I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Indeed... as you said, the battle is over."

"Truly worthy of being called the 'Trickst of Myths,' a legendary 'master thief'... Your ability to 'seize opportunities' is beyond doubt."

The divinity of the Ice and Snow Goddess was slowly suppressed in that instant.

The feeling of solid ground returned, and Amamiya, maintaining her 'intimidating' posture, slowly and steadily landed with Him.

The next moment, the enormous ice spikes that divided the battlefield like curtains, as well as the red curtain protecting Hifumi and her group outside the circle, were suddenly removed.

The melting of ice and snow, the extinguishing of flames, and the feeling of 'spring returning to all things' finally allowed Hifumi and her group, who had been on tenterhooks, to breathe a long sigh of relief.

"Sen, Sensei..."

With a starry-eyed expression and eyes that seemed to burn with flames, Hifumi immediately approached with concern.

After getting close to Amamiya, the pretty blonde girl looked at the 'serious' Amamiya with a completely new gaze, one that was hard to describe as either adoration or admiration.

Whether it was that battle deep in the desert to reclaim the future...

Or the subsequent exploration of the palace...

Hifumi had never seen Amamiya so 'serious' before.

Usually, they would strike with great force and swiftly and decisively annihilate the enemy.

That kind of combat felt easy, of course... but overall, the overly 'smooth' experience led Hifumi to have a significant misunderstanding of the combat situation.

Although... Sensei seems to get really serious whenever he's in another world...

But she had never seen it before...

This 'uniquely handsome' side...

"...Sensei, are you alright?"

Meeting the girls' gazes that were practically glued to him, Amamiya slowly shook his head: "It's nothing."

The battle was spectacular, with breathtaking scale and dazzling special effects.

But to be honest... for Amamiya, it was an exceptionally easy victory, a very simple battle.

The sense of oppression was nowhere near as great as the combat power he encountered when he was the "One God".

Compared to the boss battles of those "Hall Masters", it is slightly inferior.

【~???~】(from Hifumi)

【~???~】(from Jing)

【~??~】(from Hanako)

【~???~】(from Xiaochun)

【~???~】(from Azusa)

【~???~】(from Saint Ya)

"Heh... So this is the figure of the 'phantom thief'... Indeed, so dazzling that it's hard not to turn one's head."

Jing was the second to come over—after all, she had also become a 'Persona user,' and her physical attributes, which were already quite excellent, had been further enhanced by the Persona in another world.

After landing on the other side of the Amamiya, she re-examined the Amamiya with the same gaze she would use to examine a precious work of art before shifting her attention to the defeated 'Shadow Azusa'.

Koharu, Hanako, and Azusa then joined in, forming a semi-circle.

Amamiya quietly withdrew her 'knife to the neck' gesture, signaled everyone to take a half step back, and then silently looked at the silent 'Shadow Azusa'.

"I have proven that I do indeed have the ability to lead everyone into the future..."

"what……"

'Shadow·Zi' sighed deeply, her expression complex.

"So... now, it's my turn to fulfill my promise."

As Shadow Zi spoke, she used a crowbar as a crutch to support her nearly exhausted body as she stood up.

Her gaze, filled with undisguised envy, swept over the girls surrounding Amamiya, her eyes lingering particularly on Azusa with envy.

"You guys are so nice."

"There exists a 'right to the future' that is impossible for us beings from another world to attain..."

"..."

Hifumi, who has a strong sense of empathy, felt a slight lump in her throat when she heard the deep sigh from 'Shadow Azusa'.

Shadow Azusa did not immediately fulfill her mission as she had instructed. Instead, she staggered and staggered, leading Amamiya and her group to the pedestal where 'Noren' was bound, and gestured for them to look at 'Noren', who was also in poor condition on the gallows.

"Before that... I need to give you a special reminder."

'Shadow Azusa' turned around, her serious gaze fixed on Amamiya: "The trickster, and... your companions."

"Your purpose in coming here... is to save 'Noren,' right? I've already heard about this from 'Noren' privately."

Amamiya asked thoughtfully, "So...?"

It seems... Saintia really did 'foresee' everything?

Amamiya also possessed this ability to see through the entire image—but he never used it.

why?

Because that would quickly diminish one's sense of anticipation for the future.

"So...you all need to listen carefully to what I'm about to say."

'Shadow·Zi' then turned her gaze to the silent 'Noren' and emphasized seriously, "It doesn't matter if I'm defeated... but once 'Noren' is rescued and the seal is broken... 'Those Shadows' will notice immediately."

She paused, then chuckled, "If that kind of thing happens... I don't need to elaborate on what will happen, do I?"

Jing, speaking in a low, eerie tone, offered her guess based on Shadow Azusa's words: "...We will be surrounded by that 'vast' army of shadows..."

That's just one possibility.

'Shadow·Zi' nodded, agreeing with Jing's statement.

Then, she looked around at the magnificent 'golden city', the block called Asgard.

"I believe you possess the power to defeat me, and even if you were to 'fight your way out,' it would be easy for you... But even if you were to 'fight your way out,' you would still need time, right?"

"..."

"More importantly, and more noteworthy, is that... this region was built around 'Noren' as its core." After a moment of silence, 'Shadow·Zi' sighed softly, "When her seal is broken... this region will 'collapse'."

"Noren told me... that you beings from another world must follow the principle of 'returning to where you came from'..."

"Imagine, in an area on the verge of collapse, so many of you trying to escape with hostages... Even as a 'trickster,' you'd need to be extra careful, wouldn't you?"

"Once the evacuation is slowed down... even by just a second, your chances of evacuating safely will decrease."

Shadow Azusa's words instilled an unprecedented sense of solemnity in Hifumi and her group.

Hanako, Azusa, and Haru, while unable to imagine what the collapse of an entire world would look like, had seen plenty of similar 'building collapses'.

After all, Kivotos is frequently engaged in combat, and the use of explosives is commonplace—so it's no surprise that building collapses happen from time to time.

Although they are protected by their aura, they can disregard conventional firearms and the damage from small-scale explosives.

But if it's damage caused by a large-scale building collapse... then that's something that can't be ignored.

Even with a protective aura, being hit by a building wreckage weighing tens or hundreds of tons could shatter the aura and cause immediate death, even if it didn't turn the person into mincemeat.

Hifumi... she is different from the other three in the cram school.

As a 'phantom thief', she had truly witnessed the cataclysmic scene when the other world (the Caesar Group's Hall) collapsed.

At that time, if Sensei hadn't summoned the "heretic archangel" (Satanyel) and made him spread his wings to protect them, they, already exhausted from the battle, would never have been able to safely evacuate the other world.

At that time, the possibility of being hit by a 'fragment of heaven and earth' and dying on the spot is quite high.

"...We understand."

Hifumi nodded seriously, then asked with a hint of reluctance, "Azusa... are you really..."

Shadow Azusa glanced at her, said nothing, and instead turned her gaze back to the silent 'herself'.

"I know you've always been 'rebelling'... but you've been constrained by circumstances and have no choice in the matter."

"Now... you finally have the hand to hold that will lead you into the future, so..."

A glistening tear appeared on her cheek, fell to the ground, and quickly turned into a frozen bead.

Unable to regain her composure, she stepped forward, clenched her fist, and lightly punched Zi in the chest.

Zi, who was standing still, didn't have time to dodge and was knocked off balance.

"...Remember your 'rebellious spirit,' understand?"

Tears, like raindrops forming a continuous, wispy string, condensed into tiny ice crystals due to the frost and snow that still lingered around them. They fell to the ground with a constant crackling sound, then shattered into ice shards with each crisp sound.

"No matter what fate awaits you, no matter what future you face... please remember your 'resistance' at this moment."

"'Trickst' crossed the road to his destiny with such a defiant will, and faced his future, which was called destruction."

"I don't expect you to do that... but I ask that you at least... at the very least, always hold onto the hand that's outstretched to you."

"As long as... you can do it."

"I just..."

"...I will pass on my power to you."

At this point, Shadow Azusa, who was already somewhat 'sobbing uncontrollably', stopped speaking and looked at 'her other self'.

"I……"

The white-haired girl was lost in thought, feeling the sincere words falling into her ears, and feeling the chill and pain of the impact still penetrating her chest even through a bulletproof vest.

She was briefly 'confused'.

Then I started reminiscing about the past.

Not long ago, she was still in the dark and hopeless state of the Arios branch campus, stuck in a quagmire.

Soon after, she heard from her 'master' (Saori) that the Federation Student Council had established a Sharai and appointed a Sensei.

At that time, still covered in wounds, she did not understand how far away this word was from her.

But after that... 'Master (Saori)' gradually changed...

For some reason, she gradually began to talk about the deeds of the 'heart thief'.

Then... things seemed to take a sudden turn for the better, and she got the chance to 'transfer' (as an undercover agent) to Trinity College.

After that... she gradually came across more and more rumors about the 'phantom thief'.

'The phantom thief stole the wicked desires of the Caesar Group located on the black market, giving the long-troubled Abydos Higher Academy a new lease on life.'

'The phantom thief taught the bullies at Trinity College a lesson, significantly improving the atmosphere surrounding bullying at the school.'

'The phantom thief stole the twisted desires of the Millennium Technology Academy's chairman (Rion), saving the academy from destruction.'

'The phantom thief stole even more... the twisted desires of the Trinity school bullies...'

To her, each rumor was like an unrealistic fairy tale unfolding before her eyes.

'Master (Saori)' has more and more contact with the phantom thief... Good news keeps coming...

These things were more beautiful to her than a dream—she wouldn't even dare to dream of them.

And now...

The key to the future was right before my eyes.

That myself...

Why remain confused? Why hesitate? Why run away?

"……it is good."

Her tone gradually shifted from slight confusion to firmness, and Zi slowly raised her head to meet the unwavering gaze of her 'other self': "I agree to your request."

"very good……"

'Shadow·Zi' smiled contentedly.

"What I need to tell you in advance is... that you are not yet capable of bearing the full power of this... therefore, I will regress to my 'original form' and become your Persona, existing beside you in another form."