I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

The preparation to "dedicate the rest of my life to you."

'Wakazama has caused my dear so much trouble... but even so, she is still cared for and looked after by him...'

As she said this, Wakazama suddenly became a little agitated. She leaned forward slightly and turned her head to meet Amamiya's gaze.

"Can Ruozao stay by my beloved's side forever?"

At this point, how could Amamiya possibly give such a low-EQ response as "Everyone is an important student to me"?

If such a reply were given, even if Ruozao didn't shed a tear, she would probably feel lost for quite some time.

Without hesitation, Amamiya acted—he also turned to Wakamo, cupped her cheeks in his hands, and scratched her chin like he was petting a cat (or a fox).

After carefully observing Wakazama's micro-expressions, Amemiya confirmed that the 'methods' used to deal with felines and some canines were indeed applicable to Wakazama.

"Of course, Wakazama can always stay by my side... In fact, if Wakazama really leaves, I will be sad instead."

【~???~】

After resolving Wakazama's growing worries with just a few words, Amamiya then presented her gift at the opportune moment.

A handmade ring by Amamiya, woven from tiny olive branches.

"Ruozao, this is a special gift I prepared for you, but I haven't had a chance to give it to you yet..."

Considering that Wakazama's "aura of the fox of calamity" might be somewhat 'frightening' to other students besides herself, Amamiya specially prepared special equipment for Wakazama that would allow her to change her aura.

Made in a velvet room using "otherworldly materials"—generally speaking, it works best in another world, but it also has some uses in the real world.

"This is……"

Upon seeing the details of the 'gift,' Wakazama's golden eyes widened slightly in shock.

In Amamiya's view, it was just a ring with special effects.

But for Wakazama, the 'big fox who gets love-struck when she gets close to Amamiya,' the meaning is completely different.

A ring...?!

After a brief moment of shock, Ruozao became more excited than ever before, her pupils even seemed to glow slightly.

Take a closer look at the construction of this ring... It looks like it was formed by carefully weaving together some special plant branches, with emerald green leaves, dewdrops, and tiny peace dove decorations... This tiny ring is practically a microcosm.

Like the microscopic world after the receding tide following a "great flood".

While Wakasa was trembling slightly, shocked, and astonished, and her brain was 'out of order,' Amamiya took her right hand and placed the special equipment in her palm.

【Name: Olive Ring】

[Type: Equipment/Accessory]

[Skill: Peaceful Aura / All Attributes +6]

[Peaceful Aura: A special symbol born from the "olive branch sprouting anew after the Great Flood," carried to the heavens by a white dove. It can make the wearer more 'gentle and gentle'.]

[All Attributes +6: Moderately increases all attributes.]

[Introduction: In the story of Noah's Ark, when the Great Flood receded, a dove brought an olive branch, symbolizing the retreat of the calamity. This branch was then used to create a special piece of equipment.]

Because of this story, the dove became known as the "dove of peace." The olive branch, too, has come to symbolize peace and wisdom.

"This is a gift specially prepared for Wakazama..."

Halfway through his sentence, Amamiya suddenly realized that Wakamo's condition seemed a little off—

After a brief moment of 'slight trembling', Wakazama was actually... moved to tears.

“Ugh… (sniffles) Is this… is this the symbol of ‘unwavering affection’ that my dear gave to Wakazama…? (sobbing) Wakazama, Wakazama will definitely…”

"Keep this ring safe (sobs)... (sobs)..."

“Sensei has given me so much care… I, I…”

"I am a novice and hope that Sensi will guide me in the future!"

Amamiya: "...???"

Ruozao, have you misunderstood something?

Seeing that Wakazama herself treated the ring as if it were a gift from her, carefully and solemnly placing it on her ring finger...

Amamiya touched his nose and remained silent for a moment.

Forget it, as long as she is happy.

Now that things have come to this... it's best not to bring up the 'misunderstanding' for the time being.

Let me mention it subtly later...

[Watching the stars with Wakazama until very late...]

[Because it was getting late, and considering tomorrow, I had to say goodbye to Wakazama, who was both overjoyed and reluctant to part...]

Chapter 114 Abydos-Style Bullying

The "resort island" of Abydos was not as peaceful as it had been in the previous days at dawn.

Amamiya felt that way because...

It was because, the moment he stepped into the hall, he vaguely sensed a very heavy atmosphere, along with a sense of 'killing intent' that accompanied this heavy atmosphere.

"Sensei..."

Sitting on the living room sofa, the pink-haired girl with slightly dark circles under her eyes, suggesting she hadn't rested much, immediately noticed Amamiya. With a gloomy expression, she broke the silence with a smile: "Good morning~"

Although Hoshino said this in her usual relaxed and lazy tone, which was just like any other day, Amamiya noticed that Hoshino's condition was abnormal from the shadows cast by her bangs on her cheeks that covered the upper half of her face, as well as the slightly bright eyes and the halo of light that was brighter than usual.

'Is Hoshino really going to go down that terrifying "female-centric" path forever...?'

Despite a slight sense of unease, Amamiya maintained a calm smile and waved to Hoshino, saying, "Good morning."

As soon as Amamiya spoke, the somewhat heavy atmosphere in the hall seemed to suddenly come alive.

The oppressive feeling that made it hard to breathe just a second ago vanished in an instant.

A girl with flaxen hair, wearing an apron and carrying breakfast out of the kitchen, noticed Amamiya and greeted her with a gentle smile: "Sensei~ Breakfast is ready~"

Immediately afterwards, Shirako, who had been hanging her head and seemed lost in thought, also reacted.

The gray wolf ears on her head twitched, and the gray-haired girl, who seemed to have thought of something, gave Amamiya a serious look, but for some unknown reason.

"Sensei..."

Wearing an apron and carrying a clay pot in both hands, the 'tsundere little black cat' also came out of the kitchen and beckoned to Amamiya: "There are other things to do today... about the 'resort construction plan' in Abydos, and consultations with other academies..."

Although not stated explicitly, the implication was quite clear: 'There's no time to dawdle today.'

Upon realizing that Ayane was not present, Amamiya hesitated for a moment before deciding not to ask, "Why isn't Ayane here?"

Since the girls on the countermeasures committee have tacitly chosen to remain silent, he will pretend not to know for the time being.

Upon arriving at the dining table, Amamiya immediately noticed the 'generous' breakfast rations.

Oysters, raw oysters...

The main dish that looked like some kind of "baked banana" and that Amamiya couldn't name was baked black bean paste with diced sea cucumber, topped with crispy roasted cashew nuts.

There are countless other breakfast options like these, such as staple foods or soups with strange shapes and even stranger functions.

And they almost all share a basic pharmacological function...

To make up for the deficit.

It seems they did know all along...

After a deep sigh, Amamiya maintained her composure and sat at the dining table. Under the watchful eyes of the girls, who were either crossing their arms or looking on with great interest, she began to enjoy the breakfast that had been specially prepared for her.

Amamiya didn't tactlessly ask, "Why aren't you eating?"

He was certain that if he asked, he would likely get the answer, "We have other things to eat later."

...Well, it was alright. They only made things a little difficult for Amamiya and didn't do anything else out of line.

After the agonizing breakfast incident, Amamiya, surrounded by four girls who were half-hugging and half-coercing him, began to consider the construction of the resort archipelago and the development of a franchise plan for the entire "Paradise Lost Resort Archipelago".

First, we need to go to the "House of the Sea" in the Hyakki Yagyō Islands.

When Amamiya arrived at the armed hovercraft docked on the beach, surrounded by a crowd, Ranmai and Yuriko had been waiting for a long time.

From afar, Lanwu could see Amamiya surrounded, ostensibly 'protecting' her but actually preventing others from getting close. She couldn't help but glance at her 'good buddy' again.

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

After secretly worrying for her best friend, she smiled and waved to Amamiya: "Hey, good morning~ Are we heading to the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons next?"

Having been temporarily relieved from her predicament of being "caught in the middle" by Lan Wu's "bad girl style" greeting, Amamiya adjusted her shoulder bag and nodded earnestly to Lan Wu: "Okay, thank you."

—Perhaps because Lanwu was completely uncompetitive, and Yuriko acted rather 'laid-back', the girls on the countermeasures committee did not show any 'warning' or 'hostility' towards them.

After the group boarded the hovercraft, it quickly headed towards the "Resort Islands of a Hundred Demons' Night Parade".

Because the "resort hunt" had only recently ended... the seaside house seemed much more peaceful than usual today.

At least, the kind of 'incomprehensible battle marks' that Izuna had created were no longer seen on the beach.

After Amamiya and his group landed and parked their hovercraft, no gunfire erupted from the "Hunters" near the beach.

Lan Wu, as the 'captain,' did not disembark with them. Instead, she winked and joked with her 'good buddies,' and then bluntly stated, 'When it comes to fighting for our interests, remember to take care of our Helmet Group.'

Yuriko: "...Hmm."

After a few seconds of silence, she gave Lan Wu a slightly helpless smile and nodded somewhat perfunctorily.

After temporarily bidding farewell to Lanwu, Amamiya and his group headed straight for the headquarters of "House of the Sea".

Perhaps because the aftermath of the "resort hunt" had not completely subsided, Amamiya and his group found that there were far fewer guests wandering the island when they headed to the headquarters of the Sea House.

After entering the lobby of "Umi House" with the four girls from the Countermeasures Committee and Yuriko, Amamiya and her group immediately saw the lobby set up as a temporary meeting room.

A round table large enough to accommodate all the 'attendees', with a 3D holographic projection of an island placed in the center of the table.

Seemingly taking into account the serious atmosphere of the conference room, even the surrounding scenery was temporarily arranged to resemble a dark and solemn conference room setting.

When Amamiya and her group arrived, the girls from the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) had already taken their seats, and Kasumi and Megumi from Gehenna's 'Hot Spring Development Department' were also sitting in their respective seats on Gehenna's side with great pomp and circumstance.

The positions for Abydos and Millennium One (specially prepared for Yuriko) are still vacant.

Amamiya also saw a seat specially prepared for him—which was exactly symmetrical to the seat of the "franchise initiator"—Shizuko.

After Amamiya took his seat, the girls who were with him also found seats.

"Now, let's begin the meeting..."

Shizuko clenched her fist, placed it to her lips, and coughed lightly, preparing to begin the meeting on the "Paradise Lost Resort Islands Planning".

Then, her gaze fell on Abydos' side—of the five seats that had been prepared, some were absent.

"Hey?"

Shizuko belatedly sighed in realization that the 'serious meeting atmosphere' she had created had been easily shattered by herself, and then asked hesitantly, "It seems that someone from the Countermeasures Committee is absent... Is that alright?"

“No problem~” Nomiya replied with a squinting smile, “The absentee needs to be temporarily confined to the house for a day of reflection due to some ‘special reason’…”

"Oh……"

Shizuko didn't quite understand what was going on.

However, since the absence of a member doesn't affect anything, she will continue.

"Then let's continue the meeting..."

"Regarding the plans for the 'Paradise Lost Resort Islands'... All attendees at this meeting..."

As Shizuko slowly recounted her story, Amamiya, having obtained the 'meeting documents,' understood Shizuko's intentions.

The construction of the resort archipelago is an unprecedented project—in addition to the initial investment, it also requires consideration of subsequent maintenance and other engineering work.

In this regard, Shizuko hopes to cooperate with Gehenna's 'Hot Spring Development Department'.

When resolving the "resort hunting" incident, Shizuko was amazed by the "infrastructure standards" of the hot spring development department.

As for the operational arrangements and planning... Baiyetang, with its extensive experience in this area, naturally took on the task.

Finally, there's the issue of transporting resources to the resort islands...