chapter 19
Reason for not attending
“Come. I was waiting.”
After leaving the notice in the museum, I headed to the copycat’s basement.
“Is the painting complete?”
“of course. See for yourself.”
I approached him and looked at the ‘Lighthouse in a Stormy Night’ painted on the canvas.
“How is it?”
“···Incredible.”
It was sincere. For a moment, I was at a loss for words and just watched it with my mind.
When I first saw the work at the museum, I felt the same emotion.
“Thank you for appreciating me that way.”
However, when I looked closely, I could feel that it was different from the real thing.
In particular, there was no ‘light’ in this picture. When the dazzling light that determines the ‘jewel’ the goddess spoke of disappeared, it seemed as if it was an unfinished work.
Of course, it is impossible for an ordinary person to distinguish the real from the counterfeit only in the presence or absence of light. So this fake painting is perfect for what I want it to be.
“But like I said, it’s not free. In return, you must grant one of my favors.”
“Sure. What is your request?”
The imitator asked me to bring something.
As expected, it was the same as the request made to the main character in the original work.
“All right. Can I bring it back after I’m done with this job instead?”
“of course. After all, all I have left is time. Please wait patiently.”
“haha. thank you.”
After completing the transaction safely, I took the painting and went home.
Now the preparations are complete. I’m going to rob an art gallery tomorrow.
***
<Another preview of the phantom thief!>
<Awkward provocation! A notice on the statue that stretched out his hand.>
<The police’s confident declaration. Raven’s playfulness ends here.>
As soon as the next morning came, the expected scenery unfolded. All kinds of media outlets were full of stories about the advance notice of Raven the phantom thief.
[Now, at least in this country, no one knows you.]
‘I do not know. It’s still a long way off.’
Come to think of it, this is only the fifth offense. It was necessary to show a steady performance in order not to remain as a topic of discussion at the moment when it was noisy and quiet for a while because the issue at the museum was so big last time.
Still, it was definitely particularly noisy today. Perhaps it is because the police announced strict response and declared that they would definitely catch them.
When I went to the academy, the situation was similar. Listening to the topic of the noisy children’s stories, everyone was full of words about the phantom thief Raven.
Our members were no exception.
“Very upset.”
“Because it exploded brilliantly.”
“Captain. Do you still think the phantom thief is a good person?”
Rachel’s question was answered by Julia bluntly.
“If you’re a bad thief, you don’t make fancy announcements.”
“I sympathize. He’s not an ordinary bad thief, he’s an oddly crazy thief.”
“·················ogue.”
Wait a minute. Why don’t you refute that statement?
Do you think Julia also agrees with the statement that I’m not crazy?
No, that’s right, even if you think so, there’s nothing I can say about it…
Still, if you’re going to defend me, I can do it to the end.
“Oh yeah. By the way, how was the interview yesterday?”
“Here is the notebook I put together.”
“Five.”
Rachel is handed the notebook that Sharon had put together yesterday and reads it slowly.
The notebook contained only objective information without subjective opinions to the extent that it was believed that it was written by a machine.
If the notebook contained Sharon’s self-interest, would it have been filled with only negative stories?
If I recall the reaction I had yesterday, it was probably 100%.
“Hmm. It’s just rude.”
“Can I see it too?”
“You know what it’s all about.”
“I’m still curious.”
The notebook went back to Julia. She nodded her head while carefully reading what was written.
“great. Then, let’s add this interview to the presentation. Are you fine?”
“So. After all, only the captain who announces is bothering me.”
“I’m fine too.”
Finally, Sharon, who had been quiet all along, nodded.
“yes.”
In fact, people will not immediately change their minds and rate Phantom Thief favorably by adding this content.
Still, maybe it could provide an opportunity to think about it again, as Julia had hoped for.
“Ah, a good idea came to my mind.”
At that time, Rachel, who had a troubled expression on her face, spoke with an ominous smile.
“yes? What do you mean?”
“That thief said he was going to rob the museum. Is it tonight?”
for a moment. Hopefully this guy…
“Let’s go to the site together.”
All of a sudden, this sounds like a blue sky. Why is the guy who is usually the most shy about group assignments, suddenly burning his enthusiasm at such a timing?
Fortunately, Julia was skeptical of Rachel’s opinion.
“Well. If I went there, wouldn’t the police stop me anyway?”
That’s right! Well done!
That’s actually true. Of course, the police will strictly control public access. As much as you risk your life and death to catch the phantom thief, you probably don’t want to create even a small variable.
“How are you? If it doesn’t work, isn’t it beneficial to see his face from afar?”
“Well···. Surely it could be.”
hey. Why are you passing so easily?
I mean, try harder and oppose it. Anyway, I don’t know how clearly you can see it from a distance.
“OK. Then it was passed with the consent of the captain.”
In the end, I, who had not seen it, intervened and asked with sincerity.
“Why are you in serious mode all of a sudden when you’re usually nauseous?”
“What? that’s fun How can you stand the sight of theft?”
It was an irrefutable logic. I think it would be fun, what would I say next to you?
[This is definitely true.]
‘Don’t empathize with your side.’
This time, Yulia looked at me and Sharon in turn and asked.
“How are you two?”
“How are you? Of course we should go together. Especially Jinta, follow me.”
Why am I speaking as if I should obey your orders?
Of course, I couldn’t go with you.
“sorry. I think it will be difficult.”
“I can’t do it today either.”
Following my words, Sharon also adamantly declined the offer.
In fact, the words overlapped and at the same time refused.
“under? Are you not going to participate in the sacred group work now?”
“hey. If no one else knows, you shouldn’t say that.”
On a topic that I forgot yesterday’s interview.
Rachel, who had been grumbling with a frown, suddenly opened her eyes and raised the corners of her lips.
What else is this time? Every time he laughs, my heart throbs with ominousness.
“Seeing they fall in love at the same time, the two of you…”
“Ugh! that was it? I didn’t even know that…”
Rachel’s endless, forced coupling and Julia’s fantastic combo that makes the situation even worse by making a fuss from the side. Thank you for making my mind go crazy
I? with Sharon?
With that blunt, cold ice princess?
nonsense.
We are destined to be unconnected in the first place.
Yes, Sharon hates phantom thief Raven.
If I find out that I am actually a phantom thief Raven, I may end the relationship altogether.
So, even if it’s someone else, there’s a 0% chance that the two of us will be together.
[That’s stupid. In the beginning, that is the true destiny.]
‘Goddess, just be quiet. please.’
[huh. Yeah I got it.]
Ah, this time the goddess seems to have slipped out properly.
It’s going to be pretty tough to get rid of this.
Yulia stammered with a bewildered expression on whether she had already completely confirmed her relationship with Sharon in her head.
“Uh, I don’t know when they started like that… Chu, congratulations? Do you fit well… me?”
“It would be weird if it ended there in a question form.”
I sighed and corrected the misunderstanding.
“Absolutely not. It was just a coincidence.”
“Huh? Is it really a coincidence? Didn’t something happen while we were interviewing alone yesterday?”
“Because it’s not! If that’s the case, you went to an interview with me alone two days ago!”
At my rebuttal, Rachel immediately frowned in contempt.
“ah. What’s the chubby bastard? Why am I dating a fat girl like you?”
“·················ogue.”
“hey. are you pissed off? It’s a joke man. It’s a joke. It’s a joke.”
She poked my side with her elbow and winked playfully.
Ah-oh. They say they look pretty only because they look good, because what they do is just like a boy.
“okay. The two are not dating. So why can’t you go? If you don’t give a proper reason, can you just think of it as a romantic date for a lover?”
the right reason.
That’s because I’m the phantom thief Raven you want to watch. Do I have to go to a museum and steal a painting so you can see it too?
Of course, I couldn’t say this, so I gave a reasonable excuse.
“Today, a relative is going to stay at home for the night, so I have to go meet him at night.”
“Why do relatives come on such an ambiguous day? Anyway, it’s done. you?”
Fortunately, they managed to get out of the siege safely.
Rachel pointed to Sharon as her next target.
‘Well?’
But wait a minute.
Why not Sharon?
no way···.
Is it Sherlock?