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 121.2. Strength

Finally realizing the gravity of the situation and recalling Hermes’s earlier words, Clyde lets out a faint scream.

However, still unable to accept the reality before him, he frantically searches for something to deny it. Hermes continues, determined to completely break his spirit.

“…Katia-sama once said, didn’t she? You tend to treat yourself as someone special.”

“W-What are you—”

“You believe you’re the only one allowed to rely on others’ strength or use any means necessary. And—this is just my guess, but… didn’t you also think this?”

Now, as Clyde begins to panic, Hermes delivers his next words without hesitation.

“—As long as you had your Bloodline Magic, if you got serious, you’d be the strongest.”

“!”

“I’m not as adept at reading people as Katia-sama, so I can’t say for sure, but… if that’s what you believed, it explains a lot. The confidence you had at the academy, how you looked down on others, thinking that no matter what Bloodline Magic you saw, you were always superior.”

“W-What are you saying? How dare you insult me like this?”

Ignoring Clyde’s protest, Hermes presses on, his tone taking on a strange, almost praising quality.

“Bloodline Magic that controls monsters. I’d heard of it in theory, but I never imagined it could be on this scale. And even with some assistance, the way you handled it—the power to subdue even a dragon species—your magical talent may well be the greatest I’ve seen.”

Hermes gives a sincere compliment, but then immediately follows it with a cold rejection.

“But you used that talent only to hide. No matter what magic you encountered, you convinced yourself it was weaker than yours, and you used that belief to look down on others, deriving pleasure from it. You were satisfied with people fearing your hidden power.”

With the exception of Nina, who was an outlier, both Hermes and Clyde had attended the academy while concealing their immense strength.

However, while Hermes continued to learn and grow, even with his power restricted—because it was restricted—Clyde only indulged in his superiority.

That difference had undoubtedly contributed to the clear gap in their abilities now, though it wasn’t the sole reason.

In truth, that dragon species, while not quite on the level of a Phantasm Beast, had still been a formidable opponent. If Hermes had faced it when he first arrived at the academy, he likely would have struggled more.

But Hermes had learned. He’d absorbed the magic overflowing in the academy, refined his ultimate spell further, and gained an understanding of the power behind the form of the ‘sword’ from an overwhelmingly strong girl without relying on magic.

All of that culminated in the previous strike.

With that in mind, Hermes concludes.

“You became complacent with what was handed to you and obsessed with ranking yourself above others without any real effort. You’re the very image of the ‘typical noble’ I’ve seen time and time again… and if that’s the case, I no longer see any value in you.”

“Wha—don’t mock me! I’m a revolutionary! I won’t stand for these baseless speculations—!”

In a fit of rage, Clyde charges at Hermes, swinging his fist wildly.

Seeing this, Hermes lightly tosses his violet flame sword into the air and lowers his stance.

“If I’m wrong, I apologize. But if I’m right—”

He dodges Clyde’s clumsy, emotion-fueled punch with ease, then steps in, delivering a perfectly timed cross-counter to Clyde’s nose, adding the force of Clyde’s own momentum to the blow.

The crisp sound of impact resonates through the air.

“—Good for you.”

Hermes speaks calmly, certain that Clyde is now experiencing excruciating pain, though he hasn’t lost consciousness.

“You just learned something. That your ‘serious’ effort amounts to nothing more than this.”

Hermes hadn’t wanted to say it, but… the academy is a place for learning. The opportunity to learn should be equal for everyone.

Whether Clyde would take this lesson, acknowledge his own flaws, and change—or remain unchanged, cursing everything and everyone but himself—that would be up to him.

But, to be honest, Hermes couldn’t imagine Clyde choosing the former.

With that thought, Hermes gazed down dispassionately at the agonized Clyde, writhing in pain.