I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Strictly speaking, it wasn't a grudge. I just couldn't stand this little girl's behavior—talking like a queen but actually only thinking about herself…saying one thing and doing another, that's all.

Albatross answered readily, but her unusually cheerful words seemed to carry a hint of malice and danger towards Kei: "Mr. Phantom Thief... regarding this child, my advice is that if you can do something like 'separating the Princess and Kei,' do it as soon as possible."

[Every minute that it takes longer increases the chances that the princess will be corrupted by her willful and reckless behavior.]

Amamiya did not respond to Albatross's suggestion, but instead looked at Yuriko.

"What 'theoretical basis' does your partner have for making this suggestion?"

“Yes,” Yuriko nodded seriously. “Actually, we’ve wanted to beat her up (Kei) for a long time, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to do it because she and Alice are currently sharing one body. If Sensei, you could truly give Alice a body that is completely hers, and leave this body to Kei…”

“Then we can properly discipline her… I mean, teach her a lesson.”

Amamiya: "..."

So, could the 'danger' and 'malice' that Kei felt be directed at her personally?

He truly hadn't expected that this man and his machine would have such completely opposite views on Alice and Kei.

Their view of Alice was almost unanimously 'pampered'.

As for Kei, they all wanted to 'put her in a sack and teach her a lesson'.

After talking with the person and the machine for a while, Amamiya roughly figured out the intentions of this peculiar combination.

As long as they pose no threat to the Millennium or to Kivotos, everything is negotiable.

Through Yuriko's precise description, Amamiya learned that her "big friend" had actually become half-integrated into her current life at Millennium Academy.

Previously, I had only observed Amamiya from afar through the clouds out of genuine curiosity, and I never expected that I would be discovered.

My 'controller lady' has said everything she needed to say.

[Mr. Phantom Thief, is there anything else you'd like to know? We now have plenty of time to answer your questions.]

Amamiya shook his head.

He felt there was nothing more to ask—as long as this 'legacy of the nameless gods' didn't do anything like destroying the academy at the drop of a hat, everything else was negotiable.

【So, my dear 'Controller,' shouldn't you say something else next—like the 'school motto' or something?】

...School motto?

Amamiya, who was already planning to end the conversation, tilted her head in surprise upon hearing this.

[A new "motto" that has been circulating between the two SRT teams recently, specifically targeting you.]

Albatross seemed completely oblivious to Yuriko's slightly embarrassed expression, and after a pause, imitated another tone that clearly sounded like that of a student.

We hate adults like him the most.

Amamiya: "?"

A voice I've never heard before... If it's the school motto, then it must have come from an SRT student?

[This is the evaluation of you from the 'Fox Squad,' currently nominally under the name of Hanaya Shiranui, the head of the Defense Department of the Federal Student Council.]

Albatross thoughtfully informed Amamiya of the origin of the phrase: "By the way, my 'Navigator' also used to be in this team."

Amamiya put one hand to her forehead, unsure of what to say for a moment.

The albatross's "imitation" continues, this time seemingly using a different recording.

【What, Sensei...?】

We hate adults like him the most.

How dare they speak of their beloved like that... Unforgivable, unforgivable...

[The Fox of Calamity—Don't be so arrogant. Our Fox team can arrest you the first time, and we can arrest you the second time, and many more times.]

This passage is clearly a record of the conversation between Wakazama and the Fox team during their 'confrontation'.

This reminded me of the 'special incident' a long time ago when Wakazama was badly damaged.

(Chapter 45 of Volume [Eternal Calamity])

Could it be... that time, Wakazama actually fought with the Fox Squad just to protect her 'reputation'...?

Then, they were beaten and forced to flee in a sorry state by the Fox Squad?

Amamiya: "...So, this so-called 'school motto' is actually that phrase that hates me?"

He looked at Yuriko, only to find that she was so embarrassed that she covered her face with her hands, looking like she didn't know what to say.

Noticing Amamiya's gaze, Yuriko coughed lightly and solemnly stated, "Sensei... we at SRT absolutely do not have such a strange 'school motto.' Furthermore, the behavior of the seniors was truly..."

After pinching her brow and pausing for a while, she finally chose a less aggressive assessment as her opinion: "...Some of them are just mind-numbing."

As a junior, this is how I would describe my senior...

That can only mean two things.

If Yuriko's evaluation is based on obvious bias, resulting in a highly inaccurate assessment, then it indicates that Yuriko is a subjective and self-centered "egocentric" person.

But clearly, she doesn't seem like that kind of person.

So, in another scenario...

The current Fox team and Rabbit team are indeed... hard to describe.

Notable news...

Be careful when you make contact with these two teams in the future.

Chapter 57 Rion: Children, I'm Back

As night fell, Amamiya, who had talked a lot with Utahara about topics such as Yuriko, albatrosses, and 'Erbius', repeatedly confirmed whether there were any hidden dangers or other problems with these 'key matters'.

After confirming everything was correct, and seeing that it was getting late, Amamiya decided to leave to prepare for tomorrow.

"Sensei...about Yuriko..."

After smiling and nodding at Utahara, who seemed hesitant to speak, Amamiya then looked at Yuriko.

I carefully examined the fox-eared girl who was dressed up meticulously and seemed to be in a very good mood, her lively fox tail swaying.

She possessed an intelligence and dexterity almost entirely different from the other three 'great inventors' in the engineering department—at least in terms of 'interpersonal communication,' she was far better than her three predecessors.

Noticing Amamiya's gaze, Yuriko paused for a moment before facing the cold night wind and looking at Amamiya with a considerate smile: "...It's getting late, Sensei. Would you like me to ask Albatross to take you home?"

Amamiya also wanted to try what it would feel like to ride in an aerial gunship.

However, doing so seems far too ostentatious—especially given that tomorrow is the event for the Millennium Grand Prix.

At other times, Amamiya would probably have readily agreed and then experienced the feeling of returning by gunboat.

"There's no need for that... I'm not in such a hurry."

【So, Phantom Thief, why are you staring at my navigator like that for so long?】

Behaving like a parent who notices their daughter receiving extra attention from a boy of the opposite sex of the same age, the albatross began to "open its mouth" and ask questions.

"I just think that Yuriko is a very special child, a very promising child."

Seemingly completely unprepared for Amamiya's straightforward praise, the girl first showed a momentary surprise, then subconsciously lowered her head slightly, her erect ears drooping limply due to a moment of shyness.

"...?!"

【~???~】(from Yuriko)

The albatross, which was mentally linked to Yuriko, immediately noticed the sudden, intense fluctuation in its "companion's" emotions.

【……hehe. 】

[What makes a phantom thief a phantom thief is their ability to effortlessly manipulate the minds of those around them, gradually gaining complete knowledge of everything about them... As expected of you, you managed to defeat my navigator with just a few words.]

Faced with the albatross's merciless sabotage, Yuriko angrily raised her head and glared at her.

"..."

Hehe...sorry, sorry.

[Mr. Phantom Thief, you still need to prepare for the upcoming 'Grand Prix', right?]

In that case, we won't bother you any longer.

The albatross, seemingly amused by its 'companion's' reaction, decisively changed the subject to prevent Yuriko from going to the extreme of 'no one should have an easy time'.

If you have any questions or other requests regarding weapons, especially firearms and other heavy weaponry, please feel free to contact our engineering department.

To prove our sincerity... we can reach an agreement... to use the words of a phantom thief, what we call a 'transactional relationship'.

Amamiya found this 'one person, one device' interaction method quite interesting.

Please pay more attention to this in the future.

"Yes, I'll come to you if I need any weapons in the future."

[...a deal was struck with this strange duo.]

Coopation is now unblocked!

【Yuriko Tennishi (The High Priestess) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

【★1·『The Gunsmith's Knowledge』 is now unlocked!】

……

After bidding farewell to the four people and one machine from the engineering department, Amamiya hurried back to Xialai under the cover of night.

Tomorrow is the event for the 'Millennium Grand Prix'... and since it's already quite late today, Amamiya didn't process the evening invitations from the students.

However, on his way back, he still had Alona reply on his behalf.

—Since Sophia was left in the engineering department and had to wait for the 'Millennium Grand Prix' to end and for the engineering department to display the 'exhibits' before she could return, Sophia, who was usually responsible for replying to momotalk messages, was not responsible for replying to messages today.

Arona, who temporarily took on the task of replying to messages, wasn't quite 'skilled' at it. Whether it was sentence structure or reply style, Sofia was clearly superior.

As a result, Arona's reply drew many questions from the students.

Some students even sent direct questions like, "Is this really her?"

This greatly upset Alona, ​​who was responsible for responding to today's messages.

Could it be... that the junior AI is even better than Arona?!

Amidst Alona's 'self-doubt,' Amamiya returned to Shalai, quickly washed up, and ended her day's itinerary.

Silent all night.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Amamiya was woken up early by Alona, ​​who was 'sulking'.

Urged on by her constant reminders, Amamiya finished grooming herself early, changed into a brand-new Sharai uniform, and boarded the train to the millennium.

Compared to last night, the festive atmosphere was noticeably stronger this morning.

It could even be said that she had reached a certain peak.

The academy started to get lively early in the morning.

Upon entering the academy, Amamiya could immediately spot numerous clubs where students were already engaged in activities.

The girls, brimming with youthful energy, all seemed eager and excited, waiting for the event to officially begin.

Amamiya, dressed in formal attire, naturally caught the attention of the students as soon as he entered the academy.

'Huh?! Sensei's here too...?'

'Sensei in a suit...so handsome...! (Presses shutter)'

Is Sensei here for the Millennium Grand Prix?!

'It seems so... as a guest, or a special judge?'

'Should we give it our all...?'

The already intense atmosphere among the girls intensified, and their emotions burned even more fiercely.

Facing increasingly intense gazes, Amamiya managed to take a few steps, greeted a student at the nearest seminar, and explained that she had been invited to the seminar and needed to go backstage immediately to prepare.

The millennium student with frameless glasses, who was spoken to by Amamiya, was surprised and delighted, but not unexpected.