"The Treasure is the crystallized core of a Palace ruler's desires—essentially a mental projection. But maybe because it's crystallized to an extreme, these Treasures can actually be stolen into reality."
Rinto patiently explained to Ann about the Olympic medal in her hand, assuring her beyond any doubt it wasn't the real one.
The actual medal would still be proudly displayed at Kamoshida's home, perfectly safe from any legal complications.
At first, Rinto's explanation sounded reasonable enough. But as soon as Ann thought about it more carefully, her head began to spin:
"So, you're saying this medal is just a duplicate from the Metaverse? We actually took Kamoshida's imagination and brought it back to reality? Oh my god, that's ridiculous!"
Sumire Yoshizawa added thoughtfully, "This basically counts as creating matter out of thin air, doesn't it? The materials in this medal literally didn't exist before…so we just created them from nothing?"
Aside from Rinto, Sumire was the only academically talented member present, so she was equally stunned by this revelation.
Rinto had considered Sumire's logic before, but ultimately convinced himself otherwise:
"Well, since our bodies can physically enter the cognitive world, maybe mental phenomena and physical matter are interchangeable from the start. We only took away a part of Kamoshida's mind; since he lost that, it still counts as equivalent exchange... probably."
"Anyway, let's not sweat the details. If anyone wants to keep this trophy, you can—but just remember to keep it hidden from outsiders… Ryuji, want it? As a souvenir for defeating Kamoshida."
"Wha—?! Σ(っ °Д °;)っ"
Despite his dyed-blond hair and delinquent vibe, Ryuji was at heart a simple and honest athlete. Seeing Rinto offer him this hot potato of a medal, he frantically shook his head:
"No way, no way, no way! This medal literally has the event and year engraved on it! Anyone knowledgeable would instantly know it's Kamoshida's! Even if I claimed it was a fake, how would I explain where I got it?! You trying to get me killed, Leader?!"
"All right then."
Seeing nobody wanted it, Rinto simply shrugged:
"I'll take care of it. I know a place that deals with goods of dubious origins. Even if the medal itself isn't pure gold, as a high-quality replica it should fetch a decent price."
The decision to sell off the "stolen goods" and use the money for a celebration feast quickly earned everyone's enthusiastic approval.
Afterwards, things wrapped up quickly, with Rinto concluding the operation neatly:
"Great work today, everyone. Let's head home, rest well, and wait for the results."
"Tomorrow, you'll witness firsthand how a Phantom Thieves' heist works—and how Kamoshida's change of heart unfolds."
As usual, Rinto walked the Yoshizawa twins home.
Just before reaching their place, Rinto quietly pulled them into an alleyway, embracing each twin for a lingering kiss.
"Mmm...~♡"
Sumire lifted one foot cutely, savoring the moment under her older sister's teasing gaze.
Not to be outdone, Kasumi pressed herself eagerly against Rinto, flirtatiously murmuring in his ear:
"I really wish the weekend would come faster, so we can quickly wrap up training and head straight to the hotel! Right now, my whole body feels super energized—I can barely hold back! I'll definitely ride you until your hips break, Rinto-nii, just wait and see~♡"
Rinto raised an eyebrow, amused: "You don't even have experience, right? Just where did you learn lines like that… Wait, have you two been secretly studying adult materials these past few days?"
The mischievous twins simply stuck out their tongues playfully, giggling as they dashed off hand-in-hand.
Watching them head home, Rinto reflected warmly on the luxurious moment he'd just enjoyed, feeling deeply content.
Just then, a familiar weight landed lightly on his shoulder.
Glancing sideways, Rinto spotted Morgana casually grooming his fur:
"Nya-haha! Our leader sure is popular with the ladies—as expected of a true Phantom Thief! This is supposed to be a secret, right? Don't worry, I totally get it!"
"Thanks for your discretion, I suppose." Rinto chuckled dryly. "Did you need something, Morgana? Why did you suddenly seek me out?"
Previously, Morgana usually hung around Ryuji or wandered freely outside. But today, the little cat had specifically chosen Rinto, slipping comfortably into his bag.
Morgana continued enthusiastically:
"I figured I should personally witness the journey of the Fool! My purpose is to assist the one true Phantom Thief, after all! I'll always be around to help!"
"Besides, I'm super charming, nya! Look at my silky fur, my adorable paws—no lady can resist! I can be your ultimate icebreaker and even dig up their secrets, gathering intel for you! Call me the perfect wing-cat!"
Rinto shook his head in amusement: "I don't really need help snooping on anyone…but having a reliable partner around is nice."
Regardless of excuses, having a talkative buddy close at hand was always welcome. Rinto affectionately scratched Morgana's head, earning delighted purrs.
To celebrate Morgana officially joining him, Rinto picked up some extra ingredients on his way home, planning a hearty dinner.
When he returned home and introduced Morgana to Momoka, her eyes immediately lit up with excitement:
"A kitty?! We finally have a pet? Does this mean we can feature him in videos, like those super-popular influencers who attract tons of views thanks to their pets?!"
"This is great! (t(°▽°)s) Morgana, from now on you'll be my assistant! Whenever I record songs, you can curl up and nap beside me or roll around adorably—whatever you want! This way, I'll finally beat that Guitar Hero girl! No way I'll lose to her dumb Shiba Inu, Wangcai!"
Rinto was genuinely surprised: "Guitar Hero? You're still competing with her?"
"Guitar Hero" was a popular guitarist on video platforms, well-known for covers of trendy songs. Her skills were excellent, placing her firmly among top-tier musicians who didn't reveal their faces but still had over 30,000 subscribers.
Though her username was painfully generic, judging by her figure and long hair, she was obviously a teenage girl—probably high-school age.
Ever since Momoka went solo and started uploading her own music, she'd always considered this popular guitarist as her main rival.
Rinto laughed lightly: "You really don't have to compare yourself with her, you know? She got famous earlier than you and covers popular songs, which naturally attract viewers. But you only upload original pieces—that's obviously going to—"
"—But I don't want to lose."
Momoka had turned her back to Rinto, crouching down as she teased Morgana, who happily purred and pawed at her. Yet her voice had become unexpectedly serious, without a trace of humor.