I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Following the instructions, Hifumi walked over and stood under the machine to observe it. She quickly understood how to use it.

The 777 lottery machine has exactly three boxes. The first two boxes allow her to select 'synthetic materials', while the third box, assuming the first two boxes have been selected, outputs the expected synthesis result example.

Hifumi's awakened persona is "Faust," and she previously gained a persona of an angel of power by teaching people to repent.

'Shall we try synthesizing it...?'

'But then, both the Faustian and Archangel masks will leave me…'

'However, according to the game's mechanics, I can later use the [Demon's Book] to summon the Persona and buy it back...'

After hesitating for a moment in front of the machine, Hifumi tried to turn the third joystick, which symbolized 'synthesis'.

Choose Faust as the first target, and the Archangel as the second target... and so on...

The third box, which had been wavering, now shows the target for [expected synthesis].

The voice from the dream followed immediately: "The result of the synthesis is [Melchizedek], are you sure?"

【Psona - Merkithed (Arcana: Justice)】

[Introduction: One of the "Power Angels" representing the ninth order of angels.]

[In legend, He is defined as "God's most beloved angel" and "a great friend of God, who teaches people that self-improvement is the only path to God."]

[In the Dead Sea Scrolls, Melchizedek is also recorded as "Mechizedek, who is supreme among the angels in the Heavenly Court, and on the Day of Judgment, punishes Belial, the leader of the demons, and his demon minions."]

'Like a game... I was able to preview the crafting history directly...'

Hifumi carefully examined the synthesis record, which showed a mechanical armor and mechanical wings that looked somewhat like a purple Ultraman (?) so-called 'angel'.

[Due to its 'Power Angel' nature, it possesses formidable combat abilities. Its mechanical body makes it exceptionally adept at powerful physical attacks. The Power Angel's characteristics also allow it to unleash instant-death skills with the attribute of blessing.]

Skills that cannot inherit the Curse attribute, or skills that inflict negative effects.

She tried dragging the third joystick, only to find it stuck. Just as Hifumi was about to turn and ask what was wrong, she heard Meng's voice again.

Meng dutifully confirmed a second time: "This synthesis will cost 13,547 credits. Confirm?"

'Indeed...besides confirming it repeatedly, there is indeed a charge for using the various amenities in the velvet room...'

Moreover, generally speaking, the fees are not low...

Hifumi sighed and asked seriously, "Yes...please."

The lever that had been stuck was finally able to be pushed down successfully. Hifumi felt that her wallet was a little emptier, and then the lottery machine started operating.

The Persona had been summoned uncontrollably and then hovered in front of him.

The Archangel watched her silently.

Faust, however, is interesting.

Just like Arsène Lupin of Amamiya being executed for the first time, Faust transformed himself, surrounded by black and blue smoke, and delivered some bold 'farewell remarks'.

"Heh... Has this day finally come?"

"Become stronger, you!"

"After experiencing those five tragic events, I hope you can, like me, return to your true self."

"Hahahaha...!"

Then, Meng simultaneously pinched the two personality masks into a coin with the personality mask's portrait printed on it, and inserted it into the machine.

'Rumble... Rumble...'

The machine began to vibrate violently, and after a brief period of wobbling in the third slot, a mechanical angel coin was ejected.

Hifumi instinctively reached out and caught the palm-sized coin, which bore the image of a mechanical angel.

Then, the coin transformed into her own mask in her hand.

"...My name is 'Mercythed,' the Archangel of Power."

"If this is your long-cherished wish... then I will be your ally."

Compared to "Faust" or "Princes," the higher-ranking "Mercuryseid" has far fewer weaknesses. However, this also means she cannot cast curse-attribute magic, nor can she master the Princes' healing magic...

Hifumi seemed lost in thought as she observed the changes in her persona.

Switching between personas at any time during battle... it seems it's not as simple as it appeared...

The 'Unruly Messengers' fight style is flexible and versatile, capable of handling various battlefields—as the 'aces' of almost every generation, they naturally possess extraordinary qualities.

Like the on-the-spot reaction of switching masks according to the situation... It sounds simple, but it requires strong combat awareness and rich battlefield experience.

"So next..."

After completing the synthesis, Hifumi now wants to 'buy back' the two Personas that were used as consumables during the synthesis.

To prepare for future battles, maintain the versatility to switch between strategies at any time...

"Could I see the 'Complete Book of Demons'?"

"of course."

Meng deftly unfolded the Demon's Complete Book in her hand—and immediately, a super-large holographic UI with a preview of the Persona, like a light screen, was displayed in front of Hifumi.

Hifumi originally intended to summon her own 'Faust', but she was stunned when she saw that other masks had already been registered in the Devil's Book.

"Huh... there are already unlocked Personas?"

As part of the [Fool] Arcana sequence, besides his own 'Faust', he also has three other Personas that are shining brightly.

"Arsène... Raúl... and... Satanyel?"

Yume glanced discreetly at the shadowy spot that Hifumi couldn't see, and then promptly responded to the person in the shadows' answer: "This is a mask left behind by the 'Trickster' who was previously invited to the Velvet Room, and it assisted the hero's persona in another story."

That is to say...

Is this the persona that Sensei first awakened...?

Looking at the red-clad, winged phantom thief in the Devil's Encyclopedia, Hifumi felt a sense of longing, yet also a feeling that she and Sensei were getting closer.

'A black halo above his head... he looks just like a demon king... strangely handsome...'

'The introduction says that this is a heretical archangel... that is to say, an angel who rebelled against God...'

Hifumi recalled the 'rebellious' Arius branch school.

Then she looked at the Persona's skills... Hifumi was so surprised she couldn't close her mouth.

"All attribute absorption...?"

"Invalid for all abnormal states...?"

"The Sin Armor-Piercing Round...?"

"Roar of Victory..."

"The realm of the Demon King..."

"An indomitable fighting spirit..."

"Awakening in Adversity, the Spirit of Resistance..."

Looking at her astonishingly long list of skills that seemed to stretch endlessly, Hifumi fell silent.

Is this...Sensei...no, Jok's strongest Persona left behind to assist his juniors?

Compared to his latest synthesized 'Merkitshad', it's ridiculously strong.

Compared to 'Faust'... there is absolutely no comparison.

“This…” Hifumi felt her throat was a little dry, and she couldn’t help but stammer slightly, “The Persona called [Satanyel], I really can…”

With 99 in all attributes, astonishingly high resistances, and countless skills at her disposal... this is the Persona you're looking for...

“Yes, as the ‘unruly messenger,’ you can certainly summon.”

"This is a Persona that assists the hero in another story. The Velvet Room will not charge any fees for the first summon. Are you sure you want to summon it?"

"Yes, I'm sure...!"

Seeing Hifumi's nervous yet expectant expression, Amamiya, who had been hiding in the shadows ever since the Velvet Room opened, couldn't help but find it a little amusing.

Is Hifumi also heading down the path of "when in doubt, just repeat a grade"—a path of no return?

'call……'

The pitch-black demon king descended with three pairs of black wings, loading the rebellious bullets meant to hunt down gods.

"My name is Satan Yar..."

"Heh... I sense a familiar presence..."

"Is it you who summoned me...?"

"Since you are the one who has been recognized... then I will become the one your heart desires and work with you."

"Use my power wisely..."

After delivering his cool entrance lines, Satan Yar transformed into the same model of mask worn by Hifumi, and with a whoosh, he was absorbed into her mask.

"Is there anything else to do next?"

Having temporarily recovered from the shock of the 'Black-Winged Heretic Archangel', Hifumi hesitated for a moment before asking shyly, "I received such powerful help from this mask, what should I do to repay it?"

Meng glanced into the shadows, and after receiving an explanation, replied steadily, "'Unruly Messengers' record the masks and pass them on to the next generation... This is a tradition of the 'Velvet Room.'"

"I hope you can make good use of the power left to you by the unruly messenger of the past, but do not be misled by it. Strive to grasp your own growth—one day, after completing your own story, your mask will also be recorded in the Book of Demons, becoming..."

"...As a senior, I can lend a helping hand to the younger generation."

Hifumi was deeply moved by these remarks.

indeed……

Although I have obtained a powerful Persona, I cannot become selfless just because the Persona has become powerful... This power, which does not belong to me, is an "assistance," not something I can rely on at any time... I also need to grow.

"I understand."

At that moment, Hifumi seemed to hear extremely faint and disjointed singing.

[I received help from 'Velvet Room Assistant'.]

Coopation is now unblocked!

'...Strange, I think I heard something like a game...the sound of a new bond being formed? Is it just my imagination?'

Hifumi looked around in confusion, but felt that everything was gradually fading away.

"The time has come... it's time to say goodbye."

"Then, I wish you good luck in your military campaigns."

Chapter Twenty-Six: My Favorite Phantom Thief is the One with Compassion

After sending Hifumi away under the pretext of 'insufficient time,' Yume let out a long sigh of relief.

The 'elegant and perfect' image of the velvet room assistant could no longer be maintained, and she sat down on a sky-blue cushion in a duck-like posture.

"Phew... This time... nothing went wrong."

Ignoring her image, she looked up at the sky, took a deep breath, and then gazed at Amamiya, who was hidden in the shadows, and Lavenda.

"Um... how did I do, seniors?"

The young woman was looking forward to receiving recognition from these two experienced seniors for her fairly satisfactory "first job results".

Amamiya stroked her chin, not speaking immediately, but looking at Ravenda.

To be honest, he was just "received" more often... He didn't really know much about working in the velvet rooms.

Compared to him, Lavender is the one with the most authority to speak on this subject.

"As far as the initial performance is concerned..."