I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

After exchanging a knowing glance, Amamiya slowed down and used a phantom movement to reach the corner of the game club's door.

Yuka also slowed her pace and came to the other side of the door.

After a rigorous and swift process akin to an indoor CQB breaching drill, Amamiya and Yuka each pressed their ears to the left and right doorframes respectively, listening intently to any sounds coming from inside.

Soon, Momoi's particularly penetrating voice reached my ears.

"Alright, now that we've averted the crisis of the club being disbanded, we can play the game without worry!"

"Next... let's continue that unfinished battle from not long ago! Little Green, and Alice... get ready for this!"

'An unfinished battle'?

Amamiya pondered for a moment, then realized that things were not going well.

It's not that 'Sword Soul' vs. 'Naruto' battle, is it...?

He decisively got up, went to the door of the game club's activity room, and knocked on the door.

"...who?"

"Coming to our gaming club at this time, are you looking to become a new member?"

The sounds in the room ceased.

Then, someone approached from afar, walking in slippers.

"Please wait a moment, Alice will open the door for you..."

With a creak, the door was pulled open from the inside.

"Oh... a wild Sensei has appeared~!"

'What? Sensei's here?'

Is Sensei taking us on an adventure to another world today?!

'I can't wait...'

As soon as Alice, who was in charge of opening the door, finished speaking, Amamiya saw through the open door that the three little ones who were active in the game club were quickly packing their things.

After a series of soft clanging sounds, everything returned to calm.

Alice, who was in charge of opening the door, also focused her attention on Yuka, who was standing on the other side of the door.

"what……!"

It was clearly visible to the naked eye that an emotion appeared on Alice's face the moment she saw Yuka.

This emotion is called 'panic'.

"It's... Yu... Yuka the Great Demon King!"

Chapter 4 Yuka: The Smile of a Perfectly Planned Man

"Yes, Yuka... Great Demon King!!!"

Alice's voice rose eight octaves, as if she was preparing to enter battle mode.

Yuka, who was about to say something, paused, "What's this 'Yuka the Great Demon King'... It sounds like you're calling someone a monster..."

Both in sound and in actual experience, it gives people a very 'vulgar' or 'rude' feeling.

However, considering that the child who said those words was a new face she had never seen before, and was very likely a first-year student, Yuka only frowned slightly before forcing a smile and waving to Alice.

Staring at her with those 'fearful' and 'terrifying' eyes, with eyes as innocent as a startled rabbit, even Yuka felt a moment of tenderness.

"I'm not some kind of demon king..."

"Young man, it's very impolite to address someone as 'Demon King' so casually. Remember to be more careful next time..."

After gradually softening her tone, Yuka began to look around the interior of the game club.

Hmm... It's still the same dark room, still a mess of various clutter, still a pegboard and sticky notes for jotting down inspiration... It's still no different from the 'second-rate' club she remembers.

"Momoi~Little Green~?!"

Yuka's gaze passed over Alice, and her extremely imposing gaze immediately fell on the Saiyu sisters, who were so frightened by the 'Great Demon King blocking the door' that they dared not move.

Standing next to Yuka, Amamiya couldn't help but clearly feel the coldness of this 'ruthless calculator'.

She simply stood at the doorway, leaning against the frame with a squinting smile, making no other move—yet she gave the impression of an 'invincible smiling demon king'.

"...Today is the scheduled date for the 'qualification review.' Game development department, are you ready?"

Yuka softened her tone further, and even her manner of speaking became somewhat 'formulaic'.

But Yuka gives off a creepy feeling... It's as if she's finished reciting her lines, and then she's about to unleash a full-health attack, grab you, and finish you off with a throw.

"Of course I'm ready...!!"

Startled, Momoi's (cyber) tail stood on end. After a brief moment of tension, she realized why Yuka had come here today.

She immediately felt much more confident.

—As long as it's not about 'complaints or reports about other clubs,' it's actually harmless.

Given that their game development department is mostly made up of female nerds, they probably wouldn't attract the attention of any strange clubs or organizations, and thus be the subject of their complaints...

Having gained full confidence, Momoi ran straight to the door, grabbed Alice who was still somewhat bewildered by the current situation, and then solemnly introduced her to Yuka.

"Hmph...Her! She's a club member that our game development department went through countless hardships to find!"

Yuka looked at Alice with suspicion, while Alice began to introduce herself in a natural and easy manner.

"Hello, Yuka-senpai from the seminar~!"

Yuka was a little stunned and even a little flattered by the way the person addressed her as "senpai" (senior) with what sounded like an accent from an unknown region.

After a moment of distraction, she belatedly coughed and said, "Hmm..."

Alice captured Yuka's mother.jpg

Amamiya remained silent: ...

So, did Alice somehow pick up Sophia's habit of calling others "senpai" a little bit?

Alice continued her 'self-introduction' while Yuka remained blankly focused.

"I am Alice Tendo, who just transferred from another school and recently came to Millennium Technology Academy. Because I just transferred schools recently, I missed the opportunity to apply for auditing classes... so classes will start next month."

"I heard we can join club activities now, so Alice came!"

"After some searching... Alice decides to join the Games Club, to 'join forces' with them in the epic battle against the legendary Demon King and her three generals!"

After she finished speaking, she looked at Yuka with great confidence and self-assurance... and Amamiya, who was standing next to Yuka, trying her best not to laugh out loud.

These four kids in the gaming club... are just too 'lively'.

"... um~"

After uttering a gradually rising tone, Yuka thoughtfully turned her gaze to the Saiyu sisters, who were standing in the room like children being punished, their expressions filled with fear and resistance.

"……I see."

After casting a highly imposing glance, Yuka's gaze fell upon the seemingly innocent and adorable Alice in front of her.

"Momoi, Midori... have you gone so far as to lure first-year students into joining the club...?"

Before Yuka could finish speaking, her voice tinged with disappointment, Alice interrupted her.

"Alice wasn't tricked... Alice joined this club voluntarily!"

"Why……?"

Yuka was somewhat surprised.

She originally thought that the game club was just using force to get a freshman to take the blame, thus barely maintaining the club's basic operations... She didn't expect there to be other things worth mentioning?

—Kiwatos, or rather… at least the Millennium Tech Academy, does not have a hard rule that ‘must join a club’.

She has dealt with many similar cases of members being 'voluntarily added to a club' and then coming to a seminar in tears afterward.

"Was it voluntary...?"

Yuka, sensing the 'anxiety as if something she cherished had been desecrated' in Alice's facial expression, believed Alice's story.

People can lie... but quite often, when people lie, or when they express other emotions, they can't hide it.

"Okay, so now..."

Yuka glanced around as she spoke, "I've already met the most basic requirements for 'club member'."

After jotting down a few notes on a file folder she was holding, Yuka nudged the cap of her ballpoint pen with her chin, pushing the protruding tip back into place.

Then, she revealed the series of tense feelings that made Momoi and Midori feel like they were "going from one tiger's den to another."

Little Green was immediately stunned, blinked, and seemed to ponder her memories for a moment.

"Are there any other requirements?!"

"Originally, all I had to do was apply to join a club... but..."

"To prevent misuse of funds and other reasons, the operating rules have recently undergone some changes..."

Yuka turned her head and looked at Amamiya, who was still standing at the door without saying much.

"Sensei, you must have seen it too, right? His performance this morning..."

"In order to save money, this is something that has to be done, something that someone has to do..."

Amamiya, who could see Yuka's distress, thought to herself that there were really few people doing anything productive at this seminar.

From the message that Rion had entrusted to the maids' club not long ago, Amamiya learned that, in fact... a considerable portion of the funds that the Millennium Technology Academy received each year was diverted by Rion to build the "Fortress City - Elido".

Amamiya hasn't yet seen in person just how big that so-called fortress city really is...

But judging from the Demon King's castle in the other world, it's clear that the so-called 'fortress city' is definitely not simple.

It's important to know that the construction cost of a single medieval castle can start at tens of millions of dollars, and the annual maintenance cost can be as high as hundreds of thousands.

The construction costs of the 'Fortress City'... Amamiya could predict that they would be an astronomical figure that would be difficult to make up for.

Heaven knows how Rion managed to make the accounting forms so flawless.

While inwardly grumbling, Amamiya calmly nodded to Yuka.

"Actually, I can understand Yuka's feelings to some extent."

【~???~】

Speaking of which... from the perspective of 'fund allocation', Amamiya felt that Rion was somewhat similar to herself.

After all, they used 'team activity funds' to buy all sorts of random things. If they just stood on the street and spaced out (or went to the Velvet Room), they would lose hundreds of thousands or even more money from their bags.

"In short... I've put in a lot of effort to save money and things like that..."

Yuka, who seemed to sense Amamiya's sympathy from his gaze and subtle movements, softened her stance and let out a soft sigh.

What you don't know is that all the money you painstakingly saved was squandered by Rion with the flick of her finger...

Amamiya, who felt increasingly sympathetic towards Yuka, couldn't help but look at her with pity.

"So, Yuuka the Great Demon King... what exactly are these 'other requirements' you mentioned?"

Yuka didn't respond to Momoi's anxious question, but instead focused her gaze on Alice, whom she could immediately sense was 'special'.

Gradually, a smile of 'successful schemer' appeared on his lips.

“Sensei...and Alice-chan.”

"us……"

"Let's talk privately."

Chapter 5 deepened his bond with Yuuka...

"So, Sensei, you mean..."

After her gaze shifted between Amamiya and Alice, Yuka continued uncertainly, "You mean, you also recently met someone like this... who speaks in a strange way, but truly loves games, and you persuaded her to join the games club..."

With a slight frown, Yuka couldn't help but take another look at Alice, who was as delicate as a doll, obediently and calmly bowing her head, without uttering any words.