"Don't worry about that guy. Just pretend he doesn't exist," Gray said.
"But…" Lucy started to ask, but then she saw Erza shake her head slightly.
Lucy was confused until Jehfrit's words finally registered in her mind: "We're in the light, and the Oración Seis are in the dark. That puts us at a disadvantage."
Now Lucy understood.
Jehfrit planned to use the nature of his magic to disappear from the enemy's perception entirely right from the start.
Thinking about it, this was exactly the kind of fighting style he favored and perfectly suited his magical abilities.
From Galuna Island to Tower of Heaven to Phantom Lord, and even the recent events in Aharnita Town—they never lost because their enemies were hiding in the shadows.
Because they had someone who hid in an even deeper shadow: Jehfrit.
Indeed…
No matter what mission they were on, as long as Jehfrit was with them, everything felt secure.
Could there really be anyone better at scheming or pulling off deceptions than Jehfrit? Not likely.
"Pretend he doesn't exist?" Ichiya's face darkened for a brief moment before reverting back to his usual playful demeanor—so quickly that no one noticed.
Nearby, leaning against a pillar—
Jehfrit adjusted his glasses while observing "Ichiya."
What incredible magic!
It could completely disguise someone as another person, even allowing them to use the other's magic.
He wondered if this magic could imitate him. And if it could, would it allow the user to wield Deception Magic?
Yes, the "Ichiya" standing before them was fake.
As for who it actually was, Jehfrit didn't know.
He'd forgotten most things—his past life as an ordinary person, watching Fairy Tail when he was just a kid, and now crossing over into this world in his thirties. Except for some critical details, much of what he once knew had faded.
In any case, since this wasn't Ichiya but pretending to be him, it was almost certainly an enemy. The real Ichiya was already unconscious inside a bathroom stall, detected by Jehfrit's magical senses.
That's why Jehfrit activated his magic, deceiving the impostor. Even if the fake Ichiya was wary of him, they wouldn't be able to track his movements.
And sure enough, the fake "Ichiya" was indeed cautious.
Before arriving, he'd received intel warning him about someone named "Jehfrit." This man's magic was terrifying; none of the Oración Seis would stand a chance against him in a one-on-one fight!
What made him even more dangerous was his intelligence-gathering ability and battlefield command skills. Though news outlets hadn't heavily covered the Phantom Lord incident or the events in Aharnita Town, those operating in the shadows naturally kept tabs on rising stars in the light.
Compared to more famous figures like the Fairy Queen or the Fire Dragon Slayer, straightforward mages weren't much of a concern. But Jehfrit—the cunning strategist—was someone to watch out for!
Is he not here yet?
Or has he already arrived?
They say this guy can deceive all five senses and manipulate emotions.
Has he already appeared in front of me without my noticing?
Has he already seen through my disguise?
"Ichiya" grew uneasy, feeling a creeping sense of dread.
Just then—
"Jehfrit" entered the room, swaying a sake gourd in his hand. He took a swig before speaking: "Sorry, I've had quite a bit to drink. I just stepped out for a moment. Did I miss anything important?"
"Phew—" The fake Ichiya sighed in relief and continued his act.
"Erza~" Ichiya called out, rushing toward Erza. "Your scent is absolutely intoxicating."
He leaned lecherously toward Erza's scarlet hair, making strange noises. "Mmm~"
"Don't come near me!" Erza instinctively threw a punch.
Ichiya went flying.
Jehfrit sidestepped gracefully.
*Slap.*
A hand caught Ichiya mid-air, followed by a chilling release of icy magic that froze the imposter's head solid.
"Lyon!" Gray reacted with particular intensity.
The white-haired, sharp-eyed newcomer was none other than Gray's senior disciple—Lyon, along with his companions.
Lyon tossed Ichiya aside like trash.
"Men~" The fake Ichiya muttered his odd catchphrase before being flung away again.
"What do you think you're doing to our big brother?!"
"How dare you treat him so rudely!"
"This is no place for men like you! Leave!"
Blue Pegasus' Trimens expressed their dissatisfaction with Lyon's actions. They idolized Ichiya—or rather, they thought they did—and their words carried more than a hint of bias.
"Huh?" Lyon looked down on them arrogantly.
Behind him stepped forward a striking red-haired beauty dressed provocatively—Sherry, Lyon's admirer.
Sherry spoke up: "There are handsome men here too, though I only have eyes for Lyon-sama."
"By the way…" Sherry glanced at Lucy and suddenly attacked—her carpet sprang to life, flipping Lucy onto her rear. Smirking, Sherry taunted, "Long time no see, you're still ugly, Lucy."
"You…" Lucy sighed exasperatedly. Natsu reached out and pulled her up.
Seeing this, Sherry remarked, "My Lyon-sama is far handsomer than your tasteless choice."
"What did you say?!" Lucy whipped out a Celestial Spirit key.
Meanwhile—
The fake Ichiya persisted in harassing Erza.
"Stop! If you get any closer, I won't hold back!" Erza said, clearly growing frustrated.
"Gray, you've been quite active lately. Let's see how much you've grown," Lyon remarked.
"Tch, stronger than you, that's for sure," Gray shot back coldly.
"Oh?" Their icy magics began clashing.
"Enough!" A loud voice boomed from outside.
Jehfrit turned his head to see a towering, muscular bald man standing behind him.
Pressure—
Young and overwhelming magical energy—Wizard Saint member Jura.
"Mr. Jehfrit."
"Mr. Jura."
Jura gave Jehfrit a slight nod, which Jehfrit returned politely.
They'd met several times before, and Jura held Jehfrit in high regard, just as Jehfrit respected Jura's strength.
Stepping aside, Jehfrit allowed Jura to enter the room, wielding a staff taller than himself. Jura announced, "This is no time for infighting."
"Yes," everyone agreed, respecting the young Wizard Saint.
Jura scanned the room. "All we're missing now are representatives from Cait Shelter and Ilva guilds. Wonder what kind of powerhouses they'll send."
"However—"
Jura turned to Jehfrit. "With Mr. Jehfrit here, I feel reassured. Moving forward, please take care of things."
"You flatter me," Jehfrit replied modestly.
"I heard both guilds are sending only one person each," the fake Ichiya chimed in.
"The representative from Ilva Guild is known—it's the Elf Goddess, Tiffany," Gray stated.
"Speaking of which… 'Ilva' means elf, right? Is that Elf Goddess really an elf with pointy ears?" Lucy asked curiously.
"Ilva Guild is located on the edge of the forest, and rumor has it all members are forest elves. Everyone in the guild shares the surname 'Ilva.' Some also claim they're descendants of demons, similar to those on Galuna Island," Gray explained.
"Demons, not elves. Elves are gentle, peaceful beings. Only demons match the brutality of those savage Elverrrss!" Jehfrit interjected from the doorway.
"…" Lucy glanced at Jehfrit. His opinion of her clearly wasn't favorable.
"The guild itself wasn't significant or well-known until recently, thanks to their ace member, Tiffany. Her rise brought fame to the guild, earning them the title—the Elf Guild," Erza added.
"I see. Sounds like she must be impressive," Lucy nodded.
"At least very powerful," Erza affirmed.
*Thump-thump-thump.*
Heavy breathing and hurried footsteps echoed outside.
A blue-haired little girl ran into the room but tripped and fell flat on her face.
Jehfrit neither moved to help nor offered a hand.
Jura gave him a puzzled look.
The girl got up awkwardly, blushing as she faced the group. After catching her breath, she stammered, "I'm sorry I'm late… My name is Wendy. I'm from Cait Shelter. Please take care of me."
"Eh?!"
Everyone was shocked. "A child?!"
"I-I'll do my best!" Wendy quickly reassured them upon seeing their surprised expressions.
"Just a kid?" Sherry frowned. "Such an important battle, and Cait Shelter sends a child?"
"It's not just me. We won't hold anyone back," a cat walking on two legs declared confidently, stepping forward. "Hello, I'm Carla. Wendy and I will do our best to assist everyone."
"!!!"
Happy froze.
White fur…
Walking upright…
Speaking…
Beautiful…
Elegant…
Dressed in lovely clothes, including a cute skirt—
A female cat!
Happy's breath hitched. His heart raced, overwhelmed with admiration.
Carla noticed Happy but promptly turned away, ignoring him.
"!!!" In an instant, Happy felt smitten!
Summoning courage, he approached Lucy and tapped her leg.
"What?" Lucy looked down to see Happy blushing shyly. "Lucy, give this fish to that female cat for me."
"Oh?" Lucy smirked mischievously. "Could it be love at first sight? But such matters require personal effort, you know."
"I'm too shy…" Happy fidgeted nervously with his paws.
"Getting cozy~" Lucy and Jehfrit teased simultaneously, rolling their tongues.
"You two!" Happy covered his eyes in embarrassment.
"That cat is *special*." Carla glanced at Happy again, sending him into a frenzy. He instantly started thinking of names for their future kittens.
"I may not excel in combat, but…" Wendy tried hard to prove her worth. "I can heal injuries and cast many supportive spells."
Afterward, she bravely shouted, "Please don't reject us!"
"There's no need to feel inferior, Wendy. You have your own talents," Carla encouraged.
"Supportive magic, huh?" Jehfrit smiled. "Coincidentally, I'm also support-focused."
Wendy turned to look at him.
Gentlemanly attire, warm smile, kind words.
This man…
Seems so trustworthy!
"It's alright. Support roles are crucial, even indispensable. As support, there's no reason to belittle yourself. Use your strengths to help others, and that's more than enough," Jehfrit said kindly.
"Thank you, sir," Wendy responded gratefully. Here was someone showing her kindness, easing her anxiety.
"My name is Jehfrit," he introduced himself with a smile. "Let's work hard together."
"Yes, Mr. Jehfrit."
"Apologies, Wendy. Please don't misunderstand," Erza added gently. "We were just surprised. Since you're representing your guild, let's cooperate well."
"It's the Fairy Queen, Erza! She's real, Carla. Much gentler than in the newspapers!" Wendy exclaimed admiringly.
"She's much better than expected," Carla remarked haughtily, hands on hips.
"So you read newspapers too?" Happy jumped in. "Do you recognize me? I'm the Cat Dragon—Happy!"
"Hmph." Carla turned away, ignoring him.
"Adorable when she's shy!" Happy clasped his mouth, utterly captivated.
"She's blatantly ignoring you," Lucy pointed out.
"Lucy, you really don't understand women's hearts," Happy sighed dramatically.
"I am a woman," Lucy deadpanned.
"Cat Dragon—" Jehfrit chuckled.
But Happy paid no attention to anyone else. His eyes remained fixed on Carla, completely entranced.
"Hmph." Carla turned once more, avoiding direct eye contact.
"She'll grow into a stunning beauty."
"She's already adorable enough."
The Trimens ushered Wendy to a nearby sofa and treated her warmly.
"It seems I'm the last one. Sorry for being late." Suddenly, a woman appeared beside a pillar.
Jehfrit eyed the figure standing before him.
This woman… She did this on purpose!
"The Elf Goddess!" Lucy exclaimed.
Tall for a woman, nearly as tall as Ikuto.
Her features were exquisite, undeniably beautiful. No wonder she rivaled Mirajane in popularity rankings.
Her hair was distinctive—a gradient shifting from white to green, styled into twin tails.
True to her reputation, she sported pointed elf-like ears, unlike ordinary humans.
Her emerald irises sparkled like rare gems.
Her skin was flawless, free of blemishes, moles, or scars.
"So this is Tiffany Ilva," Lucy murmured, unable to deny how stunning the girl was. Was she really as violent as Jehfrit claimed?
*Tch.* Tiffany tilted her body slightly, placing a hand against the pillar.
Jehfrit's expression darkened as her arm effectively pinned him against the pillar.
Tiffany smirked, greeting the "Jehfrit" near the door. "Mr. Jehfrit, long time no see."
"Hmph." Jehfrit snorted, refusing to meet her gaze.
Tiffany withdrew her hand and walked toward the group.
"Miss Tiffany, welcome."
"Hello, Miss Erza."
Tiffany seemed familiar with Erza, likely due to her close friendship with Mirajane.
"Well, now that everyone's here, let's begin the strategy meeting," Jura announced.
"Allow me to explain," The fake Ichiya declared, producing a small stage from somewhere. He struck a bizarre pose under spotlight beams.