READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 132.2
Chapter 132.2. Conclusion
At the same moment.
Hermes, too, had finished the battle and was walking back to the academy.
“…”
──He, too, was bleeding from his entire body.
“…Just like he said… I ended up seriously injured.”
Of course, he had reaped rewards worthy of his effort. From the way the man talked, it was clear that he held a significant position within his organization. Crippling him for a while would undoubtedly impact future events. He had also gleaned some insights into the man’s objectives.
However, just as the man had said, Hermes had paid a steep price. He hadn’t managed to capture him, which had been his original goal.
The wounds themselves could be gradually healed with his enhanced general-purpose magic.
Thus, Hermes’ thoughts shifted from his own injuries to the man’s magic.
“…That magic…”
It was overwhelmingly powerful and diverse. His skills and tactics were impeccable. As a human combatant, the man was second only to Hermes’ mentor among the opponents Hermes had faced.
The fact that Hermes had fought him without letting his guard down and still ended up in this state was proof enough of the man’s strength.
But more than that, what shocked Hermes most was…
“I couldn’t… analyze the magic.”
After living at the academy, Hermes’ understanding of Bloodline Magic had grown significantly.
He thought he could at least grasp fragments of any magic now.
But this time, the magic had denied him completely. He couldn’t read anything from it.
There had been other magics Hermes couldn’t fully analyze before. The third Bloodline Magic possessed by his mentor, Rose, was the best example.
But this magic…
This magic felt different from those.
Just as the man had said, there was something fundamentally different about this magic from any that Hermes knew. It felt off, as though it was something incomprehensible, something abnormal.
“…The depths of this country aren’t as shallow as I thought.”
He repeated the man’s words in his mind.
He would have to revise his understanding on that front as well.
“…Haha.”
Even so, he smiled.
He should thank the man, in fact. He had learned this valuable lesson firsthand.
The existence of magic still unknown to him wasn’t something to feel down about—it only excited him. It meant there were greater heights to reach.
Surely, from now on, he would face even larger threats, starting with that man.
He welcomed the challenge, and his fighting spirit ignited. Now that his healing had completed, he quickened his pace a little──and then.
“…Hermes?”
A blonde-haired girl appeared, walking toward him.
“Sara-sama. What brings you here?”
“I was worried because you were missing… Are you alright?”
It seemed that she had noticed his recent injuries.
Smiling to reassure her, Hermes continued.
“I was pursuing the mastermind who incited Clyde-sama. …Sorry, I lost him. But I did gain some valuable information, so we can discuss that later.”
“Wha… What!?”
“For now, let’s settle the chaos at the academy. We also need to keep an eye on Clyde-sama──whoa.”
Sara looked shocked by the unexpected news, but Hermes, ignoring her reaction, tried to head back to the academy──and then his body wavered.
He had lost too much blood, and as he began to fall forward, Sara hurriedly caught him.
“…Ah, sorry. …It seems this happens a lot.”
Perhaps due to the nature of her magic, he always seemed to relax too much around her, relying on her healing power.
As he thought this and tried to stand up──
“!”
“…Sara-sama?”
To his surprise, she didn’t let him go.
Instead, she tightened her embrace.
“…Um, if you could let go, and heal me, I’d appreciate it. With your magic, I can still move…”
“No… It’s alright now.”
She gently refused his request.
“Katia-sama is already taking charge of restoring order at the academy. The students from B Class are also helping, so we have enough hands.”
“What…?”
“So… You can rest now. Thanks to what you’ve done, you no longer have to carry the burden alone.”
“!”
Her words perfectly encapsulated what he had gained during his time here.
“Leave the rest to us. I’ll heal you, too… so rest easy.”
“…I see.”
Those words, and her undeniable trust, eased his tension. As soon as he relaxed, he realized just how exhausted he truly was, and his consciousness began to fade.
In the background, he heard her voice.
“Thank you, Hermes.”
“…Uh. For what, exactly?”
“I’m sorry, there’s too much to put into words, but… really, thank you. Thank you so much…!”
Her voice, was slightly damp with emotion.
Then, unlike before, she held him even tighter.
“So, just… for now. Let me stay like this, for a while.”
With those words, and wrapped in her warm magic and soft scent, Hermes let his consciousness slip away.