I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

In a sense, the meals prepared with the assistance of these gods associated with "dining," "abundance," and "food" can actually be considered a kind of "divine meal."

Feeling a similar yet different sense of mystery, like a sky full of stars, emanating from the bento box, Kahara didn't know what to say.

These 'customized bento boxes', which are clearly tailor-made for each of them and even different for each one, contain such profound and tender sentiments that they are incredibly heavy and meticulous.

The purple-haired girl lowered her eyes as she accepted the bento box engraved with her own halo and a sky full of stars. After a pause, she sincerely said, "...Thank you for the special preparation, Sensei."

【~???~】

Hibiki and Kotori also came over one after another and received their own bento boxes, which were all designed differently and even had subtle differences in the dishes they were served in.

"I feel like if this continues, Sensei will spoil us..."

The blonde girl who received the food blushed slightly in the night.

The morning bento boxes were already delicious enough to leave them wanting more... and the evening bento boxes were just as delicious as the morning ones in every way...

"Why did Sensei design the lunchbox with these twinkling stars, making it look like a 'nighttime' lunchbox? Is there any particular reason or justification?"

"Also, how does Sensei manage to make the food so delicious..."

After less than a second of hesitation, she fully unleashed her talkative nature, preparing to pull Amamiya aside and ask about all sorts of details that concerned her.

【~???~】

Amamiya smiled helplessly and handed the last bento to Hibiki, who was silent and embarrassed.

"These bento boxes were specially prepared for each of you individually, as a personal reward for your hard work... As for why they were designed this way, it's because food isn't just about being delicious—it's about 'color, aroma, and taste.'"

"When food is presented in a more beautiful container and plated elegantly, even if it tastes mediocre, it actually tastes better and you can tell that the person who cooked it put their heart into it—doesn't that make you feel that you put your heart into it?"

"Personally, I only have a superficial understanding of cooking, so I used some tricks in other areas."

As we all know, the order of the pyramid is: beginner → familiar → proficient → expert → master → grandmaster → basic knowledge.

'I see... We'll try our best to make up for any other deficiencies as well...'

Is this Sensei's unique insight into craftsmanship?

The dog's ears suddenly twitched with excitement, and it solemnly held the bento box in its hands, as if it had come to understand something.

【~???~】

"Sensei, is there something you need from us so late?"

“Yes.” Amamiya acknowledged Utahara’s doubts. “It’s about my personal… private matter.”

After a moment's hesitation, Amamiya, under the slightly curious gazes of the three girls, slowed her pace and spoke: "I want to ask... everyone in the engineering department, is it possible... to create a bionic body that is infinitely close to a human body?"

Seemingly not expecting Amamiya to make such a request, the girls exchanged brief glances.

After a moment of silence, Kotori raised her hand and asked, "Um...Sensei, may I know why you want to create a 'bionic body'?"

When she asked this question, she, along with Hibiki and Utahara who were listening in, were already prepared to receive a vague reason such as "it's not convenient to say".

After all... Sensei is a mature adult...

Having that kind of thought seems quite natural...

"sure……"

"Actually, before I came to Kivotos, I met a very special 'data life form' named Sophia. She was a special AI who had gained her own heart and had her own thinking abilities."

Amamiya narrated in detail: "After arriving in Kiwatos, I discovered that Kiwatos's technological capabilities should be sufficient to provide her, who is currently only sleeping in my phone, with a bionic body capable of functioning in the real world..."

"Wait a mininute."

Kahara raised her hand, temporarily interrupting the narration, and then asked with great confusion, "An AI outside of Kiwatos... with its own consciousness?"

It's important to understand that... even for the entire Kiwatos, and for the millennium, which is considered the most technologically advanced region in Kiwatos, a truly self-aware AI artificial life form is actually a very special existence.

Based on Ge Yuan's understanding of network engineering, the computing power and energy required to support such AI operation are quite terrifying.

The Sensei phone... I've seen it before. It's probably an outdated product in Kiwatos. Can that kind of phone support the computing power of such a special AI?

Normally speaking, even if such a large open-source data model could be stored, it would probably cause the phone's CPU to fail instantly during operation.

Kotori had already moved closer, like the best listener, her crimson eyes sparkling, and the ahoge on her head seemed to sense something and stood up with a 'whoosh'.

"That sounds quite special... Sensei, could you summon that AI?"

Xiang didn't speak, but her move of getting closer was enough to prove her curiosity.

"Since everyone is so curious... let's call it out and let everyone see it."

Amamiya didn't refuse, since Sofia's 'activation' would only slightly increase his phone's battery consumption.

So, under the watchful eyes of the three girls, Amamiya took out her phone and tapped on an icon named "Sophie" that had a design style somewhat like 'Bomberman'.

The icons spread rapidly, covering the entire screen.

"Rebooting..."

SOPHlA v1.37

The screen went white, and then the self-test information was refreshed one after another.

"STARTING NEURAL NETWORK..."

"All...OK"

"What would you like me to become?"

What kind of person do you want me to become?

As this question arose, the screen went dark again, and then... a girl with strange red heart-shaped braids suddenly poked her head out from the bottom of the screen.

"It feels like I slept for a long time... Jok, is there something you need to do for me?"

[Assistant: Sophia / Human's good friend]

[Arcana: Hope (Elpis)]

[Assistance Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ (MAX/MAX)]

[Assistant's Profile: A peculiar 'AI girl' I encountered in another world. When I met her, her source code contained only the fundamental logic of 'becoming a good friend of humans.' Later, after an adventure with me, she finally understood what 'the human heart' meant, and continues to strive to become a good friend of humans.]

"He...he spoke..."

Utahara took a deep breath, clearly sensing that this peculiar 'AI girl' was not any of the network models within Kiwatos.

This level of intelligence...

A true 'AI data life'?!

'Elpis (the Greek goddess of hope, closely associated with the Pandora myth)'

"She is said to be part of the story of Pandora's box. When Pandora opened the box and released all the evil in the world, only hope remained inside."

"Huh? Isn't talking a normal thing? Why are you surprised?"

AI Girl - Sophia is pressed close to the screen, seemingly using the screen's front-facing camera to look outside.

"Are these girls... Jok's new friends?"

Even Hibiki was completely astonished at this moment.

"The conversation flowed so smoothly..."

'And he clearly remembers things from a very, very long time ago...'

It's important to understand that, due to limitations in data models, the 'memory' of AI life is a huge problem—current AI models can only retain memories for tens of minutes, a few hours, or a few days at most.

(The 'artificial intelligence' chatGPT outside of Kiwatos can't even remember a few words.)

"Hey there, Jok's new friends. I'm Sophia, 'A Good Friend of Humans,' please take good care of me."

'Hmph hmph hmph~ (An unknown tune)'

Kotori was also startled: "She can even hum a song?!"

It's also quite obvious that the songs are in a style different from Kiwatos's...

The girls in the engineering department looked at each other, and for a moment they all felt that this 'AI girl' was too real to them.

It doesn't seem like an AI; it's more like a lively and adorable girl hidden inside the phone, talking to them.

After a brief moment of looking at each other, Kahara subconsciously glanced at the turret she had brought, which she had named "Ray-chan".

If Raikou's intelligence could be optimized to this level...

Really unimaginable.

"So... can the engineering department undertake the production of the 'bionic body'?"

After a brief silence, it was Hibiki who spoke first.

"of course can."

"However, if Sensei wants to create a highly realistic body that possesses the combat and defensive capabilities of an average student and is extremely controllable... please be prepared to spend a lot of money."

Amamiya, of course, had made the necessary preparations and nodded without hesitation: "Of course."

[...I felt the warmth emanating from Hibiki.]

……

I am you...you are me.

Here you receive a new covenant.

[As the saying goes, "Break through destruction to find the wings of resistance."]

Here you are bathed in the light of hope and blessed. You have obtained a fragment of the ultimate mystery of "Power"...

[To further propel us toward the future...]

[Coopetition restrictions have been lifted!]

……

[Nekozuka Hibiki (Power): ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆]

【★Skill 1 is now unlocked!】

【★1·The Hands-on Skill of Master Craftsmen】

[Master Craftsman's Hands-on Skills: Significantly enhances talent, speed, and dexterity in item crafting. Unlocks more item crafting recipes.]

[Assistant's Profile: A member of the Engineering Club at Millennium Technology Academy. While her social skills are somewhat lacking, her unique canine features are undeniably adorable. She skillfully utilizes her innate engineering talents to invent all sorts of amazing gadgets. However, it's said that while her inventions are masterpieces, they always come with some strange additional functions…]

"Since everyone in the engineering department is capable of handling the production of 'bionic bodies'... then let's leave it to everyone in the engineering department."

As soon as Amamiya finished speaking, Utahara felt a heavy sense of responsibility and mission fall on his shoulders.

Creating a highly precise bionic body is, frankly, quite a challenge for their engineering department.

"The materials..."

Amamiya, of course, knew what Utahara wanted to say, and promptly replied, "I will make up for part of the material shortage, and I will also provide some technical support..."

【~???~】

"Then, Sensei... this 'special mission' will be taken on by our engineering department."

Chapter Eleven: Artificial Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence, Arona's Great Crisis...?

"So... Jok means that he wants to use the technology of 'this world' to give me a body that can also move around in the real world..."

Early morning hours.

Looking out the window at the exceptionally blue sky and the distant view of the world called 'Kiwatos' through the phone's rear camera, the AI ​​girl lingering on the phone screen finally understood Amamiya's meaning.

"Yes, I already promised to give Sophia true 'freedom,' and as a phantom thief who steals hearts, I can't go back on my word."

Amamiya gently shook her phone, interacting with the AI ​​girl on the screen.

"But... the cost of creating a movable bionic body must be staggering, right? Jok... are you sure you're okay?"

The AI ​​girl on the screen displayed a wealth of emotions in her turquoise eyes that were in no way inferior to those of a real human, and she seemed quite worried.

"If too much money is spent, the Phantom Thieves' activities..."