While the children were enjoying their food, Takeru received information from his clones: back in the main world, many rescue personnel were already waiting at the exit of the frozen tunnel.
The rescue team arrived after Takeru eliminated the Bat King, used a clone to pass through the spatial connection point, called Izumi to bring rescue personnel, and established the frozen tunnel.
The rescue personnel marveled at the suddenly appearing frozen tunnel, wondering what kind of tremendous power was needed to create such an exquisite ice tunnel.
Back in the cave, Takeru waited another dozen or so minutes before starting to lead the many children out towards the cave entrance!
Upon coming out, the children immediately saw the long earthen staircase, feeling curious.
"Alright, children, walk over there, go down the slide, and everyone can go home!" Seeing the children's hesitation, Takeru spoke up appropriately.
"Mhmm!" Hearing Takeru say this, a few children looked at each other, then began climbing the stairs. Because the height wasn't very great, but the length was somewhat long, the earthen staircase didn't appear steep.
After over ten minutes, under Takeru's and some elementary school students' organization, the over two hundred people gradually moved towards the spatial connection point.
However, due to the age of many children, Takeru needed to carry them. Among them, the ones who left a deeper impression on Takeru were the somewhat ditsy Charlotte Izoard, a first-grader like Renge. Apart from being a bit clingy, she never cried in the cave, seeming a bit scatterbrained...
Because he possessed shadow clones and telekinesis, although many children needed help, Takeru quickly sent everyone up.
After passing through the connection point, the many children saw the somewhat sci-fi ice rollercoaster.
Then, under Takeru's organization, they excitedly got on and began sliding down.
After the children landed, the pre-prepared rescue personnel quickly took them onto buses and began contacting their parents.
Some anxious parents, with tears in their eyes, waited here, immediately picking up their children.
However, after these parents got their children, they weren't in a hurry to leave but still waited here. Regardless, they also wanted to see the savior of their children.
The process of over two hundred people passing through the spatial node took nearly an hour. By the last round, only a dozen or so people remained by Takeru's side… students who had actively stayed behind to help.
"Everyone, thank you for your help. Hopefully, we'll meet again!" Seeing the final batch of children had arrived, Takeru sighed lightly in relief, then looked at the last dozen or so people and spoke.
"Takeru-nii, will Ai be able to see you again in the future?" However, just as they were about to part, Hinatsuru directly threw herself into Takeru's arms, tears streaming as she spoke.
For Hinatsuru, the experiences of this day were undoubtedly terrifying. But what made her happy was Takeru's appearance, like a god.
Because of this, Takeru's image was completely engraved in her heart. So now, at the moment of parting, she couldn't help but cry.
Hearing Ai's words, the others also looked at Takeru sadly. They knew the chance of seeing Takeru again was very slim.
But although they had only interacted for less than a few hours, everyone genuinely liked Takeru very much...
"It's okay. As long as Ai-chan wants, you can come find me to play in the future. And everyone else too." Hearing her words, Takeru fell silent for a moment, then gently patted her head and spoke.
"Really?" Hearing Takeru's words, Hinatsuru looked at him in pleasant surprise.
"Mhmm." Seeing this, Takeru nodded.
"Then, Takeru-nii, where is your home? And, can Takeru-nii be my master? I want to learn magic too, to use it to defeat these monsters and protect everyone!" Hearing Takeru's words, Hinatsuru asked again. Everyone else also looked at Takeru hopefully after hearing this.
"I'm sorry, Ai-chan. Although I can use magic, I can't teach you magic." Looking at everyone's hopeful eyes, Takeru sighed and said.
Hearing this, Hinatsuru lowered her head in disappointment.
"Then, can we learn martial arts?" At that moment, Renge looked at Takeru seriously and said.
"Mhmm mhmm, Ai also wants to learn with Takeru-nii!" Hearing Renge mention martial arts, Hinatsuru reacted and spoke to Takeru again.
"This... let's talk about it later. Alright, the rescue personnel below have been waiting a long time. Let's go down first." Facing their requests, Takeru felt a bit overwhelmed and quickly spoke up.
"Wait! Takeru-nii hasn't said clearly where you live yet!" Hearing Takeru was about to send them off, Hinatsuru Ai puffed out her cheeks and looked at Takeru.
"Alright, I get it. I live at Apartment 302, ****, Chiba City." Looking at Hinatsuru's serious expression, Takeru thought for a moment and told her his home address.
After hearing Takeru's words, the few quickly memorized it. Then, Takeru led them through the long tunnel to the bottom.
"Takeru-san!" Hazama and Izumi, who were below, saw Takeru and respectfully saluted him.
"Mhmm." Seeing their salute, Takeru nodded lightly.
"Mom! Dad!" After reaching the bottom, Hinatsuru quickly noticed her parents.
"Ai!" Seeing Hinatsuru Ai, Hinatsuru Akina, Ai's mother, excitedly hugged Ai in her arms.
Some other children also saw their parents and excitedly went over.
"It's great, Hirota! You're okay!" Some parents hugged their children in tears.
Renge, beside Takeru, watching the scenes of those children hugging their parents and crying, felt a complex emotion inside. Her slightly expressionless face revealed a hint of envy in her eyes.
However, parental concern was something Renge was destined to rarely feel. Thinking this, she felt somewhat forlorn.
"Renge." Noticing the change in Renge's eyes, Takeru reacted. It seemed Renge's family situation might be somewhat difficult.
"Mhmm?" Hearing Takeru's call, Renge's red pupils stared blankly at Takeru.
"Renge, you can come find me to play in the future. If it's Renge, I welcome you anytime." Looking at her, Takeru squatted down, gently patting her head with his right hand, speaking in a warm tone.
"Mhmm." Hearing Takeru's words, feeling the warmth Takeru conveyed, tears uncontrollably welled up in Renge's eyes, and a tremor stirred in her heart...
She rarely experienced this feeling. Even her older sister rarely made her feel this kind of special warmth.
"Alright, be good, don't cry. After going back, take good care of yourself." Gently wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, Takeru continued speaking softly.
"Mhmm!" Hearing Takeru's words, Renge nodded quickly.
"Excuse me, pardon the interruption. I am Hinatsuru Takashi. I am truly very grateful to you for saving my daughter, Hinatsuru Ai." As Takeru finished comforting Renge, a middle-aged man came to Takeru's side and spoke respectfully.
"I am Hinatsuru Akina. A thousand thanks." Beside the man, a young woman also bowed respectfully to Takeru.
"Not at all, it's nothing. Ai-chan was very well-behaved and obedient. Actually, over there, she helped me a lot too. With their help, I was able to bring all the children out so smoothly." Hearing his words, Takeru shook his head lightly and said with a smile.
"Regardless, the fact that you saved my daughter remains. As the head of this country's premier inn, [Hinatsuru], this is a small token of my appreciation. Holding this, all establishments under the [Hinatsuru] brand are free for you. Please do not refuse."
After hearing Takeru's words, Akina directly took out a special gold card and looked at Takeru seriously.
"What? She's the head of [Hinatsuru Inn]!"
"Seems so. I thought she just looked similar before, but now it seems she really is."
As Akina spoke, some parents around were stunned. Even Hazama and Izumi looked at Akina with some surprise. Clearly, their family was indeed quite extraordinary.