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 68. Departure

Since the labyrinth conquest ended, nothing noteworthy has happened.

After that, Rose spent her time at the duke’s house with Hermes and Katia, with whom she seemed to have become a bit closer after that incident, engaging in magical research and casual conversation.

After a few days of staying there, the day finally came for her to return home.

“I don’t want to──────! I don’t want to leave!!”

As expected, this is what happened.

As you might guess, Rose is currently hugging Hermes, who was supposed to see her off, with her face buried in his chest and shaking her head like a petulant child.

“Master. This is troublesome.”

“I’m troubled too! Think about it, I was separated from my beloved disciple for a month, and now, after just a few days of reunion, we have to part again!? It’s too cruel, it’s nothing but the work of a devil!”

“That was the plan from the beginning…”

Rose clung to him even tighter, as if saying she wouldn’t let go.

Hermes was indeed troubled, hesitant to forcefully pull away from her.

“…Herm. You’re really sweet to your master, aren’t you?”

With a sigh mixed with exasperation and slight dissatisfaction, Katia approached.

“Rose-sama, Herm is our servant now. I understand your feelings, but…”

“Hey, Katia. You’re subtly asserting yourself, aren’t you?”

Rose showed a dissatisfied expression in response to Katia’s words.

“I get that you don’t want to be separated from Herm, but… oh, I just thought of a good idea.”

“…I don’t really want to hear it, but go ahead.”

“Katia, you should come to our place too. That would solve everything, right?”

“…Um.”

“Come on, isn’t that a great idea? The three of us can live together, I’ll take care of you.”

“…First of all, let me just point out that it would be you who needs taking care of.”

While maintaining a calm exterior, Katia couldn’t help but waver slightly at the idea of ‘the three of us living together’.

“Rose, don’t trouble the kids too much.”

Since it seemed like things might get out of hand, the duke himself stepped in.

“The two of them will be attending the academy starting next week, they need to prepare.”

“Jurgen, you too? …What’s the point of attending the academy anyway?”

“We’re working hard to make it a place worth attending.”

Apparently, Rose doesn’t have good memories of the magic academy.

Well, considering her personality, that’s understandable.

However, she fell silent at Jurgen’s unwavering response.

“It might not have been a pleasant place for you, but for the kids, it’s undoubtedly a place to experience their youth… You don’t want to take that away from them, do you?”

“…Hmm.”

After pouting for a bit, Rose raised her head.

In her sight was her beloved disciple’s troubled face.

“…Alright, I get it.”

Just as Hermes is sweet to Rose, Rose, in her own way, doesn’t want to do anything that would disadvantage Hermes.

Though she looked unhappy, she let go of him.

“But I’ll definitely come back again, okay? And you should come visit me sometimes too.”

“Yes, of course. As soon as I can get some time off.”

Hermes nodded with a smile at her pleading look.

“Besides, I’ll help you with the ‘artifact project’ as well.”

“!?”

At his words, both Katia and Jurgen, who were already aware of it, reacted.

“Ah, you mean this?”

Rose took out a crystal, which at first glance looked just like a beautiful palm-sized crystal.

However, upon closer inspection, one could see the incredibly intricate materials packed inside.

Hermes revealed the true nature of this object.

“…An artificial magic tool. A true artifact. The effect of that crystal is ‘to transmit voices instantly’, right?”

“Exactly. So with this, no matter how far apart we are, we can always, anywhere, talk to each other!”

That was the subject of their magical research over the past few days.

While it’s not impossible to create magical tools by hand, their effects are usually small and limited.

A magical tool with the kind of effect Rose described is essentially on par with an artifact.

This new possibility was something she discovered over the past five years, despite her limited ability to use magic due to her bloodline.

Listening to their conversation, Jurgen held his head in his hands.

“…So, ‘transmitting information instantly from distant places’. If that can be produced artificially, it’s a big deal. It could become incredibly dangerous if used for military purposes. Do you understand that?”

“I don’t understand and I don’t care! Anyway, with the current design, it requires so much magic power that only Herm and I can use it. That’s good enough, and there’s no need to reduce that.”

Rose declared without hesitation.

The reason she thought of making this in the first place was purely out of her desire ‘to talk to her beloved disciple even if they were far apart.’

But that’s who she is.

She──they, this master and disciple, are the kind of people who overcome any high wall by properly feeding their feelings into their actions.

“…That’s how it is, Katia.”

Finally, Rose turned to the girl with a faintly provocative smile.

“We’ll keep moving forward. Always.──Can you keep up with us?”

Through their interactions, Rose understood Katia’s feelings.

And in response, Katia, having come to understand Rose, answered.

“…I welcome the challenge!”

Upon hearing that, Rose showed a beaming smile.

“──Alright then, let’s go. …I love you both!”

“!?”

“Hey!”

She then pulled Hermes and Katia into a hug with both arms.

Hermes showed a slight surprise, while Katia’s cheeks turned red due to the sudden embrace and the inevitable close contact with Hermes.

But Rose didn’t let go. After a few seconds of conveying her warmth, she slowly released them.

“Well, see you later. Enjoy school.”

Compared to the beginning, she surprisingly waved to the kids rather smoothly.

With her hood pulled down low as when she came, she left the duke’s house.

“…She was like a storm.”

Katia murmured once Rose was out of sight.

I thought it was a fitting metaphor.

She swept us up without any regard for our circumstances and rampaged as she pleased.

──But in the end, she left behind a refreshing breeze.

“There were many things, but… I understand why you admire her as your master.”

“That… means a lot to me.”

He said softly.

Praise for his master undoubtedly made him genuinely happy.

After all, he must have heard many bad rumors about her being feared as the ‘witch’ in the royal capital.

Katia could understand that feeling.

…But still, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit of something.

After all, seeing that expression he directed at someone other than herself, and the frequent displays of skinship between master and disciple over the past few days, she couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.

So, she said…

“…Herm, let’s have tea. Just the two of us.”

“Huh? Right now?”

“Right now. Come on, hurry.”

She urged him on. …Taking a step forward for her, she held his hand.

“We need to talk about next week, and besides, we haven’t had a chance to talk, just the two of us, lately.”

She said the latter part quietly.

Whether he heard it or not, he smiled lightly and let himself be led back to the house.

And the daily life at the duke’s house returned once more.