I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Life（いのち）に勇気（ゆうき）をlamp（とも）せ金（いま）

Light the flame of courage for life

Hide(ひ)き金(がね)はPU(ぼく)だ

The key to everything (Trigg) is me.

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That said, "Key" can also be understood as a trigger (key).

The Key to the Universe

Chapter One: Xia Lai Gradually Becomes Lively

As time goes by, a new sun rises again, and a new tomorrow begins, full of hope.

Birdsong climbed to the treetops, disturbing Amamiya's peaceful slumber.

Rubbing her eyes, she slipped on her slippers and went to the bedside. After peeking at the scenery outside through a crack in the curtains, Amamiya sighed inwardly.

Fortunately... today should be considered a relatively 'peaceful' day. (Moon Ripples* (Part 1) Shanwu Chess 9 Stroll 3)

'Ding ding ding—'

Unfortunately, this 'peaceful and serene early morning' lasted only a few seconds before being interrupted by a constant stream of new message notifications.

I forgot this isn't Shibuya, Tokyo...

Taking a deep breath, rubbing her hair, and listening to the sounds of gunfire and small explosive devices exploding in the distance, Amamiya's 'beautiful' image was instantly and completely shattered.

This is Kiwatos, a place where gunfights and various small-scale skirmishes can break out at any moment...

What may seem like an ordinary, rare occurrence to outsiders is perhaps, in the eyes of the world, a true miracle.

"Let's review yesterday's schedule..."

While washing and grooming herself, Amamiya began to reflect on what she had done all day yesterday.

I woke up in the morning and planned to prepare breakfast for Wakazama, who was in a "damaged state" and also injured... but Wakazama "escaped" beforehand, so I couldn't make it.

This morning, I explained the use of various public facilities in Kiwatos to Hoshino and Shirako, as well as some precautions, and also handled some paperwork...

In the afternoon, I went to another world with Hoshino, Shirako, and the four members of the game club. We fought a monster there and also gathered some information.

As night falls, he even has to go to the maid club to indirectly connect with Rion...

"……Pooh."

After spitting out the mouthwash, Amamiya wiped the toothpaste foam from her lips with a damp towel, thinking to herself, "This 'phantom thief's' journey is certainly packed with events..."

After briefly lamenting how his schedule was almost entirely filled with various tasks, leaving him with little personal space, Amamiya, as usual, asked Alona, ​​"What are your to-do items for today?"

Perhaps it's because Amamiya rubbed my face a little sore not long ago.

Alona did not appear directly in the 'camera shot' this time.

Through the screen of the Shitei Box, Amamiya could only see a white butterfly hairband swaying in the sea breeze and hear Alona's slightly 'preoccupied' voice.

“Sensei… I don’t have any special plans or invitations today.”

"You are free to decide your schedule for today."

Amamiya felt helpless seeing that Alona only dared to communicate with him at the edge of the screen.

"You can't be that afraid of me, Alona."

"..."

Arona didn't reply, and it was unclear whether she was sulking or thinking about something else.

【~???~】

However, Amamiya clearly sensed the joy that she instantly expressed, perhaps because she felt cared for.

After realizing that Alona didn't want to talk to her for the time being, Amamiya decisively shook her phone again.

With a slight vibration from the phone, the screen automatically lit up, and then the AI ​​girl, who had minimized herself to save battery, pulled down the black and red curtain and appeared on the phone screen.

"Jok, did you call me out because of something?"

Amamiya shook her head, indicating that nothing was wrong.

"Sophia, how are you finding your place in this world? Are you getting used to it?"

【~???~】

"This world... gives me a 'strange' feeling, I can't say whether I like it or hate it..."

At this point, the background color of the AI ​​girl's iris on the screen gradually brightened.

"For me... it doesn't matter where I am with Jok."

Well, it can be said to be very 'sincere', although it didn't mean anything by it, but it can still be considered a 'high EQ' answer.

The morning is probably the time of day when most people have the most energy.

The message notifications on Amamiya's phone kept ringing incessantly, with a new message notification appearing almost every second.

[Yako: About 'psychological counseling'...]

'...'

[Himari: Sensei, there are some things I want to talk to you about.]

'...'

[Yuka: Does Sensei have any information regarding the Millennium Grand Prix?]

'...'

[Haruka: Regarding... plant cultivation... there are some results I really want to show Sensei...]

'...'

[Momoi: Sensei, when are we going on an adventure to another world? Alice says she can't wait...]

'...'

[Green: Sensei, if you're free today, how about we go out and have some fun? I know there's a really fun toy street in the Millennium District.]

After skimming through the ever-increasing volume of messages, Amamiya couldn't help but sigh again.

—He finally understood why Professor Maruki Takuto, who was a psychologist at the time, would sometimes sigh for no apparent reason.

"Speaking of which... Jok is also very popular with girls in this world."

"As expected of you, Jok."

Sofia's timely "finishing blow" made Amamiya's lips curl into a helpless smile.

That said, the Millennium Grand Prix is ​​just around the corner.

This time, the ceremony shouldn't be delayed any longer, right?

Let's set the deadline for the "Hall of Fame Strategy" before the "Millennium Grand Prix" begins.

After confirming the date for the palace visit, Amamiya felt less nervous for the time being.

However, although I'm not as nervous now, figuring out how to conquer the Hall of Fame still needs to be my top priority...

Pretending not to have heard Sophia's extremely serious, not-so-joking, 'teasing' remark, Amamiya decisively began today's paperwork.

I don’t know if it’s an illusion…

Recently, it seems that there have been more documents and papers related to Trinity College and Ghenna Academy than before.

After processing more than a dozen documents related to the Trinity College London conflict, Amamiya seemed to vaguely sense the gunpowder and gunpowder lurking beneath the surface.

Is it also because the Eden Treaty is about to be signed...?

Perhaps due to the renovation of the engineering department, or simply because the students are more curious, Amamiya noticed that there were significantly more 'shadows' that could be seen in Shirley recently.

The countermeasures committee had nothing much to do today, so everyone was mobilized... Perhaps due to considerations such as office work, they didn't bother Amamiya.

Besides the five-member countermeasures committee, Amamiya also saw some unfamiliar students walking around the area.

Some of the students were wearing uniforms he recognized—Pandemon Hall's; the Disciplinary Committee's.

Some students were wearing uniforms he had never seen before, but which he could recognize through his "déjà vu" ability.

'I've occasionally seen student badges from Trinity... Red Winter... even from the Classic of Mountains and Seas...'

After thinking to himself, 'She's getting more and more popular,' Amamiya looked away.

"So... who should we invite first today?"

Chapter Two: The Prelude to the Millennium Grand Prix

After thinking for a moment, Amamiya finally decided... to meet with Yuka first and see what the situation was like on her end.

Even with the intelligence support from Beritas and the approval of that star Himari, even knowing that the 'palace master' of the Demon King's castle in that other world is Tsutsuki Rion, it's unlikely that Amamiya would carry out various phantom thief operations based solely on one side of the story.

He has dealt with many people in the Hall of Twisted Desires, most of whom were bad people, a small number of whom meant well but did bad things, and were just people on different sides... There were even very rare special cases who "praised for the happiness of all people," but were absolutely bad people from the perspective of the Phantom Thieves.

It is essential to make contact with the people around these 'masters of the hall' and try to understand their lives and personality traits through indirect means.

After thinking it over, Amamiya brought up Yuka's chat page, preparing to send her a message.

[The Millennium Grand Prix... I've heard about it from everyone who attended the seminar, as well as the kids from the game and engineering departments. What's wrong, Yuka?]

Since it was early morning, Yuka hadn't fully gotten into her busy state yet, so she replied to the message quickly.

Yuka: Hmm...

[Yuka: Sensei, you should know that the Millennium Grand Prix is ​​a relatively important competition at our Millennium Technology Academy. About a hundred clubs participate in this competition, submitting their work.]

[Yuka: Correspondingly, our seminars will also score each club based on their performance... and determine the allocation of the budget for the following year.]

Seeing this, Amamiya finally understood why Momoi had said, "If we can achieve good results in that Grand Prix, then that 'Yuka the Great Demon King' who wants to disband the club will have nothing to say."

After all, if you can demonstrate 'strength' and 'performance,' what's there to worry about in terms of the department's potential collapse?

Just like how online novel authors can almost live off the IP series for a lifetime by writing a best-selling book... As long as you mindlessly develop sequels and the quality remains at a consistent level, there will always be players willing to pay for them.

After thinking for a moment, Amamiya typed a reply: "So... Yuka wants me to help you with something?"

[Yuka: I want to invite Sensei to participate in the "club qualification review" with me... The 'behind-the-scenes' story of how the club was temporarily reorganized, relying on personnel changes to obtain funds, and then dividing the spoils after the "Millennium Grand Prix"...]

[Yuka: The "Millennium Grand Prix" will have its dates slightly adjusted each year, and changes to club personnel will be prohibited during this period. Of course, joining a club from scratch is still possible, but if you want to move members...]

[Yuka: Then it will need to be reviewed by the seminar.]

To prevent situations where "everyone forms a club to work on a research project," only to "divide the funding and go their separate ways," a preliminary club review is conducted before the competition even begins...

To ensure that no illegal organizations (referring to organizations that do not comply with regulations) will emerge.

There seemed to be a pause over there, probably because they were making a payment.

[Yuka: I've already bought breakfast... Sensei, if you're interested, let's chat again later.]

After sending a picture of a 'standard American breakfast', Yuka remained silent for a while.

Amamiya clicked on the picture and took a quick look. It seemed to be a branded coffee shop, similar to Starbucks, near the 'territory' of the Millennium Technology Academy.

Breakfast was quite simple: eggs, bacon, potatoes... and a cup of hot coffee.

"Speaking of which... the amount of paperwork that needs to be done every day at the seminar must be no less than mine..."

'Or rather, it's far more than I imagined... So this kind of mental and physical labor must require a lot of energy...'

Amamiya recalled that not long ago, she had given Noah a bento box, but Noah did not open and eat it on the spot.

At that time, Amamiya was still lamenting that she 'couldn't see how literary girls behave'...

It seems that the seminars usually adopt similar simple and efficient methods... In order to squeeze out enough time, they probably can't be described as very elegant in their approach.

After finishing his breakfast, Amamiya also began to deal with various official documents sent by the Federation Student Council that required Amamiya to confirm and sign in her capacity as Sensei.

Nowadays, even without the help of several bond skills that improve comprehension and analytical abilities, he is gradually becoming more and more proficient.

‘Ding dong——’

A moment later, Amamiya heard some light footsteps coming from downstairs.