Fairy Tail: The Fraud Mage

BOOM!

Cana was caught off guard. Azuma had seized a perfect opportunity and struck her with a sneak attack, launching her across the battlefield.

"Cana!" Ikuto called out, momentarily distracted.

"Now's my chance!" Hikaru's eyes lit up. He charged Ikuto and struck with a heavy palm.

Ikuto managed to raise her blade for a block, but it was rushed—her strength couldn't match his, and the impact sent her flying as well.

"Damn…" Cana stood up, clutching her shoulder, blood streaming between her fingers and staining her arm red. She'd been sliced.

"You go," Ikuto said, gripping her sword tightly. "Find backup. I can hold them off for a bit."

"There's no way you can last on your own," Cana shot back. "Neither of us can."

Ikuto was silent for a beat, then muttered, "Big toads."

Cana blinked, then understood. It was a signal.

Both of them had contracted magical beasts created by Jehfrit—perfect for emergency escapes.

They made their move.

BOOM!

Cana and Ikuto attacked together once more, but things were worse now. Cana was injured, and cracks had formed on Ikuto's blade. She couldn't swing with full force—or block head-on anymore.

[From Jehfrit, observing in the shadows: "Looks like it's time I forge Ikuto a proper blade."]

Her sword was high-grade already, but this battle demanded something even stronger.

"Take them down!" Hikaru cried out, eyes burning with excitement. "I want Cana-chan to regret ever tricking me!"

Cana and Ikuto exchanged a look—silent coordination. Jehfrit once said: People drop their guard most when they think they've won. If you're going to deceive someone, play to their arrogance.

"Metal Rocket Punch!" Hikaru roared, transforming into steel and charging like a cannonball.

Neither Ikuto's swordplay nor Cana's magic could neutralize the sheer force of his charge. Even if they broke through his defense, the impact alone was overwhelming.

Azuma raised his hand. "Buzzing Hornets."

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Explosive branches burst from the ground, slamming toward them before they could defend. Smoke surged.

From the smoke—two giant toads leapt out and swallowed Cana and Ikuto, planning to escape underground.

"You made contracts with demons?" Azuma scoffed. "Just like those scumbags from the Roya Organization."

But then—BOOM!

Azuma burst through the ground, forcing the toads back to the surface.

Snap! Thick branches coiled around the toads, binding them.

Cana and Ikuto were spit out onto the dirt.

"Flash Palm!" Hikaru charged again, striking for the stronger of the two—Ikuto. Take down the threat first, then the weak one crumbles.

Ikuto raised her sword instinctively—but it was barely holding together. She didn't think it would withstand the hit.

And then—SPLASH.

Blood sprayed from Hikaru's arm as a clean line of red slashed across it.

He was kicked backward, and his hand—his whole hand—spun in the air and landed with a soft plap.

"AAAAH!" Hikaru clutched the stump, screaming in agony.

"Who's there?!" Azuma growled. But when he turned and saw the new arrival, a cold sweat broke over him.

Jehfrit stood with his blade on his shoulder, casually flicking off blood.

He smiled—but there was no warmth in it.

"Don't go around touching what doesn't belong to you."

Ikuto let out a relieved breath, hand resting over her chest as she looked at Jehfrit's back. Her heart stirred slightly.

Jehfrit always showed up last. He'd usually only act when someone was already half-dead. But this time…

This time, he'd stepped in earlier—just for that?

Only Mirajane ever got that kind of treatment from him.

…Wait.

Ikuto flushed. Did she just get it too?

"You don't care about me at all, do you?!" Cana barked, pushing herself up.

"I'm here saving you, aren't I?" Jehfrit turned with a grin.

"You're saving Ikuto!" she snapped back.

"Focus on the fight," Jehfrit said flatly, dodging the topic.

"Jerk!" Cana cursed.

"Jerk!" Hikaru shouted too. "You're dead!"

Already enraged by losing his hand, seeing Jehfrit flanked by two women he could never win over—especially the gorgeous pink-haired one—only made it worse.

"Metal Rocket Punch!"

Hikaru rushed Jehfrit.

"Don't be stupid!" Azuma yelled. "You'll die!"

Even Azuma couldn't beat Jehfrit. Hikaru charging him? Suicide.

BOOM! Hikaru slammed into the ground face-first, his head lodged deep into the dirt.

Azuma's pupils shrank.

He clearly saw Hikaru pass through the three of them—yet they hadn't moved an inch.

An illusion?

Azuma remembered—Jehfrit had once chased him across the island with terrifying precision. If Jehfrit wasn't there—then…

He spun around—

SLASH.

A shallow cut opened across Azuma's gut.

Without hesitation, he dove into the earth, fleeing underground.

He knew Jehfrit wouldn't chase.

He never did.

He just gave one clean slash—again and again—like a cat toying with a mouse until it couldn't run anymore.

Jehfrit sheathed his blade and stepped back.

Ikuto and Cana stood beside him. Cana looked at his profile, her mind replaying the moment he'd grabbed them and walked right up to Azuma—less than two meters away. The fake Jehfrit, meanwhile, stood back, distracting Azuma with his illusion.

Any random mage—Macao, Wakaba, whoever—could've landed a sneak attack in that moment.

That was the true nature of Deception Magic.

Cana shivered. Seeing the battle from Jehfrit's point of view made the victims look hopelessly foolish.

No wonder he liked playing pranks on everyone. It was…

If she had that power, she would've aced the S-Class trial in year one without breaking a sweat.

Too bad she couldn't learn it.

Plenty of Fairy Tail mages had tried. None had succeeded. Not enough intelligence. Not the right magic type.

Even Cana admitted—at best, she'd only reach the skill of Jehfrit's ancestors.

"What a monster."

She wasn't sure if she meant the magic—or the man.

Thunk.

Hikaru pulled his head out of the ground.

"You bastard!" he shouted—and slammed into another wall.

BOOM BOOM BOOM.

Jehfrit ignored him.

"Cana," he said, pulling out potions and bandages. She and Ikuto snapped back to reality, realizing she was still bleeding heavily.

Cana loosened her grip—revealing a long, ugly gash down her arm.

"I'll patch you up," Ikuto offered.

"Okay." Cana nodded.

They stepped aside, Ikuto slicing down a tree for them to sit on. As she dressed the wound, both women took recovery potions to restore strength and magic.

"I'm done playing!" Hikaru screamed, throwing a tantrum. "What the hell is your magic?! Who even are you?!"

Jehfrit didn't answer. He simply raised his hand and fired a spell that sent Hikaru flying into the trees.

"Forget it—I'm out!" Hikaru scrambled up and ran for it.

"I'm heading off," Jehfrit said.

"Okay." Both women nodded.

But something strange happened.

Normally, Jehfrit would vanish right after speaking—like teleporting away. But this time… he hesitated. Like something had gone wrong.

He scratched his head awkwardly… then finally took a step and disappeared.

—

Outside the First Master's tomb.

Jehfrit's real body looked up toward the forest.

TAP.

A pink-haired girl wearing headphones emerged, her face dark with anger.

"Found you," she said coldly.

"Don't think I know you," Jehfrit said with a faint smile. "I'm with Fairy Tail, but if you're picking a fight—sorry, I refuse. You look strong. Maybe not Purgatory Seven level, but close. You should go duel Natsu or Gray instead."

"Scumbag," she snapped. "Smooth-talking bastard."

"???"

Jehfrit was confused.

Even Miko looked puzzled. She'd known Jehfrit since he was eight—if there was some girl from before that, she'd have to be a toddler at the time.

No way he'd done something "scumbag-worthy."

Miko nodded. Definitely mistaken identity.

"You've got the wrong guy," Jehfrit said calmly. He figured she was probably one of the Purgatory Seven—if she'd called him "bastard" or "fairy freak," sure. But "scumbag"?

"Name's Meredy," she said. "Of the Purgatory Seven."

"Big shot, huh?" Jehfrit replied.

"You won't talk your way out of this," Meredy said. "Even if Ultear herself tried to stop me—it wouldn't matter. I'm going to beat the crap out of you, in her name!"

Suddenly, a pink glow appeared on Jehfrit's wrist.

Emotion magic?

Interesting. Jehfrit's eyes gleamed as he quickly analyzed it with his magic senses.

"Emotion Link," Meredy explained coldly. "Now we're connected. You can't run."

Jehfrit glanced at Miko. "Is it just me, or does this feel oddly familiar?"

Miko stayed quiet.

"Sin Ray!"

Meredy hurled a surge of wild, chaotic magic.

Jehfrit quickly used his Mirror World to redirect the attack, then teleported behind her.

"Land of Sin!"

A flurry of magical blades formed—designed to stab nerves and induce unbearable pain.

He couldn't block it.

But he didn't have to.

He vanished—reappearing behind Meredy—and grabbed her wrist.

She panicked.

BOOM! He flipped her over his shoulder and slammed her to the ground.

"I'll play along a bit," Jehfrit said, disappearing again.

Meredy hit the dirt, scrambled up, and chased his trail.

Jehfrit strolled casually, using Azuma's teleportation magic like it was a pleasant walk in the park. Behind him, the poor girl struggled to keep up.

He sent a telepathic message: "You clearly have some grudge against me. Mind telling me why?"

"Shut up!" Meredy snapped.

"Does this have to do with Ultear?" he asked again. "I barely know her. Seen her a few times, sure. But we don't exactly talk."

Ultear knew of him. And he knew her. But they'd only met a few times. Definitely no emotional connection.

Yet this girl…

She was acting like she was here to avenge a best friend betrayed by a scumbag ex.

"You piece of garbage!" Meredy screamed. "Master Hades wanted to wipe Fairy Tail off the map. And Ultear—she begged him to spare you! She begged me to let you go!"

"Even if she hates me—"

"I'M STILL GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Jehfrit suddenly appeared in front of her, gently placing the back of his hand on her forehead.

His warm, curious eyes startled her—but her shock quickly turned to fury.

He'd betrayed Ultear… and now he was flirting with her?

But before she could attack, he blinked away again—now fifteen meters off.

"You don't have a fever," he said dryly. "So what's with the nonsense?"

"Ultear probably wants me dead."

He said it like fact. Their first meeting was on Galuna Island—he'd scared the hell out of her.

Ultear was dangerous. She'd never spare someone like him.

"She should want you dead!" Meredy shouted. "But she didn't kill you! She just… walked away. And you—YOU DIDN'T EVEN CARE!"

She saw his gentle expression again—his easy smile, his soft gaze. It made her sick.

A fake gentleman. That's how he fooled Ultear.

"I get it now," Jehfrit clapped once. "Ultear did a terrible job raising you. You're cute and all, but I'm clearly wasting my time here."

"You stop right there!"

Meredy lunged again.

Jehfrit vanished.