A/N: I was not supposed to drop another chapter today, but i might not be able to drop tomorrow because of my depleting data. And I literally have no money to buy data until the end of the month. SOOOOOO Yeah.
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"What's wrong with him?" Shizue asked with deep curiosity.
She was still standing where Bordeaux had been sitting moments earlier, her brows knit together in confusion. "According to history, Minamoto no Yoritomo was a legend."
Bordeaux scoffed lightly. "Trust me. Whatever the history books say about him, he was nothing like that when I was alive. That bully." He waved the topic away. "But putting that aside Shizue. You and I had an agreement."
"I know," Shizue replied immediately. "Ilfrit right?"
A smile tugged at Bordeaux's lips. "Then we shouldn't waste any more time."
Jinny frowned. "What's happening now?" She glanced between the two of them. "You both like to keep saying things like this and completely leaving us out of it."
Jenny nodded beside her. "A little context wouldn't hurt."
Shizue turned toward them. "Haru-san wants to fight Ilfrit."
Bordeaux raised a hand. "Please don't refer to me as Haru. I go by Bordeaux and I'd appreciate it if you called me the same."
Shizue dipped her head slightly. "My apologies. Then Bordeaux-san wants to fight Ilfrit."
"Really, huh," Jinny muttered.
Bordeaux stood. "Well then, Silver Wings. It truly was nice meeting you both." His tone was calm, decisive. "But the time for us to part has finally come."
Shizue, Jinny, and Jenny rose as well.
Jinny and Jenny bowed deeply.
"Bordeaux-sama," Jinny said, "once again, thank you for helping us and for saving our lives."
"Even if you don't want us as subordinates," Jenny added earnestly, "we will dedicate our lives to preaching your gospel."
Bordeaux stared at them, visibly confused. "What are you even talking about…?" He shook his head. "Never mind."
He stepped up to Shizue and placed a hand on her shoulder.
In the next instant, both of them vanished as they teleported out of the chamber.
The chamber fell silent.
For a full minute, Jinny and Jenny simply stood there.
"That was crazy," Jinny finally said.
"I know," Jenny replied. "To think we were saved by a literal Primordial Demon."
Jinny tilted her head. "Do you think all Primordials are like that? Maybe we've been viewing them in too negative a light."
Jenny shot her a sharp look. "You're walking down a very dangerous line of thought, sister. Primordials should still be feared." She paused, then softened slightly. "I just think… Bordeaux-sama might be different."
Jinny looked toward the empty space where Bordeaux and Shizue had disappeared.
"He really is isn't he," she murmured.
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Elsewhere, deep within the Jura Forest, Bordeaux and Shizue materialized.
Towering trees surrounded them, their canopies blotting out most of the sky. The air was heavy with magicules, the forest quiet and untouched by human presence.
Shizue looked around. "Is this where you plan to battle? The Jura Forest."
"Yes," Bordeaux replied, turning back to her. "You wouldn't want innocent civilians to get involved, right? So this is the perfect location. Unless you want to go to a populated area."
She waved her hands quickly. "No, no—I wasn't complaining. This is actually perfect."
"Good," Bordeaux said as he began stretching casually. "Then take off the mask."
Shizue hesitated for a second before speaking.
"Do you really think you can defeat Ilfrit?" she asked, then quickly added, "It's not that I'm doubting you or anything, it's just that."
Bordeaux studied Shizue in silence for a full minute before speaking.
"Wouldn't it be more beneficial for Ilfrit to defeat me?" he asked calmly. "Do you perhaps not want me to die?"
Shizue answered without hesitation. "Yes. I do not wish for you to die."
Behind the mask she blushed and Inwardly thought this is such a weird feeling. But I really don't want Bordeaux-san to die.
Bordeaux blinked, genuinely taken aback. "Such a quick reply." He tilted his head. "But Shizue. Am I not a demon that should be vanquished? Should a top tier adventure be telling a demon that she does not want it to die?"
"You're not like other demons," she replied. "You present yourself as evil, but you aren't." Her gaze sharpened. "I should have realized it back in the hall. When you said you planned on killing everyone… you didn't actually mean it, did you?"
Bordeaux turned away with a careless shrug. "Oh, I meant that."
"Liar," Shizue said flatly.
Bordeaux choked on his words at being found out. He turned back to her, scratching the back of his head. "This is why I hate women," he muttered. "Always so attentive."
"That's exactly why I asked if you could defeat Ilfrit," Shizue said. "Spirits are known to have an advantage against demons. And Ilfrit is a Superior Spirit." She paused. "If you aren't certain you can defeat him, I won't remove my mask. And besides that. If Ilfrit were to kill you, it would take me time to regain control, especially in my current state. There's a real risk of him rampaging."
Bordeaux let out a slow sigh. "Its a foolish question. I don't have a physical body, so it might take a bit longer," he admitted. "But I'm confident in my ability to take him on." His eyes gleamed faintly. "It's true that spirits have an advantage over demons. But does that still matter in the face of overwhelming power?"
Shizue watched him for a few seconds longer. Then she exhaled.
"…Fine. I understand." She straightened. "I'll remove the mask."
A smile spread across Bordeaux's face. "Please do."
"Good luck," Shizue said.
She lifted her hands and removed the mask.
Her body began to rise from the ground. Fire poured from her eyes and mouth, swirling violently as her form was engulfed in flames. The heat intensified, the air warping as her figure twisted and expanded until the transformation was complete.
The Superior Spirit Ilfrit emerged.
"Finally," Ilfrit growled. "I'm free." His voice boomed with delight. "Curse that Shizue Izawa. I shall now have all the fun in the world, spreading chaos wherever I please—"
A voice cut through his laughter.
Bordeaux stepped forward, a menacing smile etched across his face.
"If you want to cause chaos in this world, Ilfrit," he said calmly, "then first… you'll have to kill me."
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