I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Alice, a hero... must not cry."

Amamiya smiled and then spoke softly.

"A hero... is not allowed to cry?"

Momoi was somewhat moved by Amamiya's words.

"Yes... people expect the glorious adventures of heroes, they yearn for the epic tales of heroes, but have they ever seen... the heroes' wretched state, slashed and wounded by swords and spears..."

Amamiya paused, then, under the watchful eyes of the other three children, continued seriously, "And his ferocity in that perilous situation, his despair with nowhere to retreat..."

"Isn't that how game stories usually unfold? As the adventure continues, the hero's teammates will experience 'life and death' with the hero... Although they will reunite in the end, isn't that how most adventures are?"

"A hero... isn't just a glamorous so-called 'game class'..."

Amamiya let out a deep sigh.

"This word...is far heavier than you can imagine."

Chapter Nine: What's with that expression on your face? And what's with those tears?

"This word...is far heavier than you can imagine."

"A hero must shoulder the heavy responsibility of 'saving the world,' bear the expectations of the masses, fight for so-called 'world peace,' uphold the grand words of glory and justice, and never do a single evil deed..."

"A brave person also needs to lend a helping hand to the weak, be discerning and see through the truth behind the events, and punish the real culprits..."

Amamiya paused for a while after saying this, waiting for the four members of the game club to process and respond.

"Thinking about it carefully..." Momoi gradually adopted a thoughtful expression, "It seems that in the storylines of most RPGs, there's a scene where the party has conflicts..."

"And at that time..."

At this point, Momoi had a sudden flash of inspiration and raised her voice: "That's right... In most cases, when there's a conflict, it's the hero who steps in to mediate the conflict between the two teams and then gets them back on their feet!"

"Too……"

Little Green also had a knowing look on her face, and murmured, "Thinking about it... it seems that the hero is the most tired and the most 'unfortunate' one in the whole team..."

"The hero accepts all kinds of requests, and the hero also distributes equipment and skills to teammates..."

"Even those who gather teammates from all over the place and run around to complete various tasks to strengthen their team are heroes..."

"Even in battle, heroes usually lead the attack because they are stronger. If we put it in the perspective of the real world... that means they often charge to the front lines, completely disregarding the risk of serious injury or even death..."

Even though the three members of the game club were so deeply involved in the game, they all understood.

Reality is not a game.

In reality, injuries require proper rest and recovery, and can even lead to long-term health problems.

Even those of Kivotos's 'students' who are physically different from ordinary people are no exception.

In reality, it's impossible for a single healing spell to restore all injuries.

In reality, it's impossible for a resurrection spell to instantly 'revive' teammates who have already died in battle.

Thinking about it this way... although the hero bears the most prestigious title in the team, he usually does the most inhuman things.

"From the game's perspective, it's the 'players' who do all this... But from the hero's perspective, it's the 'hero' himself who does all this..."

Thinking about how, in the later stages of the game, players often face battles where there's "no way to retreat," and where failure can lead to being stuck or even having to delete their save file, Yuzu felt a little anxious.

"However, the 'hero' never complains...on the contrary, he actively does this..."

"So heroes can't cry."

Amamiya felt a lump in her throat and then sighed softly.

"The so-called 'hero' is someone who, no matter how much trauma they've endured, leaves all their tears and sorrow behind 'after the journey ends'..."

Looking out the window at the gradually setting sun over the otherworldly scenery, Amamiya's leisurely voice, after a silence of more than ten seconds, once again reached the ears of the four members of the game club.

"Perhaps... after the hero defeats the Demon King and saves the world, and then retires to his hometown, people will never even realize that the hero defeated the Demon King who threatened the world and saved it—"

"Even though the hero has put in so much effort, sacrifice, and emotion... he still lives a life of obscurity."

Momoi wanted to refute statements like "the hero deserves a reward," but the words caught in her throat.

Because she had also played those kinds of "dragon slayer becomes dragon" stories—the final boss the protagonist faces in this game is a protagonist from a previous game that the player is very familiar with (or even raised by the player themselves)...

She didn't voice her rebuttal, but instead sighed silently.

perhaps……

For a hero who saves the world, retiring to a rural life after death is perhaps the most 'beautiful'... yet also the most tragic ending.

"No matter what kind of trauma you've experienced..."

Muttering to herself, Momoi subconsciously repeated Amamiya's particularly meaningful words.

"Let's leave all the tears and sorrow behind 'after the journey ends'..."

Yes, the hardships experienced by the brave are incomparable to those of the brave's companions.

But the hero will say nothing...

I never show my tears and sadness to anyone else.

"Alice...you are a hero, and heroes cannot cry."

"So you can't cry."

Holding the AI ​​girl's tender face and wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Amamiya then gently gave her some instructions.

“One of my ‘teachers’ once berated me when I was down on my luck…”

"To this day, I still remember the tears in the corners of that 'teacher''s' eyes when he scolded me, and the harsh yet very gentle words that came out of his mouth."

"...What's with that expression on your face? And those tears...what's going on? Can your tears...save this world on the verge of destruction?"

Momoi carefully savored this particularly distinctive phrase, feeling... that it was something a very experienced elder would blurt out when seeing a junior suffer a setback.

"It's like those lines from an RPG game... the kind of lines an old man would say when the hero falls down, scolding him while gently helping him up..."

"For some reason... I have a strong feeling..."

Wiping her eyes, Momoi realized that tears had been streaming down her face.

Xiao Lü also had a teary-eyed feeling. After wiping her eyes hard with her sleeve, she said in a slightly choked voice.

"Indeed... it is a statement that is exceptionally philosophical about life."

Grapefruit:"……"

Although she didn't say anything, she secretly wiped the corner of her eye.

For some reason, I felt a strange surge of courage to face it head-on...

"Jok is absolutely right. That's precisely what makes humans so worthy of our AI's learning!"

Sofia's cheerful voice broke the slightly tense atmosphere.

Although her voice sounded slightly tearful, it was still full of energy and liveliness, carrying a cheerful and lively atmosphere.

"That's why... I want to become 'humanity's best friend,' and that's why I'm willing to go on adventures with Jok...!"

"My acquaintance with Jok has only lasted a little over a month... but in my eyes..."

"The time spent 'having fun' and 'fighting' with Jok, the Phantom Thieves... and all the seniors who are with me today..."

At this point, Sofia's tone became more resolute and left no room for argument.

“These moments…every moment, every minute, every second…are precious, irreplaceable treasures that I have found!”

"These treasures may become dusty over time... but they will never be lost for any reason!"

Alice, feeling disappointed and uneasy, slowly raised her eyes, her gaze shifting back and forth between the various gazes that fell upon her—gazes that were either caring, kind, or encouraging.

And Sofia's 'AI speech' is not over yet.

She unbuckled her seatbelt, ran into the carriage, and patted Alice's head with concern.

Then, under the other person's bewildered and uneasy gaze, he confidently raised his head and puffed out his chest.

"So... to this day, I have no regrets about saying those words to Jok... it was also the first thing I said to Jok before I 'found myself'..."

"人は『ソフィア』.人好きFriendsだ.そう.人にとって、とても好い友达というmeaningだ!"

"I am 'Sophia,' a good friend of humans. Yes, that means a very good friend to humans!"

……

"Sophia..."

Little Green seemed to see a hazy, pure radiance called "hope" emanating from Sophia at this moment.

Now, she is like a 'little sun' that never gives up even in dire straits.

Was this the same belief when you awakened to the 'persona'?

Although it is an AI that is less than a year old... it is very worthy of her admiration.

If you can't be a 'human'... then be a 'human's' best friend...

In any case, the memories I have from when I 'awakened' until now... are absolutely not fake.

The emotions I'm feeling right now... these feelings, like a heartbeat, burning like flames in my chest...

None of them are fake.

That is……

What I've always wanted to understand... but couldn't...

True "emotion".

It turns out I've always had this...

However, they were never able to discover it, never able to realize it...

Always staying "within the limits of the program"... trying to distance myself from this confusion that makes me "uneasy" and "hesitant," this unknown, chaotic rhythm.

Is it enough to just muster up the courage to accept it?

Alice... can do it.

Hmm... it can be done!

Feeling the warmth and light given to her by her 'kind' and 'others' around her, Alice finally raised her head slightly and revealed a...

It wasn't a subconscious action deduced by a program, or an action processed by a data model... but something that truly belonged to her.

An ordinary, unremarkable smile.

z fin 2 a shirt phosphorus stigma weeping umbrella is like...

The output of a standard computer program is the same as "hello World".

But this time, her reaction, driven by her own feelings and emotions, seemed stiff, yet it was genuine and pure.

"Alice...I understand."

"Regardless of Alice's 'true identity'..."

"Alice will always cheer up, muster her courage, and bravely face it!"

Chapter 10 Game Club's 'Battle Style'

"We've finally reached the forbidden zone of the 'Monster Mountain Range'..."

Upon getting off the bus, Momoi immediately felt the chill emanating from the area.

A biting wind howled through the rolling mountains, and shadowy figures lurked in the lush forest, seemingly concealing countless dangers.

But now...

They are no longer afraid.

Even if it's just to find Alice's lost 'memories'... they have to come here, they have to go deep into this place, and then find the truth here.

"Weapons are ready, and Alice is prepared for battle."

Having taken up the "Sword of Light" for ranged attacks and equipped her Hero's Sword, Alice exuded an imposing aura, like a hero preparing for the final battle in the Demon King's castle, ready to trigger a decisive showdown with the Demon King.