I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Arona nodded repeatedly, "The last image Arona saw in her dream... was Alice!"

"However, she is quite different from Alice and Kai, whom Arona knew..."

"In the dream, she referred to herself as a 'princess'... 'the master of the ark' or something like that..."

...It seems that I was right.

Amamiya felt that what Alona was saying might contain elements of her own 'imagination' based on her subjective consciousness in the dream.

However... the veracity of Alona's 'precognitive dream' is probably beyond doubt.

After all, the appearance of the keyword "princess" is certainly worth paying attention to.

Could this "princess" be the "princess of the nameless gods" from another timeline who was fully guided by Kai and truly awakened...?

In addition, there are several students whose halos are stained with darkness...?

If something like 'a princess from another timeline attacks' really happened, then things would be in serious trouble.

Amamiya could see it clearly.

Alice's untapped potential is quite astounding.

Neither she nor Kai actually pushed Alice's 'mechanics' to their limits.

To describe it in a meme-like way: "Humanity has only developed less than 1% of Alice's potential."

If Alice truly becomes a 'princess', then even if she cannot directly destroy Giwatos, she will still cause a massive, world-ending disaster.

After listening attentively, Amamiya brushed aside Alona's bangs, who was 'expecting a reward', and kissed her forehead to forehead.

"This is indeed very important news... I will remember it."

【~???~】(Arona)

Amidst Alona's silly giggles, Amamiya left the Shitei no Hako, where the temperature had slightly increased.

The online video conference with the Red Winter Federation took too long. After leaving the Shiting Box, Amamiya immediately went to the window to look at the sky outside.

Starting in autumn, the days will gradually become shorter.

The fine autumn rain had stopped sometime earlier, and the setting sun cast long, dappled shadows outside the window.

You don't need to open the window to feel it; you can "see" the fresh air of the evening after the rain at Amamiya.

The sunset after the rain after school... Hmm, a good time to go out.

Having prepared for her trip, Amamiya grabbed her pre-prepared shoulder bag and headed out the door, boarding the train to "Haruhabara".

Why go to Spring Hachiman?

The main reason is that... not long ago, Amamiya received a MomoTalk message from Akira.

[Jing: Sensei, a student from Wild Hunt Art School contacted me indirectly, saying they want to meet you.]

[Jing: She's very passionate about tarot cards and occult matters... Should I meet with her specifically?]

Crystal... and students of Wild Hunt?

As one of the "Seven Prisoners," Jing's whereabouts have always been kept quite secret.

Aside from his black market activities currently under the professor's control, Akira's most frequented place is probably Haruhabara, where "his subculture-inspired attire can easily be mistaken for cosplay."

Amamiya had always believed that Akira was a student of Trinity.

What...does she have to do with the art of the Wild Hunt?

I got on the bus, watched the sunset rush past the window, and then got off with the students whose clothing increasingly resembled a certain 'subculture'...

Standing alone on the streets of Haruhabara, Amamiya glanced at the streets bathed in the golden autumn sunset.

As the seasons change, it brings not only changes in how we feel, but also more noticeable changes in clothing.

Almost all the students walking around Haruhabara were wearing pantyhose, some thin and some thick, and the absolute territory between their skirts and pantyhose created an even more charming and innocent atmosphere.

—It's even more fascinating if you ignore the fact that they carry various weapons and are ready to open fire at the slightest provocation.

Having avoided what was probably a real "fan fight" on the street, Amamiya stood in front of the "maid café" where she had visited Midori during the day.

Naturally, Jing wasn't there.

Although Amamiya didn't know why Akira had infiltrated the maid café to 'work,' she figured she wouldn't stay there for long.

A cunning rabbit has three burrows, let alone a 'phantom thief' like Jing who especially needs to hide her identity.

After observing the situation in the coffee shop from the outside, Amamiya turned and walked in another direction.

As they approached the location, Amamiya also began to check the basic information Akira had sent via momotalk.

"Eri Shirao... President of the Mysticism Research Club at Wild Hunt Art Academy."

"He's obsessed with occult books and hopes to meet me to discuss topics related to 'occultism'..."

"White hair and golden eyes, and the distinguishing feature is... a pointed witch's hat that she refuses to take off no matter what?"

Speaking of which... why did Jing introduce such a strange student to herself?

The thought flashed through his mind, and as Amamiya walked past a street corner, a very peculiar figure came into view.

In what is likely a small park used for setting up a space, taking photos, or resting, a woman wearing a huge red and black witch hat is intently sketching on the canvas in front of her.

The aura of a 'static beauty' is very obvious.

Given that some students in Kivotos give off completely different vibes when they're quiet versus when they're moving... Amamiya takes a wait-and-see approach to that serene and beautiful static aesthetic.

'Shall we sneak over and see what she's drawing?'

That's a bit too impolite.

Amamiya did not choose the usual negotiation strategy of 'sneaking over to observe first and then making a greeting'.

After tidying up her appearance, Amamiya checked if she had any useful bond skills.

Hmm, in terms of mystery... there don't seem to be many bond skills that add to this.

Aside from "The Aura of the Black Monarch" (Hizaki), it seems that only "Hakusengenou" (Ayane) takes effect at night.

Having only activated Hime Saki's bond skill, Amamiya walked out of the street corner.

Naturally, it immediately caught the girl's attention.

The girl, who was originally a 'static beauty' with a mysterious aura surrounding her, paused in her movements. Her gaze was involuntarily drawn to her, and then she felt a pang of annoyance—she had accidentally smudged the painting she was drawing.

After her initial frustration, her amber-gold eyes suddenly lit up with sparkling light.

Putting down her paintbrush, she pressed her witch's hat and used a super speed boost, instantly appearing in front of Amamiya.

"Are you my mast?!"

What happens when you summon a demon in Giwatos in Chapter Twenty-Three?

"This is the Wild Hunt Art Academy, and the president of the Mysterious Research Society is Eri Shirao!"

Holding her witch's hat, the energetic white-haired girl, her starry eyes sparkling, struck a strange pose for Amamiya, somewhere between the cuteness of a 'magical girl' and the mystery of a 'witch'.

"...Following Arcana's guidance, I ask:"

"Are you my mast?!"

The wind stopped and the clouds cleared. Standing by the roadside, Amamiya felt a slight sense of disorientation.

—This is Givotos, there shouldn't be any strange, mysterious rituals like 'summoning heroic spirits from historical gaps to fight over a broken cup,' right?

Of course, there is... but what kind of thing can it summon?

Given the current state of Kiwatos, with its exaggerated ancient civilization and suspected historical gaps, Amamiya felt a strong sense of déjà vu, reminiscent of a "fault" novel titled "Civilizational Fault, Only I Understand the Past."

As is well known, in this genre of novels, when there is no protagonist, they often have to summon all sorts of strange and wonderful things.

Or, they always seem to have a "brain hemorrhage" between weak and strong characters, choosing a weak one over a strong one.

"So energetic..."

Amamiya sighed softly, a subtle sense of déjà vu stirred by the girl's words, then gave a gentle smile: "Nice to meet you... Why does Eri call me 'mast'?"

"Because Mast is filled with magic!"

The white-haired girl, radiant with confidence, gave an answer that she took for granted, but which was irrelevant to the question.

"Hmm... how to describe it... it feels like Mast exudes a kind of aura, a convergence of the beginning and the end of Arcana, like the legendary 'current that gathers all possibilities, the slumbering place of the collective unconscious'... that kind of feeling."

"As a phantom thief, Mast, you can roam the edges of unknown otherworldly realms, transforming your observations and feelings into the power of your Persona, and battling powerful mythical creatures formed from negative consciousness..."

"This is one of the ultimate goals of our 'Mystical Studies Research Society'!"

"Master... Your beginning is the end we look up to."

At this point, Eri closed her eyes pitifully, put one hand on her chest, and looked heartbroken, as if she wanted to do it but couldn't.

"Ever since we learned of your name, I... and everyone in the Mysticism Research Society, have wanted to make a pact with you..."

"It's like... in a game, a contract between the 'Trickster' and the 'Assistant' that is recognized by the 'Mysterious Voice' (Lavenda)... establishing a bond that is connected and brought together through the Arcana!"

"However, for various reasons..."

With a soft "sigh," Eri reopened her eyes: "This idea, it seems, can finally be put into practice now..."

Wild Hunt Art Academy, Mysticism Research Society...

Amamiya wasn't completely ignorant about this academy that 'pursues art'.

According to the information provided by the president's bond skill [Déjà Vu], Wild Hunt Academy... can be said to be the academy with the second most chaotic situation after Ghenna.

The students here are mostly focused on 'pursuing art'.

As is widely known, the field of 'art' is where geniuses are most likely to emerge.

"Explosion is art" is an art form...

Performance art is also an art form...

Comparatively speaking, the pursuit of 'mysticism' art is a more understandable and relatively normal category.

Amamiya responded with an "oh," and briefly met the gaze of the bright-eyed girl, whose eyes were clear and full of passion, her gaze fixed solely on her yearning for 'art'.

“Being a ‘phantom thief’ isn’t exactly a glamorous thing…”

When Amamiya accompanied the girl to her easel, he saw what Eri had been painting earlier.

—It's a tarot card.

Moreover, it's a tarot deck modeled after her own image.

The card depicts Eri holding a magic book that has been flipped open, enveloped in brilliant firelight and ocean currents.

Although the corresponding border and card number markings have not yet been drawn, Amamiya can immediately recognize the symbolism of this card based on its style.

Clutching the edge of the frame, Eri introduced the painting with a mix of pride and regret: "Master, this is a special piece I prepared especially for today's meeting. It's like magic, unleashing the artist's pure sensibility and imagination!"

Picking up her paintbrush, she skillfully used her artistic talent to fill in the messy brushstrokes with tiny stars that didn't affect the overall picture, adding a touch of light blush to Eri's cheeks.

"If you're familiar with Arcana, you should know which card this is, right?"

"Ah."

Amamiya nodded, but instead of focusing on the tarot cards drawn on the drawing board, she looked at Eri, who was 'a little shy for some reason'.

"……"magician"."

"Like Eri, she gives off an inexhaustible sense of creativity, wisdom, and ingenuity..."

"Hehehe... As expected, Mast has a deep understanding of Arcana; he guessed the first card drawn today right away..."

"……what."

Halfway through her sentence, Eri suddenly realized something, slightly opened her mouth, and tilted her head back.

“Mast said my tarot cards are the same as the card in the picture…that means, in Mast’s eyes, my Arcana is also…”

"Yes, in my eyes, Eri is a 'magician'."

[Assistant: Eri Shirao / The White Witch of Mysterious Research]

[Arcana: The Magician]