I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Once this belief took root in my heart, it gradually became deeply ingrained.

After making a little joke to ease the tension, Amamiya turned her gaze to the end of the road and silently counted down the time as she waited.

Just before the deadline, a large armed pickup truck with a prominent Charlotte logo drove up from a distance and stopped at the edge of the road.

The car doors were opened, and four fully armed girls nimbly stepped out of each of the four doors.

The blue-haired girl in the driver's seat immediately turned off the car, jumped out with a gun, and went into a state of alert.

The light purple-haired girl in the passenger seat wore a mask that covered the lower half of her face. She held a gun and was on guard, scanning the surroundings while covering Hiyori and Misaki sitting in the back seat. She took out her equipment from the trunk of the truck.

She exuded the aura of a 'professional' throughout, and her level of expertise left the Valkyrie girls who were observing from afar speechless.

Maintaining the formation of the squad, Saori and Akiko were in front, and Misaki and Hiyori were behind. The group of girls ran quickly to Amamiya's side.

"Sensei, Arios' squad is ready. Please give instructions."

As the captain, Saori stood tall, her mature and stern aura emanating from her white-based Xia Lai uniform and the mask covering the lower half of her face, without her needing to deliberately emphasize it.

Since undergoing Yuriko's "special training," Arius's squad, while not exactly "transformed overnight," has certainly grown and become more professional...

In comparison, although Azuko's aura was much gentler, her natural 'princess' temperament still gave her an approachable charm...

However, when it comes to "Xia Lai's task assignments," this girl with a princess-like demeanor displays a completely different kind of conviction and drive.

Azuko looked at Amamiya with gentle eyes, tilting her head slightly upwards.

Although she didn't speak, Amamiya could sense from her clear crimson eyes a kind of eagerness to show you a completely new version of herself.

Even Misaki and Hiyori... have become unusually 'normal'.

In order to cultivate a professional image for Xia Lai, they all made changes to the best of their ability.

Misaki didn't seem as 'gloomy' as usual; she even took the initiative to greet the Valkyrie students.

Hiyori, with a peculiar demeanor of 'not knowing why she is so determined, but in short, she is very determined,' tries her best to maintain her fragile aura.

"Then... Arius Squad, prepare for the mission."

As Amamiya was speaking, another vehicle with clear markings drove up from the road in the distance.

Amamiya, who was preparing to assign tasks, glanced distractedly at the approaching vehicle—the vehicle was painted with the logo of "Kronos Academy".

After the vehicle came to a quick stop, Amamiya watched as a student got out of the driver's seat and the passenger seat respectively.

The driver was just a student wearing the uniform of Kronos Academy, and didn't look particularly special.

As for the girl sitting in the passenger seat... that looks interesting.

With blonde hair and green eyes, dressed in lightweight, portable clothing, and holding an interview microphone, he immediately began scanning his surroundings with alert, sharp eyes as soon as he got out of the car, like a shark that had smelled blood.

This is an obvious reaction a 'reporter' would make...

Soon, Amamiya felt the other person's gaze fall on her.

From a distance, Amamiya saw her walk around to the driver's side, point in Amamiya's direction, and say something to the driver who had already taken out the camera.

Then, she rushed straight towards Amamiya.

With astonishing agility and perseverance, she broke through the first line of defense of the Valkyrie students. After being stopped by the second line of defense, she leaned forward as much as she could, introducing herself and asking questions.

"Hello, hello~ You're Sensei from Xia Lai, right?"

"Is this squad beside you... the legendary squad that recently joined Xia Lai?"

"I'm Shion Kawakami from the Journalism Department of Kronos Academy. May I ask you a few questions?"

A sexy, tanned look, with starry eyes when she looks at me and a slightly mischievous glint in her eyes...

Amamiya immediately sensed that she was no ordinary person.

—The kind of "not simple" that greatly affects one's reputation.

After glancing at the other party with her "third eye," Amamiya thought to herself, "Just as I expected."

[Assisted by: Shion Kawakami/Kronos's genius reporter]

Arcana: The Devil (XV. The Devil)

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

The same profession of journalist, the same "devil" Arcana... Amamiya remembered a journalist he knew when he was a phantom thief in Shibuya, Tokyo.

—Ichiko Otaku, who frequents bars.

Amamiya waved to the Valkyrie students who were blocking Shion, indicating that they didn't need to continue blocking her.

Unrestricted, Shion became even more 'unrestrained'. She 'jumped' to Amamiya in a few steps and handed her the microphone as if she wanted to shove it into his mouth.

It is said that "studying journalism for too long will make you lose your humanity".

Having dealt with the mansion before, Amamiya knew perfectly well the best way to deal with this kind of 'journalist'.

It's not about being sparing with words—because even if you are sparing with words, they can still be cleverly edited.

Amamiya didn't immediately respond to Shion, but instead turned and waved to the members of Arius's squad.

"Use of 'Otherworldly Weapons' permitted. Let's break through with unstoppable force."

Saori, Misaki Akiko, and Hiyori immediately checked their unique Persona summoners, which still seemed quite 'bizarre' even in the real world.

Saori's "Atoning Saint" was entwined with thorns and holy blood, and the rose carvings that were born from blood came to life the moment she gripped the gun handle.

The obsidian and pale bone china materials engraved with intricate patterns on Ajinko's "False Sin Creation" are imbued with the fairytale-like 'Gnostic' spirit of Gnosticism.

Sparks flew from the 'shroud' wrapped in Hiyori's 'final remnant'. From the moment Hiyori took it in her hand to examine it, the strips of cloth began to spontaneously combust without fire.

Misaki's [Scapegoat Angel] is even simpler and more straightforward; the gaps in the gun barrel begin to emanate a deep red light, like 'thirsty blood,' a light akin to death.

These "pistols" are all incredibly exaggerated in design...

And the damage dealt certainly matches their own dazzling special effects.

After all, this is the ultimate shadow, obtained through "electrocution" and subsequent processing... it can be said to be a weapon from another world forged from "pure spiritual will with divinity".

"learn……"

After nodding, Saori exchanged knowing glances with her companions.

'This is our Arius squad's first battle against the public... we must fight with spirit.'

With this belief in mind, Saori abandoned the original formation allocation and instead used a squad formation inspired by the special terrain she created during her training with Yuriko.

Each of them carried a "pistol" and silently entered the dense forest.

Amamiya then picked up the Shitei no Hako and focused the main perspective on Saori.

After some training…

How will Arius's team grow?

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Little Rabbits' Good Friday

Deep within the dense forest of Rabbit Park, a place that no detector could detect...

No, it should be said that the rabbits were in an area that any detector could easily find.

Clusters of eerie blue flames covered their bodies. The four girls of Arius's special squad, who had transformed themselves while walking, held [Personality Summoners] and moved with light and ethereal steps. Their 'infiltration method' was so professional that not a single sound was disturbed.

Saori and Akiko carefully dismantled various hidden traps, some primitive and some ultra-modern, buried in the woods, including trip mines, pressure-activated mines, and pitfall traps.

The Valkyrie students, who witnessed the scene precisely through drone footage reported by Kronos News, all showed expressions of sudden realization that they had "learned something" or wonder that "so that's how it can be done."

"Oh... this kind of disguise, could it be the special attire of the legendary 'Masked Warrior'?"

"It didn't seem like much when it appeared in the game... but when it appears in the real world, and there are even obvious differences based on personal style... this special way of dressing... is surprisingly very cool!"

"Let me see... The style of 'Little Red Riding Hood,' 'Death,' and Trinity, and... what's that? It's so light and thin, yet it exudes an eeriness in every way, like a torture device..."

"In short, what you see now is the legendary special team that everyone in the team is a 'Masked Envoy,' recently joined by Xia Lai—their professionalism truly lives up to the name Xia Lai!"

Finding that no one was paying attention to her or stopping her, Shion immediately launched into a passionate on-site commentary.

Meanwhile, another student accompanying her, named 'Wind-Swept Mai', who also belonged to the Kronos News Reporting Department, was intently watching the screen while writing furiously—presumably writing a report based on the situation on the scene.

The members of Arius's team skillfully cleared the traps and carefully traversed the dense forest.

Immediately, Amamiya saw the open area behind the dense forest.

This is an area comprised of several single-person tents, a pool, a sunshade, spare firearms, ammunition supplies, and other key elements.

Amamiya found it difficult to describe the unique way this camp, which looked like a 'temporary encampment,' existed.

It lies somewhere between "clean" and "unclean." Although it has undergone military-style organization, it also has an indescribable sense of "disorderliness."

There were exactly four tents, all made of waterproof and sun-proof tent fabric specially provided by SRT Academy, with the SRT Academy logo on them, and tied in a row at regular intervals.

In contrast to the relative cleanliness of the 'residential area'... the other areas were nothing short of chaotic disasters.

Various types of ammunition supplies, likely collected and organized by the SRT Academy, were simply piled up under the sunshade.

Workbenches used for loading ammunition or repairing weapons are directly exposed to sunlight;

The stone campfire seemed to have just burned out, and the iron pot on top was still steaming.

In the camp, three 'little rabbits' wearing rabbit earrings seemed to each have something to do.

The largest one, a girl with flaxen hair wearing glasses, was sitting on a breathable recliner, seemingly enjoying the sun.

If you look closely, you can see that there are some cluster explosives and other explosives that are common in Kivotos but not particularly common near the seat next to her.

Wearing a steel helmet, the petite purple-haired girl sat leaning against a sandbag bunker, intently fiddling with an old-looking mortar.

There was also a white-haired girl with a half-ponytail. She sat on an ammunition box covered with a cushion, her legs together, elbows on her thighs, her hand supporting her cheek, her gaze casually drifting in one direction, and her other hand holding a phone with a rabbit ear case.

She seemed preoccupied, glancing at her phone every now and then before continuing to 'daydream'.

After observing the situation inside the camp...

Saori exchanged glances with Azuko, Misaki, and Hiyori, then split up and quietly crept over, blocking several possible escape routes from the camp.

"Oh... so this is SRT's Rabbit Squad? They supposedly crushed the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau's all-out attack, utterly defeating them..."

On Valkyrie's side, Shion's 'explanation' continues.

Thanks to the ultra-high-definition pixels and high-efficiency audio acquisition capabilities unique to news drones, Kronos News Service even broadcasted clear images and sound live.

After being glared at fiercely by Ye Zhu, Shion decisively changed her mind on the spot: "...Let's listen to what the SRT team is up to!"

'I haven't received any new messages since yesterday... Could it be that Valkyrie gave up?'

'That can't be... After all, this matter directly concerns the reputation of the Federal Student Council...'

"By the way, don't you guys feel like... we've missed something?"

'Really?'

'It seems so~ But speaking of which, will we attract Sensei this time~?'

'That legendary adult who steals hearts... hehehehe...'

'What exactly is that "otherworldly weapon" that can fire small explosives with a pistol...? I'm so curious...'

'Cute drawing! Now is not the time to think about this...'

'I understand, I understand~'

'Saki, don't look at me like that. I'm just curious about how Sensei's "otherworldly weapon" works...'

The rabbit team's conversation ended there.

Because Saori has already appeared in the shadows.

Dressed in pure white, stained with blood and clinging to withered roses... yet never blinking, wearing a mask with an upper face sculpted like a saint's expression of 'piety'... and holding a pistol burning with red flames, carved with patterns of blood-soaked roses.

Saori appeared from the shadows, her sudden appearance creating a sense of oppression.

The three little rabbits instantly bristled and grabbed their weapons.

"……who?!"

Even through the screen, Amamiya could hear the white-haired girl's voice, raised by more than one octave, filled with intense alertness and astonishment as she questioned him.

Saori remained silent, then quickly raised her gun and aimed it at Saki, who was closest to her.