Aino and Chloe stood before the magnificent structure, each lost in their thoughts.

For Chloe, who had lived her life deep within nature, the sight of any man-made structure was rare, let alone something so grand. Her astonishment was palpable.

Aino, on the other hand, was immersed in nostalgia. Decades had passed since she last stood here, yet the place remained unchanged. It was only she who had stayed the same—unchanged and timeless—while her former companions had moved on.

But that was fine. Soon, she would see them again. She couldn’t help but wonder how much they had changed. Zola was likely the same as ever, but Parker and Alea? They would surely be entirely different.

If they were strangers, Aino thought she might even call them “uncle” or “aunt,” maybe even “grandpa” or “grandma.”

The thought was almost absurd. In her mind, they were still the young people she had once traveled with. To imagine herself unchanged while Parker, now white-haired and once the mighty “Saint Parker,” addressed her as “Master” was simply too amusing. Perhaps she should insist he call her by her name instead when the time came…

“Aino, let’s go inside,” Chloe’s gentle push snapped her out of her musings.

Clearing her mind, Aino adjusted her mood and stepped through the doorway.

The layout inside was just as she remembered, with a variety of goods displayed on either side, meticulously divided into sections.

Exploring this kind of place wasn’t much different from shopping in a supermarket in her previous life, which failed to pique her interest. But seeing Chloe’s fascination, Aino decided to accompany her for a while.

Fairies, being naturally inclined toward quiet environments, often found bustling places like this overwhelming. As the initial novelty wore off, Chloe returned to her perch on Aino’s shoulder, visibly unsettled by the noise around her.

Approaching a less crowded area, Aino addressed a staff member:
“Excuse me, do you know Phillips?”

The person gave her a blank look, clearly confused.
“Huh? Never heard of them.”

“Then, could you tell me who owns the Exotic Flower Pavilion?”

The staff member scratched their head, their expression skeptical.
“Pesto, of course. Why do you ask?”

“Um… is Pesto a dwarf or a fairy?”

“Obviously a dwarf!”

Baffled, Aino stepped back. None of the locals or the staff at the Exotic Flower Pavilion seemed to recall Phillips.

Yet Aino distinctly remembered Phillips founding this very shop.

Back when Phillips left Grantham, she had mentioned wanting to expand the Exotic Flower Pavilion into a chain across the continent.

Could it be that after establishing the first store here, Phillips handed it over to a dwarf agent and left to continue “entrepreneurship” elsewhere?

That possibility left Aino at an impasse. Barging in to demand that Pesto accommodate a fellow fairy on the grounds of “knowing Phillips” would be ridiculous.

Not to mention, could she even claim to truly know Phillips? They had exchanged only a handful of words. Her main reasoning was that Phillips might support her own kind.

“Chloe, this path might really be a dead end.”

With no other options, Aino sighed. Without connections to rely on, how could Chloe establish herself in such a bustling city?

The two brainstormed ideas, tentatively suggesting possibilities, but obstacles arose each time.

Ultimately, they concluded that Chloe might have to look for something akin to a “front desk” job. Yet Aino wasn’t confident in Chloe’s communication skills.

Chloe’s spirits sank. She realized she was ill-equipped for life in a city. What job could she possibly handle?

“I’m sorry, Aino... I don’t think I can do anything…”

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she began to sob, her voice choked with emotion.

Aino placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“It’s not your fault. Fairies aren’t meant to live in cities. It’s like asking an elephant to climb a tree. If you want to blame anyone, blame the humans who drove you from your home.”

Those words of comfort sparked an idea. Another fairy, the one managing registrations at the city gates, came to mind.

“But that job involves being in front of so many people. Can I really do it?” Chloe asked hesitantly.

“It’s different,” Aino reassured her with a mischievous smile. “Being a receptionist means you have to deal with people, but managing registrations? That’s letting them deal with you.”

Chloe tilted her head, uncertain but hopeful.
“You only need to know the languages of the various races,” Aino added.

With renewed determination, Chloe nodded.
“Alright, Aino. Thank you! I’ll do my best!”

Later that evening, Veronica, the green-haired fairy responsible for registrations, encountered an unexpected “challenge” as she finished her shift.

“You want to live on your own? That’s… difficult,” Veronica admitted. “Alright, come with me.”

Chloe’s hopeful gaze lingered on her, and after a long pause, Veronica finally agreed to help. Still, she warned, “I can’t guarantee success.”

To be fair, Veronica herself was just an ordinary employee. Her naturally aloof demeanor didn’t endear her to colleagues or superiors. That she was even helping at all was a significant gesture.

Having endured a long day, all she wanted was to lie on her floral bed at home, not escort someone to this kind of place.

Neither Aino nor Chloe could have guessed what was running through Veronica’s mind as the green-haired fairy, stoic as ever, led them forward.

Jobs like these, tied to city politics, naturally involved heightened security. The group was stopped at the entrance almost immediately.

While Veronica displayed a small badge indicating her credentials, Aino and Chloe had no such identification.

“She wants… to apply,” Veronica finally managed to say after a long pause, her expression icy.

The guards, however, showed no patience.
“Ridiculous. You can’t just bring strangers here to apply for a job!” one barked, glaring at her.

Positions tied to city operations were typically filled through selective recruitment, not casual walk-ins. Veronica herself had been personally scouted by a city official for her unique abilities.

“She’s a fairy. She knows all languages,” Veronica said firmly. It was this skill that had persuaded her to bring the pair in the first place.

But the guard wasn’t impressed.
“Fairy or not, pulling strings for your kind? Ridiculous!” he mocked loudly.

Veronica’s pale face flushed with anger, but she struggled to respond.

“Enough. Veronica, bring them in,” a low voice commanded.

The guard immediately straightened, abandoning his arrogant demeanor. Veronica, meanwhile, looked relieved.

“Yes, Lord Oscar!”

Finally, they were allowed inside.

As they walked, Veronica quietly explained that Oscar, a dwarf official, had recruited her for her current position. Whether Chloe’s application succeeded depended entirely on him.

“Chloe, do your best,” Aino encouraged, receiving a determined nod in response.

To their surprise, Oscar, the stern-looking dwarf official, spoke to Aino before leading the fairies to his office.

“Please follow the stairs on the right. Someone is waiting for you there.”

Aino nodded, unfazed. From the moment she had approached this area, she had sensed a familiar, powerful presence.

The same presence she had felt decades ago, standing atop a hill.

The Dwarven King, Solgor.