I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Rion, you don't want your childhood student ID to be revealed, do you?

(Why is one chapter missing?)

(The answer is that it didn't pass the review. -- If you want to see it, join the group; I've put everything there.)

'Crash...'

The fine water droplets from the showerhead poured down onto her skin, which still retained some of the warmth of the other man, and the slight fullness still emanating from her abdomen made her sigh slightly.

"Phew... this time we went too far..."

The warm water did nothing to calm the strange, subtle feeling in her heart. Looking at her blurry reflection in the misty mirror, Yuka stood there for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

"I never imagined that I could miscalculate like this..."

She murmured softly as she wiped her exhausted body with a towel after a period of intense aerobic exercise.

However... although I'm exhausted.

But inexplicably, there was a sense of relaxation, as if the pressure had been completely released...

'That's it... To avoid acting strangely in front of Noah and the others tomorrow, I should go to sleep now...'

After carefully closing the bedroom door, Yuka turned her head to look at the seminar uniform skirt and top, stained with dirt and blood, hanging in the laundry basket by the bathroom door.

"..."

Just to be on the safe side, even if you wash this outfit thoroughly, it's best not to wear it out...

What if someone smells something strange and then becomes suspicious...?

Yuka knew it very well.

—Kiwatos does indeed have some students with an extraordinary sense of smell or perception.

These types of students usually have characteristics similar to those of felines or canines.

Clutching a long, narrow pillow, her exhausted body collapsed onto the bed like a mountain collapsing. Yuka tossed and turned, lost in thought.

'...'

'Hopefully, Noah hasn't found out...'

With a heart full of apprehension and worry, Yuka gradually closed her eyes.

……

"Next, we should go see Rion."

After parting ways with Yuka, Amamiya decided to complete today's goal before her last bit of energy was completely depleted.

I spent almost the entire afternoon in 'extremely close contact' with Yuka, and there was still a little bit of time left over in the evening.

After calming herself down, Amamiya went directly to the area where Rion was 'imprisoned'.

Located within the campus area of ​​the Millennium Science Academy, it is likely a special area used to detain disobedient or mischievous students.

Based on the knowledge he gained through the "Déjà Vu" bond skill, Amamiya knew that Yuki was imprisoned here from time to time.

Of course, besides Xiaoxue, there are other students who have caused trouble or made serious mistakes who will also be locked up here for a period of time. Of course, Rion has also given special attention to some students here before for various reasonable reasons.

Correspondingly, this is the Demon King's Castle's 'underground prison'.

After a brief greeting to the student in charge of guarding the area, Amamiya easily gained entry into this special area, which was nominally a solitary confinement cell but was actually no different from a deluxe single cell, thanks to his current influence and the identity of Xia Lai Sensei.

Amamiya didn't even need to look for it; she immediately noticed a luxurious-looking, yet also more dangerous, private room.

Amamiya arrived at the heavy iron bars of the 'cell' and peered inside through the barred window—

As expected, this so-called nominal prison was not a true 'kitchen and bathroom integration' like those funny 'Da Zhuang renovation videos'.

Apart from the overly conservative and simple interior decorations, it looks no different from a standard three-bedroom apartment.

The 'millennial student council president' who had met Amamiya once before was now sitting dejectedly in the 'living room' chair.

She leaned back in her chair, her hip-length hair appearing dry and matted from lack of grooming. The white fur-trimmed sweater she had worn so meticulously the last time I saw her was now covered in small fuzz, and her black coat had lost its sharp, professional look.

There was no muttering to himself, nor any other confused expression...

People who are 'repenting' are so quiet.

It gives people a sense of lifelessness, like the saying "nothing is more sorrowful than a dead heart".

Amamiya knocked on the iron gate, and Rion's ears twitched inside the room, as if she had sensed the sound.

She tilted her head slightly, and a glimmer of life appeared on her face, which looked somewhat withered from a period of irregular sleep patterns.

"..."

"Sensei..."

"meet again."

Her crimson eyes gradually brightened, and after a long silence, Rion greeted him in a dejected, halting manner.

Immediately, she got up and went to the window, where she quietly looked at Amamiya from a distance separated by a fence.

What is the purpose of this phantom thief who has 'repented' coming here?

To mock from the perspective of a victor?

No... it doesn't seem like the 'phantom thieves' are the kind of group that needs to taunt after winning.

Or... should I try to persuade myself in other ways?

"Yes, we meet again..."

Amamiya sighed softly, seemingly puzzled, then asked in a low voice, "I have some things I'd like to discuss with you about 'repentance.' Would you mind inviting me in?"

"There's no question of whether it's convenient or not."

Because of her continued 'repentance', Rion is currently in a strange state where "anything can be discussed," and her wariness of Amamiya has almost dropped to zero.

She shrugged nonchalantly, then added, "But I don't have the authority to come and go freely here."

In other words, she couldn't open the door here... so she could only be 'confined' here every day, and then receive food and other living supplies regularly from the students who guarded the place.

—The kitchen and such are of course freely available for use.

However, Rion spends most of her time busy with the construction of the fortress city and various matters at the Millennium Technology Academy. Relatively speaking, her experience in daily life is not exactly nonexistent, but it can at least be described as having only a superficial understanding.

It's just as bizarre as Shi—no, it might even be more outlandish than Shi.

At least because she was disguised as a maid, she had to learn some basic ways of life...

And she genuinely couldn't even recognize all the kitchen utensils.

Secondly, Rion has no desire to 'make things'—she is currently in a state of repentance, almost 'desireless'.

"As long as you agree, that's fine."

As Amamiya spoke, she flashed forward, appearing directly behind Rion in a manner almost akin to spatial teleportation.

"..."

Is this also a phantom thief's tactic?

After a brief moment of surprise, Rion adopted an indifferent attitude and returned to sit down at the table and chairs in the 'living room'.

"Sensei, what would you like to talk to me about?"

For people who are "open-minded", the best way to negotiate is to avoid unnecessary words.

So Amamiya bluntly took out Rion's Palace Treasure from his shirt pocket, gently placed the long-dead student ID on the table, and flicked it with his index finger toward Rion.

Does this look familiar?

Rion frowned slightly, picked up the student ID that looked somewhat familiar, and examined it—

"This is……"

With a loud 'boom,' it was as if thunder had exploded from within his own heart.

For a moment, Rion felt as if she were touching the source of her inner desires.

It's a very subtle feeling to put it into words... It's like 'a world that has lost its color has been repainted with color'.

It's like... after eating bland, tasteless dishes for a long time, you suddenly get a lamb skewer with super high-quality seasonings that are full of 'technology and ruthless techniques'.

"...This is...my student ID?"

Liyin felt a buzzing in her brain, and in an instant, even her voice seemed to become much more lively.

She looked at the outdated student ID card suspiciously, then took out her own student ID card for further verification.

It's confirmed; it's my student ID that I think I lost once.

But how did Sensei get its information?

Surprised, Rion looked at Amamiya, who had thrown out the student ID.

“Sensei, you are…”

Amamiya raised her hand to interrupt Rion's question: "You want to ask me where I found or obtained it?... I can only say that I found it in your 'inner world'."

Inner world...

In other words, is this... a 'treasure'?

As one of the few people who had thoroughly studied the "Basic Principles of Phantom Thieves" published by the Federation Student Council, Rion was naturally very clear about it...

The unique attributes and various added values ​​of the 'Desire Crystal' from another world.

The groundbreaking ductility and multi-domain properties of the [Eden Metal] obtained by the Engineering Department are sufficient proof of this.

Eden Metal is undoubtedly a special treasure.

So, this seemingly ordinary student ID card must also be...

Is it the source of one's own desires?

"Sensei, why are you showing me this?"

"Because I want to face your heart directly."

Amamiya leaned forward slightly, looking directly into Rion's eyes, and said seriously, "Rion, do you remember what I said to you at the end of our last conversation?"

Rion nodded.

Of course she remembered... that sarcastic remark that, to her, was almost tantamount to trampling on her self-esteem.

"Let's start from the moment I 'stole your heart'... and try to understand each other."

"Now... I'm here to fulfill my promise."

After a pause, Amamiya extended her right hand to Rion in a polite gesture of 'shaking hands'.

"Whether it's the Millennium Science Academy, or Xialai, or Giwatos... your existence is indispensable."

"Mistakes made should be made up for, and opportunities for repentance should be given, rather than resolutely destroying the meaning of one's future existence. To prevent the desire to steal from resurfacing, it must be guided back to the right path in another way—"

"Let's try to understand each other, Rion."

Rion was silent for a moment.

In the end, she put down her student ID and shook hands with Amamiya.

"Ah."

[...I sensed Rion's trust.]

……

"I am you, and you are me."

"Here you receive a new covenant."

"As the saying goes, 'Break through destruction to seek the wings of resistance.'"

"The jet-black feathers may be a pact with the Demon King."

"Break the doomsday countdown to prepare for judgment."

"Now, here, you take the hand of the 'Lord of Black'."