A Genius Boy Who Was Exiled From His Family Home for “Not Being Able To Use Magic” Becomes a Witch’s Apprentice and Masters All Magic in the Right Way. This Is How You Use Your Magic, You Know?

Chapter 67. Certainty

Continuing the battle, she runs to Hermes.

He was almost evenly matched against the two polar bears. Of course, he was focusing on defense, and small wounds were accumulating gradually.

… But the fact that he is fighting alone against an opponent that they both struggled with earlier is odd, to say the least.

What makes this possible is his numerous tricks and his extraordinary learning ability.

I thought I couldn’t keep up.

And maybe that’s true. There’s very little I can do against someone who accumulates such surefooted steps at an astonishing speed.

…But.

That doesn’t mean I should stop moving forward.

“──At the eve of the apocalypse, sing of peace, for dawn shall never come here again. The world of salvation shall appear behind the current reality.”

She chants.

Her own magic. The magic that suits her the best, is given to her.

… Surely, unconsciously, she must have looked down on it.

Compared to his [Emerald Tablet]. Envious of its versatility, she thought her magic was restricted and inconvenient with only one effect.

That was disrespectful.

Both to him, who praised this magic, and to this magic itself, born from a wonderful wish and now residing in her.

(…I’m sorry)

In her heart, she apologizes.

With reflection, gratitude, and respect. She called upon the name of the magic once again.

“Bloodline Magic──[Soteira Trivia]”

Thus appeared a swarm of spirits.

In number and magical power, they were comparable to what she showed during the previous decisive battle.

These spirits surged toward the two beasts.

“!”

Noticing this, Hermes distanced himself from the polar bears. The beasts noticed and pursued, but the ghostly soldiers easily restrained them.

“…Katia-sama. From the looks of your magic──you’re okay now, right?”

“Yes, sorry for the trouble. …Your master is truly incredible.”

At these words, Hermes looked momentarily surprised and then smiled, pleased at the praise for his master.

… Though she felt slightly annoyed, she held it in.

“To make up for it, leave the suppression of those beasts to me.”

“!”

“You’ll finish them off with that sword. Then focus on your preparations. I’ll buy us that much time──”

“…Understood. I’ll take you up on that offer.”

He must have decided that it was okay.

Hermes bowed and stepped back to focus on generating his magic.

Left behind were Katia and the polar bear beasts. The beasts, scattering the ghostly soldiers, came at Katia, but she sent out new spirits to maintain the balance.

… Until now, she thought this wasn’t enough. She believed something new was necessary.

But she was wrong. Before even considering whether something was necessary──such convenient things don’t exist.

Without any preparation or resolve, there’s no such thing as a clear, powerful force descending the moment you think you’re lacking.

Rather than hoping for such things, she should focus on what she can do now.

[Soteira Trivia]. The magic to summon numerous, highly durable spirits. She enhanced its precision to buy even a little more time.

Naturally, she didn’t neglect the basics. The transmission of magic power was seamless. The control of magic was meticulous. No cutting corners on output.

──Only by infusing it with her emotions does this magic have meaning.

She wished. For the power to protect herself and him from the threats closing in. For the desire to take even one step further than she ever has.

What came to mind were Rose’s words from earlier.

“[…You’re too much in love with Herm.]”

“…Shut up.”

With a smile that was neither bitter nor pouty, she muttered.

She probably wasn’t heard, but she couldn’t help but say it.

With her emotions burning, she responded to those words.

“I’ve known that for a long time.”

And so, in front of her, a fierce battle between the polar bears and ghostly soldiers unfolded, leading to the end.

Probably thanks to Hermes weakening them somewhat in previous battles.

Despite taking longer than expected, the polar bears broke through the wall of spirits and closed in on Katia.

“Spell Reenactment──[Laevateinn]”

That’s enough.

It’s completed—his trump card, with enough firepower to take down these two in one blow.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Hermes stepped forward, replacing Katia, heading towards the beasts.

In his hand was a purple flaming sword, emitting immense heat.

She decided it was okay to leave it to him. She took a stance to observe──but.

“!?”

Then, something surprising happened.

The polar bears took an unexpected action.

Those beasts must have understood that his sword was a threat to them.

Yet, despite this, one of the polar bears charged at Hermes instead of retreating or fortifying its stance.

It seemed like a suicidal move. Perhaps intending to crush him before he could swing the sword, but the distance was too great. It would certainly be hit by the purple flame at close range and be burned away──

“No way.”

Katia realized the beasts’ intent.

One of the two beasts intended to sacrifice itself.

They knew it was impossible to defend against that sword. So, instead of both being burned away, one beast would sacrifice itself to absorb the initial blow.

At this distance, the purple flame’s normally widespread would be blocked by the body of the front bear. It wouldn’t reach the one behind.

Then, while Hermes was dealing with the first, the second would finish him off.

This is bad, she thought.

Katia knew that while the sword had immense firepower, it wasn’t durable or easy to handle.

After unleashing one strike, it leaves a significant opening. Given the coordination of the beasts, they wouldn’t miss that chance.

But pulling back now wasn’t an option. As the unforeseen crisis approached, Katia was about to shout──

“Don’t worry.”

A voice rang out from behind.

“──Rose-sama.”

“It won’t turn out as you fear. Just watch.”

There was no room to question her words.

Finally, one of the polar bears was close enough to be a real threat.

Seeing this, Hermes didn’t swing his sword as before──

But instead, he held the hilt at his hip, as if in a ‘ready’ position.

Lightly shifting his weight from back to front, he stepped in forcefully, releasing the stored power──

“Huh!”

A thrust.

Like a rapier’s strike, he thrust the purple flaming sword forward.

As a result.

The purple flame, which usually spread out from the sword, did not spread but ‘converged’ to the size of the polar bear’s face, moving towards the beast.

Of course, the beast couldn’t defend against it. The flame pierced its heart.

──And then struck the neck of the beast behind.

Continuing its momentum, it opened a huge hole in the labyrinth wall.

A moment later, with a thud.

The two polar bears fell dead to the ground.

“……What”

In an undeniable surprise, Katia watched the scene.

That was something she had never seen before. Probably not even there yesterday, a new way to use the purple flaming sword.

“──I see. He added the convergence trait of [Dragon Breath Alter]. It’s the same fire attribute, so it’s compatible. A good idea.”

Rose explained, accurately grasping what just happened.

“That… was…”

“Herm is serious about magic and extremely competitive.”

Rose continued, smiling amusingly and happily.

“He was completely defeated yesterday in a magic duel, even though his opponent was me, with his best work. ──It’s been less than a day, right? There’s no way he wouldn’t have made improvements.”

He had been moving forward.

Even when they didn’t know, when they weren’t watching, constantly.

Unlike herself, who sought sudden strength, he was always, surely advancing.

It must be quite taxing, as Hermes discarded the sword that crumbled after one strike and returned.

… She thought again, how far away he was.

In skill, in mindset. She was still nowhere near his level.

──That’s why she wanted to catch up. In her own way, step by step.

Now she could think that. She watched him with longing and admiration.

“…I’m exhausted.”

With a wry smile, he said as he returned.

“Good job. That was great magic, both of you. This completes the labyrinth challenge.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes. …Though we still need to defeat the returning beasts, so we can’t let our guard down.”

Seeing this, Rose, in high spirits, praised them both and healed Hermes’s wounds as promised.

They responded in their own ways, and Hermes conveyed that they still couldn’t let their guard down.

“Oh, don’t worry. As a thank you for the show, I’ll handle all the beasts on the way back. You two must be tired.”

Rose said with a laugh.

… Honestly, that was very welcome. But──Hermes reached a concern.

“That’s very helpful, but… Master. Please, don’t destroy the labyrinth itself.”

“…I’ll try!”

“Rose-sama, what was that pause?”

Afterward, under Rose’s lead and the children’s supervision, they began exiting the labyrinth.

Despite having to stop Rose from recklessly using her bloodline magic in her high spirits, they managed to leave the labyrinth without much trouble.

The three of them concluded their labyrinth challenge fruitfully.