What’s a dryad doing here? The warm-hued dryad silently bowed her head to us first in greeting. Then she raised her arm to cover her mouth.

The sleeve, divided into fragments like bird feathers, flowed downward gently, looking just like folded wings. Soon, a high, clear voice like a chirping bird’s cry flowed from her.

“Are you Jae, the partner of Red Daisy? My partner wishes to see you.”

Partner? More than that, does Red Daisy refer to the Daisy2 sent with Loop?

“Well, I am Jae, but if you mean a companion, are you referring to your master, the druid?”

“Yes, a being that will be with me forever from the moment I was born until I die. If you follow me, I will guide you to my companion.”

“I can’t just follow you without knowing who your master is.”

Iris stepped between me and the dryad, speaking sharply. The dryad looked at Iris with calm eyes and then continued in a clear voice.

“I was told to deliver a message if you were so wary that even mentioning the Red Daisy wouldn’t make you follow immediately. Showing me the 28th last flower must mean you want to know the truth, right? The Bird of Paradise’s disguise ability doesn’t last long indoors, so you’d better decide quickly before some innocent butterfly gets drawn in.”

Her words hit me like a hammer blow to the head. It’s Earning! It was clearly Earning who sent the dryad. How is she connected to Earning?

“Let’s follow her.”

“Jae, are you sure it’s okay?”

“I think I know who sent the dryad.”

At my words, Iris stopped blocking the dryad with her body but still eyed it suspiciously, scanning it up and down.

“A Bird of Paradise dryad, you say? The flower really does look like a bird.”

“My host is an ornithophilous flower, so I mimic birds to attract them. It’s natural that I resemble one.”

When Zephyr marveled at the flower tucked behind the Bird of Paradise dryad’s ear, she spoke plainly. Intrigued by the explanation, I also stared intently at the dryad’s flower. Upon closer inspection, it did seem to resemble an orange bird perched on a stand.

Following her, we walked through the dimly lit corridor of the grand hall. Then we arrived in front of a waiting room. The Bird of Paradise dryad knocked on the door and said, “I’ve brought them,” and the door opened without delay.

The figure that appeared next looked exactly as it did in the pamphlet. Silver hair, golden eyes, the master of insect alchemy—Earning.

“I’ve been waiting.”

A calm and relaxed voice greeted us. Seeing her in person rather than in a photo, I felt a subtle aura of power. Behind Earning, I could see Loop and Daisy2 sitting on a sofa.

“I just stepped away during a break, so I need to head back soon. So shall we talk quickly?”

At her words, the Bird of Paradise dryad extended its wing-like arms to guide us inside.

“I have a good memory. That’s why I recognized at a glance that this Red Daisy dryad was the one who worked in the orchard back then.”

Daisy2 was looking at me with confident eyes. So Earning is indeed that adjutant, Deleaning.

“I never imagined there would be someone who’d recognize me. After all, everyone in the 28th terrarium burned to death that day. But that single flower ultimately led you to me.”

“Why, when you’re a famous alchemist, did you act as Scarecrow’s adjutant?”

I wanted to respond in the same casual tone, but Earning seemed much older, both in presence and demeanor, so I couldn’t bring myself to. Moreover, her casual speech didn’t feel like she was belittling me, but rather stemmed from her own high pride.

“Scarecrow… that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. A nostalgic name.”

Earning’s face turned sad. Her attitude, which didn’t seem like acting at all, made it impossible to discern her intentions. She looked genuinely nostalgic for Scarecrow.

“I heard you’re the current administrative manager of the 28th Terrarium. Then Scarecrow is… dead, isn’t she? She didn’t even allow me to see her final moments.”

“Please answer my question. Why did you work as an assistant?”

You said we don’t have time. Why are you beating around the bush instead of getting straight to the point?

Earning, who could be the key to all these enigmatic problems, and the core key itself. Why did she, a famous alchemist, act as an assistant administrator in the Terrarium?

Her popularity was immense when I saw her in person. People would line up overnight, even fighting, to attend her lectures. I’m not one to judge professions, but it was truly strange that such a renowned alchemist would work as an assistant to an administrative manager, not even as the manager herself.

Her golden eyes, clear and pure like an untainted yellow topaz, stared straight at me. Her gaze, fixed on me with her mouth shut, was sharp as a predator’s. Then, a gentle curve formed at the corners of her mouth.

“Well, that’s because it was my mission.”

“…Mission?”

And then she fell silent.

Mission? What mission on earth?

Just then, a knock came from outside. At the sound, everyone except Earning instinctively held their breath.

“Alchemist Earning, the break time will end soon.”

“Ah, has it already become that time? I need just a little more time to supplement the lecture materials; couldn’t you show a bit of flexibility?”

Her tone had completely changed from when she spoke to me. It seemed like she was putting on a kindly act.

“That’s not difficult. Please come out as soon as you’re ready.”

With that word, the footsteps of the person outside faded away. When no more footsteps could be heard, Earning spoke again.

“In that person’s eyes, the 28th Terrarium of the World Tree—both the Terrarium itself and its administrative manager—were a tasty prey. So I was dispatched for that reason. To seize both.”

“Who is that person?”

“Someone who now desperately wants to kill me? Hehe, I’m sure I won’t die an easy death. When they realize I’ve deceived them several times, they’ll burn me to death. It’d be fortunate if I died in a single blaze; I worry they might slowly burn my limbs first, given their temper.”

Even while telling a horrific story, her face looked extremely calm. She even laughed. No, if someone’s being burned to death, how can you laugh? Who on earth is that ‘person’ to commit such cruel acts? Surely not Papillion?

“You want to know more? Then help me find my precious dryad. It seems to be held hostage here, hidden away tightly by that wretched butterfly bastard I want to tear apart.”

She just says whatever she wants. I gave up asking.

Rather than answering my questions, Earning only said what she wanted to say at the right times. As if reading from a fixed script. So I just kept my mouth shut and clicked, clicked until the choices appeared.

“People praise her for having a pretty face, but where exactly is it pretty? Yeah, just like that white flower dryad behind you. I really don’t understand the tastes of kids these days. In my time, tulips were the best. Something full and solid, like a tulip bulb.”

Earning said, pointing at the Elder standing behind me.

Hey, what’s wrong with our Elder? Do you think this beauty is of this world? Is such healing beauty common in the world? I feel like I could live just looking at his face without eating! In my whole life, I’ve never seen such a pretty face!

Wait, if you’re bringing up our Elder…

“That wretched butterfly bastard I want to tear apart… is it Papillion?”

“Yeah, that guy. That vulgar one who acts like a moth obsessed with jumping into a pit of fire.”

“Ah, I agree with the part about wanting to tear him apart.”

“I was planning to leave the terrarium right after the lecture once I found my dryad, but where on earth has he hidden it so tightly? By now, a flower sensing my energy should have come to me. And that butterfly bastard even had the nerve to show up at the lecture to provoke me.”

Earning folded her arms and rattled off insults about Papillion at machine-gun speed.

“How can I find a dryad when even its owner couldn’t?”

“You’re the one who found a single flower in the 28th terrarium that had all burned down, aren’t you? Can’t you find my one flower that shines beautifully in silver and gold in an intact terrarium? That child is about ready to return to the embrace of the world tree soon. I need to reconnect its soul quickly.”

A flower shining in silver and gold, a dryad about to return to the world tree’s embrace soon… What a coincidence in this world.

“You mean… the honeysuckle dryad?”

At my words, Earning’s expression changed completely. The one who had maintained a composed attitude throughout showed anxiety for the first time.

“You, you’re quite skilled at finding flowers, aren’t you? Do you know where that child is?”

I told her about the place where I met the honeysuckle dryad and the fact that the black branches webbed the path, making it impossible to go. Of course, I left out that it was a branch of the world tree. In response, she flew into a rage.

“A hill garden? This terrarium has some higher mounds, but nothing worth calling a hill garden. And black branches blocking the path? That little butterfly must have schemed.”

She ground her teeth. I could see the veins bulging on the back of her slender, clenched hand. Just as she was about to say more, a knock sounded again. She no longer had time to linger here.

“Find my honeysuckle and bring it back. Then I’ll tell you the story you want to know.”

“Didn’t I tell you? The obstacle blocking the path is extremely tricky, and I can’t get past it?”

“I have to get out of here by today no matter what. It’ll be too late after the lecture ends.”

“Oh, come on…!”

No, I said I can’t do the quest! I came back after confirming it’s already impossible to complete now! It seems like there’s a prerequisite quest to clear those black branches, but I haven’t done it yet. And giving a tight deadline for a quest I can’t even clear, what am I supposed to do?!

“Professor Earning, you’ve been delayed for far too long. The attendees are waiting. Is something wrong?”

Earning looked at the door with an irritated expression.

“I’m sorry. I think I got too absorbed in supplementing the lecture materials. I’ll head out now.”

Then she picked up the bag from the chair, brought it to the coffee table in front of the sofa, and shook it upside down. A bundle of papers spilled out. She gathered an armful, looked at me.

“I’ll find a break during the lecture to slip out. Wait here for a bit. Guide me to where the honeysuckle is.”

“You’re really so willful.”

“I know everything you want to know. This mind has always been my weapon. As long as I hold the weapon, the initiative is mine.”

As she walked to the door, the bird of paradise dryad guided us to a partitioned area. It was too cramped for my dryads, including me, Iris, Zephyr, and Loop, to hide there entirely.

Only after sending all the dryads back as artifacts did Earning open the door and leave with the person waiting outside.