I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"How could this be...? The power of 'domination' has weakened...?!"

Beatrice's voice was filled with shock and anger: "Another palace... Damn it! So that's what you were dragging your feet on...?"

Suddenly, Beatrice froze on the spot, a gruesome gash appearing out of nowhere in her chest, as if it had been blasted by a super-large caliber bullet.

A golden flame of hope burst forth within that enormous body, instantly extinguishing her.

'It seems... Saori's team has succeeded.'

Seeing this, Amamiya made a judgment.

"Well, the time for a 'counterattack' has finally come..."

"Clang——"

With a slash of his sword, he cut off Beatrice's panicked attack with [Thorns of Despair], and Amamiya raised his other hand, [Spear of Ten Thousand Demons], its muzzle pointing at Beatrice.

"The situation is about to turn around."

Chapter 42 A Declaration of Youth Beneath Eden

"The situation... is about to turn around."

In the broadcasting room of the tea party headquarters.

Hearing Amamiya's confident and composed voice coming from the broadcast monitor, Nagisa's eyes flickered slightly.

It seems... her actions really did provide some support for the "phantom thief".

So, the next step is to transform heartfelt support into a belief in the phantom thief...

Gripping the microphone tightly, Nagisa took a deep breath, preparing herself for the potentially disgraceful consequences that lay ahead.

She resolutely abandoned the aristocratic elegance of a 'tea party hostess' and adopted a lively and cheerful voice, full of energy and charm, like a star-struck girl.

"Go for it, Hifumi-chan! Everyone in the cram school club, give it your all!"

"Go for it, Sensei! Go for it, phantom thieves!"

"I love Sensei from 'Phantom Thief' the most—if cheering can give you motivation, then no matter how many times or how sincere the cheering is, I'm willing to do it!"

Mika, who witnessed this scene, thought: "...???"

Surprise, confusion, doubt, bewilderment...

After a flurry of complex emotions, Mika looked at Nagisa, who was practically about to start a cheering dance with a light stick. At that moment, she was both surprised and enlightened—as her 'best friend,' she felt Nagisa's resolute determination so clearly for the first time.

In order to provide the "phantom thieves" with more confidence... is she even willing to abandon her own composure?

After a brief moment of surprise, Mika snatched the microphone from Nagisa's hand and began her energetic 'self-performance'.

"Sensei~ Can you hear me?!"

"I'm... right here in Trinity's campus broadcasting room right now, you know? I'm watching you fight so hard—"

"My 'Knight' is fighting hard for his 'Princess' and the world in which the 'Princess' lives... Go for it!"

The microphone was shoved back into Nagisa's hand, who was still somewhat dumbfounded. Mika's white wings flapped twice, and then... the pink-haired girl gestured to her to 'please continue your performance'.

Nagisa: "..."

Ignoring Mika's blushing reaction after she finished speaking, she continued with her "sincere support."

"Everyone in the tutoring department...Sensei...and everyone in Gehenna who temporarily joined this battle."

"All we can do right now is cheer you on..."

"I believe you can win—"

……

"I believe you can win—"

Listening to the cheers coming from the campus radio from the seniors I admire as role models…

Just moments before, Hifumi had stood tall against the attack of the false god Beatrice, deflecting it and inflicting heavy damage, but now her ears turned bright red with shame.

Not only did I receive support from others...

This person is still the 'tea meeting person' whom he regards as a role model...

Embarrassing as it was, the amazing thing was... she actually felt it, accompanied by Nagisa's continuous cheers...

The depleted physical strength is quickly restored, and the available strength is gradually increasing.

'What a strange power...'

Noticing the girl's confusion beside him, Amamiya used the "Spear of Ten Thousand Demons" pistol to repeatedly pull the trigger on Beatrice, offering an explanation along the way.

"The phantom thief's power is amplified by people's perceptions... When people have enough faith in the phantom thief and believe that he will definitely win, then... the phantom thief will truly become a 'rebellious god-slayer' who can even slay gods."

"This power, born from the heart, will become unprecedentedly strong as the 'hearts' converge."

Feeling the power surrounding her, gradually filling her up and rapidly recovering, Jing found it all quite novel.

"I see... So this is the power of belief. I do feel my strength has recovered a lot..."

The pink-haired girl gripped the mask tightly in her hand, and clusters of blue flames gathered from her fingertips.

"Juliet... get ready for the 'last dance before the play ends'."

After Jing set an example, Zi immediately took off her Ice and Snow Maiden mask.

“Gerda…this is the last little hurdle before success.”

Xiaochun removes the butterfly mask, and the 'manor owner', as dreamy as a butterfly, appears.

“Rebecca… tell her the true purpose of ‘lies’… lies are never created to deceive or bind others.”

Hanako held the "Hope" tarot card in her hand and crushed it.

"The messenger of happiness who delivers messages across the three realms... In the name of the Bluebird, bring true happiness."

The girls' voices were perfectly synchronized and resonant.

"I am you, and you are me!"

The power called "belief" focused on them at this moment, strengthening them like never before.

Without a doubt... at this moment, they are "the leading ladies on stage, bathed in spotlights," about to give their final performance before the end of the program.

A ghostly blue flame rose from behind them and then swirled around Amamiya and Hifumi.

Amamiya took a step forward, making himself a 'node' as well, and the eerie blue flames on his body began to burn fiercely.

"Hifumi... are you ready to face the final outcome?"

Accompanied by Amamiya's voice, Akira, who was standing in front, and the three girls from the cram school all summoned Personas that expanded to tens of meters tall, with a size no weaker than the false god [Beatetory].

"Sever the tragedy called 'love,' and pursue yourself, Juliet!"

“Shatter that tragedy called ‘suffering,’ and redeem your companion, Gerda!”

“Burn away that tragedy called ‘lie,’ and reveal the truth, Rebecca!”

"Dispel the tragedy called 'misfortune,' and spread happiness, Bluebird!"

Are you ready to face the final outcome?

Hifumi's answer was—she had been prepared for a long time!

The girl resolutely raised her finger to the sky.

'call……'

A gentle spring breeze, dispelling the chill of Fimbulb's Winter, came from who knows where.

“Beatelice…I will never accept your world, which is built on lies and limited by despair.”

"That... is absolutely not how our... youth story should be!"

A ray of sunshine pierced through the dark clouds, dispelling the snow-covered clouds and warmly illuminating the earth.

I firmly believe—we—

'Finally, I will be able to soar through the boundless sky!'

Perhaps one day, we will be able to

Turning ideals into reality!

'After leaving that seemingly beautiful illusion,'

We will continue walking this boundless road.

Until the incident is resolved.

Even if we are surrounded by enemies again—

Why do you think we are like this?

Hifumi slowly raised her head, maintaining the gesture of pointing one finger to the sky. Bathed in the sunlight, she seemed to possess an angelic, divine quality.

"The kind of youth stories I envision should be..."

"Hardships can be overcome through friendship, and hard work will be rewarded."

"When you're sad, there's comfort and support from friends!"

Even after experiencing pain... everyone can still smile in the end!

"I like this kind of happy ending!!"

The girl's resolute and determined declaration, accompanied by a poignant and equally resolute background sound that seemed to linger in everyone's ears, reached the ears of everyone in the Holy Trinity region.

More and more Trinity students are breaking free from the fog of lies and the thorns of despair.

At that moment, the girl who was declaring her youth felt countless eyes focused on her—

But she remained undaunted and continued to proclaim her youthful spirit.

"No matter what others say, I will still say this!"

"We decide how our story will unfold!"

"I won't let it end here; I'll keep going!"

"Tell us our story..."

"Our story of youth!"

The howling, swirling, eerie blue flames surrounding Amamiya coalesced into the form of the demon, Mephisto.

Then, Mephisto flew towards Hifumi and stood behind her, very close to Faust behind the girl.

"The fool who witnessed four tragedies..."

"When facing the final act, will you have grasped the key to breaking the deadlock?"

At that moment, the girl heard the red devil, who could gamble with God, and his question, tinged with a sense of relief.

Because I firmly believe—we—

Finally, I can soar beneath the boundless blue sky!

Perhaps one day, we will be able to

'Put your ideals into action'

'After defeating that inevitable destruction,'

'We will continue on this boundless road,'

Until the end of our lives.

Even if we reach the end of our rope again—

But we will never give up!

"To complete that tragedy called 'life'..."

The young girl curled the corners of her lips slightly and confidently gave the command to the opera gentleman behind her: "Stay here, Faust!"