Rin Tohsaka: "So, that's why you want ten million yen?"
After hearing Madoka's story, Rin immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness she wasn't going to use it for smoking, drinking, and perming her hair.
Kanae Kocho: "Madoka really is a good girl~!"
Kanae was also relieved. With Madoka's personality, it was completely normal for her to want to help after witnessing such a tragedy. After all, she had always been a kind-hearted child.
Madoka: "Oh, no! I-I can't really help that girl, I just thought that maybe you all would have a way!"
Hearing the praise, Madoka's face turned bright red with embarrassment, and she quickly waved her hands.
Kanae Kocho: "Just having the heart to do something and being willing to take action is already very admirable!"
Shiroyasha: "+1."
Many people were willing to offer help verbally, but few were willing to pay a price themselves, let alone ask for help in the chat group.
Even Madoka should have known that while this monetary cost was nothing to them, she was still asking for a small favor. And the value of a favor from the members of this chat group couldn't be measured by a mere ten million yen.
Looking at it from a cost-benefit perspective, Madoka's request could have been exchanged for an entire treasury, but she didn't do that. She only asked for just enough to meet her needs.
Shiroyasha had a very favorable impression of this attitude. Although it seemed a bit foolish, it also meant that Madoka's sole focus was on saving the person, with no ulterior motives.
However, praise was one thing; it didn't mean they completely agreed with Madoka's approach.
Shiroyasha: "Madoka, are you sure that ten million yen, or even twenty million, will solve that girl's problems?"
She raised a question.
Madoka: "Eh?" Madoka was taken aback, finding the question strange.
Madoka: "Ten million might not be enough, but twenty million should be fine, right?"
Given her father's social skills, the information he'd gathered should have been comprehensive enough, so it shouldn't be too far off.
Rin Tohsaka: "That's not what Lady Shiroyasha means!"
Seeing that Madoka didn't understand, Rin immediately explained.
Rin Tohsaka: "What Lady Shiroyasha means is, have you figured out why they're in debt? Ten million yen is not a small amount."
Rin Tohsaka: "If they fell into debt due to unforeseen circumstances like being laid off, illness, a financial crisis, or a natural disaster, then just clearing the debt would get their lives back on track. Helping in that case is no problem."
Rin Tohsaka: "But if it's because of gambling, risky financial ventures, or other personal issues, then even paying off the debt won't solve the problem... In fact, it might even make it worse!"
There's an old saying in the East: "Help the urgent, not the poor." It's a universal truth. Money can only solve financial problems; it can't solve people's problems. If the person themselves is the problem, no amount of money will help.
According to Madoka's description, the girl's father had basically abandoned her at the hospital, not visiting for months, completely entrusting her life to the conscience of the medical staff. While part of that might have been out of necessity, it was still incredibly heartless.
Although he did eventually return to the hospital to see his daughter and was consequently found, the specifics were still unclear, so they couldn't pass judgment just yet.
Rin Tohsaka: "If you really want to solve the problem, you have to understand these specific circumstances!" she advised earnestly.
Madoka: "Hiss..."
Madoka: "So helping people is this complicated... Thank you, Sister Rin. I'll ask my dad later. He has a lot of connections, so he should be able to find out."
Although she didn't fully understand some parts and felt a little dizzy, she knew Rin was looking out for her and was very grateful.
In the past, she had often helped small animals or her friends, and even when she helped people, they were just other kids. This was the first time she had been involved in such a complex social issue, and the first time she realized what a troublesome thing it was to help another human being.
Thinking back, it was possible that helping other children when she was younger had caused similar problems. It might just be that her parents, acting as her safe harbor, had shielded her from them.
Seeing Madoka being so receptive, Shiroyasha nodded in satisfaction.
Shiroyasha: "It's good that you're willing to listen. When it comes to doing good deeds, it's easy to cause trouble without sufficient skill in handling matters."
Madoka: "Mhm, thank you too, Sister Shiroyasha!"
Rin Tohsaka: "Speaking of which, besides investigating their background, there's another problem to solve."
Madoka: "What problem?"
Rin Tohsaka: "We all have quite a lot of gold and jewels worth ten million yen or more, and it would be easy to exchange them for money in your society."
Rin Tohsaka: "But... have you thought about how a kid who just started middle school is supposed to exchange all of that for cash?"
Rin Tohsaka: "And what method do you have to give them the money while keeping your identity hidden?"
Rin Tohsaka: "Even though kids can open bank accounts where you are, you're not planning on storing ten million yen of unknown origin in your own account, are you?"
She raised an extremely practical point. These trivial details weren't a problem for almost anyone else in the group. They were either on the fringes of society or had established connections on both sides of the law. There really wasn't a second girl as pure and ordinary as Madoka.
So, even if she could get her hands on that much money, limited by her identity, channels, and experience, there were many things she simply couldn't do. Even if this wasn't a problem for an ordinary adult in her world, for a minor like her, it was still a huge one.
Unless, she told her parents and asked for their help. But that would require a lot of explaining.
Madoka: "Ah, this!"
Madoka hadn't clearly grasped it before, but after hearing Rin's explanation, she finally realized how many problems there were.
Not only did she need to confirm the other party's financial situation, but she also needed the right channels to handle it. These things were too complex for a little girl, and many of the hurdles were simply impossible for someone her age to overcome.
A minor who could produce ten million yen would be reported to their parents by the authorities, and targeted by criminals. There were no particularly safe channels for her.
Madoka: "So, if I want to save that girl, I have to tell my parents..."
Madoka: "But how can I convince Mom and Dad that other worlds really exist?"
After a moment's hesitation, Madoka's resolve hardened. She couldn't back down because of a little trouble. Her parents could be trusted. If she backed down just to keep her secret, that girl might lose her only chance.
After choosing this path, a new problem arose. She didn't have many points, so she couldn't redeem any special abilities. So, how could she convince her parents? Even if her mom and dad were open-minded, they wouldn't just believe in the existence of other worlds at the drop of a hat.
Hearing this, Rin perked up.
Rin Tohsaka: "How about I go over and show them a thing or two to blow their minds?"
Showing off in front of people was a basic need, and for her current self, paying the cost to travel to another world was nothing.
Erica Blandelli: "Pfft!"
Rin Tohsaka: "What are you laughing at, you vixen? Is it that funny?!"
The twin-tailed girl was a little annoyed. Erica quickly explained.
Erica Blandelli: "Just imagine, Madoka's parents are held down by Madoka, who is earnestly explaining the existence of another world. Then, an elementary school girl shows up, claiming not only to be a magician but also a goddess."
Erica Blandelli: "It's a chuunibyou showdown with the parents!"
The blonde knight-princess snarked.
Madoka: "..."
Rin Tohsaka: "..."
Kanae Kocho: "That makes sense. Rin is still too young."
Kanae Kocho: "But even if we went, we'd probably just be seen as having severe chuunibyou, right?"
Besides the long-lived species, there was really no one in the group over sixteen. At most, they were high school age.
As everyone was pondering, someone slammed their hand on the table with confidence.
Shiroyasha: "No problem, I'll just do it!"
Rin Tohsaka: "Lady Shiroyasha?"
Rin Tohsaka: "Aren't you about the same age as me?"
Rin asked doubtfully. In terms of deterrence, Shiroyasha's loli form, whether in personality or physique, wasn't exactly imposing, was it?
Faced with this doubt, the white-haired loli placed her hands on her hips and said confidently,
Shiroyasha: "Hmph! Naive!"
Shiroyasha: "My figure is irrelevant! Not only can I change my form, but even if I couldn't, if I dropped a sun on them, who would dare question my authority?"
Shiroyasha: "If one isn't enough, then ten!"
She spoke words of world-ending terror. The appearance of ten suns would be a cataclysmic disaster, even for a modern technological society.
Rin Tohsaka: "..."
Kanae Kocho: "..."
Madoka: "..."
Everyone was speechless.
Shiroyasha: "So? Madoka, want to invite me over? Don't worry, I graduated from being a Last Embryo a long time ago. I won't destroy your world!"
Hearing her confident guarantee, Madoka became even more panicked. So you used to be a Last Embryo?!
Madoka: "No, no, no! Thank you for your kind offer, Lady Shiroyasha, but I'll pass!"
She immediately rejected Shiroyasha's offer. Even she knew which was more important: the tragedy of a single girl or the survival of the entire world.
And just as she was hesitating, wondering who in the chat group was best at negotiations, who was the most reliable, and who could solve the problem without causing other harm...
Suddenly, an unexpected message popped up.
Su Mo: "I'll go."
Three short words. The chat group fell silent once again.
Madoka: "Eh? Eh? Eh?!"
Madoka's eyes widened. She never expected that such a small matter would attract Su Mo's attention.
In the world of Demon Slayer, even though Kibutsuji Muzan was very weak, he was still a cancer on the world, barely qualifying for Lord Su Mo's attention.
But on her end, what qualified the tragedy of an ordinary family in debt to warrant Lord Su Mo's personal intervention?
Su Mo: "Invite me."
Although everyone in the group was confused, seeing Su Mo's short message, Madoka didn't ask any more questions and obediently sent the invitation.
The next moment, Su Mo left the world of Honkai: Star Rail and appeared in Madoka's bedroom.