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 44. Turning Feelings Into Magic

Katia was aware that Hermes was only pretending to be defeated. She understood she was doing so to avoid interfering with her one-on-one battle with Aster.

But, despite knowing that he could lend assistance at any moment if he wanted to, he showed no sign of movement even in this desperate situation.

He simply watched her.

His gaze seemed to express his feelings more eloquently than any words could.

It felt like he was saying, “You can do it. You can still go on.”

“…I suppose so.”

I can’t help but think how simple-minded I am.

But if he, who struggles with contradictions more than anyone else and embodies the denial of those contradictions, implies such words without saying them outright.

It must be a wonderful thing to feel like I can do it.

(Calm down.)

I exhale.

I steady my confused heart, thrown off balance by Aster’s sudden power surge.

If he won’t intervene to help, there must still be some way to win.

He also has a stake in this battle. He entrusted me with the role of defeating his fated opponent.

I want to live up to that trust.

I reignite my determination and once again focus on Aster.

I quickly understand.

(His Highness still hasn’t defeated me.)

That should be impossible.

Aster’s magic after Liberation is on a different level. My resistance would be meaningless, and I would have been incinerated long ago.

Yet, reality doesn’t match that expectation.

Perhaps he’s just toying with me, but even so, I’ve been slowed down by his attacks. It wouldn’t be strange if I had already been captured.

But the fact remains that I’ve managed to narrowly evade his attacks up until now…

(His Highness’s movements are also deteriorating.)

Observing based on that suspicion, it becomes clear. Aster’s movements are noticeably slower compared to right after he released the magic inscription. The brilliance of the great sword in his right hand also seems dimmer.

There’s only one conclusion to be drawn from this.

Aster’s body can’t withstand the strain of the magic inscription.

It was too early, after all. The price of his forced awakening is undoubtedly eating away at his body.

And if that fact is clear, then there’s only one thing Katia can do.

(Endure—!)

Endure relentlessly.

Continue to withstand his relentless attacks until his body reaches its limit.

With that determination in mind, Katia deploys her phantom soldiers once again.

“…Sorry. I think I’ll burden you all even more.”

—It’s okay.

—I hate that Prince! I don’t want to lose!

—But I love Lady Katia! I want to help!

—I’ll do my best!

Receiving these incredibly reliable responses, Katia also finds herself rejuvenated.

“You… still resist?!”

Gradually feeling more irritated, Aster raises his voice and attacks with even greater speed.

However, I am no longer afraid.

First, read his movements. Always maintain an advantageous position, send in the phantom soldiers to buy a few seconds, and repeat this tirelessly.

Improve my own magic in this battle. Use magic power more efficiently, and regenerate the phantom soldiers faster and more accurately.

Aster’s sudden awakenings shouldn’t be expected. Simply repeat steady progress, accumulating step by step to make up for a thousand-mile gap.

All of these are things he had been doing. Experimenting, honing skills, learning, and evolving.

I want to be where he is. I want to stand by his side.

If so, what can’t I do as well?

“Huh?!”

Aster finally seems to realize that his movements are deteriorating rapidly.

With even greater anxiety than before, he swings his sword with even more magic output than before, swinging it recklessly.

“You’re so persistent! Just give up already! You can’t possibly defeat me!”

“Give up?! I’ll prove it! Even if I lack strength, even if I wasn’t born with it, I can still do it! I’m allowed to have dreams!!”

Yes, more.

More—feelings. Burn with passion and let it fuel my magic.

I want to embody that figure I admire.

To the boy who helped me. To the girl who believed in me.

To my supportive family, and to the people who admired me.

I want to become a splendid noble. Above all, I want to be happy myself.

I’ll accept all the contradictory feelings. I want to prove myself.

“So—I can’t afford to lose!!”

Resist. Endure.

By continuously circulate magic power, convey all my feelings to the underworld, and call upon more and more souls to help.

The boundary between the living world and the underworld becomes blurred. Thoughts spark due to excessive strain. Sparks scatter in my mind, and the edges of my vision gradually turn white.

Eventually, in a world where everything turns completely white.

I hear a voice.

—”It’s okay, you can do it. Katia, you can.”

Because you are my—

“…Ah.”

My consciousness returns to the present.

I don’t know if that was real. Perhaps Katia’s feelings somehow reached the underworld. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking, a mere hallucination.

But what I heard was unmistakable.

It was the voice she wanted to hear the most.

“Y-Your Majesty…”

Someone who watched over her.

Someone who believed in her was here too.

She decided to believe that. A single tear trickles down her cheek.

As if judging her momentary hesitation as an opening, Aster launches another attack in one go—

“W-What…!?”

It’s intercepted.

For the first time since the start of this battle, Aster’s onslaught is halted.

Surrounding Katia, there are now even more spirits than before.

They join forces to stop Aster’s blow completely.

“Ugh!”

Taking advantage of the pause, other phantom soldiers rush in. Feeling it’s not favorable in this position, Aster, for the first time, distances himself.

Katia wipes her tears and stares straight at him.

With her doubts dispelled, she makes a clear and resolute expression.

“Why… are you so pleased with yourself!!”

Stimulated by her indescribable expression of frustration, Aster resumes his attack. He slashes and burns down the spirits one after another, while Katia dodges and evades, continuing to flee. It’s the same situation as before.

“You idiot!”

Gradually, Aster’s advantage diminishes.

He can no longer burn down the phantom soldiers in a single blow, and he’s unable to dodge their attacks.

In addition to Aster’s deteriorating movements due to the increasing strain on his body, Katia’s rate of replenishing the phantom soldiers hasn’t changed since the beginning of the battle.

Considering the decrease in accuracy due to fatigue, one could even say it’s faster. It’s the undeniable result of Katia’s efforts throughout this battle.

Aster’s movements slow even further, and Katia further increases the number of phantom soldiers to widen her advantage.

And in the end.

There were several reasons for this.

Aster’s first use of Liberation and its incomplete nature due to lack of proficiency. The fact that Aster’s tactics were too naive. Above all, Katia’s bloodline magic, which specialized in endurance against the highly defensive phantom soldiers, had an advantageous match.

But regardless of all those reasons, now.

“…I win, Your Highness.”

“W-Why…?”

As the magic inscription fades, Aster is sitting and has lost his wings, halo, and greatsword.

Surrounded by her phantom soldiers, Katia stands tall and looks down at him.

She defeated an opponent who used Liberation without using it herself.

This scene speaks volumes, more than anything else, about the conflict’s resolution.