I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Either as a supporter of arms and logistics, or as a participant in the accounting of financial statements, working alongside seminar members who are likely to be external aids.

Or... perhaps during the period when the Valkyrie ceased its function of maintaining order due to being frozen, it would serve as a force of the Shalai, responsible for maintaining order on behalf of the Valkyrie during the period when the Valkyrie was 'suspended for rectification'.

Thinking about her soon-to-be-gone summer vacation, the girl stopped her work and looked up with a resentful expression, gazing longingly at Amamiya.

"Sensei..."

Without her having to play the victim, Amamiya readily agreed, saying, "This time, I truly owe Yuriko a debt of gratitude that is difficult to repay."

“I’ll keep that in mind… In exchange, I can do my best to unconditionally fulfill the three requests Yuriko made—not counting the previous phantom thief. How about that?”

【~???~】(Yuriko)

Yuriko gazed at Amamiya for a short while.

Suddenly, she had a 'wonderful' idea.

Three requests...

If one request means one day, then once "those guys" have calmed down and things have settled down, I can use these three requests...

"Sir, you wouldn't break your promise, would you?"

Amamiya, still unaware of the gravity of the situation, patted his chest and assured, "I will absolutely not break my promise."

"It's good that you have this awareness..."

After letting out a vague sigh, Yuriko decided to temporarily stop thinking about the potentially endless and brain-numbing work that was about to begin.

“Sensei, about the ‘Hall’ of another world…”

Although her knowledge of the other world is still insufficient, she has a basic understanding of it because she frequently deals with the other world equipment that Amamiya has acquired.

Palace...

Generally, it is people with deep and twisted desires, who are in a 'vortex of desire' in the real world, who become the masters of the hall.

Yuriko had contact with various departments of the Federation Student Council at different frequencies, and naturally gained different levels of understanding of them, especially the head of the Defense Office, Hiyori Shiranui.

They even had a "wonderful" friendship built on "fighting each other" (beating each other to the hospital).

Yuriko understands, and is very clear about... the 'ultimate goal' this time is Hanaya.

But it is precisely because it is clear that it is doubtful.

Huaye's 'desires' and abilities... no matter how you look at it, they are no match for the previous master of the hall, 'Beatelitch'.

Compared to the temple masters Sensei encountered before arriving in Kivotos... that was child's play.

He doesn't look very bright... Could he really be the master of the temple?

Seeing Yuriko's confusion, Amamiya explained, "Kayo's 'intensity of desire' is indeed insufficient for her to directly become the master of an entire hall."

“I’ve observed this before. Huaye’s ‘desire’ has always existed outside of the space of impression, forming a temple within it. To understand it in an architectural way…”

“Other temple owners built an entire temple. But Hua Ye’s personal desires and abilities meant that she could only build a bare shell.”

"But what if she also has the support of her entire faction..."

"This hall can still be built."

After hearing that, Yuriko understood.

Currently, Huaye is neither a 'rental tenant living outside the home' nor a 'homeowner whose house has already been completed'.

In this state, it is difficult to capture Huaye—because she is not in the Impression Space, and because the Palace has not yet been formed, the Phantom Thief cannot punish her by invading the Palace.

So, the 'big survey' that Sensei is about to conduct...

In many ways, this is also a way to accelerate the formation of the Flowery Desire Palace.

"……Understood."

After sorting out all her confusion and doubts, Yuriko filled in the gaps in her understanding of the current situation.

In short... it's a classic yet unique story from the classic Chinese mythology of mountains and seas.

"I watched her build a magnificent mansion, I watched her entertain guests, and I watched her mansion collapse."

The collapse of the palace was predicated on the theft of the treasure. And the formation of the treasure was predicated on the palace being perfected by the distorted desires of its owner.

Therefore... the temple must be formed first.

The reason why we can only infiltrate after this initial evidence gathering is mainly because the temple of Huaye can only be fully formed at that stage.

"I'll go prepare the necessary equipment right away..."

Having received Yuriko's 'core support', Amamiya breathed a sigh of relief and got up from the sofa.

Time is tight... I still need to meet with Beritas and the seminar in advance...

'Next, let's go find Beritas's group of 'hackers'.'

Chapter 45 The Astonishing Hour of the Gravitational Field

Using the excuse of time constraints and other things to do, Amamiya hurriedly bid farewell to Yuriko.

Pushing open the door to Yuriko's 'workshop', Amamiya discovered that the 'cool and aloof' girl who had been wearing a bunny girl outfit and had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a cold expression was nowhere to be found.

After searching for a while, Amamiya spotted the girl in the long corridor leading from the engineering department to the outside of the building. She had changed into a maid outfit sometime during the day, her blonde hair tied up neatly, and she was standing alone in front of the glass door, staring blankly at the rain outside the window.

She ignored the comings and goings of the engineering students as they entered and exited the gate, and she paid little attention to the occasional glances they cast at her.

It wasn't until Amamiya's distinctive footsteps appeared that the girl, who had been as silent as a figure in a painting, was given a new lease on life and vitality.

She turned to the side, leaning against the left side of the corridor, leaving the transparent glass door on the right and a large, blurry expanse of rain visible.

As they got closer, Amamiya could even hear the pattering of raindrops and the occasional rumble from between the dark clouds.

After gazing at Amamiya quietly for a short while, she spoke calmly: "Sensei... it's raining."

It may seem like she's just stating a pointless statement in a calm declarative sentence... but in reality, this seemingly cold but actually warm-hearted and complex young woman is expressing some 'ulterior motives' through simple words and actions.

Amamiya approached the girl, glanced at the doorway that was almost a continuous curtain of water, and echoed her sentiment, "Yes, it's raining."

With a sigh, Amamiya took a folding umbrella out of her shoulder bag.

Emu-Isanba-Emu—Ever since transferring to Shujin Academy and accidentally entering the first hall due to rain, thus beginning her career as a phantom thief, Amamiya has made it a habit to carry a folding umbrella in her shoulder bag.

When Morgana was still alive, he would usually carry an umbrella to avoid getting wet in the rain.

Shaking the folding umbrella in her hand, Amamiya extended an 'invitation': "Kokoro, would you like to share an umbrella with me?"

【~???~】(time)

She calls herself 'Sensei's personal maid,' but she didn't even make any emergency preparations for rain...

Although it is a dereliction of duty on the most basic issue of being a maid.

However, 'sharing an umbrella on a rainy day'...

It's very romantic and very special.

"Um……"

The girl responded softly, then walked out of the engineering department's office building together, close to Amamiya who had opened the umbrella.

The world is quiet.

It was so quiet that all you could hear was the patter of raindrops hitting the umbrella and the white noise of raindrops falling to the ground.

My connection with Sensei... is also quite special.

Whether it was wearing bunny girl costumes and competing with the Rabbit team for 'ownership of the bunny,' or their attempts to explore 'personal interests' together...

The girl, carrying her equipment case in both hands and walking steadily in high heels, stretched out her hand from under the umbrella to catch a bit of the persistent rain.

No matter how long you spend with Sensei, it always feels too short.

What are your own 'interests and hobbies'?

It should be... going through something with Sensei.

The girl was used to waiting.

I never felt that the time interval between 'waiting for Sensei to care for me' was very long.

But along with the idea of ​​'waiting' comes the thought of longing.

The waiting time may be short... but with the prolongation of longing, it can easily become an endless longing.

what.

Being with Sensei... is very reassuring, so reassuring that I can lean on her shoulder and fall asleep without any worries.

But it also makes it easier to let your thoughts wander and start daydreaming.

"Sensei..."

As she slowed her pace, she reached out and tugged at the hem of the adult's clothes beside her.

"Ok?"

Amamiya slowed her pace upon hearing the sound and turned to look at Toki, who suddenly had a complicated expression and seemed hesitant to speak.

"What's wrong, Hour?"

“Sensei, in my interactions with you… I have felt that things have been unfair.”

Amamiya was taken aback, not understanding for a moment what was going on.

Why are you suddenly acting like a little girlfriend throwing a tantrum?

“…Unfair?”

"What's unfair between me and Xiaoshi?"

Shi said solemnly, "I've given you so much time, but you spend so little time with me. That's not fair... So you should spend more time with me."

Amamiya opened her mouth, but remained silent for the moment.

"The time you've spent on me is at least... as much as the time I've spent missing you."

Amamiya chuckled: "The time we spend together is so short, but the time we spend missing each other is so long... If Xiaoshi says that, then I'll be monopolized by Xiaoshi every day, and I'll be with Xiaoshi every day."

【~???~】(time)

Amamiya said it in a half-joking tone, but Toki "seemed" to take it seriously.

After a moment's hesitation, she nodded in agreement: "Yes, that's how it should be."

Amamiya was ashamed.

It inadvertently exuded an astonishing sense of gravity and possessiveness... Hours.

"Sensei..."

Amamiya, who could already feel a dampness wafting towards her, felt a slight chill: "What is it now?"

"Questions about 'hobbies and interests'."

“I think… I’ve found my ‘hobby’.”

The agreement to help others find their 'interests' dates back to the spring after the New Year, during a 'hot spring trip' with the workshop members. Several months later… has Xiaoshi finally found her own 'interest'?

"Isn't this great?"

Amamiya began encouragingly, "Finding your 'hobby' means..."

He interrupted rudely: "My hobby is being with Sensei."

Amamiya: "..."

"Yes, yes..."

After a pause, Amamiya adjusted her glasses and forced a smile, saying, "Having hobbies like this is quite... nice."

"At least, it can be considered as a step 'from nothing to something'."