I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

'How far can you actually go...?'

Chapter Six: The Goal – Reclaiming the Future!

[BGM: I Believe]

"It's almost time, we should set off."

Amamiya clapped her hands and gave a final word of advice to the group of girls who were full of conviction and enthusiasm.

"We only have one goal today!"

"That means...stealing the treasure!"

"...Let's go!"

"It's time to unveil the hype you've all been waiting for!"

"It's time to bring an end to the question of who will win. It's us."

The familiar black and red fluctuations spread and enveloped the girls, and the world was redrawn as always, quickly transforming back into the 'other world' they were gradually becoming familiar with.

However... unlike before, the 'Tower of Babylon' in front of us is now blaring some kind of alarm, and there is a faint sense of danger about it.

"The atmosphere is even more tense than usual..."

Hoshino, whose fighting spirit was beginning to boil under the pressure of this tension, had an unusually calm and bright gaze.

"The shadows guarding the entrance have all retreated... Are they preparing to concentrate their forces for a final battle against us?"

After activating her Persona and surveying her surroundings, Ayane was slightly puzzled, but this doubt was quickly dispelled by an unwavering belief.

This is a battle of 'do or die'...

Sensei is absolutely right. Sometimes it's not just about thinking... but also about having the courage to act spontaneously and boldly.

No matter what obstacles lie ahead... we should all strive to clear them away!

"I used to have a premonition of defeat (an uneasy feeling of impending doom)."

"Now I have no fear."

"Because we're here again."

"To fight it together!"

"Let's go, let's go straight through the main entrance."

As Amamiya spoke, he took a step forward, and clusters of eerie blue flames accompanied him, wrapping around him and dressing him in a magician's black trench coat.

Behind him, the four Persona manipulators—Hifumi, Hoshino, Serika, and Ayane—followed closely.

The dark blue flames also transformed into clusters of whirlwinds, dressing Hifumi, Serika, and Ayane in new clothes that symbolized their rebellion.

As for Hoshino... although she didn't change her clothes, the Arcana of "the sky" appeared between her fingers, emitting clusters of eerie blue flames.

Finally, Shiroko, without her Persona mask, walked at the back of the group, while Nomiya followed behind.

"I believe—"

"One day, we will be able to fly up in the sky!"

"One day we may just—"

"Be able to touch down on a star."

"Off the road we have to go (saying goodbye to our conformist selves)"

"We shall proceed on this roadless path."

"until the end of our roles (until the end of our lives)"

"It's no turning back for us (even if it means we have to fight a desperate battle)."

"Cause we will never give up!"

After rushing into the first floor with the girls from the countermeasures committee and Hifumi, Amamiya glanced around the building and found no basement or other noteworthy anomalies.

So he led his group straight to the elevator and went up to the president's office on the 38th floor.

'laugh--'

The elevator doors opened, revealing a vast, empty space, much like an indoor soccer field.

"Sigh...this used to be an office...how did it turn into something like an arena now..."

"After all, it's a world of the mind~ It's only natural that it changes according to its owner's perception, right?"

"So... that's the 'secret treasure' right now, isn't it?"

After a very brief discussion, the girls all turned their attention to the glowing object.

Before the announcement, the 'treasure' looked very vague, just a strange, irregularly shaped mass of light and shadow.

After the 'announcement' was released, the shape of the treasure did indeed change significantly.

"A... gold card?"

"It's not a typical gold card represented by credit points, but a gold card that looks completely inexplicable..."

"Alright, let's hurry up and take the treasure... Sensei?"

Just as Ayane was about to begin her analysis, she noticed that Amamiya hadn't reacted yet and suddenly realized that something was wrong.

The security personnel have all left... This huge treasure trove is now completely unguarded...

is it possible?

No...that's not right...

"Everyone be careful...!"

Ayane, her inner alarm bells ringing, immediately summoned her Persona.

"PSONA - The Book of the Dead!"

The large book, made of 'golden stone tablets' and 'ancient parchment', was quickly opened, and an invisible quill pen began to rapidly collect, write, and record messages.

Ayane took a deep breath. The detection results from the Persona filled her with disbelief: "The shadow's reaction... is increasing?!"

'Ding.'

The crisp sound, similar to the clapperboard being struck, temporarily halted the propagation of all other sounds.

Immediately, the girls on the countermeasures committee clearly felt that the 'dome' in front of them had opened automatically.

A beam of azure light appeared and shone down.

Then, like a spotlight, it focused and shone on them.

"oh--"

"A novel performance—"

"A stage play about a phantom thief? I love it!"

Loud cheers erupted simultaneously with the appearance of the lights in the 'audience seats'.

"This, this is..."

Reaching out to resist the uncomfortable, blinding light, Serika began to carefully observe the area around the 'stage'.

Before anyone knew it, the shadows of the 'Kivotos natives' and 'students' had appeared there, their faces blurred and indistinct.

"Oops~ It seems like we're being watched~"

"Unexpectedly, I got to experience the treatment of an 'idol' under these circumstances..."

Nomiya said something meaningful, and then prepared for battle without hesitation.

With the God of Destruction in one hand and the [Paradise Lost] short sword in the other, Amamiya observed his surroundings before speaking earnestly and indifferently.

"...Aren't you going to come out and meet us?"

“Da da da—”

As someone applauded, a deafening roar of cheers erupted from the audience.

Immediately afterwards, someone walked down from the audience.

More precisely, it didn't resemble a "person" at all... but rather a... uh, strange mannequin in a black suit?

"What a grand entrance... I've been waiting for you for so long, Sensei."

The spotlight immediately shone on him, and the man in the black suit, now the center of attention, simply raised his hand and gestured for the audience to be quiet.

As he moved, the previously deafening shouts and cheers instantly ceased, and the applause abruptly disappeared as if it had been paused.

"Who is that...?"

The feeling of being on high alert made Serika, Hifumi, Ayane, and their group prepare to fight a powerful enemy.

"Black clothes..."

The only person who could 'recognize' someone at the scene was probably Hoshino.

She glared angrily at that presence, which was like a glamorous actor on a stage, yet inexplicably repulsive.

"Oh……"

The man in the black suit, who had been angrily called out by Hoshino, merely glanced at her indifferently and casually remarked, "Have you resolved your 'heart knot'...?"

After just that casual remark, the man in black turned his attention to Amamiya, who was wearing a black magician's trench coat, a black and white smoky mask, and stood tall and imposing.

"A magician's disguise, creating miracles... Heh. Perhaps I should call you a 'con artist.' But... it's better to just call you what everyone calls you."

"...Nice to meet you, Sensei from the Federal Investigation Department, Sharai."

"..."

Amamiya temporarily stopped preparing to summon Persona.

He's been through this kind of 'pre-battle clash of beliefs (verbal battle)' far too many times.

There's no need to start a fight at this stage; he generally won't make a move directly.

"Very well... then I'll get straight to the point."

The man in black chuckled in a low, guttural voice, his tone carrying the unique reverberation and distortion characteristic of the shadows of another world, giving off a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic quality.

"Sensei...we are very interested in your 'methods'."

"To tell you the truth, the current situation in Abydos is indeed related to us. The unusual occurrence of 'natural disasters and man-made calamities' may simply be fate... but in the end, we just took advantage of this opportunity to add fuel to the fire."

"Sensei, you should have heard of the difference between 'adding flowers to brocade' and 'sending charcoal in snowy weather.' Understand these two different idioms in the way of the Classic of Mountains and Seas... 'The same help given to the recipient at different times will give the recipient completely different feelings.'"

"And our 'secret arts' are nothing more than 'adding fuel to the fire,' offering a drop in the ocean to those children who should have been 'snatching chestnuts from the fire,' leaving them burdened with debts that even cattle and horses could never repay in their lifetime..."

"Compared to what those 'adults' have done, we are not the first, and these things will not disappear just because we stop doing them."

"...Are you very familiar with idioms from the Classic of Mountains and Seas?"

Amamiya slightly raised her eyes, showing no sign of being persuaded, remaining calm and expressionless as she looked at the other person.

"Do you know the saying, 'Do not refrain from doing good because it is small, nor do evil because it is small'? Do you know the saying, 'Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you'?"

He stepped forward, temporarily stopping the girls who were about to attack and were already filled with righteous indignation, while also blocking the aura of the 'man in the black suit' that could easily shake the hearts of others (a false abnormal effect).

"...Sensei, you're quite the 'surprise'."

The man in the black suit shrugged and spread his hands, seemingly not intending to dwell on the issue of idioms any further.

"I'm just curious about something... something that's been puzzling me."

He tilted his head in a contorted gesture, and the white patch on his 'cheek' that symbolized his eyes radiated a dazzling light that seemed to see right through him.

"Why...did you go to this lengths?"

Chapter Seven: Ra, the Sun God; The Final Battle

"Why...did you go to this lengths?"

"In the end, Sensei, you came to Abydos just because of a 'whim' or something, and you're prepared to help these children solve their problems, that's all."

"Why...why did you go to such lengths? To make an enemy of a behemoth like Caesars Corporation for a few worthless children?"