The time when Mika had to return to Warehouse No. 4 was approaching.

This problem was far too big for them to handle alone.

“Let’s take her to the Adventurer’s Guild. We should consult the Guild Master.”

“That’s right. Flower-chan, do you think your mama and the others will come down the mountain to look for you?”

“No… They only search for lost children as many as their fingers can count, then give up. …Flower has probably already been given up on.”

Normally, if the snow covering her body were to fall away, she would have fled back up the mountain. Rather than blindly searching through the endless snowy peaks, the adults would likely wait near the summit.

But Flower, having never met anyone who would brush the snow off for her, had instinctively sought warmth and descended close to the foothills.

Holding out her left hand and staring at her five human-like fingers, she answered in a daze, exhausted from crying.

Of course, she didn’t know the way home. And in this snow, even if Mika and the others tried to take her back, the chances of reaching the village were nearly zero.

“Flower-chan, Auntie will definitely take you home one day. Your home is far away, and I don’t know where it is yet, but once the snow melts, we’ll find it. So for now, come with us, okay?”

“…Mhm.”

The girl nodded faintly, as if she had given up on everything.

Mika’s words faltered as she spoke to the girl, who had resigned herself to neither crying nor running away.

For now, there was no other choice—but Mika resolved to find some way to return her to her parents as soon as possible.

Now, having decided to take Flower under their protection, Mika immediately ran into a problem.

In this world, the only person she could consult was the Guild Master. However, Acid’s Door had guards who checked everyone passing through. How could they secretly bring Flower to the Guild Master without anyone finding out?

“Do we really have to keep it a secret? Why not just walk right through the front gate?”

Zurah tilted her head in confusion, but Dada answered calmly.

“No. If word gets out about a new, previously unknown race of humans, it could cause an uproar—not just in this country, but in others as well. There might even be talk of attacking Flower’s village. And Flower herself could lose her freedom. We need time to quietly lay the groundwork first.”

“Is the Guild Master trustworthy?”

“Yes. Despite appearances, he’s a deeply compassionate man. And the Adventurer’s Guild holds enough influence to sway even the nation to some extent.”

Mika briefly considered taking Flower home with her, but if they were discovered, the uproar over treating her like a test subject would be even worse.

“What if we disguise her to get through?”

“Flower doesn’t resemble any of this world’s races closely enough…”

Birdfolk and fairies had similar faces but were the wrong size. Kobolds and lizardmen had completely different facial structures.

Snakefolk’s body shapes were too different, and if she had to pick, a dragonkin baby might be closest in face and build—but they barely had any body hair.

None of the other races Mika had heard of seemed like a good match either.

“What if I just pass her off as my child?”

“There are no records of an ogre having a child like that, so it might work, but…”

“What if we just have the Guild Master come here instead?”

Gatt’s sudden muttering made Mika pause. Hmm. That might actually work!

This mountain cabin was too exposed—they needed somewhere less likely to draw attention.

“Alright, let’s regroup at Warehouse No. 4.”

As they debated, time was running out for Mika.

Would they really be able to safely bring Flower and the Guild Master together?