Chapter 112: Ikuto: Mr. Jehfrit is a Gentle and Perfect Person

Emily, despite being at the age where children are usually mischievous, was very well-behaved.

Compared to Natsu, Cana, Erza, Mirajane, and others at the same age, she was adorable enough to make anyone feel that daughters should be raised this way—like little angels who don't cry or cause trouble, polite to everyone, and with a sweet voice when calling out "big brother" or "big sister," which could melt anyone's heart.

Wendy fell in love with Emily as soon as she saw her last night.

Even the tsundere Carla had a face full of gentleness.

For Emily, Wendy was only slightly older than her—a little sister compared to the other big brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts. She felt much closer to Wendy.

Thus, the two became instant friends, like real sisters.

Look.

Emily immediately pulled Wendy to her room to play.

"All these things were given to me by my master—" Emily proudly showed off but without any annoying tone.

Emily had all sorts of items from Jehfrit's store. Whenever the little disciple wanted something, Jehfrit would generously give it all. Ikuto had reminded him a few times, but to no avail; instead, Jehfrit scolded her: "She is my disciple. I am Emily's guardian."

Indeed, in terms of their relationship, Ikuto and Emily were only sworn sisters. But in the Magic Council's registration, Emily was registered as Jehfrit's disciple, officially certifying Jehfrit as her guardian.

Looking at all the fun and pretty things on the shelves, Wendy said enviously: "There are so many fun things."

She was also at an age where she liked toys.

"Wendy-nee, if you like anything, I'll give it to you," Emily generously offered.

"That can't be." Wendy quickly refused.

"It's okay, I have a lot! Playing alone is boring. Master says we should share with everyone, and playing together is more fun," Emily said.

"Mr. Jehfrit sure is impressive to say such things," Wendy couldn't help but remark.

Although Carla had always disliked Jehfrit and was very wary of him, Wendy increasingly felt that Carla was wrong. Jehfrit was clearly a good person, and one could tell just from how he treated Emily.

"What about this?" Emily held up a hat and said, "This is a magic hat. If prepared beforehand, it can produce many things."

As she spoke, she reached inside and took out a small doll, "Look."

"Ah, it's like the performances by magicians I've seen before!" Wendy exclaimed.

When traveling with Mystogan, she had seen magicians take out white doves from hats.

"No, that's completely different," Carla said. "That's magic, this is sorcery."

"They're the same thing," Emily said.

Deeply influenced by Jehfrit, she believed that the performance of magic was more important than the technique itself, and the audience's gasps were the highest praise.

In her free time, she studied some magic tricks—using magical props mainly to hone the techniques of performing illusions.

She put down the hat and picked up something else.

"This is a magical little nightlight," she held a white disc-like object—it looked like a dinner plate with a deck of cards on top—"And there are matching cards."

She drew a card and placed it on the plate.

A virtual projection appeared above the plate, showing a fairy-tale-style animated scene, accompanied by a gentle female voice narrating a story.

The voice was telling a fairy tale.

Though the frame rate was low, the key scenes were all depicted.

"How interesting!" Wendy couldn't help but exclaim, "This voice, it's Big Sister Ikuto, right?"

"Yes, there are lots of stories here, all recorded by Big Sister Ikuto," Emily said.

"By the way, I also have…"

Emily continued to show off various items, very excited.

After all, before Wendy came, there weren't any kids close to her age to play with.

There was a boy named Romeo in the guild, son of Macao.

But Romeo didn't like playing with Emily. He yearned to become a mage and greatly admired Natsu. Since learning magic, he devoted himself entirely to it.

Emily still trained seriously, but Jehfrit always told her to balance work and rest, even believing that playing with various things was more important for her age than studying magic. After all, Deception Magic relied heavily on insight, and a flexible mind was essential.

Besides, Emily hadn't even started mastering Deception Magic yet. Her daily routine mainly involved reading and swordsmanship practice. Her magic power grew through meditation while sleeping—Emily naturally had high magical power, and Deception Magic wasn't particularly draining. There was no need to worry about running out of mana.

Moreover, without a strong desire to become powerful or a sufficiently strong will, training would be a painful process—sometimes even leading to academic burnout.

Jehfrit used his own experience to teach Emily—he began learning Deception Magic at six, surpassed his adoptive father within weeks, redefined Deception Magic at seven, and managed to trick the demon Miko at eight. Within a month, he developed the second phase [Deep Realm], after which his magical research stalled.

His strength increased due to factors like growing magic power, improved magical proficiency, better equipment, and combat experience, rather than a fundamental change in the magic itself.

Such growth plateaued when he was fourteen until recently when he experienced a qualitative leap in magic.

Therefore,

Deception Magic itself was a contradictory entity—at least as interpreted by Jehfrit.

High entry barriers filtered most people. However, once a genius entered, progress depended on insight.

Jehfrit had been stuck for years. How long would Emily get stuck? It could be days, months, years, or even decades. It wouldn't be strange if it took a lifetime.

Mages pursued the ultimate magic, seeking truth, with becoming stronger being a side effect. Many gradually forgot their original intentions and became obsessed solely with power. Jehfrit wanted to lay a solid foundation for Emily so she wouldn't go astray even if she got stuck for many years without progress.

So,

The focus of teaching wasn't about pressure but increasing reading volume early on, broadening horizons, making thoughts agile, indirectly enhancing the elusive and hard-to-improve "insight."

Cultivate interests and find goals.

Once everything was ready and the threshold crossed,

Jehfrit could let go. As he said—

Rely on insight!

He truly led the disciple to the door, but personal cultivation was entirely up to the individual!

Thanks to Jehfrit's unique approach, Emily enjoyed a happy and joyful childhood.

Though this made everyone in the guild worry that Jehfrit might ruin her.

Most of the guild members didn't follow this method of learning magic.

People like Erza and Mirajane relied on awakening, followed by improvements through battles, collecting and upgrading equipment materials, and finding powerful demons for breakthrough fights.

Natsu, Gray, and others relied on rigorous daily training and various combats to improve.

Therefore, when they heard Jehfrit's arrangement for Emily—reading books initially, then figuring it out herself—they furrowed their brows. Could this really work?!

Regardless, Jehfrit was confident, and Emily blindly worshipped him.

Though she vowed to work hard, since her master said this was the best way to learn Deception Magic and allowed her to play happily, any child who received such indulgence would naturally love to be spoiled.

Wendy watched with envy.

Emily had so many fun and interesting things.

She wanted to play with them all, but felt her age might not be quite appropriate.

Wendy was at an age where adults still saw her as a child, but she felt grown-up and responsible.

Though drawn to fun and interesting things, she pretended to maturely refuse—this mindset usually changed around eighteen or nineteen, like college students in another world who openly accepted their hobbies.

Though young and innocent, Emily was actually perceptive, having previously lived in a slum as an orphan with illnesses, extremely vulnerable, thus very good at reading faces and gauging situations.

She kept noticing Wendy's expressions until she saw her eyes light up with complex emotions at a card nightlight projecting a dragon image. Emily noted this in her heart.

She remembered, Wendy-nee was also a dragon child like Natsu-nii, but the dragons left them.

Perhaps…

Emily chose another item and temporarily gave it to Wendy.

But in her heart, she thought: Tomorrow I'll ask Master to make a Sky Dragon nightlight for Wendy-nee.

Early the next morning.

Emily eagerly put on cute clothes and skirts, tied her hair into two little buns, and as soon as she entered the shop, seeing Jehfrit still yawning, she rushed over and hugged him tightly.

"Master!"

"Ah, good morning," Jehfrit said, patting Emily's head.

"Mr. Jehfrit, you're up early today," Ikuto said as she entered. Naturally, she came with Emily, but when they reached the entrance, Emily ran ahead.

"Yeah, I had a good dream last night," Jehfrit excitedly said, "I dreamed of fishing and caught a four-pound fish!"

Ikuto sighed inwardly.

Mr. Jehfrit indeed had no talent in fishing. Having spent so long catching nothing or only small fish, he didn't even dare to dream boldly.

Mr. Natsu and Happy often caught fish half their size.

"So after breakfast, I'm going fishing," Jehfrit whispered mysteriously, pulling Ikuto close and softly saying, "Today, I'm going alone. I feel it's a good omen, so please don't tell Natsu and the others!"

"Yes," Ikuto nodded helplessly.

"Master, I have something to tell you," Emily said.

"What is it?" Jehfrit smiled and asked.

"Well... didn't you make some nightlights that project monster images before? I want you to make a Sky Dragon projection nightlight for Wendy-nee."

"Oh, that..."

Jehfrit recalled.

Natsu also had one, which he had given during the Iron Forest incident.

"Alright, no problem. I'll carve it while fishing today," Jehfrit said.

"Master, you're the best!" Emily jumped with joy. Her physical condition was excellent now, and with a jump, she hugged Jehfrit's neck and kissed his cheek with a loud "mwah."

[Mr. Jehfrit is truly a gentle person, perhaps even perfect.] Ikuto, moved by Jehfrit's affectionate smile towards Emily, thought.

By the riverside.

After breakfast, Jehfrit secretly came—having hidden his fishing gear and various snacks. Pretending to stroll casually, he eventually reached the riverbank.

Only then did he take out all his equipment.

Arranging each piece carefully.

Jehfrit took out a card and a pen for engraving magic circles.

He lowered his head and began carving.

After a while, he raised his head to look.

It was almost noon.

Tap.

Suddenly, footsteps approached.

"Happy?" Jehfrit turned to see Happy.

The latter wore a strange, somewhat ingratiating smile.

"Jehfrit, fishing?" Happy asked.

"What do you want?" Jehfrit said cautiously. "This spot is mine, and I use it often. If you want to fish, stay far from me, and go downstream!"

"Not fishing," Happy fidgeted nervously.

"Then what?" Jehfrit checked with his magical perception, confirming Happy was alone. "Huh? Where's Natsu? Aren't you with Natsu?"

"Natsu is playing with Lucy and Gray," Happy said.

"You have something to say to me?" Jehfrit noticed and said, "Just spit it out."

Happy walked over, pulling a notebook from his backpack. "I spent several days secretly writing this. Not even Natsu has seen it. It's only for you."

"What is this?" Jehfrit picked it up and his eyes lit up instantly.

[Happy's Fishing Experience Summary]

What a treasure!

Jehfrit's breath quickened slightly.