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 121.1. Strength

First, I quickly assess the situation.

Most importantly, Sara… she’s fine. Exhausted, but without a single injury. As long as she focuses on defense, she won’t be easily taken down, so for now, I’m relieved.

Next, Clyde. Though his smug expression, confident in his superiority, is annoying, it’s best to ignore it for now. What matters are the tools he’s holding and the monsters following him.

In his right hand, he’s holding something like a crystal ball. That’s a magical tool—probably something that ‘transmits’ mana or magic. He’s using it to control the black barrier. It might even enhance his magic power.

Now, the monsters. There are two here. The first is a small bat-like creature, which I’ve occasionally seen on the battlefield. It’s probably gathering information from outside the barrier where visibility is limited.

The second one is a dragon, radiating an extraordinary amount of magic power. Compared to the monsters attacking the academy, this one stands head and shoulders above the rest. That must be his trump card.

Given Clyde’s personality, he wouldn’t send his most powerful weapon far from his side. In fact, it’s fortunate for us that the dragon didn’t join the attack on the academy. That would have been much worse.

The target is the dragon. Once confirmed, Hermes steps forward to stand in front of Sara.

“Rest assured, the academy’s barrier is intact. You’ve done well to hold on.”

“…!”

Judging by the situation, Clyde must have tried to recruit Sara. When she refused, he likely became enraged and attacked her. It’s disheartening that I can now predict such behavior so easily.

At the same time, I realize something else. Despite the life-threatening danger from the overwhelming dragon, Sara never once gave up on the academy’s barrier.

Once again, I have deep respect for her. And equally strong hatred for the man in front of me, who tried to mercilessly hurt her out of spite.

As Hermes silently prepares for battle, Clyde regains his composure and yells.

“Hermes…! How did someone like you deal with the monsters outside? How did you break the barrier? Answer me!”

“I don’t owe you an explanation. But isn’t it obvious? I simply cut them all down and destroyed everything by force.”

“Impossible!”

Perhaps Clyde wasn’t watching when Hermes arrived. He was likely too preoccupied with abducting Sara at the time.

No… even if he had seen it, he probably wouldn’t have changed his stance.

People like him refuse to acknowledge anything they don’t want to believe.

That’s the dark side of this country that Hermes knows all too well—the inherent arrogance of those born too privileged, like Aster.

Clyde has always claimed he’s different from Aster, but at his core, nothing has changed.

With that thought in mind, Hermes watches as Clyde points at him and shouts.

“Hmph, I don’t know what trick you used, but if you’ve come here to face me, that works perfectly!”

“…”

“I’ll tear away that facade you’ve been hiding behind! With my true magic! Attack!”

At his command, the dragon roars and charges.

Indeed, its presence is fitting for a creature at the pinnacle of physical monsters. The fact that Clyde can control such a being speaks to the strength of his magic. Among the many bloodline magics, his is undeniably a threat—

So what?

Hermes’s response is simple.

He steps back with his left foot and twists his body. With his right hand, he grips the greatsword engulfed in violet flames, and with the force gathered in his entire body, he pivots on his right foot and releases it all.

“—!”

A single slash.

The image in his mind is the most beautiful sword strike he’s ever seen. Recalling the movements of someone he trained with, who wielded that technique with the greatest precision, Hermes mimics it at his best, combining it with the power of his strongest magic.

And the result?

The dragon is literally cleaved in two.

“Huh…?”

Clyde’s voice falters in disbelief.

As his trump card’s upper half slips off diagonally from its body and crashes to the ground, a thunderous sound follows. A moment later, both halves burst into flames, disintegrating into ash with no chance of recovery.

One strike.

That was the result when Clyde’s strongest monster and Hermes’s most powerful magic clashed.

The scene spoke volumes about the vast difference between them.

“One correction.”

As Clyde struggles to comprehend what just happened, Hermes speaks calmly, as though the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

“You mentioned earlier that this monster is on par with a Phantasm Beast… but that’s far too generous. A Phantasm Beast—especially ‘him’—was far beyond something of this level.”

Recalling the fierce battle from his past, Hermes resumes his walk toward Clyde.

“This is personal, but I’d appreciate it if you’d retract that statement. If you do, maybe I’ll go easy on you.”

“Ah—!”