I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"In that case, everyone..."

Before she could finish speaking, Nia noticed the students to whom Gehenna belonged approaching from the corner of the street.

"...Can you notice the 'potential crisis' that is looming ahead?"

With a loud 'boom,' accompanied by the shattering of a nearby wall by a small explosive device, a team of four Gehenna students entered the scene amidst the smoke and dust.

"We are the Food Research Society!"

As Haruna shouted, the 'Four Hungry Men' of the Gourmet Research Club appeared at the same time.

Before anyone could react, Junko and Akari fired warning shots into the air at Haruna's wave.

Perhaps to temporarily create a certain atmosphere, the girls from the Gourmet Research Group surprisingly agreed to say a few lines, but the lines sounded rather 'horrifying' no matter how you looked at them.

"We came for Sensei...hehe. Someone as beautiful and talented as Sensei...was born to 'eat' us~"

After Haruna delivered her 'pre-battle declaration,' Junko, Izumi, and Akari spoke in turn, under the watchful eyes of the members of the Ninjutsu Research Club and the Festival Operations Committee, who were on high alert.

"Hmm (swallows)... 'Saving the princess' is not a necessary task for Sensei at all... I'd better just obediently let the 'princesses' kidnap me~!"

"Sensei, you smell so good..."

"I think Sensei is quite a sight for sore eyes too! ★~"

Amamiya: ...

It's one thing to crave a good recipe, but why would someone crave a good body?

He was certain that the sudden actions of these members of the Gourmet Research Society were not Nia's doing, or even the 'mastermind' behind the scenes's doing.

The reason they did this was mainly because they had unintentionally shown off their skills in making "Lubrin Curry" before, so they decided to temporarily team up and kidnap them under the guise of a performance to cook for them.

—They've done this kind of thing more than once.

Before them, they had their sights set on Fengxiang from the supply department.

Because the Gourmet Research Institute frequently "kidnaps" people, Kaede, who is responsible for providing meals for hundreds of people, is almost used to being kidnapped.

"Oh my...it seems things are starting to get interesting~ So, what will Sensei do now that she's preparing to rescue the princess~?"

Nia's voice made the girls on the festival's operations committee take a deep breath.

How to do it?

They weren't quite sure what Sensei would do...

But they instantly reached a consensus on what to do with their group.

At this time, of course...

With a shared sense of righteous indignation, they drove out the 'Ghena students who had designs on Sensei'!

In an instant, after unifying her thoughts and ideas, Fina quickly moved to the side, blocking the Gourmet Research Group's four members and Amamiya. With her arms outstretched, she used her wide, brightly colored sleeves, reminiscent of a phoenix, to try to obstruct the Gourmet Research Group members' view.

"Hmph... If you want to do anything to Sensei, you'll have to ask us first!"

"Fina, I absolutely will not allow you to take Sensei away!"

Shizuko and Haika followed closely behind. Although they didn't adopt the exaggerated blocking stance that Fina did, they also prepared their guns.

"Yes, that's right~! Sensei is our festival... oh wait, no!"

Halfway through her sentence, Shizuko realized she had almost revealed her true feelings and quickly interrupted herself, blushing slightly. She then hastily changed her words: "In short... Sensei will not be allowed for you to covet!"

"For the sake of the festival operations committee, you are not allowed to approach Sensei!"

The situation developed in such a rapidly changing manner that it could be described as swift and unpredictable.

Amamiya was a little confused, and the members of the Ninjutsu Research Club were also somewhat puzzled. Only Ibuki, with her excellent vantage point and simple mind, saw it clearly.

Amamiya: "...???"

The girls in the Ninjutsu Research Club: "..."

Ibuki: "Everyone's arguing about Sensei... Sensei is so popular..."

Ibuki's quiet remarks successfully swayed Xiaoman.

Xiaoman, wagging her raccoon tail, seemed to have thought of something and hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

In the end, she couldn't help but lower her voice and complain, "Princess Sensei's popularity... feels more like that of a 'princess'..."

Amamiya was speechless.

Before he could speak, the girls from the Festival Committee had already begun their battle with the girls from the Gourmet Research Institute.

Although they might be at a disadvantage in terms of numbers and weaponry, the girls of the festival committee managed to hold their own for a time thanks to the boost from their faith.

"Sensei..."

While aiming and firing, Fina spoke in a righteous tone: "...While we're holding them off, you should leave quickly!"

"I must...continue...my own journey..."

Don't be as tragic as those chivalrous heroes in martial arts stories who "choose to stay behind and hold off the enemy for the sake of the protagonist," ultimately sacrificing their lives on the spot.

Fina's "heroic" performance left Amamiya speechless.

However, in order to avoid being harassed by the members of the Gourmet Research Club, she decisively picked up Ibuki and led the girls from the Ninjutsu Research Club away.

'Let's move on to the next level while the Gourmet Club is held up...'

Chapter Thirty-Six: Where leaves dance, fire burns eternally...?

"Well, well then~"

"Things seem to have taken a very strange turn! Faced with the 'intruders' who are trying to take Sensei away, what will Sensei... and the ninjas beside him do?"

"Will there be even more exciting developments next?"

On the airship, Nia's 'live broadcast' continued to be broadcast through loudspeakers and real-time recording and transmission equipment, projected onto the huge airship screen, and on a specially prepared temporary broadcast channel.

Following the pre-arranged clues, Amamiya, along with Ibuki, Izuna, Tsukuyomi, and Koman, arrived at the originally planned 'second checkpoint'.

Naturally, students from the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) were arranged in advance to 'defend' the area.

only……

As is expected, various 'accidents' will also occur.

From afar, when they saw the head of the training club casually take down several of Gehenna's students with a gun in one hand and a riot shield in the other, and still looking like he hadn't woken up yet, the girls in the ninjutsu research club all felt a sense of impending danger.

Having experienced the previous defection of the festival's operations committee, the girls' first reaction upon seeing a formidable opponent was to look at Amamiya.

"Will our lord continue to use a single sentence to wear down the defenders' fighting spirit...?"

"Your Highness Sensei, what should we do? Should we force our way in, or...?"

“Sensei, I’m ready to fight anytime.”

The 'ninjas' watching gave Amamiya a sense of déjà vu, reminiscent of when he was in another world and his fellow members of the Phantom Thieves were waiting for him to make the final decision.

Chun's act of taking down Gehenna's student meant that this level was unlikely to be passed as safely as the previous one.

During the brief moment that the 'ninja' looked at himself, Tsubaki maintained his drowsy and sleepy expression, swiftly taking down several groups of students from the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) who had also come to participate in the challenge.

"Let's make contact first."

Setting down Ibuki, whom she had been holding in her arms, Amamiya stepped forward and used "Malignant Charm - Aura Enhancement" to instantly spread a chilling aura, dispelling all the dust and smoke stirred up by the battle.

The black-haired girl, who was squinting and seemed about to doze off again, twitched her beast ears and was immediately awakened by the overwhelming aura.

"Phew... I never expected this."

After half-opening her eyes to confirm who the 'challenger' was, she tilted her head slightly in surprise.

"Sensei... is she also participating in this 'Wagakuhime' performance?"

She paused, then her gaze fell on the Ninjutsu Research Club members behind Amamiya, who were ready for battle at any moment: "You even brought... members of the Ninjutsu Research Club?"

"Welcome... to the walkthrough for 'Second Stage - Sleeping Beauty'..." After yawning from exhaustion, Tsubaki continued, "...The condition is simple: you just need to... pass through this route while I'm asleep..."

"Passing while asleep is considered passing, but being noticed disqualifies you..."

The girl standing in the shadow of the building finished speaking and then stood still.

It's a level where you don't have to fight...

But thinking of the students from Ghena who had tried to force their way in, and the students from Hyakki Yagyō who also failed the trial, Amamiya thought of a very common game—Statues.

This is actually a variation of the "Statues" game; being noticed will result in a "punishment," while remaining unnoticed will allow you to pass safely.

Both 'phantom thieves' and 'ninjas' possess keen observation skills and agile movements. Even though Tsubaki has very sharp perception, Amamiya and his group still have a natural advantage.

The only one I need to be careful of is Ibuki...

While Amamiya was pondering, Tsubaki casually added a second rule: "...you can also defeat me."

“If it’s Sensei, there might be an exception. As long as the members of the Ninjutsu Research Club can beat me in battle… Sensei’s team can all pass.”

Was this Nia's pre-arranged plan, or was it Chun's own idea?

Amamiya turned to look at the girls from the Ninjutsu Research Club who were forming a triangle around Ibuki, carefully protecting her.

Izuna's eyes lit up: "Oh...a battle?!"

Xiaoman rubbed her hands together, eager for the opportunity: "A chance to demonstrate my ninja fighting prowess..."

Tsukuyomi was full of fighting spirit: "One against three, although we'll be facing the head of the training club, with our current strength, it should be fine..."

Having completed their "persona awakening" in another world, the girls have made great progress in both their willpower and personal strength. They are all full of fighting spirit and ambition for the fame of the Ninjutsu Research Club.

Although Amamiya had warned them to "avoid using the power of the Personas unless absolutely necessary in the real world,"... even without directly summoning the Personas, they could still unleash true ninjutsu by utilizing their Personas' latent abilities.

Personas provide bonuses to their users. These bonuses extend beyond just the persona's inherent resistances... they also include the persona's inherent strengths.

For example, Izuna's "Mochizuki Chiyome" is a legendary ninja who is skilled in information gathering and illusion techniques. The bonus she brings to Izuna is her exceptional sensory abilities.

Xiaoman's "Hattori Hanzo," though considered a ninja, is a ninja who is famous as a samurai. He brings Xiaoman the ability to sense potential danger and detect opportunities.

Finally, there's Tsukuyomi's "Fujibayashi Nagato no Mamoru," a legendary, robust ninja skilled at taking on multiple opponents single-handedly. What Tsukuyomi gained was a seemingly useless close-combat talent.

"Oh...it seems everyone is in high spirits."

"Since everyone has chosen to force their way in... let's prepare for battle."

Chun instantly perked up, her 'Sleeping Beauty' aura sharpening as her drowsiness dissipated.

The girls from the Ninjutsu Research Club stepped forward at the same time, blocking Amamiya's way.

"Ninjutsu Research Club, please enlighten us—"

After delivering their pre-battle declaration, the girls tacitly entered into a brief pre-battle standoff, allowing ample time for the evacuation of unrelated personnel.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ibuki trotted along, her military cap bobbing on her head, and ran to Amamiya's side with the cuteness of a young girl.

Amamiya then took out the Shittei no Hako and began to assist in directing the girls of the Ninjutsu Research Club in their battle.

"So……"

With a slam of her riot shield into the ground, Tsubaki spoke calmly, a stark contrast between her fierce aura and languid tone: "Let's begin~"

With the first gunshot, the battle officially began under the watchful eyes of countless people.

'Izuna, use the Substitution Jutsu to dodge the attack.'

"Xiaoman, Yueyong, your ganking speed isn't as fast as Izuna's. Use nearby cover to withstand the first wave of attacks, then evade and counterattack."

'Tsubaki's hostile target is Izuna. Illusion techniques are most effective when first used when the target is completely unprepared; they should be used at the most crucial moment.'

Under Amamiya's command, Izuna, Koman, and Tsukuyo immediately spread out, dodging the attack with a lightness and speed that most students could hardly achieve, and in a variety of creative ways.

"Izuna-style Ninja Art: Substitution Jutsu! Whoosh—"

With a 'poof', Izuna, who was running sideways and was pierced by Tsubaki's firepower, melted into white smoke and then turned into a fox doll that was riddled with holes in an instant.

Xiaoman and Yueyong immediately hid behind cover, using the brief cover to unleash their 'ninjutsu'.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh... Full Flow Ninja Art: Brilliant Fireworks Technique!"

With a long exhale, Xiaoman transformed the heat wave into a visible flame, and then made the fireball explode in a dazzling way, like fireworks on a summer night.

Whether the damage was actually dealt is another matter... but at least the special effects were absolutely top-notch.

The bursting flames transformed into a small rain of fire, which rolled to the ground and then remained in a strange state of 'neither burning nor going out'.