BOOM
The ferocious punch from the enemy was blocked by Mirajane.
Reacting with lightning speed, she grabbed his arm and retaliated with a punch of her own.
BOOM
The attacker was sent flying backward.
"Hahaha—" A mocking laugh echoed. "Mr. 6, you got pushed back by a woman."
The voice came from behind Jehfrit.
Mirajane spun around, conjuring a black magic sphere in her hand, and hurled it at the enemy who had suddenly circled behind them.
BOOM
The enemy countered with a punch, their strength evenly matched.
"Such formidable power, but compared to me—"
Before the enemy could finish their arrogant statement, they quickly retreated.
Thinking of running?
Jehfrit unleashed a crescent-shaped blade of light!
Slash
The enemy managed to retreat, but their severed arm was left behind. Their face twisted in shock and anger.
"Haha, Mr. 5, you're not much either," another voice called out mockingly.
On a distant rooftop, three more figures appeared. They sprouted demon-like wings and flew toward the group at high speed.
However, they didn't attack, instead landing ten meters away from Jehfrit.
Five individuals, each equivalent to an S-Class mage from Fairy Tail, surrounded Jehfrit and Mirajane. Jehfrit deduced these were the organization's pillars.
"Mr. Jehfrit," a tall woman emerged from the egg-shaped structure, swaying her hips seductively as she approached.
She was strikingly beautiful, wearing tight-fitting white clothing adorned with purple flame patterns and sporting golden, wavy hair.
"Miss.1," the others greeted her with noticeable deference.
Her magical energy was overwhelming.
Jehfrit frowned. This woman's presence… it felt like staring into an abyss.
It reminded him of—
Ansa!
"We are children of Roya. We have no names, only codenames," the woman said as she approached Jehfrit. Without arrogance, she bowed slightly and introduced herself. "I am Miss.1. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I hope you can make this pleasant for me too," Jehfrit replied coolly.
Miss.1 chuckled, raising her right hand and teasingly tracing it over her chest, making it bounce provocatively. Mirajane scowled at the display.
Miss.1 placed her red-painted nails near her lips and said, "I'm eighteen, the perfect age for marriage. If you're interested, Mr. Jehfrit, I'm willing to give you everything to make you happy."
With that, she extended her pink tongue and licked her nails seductively. "Any request, I can fulfill."
"Release Mirajane, and I'll stay," Jehfrit stated flatly.
"Agreed," Miss.1 said without hesitation.
"Miss.1, what are you doing?!" The others gasped in shock.
Miss.1 shot them a cold glare. "That old monster doesn't have long to live. He's not in a rush for my marriage. Why shouldn't I find someone myself?"
She turned her gaze to Jehfrit, admiration gleaming in her eyes. "A man as excellent as you doesn't come along often. I won't let you slip away."
She extended her hand. "Mr. Jehfrit, I've honored your condition. Will you stay with me?"
"Of course," Jehfrit nodded.
"Mira, come with me," Jehfrit pulled Mirajane aside and said, "You need to leave first. You know, with Miko protecting me, I'll actually find it easier to escape alone."
"But…" Mirajane hesitated, wanting to protest, but logic told her Jehfrit was right.
Miko's defenses were unmatched. Even against these powerful foes, Mirajane trusted her completely.
But leaving Jehfrit behind…
"Mira," Jehfrit gently took her hand. "Listen to me."
"I understand," Mirajane sighed reluctantly.
Whoosh
Mirajane spread her wings and flew off.
As soon as Jehfrit turned around, he felt his arm sink into something soft.
He looked down to see Miss.1 clinging to his arm intimately.
"You must know this isn't over," Jehfrit said. "Tomorrow, my companions will attack."
"I know," Miss.1 replied nonchalantly. "When that happens, I'll betray them."
Her casual declaration caused the others' faces to twitch in irritation.
That damn woman!
Spoiled by the Holy Father, she dared say anything!
"Women always look outward," Miss.1 smirked. "They plan to dissect you and the demon behind you for study, including that old monster."
"But after reviewing the data, I think you're worth allying with."
"That old monster is obsessed with studying demons. Even if you hadn't come to kill him, he doesn't have much time left."
"When he dies, this organization will collapse. I have no interest in such a trashy place."
"If you take me with you, I'll immediately defect. As your woman, I'll do everything for you."
Her words sounded sincere.
Her looks rivaled Lucy's, her figure surpassed Erza's, and her height and curves might even outdo Ikuto's.
Perhaps an ordinary person would be tempted.
But Jehfrit wasn't.
Well…
Maybe a little. But that only made him more cautious!
This woman was immensely powerful, likely one of the organization's trump cards, possibly among the top five bosses. How could she betray them so easily for romantic reasons?
It had to be a beauty trap.
But what was the point?
None.
Jehfrit said, "Take me to your boss."
"Sure, but are you hungry or thirsty?" Miss.1 asked.
"No," Jehfrit curtly refused.
"Are you tired? I saw you fighting earlier. Shall I carry you?" Miss.1 pressed.
"Can you just shut up?"
"Hmph—" Miss.1 feigned a hurt expression but obediently fell silent, though she continued clinging to Jehfrit.
Buzz buzz
A magical four-wheeled vehicle pulled up.
Miss.1 tugged Jehfrit onto the vehicle and leaned even closer, practically offering herself on a platter.
"Jehfrit," Miko spoke up. "There's something off about this woman."
"Do you think I don't know that?"
"No, I mean… she seems genuinely attracted to you."
"I didn't fall for the beauty trap, but did you?"
"Umm…" Miko paused thoughtfully before replying, "I'm analyzing this from a woman's perspective…"
"You're a demon."
"A demon girl!" Miko wrapped her arms around Jehfrit's other arm and puffed out her chest. "I count as a woman!"
"Ah—" Miss.1 offered a piece of fruit on a fork.
"Not eating it. Could be poisoned," Jehfrit rejected outright.
Miss.1 smiled, bit off half the fruit herself, then offered it again.
Jehfrit declined again. "Not eating it. Gross."
"… The data said you weren't so difficult," Miss.1 pouted slightly.
"I'm a nobleman. Being difficult comes naturally, doesn't it?"
"Nobility, how wonderful," Miss.1 said. "That old monster has lived nearly a century and hasn't earned a noble title. If he dies, I could inherit it and become a noblewoman."
"But…" Miss.1 snuggled into Jehfrit's lap like a coquettish girlfriend. "Could I become a noble lady?"
"You don't seem like an idiot," Jehfrit teased.
Knowing tomorrow's battle was inevitable and that his stance wouldn't change, what was all this for?
Wait…
"Miko, does she have any magic that activates upon proximity? Like my Deception Magic, which works silently?" Jehfrit suddenly asked cautiously.
"In Scale Angel form, you're immune to all magic," Miko reminded him. "Besides, I don't sense any strange magic."
Surrounded by danger and being as fragile as he was, Miko naturally maintained her Scale Angel state. Though it drained massive amounts of magic, she didn't care—she recovered faster than she expended.
Miss.1 laughed softly. "Because I'm sincere."
She explained, "Roya, the Holy Father—the old monster—was once a black-market criminal. At thirty, he contracted a fatal illness. To survive, he delved into dark magic and caught the attention of a demon named Tomon. This demon shared its life with him under the condition that he help it evolve."
"Afterward, the old monster founded this organization, scouring the world for demonic knowledge. He seeks immortality; Tomon seeks evolution."
"Recently, they referred to the 'Kabbalah Goddess' behind you." She gestured toward Miko. "They suspect she represents the ultimate form of a demon—a being who touches the divine."
"Eternal life, invincibility, ultimate knowledge, one foot in the door of truth, the perfect creation through alchemy, the pinnacle of magic—that's how they view Kabbalah."
"They're insane," Miss.1 said. "If the demon behind you truly is that powerful, capturing you is suicide."
"So I assume—" Miss.1 glanced at Jehfrit's other side, as if addressing Miko directly. "Either the woman beside you isn't strong, merely a high-ranking demon, meaning they won't achieve evolution. Once Roya dies, Tomon will seek another partner. I won't tolerate that, nor will the new leader keep me around."
"Or, the woman beside you truly represents the ultimate form of demons. In that case, they're courting death by targeting something akin to legends like Zeref or Acnologia."
"Either way, it's a bad ending for me."
"Luckily…"
Miss.1 traced Jehfrit's jawline with her finger, blowing a fragrant breath against his neck. "I've set my sights on you. Take me with you, and whatever they do won't concern me anymore."
"For women," Miss.1 draped her leg over Jehfrit's thigh, "when fathers fail, husbands must step in."
Jehfrit pushed her leg away. "I'm not falling for this."
"You clearly are. Your gun couldn't hold back, but I used my scales to suppress it," Miko teased cryptically.
"Kabbalah Goddess," Jehfrit muttered.
"Don't call me that—it's hideous!" Miko clamped her hands over her ears. "My name is Miko. None of that past matters. I'm Demon Miko now!"
Seeing Miko act this way stirred complex emotions within Jehfrit.
What would the former alchemy master, who once sought immortality by becoming a demon, think of Miko rejecting her past self? Was this kind of eternal life, where one changed entirely, really meaningful?
Counting the three immortals he knew...
They all seemed to suffer.
"Ugh…" Miss.1 placed a hand on her chest, revealing a magic circle. A sword hilt emerged, and she drew a green short sword.
"This sword, plunged into the old monster's body, will kill him instantly," she said, handing the weapon to Jehfrit. "Choose wisely."
With a casual flick of her wrist,
BOOM
The nearby corridor and a dozen accompanying members of the organization were sliced apart by invisible blades!
Blood flowed everywhere.
"You have three options," Miss.1 said. "One, verbally agree to take me to your noble estate. I can tell you fancy that Mirajane. I'll settle for being second."
"In that case, I won't interfere when your people attack."
"Two, stab this sword into the old monster's heart, killing him. Afterward, anyone from this organization who tries to harm you, I'll eliminate. Of course, you must take me with you."
"Three…"
Miss.1's tone turned icy. "If, before the battle begins, you still refuse me, I'll kill your woman."
Smack Jehfrit grabbed her by the throat.
Miss.1 tilted her head back indifferently. "You can't kill me, and I can't kill you in your current state. But my speed far surpasses yours. If they can stall you, I'll chase after your woman and kill her."
"Let's test that," Jehfrit tightened his grip.
Miss.1's face quickly turned red.
Yet she continued to laugh, unfazed.
Gradually, her eyes rolled back, and drool trickled from her mouth.
"Don't be reckless, Jehfrit. She definitely has clones. Your magic hasn't fully infected her yet!" Miko warned.
Since earlier, Jehfrit had been infecting everyone he touched, including this woman.
Reluctantly, he released her. Killing her clone prematurely would only provoke the originals beyond his infection range, leaving him powerless.
"Cough, cough," Miss.1 clutched her chest, gasping for air and hacking violently.
She looked disheveled.
This beautiful girl, now battered by Jehfrit, was far from her usual pristine self.
But Jehfrit felt no pity.
A woman capable of casually slicing through a dozen of her own members in one strike—could she be anything but ruthless?
If Natsu were here, he'd have roasted her on the spot!
If Naruto were here, he'd unleash at least ten minutes of verbal reasoning!
"Hehehe," Miss.1 leaned on Jehfrit's knee, lifting her bloodshot eyes and drooling uncontrollably. She giggled in a borderline psycho manner. "That was quite the sensation. Got anything stronger?"
"...
Impressive."
Jehfrit mentally tipped his hat to her.
This woman was utterly unhinged.