"Nara-san, you can stay here from now on. Take this money and spend it slowly. I'll come to check on you from time to time, but I have to leave now." Looking at Takeru, Mai sighed inwardly and spoke directly.
"Thank you, young lady. May your fortunes be prosperous." Hearing her words, Takeru smiled and offered his blessing.
"Thank you. Please take care of yourself." Pressing her lips together, Mai quickly left the spot.
Watching her departing back, Takeru revealed a smile. Sensing that she had gone far, he directly turned into a puff of smoke and dissipated.
…
Back on the street, the real Takeru, having received the memories of his clone, also showed a smile. He felt somewhat moved that Mai could go to such lengths. If it were him, he wasn't sure he could have done the same.
Of course, with Takeru's numerous abilities and top-tier strength, he could easily do better. And when he had time and it didn't involve his interests, he didn't mind showing kindness to a stranger.
Shaking his head, Takeru was currently monitoring a certain half-elf girl...
At this moment, Emilia, who was searching for the insignia amidst the vast crowd, encountered a certain green-haired little girl in the bustling streets.
Seeing the anxious look on the little girl's face and the slow slide of tears, Emilia's heart tightened. Forgetting for a moment the important matter of her lost insignia, she stepped forward.
As Emilia approached the girl, the girl initially looked delighted, but upon realizing she wasn't the person she was waiting for, her expression turned into deep disappointment.
"I'm sorry, I'm not the person you're looking for. What's wrong? Where are your parents? Aren't they with you?" Seeing the disappointment in the little girl's eyes, Emilia tried her best to soften her tone and gently inquired.
But hearing Emilia's question, the little girl's tears flowed again.
"Hey, please don't cry. This sister won't hurt you." Seeing the girl's state, Emilia spoke somewhat nervously.
"What's going on? Are you bullying a child?" At that moment, Takeru directly stepped out from the crowd, positioning himself between the two.
"N-No, it's because she was crying alone that I came over!" Hearing Takeru's words, Emilia spoke in a fluster.
"Is that so?" Hearing her words, Takeru narrowed his eyes at her, then turned to look at the little girl.
"Are you okay? Did you get separated from your mom and dad?" Looking at the little girl, Takeru spoke in a friendly tone.
Perhaps sensing the strong affinity and aura of reliability and security emanating from Takeru, the little girl slowly stopped her tears.
"Mm-hmm, I... I got separated from my mom." After stopping her tears, the little girl slowly spoke to Takeru.
"I see. It's alright. I'll help you find your mom." Hearing her words, Takeru smiled lightly and ruffled her green hair.
"Mm-hmm, thank you, big brother." Hearing Takeru, the little girl showed a smile again.
"My apologies, I misunderstood you." After comforting the girl, Takeru looked apologetically at Emilia.
"N-No, it's fine. After all, you didn't really do anything wrong." Hearing Takeru, Emilia waved her hands again.
"You seem to have something on your mind. Is there anything I can help with? As an apology for earlier." Hearing her words, Takeru lightly shook his head and asked.
"It's alright." Hearing Takeru say this, Emilia shook her head.
"Okay. I need to take her to find her mom now. Want to come along?" Seeing Emilia's refusal, Takeru spoke with a light laugh.
"This... okay." Hesitating for a moment, unable to suppress her concern, Emilia hesitated but then nodded.
Then, Takeru and Emilia, holding the little girl's hands, began their search. After about ten minutes, the girl saw a flustered figure not far down the street.
"Mom!" Sensing this, the girl broke free from Takeru and Emilia's hold and rushed forward, calling out.
Hearing her daughter's voice, the woman quickly crouched down and hugged the little girl tightly into her arms.
"Looks like we found her mom." Seeing this scene, Takeru turned to Emilia with a sunny smile.
"Mm-hmm, that's great!" Hearing Takeru's words, Emilia smiled happily.
Afterward, Takeru and the others bid farewell to the woman and the little girl.
"Alright, now it's your turn. Are you sure you don't need my help? You're a spirit arts user, right? I can sense the power of spirits within you. If something is making you anxious, it's probably not a small matter. Although I wouldn't dare call my power invincible, I can certainly help with minor things."
After the little girl and her mother left, Takeru turned back to Emilia again.
Hearing Takeru immediately see through her identity as a spirit arts user, Emilia was somewhat surprised. Then, hearing Takeru's enthusiastic words, she hesitated.
"He doesn't have any ill will. You can ask him." Just as Emilia was struggling, the cat-like Puck floated out and said.
"But I can't offer you any reward." Hearing Puck say this too, Emilia hesitated and spoke.
"That's fine. You didn't ask them for a reward earlier either, right? By the way, I'm Nara Takeru. I don't know your name yet." Hearing her words, Takeru spoke warmly.
"I am Emilia." Hearing Takeru say this, Emilia spoke softly.
"Emilia? It's as beautiful as your appearance." Hearing her words, Takeru directly said with a smile.
Hearing Takeru's sincere words, Emilia felt a bit embarrassed.
"I'm Puck!" At that moment, the cat-like Puck flew to Takeru's side and spoke.
Looking at the tiny Puck, Takeru curiously poked its cheek with his finger, instantly feeling a special texture, and its fur was also very smooth.
"Ah, sorry. I was curious and couldn't help it." After poking Puck's cheek, Takeru reacted and apologized softly.
"So, how is it? The feel is pretty good, right?" Hearing Takeru's words, Puck spoke nonchalantly, as it truly didn't sense any malice from Takeru.
"First-rate!" Hearing its words, Takeru directly replied with a smile.
"Hehe, as a reward for helping Emilia, I'll let you pet me." Hearing Takeru's words, Puck also showed a smile.
"Really? That's wonderful then." Hearing this, Takeru laughed directly.
"It's rare to see someone who can converse so casually with a spirit." Seeing this, Emilia said with a sigh.
"Eh, is it?" Hearing her words, Takeru, who was currently petting Puck, said in surprise.
As for Puck, in Takeru's hands, it was like a docile little kitten, currently squinting its eyes and enjoying it, completely cat-like.
"Actually, I lost my insignia. It's about this big, with a gem in the middle. It's very important to me. If it's lost, it would be troublesome." Then, Emilia remembered the main matter and quickly spoke.
"I see. It couldn't have just fallen, could it?" Hearing her words, Takeru spoke thoughtfully.
"No, my pocket was also slit. It wasn't dropped." Hearing Takeru's words, Emilia shook her head.
"Is that so? To steal your insignia without you noticing... I've heard of a person. If it was her doing, then it's possible." Hearing Emilia's words, Takeru directly spoke.
"Really?" Hearing Takeru, Emilia showed a delighted smile.
"Mm-hmm, but she wouldn't just hand over what she stole. Well, never mind. Let's head over there first." Hearing her words, Takeru directly spoke.
"Mm-hmm, thank you!" Hearing Takeru say this, Emilia spoke excitedly.
Afterward, Takeru led Emilia directly towards the slums on the outskirts of the royal capital. Because the slums were a very special place in the capital, Takeru's Observation Haki, which could detect nearly five kilometers, could easily locate them.
It wasn't until dusk that Takeru and Emilia arrived at the slums. Entering the slums, Takeru easily enveloped the entire area with his large-scale Observation Haki.