Ren Amamiya: What? I Have a Palace Too?!

Clearly, even with Persona Norn, merely a part of Ren Amamiya, as her painting model, the little painter Griseo, who had been concentrating on depicting him for a long time, had once again been "tainted" by Ren Amamiya's "color," just like last time.

Griseo's sudden, affectedly mature tone immediately surprised Seele and Hare, who were standing beside her.

However, Ren Amamiya, who was already aware of Griseo's unique trait, didn't mind this. He stood up from the grass and walked towards Griseo, his gaze already eagerly fixed on the still-wet canvas in front of Griseo.

"..."

Griseo's sudden interruption completely disrupted the draft that Kosma had painstakingly formulated in his mind.

Looking at Ren Amamiya's back as he strode towards the easel, Kosma could only sigh silently and then quietly followed in Ren Amamiya's footsteps.

While walking behind Ren Amamiya, Kosma couldn't help but marvel at Ren Amamiya's significant progress in the mental and spiritual aspects—in fact, rather than "progress," the word "evolution" would be more apt to describe the extent of advancement in Ren Amamiya's spirit.

Even with Kalpas, whose spirit was the most violent, Griseo could immediately shake off the influence of Kalpas's "color" on herself after painting the color she had "tainted" from his spirit onto the canvas.

The same process had occurred when painting the first picture for Ren Amamiya some time ago.

However, this second time, even though Griseo had completely finished the painting, the "paint" formed by Ren Amamiya's spiritual radiation still lingered on Griseo, unable to be completely removed.

This lingering spiritual radiation made Griseo's words and actions still gravitate towards Ren Amamiya, the source of the "paint."

"So, this is the skill scroll Griseo made using Persona Norn as a reference? Compared to the abstract style of the last one, this time the style is much more realistic… However, the background of this picture looks somewhat familiar…"

As Ren Amamiya approached, the painting on the canvas in front of Griseo's easel became increasingly clear in his eyes.

Unlike the previous abstract painting of a demon wielding a sword against a god, this time, Griseo had honestly and completely transferred the image of Persona Norn onto the canvas.

On the canvas, the giant golden clock, engraved with three winged goddesses, was prominently displayed on a spacious and luxurious exhibition stand.

The background depicted on Griseo's canvas seemed to be a magnificent museum. On the exhibition stand next to Persona Norn, Persona Raoul, another Persona residing within Ren Amamiya's heart, was also displayed.

Looking further towards the edge of the painting, Ren Amamiya saw what appeared to be a lounge area. Four blurred but familiar-looking figures were sitting around a table in the lounge, holding card-like objects in their hands, seemingly gathered together for a card game.

"—Wait a minute, this scene… The background depicted on this canvas, isn't this… [My Palace]?!"

After stopping in front of Griseo and carefully examining the details of the background on the canvas at close range, Ren Amamiya finally pinpointed the source of the strong sense of déjà vu in his heart.

Last time, Griseo had painted Ren Amamiya's destiny of rebelling against the evil god who attempted to steal humanity's future onto the canvas.

And this time, Griseo had seemingly directly sketched a side profile of Ren Amamiya's own mindscape.

It was impossible for a Persona user to have a Palace because a Persona user's Shadow had already been transformed into a Persona. Thus, the basic element required to construct a Palace didn't exist.

Throughout the entire history of P5, only Takuto Maruki, the final boss of P5R, had become an exception among exceptions, maintaining a Palace while being a Persona user, thanks to inheriting the power of a pseudo-god.

Ren Amamiya hadn't stolen the power of a pseudo-god like Maruki. He had always taken for granted that, as a Persona user, he definitely couldn't have a Palace.

However, this newly completed painting by Griseo presented Ren Amamiya with a shocking possibility.

[My Palace] was a special function area in P5R that existed independently of the main storyline. Players could play cards with Phantom Thief members there, watch previously completed main storyline cutscenes, listen to the game's music, and decorate the space by placing Personas they obtained, and even statues of enemies, on the exhibition stands in the Palace.

As the game mirrored reality, it seemed Ren Amamiya also possessed the same aptitude as Takuto Maruki. While being a Persona user, he had also given birth to a special place called a Palace within his own heart.

"When… when did I start having a Palace? Or could it be… that I had it from the very beginning?"

Ren Amamiya frowned slightly, slowly sinking into thought.

The formation of a Palace ultimately stemmed from the Palace ruler's distorted and powerful obsession. The type of obsession wasn't limited; it wasn't only pure malice that could give rise to a Palace.

Like Futaba Sakura's intense self-loathing and self-imposed exile, and Sae Niijima's mental distortion caused by her fanatical pursuit of work—these two Palace rulers were basically harmless to people living in the real world.

Therefore, even if Ren Amamiya possessed a Palace himself but acted perfectly normal in the real world, it would be a perfectly reasonable thing.

"If I possess an unusual, powerfully distorted obsession capable of giving birth to a Palace in my heart… then there should be only one answer. It's the responsibility of the [Trickster], the mission and obsession with [saving the world], that gave rise to the existence of the Palace within my heart."

After some contemplation, a gleam of understanding appeared in Ren Amamiya's eyes. He realized the fundamental reason behind him being a Palace ruler.

Indeed, the current world was facing the imminent threat of destruction by an evil god. And besides Yaldabaoth, there were other evil gods lurking in the shadows, eyeing them covetously. The burden of saving the world almost entirely rested on Ren Amamiya's shoulders.

Although he had Raiden Mei, Hare, and others as teammates, the pressure they could share was truly limited.

Ren Amamiya knew that only he was the one and only true Trickster; only he could cultivate the ultimate Persona, Satanael, and fire that "Sinful Shell" loaded with the hopes of all humanity at the evil god.

Under such a heavy and high-pressure, distorted environment, it was perfectly normal for Ren Amamiya's heart to give birth to a Palace due to the stress. In fact, it would be more surprising if a Palace didn't form under such circumstances.

"…Are you alright, Joker?"

Seeing the heavy expression on Ren Amamiya's face, one that even the white bird mask couldn't completely conceal, Hare couldn't help but frown with worry. She gently asked Ren Amamiya, who was lost in thought.

"Ah, sorry, I'm fine. I just suddenly thought of something."

Hearing Hare's gentle voice of concern, Ren Amamiya snapped out of his contemplation. A smile curved his lips as he reassured Hare and Seele, who looked worried beside him.

His red-gloved hand slowly rose, and he extended a finger, lightly tapping it on the edge of the canvas in front of him.

A familiar crimson light emerged from the scroll, enveloping the entire canvas.

Then, like a river flowing back into the vast ocean, the crimson light abruptly shot towards Ren Amamiya's head, rapidly seeping into the white spirit-bird mask on his face.

"Persona Norn's special skill to manipulate the flow of time… I've successfully received it… Thank you for your assistance, Griseo. This is a gift for you."

The giant golden clock that had been hanging high in the sky slowly vanished into blue-green spectral flames. After retracting Persona Norn, Ren Amamiya smiled and took out a box of lollipops, presenting this gift to Griseo, whose eyes were already sparkling.

Ren Amamiya had learned about Griseo's preferences from Higokumaru before and had specially prepared this thoughtful little gift.

Looking at Griseo, who eagerly tore open the packaging and repeatedly licked the hard, round lollipop with her small, pink tongue, a look of delight and satisfaction on her delicate, pretty face, Ren Amamiya felt that he had chosen the right gift.

"Big Brother Joker, what should we do next? If you have a Palace too, then do we need… need to help you steal the Treasure and Will seed, just like when you helped us?"

Seele anxiously clenched her small fists. She had naturally overheard Ren Amamiya's self-muttering earlier.

Realizing that Ren Amamiya himself also had a Palace, Seele subconsciously wanted to help Ren Amamiya dismantle the Palace formed by his distorted desires.

"Steal the Treasure and Will seed within [My Palace]? …Indeed, that's necessary."

Ren Amamiya blinked. He only thought for a moment before nodding in agreement with Seele's suggestion.

Based on Takuto Maruki's case as a reference, after a Persona user obtained the Treasure born within their own Palace, their Persona's strength would be greatly enhanced, possibly even triggering further evolution.

For a Persona user to possess the Treasure born from their own heart, such a situation couldn't be considered a true [theft].

Therefore, the Palace located in a Persona user's heart wouldn't collapse and disappear just because the Treasure was materialized and removed from its hidden location.

Ren Amamiya's urgent desire to enhance his strength, to confront the gods and win back humanity's future, wouldn't vanish because of this.

Since that was the case, it was only natural to infiltrate his own Palace, further develop his potential, and enhance his strength once more.

Although he hesitated slightly when considering that collecting Will seed would involve peeking into the Palace ruler's important memories, Ren Amamiya quickly resolved to take his girl teammates to the Palace within his own heart.

After all, Ren Amamiya had already seen his girl teammates' private memories through their Desire memories. Taking turns, having Raiden Mei, Seele, and the others see his Desire memories was only fair.

…However, on second thought, the task of collecting Will seed had always been handled by Ren Amamiya, the leader of the Phantom Thieves.

Even if the target was changed to the Will seed within Ren Amamiya's own Palace, the collection work should still be handled by him, the leader. There was no need to worry about his teammates seeing his memories.

"Infiltrate little Phantom Thief's Palace? How could such an interesting and romantic journey be without me, the great magician Vill-V?!"

Just as Ren Amamiya and Seele were conversing, the light of the portal shone once again.

A full and slender leg stepped out of the portal. Before her body could completely emerge, Vill-V's excited voice came from the other side of the Velvet Room.

After dealing with Aponia, who had come looking for trouble, and barely obtaining permission to interact with Ren Amamiya from her by presenting a fait accompli, Vill-V immediately left the Deep End and came to the Painter's Dream to meet with Ren Amamiya again.

Upon hearing that Ren Amamiya wanted to go to his own Palace… that he wanted to explore greater power in the Stigmata Space closely connected to him, Vill-V's interest was immediately piqued.

To go to Ren Amamiya's own Stigmata Space… Vill-V could guarantee that there was no better way for her to quickly understand this individual's existence.

Although her research in the field of Stigmata wasn't as profound as Mobius's, Vill-V's knowledge of Stigmata was already sufficient for her to quickly obtain the information she wanted in Ren Amamiya's Stigmata Space.

"Vill-V… Could it be that you also want to form a contract with Joker?"

Hearing Vill-V's declaration, Kosma, who had been silently standing by the side, suddenly raised his eyes in astonishment. He asked Vill-V with a slightly incredulous tone.

In Kosma's view, if Vill-V wanted to go to Ren Amamiya's Palace, she would have to leave the Elysian Realm.

And currently, Kosma only knew of one way to leave the Elysian Realm.

That was to form a contract with Ren Amamiya, to become Ren Amamiya's Persona, and then, with the help of the Key of Erosion, Jizo Mitama's power, manifest in spaces outside the Elysian Realm!