then I suppose there's nothing to be done about it."
Eunha let out a sigh of relief.
Her expression brightened in an instant. Like a flower blooming.
How should I put it — it's nice how easy to read she is.
"Thank goodness…. I thought you might be angry."
When I teased her back, Eunha smiled bashfully. Then she looked at me as though she'd made up her mind about something. Was there something else she wanted to say? I'd really like to get some sleep as soon as humanly possible.
"Lady Artesia. If it wouldn't be too much of an imposition…."
"Yes. What is it this time?"
"I'd like to introduce you both to my father. You saved my life — surely he'll want to meet you himself. What do you say?"
A face-to-face with the lord. Things are growing bigger than expected. Beside me, Nemesia's brow furrowed, wariness radiating off her in waves. It's not a reaction I can't understand, but it's excessive.
Nemesia moved to my side and took up a protective stance, looking ready to draw her sword the instant anyone laid a hand on me.
"You must be cautious about entering the den of a stranger. Worse still, the other party is the being who rules this very land. A trap would not be out of the question."
"That's too harsh. Am I really so untrustworthy? I thought that after traveling together, you might know me a little better… is there truly a need to be so hostile?"
"My duty is to protect Milady. It falls to me to suspect all the world. Even should you be a good and virtuous person, you are no exception. Personal sentiment is unnecessary."
She wasn't wrong. But my thinking was different. The lord would be the very peak of this city. Forming a connection with such a person could only benefit me as I tried to put down roots in human society.
And few people alive would know more about this world of a hundred years past than she does. I nodded readily. Onward! Let's get moving!
"Gladly. Let's meet him right away."
"Really? Father will be so pleased!"
"W-wait, wait a moment. Please stop shaking me."
"Ah! I get excited and this happens — sorry, it's a habit."
Eunha laughed brightly. Only Nemesia still wore a sour expression. Bear with it, my friend. All of this is for my sake, after all.
"…If anything should happen, I will stand in front of you. That much you must accept. I will do anything to keep Milady from harm."
"I know. That's exactly why I keep you by my side."
Nemesia reluctantly lowered her head, though her face made it clear she wasn't entirely convinced. I stole a sidelong glance at her and murmured to myself: she really is just like a puppy.
Out in front, Eunha gave the guards some instructions. I used the moment to drift toward the window and take in the city once more.
This strange city of water, built up over a century and more. It frightened me — and yet, strangely, something in the corner of my chest was starting to pound.
A Demon Lord, paying a courtesy call on a human lord. The more I think about it, the more absurd it seems, doesn't it? And still I took my first step. This noisy new world had only just begun to intrigue me.
