A huge nuclear explosion erupts, creating a massive inward propulsion that shocks the onlookers, Esprit and Agera.
The one who had fired the explosion was smiling as if she were having the most fun she'd ever had.
That person was Juane. The Yellow Primordial.
And who had she launched the explosion at?
The Maroon Primordial, Bordeaux.
As the smoke clears, Bordeaux is standing there completely intact, wearing an irritated smile.
"Juane," he says, "is that supposed to be a low-level nuclear magic spell?"
Juane clicks her tongue in annoyance when she sees him still in one piece. "You're still alive? Why are you so durable?"
Bordeaux chuckles awkwardly, irritation seeping into his voice. "So you really are trying to kill me."
Juane, realizing her slip, immediately puts on a sorrowful expression. "Sorry. I mistakenly used a high-level nuclear explosion by accident. Come on, let's go again. I'll do it properly this time."
"I don't think you did that by mistake," Bordeaux says irritably.
From the sidelines, Agera shouts, "Bordeaux, I think you should, like, stop for now! Juane-sama really is trying to kill you!"
Juane snaps back, "What are you talking about, you swordsman? How could I try to kill my own little brother?"
Esprit crosses her arms. "As much as I don't like Bordeaux, you are trying to kill him, Juane."
To understand how this situation came about, we need to turn back time a bit.
—
Bordeaux teleports directly into Juane's living quarters.
As soon as he lands, Agera sees him and smiles. "Oh, Bordeaux. It's been a while."
Bordeaux waves at him casually. "Yo. It's been, what, four years?"
"Yeah," Agera replies. "You've really become a stranger, Bordeaux."
"That's not fair, Agera," Bordeaux says. "It's not like you make any effort to find me."
"Well, that's because I serve someone," Agera responds. "I can't just disappear out of nowhere. You're different. You can be anywhere at anytime you like."
And while Agera is clearly happy to see Bordeaux, two people are not.
Those being Esprit and Juane.
Esprit glares at Agera. "Swordsman. You're still buddy-buddy with this demon? Are you even loyal to Juane?"
Agera looks at her in confusion. "What does me being friends with Bordeaux have anything to do with my loyalty to Juane-sama?"
"Well," Esprit says, "Juane does not like Bordeaux. And you being friends with him means you're going against Juane."
Bordeaux cuts in. "Huh? Juane has never said she doesn't like me."
Esprit turns to him with irritation. "She doesn't need to state it. It's evident. And who gave you the right to speak to me?"
Bordeaux chuckles. "Who gave me the right to speak to you? I gave myself that right. Do you have a problem with that?"
Esprit is about to clap back
when she suddenly remembers the beating Bordeaux once gave her.
so she stops.
Just then, Juane speaks up.
"Bordeaux," she says flatly, "what do you want? If you're here to fight me, I'm really not in the mood."
Bordeaux smiles and starts walking toward her. "Come on, Juane. I'm not such a brute that I'd want to fight a weakling."
Juane's eyebrow twitches. "Huh? This is exactly why you and I don't get along. Who are you calling a weakling?"
"That doesn't matter," Bordeaux replies casually. "I have a favor to ask."
Juane scoffs. "And why would you think I'd help you with anything?"
"I don't know," Bordeaux says honestly. "I just feel like you would. At least hear me out first."
Juane pauses, thinking it over. After a moment, she sighs. "Fine. I'll at least hear what you want."
Bordeaux smiles. "That's all I ask for. Well then—"
He gestures lightly with his hand. "I want you to blast me with nuclear magic."
Esprit, Agera, and Juane all say at the same time, "Huh?" clearly confused.
Agera is the first to recover. "Bordeaux… do you have some kind of fetish?"
"Huh?! No!" Bordeaux snaps back. "There's a perfectly reasonable explanation for this."
He straightens up. "I want to develop an immunity to nuclear magic. And if my theory is correct. If I'm blasted with it enough times, I should eventually gain resistance, and then full immunity after some time."
Agera blinks. "Isn't that… a painfully excessive way to go about it?"
"Obviously we'd start with low- to mid-level nuclear magic," Bordeaux explains. "As my resistance increases, the intensity increases. I think it's pretty smart, if I say so myself. You should try it too."
Agera internally scoffs. Only you could come up with something this idiotic and somehow survive it.
Juane puts on a smug smile. "You must be stupid if you thi—"
but then she stops mid-sentence.
Her eyes narrow slightly as a thought crosses her mind.
So he'd just stand there… without fighting back… while I get to blast him with as much nuclear magic as I want.
Torturing him.
Asserting my authority.
Her smug smile transforms into a warm, pleasant one. "Of course I'd like to help you, Bordeaux."
Both Agera and Esprit freeze.
"Huh?" they say in unison.
They had fully expected Juane to refuse him without hesitation.
Bordeaux, on the other hand, feels a chill crawl up his spine.
That went way too easily, he thinks. I expected resistance. I expected arguing. I didn't expect an immediate yes.
What exactly is she planning?
—
Back in the present.
Juane smiles sweetly. "Come on, Bordeaux. Let's go again. I promise I'll use low-level nuclear magic this time."
Bordeaux stares at her, completely deadpan. "And I'm supposed to believe a promise made by a demon?"
"Yes," Juane replies confidently. "Unlike other demons, I keep my promises."
Bordeaux sighs. "It's not like I have another choice. You're the only one capable of the kind of nuclear magic I want immunity to."
Suddenly, his expression shifts.
He feels a powerful pulling force grip his entire being.
His eyes widen. "I'm getting summoned," he says out loud.
Juane blinks. "Huh?!"
________________________________________
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