Became the Academy Romantic Phantom Thief chapter 155

155 – Return of the Phantom Thief

I was tingling. It felt like being hit in the head with a hammer.

I was aware that the phantom thief activity had declined recently. It was because I was so busy with so many overlapping things that I thought I had to resume my activities, but I didn’t have time.

At least, he stayed up all night during the busy midterm exam schedule and acted as a phantom thief, but the ordinary people had no way to know as it was an incident that unfolded underwater.

In other words, the official activities of the Phantom Thief Raven stop at the palace raid.

It’s already been close to a month, so it must be said that I’ve taken a break for quite a while.

Of course, it would be difficult to appear every night, but at least it is dangerous to rest long enough to be forgotten.

I never imagined that a short break would return to boomerang like this.

The most complex fact is that there is no excuse to refute Evan’s point.

I, the culprit, just passed it on because I was busy with other things, but I hadn’t thought about how my sleep would look to others.

‘In fact, Raven’s main job is not a thief. He belongs to Drakan, and the thief was just a gimmick to achieve his goal. So, as soon as he stole the trumpet, which was his goal, he disappeared.’

Even if the enforcer thought this way, the situation had become completely unreasonable.

In reality, even if it was an unfortunate coincidence, this was definitely my fault.

“·······.”

I only opened my mouth slightly, but in the end I couldn’t say anything.

The talk of the day ended in a blur. As a result, I heard some of the circumstances behind the scenes that I was curious about, but instead of being resolved, my heart only got heavier.

I went home and lay down on the bed, lost in thought.

Suddenly, I remembered what the Goddess told me not long ago.

[Remember what is more important. Always remember the most important goal.]

Voice full of liveliness as if it were heard in your ears.

No, the real Goddess repeated the same words as in her memory.

“…Don’t spy on other people’s hearts.”

[Whoops. What is it that worries you so much that you are lost in thought?]

“Just like that. I suddenly wondered if I was doing well.”

I talked to the goddess last time and burned my will to devote myself to phantom thief activities.

That same night, I boarded a train and crossed to the other side of Britain, exploring the sea and looking for the Millennium Pearl.

But it ended there.

I was swept away by the problems and incidents from the very next day, so I ended up putting off my phantom thief activities again.

I can do it later anyway. It’s not like you have to do it right now.

First of all, you can solve the problem in front of you and then take it slow.

After spending time justifying myself like that, now is the time.

As if clearing up karma, the problem that had been postponed has now returned and is heavily stuck in the pit of the stomach.

[Hmm. Don’t take it too seriously I think you can just do what you want to do.]

“But what if there is a problem like this time?”

[Wouldn’t it be fun to solve that?]

It was an optimistic comment that made you feel carefree.

In a way, from the perspective of a transcendent being called God, human life, old age, and disease may seem insignificant.

[As I said the other day, you seem to be obsessive sometimes. To the point of forgetting the most important goal.]

“I know what you mean. From now on, I will reduce other things and focus on my phantom thief activities.”

Yes. My most important goal is to collect jewels as a thief.

Other things are nothing more than a means to achieve that goal.

Putting the phantom thief in the background because of a change in priorities. How frustrating must the Goddess have been while watching my nonsense from the sidelines?

[Hey. I don’t mean that.]

“Yes? And what?”

[Hmm. It’s a secret. I want to find out for myself.]

I sighed at the playful tone of the goddess.

Looking back at her, the time she spent with her goddess had accumulated considerably, but there were still many unknowns about her. One thing is for sure, the taste is quite unique and vicious.

Anyway, she seemed unwilling to reveal it herself, so I had no choice but to find out.

“Once… The phantom thief activities will resume.”

[You don’t have to ask for my opinion one by one. Can’t you figure it out?]

“Really? So if I just retire like this, won’t you stop me? We need to find some jewels, right?”

The reason I started this job in the first place was because of the goddess’ suggestion. Her offer to lend her powers and send her back to her original world if she brought her a jewel containing her own powers.

Actually, she doesn’t really want to go back to her original world, but she accepted it because she wanted to try magic and the romantic job of phantom thief itself seemed fun.

It’s been quite some time since I was possessed by this world and acted as a phantom with the Goddess.

Looking back on my memories, there were times when it was difficult or life-threatening, but there were also times when it was just as fun and thrilling.

All of that time was a journey to regain her goddess-sama’s abilities.

If I were to retire here, the journey I had been on would end in vain.

Of course, the goddess was desperately opposed and had to stop it.

However, the answer that came back was completely different from what I expected.

[If you want to, who can say anything?]

“Really? What will the Goddess do when I retire?”

[Are you asking because you don’t know that? He must be watching the quality of love by your side, just like before.]

“·······.”

I didn’t understand. Wasn’t the goddess her goal to regain her own lost power?

Wasn’t that why she was trapped in the ring like now and couldn’t move freely and turned me into a phantom?

[What did I say at the beginning?]

“…Don’t make it complicated?”

[Yes. All I want is one thing. I want you to enjoy the moment to the fullest. That should be it.]

I still don’t understand, but I feel the sincere heart of her goddess, and she shuts her mouth tightly.

In the dark room, still lying on the bed, she looked up at the dark ceiling and raised her hand.

I stared blankly at the shiny raven ring on my hand.

“Thank you.”

That was all I could say.

***

“Haa…”

A woman sighed deeply.

Watching her exhaled cigarette smoke rise to the sky, she is lost in her thoughts.

Shortly thereafter, a clumsy-looking police officer approached her woman and shouted with a dignified salute.

“Gadget Leader! Good morning!”

“Go early.”

“hahahaha…”

The subordinate policeman who greeted me kindly hesitated a little before asking cautiously.

“By the way, manager. Is there something wrong with you?”

“Bad thing? There is no such thing.”

“Because it feels strangely subdued lately… I must have been mistaken!”

Is that so? Her gadget, as she listened to her subordinates and checked her own appearance, she shrugged.

“Well, there is no reason to sink. Isn’t the guy who gave me trouble, manager, gone?”

“Hmm. Then who is the guy in front of me right now?”

“A. What a joke!”

She seemed to believe it was a real joke. Gadget let out a smirk as she seemed confident that she was not in trouble.

“Isn’t that what the phantom thief is talking about?”

“Ah… That guy.”

As soon as she heard the word phantom thief, she narrowed her eyes and fell into contemplation.

The subordinate, not even noticing that fact, began to chatter about her carelessly.

“I don’t know why, but I don’t know how comfortable it is that he’s gone. I just wish it would never come out like this. Has it already been a month?”

“…Probably so.”

It was as her subordinate said. The Gadget Team, which had been in charge of the investigation ever since the phantom thief first appeared, was spending very leisurely and secluded days after the phantom thief disappeared.

The only thing I do is collect information that doesn’t mean anything. It was common to sit in a daze and wait all day, unless there was a request for support from another team.

The team members welcomed this leisurely break, but Gadget still felt uneasy. Thanks to that, the time to go outside and smoke a cigarette like now has become longer.

The past days felt like a fleeting dream.

The various episodes I experienced while chasing the thief passed by.

He met the detective Sherlock, openly disobeyed her manager’s orders, had a war of nerves with the enforcer, and even chatted with the princess.

Such spectacular incidents suddenly stopped, and a boring and boring daily life continued for a month.

In the meantime, the Phantom Thief Raven never showed up.

I don’t know where he died, or if he was preparing for something huge while hiding himself.

If I thought that it was the end forever with nothing resolved, I felt a sense of emptiness somewhere.

“Chief? But won’t you go inside?”

“Even if I go in, there is nothing to do. I’m going to burn this, so go in first.”

“Yes. Then work hard today!”

Gadget pondered as he sipped his last cigarette.

Is it right to let go now? I said that I would somehow force myself to continue the phantom thief investigation, but it’s already been a month. Even thinking of his subordinates, he might have to leave the phantom thief case behind and focus on other things.

It was then. The subordinate who had entered Lululala jumped out with a stunned expression.

As soon as he saw that figure, Gadget felt his heart pounding for some reason.

That’s probably it.

It must be because he knows what the urgency of that stupid subordinate guy means.

“Chief! Yes, it is a notice!!”

She smiled as she threw away the cigarette butt.

It was the flower of laughter that bloomed the most in a month.