Re:World

An Illusion of Joy

After Emila's name was revealed we continued to search for the culprit of the stolen insignia. On the way, Emilia spotted a lost child.

"Hey, hey! Subaru! Chtholly!" 

"Yeah?" We say in unison. We look at each other.

"Jinx! Owe me a soda!" Subaru said.

"What's the issue?" I ask Emilia completely ignoring Subaru,

"Rejected!?"

"Doesn't that child seem lost?"

"Yeah but what about our questioning?" Subaru countered.

"Subaru? That child is lost! Don't you feel sympathy for her!?" I say, heartbroken that he would even consider such a thing.

"I do! I just-"

"Then there's no argument needed. We are going to find that girl's parents!" Emilia interjects.

Emilia strides over to the lost child. "We're sorry we aren't who you're looking for, but, what's wrong? Aren't your mom and dad with you?"

She could have said anything but that... I deadpanned. As expected, she burst into tears. She kind of reminds me of the kids back home...

"Here. Let me do it... I have tons of experience with kids." I say with forced enthusiasm.

"Hey, do you know where your parents are?" I get down to her level and put a hand on her head, giving her a head pat. I know I liked it when Willem did that... so I think she might too!

After a couple of minutes of walking, we found her mother.

"Looks like she found her mother," Emilia said.

I force my smile to be genuine. "Looks like she found happiness... Hey, how about we ask her parents about the thief?"

"Great idea Chtholly!" Subaru agreed.

We walked over to the newly reunited family, Emilia was the one to ask. Her mother told us about someone named Felt that fit the description of the thief.

"How about we ask someone who knows the place?" Emilia asks.

"No one would sell out one of their own." Puck argues.

"It's worth a shot," I say.

"Whatever you end up doing, I suggest you do it before I run out of time here," Puck says.

"What do you mean?" Subaru asks.

"It requires a lot of mana to stay outside my crystal. I can only reappear once the sun has risen. my average hours is around 9-5."

"Wow, sounds like he works an office job."

"What's- never mind let's just ask someone."

After some searching, we found no one. Emilia decided to ask the lesser spirits. After explaining to us what lesser spirits are, she started. Blue lights appeared all around her. I'll have to admit it's pretty. Though not as pretty as when Willem tuned my Dug weapon... No! bad Chtholly! Think about the present, not the past, thinking about it right now will only hinder us!

After some walking that took until nightfall, we finally arrived.

"Alright, let's go and get your insignia back!" Subaru said.

"Yeah, I hope nothing bad happens," I say.

"Let me do the negotiating guys. The more people we enter with the more intimidated they'll be." Subaru reasons.

"Good idea. Me and Subaru will go in to negotiate. Emilia will wait out here until we get the item."

"I have no objections. Please, do your best."