I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

As the wind began to subside, the world seemed to fall completely silent.

The petite 'heroine' has a sweet smile, and her oversized, sailor-like outfit, resembling a stage costume, is perfectly natural.

And under the influence of her unique, vibrant, and approachable personality—which is both similar to and slightly different from others—

This already terrifying 'cuteness' seems to have become even more potent.

With a slight wink, Alice, under the watchful eyes of her three friends in the game club, passionately portrayed the image of a lonely little girl yearning for maternal love.

'Crash...'

Her neatly braided hair was temporarily let loose, and her long, straight hair cascaded down to the ground like a waterfall. Her super-long, almost black, blue hair, without any other 'extra embellishment,' was enough to make her look like someone from a fairy tale...

A 'real princess' whose hair can be draped directly from the top of the tower to the ground, allowing people to climb it.

"good……"

Taking a deep breath, Yuuka's eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and joy, as if she had discovered something new: "It feels so good..."

Even her tone carried a hint of intoxicated murmur—clearly, she was instantly captivated by Alice's 'heartfelt performance'.

Her breathing grew heavier, and stars flickered in Yuuka's eyes. Then, despite Alice's slightly reluctant expression, she gently rubbed Alice's cheek.

"What an... adorable child. Despite being a hero who destroyed the Demon King's castle... I just can't bring myself to hate her."

"...Okay, I've changed my mind."

"Your goal... is to fight the Demon King, right?"

"For Alice's sake... I've decided to help you fight the Demon King."

'Is this still the Yuuka I know...? So she's completely powerless against Alice's natural cuteness...?'

With a curious yet fearful gaze, Momoi stood behind Amamiya, cautiously observing Yuka's reaction in the shadows—a reaction that, in her view, was almost a complete revelation of her understanding.

After being taken aback by Yuka's reaction, Momoi began to doubt herself again.

She reached up and touched the cat-ear headphones on her head and the (cyber) cat tail attached to her clothes, momentarily unable to figure out the difference between herself and Alice—they both looked to be the same age…

But why is it that Alice's cuteness can instantly capture the heart of the Demon King Yuuka...?

And no matter how much he 'begged and pleaded,' he would ultimately be coldly and ruthlessly rejected and punished by the Great Demon King Yuka?

Is it because... I'm not cute enough?!

Realizing this, Momoi pouted in disappointment, and a glistening tear, symbolizing her unwillingness, appeared exaggeratedly in the corner of her eye.

'Why……'

Noticing her sister's disappointment, Xiao Lü sighed softly, thinking to herself that her sister's "feminine charm" was really too low...

Let alone her... she can't even compare to a pomelo...

With these thoughts in mind, Little Green then secretly glanced at Yuzu, who was 'observing' while holding her staff... and then was surprised to find that Yuzu had quietly come to Amamiya's side and grabbed the corner of Amamiya's sleeve.

She seemed to be filled with a timid and shy air, a pure tension and bashfulness unique to 'socially awkward and taciturn girls'.

Hesitant and indecisive, he finally mustered the courage to take what was a giant leap for himself and a small step for the 'realistic situation'...

Little Green: "...?"

Yuzu's silent and unassuming way of getting close to Amamiya shocked Midori, and like Momoi, she immediately began to doubt herself.

what's up?

Wasn't my 'sneaking out' force strong enough?

Why did Yuzu unknowingly reach that point... without realizing it at all?

She followed her sister's example and lowered her head in disappointment, looking at the scabbard of the short knife strapped to the outside of her thigh.

His true 'profession' is that of a silent assassin...

Why is Yuzu's performance even better than mine, to the point that I can hardly even tell...?

At that moment, Momoi and Midori simultaneously let out a sigh, tinged with tears.

"It's so bitter..."

"It's so bitter..."

"Since you're planning to defeat the Demon King... I suggest you also contact the last 'Demon King's subordinate' currently stationed in the Demon King's castle... She's my best friend, Noah."

The bitter sighs uttered simultaneously by Momoi and Midori truly touched Yuka's heart.

After retracting the demon horns on her head and the bat-like demon wings behind her, Shadow Yuka frowned with a hint of pity, trying to soften her tone: "My best friend is in charge of managing the Demon King's castle's 'library'... She holds all sorts of little secrets about the Demon King..."

"If you can get her help, the difficulty of defeating the Demon King will be reduced to the lowest level."

'The librarian...'

After imagining Noah's personality and her usual habit of keeping records, Amamiya thought to herself that this 'special profession' really fit the impression she gave off.

No wonder Rion entrusted the library, the most important area for the otherworldly palace, to Noah, whom she knew...

It's important to understand that in otherworldly palaces, such as libraries, movie theaters, and exhibition halls, there are important areas for 'information recording,' which can almost be completely equated to 'the deepest, most hidden secrets in the hearts of an individual (or group).'

Amamiya glanced down at the 'Demon King's Castle Topography Map' that Shadowy Yuki had drawn earlier, and not finding the library icon on it, he looked up and asked, "Where is that library?"

"Here..."

"For reasons of secrecy... the library is not shown on ordinary topographical maps, and is known only to a very few special individuals..."

Shadow Yuka took the map of the Demon King's castle from Shadow Yuki from Amamiya. After pondering for a while while looking at the reference map, Shadow Yuka picked up her pen and circled a building that looked very inconspicuous on the map.

Noticing the prying gazes of Amamiya and Sophia, Yuka the Shadow offered a plausible explanation:

"Although it's called a library... it's actually only this size, and there aren't any partitions or other concealment measures that would arouse suspicion on the map."

Seeing the illustration marked by Yuka, Amamiya had a premonition that 'victory was in sight'.

Maybe……

They were now very close to the location of the 'treasure'.

Even today... we should be able to accurately pinpoint the location of the treasure.

"So……"

Amamiya glanced back at the Saiyu sisters, who were both looking dejected, and then casually rubbed Yuzu's arm, straightening her slightly crooked witch's hat.

"We should be able to find the location of the treasure by today... Let's go."

Chapter Twenty-Six: Noah Wants to Get Married...?

The Demon King's Castle's 'library' is a whole floor of space that is neither too big nor too small.

Perhaps to avoid attracting attention and reduce the chances of being noticed... this place is no different from the various small buildings that Amamiya has seen along the way—there are no signs on the outside, and at first glance it looks like just an ordinary warehouse.

Standing next to the paging device outside the door, Yuka reached out and pressed the button on the paging device, then spoke into the microphone.

"Noah? Are you in there? It's me, Yuka... I have something I want to tell you, please open the door."

After a slight, almost electrical sound, the pager lit up and magically projected the image of a girl with white hair and light purple eyes.

"What could be wrong with Yuka... Oh dear."

The girl, who seemed to be able to see directly outside, briefly lingered on Sophia and Alice, her gaze becoming slightly stern as it swept over the shadowy Yuki, before casually glancing over the other three members of the game club, finally settling on Amamiya.

"How interesting... Yuka-chan, who's always so cold, can actually do this..."

Shadow Yuka quickly stomped her foot, and the rumbling tremor and the subsequent loud noise interrupted Noah's words.

"Noah~!" Her tone carried a hint of resentment and annoyance. "Don't tease me now!"

"Okay~"

Noah still smiled with her eyes narrowed, maintaining a calm and elegant demeanor characteristic of a literary young woman.

From the other side of the projection, there seemed to be a sound like a switch being operated. Then, the library doors hissed and slowly closed to the sides.

Amamiya led the girls into the 'library' area... After a brief dizziness, the scene before them suddenly changed.

The Demon King's Castle's 'Great Library' is a colossal 'book tower' that looks like some kind of special structure, made up of spiral-shaped towers.

The seemingly endless tower of books is an area resembling concentric cylinders, with small concentric circles at the center of the cylinders serving as activity areas where tables are placed... while the outer cylinders are staggered, spiral staircases formed by the top shelves of the bookshelves.

It's somewhat like the "Kalia Study" from the game "Elden Ring" that Amemiya played, or a similar tower-shaped structure.

"Welcome to the 'Demon King's Castle Library'... Distinguished guests."

The literary girl's voice, tinged with a faint smile, came closer and closer, accompanied by the sound of her high-heeled boots clattering on the ground.

A young girl, dressed in a classic-era librarian's outfit, wearing round-framed glasses, and carrying a book, walked along with a gentle smile and light, yet inexplicably cheerful, steps.

Hello everyone...

With a slight curve at the corners of his eyebrows, Noah gave a classical bow to Amamiya and her entourage, and then introduced himself in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant, maintaining a sense of distance yet remaining polite: "I am Noah, the scribe of the Demon King's Castle."

"Excuse me... you've come here to defeat the Demon King, haven't you?"

Clearly, this is a stupid question that one already knows the answer to.

But sometimes, you need these silly questions to start a conversation.

Noah's 'level' was just too high... The four members of the game club, who had only just accumulated a little negotiation experience, were all intimidated and did not go up to communicate immediately - so naturally, the responsibility of negotiation fell on Amamiya's shoulders.

Amamiya stepped forward, drawing Noah's attention, and calmly said, "Of course we've come to defeat the Demon King... What, is this an unacceptable outcome for the scribe?"

"Or rather... I've always, always been looking forward to it..."

Shadow Noah maintained a proper and elegant 'squinting smile' throughout, revealing no other emotions.

"I have been looking forward to 'this day'... and to your arrival."

After a soft sigh, Noah continued, "Someone planted a seed in my heart... a seed that yearns for the 'sun'."

"In pursuit of this light... I've decided to betray the Demon King's castle. After the Demon King's castle is destroyed... I'll retire and go back to my hometown to get married."

With a serious expression and a slightly melodious, almost choreographed tone, as if she were singing a bard's aria, carrying the intention of celebrating an epic title, she delivered a jaw-dropping reason for betrayal.

Momoi: "...I feel like she's suddenly covered in flags."

After this battle, I'll go back to my hometown and get married... Isn't that the most famous death flag in legend?!

And... what exactly does "getting married back in one's hometown" mean?!

Do shadow monsters from another world also need to get married?!

Little Green was speechless, and nodded in agreement with her sister's comments.

Amamiya, on the other hand... was a bit of a surprise.

Unexpectedly, in Rion's mind, Noah had such a "love-obsessed" trait...

That's getting interesting.

Why did Rion think that Noah had a romantic mindset?

After a moment's thought, Amamiya recalled the renovation of Xia Lai not long ago... At that time, he had given Noah a high-grade pen with special significance, and also tried to test the effect of [Blooming Heart] (Wakazama's bond ability) through this opportunity.

Could it have been around that time...?

Rion somehow learned about this 'special deal' at the time, or rather afterward... and then projected it onto her own temple, turning Shadow Noah into a 'love-obsessed' person...?

So... the person who 'planted the seed' in Shadow Noah's words was actually himself.

"Noah?!"

Amamiya touched her nose, showing no reaction—but Yuka, the shadowy one, got a little anxious, her cheeks slightly flushed as she quickly interrupted Noah's words: "Y-you-you-you...what are you saying?!"

"Heh... Yuka, don't you have any genuine thoughts about that 'foreign visitor'...?" At this point, Shadow Noah gave Amamiya a deep look, "...any truly expressed feelings...?"

“Hmm…!”