I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Her underlying motivation for asking these questions was "whether I would get hurt or suffer any negative consequences when using it" rather than "where does this power come from, and can I have one too?"

This... surprised Amamiya somewhat.

"so……"

After carefully reading Amamiya's words, Rin paused for a moment, then asked, "...Next, it concerns your personal combat abilities, Sensi..."

"In order to conduct a simple assessment of Sensei's future safety and other parameters, could you... please accept our testing?"

'This might be a good opportunity to deepen my bond with Rin...'

Chapter Twenty-Six: SRT's School Closure Crisis?

"...I never expected that your 'persona' ability would have so many strange effects."

After spending the entire afternoon accompanying Amamiya through various tests and data collection... Rin finally let out a long sigh of relief.

All her doubts were answered by the actual effects of the magic as Amamiya switched personas and 'released the magic'.

Why didn't Sensei release any 'damage-dealing magic' that it should have been able to do?

That's because... these so-called 'magic' have a really large range of effects, and the damage they cause is also exceptionally exaggerated.

Not long ago, Rin witnessed Amamiya casting a small-scale fire-attribute spell called [Aki].

It wasn't until a ball of fire appeared out of nowhere, instantly enveloping and igniting the entire specially reinforced building used for testing, burning it into molten iron, that Rin realized just how terrifying the destructive power of 'magic' truly was.

This was merely what Sensei called 'the weakest small-area spell I can cast'... yet this so-called small-area spell still unleashed power comparable to an ultra-high-temperature incendiary bomb.

According to Sensei himself... he also has fire magic with extremely large effects ranges, such as 'Ragnarok', 'Fire of Zhurong', 'Fire of Prometheus', and 'Samadhi Fire'... which he dares not release casually.

Rin couldn't even imagine the effects of this magic, named after the mythical creatures 'divine fire' or 'great calamity,' when it was unleashed.

If such powerful magic were unleashed... how exaggerated would the effect be?

While surprised, Rin also realized the potential of the magic released by the Persona.

Is it "magic" that is constructed, imagined, and shaped from the inner world of humans, unlike the science of Kiwatos...?

'This seems to be very worthy of in-depth study…'

Imagine a widely circulated fantasy adventure story... how many legendary heroes with special abilities and memorable stories would there be?

If we can extract the 'collective unconscious' and find a way to create our own 'persona' based on that hero, then it is entirely possible to bring the abilities of heroes from the fantasy world into the real world!

If this idea were truly possible...

So, things like the 'barrier of time,' the 'definition of dimensions,' and the 'concept of space'—things that previously existed only in scientific theories or even frivolous hypotheses—have all become, in a sense, 'within reach'?

This Sensei possesses such power...

This kind of power might bring great uncertainty to Kiwatos.

……

After completing a series of tests with Rin, Amamiya had a completely new assessment of his own 'combat strength'.

I'm used to dealing with evil gods and false gods who threaten to destroy the world every day. The magic I use and the magic I endure are all of roughly the same level, so I don't think it's a big deal...

But these students of Kivotos, although their physical constitution is definitely extraordinary... probably couldn't withstand this level of magical "torture".

Let's take nuclear thermal magic as an example—specifically, the highest level of nuclear thermal magic, [Atomic Flame].

To describe it scientifically, the release principle of "atomic flame" is actually "to instantly detonate an atomic bomb next to the target, using the atomic flame generated during the instantaneous detonation to burn and damage the enemy."

How high can the temperature of an atomic bomb's instantaneous detonation be?

It's not high, maybe a few million degrees Celsius.

Even excluding the instantaneous burst temperature, the normal temperature that an atomic flame can reach is at least 5500 degrees Celsius.

When Amamiya was the [Unified God], she was used to taking this level of damage, so she didn't think much of it.

But this nuclear heat, reaching millions of degrees Celsius... would burn ordinary people, even these students from Kivotos...

Wouldn't that leave you covered in bruises?

'It seems... in the future, unless it's truly necessary, it's best not to use direct damage magic on students...'

Even if I were to use it, I would have to suppress its power significantly beforehand. It needs to be reduced to at least 5% of its original strength to match the physique of the Giwatos students.

"...A rough assessment of your overall combat capabilities has already been made, Sensei."

After summarizing the data, Rin rubbed her forehead and gave a summary with a sense of "I can hardly believe it, but I have to admit it."

"Sensei... Based on the assessment, your direct combat ability is already comparable to some of Kivotos's elite students..."

"So, it seems that..."

After considering it for a moment, Rin stated her conclusion: "Sensei may not need the power of the SRT Special Small Group to ensure the safety of herself and Xia Lai."

"...SRT?"

Amamiya pondered the new term she had heard from Rin.

He hadn't learned about this 'new term' through the "déjà vu" feature, nor had he heard of it before.

“Hmm…” Rin nodded gently, her tone carrying an indescribable complexity, “SRT Special Academy, where SRT is an abbreviation for Special Response Team.”

"This is a force directly under the 'Federal Student Council President'... It has 'law enforcement power' that is similar to but different from yours, Sensei, and it has the freedom to act in various colleges."

Amamiya clicked his tongue slightly, thinking to himself that this seemed to be the real "Kivotos Imperial Guard".

Is it a special armed force belonging only to the 'Federal Student Council President'?

With Rin's additions, Amamiya had a general idea of ​​the situation and understood what was going on.

If we use the analogy of 'dynastic change'... if we compare SRT to the "Imperial Guard," then SRT may have been incredibly powerful during the era of the 'Federal Student Council President'... but now the 'dynastic change' has occurred, the Federal Student Council President has disappeared, and some of her various powers have been transferred to the Federal Student Council as a whole.

The other part fell on Amamiya, the Sensei appointed by the Federation Student Council President.

So... according to the 'dynastic change' analogy mentioned earlier, SRT can be considered "remnants of the previous dynasty" in a sense.

Whether such a 'special operations organization' should continue to exist, and whether there is any point in continuing to exist... are all very important questions to consider.

Currently, Xia Lai is only occupied by Amamiya – Amamiya has not yet begun to exercise his so-called right to 'recruit students into Xia Lai'.

SRT, on the verge of reorganization or even elimination, is precisely due to the disappearance of the Federal Student Council President, the dispersion of power, and the establishment of Xia Lai...

"What does Rin want me to do?"

"...That's one of the reasons I called you here today, sensei."

A hint of embarrassment appeared on her delicate and pretty face, and then Rin paused for a long while.

"The fate of SRT is indeed a question that cannot be ignored..."

“Sensei, since you were specially appointed by the chairman, you should understand the chairman’s intentions… the intention behind creating ‘Shalai’.”

Amamiya nodded—in his view, the matter was exceptionally simple and clear.

It is simply to unify the forces that can be united across Giwatos in the face of a crisis of destruction.

Although the chairman expressed it vaguely at the time, Amamiya understood it very clearly—the so-called deepening of bonds with the assistants, enhancing relationships, gaining trust, and then relying on their strength and support to overcome the most critical crisis... This was not the first time he had done this.

Seeing Amamiya nod knowingly, Rin continued, "This is also the most crucial issue that needs to be discussed with Sensei."

"Sensei... Do you think SRT needs to continue to exist?"

Amamiya pondered for a few seconds but did not give a clear "yes" or "no" conclusion.

“My understanding of this ‘SRT’ is not rich or comprehensive enough, so I cannot make a decision based on just one person’s opinion. Rin, from the perspective of ‘Xia Lai’s teacher’, I should not, and absolutely cannot, use preconceived notions to believe either side’s statements and think about the problem from that side’s perspective.”

Amamiya spoke in a very formulaic way—even with a kind of impolite decisiveness in his words.

【~???~】

But that's exactly the answer Rin wanted.

“Indeed…sensei,” the 'elf girl' smiled gently, her words carrying a hint of trust and peace, “You should indeed consider the issue from a broader and more comprehensive perspective.”

Having received the answer, she stood up lightly and said seriously, "Then... sensei. Regarding SRT's future... it's up to you, sensei, to try to make contact and then decide."

"Until you, Sensei, give a definite answer, the Federal Student Union will hold its proposal to close SRT."

Rin, who was organizing her files and preparing to leave, suddenly remembered something.

“Sensei, you should already be familiarizing yourself with the various colleges, right?”

Amamiya nodded, knowing that he couldn't hide the fact that he had visited various academies anyway.

This is, after all, an 'established fact,' and if you don't acknowledge it, you'll only appear to have ulterior motives and be dishonest.

"...You did a great job."

"If you decide to continue, Sensi... the Federal Student Union will provide all possible assistance in the current situation. Sensi, please contact me if you have any other needs, such as resources."

Amamiya answered with a smile.

"I will."

[...I sensed Rin's expectation.]

The clanging of metal reached my ears, along with the fluttering of butterfly wings and melodious music.

I am you...you are me.

Here you receive a new covenant.

[As the saying goes, "Break through destruction to find the wings of resistance."]

Here you are bathed in the light of hope and blessed. You have obtained a fragment of the ultimate secret of the "Advisor"...

[To further propel us toward the future...]

[Coopetition restrictions have been lifted!]

【Nanagashi Rin (Advisor) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

[★1 Ability Unlocked!]

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Does the Caesar Group Possibly Exist in a Palace?

[Assistant: Shichigami Rin / Representative of the Federation Student Council]

[Arcana: Advisor]

【Assistance Ability: ★1·Highly Focused】

[Highly Efficient and Focused: A method of concentrating energy, remaining calm and efficient, and handling various tasks almost perfectly, learned from Rin. It improves insight (you can see more 'weaknesses') and mental concentration (the effect of focused concentration was originally doubled, now tripled)].

[Assistant's Profile: Rin Shichigami, the chief administrator of the Federation Student Council. After the 'Federation Student Council President' disappeared, she took over as acting president, responsible for dealing with the current chaos in Giwatos. She seems particularly interested in my 'Persona' ability...]

'As expected of Arcana, the "Advisor"... the bond abilities she provides are most likely related to one's inner world and perspective.'

After a hazy 'bond' was established, Rin vaguely felt... as if some kind of 'barrier between people' had been broken.

It seems that... in that instant, I slightly re-evaluated this Sensei who seemed unremarkable, yet whose 'true face beneath the mask' was impossible to see.

So, she, who had originally planned to push open the door and leave, slowed her pace.

She placed her hand on the doorknob, turned her head, and asked the young man sitting in the conference room one last time, "By the way... Sensei, do you have any particular plans lately? Do you need any other assistance from the Federal Student Union?"

"We do need a little help..."

—At this point, which should be the moment to demonstrate 'human relationships and social skills,' one should either be affected or tactful.

But it's clear that trying to appeal to the emotions of a mature and intellectual 'cold beauty' like Rin is, at least at this stage, more harmful than helpful.

Since it's for these 'students'... why can't I act more righteously and confidently?

After a moment's consideration, Amamiya decisively added, "I want to know something... about Abydos Higher Academy."

Sure enough...

This perceptive Sensei, though not yet officially fulfilling her duties, has already begun trying to learn about these things...

For some reason, the moment Rin heard Amamiya's question, she felt a sense of relief and comfort, as if someone could finally understand her and share her burdens.

【~???~】

Rin, who was about to leave, turned back and sat down next to Amamiya.

"Regarding Abydos Higher Academy... based on the information that our Federal Student Association has gathered and been able to access, the general situation we can deduce is as follows..."