I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

There seems to be a subtle trend of them moving closer to Momoi.

It really does feature the same line from Sofia's startup screen: "What would you like me to become?"

'Like a blank sheet of paper, it's easiest to mold an ideal shape...'

Seeing that Amamiya showed no intention of stopping her, Midori reluctantly began to further embellish and supplement the story, while simultaneously stopping Momoi's 'exaggerated description'.

"Finally... chess pieces, two pieces, kicking pieces, thinking of the game..."

Momoi took a deep breath and gave a final summary of Alice's worldview.

"Just as Sensei said...this world is on the verge of collapse!"

"Those beings with twisted desires want to control this world... and we, along with Alice... our goal is to defeat that being who seeks to control the world, and become... the 'Phantom Thieves' who plunder the world!"

Amamiya smiled and continued Momoi's words: "So..."

"Please be our partner again... Alice."

Chapter 42 Alice successfully unlocked the Hero's Equipment?

“Sensei… is it really okay to do this…”

Quietly observing Alice, who was curiously looking around at the world, and confirming that she didn't intend to attack without warning, Yuzu's worries eased a little.

But then, filled with unease, she looked up at the young man who had decided to bring Alice back to the game club.

Regarding the "game script" that was previously obtained and polished by the clerk of the seminar, Yuzu, who usually stays indoors, is probably the one in the game department who has studied it most thoroughly.

Because of her exceptionally clear research, she also knew just how difficult it was to awaken Sophia's true human consciousness and grant her human emotions.

In the later synopsis of the game's script, Sophia only truly awakens her self-awareness almost entirely before confronting the 'final boss' in the Demon King's castle...

Xiao Lü echoed this with a worried expression.

"Yes, Sensei..."

"You want... Alice to become a member of our club, and a club partner... but this is not good for us..."

For these "homebody" girls in the gaming department, isn't this task a bit too difficult?

You know... the 'Phantom Thieves' group has so many members, they've even fought against a god!

Thus, the process of awakening Sophia was fraught with difficulties...

The Phantom Thieves are all characters at max level...

Can those of them, whose level is at most 10, really do that...?

“Midori, Yuzu…you can actually be braver like Momoi when facing certain things.”

Faced with this line that vaguely resembled a 'flag', Xiao Lü ultimately chose not to say anything more.

"Regarding Alice's uniform and identity... how do you plan to resolve this?"

Lost in thought, Amamiya raised her voice slightly and casually asked Momoi and Alice, who were walking ahead.

Momoi paused, then said matter-of-factly, "The clothing issue is simple! As long as you have money, you can have a thousand-year-old uniform custom-made anytime..."

"Eh……"

She then lowered her head, touched her chin, and entered a state of 'brainstorming'.

"However, Sensei's question did remind me of something..."

"There are still issues to resolve: identity and weapons... As for the identity issue, we can entrust 'Beritas' to hack into the student registration system that has been in use for thousands of years to help with the registration. But the weapons issue..."

Thinking of this, Momoi subconsciously reached for the hilt of her sword behind her back, imitating Link from Breath of the Wild by making a motion of "drawing a one-handed sword from behind her back".

The 'pixel sword' in her hand was emitting a faint glow as if it were enchanted, while pixel particles were also scattered around it.

"A weapon from another world... let Alice use 'this'..."

As Momoi spoke, she directly handed the pixel sword in her hand to Alice.

Although Alice couldn't immediately understand what Momoi meant, she accepted the gift without hesitation since someone was giving it to her.

'Om—'

The pixel particle effect extends and spreads instantly, coating the entire pixel sword with a bright blue color full of technological flair, like a 'heat-melting light blade' or 'lightsaber' from some science fiction settings.

"Weapon detected... Analyzing in progress."

"Weapon material: Unknown. Weapon type: Longsword/Two-handed sword."

"Assessing the destructive power..."

With her right hand level with her shoulder and the hilt of her sword at the same level as her lips, Alice suddenly made a very serious gesture of 'swearing an oath with her sword'.

With a whoosh, she flung the sword aside as if spitting out blood, and faint, pixelated blue flames immediately began to emanate from its blade.

But in less than a second, these pale blue pixelated flames turned into a dazzling golden color, seemingly carrying a warm and sacred feeling.

"O light (HikariYo) - Answer the call of the heroine Alice and light up this sky!"

As if she had learned it on her own... she suddenly shouted out a line similar to the "Noble Phantasm Release" line from the neighboring Moon World.

"Lumière de la Valeur (The Light of the Hero Who Sweeps Away the Darkness)!"

Golden flames roared across the sky, instantly turning the entire sky into an 'ocean' constructed from golden pixelated flames.

Momoi: "......???"

what?

How did she do it?

She was still in the 'handing out the sword' pose when she froze.

This...this...this...can this kind of 'administrator weapon' really be used for something like this?!

Little Green was also a bit stunned, but she was wondering how Alice had managed to learn how to use this "administrator weapon" without any instruction.

You should know that... the 'administrator weapon' isn't something you can just pick up and use casually.

The crucial factor driving it is "imagination".

In other words, you need to have the belief that you "believe and exist"—only then can you unleash the corresponding "skill".

Why did Amamiya say that these 'administrator weapons' can only unleash the basic skills of the corresponding class?

This is actually just a form of psychological suggestion...

For them, who frequently play games, the concepts of "bringing game equipment into reality" and "being able to unleash game skills" are strongly intertwined—so they subconsciously believe that skills can be used, and thus skills can actually be used.

Yuzu couldn't unleash the 'translation magic' because she subconsciously felt that this kind of magic didn't exist in most RPGs (which is indeed true).

If she believes the magic exists, then she can actually unleash it.

Xiao Lü conducted a simple yet in-depth exploration of the weapon's principles, which were constructed from this 'imagination'.

So when Xiao Lü saw Alice suddenly unleash a skill that resembled a 'light cannon,' she was quite shocked.

"..."

After a moment of silence, Yuzu waved her staff.

"Mage Magic - Anti-Magic Domain"

"Priest's Divine Spell - Dispel".

After using two skills in a row, Yuzu gave Alice, who was looking at her, some earnest advice.

"Alice...we can't...reveal our identities like this...and also, we can't just use skills randomly..."

"Alice and Yi Lingyi = Qi" died and understood.

Alice, who seemed quite satisfied with the special effects of the 'pixel sword' in her hand, first nodded cautiously, and then looked at Momoi, who had given her the weapon earlier and was still in a daze at this moment.

"Thank you, Great Sage Momoi."

Momoi hadn't recovered from her shock when Alice called out to her, leaving her completely bewildered.

"Huh? The Sage...?"

After pondering the title for a moment, she quickly waved her hand at Alice and defended herself, "Wait... Alice! I'm not some kind of sage..."

"Although in most legends, the hero's holy sword is either found under the guidance of a sage or given directly by a sage... I am really not a sage! I am just... an ordinary phantom thief!"

"And a phantom thief... cannot easily reveal their identity!"

Amamiya: ...

So you're calling yourself a phantom thief so soon?

He lacks even the most basic skills of a phantom thief, and even the experience to deal with the targets of repentance in the Impression Space...

With a helpless smile and a shake of his head, Amamiya did not correct Momoi's behavior of 'claiming to be a phantom thief'.

If the child likes it, then let her call her that; there's nothing wrong with that.

When his gaze fell on Alice's head, her previously fluctuating tarot cards had now stabilized.

It's still [eternal]...

This only means that the real "trial" that belongs to her has not yet begun.

Fools can only reach the world through judgment... and so it is with "eternity." Only by surviving the great calamity to come can one obtain one's "hope."

Once he confirmed that Alice's situation was completely stable, Amamiya's slight tension eased.

So next... it's time to confirm your mission goals again.

[XX days remain until "Eternal Future"]

Explore Impression Space

[Collecting clues about the temple]

[Investigation of 'Tsukigami Rion']

【Mison Start!】

'There's still a little over a month, less than two months, until the next Millennium Grand Prix... which means I have at least forty days to prepare...'

'We must make good use of this time and gather clues as soon as possible...'

Chapter 43 What games will the Game Club give Alice to play?

"Alright~ Let's begin the first club activity meeting of the Games Club!"

After a very brief silence, Momoi looked around and clapped her hands loudly, successfully attracting the attention of the five people in the club room, including Amamiya.

Momoi seemed to enjoy the feeling of being the center of attention. She tilted her head slightly, pointed one finger to the sky with the determination of someone about to release the Great Seal, and then spoke very formally.

"Now, let's begin... this crucial meeting concerning the very survival of the game development department!"

"First, there's the issue of Alice's identity and clothing... and the weapon... We almost confirmed the results on our way back; now we just need to do the final confirmation and revisions..."

"...The most important thing is still Alice's 'language learning' problem!"

The topic circled back to Alice's question of 'language learning'.

As is well known, the vocabulary of mecha girls at the beginning of their 'formatting' was quite limited.

At least, that's true for humans.

And the mecha girls also have unparalleled learning abilities.

...That's true for the vast majority of people.

After emphasizing the issue of language learning, Momoi, Midori, Yuzu, and Amamiya all turned their gazes toward Alice, who was 'maintaining her weapon'.

Alice is now wearing a real Millennium Technology Academy student uniform, not a pixelated outfit temporarily created by "transformation magic".

I don’t know where she learned it, but she leaned her 'Hero’s Sword,' which had turned into a two-handed sword, against the ground, while she sat on the soft carpet cushion in the game department in a cute duck-sitting posture, with her eyes closed and her eyes downcast, holding the pixel sword between her legs.

After putting on a pair of black-rimmed glasses, Momoi raised her index finger and made a suggestion.