I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Give up? Giving up is impossible!"

After firmly rejecting the opinions of her subordinates, the red-haired girl then pondered deeply for several seconds.

"Damn it... I don't want to do this, but I guess I have no choice but to..."

'...I have no choice but to do it'?

Ayane, still being carried in a princess carry, was slightly puzzled.

Because she was being carried in a princess carry, she was unlikely to be able to clearly observe the expressions of the helmeted team members at that moment.

However, judging from their tone, one could guess that the so-called "must do it" was probably referring to the countermeasures committee.

As expected, after pondering for a moment, the red-haired girl finally revealed her plan with great determination.

"Let's...call for backup."

'……reinforce?'

This keyword stirred something within Ayane, who then recalled Amamiya's earlier warning to be careful of them calling for reinforcements.

The helmeted squad called for reinforcements...

Ayane quickly brainstormed a round of ideas.

This is an island after all. Although small armed vessels can dock in the near sea, it is not particularly convenient to provide support to the island... let alone transport heavy equipment such as tanks.

As for medium-sized or larger armed vessels... it is obvious that a group like the Helmet Regiment would never be able to call for such support—even with the support of the Caesar Group, they would never be able to just use armed vessels that can easily provide fire support in coastal waters.

Similarly, air support can basically be cut off... It's not that Ayane looks down on them, but the Helmet Crew really doesn't have that capability.

So it seems... the reinforcements the Helmet Group called for were not the usual kind of support in terms of vehicles or other firepower.

And in terms of manpower support...

Ayane felt that the Helmet Group, which had previously suffered losses in Abydos, should know very well that unless the number of people reached a 'massive' level, it would be meaningless to Abydos.

Clearly, the size of the helmet squad meant they couldn't possibly call for a massive human wave.

So, the helmet team should only have one choice—

The so-called reinforcements should be people they know...

Those who are like members of the countermeasures committee, if not one against a hundred, can at least defeat a dozen or even dozens of 'minor' elite students.

Who could it be...?

The helmet team members discussed their conversation and gradually walked away.

After confirming that they had left, Amamiya jumped down from the tree with Ayane and then put Ayane on the ground.

"Sensei..."

Realizing that she might be facing a 'quite formidable and oppressive enemy' next, the girl couldn't help but feel a little worried.

After considering her thoughts, Ayane shared her speculations with Amamiya.

"So, next we..."

"Shouldn't we go back first and let everyone prepare in advance?"

Listening to the girl's worried narration, Amamiya thought to herself that Ayane's 'growth' was indeed... quite obvious.

"Ayane has really grown up..."

【~???~】

After reflecting on his feelings, Amamiya looked thoughtfully in the direction the helmeted group had left.

"It will take them some time to call for backup... Let's go back and prepare."

Chapter 59 The average Abydos woman was of low social standing

As the sun set, after the morning's terrifying plane crash, followed by the hectic construction of the resort... until the sun gradually dipped below the horizon, and the last vestiges of the sunset were about to disappear—

The girls on the Countermeasures Committee finally enjoyed a brief period of peace and tranquility.

When Amamiya and Ayane returned to the resort together, they immediately noticed that the resort's lights were already on.

Due to the slightly chilly and humid weather on the island in the evening, they have all changed from their daytime swimsuits back into summer clothes that are relatively warmer but still refreshing.

The moment Amamiya saw the lights, she simultaneously smelled the aroma of grilled meat with an island vibe, as well as Hoshino's highly recognizable shouts, which, despite his bad mood, still deliberately conveyed a sense of ease and leisure.

Let's all have barbecue tonight!

Hoshino's shout was immediately met with a warm response from Nomiya: "Yeah~!"

In the open space of the resort, a barbecue truck with burning charcoal and scorching heat had appeared out of nowhere.

Wearing an apron, the 'proud little black cat' stood behind the grill, keeping a close eye on the constantly rotating grill, occasionally picking up various bottled seasoning jars and carefully sprinkling a handful.

The skill, the natural ease with which it was executed, gave Amamiya a feeling of 'skill so refined it was heartbreaking'.

Celery's grilling skills... she must have learned them naturally while working, right?

Compared to Celery, who was still focused on the barbecue, the other three seemed much more relaxed.

Hoshino, Shirako, and Nomiya sat around a table laden with various 'ocean-themed' dinners.

Amamiya glanced around and noticed oysters, lobster bisque, coconut crab, grilled fish... and some other seafood.

Hoshino, who was the first to notice Amamiya and Ayane's return, briefly glanced at Ayane.

The black-haired girl was startled by the stare and instinctively wanted to lean against Amamiya's back, but then realized something was amiss and stopped, clearing her throat in a rather serious manner: "Um, everyone... we have important news."

Ayane's words successfully made Hoshino, who had originally intended to test the waters with a 'teasing' remark, frown slightly.

Nomiya and Shirako, who were sitting around the table next to them, were also somewhat surprised.

"Huh? Ayane-chan, what's wrong?"

"Is this an emergency?"

Serika, who was concentrating on the barbecue grill, also temporarily diverted her attention to Ayane, whose glasses were reflecting a dim light.

“It was an unexpected situation…” Ayane sighed. “When Sensei and I went to the control room to check the island’s power supply, we happened to run into the Helmet Crew…”

"Furthermore, by eavesdropping in advance, we learned that... the Helmet Gang seemed to be planning to do something more to our resort... they were planning to call for reinforcements."

Calling for backup?

Ayane didn't give them a chance to overthink things, and then explained her own 'immature but very close' guess.

"In other words... the Helmet Gang plans to call in one or more students with exceptional individual strength to assist them..."

The black cat grabbed a jar of seasoning and sprinkled it onto the grill, then gritted its teeth and said hatefully, "The Helmet Gang, those guys..."

Now, Serika doesn't know how to evaluate the Helmet Crew, who have always been involved with Abydos.

If she could, she really wanted to wipe them all out and then give them a chance to "reform," thus solving the problem once and for all.

“But we don’t need to worry too much, right?” Hoshino blinked and looked at Amamiya next to Ayane. “From the time they call for backup to when the backup arrives, it should take at least ten hours…”

"And, don't you find the idea of ​​'our resort defense'... interesting?"

As he spoke, Hoshino smiled, his fighting spirit palpable: "This old man... feels things are getting more and more interesting~"

Amamiya: "..."

It's not hard to understand why Hoshino would express such an attitude.

If we temporarily set aside the pink-haired girl's languid exterior and look at her from the inside out...

Rather than a defensive player who leans towards defense, she is more like an offensive player with a sharp personality who will retaliate tenfold if she is hurt even slightly.

She was furious when her 'confession' was interrupted by the helmet group that morning, and she was looking for a place to vent her anger.

Since the Helmet Gang is making a comeback... Hoshino doesn't mind fighting a "resort defense war".

Moved by Hoshino's words, Shirako, Nomiya, and Serika's eyes lit up, and they all wore expressions of curiosity, as if they had discovered something interesting.

Only Ayane, after realizing that her advance warning seemed to have had a 'counterproductive effect,' exchanged a resentful and helpless glance with Amamiya.

'Sensei...'

Amamiya, finding Ayane's deep helplessness at having "nothing to say" rather amusing, shook his head and gave her a look that said, "Don't worry, leave it to me."

Seeing that the girls were about to start discussing how to defend the resort, Amamiya quickly coughed lightly and reminded them, "Serika... grilled meat."

"Huh? Huh?!"

Celery panicked for a moment and quickly looked at the grill, which was already starting to burn because she hadn't been paying close attention: "It's burnt...!"

Fortunately, thanks to Bai Zi's meticulous fire control using the "Ramses II" Persona, the barbecue did not suffer from the peculiar phenomenon typical of light novel series: "meat will inevitably burn whenever it's grilled."

After the meal, the girls sat around Amamiya, some gazing up at the sky, others lost in thought.

The relaxing and enjoyable "post-dinner vacation time" is drawing to a close as the sunset over the beach is completely replaced by nightfall.

This is, after all, an island resort, and the sea breeze and temperature at night make it not a good time to go out.

Originally, after dinner... everyone should have gone back to their rooms to rest.

Then why do we still sit here?

The answer is because... no one wants to let the romantic atmosphere spread.

In a slightly long silence, Ayane, gazing up at the full moon, suddenly exclaimed without any apparent reason, "The moonlight is so beautiful..."

Ayane broke the silence, and Serika, looking slightly disheveled from the smoke of the grilled meat, awkwardly agreed, "Um, um... speaking of which, it's time to rest..."

“Um, Sensei…”

Perhaps because of Ayane's 'precedent', this time, the other four girls, including Ayane, did not allow Serika to finish speaking first.

Nomiya stood up with a 'whoosh': "Although nighttime isn't a good time to go out, if we could really go to the beach to see the moon and take pictures of the scenery... it would definitely be a very meaningful memory."

"Sensei, I just happen to be missing a 'photographer' by my side~"

Nomiya's straightforward attitude of "no more pretense, I'm laying my cards on the table" surprised Serika, who opened her mouth slightly in surprise before realizing what was happening and secretly gritting her teeth.

'How could you do this...not even have a little bit of restraint?!'

"I……"

Before Qinxiang could continue, Baizi suddenly stood up and said, "Sensei, want to go night fishing together? I've prepared two sets of fishing gear."

Qinxiang: "?!"

Her crimson eyes widened slightly, and Qinxiang looked at Baizi with an incredulous expression.

'What's going on? Why is Bai Zi also...'

After her initial disbelief, Celery quickened her pace slightly to continue her invitation: "I'd like to invite you to join me..."

Hoshino yawned slowly but at just the right moment, followed by a long "Mmm~~" and a stretching motion.

Then, amidst Serika's bewilderment, shock, and confusion—"Has the sky fallen?"—the pink-haired girl naturally began to gather up the kitchen waste and tableware.

"Leave the tableware to me..."

"Could Sensei lend a hand?"

"Also... tonight happens to be my active time. Since there's a helmeted group on the island... then I'll have to pick up night patrols again... It's a bit lonely for me to patrol alone at night... Sensei, wanna patrol together sometime?"

Qinxiang: "..."

'how so……'

She couldn't understand it for a moment.

Why... at this moment, even the usually lazy senior has become so 'despicable'.

Why are the people of Abydos, who used to live in harmony and be closely united, now exhibiting different kinds of 'aggression'?

Unable to comprehend the current situation, the girl finally turned her hopeful gaze to Amamiya, hoping to get an answer from him.

Meanwhile, Amamiya... was also troubled by these invitations that were 'very aggressive'.

Now, a clear problem lies before him.

—Who will I spend the evening with?