With a big sigh, Manaia continued telling me the past of her tribe.
"The White-Tailed Deer tribe," she began, her voice subdued, "emigrated here a thousand years ago, according to our ancestors’ records. This island is near the continent and was found by pure chance while one of our ships was wrecking in a huge storm. My predecessor used to say the island was shaped like a crescent moon, so we’d never forget where we came from, but over time that design changed. Now, the reference point is the altar in the center of the village."
"When our ancestors arrived, they found this land was very fertile and had many animals to eat, so they settled. The whole island was conquered by them, absorbing the natives. Exploring the surrounding seas, they found two other tribes on the islands around us. These three islands form a triangle with a strong current connecting them, making it easy to reach the other islands just by sailing in a boat. Even without sails or wind, you could get to the other islands."
"The tribes were called Burning Lion and Dark Serpent. Each one dominated an island and wouldn’t leave their island no matter what. So our ancestors began trading with them. For many years, everything was peace and harmony between the tribes. But five hundred years ago, something horrible happened, changing everything."
"Monsters... Thousands of monsters appeared out of nowhere! They attacked the islands, sealing them off from the rest of the world. Our records say our ancestors fought hard, killed many, but little by little, they kept dying, until we became... livestock for them."
"Livestock?", I asked, frowning.
"Yes," Manaia nodded, her voice bitter. "The monsters don’t kill all of us because they want some fruits that only we can cultivate. That’s why they don’t exterminate us. We cultivate some things to survive, but most of our lands are used for that particular fruit. We call it the Snow Drop."
Manaia gestured with her hands, showing the fruit was just fist-sized. "It’s a white fruit on the outside, and inside it has an intense blue pulp. We tried to eat it, desperate, but... everyone who tried in their desperation ended up dead. Only our ancient ancestors could eat them; my predecessor didn’t know why either. If we ate it, we’d die. It’s poison to us."
My eyes shot open. A fruit that killed the people here, but the monsters wanted... that was incredibly important and strange... very strange.
"I want to see it!", I blurted out, and immediately corrected myself, though my curiosity was burning. "Excuse me, I mean... Later, please, take me to see those fruits." I couldn’t appear that desperate.
Manaia nodded as she let out a chuckle. It was the first time I’d seen her laugh so calmly and naturally.
"Whenever you want, they’re on that hill you see in the background. But getting back to our problems... the list is long. Diseases from not eating well, constant attacks that keep us trapped in this small refuge, few men to defend and hunt... though now there are none. We have no contact with the other islands; we don’t know if the Burning Lion or Dark Serpent tribes still exist or if they were exterminated long ago."
I listened carefully to every word. The situation was desperate, but my mind was already working. There was something more here than just "helping."
"Manaia, I’ve been thinking throughout the meal about how to help you all, and I have plans for this village. Plans to change all of this, and I don’t just mean protecting you and ending your enemies, but for you yourselves to do it. But I need to know if you’re willing to follow me. If you’re willing to do whatever it takes to reclaim your life, your island. If you’re willing to fight for your future and snatch it back from those beasts."
I said those words with all my determination. Even if I could eliminate all their problems, I wouldn’t want them to be solely dependent on me. Someday, I hope to return to my world, and if they’re left alone, I’m sure they wouldn’t last even a few days in the real world.
Manaia didn’t hesitate. Her eyes, once tired, now shone with a spark of hope.
"Jax," she said, her voice firm and full of emotion. "If you go with us, this tribe will follow you... to hell if necessary."
"To damn hell, huh?!" Manaia blurted out, and for a moment, I was speechless. The intensity in her eyes was palpably real. Blind faith in me, I suppose, or desperation. Whatever it was, it made me feel like they were completely ready to die on the battlefield.
"Listen closely. The plan I have is quite simple, but before I get into the details, I need to know a few things: Why are there so few warriors here? Where are they all?"
"There are no men, Jax," Manaia replied. "They died in battles, or trying to leave the island, devoured by the ocean beasts. The last ones left recently to try and rescue the children from the monster nests, but they haven’t come back."
"No, I think I didn’t explain myself well enough. I mean the women warriors. The women. In the Soaring Dragon kingdom, seventy percent of the magic warriors are women. They’re more sensitive to mana; they can train in a way men never could. Even the knights, who fight with swords and shields, are mostly women. Women use mana to strengthen their bodies, becoming very powerful in combat."
Manaia looked at me, very confused, as if this were the first time she’d ever heard of such a thing. "We didn’t know anything about that. Nobody taught us. It’s probable that those teachings were lost over time, with so much misfortune."
I stayed silent, my mind racing. How was I going to train them? I knew nothing about training women, or if they could level up like me. I know I’m the Hero, and that’s why I have the blessings of all the gods, or at least that’s what they told me at the church. But they never let me train with the army or access their library, no matter how I tried to convince them. Now that I remember, I was too stupid and gullible. I thought this was a nice Isekai where I’d arrive, kill the demon king, and could return with all my powers to the real world to do whatever I wanted, but I was completely wrong. If I could, I’d slap myself for being such an idiot.
"Give me a second," I muttered, opening the system menu, looking for something that could help