In the morning, our main protagonist wakes up as Bale in Etheria. He sets his sights on the Zodiac stone in his hand as he sits up. (I'm back.) He thinks. (So the world crossing is triggered through sleep after all).

While they're eating breakfast, Ebina pats Bale on the head "So are we going to practice today, little brother?" "We've already mastered 5 songs, I think that's enough of a playlist." Bale then says "Besides, we wouldn't want your voice to be worn out at the birthday party, do we?" He then contiues "That would be insult to lady Veena."

"Mother may even get fired." He teases.

"Wha?! I don't want that!" Ebina nearly falls backwards. Milly then laughs "Oh lady Veena is a gentle person. She wouldn't fire me over that."

"Since singing is off limits, what are you two going to do?" asks Garrus. "Wanna hang out with us at the stalls?"

"I was thinking about exploring the city." "By yourseves?" asks Milly. "Yes." says Bale. "..." Garrus and Milly look at each other worriedly.

"You should probably hire someone from the adventurers guild to escort you." Garrus advises his children.

"Really? But I'm just a worthless commoner demonkin." raises a brow. "Usually there isn't much to rob or ransom."

"Lately there's been reports of children going missing. I don't know what I'd do if you two went missing." says Garrus worriedly. "Let's not go alone, little brother!" Ebina says worriedly. "It sounds dangerous."

"So will it be fine then if we get an escort?"

"Yes. That'd make us feel better."

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"Here we are. The adventurer's guild!" Anne motions to a large building. Just like the merchant's guild, it's very large and has 2 double door entrances. Above the white doors are a silver emblem with Zodiac stones as the base of its design. Bale is captivated by the large, unfamiliar animals being bought in through the other door.

"Wow, what are those?!" He asks. "Oh, they're a type of monster called Ogre Bears." Anne raises her hand over her eyes as she follows Bale's gaze. "They're being bought in to be harvested for parts."

(Judging by their size and claws, they'd make mince meat out of an elephant in seconds. Maybe this world is more dangerous than I thought...) He then pouts (Screw black powder firearms, I'd need a cannon to kill something like that).

"What's the difference between animals and monsters?" asks Bale. Anne then looks up to the left as she thinks "Animals don't use magic, and they need to eat to stay alive."

"Anyway, lets go in." says Anne as she leads the way. "Is it okay to go in?" asks Ebina. "I heard that adventurers were loud and scary." She continues. Anne then pats Ebina's head. "It's fine as long as you have money." "Can't we just hire you?" Bale asks.

"Sorry, I've already taken a quest. I'm just taking you to the adventurer's guild since we're going in the same direction."

They walk up to the guild counter as Bale looks around. There are people in various armors and clothing sitting around the lobby area. Some are drinking, others are having a conversation.

"Hello, welcome to the Arnvir branch of the Pnakotica adventurer's guild." smiles the receptionist.

"Hello, I'd like to make a request." Anne states. "What kind of request?"

"I'd like for someone to escort these children around town for 8,000 Zenny." Anne puts her metallic name tag on the desk. She then takes out a tiny sack of Zenny. The receptionist then looks at the siblings and says "Alright, let me take care of the paper work real quick."

As she walks away, an Elven man walks up to the trio. "Hey, I recognize you two!" He smiles at Ebina and Bale. He has blonde slicked back hair, and looks to be in his mid 20's. He's wearing light clothing and a cloak.

"You were performing at the tavern last week. I loved it!" the Elven man gives them a thumbs up.

"Thanks!" Ebina smiles as she bows slightly. "Oh hey there Anne." the man waves at Anne as she waves back.

"Hello Mammon." She then says "Didn't expect to see you here." Mammon then waves a hand "I had some business here but now I'm free." He then pats Bales head. "Oh by the way, you can call me Mammon. I'm in the Asura Union." "Nice to meet you, Mammon." Bale nods.

"I overheard your conversation, I could show you two around town if you want."

"Sure, but I don't think we can afford you." says Bale. "Oh? What makes you say that?"

"You're very strong."

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"Eeh? How can you tell?" asks Anne and Ebina.

"I just can." Bale playfully tilts his head to the side.

"Heh I'm not that strong, I'd say above average at best." Mamon smiles and scratches his head.

"It's fine, I'll show you around even if you don't pay. I really liked your performance at the tavern."

"If you insist, I don't mind at all." Bale continues to display his suspicious smile. Ebina notes that Bale's smile seems different from his usual polite smile. (Ehh...little brother seems...more excited than usual?)

"We already registered the request if you're fine with that." says Anne. "Not a problem." Mammon raises a hand.

As the receptionist returns with a piece of paper, Anne then says "Excuse me. It looks like we have a taker for the request already. Can you please assign it to Mammon here?" Mammon then winks at her. "As you wish."

"See ya tomorrow!" smiles Anne as she walks away, satisfied with a job well done.

Bale and Ebina are walking next to Mammon on the streets. "So where'd you wanna go?" He asks. "Let's look around the city." says Bale "I wanna see how the world works, and take note of its technological level"

"Technological level?" Ebina and Mammon repeat in unsion.

"What's that?" They both ask, again in unsion.

"I want to see all the tools and inventions this city has to offer." Bale big-sweats.

"Are you not going to buy Lady Veena's daughter a birthday present?" asks Mammon. "Ehh? Birthday present?" asks Ebina. Bale then says "I don't think we should insult her with a cheap present. Besides, we're just going there as performers, not guests."

"Wait, how did you know we were invited to her place?"

Mammon then laughs "Everyone saw you two get invited at the marketplace." "Lady Veena may be human, but she really loves demonkin you see."

"Why's that?" asks Bale. From his experience, people who openly claim to fight for diversity are only doing it for money or influence. They really don't care otherwise. (Well, she seems to treat mother well, so I won't think about it too much).

"A lot of people see demonkin as weak and useless, but Lady Veena wants to prove them wrong."

Bale then smiles "No wonder mother likes her so much." "You got that right." Mammom raises a fist. "I can't wait to meet her." Ebina chimes in.

"So what's your first destination?" asks Mammon.

"I was wondering if there are any artisians, or craftsmen who make tools and equipment." Bale nods.

"The magic tool shop is usually where one goes to get custom tools and equipment made." Mammon waves his hand.

"That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for." smiles Bale. "Okay I'll lead the way then!" Mammon begins walking northwards. As they round the corner, Mammon curiosity finally gets the better of him. He couldn't hold off any longe.

"By the way, what makes you think I'm strong?"

"Just imagine all the things you can do by changing your appearance." says Bale. "!!!" Mammon is shocked at the boy's revelation. "How...?"

"My eyes can see the entire spectrum of light from infared to ultraviolet. Your elf form only appears in one tiny part of it." "Infared? Ultraviolet?" asks Ebina. Bale then nods at Ebina "The rest of the spectrum tells me that Mammon is a demonkin." "Wahh really?!" Ebina raises her hands in shock.

(Huh? Does Ebina not have the same eyes as me?) He then glances at her wings (But now that I think about it, I don't have her wings either).

Bale then glances at Mammon's forehead, he sees a red diamond about 1 inch tall on it. "That blood crystal on your forehead, could that be what's casting the illusion of you being an elf?" Bale puts a hand on his chin as he squints.

"Hahahaha!" Mammon then puts a hand on his head as he laughs. "You have good eyes there kiddo."

"Really? Have no other demonkin called you out on it?" Bale tilts his head in confusion "I'm sure the demonkin who check for counterfeit Zenny can also see your true form."

"Hmm...is that so?" Mammon looks downwards deep in thought.

"Most likely." Bale shrugs. "But it's strange that you didn't know this."

Mammon then laughs "I hardly ever hang out with anyone other than those in my union. And none of them have your eyes."

"I see. That makes sense." Bale smiles (I hardly go outside myself either, hell I don't even play with the village kids).

Mammon then claps his hands together and bows slightly towards Bale and Ebina "Anyways please don't tell anyone that I'm a demonkin, there are many people who would happily kill to get a golden Zodiac Stone." He then raises his head and smiles awkwardly "So can ya keep a secret?" "Of course." Bale crosses his arms. "I'm just happy to see that there are also demonkin adventurers." "Yes! Me too!" Ebina raises a hand.

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"Here we are kiddos! The magic tool shop!" Mammon stands in front of a shop on the corner of the block. It's a squarish white building with a brown wooden foundation. "Waa...!" Ebina runs in as she drags Bale along. "Lets go see what's inside, brother!" "Yo." Mammon winks and greets a dwarf man with brown suspenders and grayish white hair at the counter. He's carving a statue out of a piece of steel.

"Welcome, if you have any special requests just ask." says the shopkeeper.

"Wow, straight up carving steel with a knife?" says asks Bale, impressed. (That's some crazy power to be able to carve through steel with a knife!) "Must be the silver Zodiac stone at work." He observes closely. "That's right." The dwarf raises his left arm to show off a brass bracelet embedded with a silver Zodiac stone. "Feel free to look around, but just don't break anything." He continues. "Yes sir!" Bale salutes. Bale and Ebina begin looking around while Mammon is just standing there watching them with his arms crossed.

As Bale is looking around, he notices that the metalwork is very well done. He sees pliers, stoves, wires, vices, lathes, and mostly things that are just tools. (So this is a magic tool shop?) Bale thinks. He then sees a box of screws as he then picks up a screw to examine it.

(The metal work is really advanced though, almost on the level of the CNC machines on earth). Bale thinks. (I'll have to draw up some blueprints and come back at a later date).

After going around town - checking out different shops, eating lunch - the trio decided to take a short break near the food stand they ordered from. "So, anywhere else you wanna go?" asks Mammon. Bale then responds "I've noticed that we've only been going around the east side of the city." "Is there any reason why you're avoiding the west side?" Mammon then exhales "It's not safe for demi-humans." "For demi-humans?" asks the siblings.

"Although baroness Veena advocates for equality amongst all races, there are those who are trying to undermine her." explains Mammon. "The pro-human faction is gaining power slowly every day." "Why are they doing this?" asks Ebina worriedly. "It's because they feel superior, obviously." responds Bale suddenly in a dour mood. (God-damn politics always ruin a good mood).

"But I if it's that dangerous for demi-humans, we should avoid the west side after all." He continues. "It's for the best." Mammon nods in agreement.

They then get up and approach a nearby bridge when a young girl - carrying a brown basket of flowers - approaches them.

"Excuse me, would you like to buy a flower?" She asks cheerfully as they turn around to face her. The little demonkin girl has black bat-like wings on her back, just like Ebina. She also seems to be the same age as Ebina. She is wearing a tiny cloak and a knee-length white dress.

"Oh sure, how much?" Mammon kneels as he reaches into his pocket. "Um...5 zenny each please." The little demonkin girl is half surprised that someone would actually buy a flower today. Mammon then hands over some coins "I'll buy 10 flowers then missy." "Y-you will?!" The girl's face brightens up. "Me too, I'll also buy 10." Ebina joins in. "Thank you very much!" smiles the demonkin girl. "I guess I'll take 10 too." smiles Bale.

After the transaction, they wave as the little girl starts walking away happily. "Thank you very much!" She turns back and waves. Bale smiles proudly at Ebina (She's been opening up these last few days). "She must be from the orphanage nearby." Mammon notes aloud. "You have a good heart Ebina." Bale pats Ebina's back. "She's so brave to be approaching strangers like that, I can't just ignore her." Ebina smiles, knowing she could never do such a thing. They then turn around and start walking away.

"Let's just go back to the marketplace, what do you think sister?" asks Bale. "Yes! My feet kind of hurt a little." Ebina brings her nose forward to sniff the tiny yellow flowers in her hand. Bale then hands over his batch of flowers. "Here, want mine too?" "Hehe, thanks." Ebina nods as she takes the flowers off his hands.

"Hey, hand over that money." a voice demands. "Yeah, this is our turf."