I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"The best-performing group among delinquent girls... not to mention us lowly delinquent girls, even some well-known delinquent girl gangs are green with envy!"

"I even came across a video of the Helmet Crew leader angrily rebuking Lanwu and challenging her to a fight... but nowadays Lanwu's account is all about promoting the resort scenery and the lives of the Helmet Crew members, so she's too lazy to bother with it..."

"I'm so envious. My lifelong dream is to join a well-known gang of delinquent girls..."

"The Helmet Gang is such a large group of delinquent girls that I wouldn't even dare to dream of... Why did Sensei specifically bring this up?"

"It's very simple... I think your perseverance is very respectable. I can introduce you to the Hurrah Helmet Group."

As Amamiya sensed the previously gloomy expressions of the delinquent girls surrounding her returning to their former radiance, she let out a soft sigh.

If I didn't interfere...

After all the students in the tutoring department are expelled, this is pretty much what will happen, right?

From this perspective... Kiwatos's 'cruelty' in this respect is truly comparable to that of the "city".

"Withdrawing from school" is not as simple as the literal description suggests. The school is like a wing... and the students are like the feathers on that wing.

Although they can choose to detach from their wings at their own will, they have 'limited autonomy'.

But what can a feather that has fallen from a wing do, all alone?

"Sensei, what you said... is it true?!"

"After all, Sensei is an adult. She wouldn't lie to us unremarkable delinquent girls, would she?"

"That's true... That nun over there, dressed in a nun's habit, cosplaying as a nun from the Sisters of the Cleric, is someone whose looks, figure, and attire are beyond the reach of any of us."

"And that 'walking flashbang' has incredible fighting power... How exactly does she manage to take on dozens of enemies single-handedly?"

"Even so... in Sensei's eyes, it should also be..."

Amamiya coughed lightly, signaling them to stop talking.

Suzumi... being recognized by the "Third Eye" and becoming an assistant, and being able to take on dozens of "minions" single-handedly in combat, means that she can be considered an elite student.

But at least in terms of combat strength, she is still several levels below those of the top students.

—At the very top level, no matter how many 'small fry' come, it's useless.

Of course, the main reason Amamiya paid attention to Suzumi wasn't because she lacked power, but because...

Her presence was rather weak, and almost every time Amamiya thought of her, something else would happen to interrupt his actions.

"...Anyway, I will introduce you to the 'Whoosh Helmet Group'."

"However, it requires spending a long time on the island, or on the sea route..."

The delinquent girls felt something was very unreal for a moment.

They fell silent again.

After a long while, a delinquent girl, with tears welling in her eyes, weakly raised her hand: "Sensei is so good to us... why is that?"

"No reason."

Amamiya maintained her smile: "'Phantom Thieves' activities are meant to help people reform and regain their courage. What I'm doing now... is also a form of 'repentance.'"

"Then... let's make a deal the way the phantom thief does."

“I provide you with the time and space to repent and reform, and you…”

"Remember to spread more 'goodwill' after that."

Some of the bonds and relationships in Chapter Twelve appeared in 30,000 words but took 3 million words to establish.

"Okay...that's it, I've got the 'sphagnum moss glue'!"

Gently shaking the securely locked safe in her hand, the black-haired nun sighed contentedly, "One step closer to the goal..."

Looking around at her 'companions', she swallowed the rest of her thought.

The number of students surrounding Sensei is also increasing...

Now, even delinquent girls have joined the "escort" team, offering to help Sensei find its target...

Deliberately taking a half-step off and following closely behind, Hinata, with her gleaming red eyes, scrutinized the adult's back from head to toe with a 'completely new understanding'.

Compared to myself... the back of the adult in front of me didn't seem particularly broad or sturdy.

Yet, the aura surrounding him could easily give his companions the feeling that 'with an ace in hand, there is nothing to fear'...

Sensei's reliability is clearly evident and not a fabrication.

Before she had such a detailed encounter with Amamiya as she did today, she had always harbored doubts—doubts about why Xia Lai's Sensei was so popular among students.

Now she understands.

According to the classic interpretation of the Sisters of the Nun… the concept of Sensei is like a sacred banner.

As long as the flag stands tall, the 'believers' gathered under the sacred flag will have faith in their hearts... no, it should be said that 'faith' flows endlessly.

Gathered beneath the holy banner, we launch a sacred conquest toward our goal…

Hinata suddenly remembered the Trinity textbook and some related 'historical events' mentioned in the classics.

Hmm...that's right.

Sensei, you really do have that 'flag waver' vibe.

Although from the perspective of a "phantom thief," which is by no means a just cause...

This flag is undoubtedly a 'black flag' symbolizing rebellion.

Compared to the 'holy flag', which is mostly decorated with bright colors, the 'black flag' naturally gives off a sense of...rebellion.

But... is 'rebellion' always a bad thing?

If we also treat Sensei as a kind of faith, try to understand it, try to believe in it, try to pray devoutly...

"……Huh?!"

Did I just think of something 'blasphemous'?!

no no no...

After letting out a sound of surprise, Hyuga snapped back to reality and then shook his head frantically, trying to shake away the dangerous thoughts that had just crossed his mind.

[I sensed the change in Hinata's emotions.]

[COOP Improvement!]

【Hyuga Wakaba (Chariot) ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆】

"..."

Suddenly, a notification appeared that the bond between them was being strengthened, causing Amamiya to instinctively turn to the side and glance back.

"Hinata?"

"Ah... yeah, Sensei, there's nothing wrong, really nothing!"

Amamiya: "..."

How did we suddenly become connected if we have no relationship? What kind of one-sided emotional activity did you go through?

Somewhat confused, Amamiya withdrew her gaze and looked at Suzumi, who was walking to the side as a guard.

Looking at the white-haired girl who happened to glance over at him, he thanked her gently, "Thank you for your help, Suzumi."

【~???~】(Suzumi)

"No, it's nothing to be troubled about..."

The girl paused, her unusual single-wing hairstyle covering half of her face.

She concealed her embarrassment by tidying her side hair, then smiled brightly: "...I should be the one saying thank you."

"For various reasons, there have always been some questions in my heart..."

Suzumi paused deliberately, seemingly wanting to turn her gaze to Hinata, who was also feeling something at that moment, but ultimately stopped herself.

"...Those questions have finally been answered."

"So...Sensei didn't forget..."

'Since we haven't been in touch for so long, and I have no reason to ask Sensei to solve my problems or, incidentally, to get closer to her... you won't forget about me because of this, will you?'

【…】

I sensed a sense of relief emanating from Suzumi.

[(Adjustment: VI.) Coop is now unbanned!]

【Moreki Suzumi (Adjusted) ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

The sudden notification that the bond relationship had been unlocked left Amamiya with a deep sense of emotion.

As a famous saying that sounds poetic but is actually quite philosophical is: "People die at twenty, but are buried at eighty."

Some students... can see the bond relationship in less than 30,000 words, but in reality it takes nearly 3 million words to unlock.

"What are Sensei's next moves?"

After carefully observing the surroundings, Suzumi then asked, "Or rather... where do we go next?"

"Next, we need to go to the Knights of Rescue to find the 'Holy Elixir'..."

Halfway through his sentence, Amamiya paused for a moment, then changed his mind: "Let's go back to the antiquarian library first, hand over the items, and then go look for them."

Escorted by dozens of delinquent girls, Suzumi, and Airi... the journey back to the antiquarian bookstore was remarkably easy.

Gunfights are relatively rare at Trinity... but they do happen.

Without the escort of so many students, Amamiya figured the return trip might be delayed again and again due to encounters with other students or firefights.

With so many students escorting them, those who were exchanging fire for some reason would stop fighting on their own when they saw that things were not going well, temporarily cease hostilities, and clear the way.

'...Why do I have this inexplicable feeling of organized crime running rampant?'

Back at the library, Amamiya and Hinata greeted Shimiko, who was eagerly absorbing knowledge from the "Book of Truth" with shining eyes.

So engrossed was Shimiko that she didn't even notice Amamiya and the others calling out to her; she was so absorbed in the knowledge she gained from the books that she was oblivious to the outside world.

Next, we went deep into the antiquarian library to hand over the items to You...

Something somewhat frustrating happened to Amamiya—when she found Yu, Yu was also engrossed in reading "The Book Collector's Book".

Not only did he look at things, but he also took a blank notebook and would write or copy things down quickly from time to time.

"I see... imbuing books with 'mystery' through special methods, burning books... or using other methods to truly attach one's knowledge to various props, giving them real power..."

"Even within the vast body of knowledge, there is the skill of 'using this knowledge in the most correct way without reservation'..."

"To condense 'knowledge' directly into a concrete form, such as a book or other medium, so that the person you want to impart the knowledge can understand it without any obstacles..."

"Amazing……"

Hinata leaned closer to Amamiya, nervously tugging at her sleeve, and asked in a low voice, "Sensei... is this really okay?"

Amamiya smiled and waved his hand: "When it comes to books, especially those I'm interested in, that's always been the case with the 'magician of the antiquities library.'"

【~???~】(Hinata)

'Is that so...? It seems that You really is... a reclusive master.'

Amamiya walked over, waved her hand in front of Yu's eyes, and tentatively called out, "...Yu?"

Distracted, You didn't immediately snap out of her flow state, her expression slightly annoyed: "Don't disturb me yet, let me finish writing this section..."

With a writing speed so fast it left afterimages and an incredible ability to maintain a neat and tidy handwriting style, You finished transcribing a long passage in one go.

"Well……"

"Ah. Sensei?"

"The sphagnum moss gel and the cake that I was worried about... I've already received them."

Amamiya put down the cake box, while Hinata opened the safe she was carrying with her.