The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned. The fairy, previously on the brink of capture, seemed doomed until an unforeseen force blasted all four adventurers away.

When they got back on their feet, a black-haired girl was standing where the fairy had been, now holding the precious creature in her hand.

Robbery? Treasure theft? These were their first thoughts.

In such situations, no one assumed the girl was ordinary. The way she had appeared silently and effortlessly sent them flying made her strength apparent.

Among adventurers, it wasn’t uncommon for one to seize opportunities by force. Seeing an enviable prize often triggered such conflicts.

One of the adventurers hesitated before testing the waters:
“We were in the middle of capturing that fairy. Miss, may I ask what your intentions are?”

Aino wasn’t planning to make things difficult for them. She answered directly:
“You’re no match for me. Leave.”

Although Aino intended to save the fairy, that didn’t mean she wanted to harm or kill these humans.

She didn’t know who these men were. Were they cruel slavers who enjoyed tormenting their captives, or were they workers forced into this by their superiors? The truth wasn’t clear.

The world wasn’t simply black and white, and Aino preferred to find a middle ground.

She wasn’t concerned about whether releasing the fairy would cause trouble for the adventurers. At the very least, this job was over for them.

To dispel any lingering notions, Aino extended a hand, summoning a flame of concentrated magic in her palm.

The sheer density of compressed magic radiating from the flickering fire caused the adventurers’ pupils to constrict.

Money was valuable, but life was priceless. It was evident they couldn’t contend with her.

“Your strength is astounding, my lady. We’ll give up the fairy. Please, let us leave without trouble.”

Recognizing their disadvantage, the adventurers wisely abandoned their prize. They bowed slightly and hoped she would let them go unharmed.

In a place like this, even if a powerful adventurer killed them, there would be no one to complain to.

After they left, Aino released the fairy. It fluttered a short distance away, turned, and looked at her.

“...Thank you for saving me. You don’t seem like a human, do you?”

Fairies, highly attuned to magical elements, could vaguely perceive through Aino’s transformation magic.

“No, I’m not,” Aino replied, also taking a closer look at the fairy.

Standing only a few inches tall, the fairy had slightly disheveled brown hair and was eyeing her with a mix of hesitation and curiosity.

“It’s nothing. I just happened to save you. Be more careful next time.”

When the fairy remained silent, Aino prepared to leave.

Seeing this, the fairy hesitated briefly before chasing after her.

“Wait! My name is Chloe. What’s yours?”

Seeing that Chloe seemed to have something to say, Aino stopped and smiled faintly.

“Nice to meet you, Chloe. I’m Aino.”

The fairy approached, this time stopping closer.

“You’re amazing! I could feel how strong your magic was. You scared them off so easily!”

“Not really,” Aino replied modestly.

After a few pleasantries, Chloe’s cheeks flushed slightly as she gathered her courage to make a request.

“Um, Aino, where are you headed? If it’s on the way, could you let me travel with you? I can sense danger, find treasures, and even detect magic…”

Chloe’s eager attempts to sell herself made Aino chuckle. She felt an urge to pinch the fairy’s little cheeks.

Such a lively creature being mistreated as a slave seemed unbearably cruel.

“I’m heading to the Peruvian Great Forest. What about you?”

Chloe’s face lit up as if she had just won the lottery.
“Really? I’m going to Grantham, the Dwarven City! It’s so close to the Peruvian Forest—they’re practically connected!”

“Please take me with you, Aino. I promise to be helpful and obedient. It’s too dangerous for me to go alone—I might get attacked by monsters or captured by humans…”

Chloe’s pleading, almost playful demeanor, was hard to resist. Besides, traveling with her wouldn’t be inconvenient. It might even be enjoyable to have someone to talk to.

“Don’t worry. You can come with me. I’ll take you to Grantham safely.”

Hearing Aino’s agreement, Chloe cheered, flying in circles around her and showering her with compliments.

“Miss Aino, you’re so strong, so beautiful, and so kind!”

“That flame you conjured earlier was incredible! I bet even a forest serpent couldn’t withstand it!”

Chloe’s endless chatter and flattery were starting to overwhelm Aino. Fortunately, the fairy hovered in front of her, giving Aino an idea.

Aino slowly reached out her hand.

Chloe noticed the motion and hesitated, her incessant talking pausing briefly. She considered dodging but ultimately maintained her flight path, allowing Aino’s finger to approach.

Aino gently poked Chloe’s soft cheek, then playfully nudged and pinched it.

“Uh…

Though Aino’s fingers were slender, to a fairy as small as Chloe, the touch was still a bit uncomfortable.

Chloe seemed torn between wanting to dodge and accepting her fate. In the end, she endured the “torment” obediently. Aino chuckled and withdrew her hand.

In Aino’s understanding, fairies rarely interacted with the outside world. They were typically shy, timid, and naïve. But Chloe seemed different.

She had boldly asked to join Aino on the journey—a surprising move for a fairy. Even if Aino had saved her, such behavior was unusually forward.

By Aino’s expectations, the fairy should have disappeared the moment she was freed.

Yet here was Chloe, not only staying but offering compliments, marketing her abilities, and even trying to charm her way into traveling together.

Was Chloe an exception, or had the world’s changes affected the personalities of different races?

As they traveled, Chloe found herself marveling at Aino’s unconventional approach to the journey.

They moved openly and confidently, taking the smoothest path without concern for danger.

While Chloe observed the unusual travel style, Aino broke the silence with a question.

“Chloe, why are you going to Grantham?”

The fairy hesitated, her voice light yet heavy with meaning.
“To survive.”

“Grantham has clear rules—no malicious fights, no slave trade. It’s safer for me there.”

Her delicate voice carried the weight of oppression.

The state of interspecies conflict had grown so dire that even a reclusive fairy would seek refuge in a bustling city just for safety.

“How bad is it? Are humans capturing your kind that often?” Aino asked.

“Of course,” Chloe replied, her face clouded with fear. “We used to live comfortably in our homeland, but humans keep entering the forest. If they find us, they hunt us down.”

Her finely sculpted features twisted in terror as she continued.
“I’ve heard stories. When they catch us, we’re turned into slaves, locked in cages so small we can’t even spread our wings. We’re forced to work constantly, beaten every day…”

“Don’t worry,” Aino reassured her, gently yet firmly. “I’ll make sure you reach Grantham safely.”

As Chloe trembled, Aino clenched her fists, anger rising.

History cannot progress without conflict.

If oppression stretched too far, rebellion would surely follow.