I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Thank you for your help, Shimiko."

"This one……"

Holding the book in his hand, Amamiya waved it around and handed it to Shimiko. The book, still smelling of ink, contained language that seemed rather strange to Shimiko.

"Let's leave it to Shimiko."

Since it was a book, Shimiko instinctively reached out and took it.

But the moment she received it, she immediately realized that this book was not simple.

The writing on it does not belong to any of Kivotos's known 'modern' language systems, nor does it have anything to do with the ancient and dead writing systems she has studied. It seems to be written by some kind of ever-changing symbolic language.

From a textual perspective, she couldn't understand it at all...

But the knowledge recorded here is easy to understand at a glance.

It gives me the feeling of... 'a medical student from the Knights of Rescue looking at a prescription written carelessly by a senior'.

In Shimiko's opinion, the handwriting of some of the senior students in the Rescue Knights was also quite sloppy, almost like 'scribbling'.

But strangely enough... the students of the Rescue Knights could all understand it.

"This is……?"

"A kind of... well, a 'Book of Profound Truth' made of a special material? Shimiko can understand it as something brought from outside Giwatos, recording knowledge from outside Giwatos. The reason it's readable... is because the author added this effect specifically based on the concept that 'the book itself can be easily understood by anyone.'"

Amamiya offered a rough interpretation in a way that Shimiko only vaguely understood.

—Actually, this is one of the books I found in the Demon King's Castle Library when I was conquering Rion's Palace.

At that time, under the instruction of Noah in the shadows, Amamiya copied and collected these lost 'knowledge'.

Now, Amamiya has selected a 'collector's edition' book from the Demon King's Castle Library's collection, but it's not particularly important, and made a copy as a gift.

"Brought from outside Kiwatos...?"

Moreover, it comes with the special effect of being easily readable even by those unfamiliar with the writing system...

This is simply...

It hit the most sensitive spot in my heart right away!

A book that anyone can easily understand... isn't that a good book among good books?

[...he firmly captured Shimiko's heart!]

【~???~】(Shimiko)

Suppressing the urge to immediately bury herself in her books, the girl smiled and shook her head slightly.

"I didn't really help Sensei in any way, so there's no need to thank me..."

"However... although it's a bit embarrassing to say, out of consideration for the book, I'll accept it for now."

"...Sensei will be 'compensated' in another way later."

[I sensed Shimiko's affection...]

[Coop is now unbanned!]

【Yundō Shimiko (The Hermit) ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Chapter Seven: The Magician's Shock and Anger

Compared to the bright library, the antiquarian bookstore... even during the day, appears slightly 'gloomy'.

The sparse natural light filtering in from the window was insufficient to illuminate the interior space, which was slightly suffocating due to the cluttered and misaligned bookshelves filled with books.

"Huh...it's so dark here..."

The large nun beside him nervously used her phone for light, shrinking back as she tugged at Amamiya's sleeve.

Looking around, all she could see were bookshelves that seemed impenetrable. Even though she was a 'devout' nun, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous at this moment.

"Excuse me~~"

Is anyone home?

Hinata's voice went unanswered, which is to be expected.

After all... the dampness of that place... no, it should be said that it was so dark that it was almost possible to 'grow mushrooms', and she even had a faint musty smell of ancient books on her body, which meant that she would not go out often.

Recalling his first visit to the 'Antiques Library' and his chance encounter with Yu, Amamiya made a judgment in his mind.

"..."

The constant, taut tearing force from his shoulders and sleeves pulled him back from his thoughts.

Amamiya glanced at Hinata, who was nervously looking around, and was truly speechless.

"The door's open...we can just come in, right?"

Hinata, feeling uneasy after receiving no response to her greeting, happened to look at Amamiya with trepidation: "Sensei... you've been to the used bookstore before, was it like this last time?"

Amamiya obediently shook his head slowly.

"The last time I came here it was also during the day, but with the lights on, it looked like it had just been cleaned not long ago..."

"I also had the pleasure of exchanging words with that 'magician from the antiquities library.'"

"So, Sensei, do you think that chairperson, who's known as the 'magician of the antiquarian library'... is easy to talk to?"

Amamiya smirked, clearly avoiding Hinata's question with a 'no answer'.

That's hard to say...

Even among the many "hermits" and assistants he knew, You was probably the most difficult to deal with.

His personality can no longer be described as 'eccentric'... it's very unique.

"Hyuga will understand when he sees the person in person..."

Amamiya changed the subject, her pupils gradually glowing red in the darkness.

"...?"

'Sensei's eyes... seem to be glowing?'

'Is that... the legendary "third eye" unique to Sensei, capable of seeing into people's hearts?'

Noticing the sudden change in Amamiya's eye color, the black-haired girl hesitated for a moment before deciding not to continue disturbing her.

As an excellent thief... how could one not possess sharp eyes that could see clearly even in the dark?

After scanning the area with his "third eye," Amamiya took out his phone, turned on the flashlight, and led Hinata to the light switch in the antiquarian library, turning on the lights for illumination.

"Who...?"

As expected... the changes in the environment of the antiquarian library prompted You to make a move immediately.

She seemed to have just been jolted awake from some kind of deep concentration, her voice tinged with panic.

At the same time, Amamiya even heard the sound of guns being picked up.

"Worry...it seems like it's been a while."

"That voice...is it Sensei?"

The worry that had been lurking in the cubicle between bookshelves immediately eased considerably. Holding an ancient book, she jogged over, drawn by the sound.

"Sensei is here this time too..."

"..."

He was only halfway through his sentence when the expression of worry, a mixture of faint joy and anticipation, froze on his face.

Her movements froze, and then she slowly calmed down, her aura quickly becoming calmer and even somewhat unnaturally restrained.

"...A nun in a habit? A student of the nunnery..."

“Sensei, you brought the nuns here...is there something you need…”

"what……!"

Hinata then belatedly realized what was happening and quickly introduced herself: "I am Hinata Wakaba from the Sisters' Guild! I specially invited Sensei to come here with me, mainly because... I want to repair, repair a classic book..."

'Is that so...'

As for how Sensei got in... there's no need to ask any further.

After all… the ‘permanent invitation to the ancient library’ was sent to Xia Lai not long ago by mail, a relatively traditional method in Kivotos.

For ordinary students who want to enter the antiquarian library, without the guidance of a 'special adult' like Sensei, they need to communicate with the librarian, Shimiko, or other librarians and make an application.

If someone shows up uninvited without applying and has auto-pickup enabled, they'll steal books from Mao's Antique Bookstore...

So even someone as socially awkward as You would have to pick up a gun with a gloomy face and then "wish the other person into the book they want."

Either beat you until you return the book, or beat you until you become the book...

Well, the possibility of turning into a book is still unlikely to happen in Kivotos—after all, this library is not that kind of library.

Yu didn't seem to have much intention of talking to Hinata. Although she no longer looked like an introverted person who didn't want to talk, she still kept her eyes down, with an intellectual yet lazy expression.

"Well...Sensei, I need to take a look at the books you need my help to repair first."

Feeling like she wasn't being properly looked at, Hinata raised her voice slightly in alarm: "Eh? Is it...is someone who dislikes me?!"

You covered her ears, her voice weak and powerless: "...No."

"Also, since this is a confined space, you should be a little careful when you speak..."

Realizing she had accidentally yelled again, Hinata quickly apologized, "Oh, I'm so sorry..."

"..."

Yu shook her head without saying much, and followed Amamiya's steps to a nearby table and chairs for reading.

Amamiya opened the wooden box containing the books he was carrying.

The contents of the box made You frown immediately.

Because she had never seen anything like it before—inside the box was a book... neatly stacked, disassembled into several parts like a modular firearm, "book parts".

The reason for using "parts" instead of "something that used to be a book" is...

The main reason is that it was completely broken apart. Although there were indeed signs of damage and other reasons, overall it looked like a gun that had been smashed into pieces.

Yu took a small box out of her pocket, put on the monocle, and then carefully picked up each of the "parts" to examine them.

I've seen even more serious situations than this before.

It's just 'assembly'... not difficult at all.

"Woo..."

The more he looked through the pages, the more unusual his expression became.

"..."

Setting down the 'parts' in her hand, she looked at Amamiya and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "...Sensei, why did this child become like this?"

"It's like... although it was in a box with the most basic protection, the box itself was carelessly thrown in front of a truck and hit repeatedly by the custodian...!"

Amamiya was starting to lose her composure... In a way, the description of her distress was quite accurate.

“I have taken ‘maximum’ protection measures for this child.”

Amamiya sighed with a look of 'pity' and gave Yu a general description of the situation at the time.

Then, Yu cast an unfriendly glance at Hinata.

"Eh?!"

Hinata was startled by Yu's unusually sharp gaze, and a sense of fear arose for no reason.

I don't know why, but... there's a feeling that's even more oppressive than Sakura-sama...

As expected of a magician, his aura is also...

"...carrying such an important book, yet still recklessly not watching where he was going, and after bumping into Sensei, he even tried to 'rescue' it using unprofessional methods."

"No wonder the child turned out this way."

You was devastated. With a dark face and an unusually strong aura, she almost shouted angrily, "This child clearly reads a very important ancient classic... How could such an ancient book be ruined in such a crude way!"