"Please wait!"
Standing at the alley entrance, Subaru shouted loudly at Emilia who was looking around blankly on the street.
Emilia turned her head at the sound, her hand brushing over her long silver-white hair, and asked Subaru with a hint of confusion on her face, "If you're afraid, I can only stay with you for a little while longer."
Looking at her innocent expression, Subaru broke into a smile. "Rather than me, you're more anxious to find what you lost, right? I have a way to help you."
Subaru's proposal made Emilia blink in surprise. "But didn't you just say you didn't know where it was?"
Hearing this, Subaru had a sudden inspiration and straightened hee back, replying, "In my hometown, what I'm best at is finding lost items. Leave this matter to me."
Emilia pursed her lips slightly, her eyes downcast, as she fell into thought.
Just then, Tsukasa's voice rang out in the air to Subaru's right. "Can you really find things?"
"Of course not."
Subaru put her hands on her hips and responded in a low voice with full confidence.
Subaru's confidence made Tsukasa helplessly press his forehead.
"In that case, don't tell a lie so naturally."
"Isn't this all for our sake? Besides, with Tsukasa here, things won't be too bad."
While the two were whispering, Emilia spoke again, "I don't have anything to repay you with, you know."
Almost at the same time, Puck on her shoulder added playfully, "Hee hee, we're a pair of paupers."
Hearing Emilia's words, Subaru thought for a moment and said sincerely, "I don't need a reward. Just take it as my way of expressing gratitude. If you could tell me about this country along the way, that would be even better."
This request left Emilia looking somewhat puzzled.
At this moment, the kitten known as Puck gently brushed her cheek with its fluffy tail and advised, "I don't sense any malice. The Royal Capital is so big, having someone experienced to help is better than us searching aimlessly like headless flies. While your stubbornness is cute, delaying important matters because of it would be too foolish. I wouldn't want my daughter to be a little dummy."
It paused and reminded her, "Besides, the sun is almost down. After nightfall, I'll enter a dormant state. If we run into thugs... although you could handle them alone, it's always good to have an extra helper."
"Thugs?!" Subaru subconsciously took half a step back.
Tsukasa's voice chimed in at the right time. "It seems this kitten enters a dormant state after nightfall. But it's okay, I'm still here."
Subaru didn't take these words seriously—what could a 'Civil Official' help with?
Tsukasa saw through her thoughts and only smiled slightly without explaining.
At this point, the Emilia let out a cute "Awoo" and finally made up her mind. She looked at Subaru seriously and said solemnly, "Let me state this beforehand: I really can't afford a reward."
—
Walking side by side along the stone path, Emilia softly voiced the confusion that had been swirling in her mind for a long time, "So where should we start looking now? To be honest, I'm completely at a loss right now."
Feeling the expectant gaze from Emilia, although Subaru was unsure, she still quietly gave a look to Tsukasa, who was floating in the air.
Noticing that Subaru was truly clueless, Tsukasa sighed helplessly and then suggested, "Since it's a theft, it means the perpetrator is in urgent need of money. In a place like this, there's only one type of person who lacks money the most—the poor. Therefore, the success rate will be highest if we focus our search on the most economically backward parts of this area."
This reasoning made Subaru's eyes light up. She immediately straightened her back and repeated Tsukasa's analysis in her own words, adding, "Furthermore, places to fence stolen goods are usually chosen in chaotic and hidden corners, and such places often have underdeveloped economies."
Hearing Subaru's reasoning, Emilia spoke with a look of admiration, "It really was the right choice to bring you along. If we follow this line of thought, there's only one target location: the Slums."
"That term really exists in every world, doesn't it?" Tsukasa's tone carried a hint of emotion.
Subaru nodded in agreement and then broke into a smile. "No time to lose, let's head out. It'll be a hassle if it gets resold if we're too late."
Just as she was about to take a step, she was stopped by a slightly shy voice from behind.
"P-Please wait."
Turning back, Subaru saw Emilia with crimson cheeks, her fingers twisting restlessly. "I-I'm Emilia... Um, we haven't introduced ourselves yet, I'm so sorry."
Facing this sudden and nonsensical apology, Subaru smiled gently. "I'm the one who should apologize. My name is Subaru Natsuki. So can I call you Lia?"
"O-Of course you can." Emilia's face grew even redder, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Then... can I call you Subaru?"
Subaru winked with a smile. "No problem, Lia. From now on we're friends. Please take care of me."
"Friends..." Emilia repeated the word softly, a glimmer flashing in her eyes, and then she smiled. "Yes. Subaru, let's go."
Watching the friendship heat up rapidly below, Tsukasa couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Did I miss some important chapter?"
Subaru, walking ahead, gave him a playful wink and then replied, "Don't ask too much about things between girls, Tsukasa."
—
As twilight gradually dyed the sky, on the way to the Slums, Emilia suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Subaru, who was talking in low tones with Tsukasa. "By the way, Subaru, you said earlier you wanted to know about this country. Are you not a citizen of Lugnica?"
'Lugnica...'
Subaru muttered the unfamiliar name in her heart, and after a moment of contemplation, gave an answer that was half-true, "My hometown is very far away. I came here to seek refuge, and the writing here is very different from my hometown's, that's why I appeared in that alley alone."
After hearing this, Emilia nodded thoughtfully.
Seeing her silence, Subaru was initially worried that her explanation had raised suspicion, but she didn't expect Emilia to suddenly turn around, her hands behind her back as she leaned forward slightly, a bright smile appearing on her face.
"Then, after this matter is over, Subaru, come to the mansion where I live."
Looking at the innocent smile of the girl before her, a sense of guilt welled up inexplicably in Subaru's heart.
At this time, Tsukasa, floating in the air, noticed an unusual movement—two blocks away, a woman clad in a black robe caught his attention. With the perception of his Six Eyes, he could clearly judge that the other party's strength was roughly at an extraordinary level, at least far above the current Emilia.
"It would be best if there's no chance of meeting." He whispered to himself.
This whisper did not escape Subaru's ears. She was about to ask when she was interrupted by Emilia's crisp voice.
"Look, there's someone over there. Let's go ask what's going on."