The Lost City stood as the largest and closest settlement to the Lost Woods.

It hadn’t always borne this name. Yet proximity to the forest had slowly etched "Lost City" into common tongue until the original name faded entirely—a fact that left past mayors perpetually torn between amusement and exasperation.

Beyond its name, the city itself was legendary.

Since its founding, it had weathered over a thousand beast invasions—minor attacks where monsters injured citizens, major sieges where walls crumbled. Through storms and bloodshed, the Lost City not only survived but thrived.

Today, it stood as one of Saintlight Alliance’s iconic cities, drawing countless travelers yearly:

Blood-for-gold hunters. Mercenaries selling their lives. Students seeking strength. Noble heirs on grand tours.

Every imaginable being walked its streets—even the occasional beastkin or fairy.

The Lost Woods were a treasure trove humanity had yet to fully plunder.

Some emerged rich. Others never emerged at all.

For many, it was a gamble—a gamble paid in lives.

"*Sigh*. Of course the first thing in any isekai is some ‘Monster Forest’ cliché."

On the main road to the Lost City, three figures drew curious glances.

A petite blonde girl led the way, her lavish gown rippling with each step—clearly nobility on excursion.

A black-clad maid followed closely, confirming the assumption.

Last came a handsome young man with dark hair, trailing slightly behind. His gaze swept the surroundings, unreadable.

"So this is a human city? Bigger than I imagined."

Yuri’s eyes sparkled with rare excitement as she stared up at the towering walls.

They dwarfed anything from her old world. The nearer she got, the smaller she felt.

The walls weren’t the dull black she recalled—they gleamed an eerie jade-white, streaked with silver veins that radiated ancient grandeur.

Dozens of cannon ports dotted the battlements.

At the first sign of beast rampages or crisis, mana cannons within could blanket any approach with devastating fire.

Beneath the gate, rows of knights stood motionless in heavy armor, blades polished to a lethal shine. Their cloaks bore the nation’s crescent-moon crest—a symbol of allegiance.

"Divine Moon is one of Saintlight Alliance’s strongest nations," Zuo Yuan suddenly remarked, breaking his silence. "Though still called a kingdom, its true power rivals any empire. And since all Alliance states stand united, their combined might surpasses even the greatest empires."

Formed a millennium ago to resist annexation by two colossal empires, the Alliance had grown into a true giant under Divine Moon’s leadership.

Together with the Sunlight and Starry Veil Empires, they dominated human territories.

Beyond them lay other sleeping giants: the distant Frostpeak Realm in the polar north, the theocratic Holy See—all coiled in a fragile peace.

Surface calm masked a world where a single pebble could trigger tidal waves.

None of this concerned Yuri.

Right now, finding shelter mattered far more.

The problem wasn’t locating an inn.

It was having no money.

An ancient vampire sealed for centuries couldn’t be expected to carry local currency.

Zuo Yuan had wealth once—but now his pockets held not a single silver coin.

After passing through the gates, Yuri’s hopeful gaze landed on Maria.

This maid always returned from errands with fascinating trinkets.

Surely she had coin?

"...My deepest apologies, Lord Akat," Maria chirped, shaking an empty purse with a bright smile. "I spent my last copper last week."

Yuri wisely didn’t ask how a maid acquired funds.

Some answers were better left unknown.

"*Great*. First stop in the new world: financial crisis." Yuri sighed, muttering words that baffled her companions.

*Novel protagonists always take mercenary jobs when broke—flirt with the receptionist, earn piles of gold. Should I try that?*

*Nope. This isn’t some shameless ‘Dragon-Tamer’ knockoff selling barbecue sauce.*

After a moment’s thought, Yuri made a solemn decision.

"Let’s go dine and dash!"

Maria: "... ..."

Zuo Yuan: "... ..."

*All that ‘serious thinking’... just to skip out on a bill?*

*Where’s her sense of honor?!*

Watching the girl march ahead, Zuo Yuan felt his entire worldview shatter.

*Have I completely misunderstood this girl all along?*

"Hurry up! We’ll miss it!"

Yuri paused when neither followed.

Maria stifled a laugh and quickened her pace.

Zuo Yuan hesitated, then sighed in defeat, chasing after them.