I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

The blonde girl who caught Amamiya's gaze chuckled gently: "You've passed... or rather, you're excellent, just above the passing grade but below the perfect score."

That's good……

Meng breathed a long sigh of relief, thinking that she could finally keep her 'job'.

"What should we do next?"

As a 'veteran', Ravenda's reply was still simple: "Open the entrances and exits of the Velvet Room at the evacuation point in the other world and some special areas in the real world... Once you've settled down as an 'assistant,' you can try to spend some time in the real world every night and enjoy your own free time."

Amamiya didn't say anything, but nodded in agreement.

In fact, beings with cognitive abilities like Ravenda can operate in the real world...

However, as beings of cognition, they face certain limitations in their activities in the real world.

First of all... the necessary time is at night—during the day, even if the Velvet Room Assistant can barely move, it is usually severely restricted.

Secondly, you can't go out every day... There should be at least a few days or even more than ten days between each trip.

"……I see."

Upon hearing that she could move around in the real world, Meng showed a thoughtful expression.

'...'

Amamiya casually broke the temporary silence: "Any other questions you'd like to ask?"

"I have a pretty good understanding of the current situation..." the green-haired girl said with a forced smile. "I don't need the 'seniors' to answer any questions for me for now..."

"Well then, let it be... When the collective subconscious of humanity rises, that's when the Velvet Room will take a temporary rest..."

Amamiya sighed softly, then severed the connection with the Velvet Room.

Fortunately... Saintia doesn't always seize this opportunity to intercept.

This time, Amamiya did not feel any 'dragging' from Seiya.

Upon waking from her sleep, Amamiya's first thought was about the 'dispatch' of the Holy Trinity.

Nagisa's statement, "If you are ready, please come over as a dispatcher," is actually similar in form to how Amamiya stayed at Abydos Higher School for a short period of time when dealing with the matter.

Anticipating that he might be staying at Trinity for a while, Amamiya got up decisively and began packing his clothes and other personal belongings.

Before officially heading to Trinity, I still have some time to develop bonds with the helpers in other regions...

Let's take a look at what special news is coming out of momotalk today.

After temporarily packing her suitcase, Amamiya skillfully took out her phone and opened her messages, intending to see if there were any messages from 'assistants' worth meeting today.

[Saori: Regarding recent developments...]

'...'

[Yuka: Sensei, about the 'hot spring trip'...]

'...'

Hina: Um, Sensei, about the Pandemonium...

'...'

[Jing: Hehe... Is it starting?]

[Jing: With change imminent, how about we explore the 'aesthetics of the phantom thief'?]

'...'

[Ibuki: Sensei, remember to come visit Ibuki!]

'...'

[Wakazama: Sensei... If you need anything, please feel free to contact Wakazama.]

There were dozens, nearly a hundred, of similar invitation messages.

Sure enough... the invitation messages that needed to be processed were piling up like a mountain.

Speaking of which... what exactly is this 'crystal'...?

Amamiya remembered that the last time she met this strange 'gentleman thief', the 'benevolent thief', she was hiding in a black market café, working as a 'bartender' there.

Should I try to get to know her...?

Undoubtedly, this 'compassionate phantom thief' and Amamiya's 'heart thief' share some overlap in their areas of expertise.

If she were to be exposed to another world and a concept like 'stealing desires,' her acceptance level would definitely be much higher than that of the other students.

If we could train her to become a 'Persona manipulator' as well, exploring other worlds would probably be much easier...

How about we have a chat with this "compassionate phantom thief"?

After much deliberation, Amamiya still felt that this was a feasible plan.

[Amamiya: We are both phantoms lurking in the night, both driven by the ambition to be 'phantom thieves'... What are our similarities and differences?]

[Amamiya: Now... under the increasingly urgent circumstances, perhaps we, who exist in the shadows, need to 'communicate aesthetics' and 'stick together for warmth'...]

At that time, inside a museum in the Holy Trinity Self-Government.

"This lady, codenamed X...thank you for your contribution to museum security today."

A robot shop assistant approached the slightly distracted, light pink-haired cat-eared girl with a credit card.

"Here's today's pay..." the robot clerk said, handing over the gold card. "Ms. X, please keep this safe. Also... our Mettle Museum has found legitimate security personnel, so starting tomorrow, you no longer need to come here as a temporary security guard."

Do you really think I'm here as a temporary 'security guard' just for your few coins?

After letting out a disdainful "heh" in her heart, Jing discreetly observed the interior of the museum.

'As expected... Exhibits with real exhibition value and extremely high prices will never be displayed in prominent showcases...'

'So, based on my reconnaissance of the infiltration route into this museum…'

The route to the museum's hidden treasures, which I had sketched in my mind, was gradually becoming clearer.

“That’s fine then~” She raised her voice slightly, casually flicked her side hair and tilted her head back, “Then… I won’t stay here any longer.”

Holding the credit card containing her security guard wages, Jing deliberately slowed her pace as she turned to leave, carefully listening to the whispered conversation between the robot clerk and someone else.

"...Yes, the target has been dismissed."

"For students like these who are suspected of being suspended from school and whose records are unclear, there is a great deal of uncertainty... dismissal is the best option."

"To put it another way, letting them get involved in our 'enterprise' was a terrible decision in itself. If it weren't for the stability their superior military strength brought about..."

'...'

With a soft "heh," Jing, who had anticipated the current situation, began to ponder when to release the announcement.

Just as the girl was about to launch into a brainstorming session, her cell phone in her jacket pocket suddenly rang.

'Um……?'

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Have you "Seven Prisoners" always been so easy targets?

The Holy Trinity Cultural Street at night has a slightly different atmosphere compared to the daytime.

After all—the young ladies are clearly not 'night owls'.

In the evenings, they prefer to hold small tea parties at their lodgings or simply relax and unwind after a long day.

Therefore, the entire Trinity Self-Management area is relatively quiet at night.

At least, in Amamiya's experience, Trinity College in the evening is much quieter than other schools at night.

After arriving at the target location set by Jingfa, Amamiya looked around, taking in the surrounding scenery of individual villas or other buildings that resembled castles, with varying heights.

Near a cluster of old buildings bathed in moonlight, Amamiya spotted a very obvious landmark.

'Bear!'

With a sudden, leaping sound of flames, Amamiya straightened up and instantly donned his black and white magician's trench coat-like phantom thief outfit, then launched his grappling hook at a nearby beacon.

After transforming into a streak of ink and taking flight, Amamiya then used the hem of her long trench coat as makeshift wings, gliding in a certain direction amidst the whistling wind.

Upon arriving at the destination, Amamiya finally met the girl known as the 'Compassionate Phantom Thief'.

"welcome……"

Bathed in moonlight, the girl holding a powerful flashlight maintained a gesture where she held the flashlight in one hand and pressed her other hand against her mask.

Standing near the spire of another building across the street, she greeted Amamiya from a peculiar angle and perspective, across the street.

“It is an honor to meet you in this way... Sensei of Charlene... ‘The Phantom Thief of Hearts’, Jok.”

Amamiya did not react immediately, but instead resumed her normal standing posture, one hand in her pocket, looking at the other person across the street.

Her pure white bodysuit, which seemed completely out of place with the 'disguise under the night' and other such 'nighttime attire', and the black bow tie secured with rubies, was almost the only 'black' element in her all-white outfit.

Tall, handsome, and elegant, he exudes a striking sense of being a "white dot in the night."

After exchanging greetings, the light pink-haired girl across the street gave a soft "heh," and then with a light leap, she jumped more than ten meters in mid-air and landed on the roof of the building where Amamiya was located.

Then, she jumped down very lightly, landing on Amamiya's landing spot.

'Leaving enough space for your companions...whether you're a phantom thief, a gentleman, or even a Sensei, it's only natural, isn't it?'

Amamiya didn't dodge. Instead, she jumped up smoothly, put her arms around Amamiya's neck in a princess carry, and held her knees with the other arm, pulling her into her embrace.

The delicate fragrance of her hair seemed to carry a hint of the damp bitterness of winter dew, and the light, warm, and soft feeling instantly enveloped her.

【~???~】

The girl, who was then gently placed on the 'ground' by Amamiya, twitched her rather restless cat ears.

"Thank you for your understanding and tolerance as a 'gentleman'..."

Akira seemed to breathe a slight sigh of relief before decisively removing the mask, which was somewhat similar to Amamiya's design, and bowing to Amamiya.

"I've heard so much about you...Sensei."

Then, as if she had been prepared, she began a simple self-introduction with a mature, poised, and natural demeanor that she had practiced countless times.

“I am Kiyosumi Akira—as you can see, I am a ‘phantom thief’… Heh, in that sense, it seems that I and Sensei are quite ‘fateful’.”

"By the way, I'm one of the 'Seven Prisoners' who escaped from the 'Federal Student Council' Correctional Bureau... They all call me 'The Compassionate Phantom Thief.'"

"What is the truth?"

“Sensei, if you are curious about anything about me… you can try to discuss and talk with me. I believe… this will be a special ‘aesthetic collision’.”

'This self-introduction format... is quite novel.'

Amamiya also removed her mask and quietly examined the striking white outfit that Akira deliberately wore in the darkness.

Is choosing such an eye-catching outfit... to demonstrate that "even as a phantom thief, one must maintain one's aesthetic sense and pursuit"?

Amamiya reviewed the attire of the 'Phantom Thieves'... and then he had a strange feeling that it was somewhat related to the 'Detective Prince Phantom Thief' outfit that Akechi Goro wore before his true identity was revealed.

Perhaps it's because Goro Akechi's 'betrayal' was so deeply ingrained... that Amamiya still has mild PTSD about the 'white phantom thief outfit'.

At this point... I have to indulge in a bit of chuunibyou (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur).

Amamiya took a deep breath, shifted his aura, covered his face with one hand, and wisps of dark blue flames swirled and rose from his fingertips.

While maintaining the pose of 'about to summon the Persona,' he then began to 'introduce himself.'

"I am you, and you are me..."

"I am the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, codenamed 'Jok.' Currently, I operate as Sensei of Sharai..."

"I've always been curious about the 'legend of the phantom thief' that had already begun circulating in Kiwatos before I came here."

"perhaps……"

'Psona-Yasen!'

A ball of dark blue flame rose from behind him, rising from the hem of his robe. It carried no heat whatsoever, but rather an aura of power.

'Wow...'

A phantom thief, chained and dressed in bright red, emerged from behind Amamiya.

“We have certain ‘common topics’ and ‘key aesthetic points’ that we can discuss with each other.”

……