The two Silver Wings were breathing heavily.
Jinny spoke in a low, almost disbelieving voice.
"…We did it."
Then, louder—
"We did it! We really did it, sister!"
She jumped onto Jenny, who was just as overwhelmed with excitement.
Both of them were covered in blood, their bodies trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline.
Shizue dropped down onto the floor with a dull thud and wiped the sweat from her brow.
If I had used Ilfrit's power just two more times… she thought.
He would have broken free.
Just then—
Clap. Clap.
A slow applause echoed through the room, accompanied by a familiar chuckle.
A voice followed.
"Congratulations. The three of you have officially slain a high-ranking, named Archdemon."
Bordeaux smiled.
"That makes you all certified Demon Slayers."
Jenny blinked.
"But… we were already Demon Slayers," she said.
"We've slain countless demons before Orthos."
Bordeaux tilted his head.
"Countless?" he repeated.
"Please don't tell me you mean Lesser and Greater Demons."
Jenny choked on her own spit.
Bordeaux continued calmly.
"Lesser and Greater Demons are so weak that killing them shouldn't even be considered an accomplishment."
He shrugged.
"Killing them shouldn't take more than a second."
All three women looked at him.
And all three thought the same thing.
Only monsters like you could say that.
Shizue sighed.
"To think he still had that much strength… even after fighting you, Bordeaux-san," she said quietly.
"Archdemons truly are monstrous."
Jinny nodded weakly.
"I agree one hundred percent," she said.
"I honestly thought it would be easy since he was already so damaged."
Bordeaux chuckled.
"It was embarrassing," he said bluntly.
"Struggling to kill a demon on the verge of death—"
His gaze sharpened.
"—and you are supposedly the best humanity has to offer."
Shizue stood up.
"With all due respect, Bordeaux-san," she said firmly,
"ordinary humans don't have the advantages demons like you do."
She met his eyes.
"You've been strong for a very long time, probably since the moment you came into existence, being a Primordial. Of course you see everyone else as weak."
Her voice lowered.
"But reality isn't that simple for others."
Bordeaux's smile faded.
"I don't need you lecturing me, Shizue Izawa," he said coldly.
"You house a Superior Spirit, yet you refuse to use it."
His tone hardened.
"So don't complain about unfairness. Countless people would die to be in your position."
Shizue snapped.
"What would you know?!"
Her voice echoed through the room.
"You don't know me!"
The Silver Wings reacted instantly, clamping a hand over Shizue's mouth.
Their eyes were wide with panic.
We barely survived a three on one against a weakened Archdemon, they thought.
And she's shouting at the demon who nearly killed Orthos by himself with no effort.
She was digging her own grave.
Bordeaux raised a hand.
"Jinny. Jenny," he said calmly.
"Let her speak."
The sisters hesitated, then slowly released Shizue.
Bordeaux looked directly at her.
"You say I don't know you," he said.
"Then tell me."
His eyes gleamed with interest.
"Who are you, Shizue Izawa?"
"And what is it that someone as old as me fails to understand?"
Behind that curiosity lay intent.
Bordeaux knew the truth.
In the original flow of events, Shizue and Ilfrit never coexisted because they hated each other.
Ilfrit had once even forced her to kill her own friend, an unforgivable sin.
And Ilfrit… was Ilfrit.
So even if Bordeaux crushed Ilfrit into submission, it would mean nothing if Shizue herself never accepted him.
Shizue spoke, her voice trembling but firm.
"This monster, Ilfrit, has terrorized me my entire life. He made me kill my friend. He made living impossible wherever I went. Why would I ever want to use his power?"
Bordeaux let out a dismissive sound.
"Yeah, yeah. Always blame, blame, blame," he said flatly.
"This is exactly why I hate humans."
Shizue frowned.
"Huh? I'm the victim here. Why are you making it sound like I'm the bad one?"
Bordeaux looked at her, unimpressed.
"I don't know. Maybe because you refuse to look at things from Ilfrit's perspective."
Shizue stiffened.
"He was forced into the body of some random child," Bordeaux continued.
"His freedom stripped away completely."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Shizue. You're Japanese, aren't you?"
"Yes," she replied cautiously.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Bordeaux continued calmly.
"I'm guessing you were summoned as a child. Due to the lack of magicules, you would have died sooner or later, so the fire spirit Ilfrit was bound to you to sustain your life."
Shizue's eyes widened.
"Yes… but how do you know that?"
"You learn a thing or two when you've lived as long as I have," Bordeaux replied.
"But that's beside the point."
He fixed his gaze on her.
"Picture this. You're forcefully summoned into another world. Then you're shoved into the body of a random kid to save their life."
His tone sharpened.
"And that kid grows to hate you."
He paused.
"How would you feel?"
Shizue fell silent.
She thought for a moment.
"…It would hurt," she admitted.
"But that doesn't erase what he did to me."
Bordeaux shrugged.
"I think that part is on you."
Shizue looked up.
"It's your responsibility to try and coexist with Ilfrit."
"That's impossible," Shizue said immediately.
Bordeaux chuckled.
"You say it's impossible," he replied.
"But have you ever actually tried?"
Shizue opened her mouth—
Then froze.
No words came out.
Bordeaux nodded.
"So that's a no," he said.
"And yet you judged it as impossible without ever attempting it."
Shizue let out a weak laugh.
"…Wow," she said quietly.
"I never realized just how hypocritical I was being."
She lowered her gaze.
"Now that I think about it."
Jinny smiled brightly.
"Wow, Bordeaux-sama," she said.
"To think you were so wise. In less than five minutes, you completely opened Shizue's eyes."
Jenny nodded enthusiastically.
"Truly. Our master is wise."
Bordeaux blinked.
"…Huh?"
"Master?" he repeated.
"What are you talking about?"
Jenny tilted her head.
"Eh? Aren't we your subordinates now?"
Bordeaux stared at them blankly.
"No thank you," he said plainly.
"I don't want subordinates. That sounds troublesome."
Jinny's face crumpled.
"Then why did you revive us?!"
"I revived you just to prove that I could," Bordeaux replied casually.
Jenny nodded.
"Okay then," she said.
"Please make us your subordinates."
"No."
Jinny and Jenny dropped to their knees at the same time.
"Please," they said together, eyes shimmering with exaggerated tears.
Bordeaux didn't even flinch.
"No," he repeated calmly.
"And those puppy-dog eyes won't work on me."
Shizue watched the exchange—
Then chuckled.
A moment later, she laughed out loud.
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