After over twenty days of travel, Aino and Chloe, who perched on her shoulder, finally arrived at Grantham.

Standing before the grand, ancient gates of the city, memories surged in Aino’s mind. Decades ago, she had stood in this exact spot with her three companions.

The same rustic gate, inscribed in Dwarvish with the words “Grantham.”

Back then, they had entered through the main gate without issue. Now, however, the gates were shut tight, clearly restricting access. Following the city walls, they eventually came across the actual entrance.

“Security is much tighter now. It seems everyone has to register to enter,” Aino noted, observing the long line of people waiting. Each person was being recorded, their goods inspected by soldiers.

“Miss Aino, have you been to Grantham before?” Chloe asked in surprise, picking up on Aino’s words.

“Mm, about a few decades ago. Back then, we could just walk in through the main gate,” Aino replied, stepping to the end of the queue.

Now the pressing question was: what would Chloe do once inside? To live in Grantham, she would need stable work and a place to stay.

Truthfully, Aino wasn’t entirely confident leaving Chloe to handle these matters alone. Chloe wasn’t particularly strong, and her naïve demeanor made her an easy target for exploitation.

“I’ll stay with you until you’re settled in. I’ll head to the forest afterward—I have plenty of time,” Aino said.

There were still more than ten days left before her meeting, and the trip from Grantham to the Peruvian Great Forest would take less than a day.

“Really? Thank you so much, Miss Aino! You’re so kind...”

Chloe was ecstatic, her cheeks flushed as she nuzzled her head against Aino’s ear. The peculiar sensation left Aino slightly flustered.

Smiling mischievously, Aino plucked Chloe off her shoulder, holding her in the palm of her hand like a tiny bird or hamster.

Chloe felt herself lifted effortlessly into the air. After a brief moment of confusion, she realized she was standing in Aino’s soft palm, facing her magnified, youthful face.

“...Um, Miss Aino...”

Chloe shyly clasped her hands behind her back, unable to meet Aino’s gaze.

Aino found fairies utterly adorable. Ever since she had encountered one for the first time decades ago in Grantham, she had felt this way.

That fairy, Phillips, was similar in size to Chloe but had a completely different personality.

Thinking back, Aino realized that both fairies she’d met were talkative, which didn’t match their reclusive reputation.

Unbeknownst to Aino, the changing times had forced fairies like Chloe to adapt. As for Phillips from decades past, she had always been an unusual case.

The wait in line was tedious, and Aino struck up a conversation to pass the time.

“Chloe, are there very few fairies left in your race?”

“Uh, yes, very few. I haven’t met many of my kind since I was born.”

“Do you know a fairy named Phillips? She’s about your size.”

“...We’re all this size, Miss Aino. But no, I haven’t heard of that name.”

Aino recounted her meeting with Phillips years ago. Chloe listened with a complicated expression, akin to hearing a far-fetched tale from an overly imaginative superior but lacking the nerve to refute it outright.

“...Miss Aino, are you sure that’s true?”

Aino blinked, caught off guard by Chloe’s doubt. Was there something implausible about her story?

“As far as I know, fairies like us simply don’t have personalities like that... And decades ago? That would be like seeing a flying pig, Miss Aino.”

Aino fell silent. She reasoned that individual differences in personality were natural, even for fairies.

Deciding it wasn’t worth debating, Aino nodded and dropped the subject.

At long last, they reached the front of the line.

“Name: Aino. Race: Human.”

“Name: Chloe. Race: Fairy.”

To Aino’s surprise, the clerk handling the registration was a fairy herself.

Fairies, born with the ability to understand all languages, were uniquely suited for such tasks. Upon seeing Chloe, the green-haired, older-looking fairy brightened in surprise and said a few words in an unfamiliar language.

However, her workload didn’t allow time for a proper conversation. With a slightly regretful expression, she quickly processed their entry and moved on to the next registrant.

“What did she say, Chloe?” Aino asked curiously as they passed through the gates.

Chloe seemed in high spirits, her face lit with a cheerful grin. At Aino’s question, she answered excitedly:

“She said she was glad to see another fairy seeking refuge here. She told me to stay without worry—this city is very safe.”

Hearing this, Aino breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried Chloe might face danger even in Grantham.

Having traveled together, Aino had come to regard the pure and adorable Chloe as a friend. She genuinely wished for her to lead a happy life.

“Chloe, let’s find this Phillips I mentioned. She’s a fellow fairy and might be able to help you,” Aino suggested.

Her first thought was to entrust Chloe to someone of her own kind. Phillips had always been mysterious and wealthy—surely, she would still be a reliable ally.

Navigating the city proved challenging. The entrance had changed, and much of the city had been altered over the years. As someone with a terrible sense of direction, Aino had to rely on asking locals for guidance.

“Excuse me, do you know where the Exotic Flower Pavilion is?” Aino asked the owner of a well-aged shop in Dwarvish.

The owner quickly confirmed its existence and provided directions.

With a general idea of where to go, Aino felt confident. She doubted Phillips would refuse to help a fellow fairy. Even if persuasion was needed, Aino could offer compensation.

“Thank you. The Pavilion’s owner is a fairy, right?” Aino asked absentmindedly.

“A fairy? No, no, I’ve never heard of the Pavilion being run by a fairy. Isn’t it owned by a dwarf?”

Aino froze, bewildered. For a moment, she was unsure what to believe.

Perhaps this dwarf didn’t know the full story. After all, Aino had witnessed Phillips establish the Pavilion herself.

After thanking the shopkeeper, Aino led Chloe toward the indicated location, determined to uncover the truth.