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 115.1. Ally

There are three main reasons why he was able to repel her magic.

First, it’s due to Hermes’ nature. He has a natural trait and past experiences that make his emotions and mind much less developed compared to others.

──In other words, any magic that acts upon the mind is significantly less effective on him.

……Yet, the fact that he was cornered to this extent also shows the terrifying power of her magic.

Then, on the other side, there is the magic Hermes activated.

Touching the wall generated by the [Theur Gy] that separated them, Nina murmurs,

“This… Sara-chan’s… Ah, I see.”

She had thought Hermes had fallen completely into her trap, but his unexpected resistance snapped her out of her daze.

Understanding the situation, Nina murmured as if she had concluded.

“I knew you were hiding your power, but… I didn’t expect you could do something like this. Did you set this up from the start?”

“Yes, before coming here. …Though I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.”

That is the second reason.

……To be direct, Hermes had been suspicious of her from the start.

“When did you notice?”

“I started feeling something was off during the final stage of the competition.”

At that time, Nina had declared that Clyde’s magic was ‘not a direct attack type’.

He hadn’t questioned it deeply, thinking she might have gotten the information from somewhere… but knowing Clyde’s magic now, it’s a big red flag.

“──Why do you know that? Clyde-sama’s magic is the kind that must never be leaked.

It’s hard to believe that someone who has nothing to do with him would have even fragmentary knowledge of it.”

At this point, he suspected that she might be directly connected to Clyde──or connected to someone who knows Clyde.

Moreover, the timing of her calling him immediately after discovering Clyde’s magic.

With all that, it’s hard not to be cautious.

“So, you knew, right from the start. …Can you let me out of this?”

“…”

Understanding, she looks up at him from the other side of the wall.

……Although the crisis has passed, the charm spell still affects him. No matter how hard he tries, he feels his consciousness being drawn to her gaze and gestures, overwhelmed by a compulsion to obey her.

But he was aware of this. He approached her, fully understanding the risk.

Therefore, he stokes his will and resists──and, in a firm tone, he asks her,

“……Do you truly wish for that to happen?”

“!”

Her reaction shows that his words have pierced her heart.

This is the third reason.

He has felt firsthand how her magic becomes more effective the closer she is to her target.

In theory, if she had closed the distance or made contact from the start, Hermes would have been powerless.

She may have thought it was too dangerous to get too close when the spell was still shallow, so she kept some distance until it fully took effect──that’s a possible explanation, but still, the overall impression was that her efforts were a bit sloppy.

In short, he sensed some hesitation within her.

That is also one reason why he chose to speak with her here.

At that point, the charm’s power begins to wane, giving him some leeway.

So, Hermes looks her straight in the eye, even through the wall, and says,

“……So. You are connected to Clyde-sama──or more likely, to the person or organization manipulating him from the shadows.”

“……”

“You were instructed to monitor me, and when necessary, ensnare me with magic. …That’s why you approached me, why you deepened our relationship.”

Hearing this objective explanation, she laughs somewhat self-deprecatingly.

“……That’s not true. I was indeed ordered at first, but… even without that, I was interested in you, and my feelings of gratitude are genuine. They aren’t things I created just because the magic needed them──”

She says this all at once, then looks back at him and asks,

“──So, if I said all this, would you believe me?”

“Yes. Of course.”

At this, her eyes widen.

The tone of his words clearly indicates affirmation, and she never expected him to say he believed her.

But for him, there was no need to hesitate.

“I don’t know your circumstances. So, I trust what I’ve seen. The sword you’ve honed so purely and straight, your heart that cherishes your classmates, the feelings of gratitude you’ve expressed… I trust what I want to believe is genuine.”

“…You’re too much of a good person. I can’t laugh at Sara-chan.”

“I have no intention of laughing at her… but yes. The Duke also called me ‘naive’.”

He recalls the time right after returning to the royal capital. Without knowing the full circumstances, he had been reprimanded by Jurgen for siding with Katia.

What he’s doing now is exactly the same.

……But he doesn’t intend to change that.

Blind faith is dangerous. There are times when doubt is necessary, like in this situation.

But at his core. Because his heart has been worn down, he acts on the principle of protecting the few true things that have emerged within him.

──He will never doubt his own feelings. That’s one thing he can’t yield on, one thing he can’t change for the sake of creating magic.

Therefore, knowing that, he knows what to ask and what to say to her.

“If you follow the orders you were given──if you do, we must overlook the atrocities currently taking place at the academy.”

“……That’s right.”

“You can’t side with us, can you?”

“……No, I can’t.”

“And you can’t tell me the reasons.”

“……I’m sorry. I can’t, not now.”

“──Then it’s difficult for us to join forces here.”

As expected, this was his conclusion.

Without knowing anything, he can’t overlook what’s happening at this academy──in the place where those he cares about are, where change is finally starting.

So, here and now, their paths diverge. That’s an unavoidable reality.

But that doesn’t mean they can never walk together again.

More than anything, that thought…… it makes him terribly sad.

So, he says,

“That’s why──next time, please tell me when you want me as an ally.”

“……What?”

Seeing her bewildered expression, Hermes continues.

“Your circumstances… It would help if you could tell me about them then. If it’s not something utterly unreasonable, I’ll do what I can. It would also be nice if your goal is clear.”

“……”

“And if──your wish is truly heartfelt. If your feelings are something beautiful that you’re not ashamed of.”

He believes.

He wants to believe that she didn’t want to involved the academy. That her sad face, her pleading expression──is genuine.

Surely, right now, she doesn’t have the means or time to change that. But he believes that next time, she’ll be prepared to avoid making the same mistake.

“If that’s the case, please rely on me.”

So, he says it, clearly and without hesitation.

“When that time comes──I promise I’ll be your ally to the best of my ability.”

“……Why would you say that?”

In disbelief, Nina asks.

……Well. The reasons for his thinking are as he’s already stated, and there’s nothing else to add.

So, after a moment’s thought, he imitates her slightly mischievous smile.

“……Maybe, without realizing it, I’ve fallen under ‘your magic’.”

He says this.

At this, Nina looks surprised for a moment──

──And then, she smiles wryly in response.

“……Fine. I’ve lost. I can’t stop you anymore.”

With that, the magic enveloping the area dissipates. She has released her spell.

After confirming that Hermes understands this, Nina speaks with a serious expression.

“Go ahead, I won’t stop you. …Actually, I’m begging you. His magic is more dangerous than I imagined. Please, protect Katia-sama, Sara-chan, and everyone at the academy. …I’m sorry for the selfish request.”

With those words, Hermes realizes he wasn’t wrong.

“I understand. …Ah, then as a thank you, one last thing.”

“Huh?”

“You were ordered to ‘delay me here,’ weren’t you?”

“Uh, yeah, that’s right.”

Then, with a smile and a hint of respect, he continues,

“That can be considered a ‘success.'”

“……What? But──”

“Don’t worry. …In actual time, it’s been just over five minutes. You might be blamed for only delaying me that long, but…”

He steps out of the classroom, opens the window, and sees the horde of monsters below, as well as familiar students standing against them.

“I’ll be serious from now on. I can’t afford to worry about being exposed. And if you report that… anyone with even a bit of sense will understand.”

With that, he begins chanting, steps onto the windowsill, and leaps out.

“‘To hold me back for five minutes’──that’s how valuable it is. …Now, if you’ll excuse me.

Spell Reenactment──[Hraesvelgr].”

With the magic activated, he kicks off the windowsill──and flies straight toward the horde of monsters in the sky.

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