I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

I'll just assume for now that you're really familiar with everything...

"In that case, Kirino should first fulfill her duty as a student on duty and deal with these kitchen waste dishes."

Kirino, who was full of energy just a second ago, immediately looked a little downcast.

Then, with a pitiful and reluctant expression, she nodded.

Seeing her micro-expression, Amamiya couldn't help but laugh.

It seems that even girls with an "energetic, hot-blooded, and silly" personality can subconsciously feel annoyed by dealing with tableware.

"Sensei, what are your plans for this afternoon?"

"This afternoon, we're going to the place related to the Classic of Mountains and Seas..."

"The Classic of Mountains and Seas..."

After a moment's hesitation, Kirino quickly perked up again: "Do you need me to go with Sensei?"

Amamiya originally wanted to answer "We can go together".

But considering the 'unusual' physique of the sect leader, Himeki... Amamiya subconsciously felt that she should forget about it.

Bringing Kirino along might cause some kind of 'unusual misunderstanding'.

"That's not necessary. Kirino, just try to fulfill your duties as a student on duty and think about what students on duty should do."

“Sensei is right…” After thinking for a moment, Kirino nodded gently, “Then I won’t bother Sensei this afternoon.”

"Leave Xia Lai's safety to me!"

Amamiya: "..."

I'd rather entrust it to Arius's team than to you; I'd feel more at ease doing so.

At least, they are genuinely professional.

As for Kirino... it's hard to say whether she's a professional or not right now.

"Ah."

Amamiya forced a smile and maintained a gentle expression as she tenderly instructed Kirino, "Please."

【~???~】

I sensed Kirino's strong sense of responsibility.

Coopation is now unblocked!

【Kirino Nakamatsu (Masayoshi) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[★1 Bond Ability "A Clumsy Coincidence" is now unlocked!]

The release of the new bond skill immediately gave Amamiya a bad feeling.

'...'

Hopefully, this ominous feeling won't come true.

With this hopeful thought in mind, Amamiya waved goodbye to Kirino and boarded the high-speed train bound for the Shan Hai Jing region.

In mid-April, the train travels through the warm, yet already scorching midday sun, and the feeling of the scenery rushing past at high speed makes one drowsy.

After a short rest on the train, Amamiya arrived at the "Shan Hai Jing Academy," a complex of modern, antique-style Chinese buildings that exuded the same sense of mystery as always.

After getting off the car, Amamiya immediately sent messages to Saya and Hime.

The responses from both sides to Amamiya's message, "I've come to the Classic of Mountains and Seas to keep my promise," were quite different.

[Saya: Oh~ you're here.]

[Saya: I happen to be free right now... Sensei, just come find me at the Alchemy Research Association.]

[Saya: The process is the same as last time.]

As for Hisaki... she doesn't seem to have time right now, and her replies aren't immediate.

Amamiya didn't receive a reply from Himeki until she got off the train and left the station.

[Hime Saki: I'm currently troubled by some trivial matters...]

[Hizaki: If Sensei has time, please wait a moment.]

[Feisa: Or...may I send members of the Xuanlong Sect to entertain you?]

To avoid any misunderstandings caused by a lack of communication, Amamiya thought for a moment and then told Himeki that she was going to visit the Alchemy Research Association.

[Hizaki: The Alchemy Research Society...Sensei, you're quite interested in that "ancient mystery"?]

[Hime Saki: Since Sensei has other plans, then I will refrain from overstepping my bounds.]

After another brief pause, Fei Saki sent a message with coordinates attached.

[Hizaki: "Coordinates": If nothing else goes wrong, you will see me when you go there in the evening.]

After confirming the coordinates and finding that it was still a location near the Plum Garden, Amamiya closed the chat interface with Himeki and headed straight for the Alchemy Research Association.

Just like last time I came, the area around the Alchemy Research Association was filled with a thick, almost pungent, medicinal fragrance.

Having learned from her previous visit, Amamiya made her way through the magnificent pavilions and towers without any obstacles, and entered the spacious courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, Amamiya noticed a remarkably conspicuous object displayed there—

It is a unique alchemy furnace with a rather peculiar shape, seemingly blending modern technology with ancient artistic sensibilities, making it somewhat 'unconventional'.

A silver-haired girl with huge rat ears was squatting near the alchemy furnace, intently controlling the heat of a fire-making device that looked like a modern gas stove but was somewhat different.

It really does look like a 'cyber alchemy' game.

Instead of interrupting Saya's concentration, Amamiya quietly moved closer to her and carefully observed her entire 'alchemy' process.

"It's done...it's almost done..."

Lost in a state of selfless focus, Sha Ling stared nervously at the blazing, fragrant alchemy furnace, her crimson eyes gleaming with the novel ecstasy of a researcher upon seeing a newly produced scientific product.

She operated the various devices methodically, muttering to herself.

Suddenly, she abruptly shut off the fire supply equipment.

"Hahaha...I did it!"

Sensing Saya's 'ecstatic' feeling, Amamiya was slightly horrified.

For some reason, I recalled an ancient text I had learned from outside before coming to Kivotos, a text that, once read, could increase one's "courage" in the face of all kinds of things—"Fan Jin's Success in the Imperial Examination."

Seemingly only then noticing Amamiya beside her, Saya's 'ecstatic' expression and movements both paused briefly.

With a quick glance, she composed herself.

"I really didn't expect Sensei to arrive so quickly... Could it be that this pharmaceutical production was influenced by Sensei's good luck?"

After defusing her embarrassment with a sigh, Saya rubbed her hands together and explained what she was doing.

"Sensei, as you can see... I am currently refining a brand new medicine using 'alchemy'!"

"Since the last inspiration you provided, and the otherworldly material 'The Flower of Lies' - +y"

"I have successfully formulated a new medicine prescription—"

Showing it off like a treasure, Saya proudly put her hands on her hips: "I named it 'Celestial Evolution'!"

"And the effect... is to 'keenly perceive the thoughts in other people's hearts, determine their inner thoughts, and whether they are telling the truth'..."

So amazing?

Amamiya raised an eyebrow and watched as Saya finished her introduction. Then, she deftly used a special long-arm clamp to take out two 'pills' that looked exceptionally beautiful on their own from the opened alchemy furnace.

It has a perfect combination of color, aroma, and taste, reminiscent of the elixirs described in fantasy novels that Amamiya had read before.

The effect...

【Name: "Tianyan" (20th Improvement)】

[Type: Medicine/Consumable]

[Use: Grants the user a state of "confused perception of thoughts," occasionally allowing them to hear the thoughts of others within a ten-meter radius. (The targets of these hearings are completely random.)]

Amamiya: ...

After observing it with his "third eye" and confirming the effect, he was somewhat speechless.

If we're talking about something that has something to do with "insight"... well, it does.

But that's about the extent to which they can be connected.

The specific effects of the medicine are completely different from what Saya described.

Amamiya then looked at another one that was a slightly different color.

【Name: "Tianyan" (19th Improvement)】

[Type: Medicine/Consumable]

[Use: Grants the user a state of "doubled perception of inner voices," making it easier to sense the thoughts of others within a ten-meter radius. Side effects: Amplifies one's inner perception, with a certain probability of producing some unexpected special effects.]

Amamiya: "..."

At least the one I have doesn't have any negative effects...

In some ways, it's a good thing.

"So, Saya needs my help to test this... pill?"

“Yes!” Saya nodded without hesitation. “After all, we haven’t established trust with Sensei yet… I’m sorry to give Sensei such strong medicine right away…”

You didn't do it this way last time.

Amamiya remained noncommittal about Saya's words, and instead asked, "Saya, do you also want to test the medicine?"

"Hmm..." Saya hesitated slightly before deciding to win this time, "I'm also planning to try... to see if anything strange happens when two people eat at the same time..."

So you didn't find a single member from another alchemy research society to test the medicine with you before?

"So……"

Saya put the 'pill', which was the size of an egg, into her mouth.

"Let's begin the experiment!"

Chapter 8: The Episode Where the Mouse Feels the Most Touched

"Then... let's begin the experiment!"

As the silver-haired girl spoke, she swallowed the egg-sized 'pill' in her hand in one gulp, and then her eyes lit up as she looked at Amamiya with anticipation.

Amamiya, holding the pill: "..."

You actually used yourself as a test subject, Saya...

Although the look of 'slightly enthusiastic expectation' at him was a little creepy, he had to admit that... this method of 'taking the lead' in drug testing was truly admirable.

In Amamiya's view, Saya truly possessed the demeanor of a fanatical scientist 'truly dedicated to science'.

Under Saya's watchful gaze, Amamiya, mimicking Saya's decisiveness, calmly swallowed the 'pill' in her hand.

A cool, mint-like sensation flowed down his throat, and Amamiya immediately felt a strange, slightly exhilarating feeling that invigorated him.

This strange feeling reminded Amamiya of his time as a phantom thief in Shibuya, Tokyo, when he was trying to obtain the phantom thief's medical supplies...

Therefore, he had to act as a 'guinea pig' to help the punk female doctor he met near Leblanc Alley test drugs.

Amamiya silently savored this magical sensation, and soon noticed that her vision was momentarily blurred and doubled.

Then, some things that shouldn't have been there came into view.

'How about it……?'

I'm really looking forward to Sensei's "clinical response"...

'A physique that's astonishingly good, a body unique to adults outside of Giwatos, characteristics of the "Phantom Thief of Hearts"... he's practically a natural candidate for clinical trials.'

'Unfortunately, considering that I haven't yet mastered Sensei's physical parameters, I can't use drastic measures tailored to Sensei's individual constitution. I can only use the mildest approach I currently have...'

As he watched the 'talking bubbles' constantly appearing above Saya's head, and felt Saya's inner thoughts entering his ears in sync with the appearance of the talking bubbles, Amamiya remained silent.

No wonder the number of members in the "Alchemy Research Society" is relatively small compared to other top-ranking societies in the entire Classic of Mountains and Seas.