It's perfectly a squeaky hammer

The Breaching Wall Hammer.

It was displayed in the museum's central exhibition hall, chained up in the most prominent spot where sunlight fell upon it.

A massive two-handed hammer gleaming in gold. The base was wooden, with metal that appeared to be orichalcum adorning the hammer like armor.

And the tip had a jagged, accordion-like relief carved into it—

—to put it bluntly, it was just a really fancy squeaky hammer.

Mie-chan gave a light greeting to the guards standing on either side, then lifted the Breaching Wall Hammer from its pedestal.

The chains were simply to prevent theft, and apparently the display was set up so anyone could hold the Breaching Wall Hammer.

… A small child holding a giant squeaky hammer… How romantic!

"Isn't the decoration fascinating? Oh, and it's hollow inside, so it's not as heavy as it looks. Also, unless you're striking a castle wall, the jagged part compresses and makes a squeak."

"… I see?"

That's a squeaky hammer through and through. Thank you very much.

… This is definitely the god's taste. No doubt about it.

"By the way, how does it determine whether something is a castle wall or not?"

"According to our research, it's based on the user's perception. There's even a legend that the first King of Tessin used this to shatter mountains. He declared, 'Mountains are castle walls protecting the ore within!' and broke open all the mountains around Akahagane."

Apparently Aishia's hometown was one of those.

Wait, that's allowed? If you can just declare stuff like that, then anything goes.

"Oh, even though it's called a legend, records remain of them using hypnosis, brainwashing drugs, and Magic Tools to the fullest, so it's definitely fact."

"Wow, so it took quite a bit of effort, huh."

And through repeated development, they arrived at the present.

"So this Breaching Wall Hammer is being targeted by Phantom Thief Hermes."

"Yeah. This is the advance notice."

Mie-chan casually produced the notice card.

Along with a somewhat cute illustration featuring a black mask covering the eyes, it had the message: "In three days' time, at night, I shall claim the divine treasure. —Phantom Thief Hermes."

"Straightforward and simple."

"It arrived yesterday, so it's actually tomorrow night."

"Wow, we have no time at all."

Now then, what should I do about this? I need to decide quickly.

Should I just piggyback on Hermes and snatch the Breaching Wall Hammer…? No, that won't work. Mie-chan would literally lose her head over it.

Nnnn… This is a problem!!

"Dea-kun, do you have any good ideas?"

"… For now, I can think of one way to protect the Breaching Wall Hammer."

Huh? What kind of plan?

"No, but this is… Is it really okay?"

"Come on, I'm curious, I'm curious. Tell me!"

"Well, if we deal with Phantom Thief Hermes, we'll have time to think things through, and it might resolve various other issues too. All right."

Next time! Dea-kun's brilliant idea VS Phantom Thief Hermes! Duel standby!