I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Amamiya barely gave any notice and entered the Federal Student Council building smoothly.

During this time, Amamiya saw many students wearing "Federal Student Council uniforms" that were somewhat similar to Rin's, and most of them ignored her.

A few students, who were perhaps more outgoing, greeted him with smiles in groups or came over to ask for his contact information.

It seems... these students in the Federal Student Association have come to 'know' themselves.

Amamiya casually approached a few students who came up to her, asked them where Rin was, and quickly found the mature, intelligent, beautiful and charming "advisor" lady.

When I saw her again, it had only been about a day...

Amamiya clearly saw the dark circles under her eyes that made her look somewhat 'ethereal'.

Hmm... it has a feeling of being "teetering on the brink of collapse".

“…Sorry, Sensi,” Rin said helplessly after taking a deep breath, “The Federation Student Council has been working non-stop lately…”

"Although we would love to get to know you better and help you understand Kiwatos, we are simply too busy here."

Amamiya smiled wryly, understanding her sentiment, and sighed softly, "...Sigh, I understand, I understand."

"Sensei, please wait a moment while I finish this part..."

Rin was still engrossed in processing documents, at a crucial stage, seemingly too preoccupied to even glance up.

Thanks to Rin's 'superb focus', Amamiya moved closer, leaned forward slightly, and observed her at extremely close range.

Calm, insightful, decisive, and efficient... that has always been her established image.

Speaking of which... what would those pointed, elf-like ears feel like to touch?

Amamiya, who only glanced at it briefly before withdrawing her actions, pondered with curiosity in her heart.

'Click—'

The half-open door was once again tried to be pushed gently.

Amamiya turned his head and looked towards the doorway... and then he saw a girl with her hair piled up, and a huge pink 'ahoge' that looked particularly dazzling.

...A member of the Federal Student Association?

You've come to see Rin, is it about 'internal affairs'?

Amamiya 'sensibly' stepped aside and moved aside.

However, he didn't expect that... the pink-haired girl who was still pushing the door open gradually changed her expression, and her gaze kept circling around him, seemingly not paying any attention to Rin at all.

...Were they coming for me?

Amamiya met the other person's gaze and they looked at each other.

At the same time, he also opened his "third eye" and tried to observe the other party from "another angle".

[Assisted by: Shiranui Hanaya / The Clown of the Federation Student Council]

【Arcana: Desire (XI. The Hung)】

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

Amamiya: "..."

'desire……?!'

When Amamiya saw this card, he was truly shocked.

The reason is simply because... the "characteristics" symbolizing this card are very, very special.

This card symbolizes the danger of being manipulated by power; it symbolizes an obsession with power (physical power, the manipulation of authority, etc.)...

This is both the Tarot card of "Desire" and the title "The Jest"...

The information gathered by the "Third Eye" was enough for Amamiya to take a sufficiently vigilant approach.

Are you "caught in the grip of desire"?

'And what...what is her purpose in approaching me?'

Chapter Twenty-Five: Shiranui Hana?! Akechi Goro!

As we all know... the word "clown" has many interpretations, or rather, "translations".

【jok】;【clown】;【Jest】……

Of these, "jok" carries the fewest negative connotations. With the development and evolution of culture, including playing cards, the word "jok" nowadays often refers to: a trump card; a "wild card" (someone who can get along with anyone); a person who loves to joke; or simply joking.

Compared to the word "jok," the meanings of the two "clowns" that follow it are not so pleasant.

The word "clown" means a funny or comical character; a fool; an idiot; a ridiculous performer in a circus; clumsy, rude, and ignorant.

While 'jok' is a less derogatory term, 'clown' carries a stronger connotation of sarcasm or mockery.

And 【Jest】...this is quite interesting. This word usually refers to those courtiers kept in medieval noble castles who used their 'witty cleverness' and 'humorous performances' to win the monarch's smile.

Unlike clowns, court jests typically held high positions and had easy access to the core of power (close to the monarch). Besides using conventional methods to elicit laughter, court jests in some medieval literary works were also frequently used to satirize social ills, criticize social disorder, and power struggles…

If we were to rank these three words according to the severity of their negative connotations...

First of all, the lightest one is definitely 【jok】, which now means "ace" or "trump card" more often.

Secondly, there's [Jest].

The court jester's actions are all so humorous that they make you laugh uncontrollably—but this doesn't mean that Jest is a real "clown." Such people usually have their own ambitions and "jazzard wisdom."

It was foolish, but not particularly foolish.

Finally, there's the word "clown," which nowadays almost exclusively refers to a circus clown—a useless character whose sole purpose is to make people laugh.

'...'

As Amamiya pondered all the possible meanings of the word "clown," he looked at the other person with a probing gaze.

"Hello... I'm the head of the Defense Office of the Federation Student Council, my name is Shiranui Hanaya. You... are you the Sensei from Sharai that everyone's been talking about lately...?"

The pink-haired girl smiled with her eyes narrowed, readily took off her gloves, and extended her hand to Amamiya.

"I am Xia Lai's sensei. Chief Shiranui, right? Nice to meet you."

Amamiya politely extended her hand and shook hands with the other person, then subtly sized up Shiranui.

It's true that you can't judge a book by its cover...

Without the third eye, a special channel that allows one to obtain information from the collective unconscious, Amamiya would find it hard to believe that this seemingly easy-going and hospitable person, who had climbed to the position of head of the defense office, actually harbored inner ambitions.

For a moment, Amamiya even had the feeling that she was building a relationship with someone like "Goro Akechi" or "Toru Adachi".

Don't be fooled by their seemingly friendly demeanor... they might already be plotting how to 'use' you and set a trap for you.

However, Amamiya was not afraid at all—if the other party wanted to take advantage of him, he had more than one way to retaliate.

The first thing is to show the other person how big your wrist is, so that she can understand, in a physical sense, "why the flower is so red".

If force isn't used, Amamiya could consider further cultivating a relationship with the other party, taking advantage of them... and then giving them a push from behind when they're standing in the fire pit at a crucial moment.

(Goro Akechi belongs to this category)

“The Federation Student Council’s defense office can also be a force that Sensei can utilize.” Shiranui Hanaya didn’t seem to have any intention of ‘letting go’; she even seemed to be ‘pushing her luck’. “Sensei… for the sake of future communication and official business, could you leave your contact information?”

It was obvious that she was referring specifically to Amamiya's own contact information, not Xia Lai's.

Amamiya wasn't afraid at all. After nodding, she took out her phone and quickly exchanged contact information with the 'Hana-muro-sama'.

[...established contact with Hanaya Shiranui.]

'Splash... splash...'

The metallic chains collided and intertwined, their menacing sound gradually tightening as they drew closer.

Unlike the usual helpers... there was no sound of butterflies flapping their wings, nor the sound of chains breaking—instead, there was a pressing sound of chains tightening more and more.

I am you, and you are me.

Here you will gain the bond that strengthens your mind.

[The contract is what is meant by "newly born wings bound by constraints."]

No longer swayed, no longer confused...

You shall receive the first breath of the Joker's persona.

[The wind, as it is said..., guides us to the end of the abyss...]

The voice carried a sense of urgency, a feeling of being gradually tightened, making it slightly difficult to breathe.

[Coopetition restrictions have been lifted!]

【Shiranui Hana (Desire) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

Amamiya: "..."

He'd heard that 'mysterious voice' (Lavenda's voice) many times before, when unlocking bond relationships.

However, for most helpers, the 'aria' they hear when unlocking a bond is mostly the same format—the sound of chains breaking, the flapping of butterfly wings, and some slightly melodious tones, accompanied by a 'mysterious voice' announcing the establishment of the bond.

Someone like Shiranui Hanaya... established a bond without any affection, and instead of the chains being broken, they were tightened, and even the lyrics were sung differently... To be honest, this is the first time Amamiya has ever seen such treatment.

Previously, at most, he had only seen slightly different 'arias' when unlocking bonds.

Furthermore... unlike most assistants who immediately gain a 'bond ability' after unlocking a bond... Huaye did not provide any 'bond ability'.

This also means that her inner world is completely transparent, and perhaps it also hides many unknown secrets.

It's a pity I don't have the [Otherworld App] on hand, otherwise Amamiya really wanted to try entering Shiranui Hanaya's name to see if she had her own "hall".

"So...Sensei, you must have other things to do next, right?"

As she spoke, the pink-haired girl glanced at Rin, who was working, and 'sentimentally' waved her hand lightly: "I won't disturb your private matters with the acting president, Sensi."

After Amamiya waited for about ten more minutes, Rin finally finished almost all of her work.

After stopping her work, Rin let out a long sigh of relief as if she had broken free from her restraints—however, at the same time, she suddenly looked a little more haggard.

Rin raised her eyebrows slightly and, upon seeing Amamiya waiting to the side, forced a polite smile.

"I'm sorry, Sensi... I've kept you waiting."

An inexplicable feeling prevented Rin from adopting a cold, businesslike attitude when facing Amamiya.

"Perhaps it's just an illusion... When I see Sensei and feel that Sensei is still beside me, I get a vague sense of peace..."

After calmly uttering a word of 'reflection', Rin stood up and led Amamiya to another empty conference room.

“Sensei… about the power you use called ‘Persona’…”

Almost the instant the door was locked, Rin took off her glasses.

As she took off her glasses, this "advisor" lady, who only gave outsiders a "calm and insightful" attitude, seemed to be less cold-hearted—as if she had also unveiled her inner mask while taking off her glasses.

"Regarding this matter, the Federal Student Union has many things to discuss and ask you..."

Amamiya remembered what Rin had mentioned in the email: "[The 'crisis' in the psychiatric ward of the Federation Student Council's hospital]".

What questions do I need to ask?

Rin already had a well-structured set of questions, and after Amamiya showed a "ask whatever you want" attitude, she naturally began to ask them.

"First of all... Sensei, what exactly is the source of that 'persona' power?"

"It originates from a subconscious force within the 'inner world.' It can be simply understood as 'the power of the mind.' This power is born from the human heart, and simultaneously embodies the principle of 'I think, therefore I am.'"

Rin paused for a moment, trying to understand the amount of information in Amamiya's words.

"Based on the investigation by the 'Ministry of Truth' at Millennium Technology Academy, and the deductions of the 'Special Phenomena Investigation Department'... this should be a power born from some kind of psychological framework? Sensei, is this statement correct?"

Amamiya nodded with a slight surprise—she hadn't expected that the Federation Student Council, which was also responsible for handling various affairs, would have investigated so thoroughly in just about a day.

"How do you wield this power? And... does this power have any negative effects on you personally?"

Rin gently pressed her temples before asking the most crucial question.

"In reality, the power of 'Persona' is almost impossible to use in the real world. Even if it could be used, the greatest impact would only be on the 'individual,' far from achieving the effect I have."

"As for the use of this power... it can be understood as consuming the user's mental energy. Overall, it has no negative effects."

From Rin's micro-expressions, Amamiya read 'concern' rather than 'covetousness for power'.