I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

After taking a train operated by the Highland Railway Academy and having a chance encounter with the Railway Twins again, Amamiya returned to Sharai just before nightfall.

According to the information Alona found, Amamiya went to the "Angel 24" convenience store downstairs, which also serves as a parcel collection point.

Perhaps because it was a special holiday, Amamiya could smell a unique aroma of glutinous rice mixed with a light, plant fragrance even before she got close to the convenience store.

Beneath the sign "Angel 24," written in clumsy calligraphy, and the newly posted "Dragon Boat Festival Sale" sign, it was particularly eye-catching.

As you get closer, the pungent aroma of glutinous rice and mugwort lingers around your nose, stimulating your sense of smell with a slightly bitter aftertaste. The aroma becomes even more pronounced the closer you get to it.

After waiting for the automatic door to open, Amamiya saw changes inside Angel 24 that were slightly different from before.

The shelves that used to sell bento boxes have now been replaced by gift boxes of all kinds of stuffed rice dumplings.

The screens advertising fast food were temporarily replaced with advertising signs in the style of the Classic of Mountains and Seas;

Perhaps due to the greenery, Angel 24 is greener than ever before.

Good evening, Sensei.

"Welcome back!"

The blonde girl in charge of the convenience store's operations immediately flapped her cloud-like white wings and cheerfully greeted everyone.

'Like this... every day I sit in the convenience store, watching strange students walk past the door or go inside to buy things...'

And waiting for Sensei to return on time in the evening…

It has become an indispensable part of daily life.

'But... I still can't help getting nervous when I see Sensei...'

Amamiya observed the changes in Angel 24 from the outside in, and slowly carried her shoulder bag to the cashier.

Noticing the rice grains stuck to the shop assistant's apron and the mugwort leaves in the corner trash can, Amamiya teased, "Sora seems to smell like zongzi... It smells delicious."

【~???~】

'Delicious?!'

The adjective, though teasing, had a very subtle meaning, causing Xiao Kong to 'overload' her brain after a brief moment of surprise, with small circles appearing in her eyes.

"Has Angel24 been operating smoothly recently, without any unexpected issues?"

Amamiya sat down in the empty seat she had specially prepared for herself, placed her shoulder bag aside, and looked at the blonde girl standing on a small crate, who needed to stand on her own to maintain the mature look of a "shop assistant" with an 'equal' gaze.

"N-no, that's not true..."

"Under Sensei's influence, the convenience store business is booming..."

"I've recently started trying to participate in various holiday promotional activities..."

"Is this 'Dragon Boat Festival promotion' a case in point?"

"Um……"

Speaking of this, Xiao Kong looked slightly disappointed.

Because of the Dragon Boat Festival 'promotion' plan, Xiao Kong specially ordered a batch of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) from the Xuanwu Merchant Guild in the Classic of Mountains and Seas before the festival arrived. These zongzi were said to sell very well every Dragon Boat Festival.

result……

The students who travel to and from Xialai every day don't buy any.

Xiao Kong had no idea what was going on... She had sampled and tasted some of the zongzi herself, and there was nothing wrong with the taste.

Perhaps influenced by this feeling of disappointment, Xiao Kong unconsciously began to complain.

“Sensei, these extra zongzi will have to be destroyed because they expire if they aren’t sold in time…”

"What should we do..."

Listening to the girl's hesitant description, Amamiya was momentarily at a loss.

Products from the 'Xuanwu Merchant Guild'... especially food.

Even students who know a little about the Xuanwu Chamber of Commerce would see this as a naturally negative label, as "buying it is tantamount to asking for trouble."

Xiao Kong probably believed the advertisement or didn't do enough research beforehand, which is why she bought so many zongzi at once...

"Regarding the sales of zongzi..."

After considering his recent plans, Amamiya felt that—

Why not buy these zongzi yourself and then give them as gifts to the members of the Demon Palace?

"Sell these unsold rice dumplings to me."

【~???~】

"Hmm, these bento boxes will be given to Sensei... Huh?"

Xiao Kong, who had initially misunderstood, blinked belatedly, "sen, Sensi...?"

"These... these rice dumplings... if Sensei can get rid of them... even if they're given as gifts to other students, it's fine... no, there's no need to buy them!"

Worried that her mistake would severely damage the adults' wallets, Xiao Kong's tone became noticeably panicked.

Amamiya shook her head, smiled gently, stood up and reached out to touch Sora's cheek.

"Next time you purchase goods, remember to do thorough preliminary research, Xiao Kong."

【~???~】

[My bond with Xiaokong has deepened...]

【Empty (Hermit) ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆】

"I, I know..."

The little wings that had been fluttering in panic gradually calmed down. After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Kong still felt at ease enjoying the 'gentle caress of an adult'.

'What I longed for: the care and consideration of adults, and...'

Comfortable care and reassurance…

While enjoying herself, Xiao Kong suddenly remembered something, exclaimed "Ah!", and quickly took out several packages of different sizes and shapes from under the cashier.

“Sensei… here are several packages addressed to you.”

This must be the package from the Classic of Mountains and Seas that Alona mentioned.

Amamiya took the packages one by one and checked the 'sender' and other information on the delivery slips.

Currently, all the students he knows who study the Classic of Mountains and Seas have sent him one or more packages...

Xuanlongmen sent two copies, one for Feixiao and one for Nan.

The Genbu Chamber of Commerce also sent two copies, both sent by Rumi; one was 'normal' and the other was 'special'.

Even the plum garden sent two copies—one from Shun and one from Shinna.

The Alchemy Research Society also sent a copy made by Saya, 'with unknown ingredients and untested'.

And the contents of the package... without a doubt, were all zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).

Zongzi in various flavors.

It seems that the Dragon Boat Festival has a special meaning for students of the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

After bringing back the express parcels that had traveled from the mountains and seas, along with the unsold rice dumpling bento boxes from Xiaokong's "Angel 24," to Xialai, Amamiya began planning her actions for tomorrow.

Since we had already promised Nia that we would ensure the 'academy exchange' proceeded smoothly...

Let's go to the Temple of Ten Thousand Demons tomorrow.

Are all of Akatsuki's students this special? (Chapter 9)

As we all know, in order to make the novel's development more tortuous...

When a character has a plan, the author often arranges various unexpected events to interfere with their plan.

They called it "to enhance the novel's appeal."

Hmm... for entertainment purposes.

In the real world, you don't have to worry about these things, but sometimes the real world is even more 'unreasonable' than the world of fiction.

"Who is this……"

In the early morning, Amamiya stroked his chin and looked at the gray-haired girl, Lu Yi, who was brought by Saori as a concubine. (Part 3)

Wearing a heavy winter coat with a fleece lining that doesn't quite fit the early summer season, the white lining and pleated skirt, perhaps due to their overly bulky curves, fail to accentuate the girl's natural beauty.

Black stockings, heavy cotton boots, and more importantly, she usually wears a helmet like Saki... Moreover, the gaze she gives is filled with a subtle intention that is almost a mixture of scrutiny and hostility.

Such a unique situation could not help but arouse Amamiya's curiosity.

Faced with Amamiya's question, Saori, dressed in a clean and refreshing summer uniform with a long hem and pleated skirt, exuding the charm of a mature young girl, felt a little embarrassed.

Now that she's used to wearing skirts, Amamiya's question reminded her of the past when she had to take on jobs like 'construction work' or 'carrying bags of cement' while sweating profusely for the sake of Arius's team's operations and daily life.

"She is……"

After hesitating for a moment, Saori finally decided to tell the truth: "...I met him by chance when I was working part-time."

Coworker?

Amamiya met the gray-haired girl's dark emerald eyes, which were filled with a certain 'belief'.

After waiting for a while, the gray-haired girl, not wanting to make her 'former coworker' feel any more awkward, softened her demeanor, coughed lightly with her fist clenched, and introduced herself.

"I am Miri Anmori, from Akatsuki Federal Academy, and I am the Minister of the Public Works Department."

"The reason for choosing to visit Charlemagne at this stage is mainly because I am worried about the situation of my former 'workers'."

Gathering her thoughts, Miri spoke with righteous indignation and radiant confidence, her eyes filled with a firmness that Amamiya could not fathom: "The manual laborers at the grassroots level can no longer endure exploitation..."

“Since some time ago, I’ve noticed that… the workers who usually wear masks and come to the construction site very hard are gradually coming less and less often…”

"Later, she didn't come to the construction site for a long time."1〗氵吾七鸠六sa?〥n貳〒

“I suspect that this worker may have been subjected to some unimaginable exploitation, and even had his communication with the outside world completely cut off…”

"This situation is absolutely unacceptable and must not be allowed to happen."

After speaking at length, Shiri cleared her throat and concluded, "...If such a thing really happens in Xia Lai, then we must fight, and fight on and on!"

Amamiya is really overwhelmed.

He truly hadn't expected that this student from Chidong would have such a...unique ideology.

Helpless, Amamiya tried to observe the impassioned gray-haired girl with her "third eye".

[Assistant: Miri Azumori / Foreman of the Public Works Department who participated in the protests]

[Arcana: The Trial (XX.Judgement)]

[Assistance Relationship: Not Unlocked]

'Trial...'

This should be the second "Judgment" card so far, after Hina.

"However, it seems... that no 'special situation' occurred in Xia Lai."

After tugging at her thick, damp scarf, Miri let out a long sigh of relief, then said to Saori, "...It seems my coworker is doing well in Xialai these days, so I'm relieved."

Saori: "..."

They are indeed doing very well.

After all, they had to get used to wearing skirts every day, cloaking themselves in the guise of 'civil servants,' and assisting Sensei in dealing with a series of minor issues that occurred near Xia Lai in the name of Xia Lai.

Compared to the scorching sun and endless physical labor of the past, this relaxed and leisurely life is simply the best it could be.

Not knowing how to respond to Miri, Saori could only awkwardly give a muffled reply.

To ease the awkwardness, Amamiya had to change the subject.

After sending Saori away under the pretext of making coffee, Amamiya took another look at the girl, who was sweating slightly even under the air conditioning in the activity room of Xia Lai.

"Judging from Miri's situation, it seems to be quite... special."

After considering for a moment, Amamiya tentatively asked, "...Did Minori come directly from the Akatsuyu Federation?"