I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

For her... and for Convenience Store 68, these spoils are enough to cover the costs of continuing to operate.

While 'sell stolen goods' is indeed a bit difficult... at least Convenience Store 68 now has a stable and reliable way to earn income.

Kayoko put the 'Demon King's Broken Horn' back into her loot bag, picked it up, and slowly got up.

"Sensei, what needs to be done in the next intelligence gathering operation?"

After all, although she had the game "Phantom Thief Chronicles" as a foundation of game knowledge, Kayoko's actual experience in another world was very shallow.

Adhering to the principle of 'asking if you don't understand,' Kayoko chose to ask directly.

From now on, the members of Handy Shop 68 will be gradually exposed to and active in another world...

As a 'pioneer,' I should try to learn as much as possible...

"Let's take a walk around and observe the surrounding buildings carefully."

"Take a look at these buildings and see if there are any noteworthy 'uniform features'."

...unified characteristics?

Amamiya's extra reminder gave Kayoko a vague feeling of 'being about to grasp something'.

After wandering around the nearby streets, Kayoko quickly noticed what Amamiya called the uniformity.

These buildings...

A small portion of them looked as if they were entangled by some kind of spider, with many translucent spider silk-like threads hanging from them.

Many more buildings are covered with fine, crack-like patterns.

It feels like...

Amamiya withdrew his gaze and met Kayoko's worried eyes as she gradually realized the seriousness of the situation.

After their eyes met, he voiced Kayoko's thoughts: "It's like being affected by a 'major earthquake,' isn't it?"

“Sensei, if my knowledge of this other world is correct, this means…”

Amamiya solemnly acknowledged and completed Kayoko's assessment: "Danger... or rather, a harbinger of the 'Hall' appearing."

Kayoko: "..."

Although she wasn't among the group of Gehenna students who attended the Trinity's 'merger of the Temple World and the Real World', she had learned about the 'spectacular occasion' through the Pandemonium's channels.

She was able to recognize the seriousness of the problem.

Immediately, he also vaguely understood Amamiya's intention to cultivate "Masked Warriors" in each of the major academies.

If in the future...

That really happened.

Masked warriors are definitely frontline fighting force.

"We have gathered all the necessary intelligence; it's time to evacuate."

After quickly reviewing the knowledge related to 'Atlantis' in his mind, Amamiya finally remembered a question—how did Atlantis fall?

—Before waging war against Athens, it was affected by a great flood and a great earthquake, and was thus lost.

Unfortunately, Amamiya did not see any "palaces" among the buildings of this lost city.

This means that... at present, no temple has even begun to take shape...

Or rather, it has already begun to take shape, but has not yet manifested the form of a corresponding temple.

Kayoko had no objection to Amamiya's behavior of 'retreating as if he hadn't found out anything'.

After all... things like the 'Hall of Investigation' can't be rushed.

It's true that phantom thieves can infiltrate palaces...

Even the Phantom Thief couldn't discover the palace before it was fully formed and then nip it in the bud.

The red and black fluctuations gradually faded, and the scene before my eyes returned to that hazy drizzle, with the mysterious sanctuary tower still standing out against the leaden gray sky.

Amamiya stood beside Kayoko, holding her phone (which was exiting the navigation page) in one hand and holding an umbrella over herself and Kayoko with the other.

After looking up at the towering structure that seemed to stretch to the sky, Amamiya and Kayoko boarded the train back to Sharai.

The misty drizzle that enveloped the area near Xia Lai continued until dusk, just before the girl was about to leave.

"call……"

After gently exhaling at the water stains splashing on the glass outside the window, Kayoko then stretched out her index finger and quickly traced a mark on the blurry glass that would soon disappear.

"I never imagined that the 'joke' from before would actually come true..."

"It's been raining ever since I started spending time with Sensei."

Amamiya smiled slightly upon hearing this and handed a cup of hot coffee to Kayoko using a straw.

"Does Kayoko think there's anything wrong with this?"

"Do not……"

Kayoko took the straw coffee cup from Amamiya, but instead of drinking it right away, she held it in her hands, savoring the perfect temperature and the natural warmth it created.

She shook her head, her words slightly complicated: "...Just as Sensei said, rainy days seem to be my destiny."

"but……"

Kayoko looked up at the gradually dissipating dark clouds outside the window, and at the afterglow of the rain-soaked sunset spreading across the earth.

"If possible."

As she spoke, the girl smiled gently, her 'terrifying' red eyes now revealing only warmth.

Turning her gaze away from the distance, the girl looked at Amamiya with a serious and longing expression: "The scenery after the rain is indeed very suitable for the convenience store, and for me and Sensei. But... if I could, I would prefer to stand with you under the blue sky and sunshine."

"There will be a chance."

【~???~】

Amamiya's response prompted Kayoko to repeat softly, "Yes, there will be opportunities."

Under Sensei's guidance, everyone at the convenience store will undergo a "transformation".

What happened to me today is the best proof of this idea.

The sunset on the horizon made Kayoko realize that she should leave.

"Sensei..."

The girl bent down slightly and picked up the backpack that was bulging from being filled with loot from the other world.

"It's almost time. I should go back."

Amamiya waved goodbye, saying, "I hope that the next time I work with Kayoko and everyone at the convenience store, it will be a sunny day."

【~???~】

I sensed Kayoko's unwavering willpower.

My bond with Kayoko has deepened...

【Kayoko Onikata (Emperor) ★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆】

[★4 Bond Ability "Steadfast Willpower" is now unlocked!]

Kayoko paused, turned around, and smiled at Amamiya.

"Hmm, I hope it will be a sunny day."

Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Best Way to Deal with Huaye...?

The light drizzle that enveloped the area near Xialai continued until dusk, just before the girl was about to leave.

After saying goodbye to Kayoko, Amamiya began to deal with the various 'related matters' for the evening.

'The Federation Student Council's Impression Space has conducted initial reconnaissance. While clues are indeed emerging, and there's reason to suspect that it was all caused by Huaye, but…'

Since the palace was not seen and Hanaya had not yet taken any action, Amamiya temporarily abandoned any further plans regarding Hanaya.

If Hanaya really wants to carry out a plan to 'remove Rin from the position of acting president,' then Amamiya cannot nip the problem in the bud before it happens.

Shido Seigi has the confidence because he has some understanding of the other world, and even has a "handy tool" like 'Akechi Goro'.

Furthermore... there are others who have deep-seated interests with Masayoshi Shido, forming the same community of interests.

What about the flowers?

Amamiya had reason to believe that Hanaya's confidence in going wherever Rin went was not solely due to her overconfidence in her abilities...

This is also because there are indeed communities of interest within the Federal Student Association that have formed a cooperative relationship with Huaye.

If it weren't for the potential damage to the reputation and property of the Federal Student Council, Amamiya would have even considered "letting Hanamichi have some time before taking action, until she loses control of the situation."

Based on the principle that "people can't learn by being taught, but they can learn by being taught through experience," Amamiya believes...

If Huaye truly harbors malicious intentions, the best way to resolve them is to let the community of interests that supports Huaye examine where Huaye's limits lie.

After recording the changes related to the Federal Student Council's Impression Space on his phone, Amamiya began processing the evening's messages.

Ever since Yukino, who had 'found a sense of security' during the day, left from Shirley, Amamiya's phone has started receiving a lot of MomoTalk messages from members of the Fox Squad.

Upon opening momotalk, Amamiya immediately saw various messages from the 'little foxes'.

Nicole: Thanks for Sensei's attention.

[Nicole: Captain Yukino's mental state has improved a lot since she returned from Chara.]

[Nicole: But she seems to have become very guilty, and sometimes she even seems lost in thought... Is she also bewitched by Sensei's charm?]

What is "also"?

Is Nicole hinting at something?

I also received messages from other people.

[Oto Aoi: [Fox giving a thumbs up.jpg]]

[Oto Aoi: Although it's not really appropriate to criticize Captain Yukino from behind... I still have to say, thanks to Sensei's 'tutoring,' Captain Yukino has become much more 'human.']

[Otoko: [Address] Also, Sensei, would you like to come visit the Fox Squad sometime?]

[Otoko: If we have enough time, the Fox Squad can treat Sensei.]

Seeing Otoko's straightforward invitation, Amamiya couldn't help but find it quite amusing.

This person simply stopped acting altogether.

It seems that Yukino's previous approach of 'closing her heart' and 'treating others with indifference' was indeed something that the other three foxes did not approve of.

'...'

[Hu Tao: Did the captain tell Sensei everything he'd been keeping to himself?]

[Kurum: Although it's not my place to express gratitude... I still want to convey Captain Yukino's thanks.]

[Walnut: Thank you, Sensei.]

[Hu Tao: This isn't my way of thanking you, it's just on behalf of the captain who was too shy to say it aloud.]

Ever since Yukino 'thawed from her frozen state', the frequency of messages from the 'little foxes' and their responses have both increased dramatically...

In comparison, Yukino sends messages the most frequently, and her messages are the most interesting.

Ever since my inner insecurity was exposed and successfully released...

Yukino's messaging frequency has increased from several days without contact to now sending a message every few minutes.

Furthermore, if Amamiya doesn't respond, Yukino's subsequent messages will gradually become more unsettling.

In just one day, over a hundred messages and conversations about Yukino had already accumulated.

V弍{令事(诌傘&y/u*e-已雨宫 looked through the chat history and found that there were many automatic replies that Alona and Sophia had made on her behalf during her and Kayoko's exploration of the Impression Space.

The latest message is Yukino's sharing of the Fox Squad's recent mission logs and 'life photos'.

After exchanging messages with Yukino, Amamiya decided to take this opportunity to ask the Fox Squad what their relationship was with Yuriko.