I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

But Yuriko can still understand them.

"This book records art...?"

After flipping through a few more pages, Yuriko realized that something was a little different.

The format looks like a regular textbook... but it lacks the fairness that a textbook should have, and even shows extreme biases such as comparing and contrasting, and praising one while criticizing another.

Hua Ye's personal work, "An Explanation of Personal Aesthetics"?

Suddenly, a familiar touch came from her ear. Yuriko temporarily put aside her pursuit of the book, looked up helplessly at Amamiya, who was leaning against the bookshelf and pinching her fox ears.

"I've found Yuriko a melee weapon she can use to smash people." Amamiya leaned the [Doomsday Horn] against the table, freeing up his other hand to rub his ears, while still holding on tightly despite the girl's increasingly 'senior' 'admonition'.

After all, she had just fought the previous 'Horn Holder' not long ago, and Yuriko had a deep impression of this horn that failed to perform as intended.

After glancing at it briefly, Yuriko tried to pick up the horn and weigh it in her hand.

"The horn used by the trumpeter before?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the original "horn" disappeared.

Instead, there is an axe meticulously crafted using techniques such as engraving, etching, and carving. The handle is like white jade, and the blade is coated with a little bright blue fluorescent paint, making it look like an "enchanted" battle axe.

This wasn't the first time Yuriko had witnessed the wonders of otherworldly equipment.

'The weapon will change into the shape most ideal in the user's mind, while maintaining its original style, based on the user's usage habits...'

The style varies depending on the style of the shadow itself.

For example, the 'trumpet blower' is the angel who sounds the horn of judgment in legend—although he has a skull-like face and a large skeleton, he is still an angel, so the axe handle is white.

The fluorescent paint on the axe blade is likely a symbol of 'judgment' and the ominous sign that the trumpeter's very appearance symbolizes the end of the world.

"A melee weapon that has a certain probability of inflicting 'Despair' on the target upon a successful attack..."

really interesting.

After weighing it several times, Yuriko found that apart from its name and appearance being a bit too flamboyant and not quite aesthetically pleasing, this multi-functional battle axe was almost perfect in terms of feel, functionality, and practicality. So she replaced her current hand axe.

[Doomsday Horn]

[Type: Equipment/Melee Weapon]

[Description: The trumpeter's doomsday horn possesses immense melee power. Whoever can sound the horn will also herald judgment, turning the earth to scorched earth and bringing an end to all living beings.]

Of course, it's okay if it doesn't make a sound; even when used as a melee weapon, it still boasts top-notch performance.

[The swings create an apocalyptic sound, capable of utterly shattering the enemy's hope.]

[Skills: Physical Enhancement/Doomsday Omen]

[Physical Enhancement: Significantly increases physical damage dealt by melee attacks; reduces enemy evasion rate when using melee attacks.]

[Doomsday Omen: When a melee attack hits, there is a low chance to inflict the "Despair" effect.]

Have you found any interesting books?

Seeing that Yuriko had accepted the 'gift,' Amamiya felt at ease continuing to touch the pom-pom inside his ear.

"Sensei, stop touching me like that... The inside of my ear is very... sensitive."

Yuriko sighed softly, but did not stop her.

His gaze wandered somewhat unnaturally, but he happened to notice a black book with a butterfly perched on its spine, placed in a dark corner of the bookshelf. It was an inconspicuous yet unusual book on the bookshelf.

"How come there are butterflies here?"

Even though it's an alternate world where 'anything is possible,' the appearance of butterflies in the deep sea is truly counterintuitive.

Out of curiosity, Yuriko went to the bookshelf and took the book out from the corner.

The butterfly was a black, unidentified butterfly with white lines and an outer frame, looking like it was made of origami. After leaving the spine of the book, it began to flap its wings in vain, trying to fly away, but eventually landed on her palm.

Yuriko found it quite novel—it seemed that, in addition to books formed from distant memories, fresh memories could also be presented directly in such a unique way.

She opened the book, and the scenery before her eyes changed completely.

A slightly blurry perspective, dark alleyways, and the distinctive 'clang clang clang' of gunfire...

This must be Huaye's first-person perspective memory, right?

It's just a memory, and it seems to have no real meaning...

Yuriko flipped through the pages a few more times, only to find that what followed was a long passage of effusive praise from Hanaya.

Then, with a 'whoosh', a slightly faded map fell out from between the pages of the book.

Amamiya didn't let the map land there; instead, he reached out and took it the moment it left the page.

With a quick glance, he knew it was a map of the sea area.

—Although it's not yet a palace map, having a sea map significantly shortens the subsequent exploration process and provides clear indicators.

Next, all you need to do is follow the map to find the correct entrance to the Flower Palace.

If we consider it from the opposite perspective...

'Atlantis was a place that ships could not reach,' but that doesn't mean Athens was the same.

If we understand it the same way...

Sea maps may not have been created for the purpose of "deep exploration of the sea".

Rather, it was to "leave the sea area".

In reality, this corresponds to the "strategy of escaping unscathed" that Huaye could think of.

Even the most confident person should know that before ensuring the feasibility of something, they should leave themselves a way out so that they can withdraw gracefully if things become unworkable.

"Sensei...why is there a map here?"

Yuriko was only exploring the temple for the first time. Although she didn't understand all the intricacies, she could grasp the importance of the concept of a "map" in a fantasy world.

With a map, you won't be like a headless fly.

But... it's a bit strange. Why would a map appear here, deliberately tucked into a page of a book?

"It's very simple... It's similar to reading a book you like and savoring repeatedly, leaving tags on the corresponding chapters and page numbers. People living in the real world also have various moments worth reminiscing about, whether glorious or shameful... In short, moments that you'll think about from time to time."

"And such moments... mean a special bookmark for a book."

"To extend this further, if you let your thinking wander while reading this book..."

Yuriko frowned slightly, then understood after trying a substitution.

This book is essentially Hua Ye's own 'fragments of thought,' and it's impossible for a person to focus entirely on one thing...

The state of mind that is tranquil, pure, selfless, single-minded, and focused on doing one thing is simply that; very few people can achieve it.

Hua Ye... well, it's already good enough that she's not fickle.

When imagining and reminiscing about 'famous scenes', one often has random thoughts like "If I were in this story..." or "If I... XX... it would be so great."

Huaye must have accidentally let her mind wander and conjure up some random thoughts about her plans while recalling her memories.

Therefore, the corresponding hall of fame is that only this book has a special bookmark like "map".

Even the smallest details that one might not even notice will be revealed in perfect detail...

The existence of a 'palace' is truly amazing.

If one could freely enter and exit one's own sanctuary to peruse memories and engage in self-reflection and other forms of psychological counseling...

"We've obtained the key information, now..."

Let's gather together.

Chapter Sixteen: What is Fubuki's Persona...?

“Jok…”

On the ship's deck, where the sea breeze was blowing, the girls were making their final preparations for evacuation.

"Is it really okay to let them go like this?"

Because she hadn't awakened her "Personality" and therefore didn't dare to stray too far, Fubuki tugged at Amamiya's sleeve and asked in a low voice.

Why would such a problem occur?

Sensing the girl's puzzled expression, Amamiya smiled gently and turned her head away, temporarily withdrawing her attention from the spectacular sight of raging waves and dark, churning clouds.

"Fubuki should be able to understand... As long as we let them go back, it will be a good thing for us no matter what."

Thinking about the otherworld knowledge she had recently crammed on, Fubuki nodded uncertainly.

Based solely on current knowledge of other worlds... that is indeed the case.

The shadows they have saved are of two kinds: products of the Faye Palace's cognition; and the shadow entities corresponding to the real world.

If they are cognitive shadows, releasing them in the temple would make the real-world Huaye feel that these students have escaped her control.

If they are the embodiment of the individual consciousness of the real world, then this long voyage is equivalent to saving more than a dozen Federal Student Association students who were about to go astray.

Fubuki knew this, which is why she didn't use hostile keywords in her previous negotiations with the Shadows, and even promised to 'clear a path and lead the Shadows out'.

But that was all she could think of—Fubuki knew these shadows couldn't be touched, but she hadn't realized that she had to escort them back to their respective sea areas and let them go back.

Looking up at the gloomy sky filled with gathering vortex clouds and rolling thunder, and feeling the creaking and swaying of the ship's deck beneath her feet, Fubuki sighed softly.

Who would have thought that sending these shadows back would be such a troublesome matter?

"Sometimes knowing too much isn't necessarily a good thing."

With her eyes downcast and looking listless, Fubuki, who had a clear view of everything around her, was quite helpless.

The more I learn, the more I realize my own insignificance; I have broad vision but lack the motivation and strength to achieve my goals…

With great power comes great responsibility...

as well as……

I recently learned about the 'lazy person's philosophy'.

Since arriving in this other world, various thoughts have been intertwined, creating a complex and tangled mess.

I witnessed this story that took place in another world...

Fubuki looked up at Kirino, who was still surrounded in the distance.

"Heroes... thank you for escorting me!"

"This is my parting gift to you..."

"I am just an ordinary finance officer... so all I can offer is a blessing symbolizing 'wealth'. Keep this amulet as a parting gift."

"..."

Faced with these seemingly enthusiastic shadows showering her with endless thanks for saving her life, Kirino, surrounded by them, was at a loss and kept waving her hands in refusal.

But that slightly smug expression of 'dream come true' didn't seem fake.

Kirino's dream is probably to become a mature police officer who can stand on her own, and she is indeed working hard towards this goal.

So, what is your dream?

Enjoy life?

Eating a donut?

Constantly slacking off and not taking anything seriously?

As Fubuki was slightly lost in thought, a shadow suddenly appeared in front of her.

Yes, literally 'shadow'.

A strange-looking shadow, which 'walked' like a caterpillar pupa instead of the usual mermaid tail-swinging walk, awkwardly and laboriously moved in front of Fubuki and handed her a seashell pendant.

"I am the minister in charge of regional security. As a token of my gratitude, I would like to give you this seashell pendant that I always carry with me."

"...?"

Fubuki really didn't expect that... she, an 'outsider' who didn't contribute much in the fight against the "Horners," could receive an 'unexpected gift'.

After hesitating for a moment, she didn't immediately take it, but instead looked up to meet the shadow in her eyes: "...Why?"

"Because I admire your potential."