The mountain path stretched ahead.
Golden sunset light poured in from the side, casting long shadows of those climbing up.
An eighteen-year-old youth was making his way up the trail.
Standing at 5'9" with a well-proportioned build and an upright posture, he cut a striking figure. His fitted black suit was covered by a knee-length mage's cloak, giving him an air of gentlemanly sophistication.
His handsome face featured delicate features and healthy, fair skin. A pair of black half-frame glasses rested on his face, behind which lay a look of modesty and warmth.
His purple shoulder-length hair was neatly tied into a low ponytail, each strand carefully groomed to shine with silky smoothness.
In his hand, he carried an elegant cane, walking at a leisurely pace that spoke of confidence and purpose.
This was Jehfrit de la Vallière.
A viscount of Fiore Kingdom, a title passed down from his adoptive father.
In his previous life, he had been Zhang Wei - an ordinary office worker who had died from overwork. Nothing remarkable to speak of.
In this life, he'd started as an abandoned baby found crying in a trash bin.
He was discovered by Francis de Vallière, a kind-hearted but impoverished nobleman without heirs.
Francis, a hereditary viscount whose family had fallen on hard times, found the baby and named him Jehfrit, meaning "infinite," hoping for limitless possibilities in the child's future.
The "de" was added from his grandfather's name - a renowned philanthropist known for his excellent character. Just as his father had hoped for him, Francis wished similar virtues for his adopted son.
The "la" came from an abbreviation of his wife's name.
Francis had poured all his best hopes into Jehfrit.
Through diligent study, Jehfrit came to understand he was in the world of Fairy Tail.
In his past life, he had always admired the magic system of Fairy Tail.
Ice Make Magic, Dragon Slayer Magic, Giant Transformation Magic - how cool they all were!
Erza's Requip Magic and Gildarts' Crush Magic were equally impressive!
But...
At six years old, Francis taught him their family's traditional magic - Deception Magic.
A rather weak form of magic.
After decades of research, Francis could barely make ends meet performing as a street magician.
Four years ago, Francis passed away, leaving his title and modest inheritance to Jehfrit.
How could one be in the Fairy Tail world and not join the Fairy Tail Guild?
That place could heal emotional wounds and protect the lonely.
Thus, he joined the Fairy Tail Guild.
He didn't stand out as a promising newcomer splashed across newspaper headlines.
In the guild...
Above were the Ten Wizard Saints, including Master Makarov and guild pillar Gildarts.
In the middle tier were S-Class mages like Erza, Mystogan, Laxus, and Mirajane.
Below them were rising stars like Natsu and Gray, who occasionally destroyed half a town.
Within the guild, Jehfrit was just a popular mediocrity.
After all...
His magic was very weak.
"Who are you?"
"How dare you come up here?!"
"Don't you know this is Lord Harry's territory?!"
Several men stood on the slope, their clothes dusty and weapons hanging at their waists, shouting at Jehfrit.
Jehfrit looked up, adjusting his glasses, and politely asked: "Excuse me, is this where Harry, the bandit leader with an 800,000 Jewel bounty, resides?"
"That's right!" one man answered.
Another asked: "Who are you? What do you want?"
As Jehfrit reached the upper platform, he could see the bandit camp's layout.
There were about ten houses and some basic facilities.
About fifty bandits gathered there, looking at him with various expressions.
Jehfrit said: "Excuse me, have any of you heard of Lullaby?"
"What are you talking about?"
"This is nonsense."
"Just kill him already!"
The bandits grew impatient, and some had already raised their guns.
Jehfrit continued regardless: "Lullaby is a flute possessing powerful cursed magic. When Lullaby is played, a giant demon will appear, and everyone who hears its sound will have their life taken by this demon."
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Such a thing doesn't exist!"
The bandits closest to him couldn't take it anymore. One drew his sword, ready to cut down this braggart.
Jehfrit raised his left hand, revealing a grotesque-looking flute carved with human faces, both disgusting and terrifying.
He brought the flute to his lips and blew.
"Woo—" An eerie sound emerged from the flute.
"Stop him quickly!" someone shouted.
Though they didn't believe his words, this person dared to enter their bandit stronghold alone, so they shouldn't underestimate him!
The bandit who drew his sword was about to strike.
'BOOM'
The ground shook violently!
Terrifying gusts of wind swept up the mountain, carrying sand that stung people's faces.
The setting sun was blocked by a massive shadow, plunging the entire mountain into darkness!
"You're bluffing, right?!"
The bandits stared in disbelief at the enormous presence that suddenly appeared.
It was a terrifying, hideous demon!
Taller than the mountains!
Its body radiated dark, evil energy!
'THUMP'
One bandit suddenly collapsed, dead!
"Ah!"
The surrounding bandits were frightened and wanted to flee, but found their bodies completely paralyzed!
That man was still blowing the Demon Flute!
Everything he said was true!
'PLOP'
Another bandit fell!
"No, don't kill me!" one bandit cried, losing control of his bowels. He begged for mercy.
"Sorry." Jehfrit's voice sounded in his ear. The bandit turned his head in disbelief, seeing a gun being shoved into his mouth by the man.
Wasn't he supposed to be far away, blowing the flute?!
Why was he here?!
Jehfrit coldly stated: "When you massacred the village, if you had shown mercy to pregnant women and children, I might have spent a few seconds listening to your excuses."
He pulled the trigger.
The bandit fell.
And all the other bandits were still staring at the distant — beautiful sunset scenery.
Everything seemed peaceful and perfect.
No giant demons.
No cursed flutes.
From the beginning, Jehfrit wasn't there blowing the flute.
Deceiving the five senses and seven emotions.
This was Jehfrit's magic.
Unable to change reality, without any special effects or attack power, weak — Deception Magic.
Only able to deceive the bandits' hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste.
Making them think they heard the flute; saw a giant demon; felt the gale; smelled darkness and death; tasted — the blood of demons in the air.
It also deceived their minds, amplifying their fear, making them believe they were controlled by demons, when in fact, it was just human instinct — paralysis from extreme terror.
Their hearing was deceived, unable to hear the echoing gunshots across the valley.
Jehfrit walked elegantly with his cane in his right hand and a black-and-gold revolver in his left, casually shooting every bandit.
"Damn you! You deceptive bastard mage!"
Bandit leader Harry emerged from his house. After carefully observing the situation, he confirmed the sky was just an illusion while that mage was killing people with a gun!
Harry knew magic too.
When he unleashed his magical power.
The illusion shattered like a mirror!
He saw Jehfrit, who was looking at him in surprise.
Harry angrily grabbed the ground beside him, forming a spear made of earth that he gripped tightly.
He charged at Jehfrit with the spear.
Which led directly to his own death!
Intense pain erupted in multiple places on his upper body!
All illusions disappeared.
He was still inside his room, facing the wall. Several long knives were embedded in the wall, their tips piercing through his body!
Blood gushed from his mouth as he turned his head, looking at Jehfrit standing quietly beside him in disbelief.
"When...when..." he managed to ask.
Jehfrit smiled slightly, "Well, when indeed."
Cut to:
Below the cliff next to the bandit camp.
'Click'
Jehfrit picked up his camera, taking the final photograph.
"Mission complete."
He took out a clean, neatly folded handkerchief and wiped the barely noticeable sweat from his forehead.
Just dealing with a group of bandits exhausted him.
He truly was a weak mage.
Fortunately, Fairy Tail didn't discriminate against weakness.
Magnolia.
Knowing he wasn't physically strong, Jehfrit still called a carriage after leaving the station, having it drop him off at the guild entrance.
Inside wasn't as noisy as usual.
Walking in, he scanned the room.
Sure enough, Natsu wasn't there.
Gray, only wearing his boxers, was bored and sleeping while lying down.
Jehfrit approached the counter and gave Mirajane a slight smile.
Mirajane Strauss, Fairy Tail's poster girl, an S-Class mage with formidable strength, once known as the "Demon Woman" with a temper even more explosive than Erza's. However, after experiencing significant trauma, she had become the gentle and peaceful person she was now.
Mirajane exclaimed in admiration: "You completed the mission without even getting your clothes dirty? As expected of Mr. Jehfrit, you're truly powerful!"
"It was just a few groups of bandits, nothing worth praising," Jehfrit humbly replied.
Raising his left hand, he held an exquisitely crafted black-bordered playing card. He continued: "However, your praise still brings me joy. In admiration of your kindness, beautiful Miss Mirajane, please accept this small gift."
With a flick of his wrist, the card disappeared, replaced by a piece of paper folded twice.
"Thank you," Mirajane smiled as she picked up the folded paper. Opening it revealed a supermarket coupon.
"These are the mission photos," Jehfrit said, taking out the pictures.
Looking at the content of the photographs, Mirajane saw no environmental damage whatsoever. All the bandits were lying quietly on the ground.
Including the large bandit Harry who fell off the cliff, shot in the back of the head - surely not knowing how he died until the end.
She thought to herself: Deception Magic is truly a terrifying magic!