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 48. Depths Of The Vessel

“What… is this?”

The scene before his eyes.

Despite wielding his flame sword with all his might, Aster saw that it didn’t even singe a single strand of fur on Cerberus, let alone inflict any wounds.

(This can’t be real, it must be a mistake)

Aster’s first reaction was his usual denial.

He swung his sword again, but the result remained unchanged, leaving him with nothing but the sensation of empty swings.

“──”

A cold sweat broke out.

No matter how determined Aster was, he understood now. This monster had an impenetrable defense that even his full power couldn’t scratch it.

(No, there’s no way! My strongest magic, even with the magic seal released! Yes, maybe if I accidentally hit an exceptionally hard spot, I should attack somewhere else──)

Still, Aster spun thoughts of denial to avoid facing the truth.

But this enemy was different from Hermes and Katia. It wasn’t kind enough to wait for such thoughts to form.

A chill ran down his spine. As he looked up, three pairs of eyes glared at him without mercy.

With a sense of dread, Aster tried to retreat from the spot. But before he could,

“──Ugh!!”

A front paw struck.

It felt like being hit directly by a shooting star.

“Wha──t, th…e he──ll!?”

There was no respite.

He was hit directly, sent flying like a joke, bouncing off trees near the forest several times before finally stopping.

“Ow… ah…”

It hurt.

It hurt so much. It was unbearable.

His vision flickered. The nausea didn’t cease. The sensation of being on the verge of falling apart engulfed him, leaving Aster unable to move, writhing in the hellish sensation.

In front of him, the large shadow of Cerberus appeared, ready to deliver the final blow.

Since awakening to magic, Aster had defeated numerous monsters.

All of them could be easily defeated with his blessed Bloodline Magic’s power. He continued to defeat monsters that he could easily overcome, following his strength and the admiration of those around him.

For him, monsters were not opponents in ‘battle’ but targets for ‘hunting’ weaker than himself.

He had never considered being on the side of being hunted.

Cerberus directed its six eyes at the fallen Aster.

There was no mercy or compassion, only a pure intention of slaughter.

“Uh…”

Meeting Cerberus’s eyes, Aster finally understood.

He couldn’t win. He didn’t stand a chance.

Moreover, this creature was different from his previous opponents. It didn’t care about his position or strength. It didn’t offer him any ‘excuses’ even if he couldn’t match up.

No matter what, no matter what factors were involved. It didn’t care about reasons and didn’t listen to excuses.

What awaited after defeat was only death, nothing else.

Cerberus raised its paw.

“Uwaaaaaah!!”

Perhaps it was his survival instinct kicking in.

Aster forcibly twisting his immobile body, dodging what seemed like an avalanche by a hair’s breadth.

A slight earthquake occurred, and his body was sent flying again.

Struggling to get up, in an incredibly undignified manner. With his body unable to move due to intense pain, naturally, the pain only increased further.

For him, who had no resistance to agony, it was akin to hell. But right now, all he wanted was to put some distance between himself and that monster, even if it was just a step.

However, naturally, the monster behind him wouldn’t allow such a clumsy escape.

Gradually, footsteps and the aura of death approached from behind.

The fear of being chased by the grim reaper itself finally broke something inside him.

Aster screamed.

“Help… helpppppp!!”

Even at this point.

It wasn’t a plea, but a command, revealing his true nature.

“Hurry! Is there anyone, anyone!? It’s an honor to save me! Aren’t the soldiers here for times like this!!”

Forgetting that he had just obliterated the soldiers with his magic, Aster shouted.

“You should understand. I’m the one destined to be king. I’m not someone to be lost here! Save me! Sacrifice yourselves for me! I’m giving you the chance for the greatest honor ever!! So, hurry──”

To those listening, his words might sound like he was willing to be saved. But in reality, they were hollow. Still, his head was about to be crushed by Cerberus.

“…Honestly, I really don’t want to do this.”

At the last moment.

A shadow leaped from the side and snatched Aster away.

Another blow from Cerberus’s forepaw. Dodging the resulting earthquake lightly, they managed to put some distance between them.

“I… I saved you, Aster.──Now, let’s run!”

“…What?”

What is this man saying?

Interpreting Hermes’s expression, Aster continued with a dissatisfied look.

“Of course! You can’t defeat opponents that I can’t even handle! So running is the right choice. Run to the royal capital, call for reinforcements, and use all our might to defeat that disaster. Don’t you understand something as simple as that?!”

“…”

It seemed this man still believed he was superior to Hermes and the others.

“…While the retreat plan itself has some merit.”

Realizing it was pointless to point that out, Hermes mentioned another point.

“It’s impossible. That monster is too powerful. Not even allowed to run away, everyone will be killed.”

“Wha──”

“And besides, the royal capital is quite a distance from here. Even if we manage to call for reinforcements… considering that strength. It’s not hard to imagine significant casualties, what do you think about that?”

At Hermes’s quiet question.

Aster hesitated for a moment──without even considering it, he replied.

“What are you talking about? My life comes first! With me, the country will prosper, I don’t know anything about sacrifices for that! If you worry about such things, you’re not fit to be a king!!”

His voice was loud, louder than ever.

Of course, not only Hermes but everyone present must have heard his words.

It’s natural for someone to value their own life. Hermes didn’t blame him for that.

──But to stand above people and protect them as a king, that’s a different story.

“…I see.”

Hermes muttered. Lower than before, in a tone colder than ever.

“In short, you have no intention of fighting that monster here, right?”

“Well, obviously! Now that you understand, hurry up and take me──”

“Then, that’s enough.”

Confirming, he casually swung the arm holding the collar, throwing Aster backward.

“What──!?”

“Katia-sama only told me to ‘help’. I don’t know what to do after helping you.”

Aster’s magic was powerful, and if he had the will to fight, he thought he could use it. But without it, he was just a hindrance. Since he didn’t feel like handling him carefully, it was better to let him roll around somewhere away from the battlefield.

Watching Aster being thrown and hitting the ground, Hermes turned to look at Cerberus.

(Well then)

As he had just said, retreating from this opponent was difficult. Especially the chances of everyone here escaping safely were close to zero.

So, to avoid casualties, the only option was to defeat it here and now.

“Uwoooo──────n!!”

Clearly recognizing Hermes as an adversary, Cerberus let out a particularly loud neigh, exuding tremendous killing intent.

Hermes also summoned his magic circle and enhanced his magic power.

There was no holding back. There was no way they could hold back against this opponent.

Therefore, without hesitation──he would use another ‘forbidden move’.

“‘My eyes overlook all creation. My pupils are fountains. My head is an offering. Know my rank as the pinnacle’!”

It was another signature move of his master. But it had become too famous to be used in public.

However, they were no longer in a situation where such things could be considered. With that decision, Hermes unleashed his magic with all his might.

“Spell Reenactment──[Hlidskjalf]!”

Immediately.

A rain of light poured down from above Cerberus.

“Waooooooon!!”

In an unexpected and sudden attack, Cerberus screamed in pain.

[Hlidskjalf]. It’s magic that shoots beams of light like meteors from the sky.

It was the representative attack magic of his master, the ‘Sky Witch’ Rose, and the magic he saw when he first met her.

He successfully reproduced it, his second lineage magic.

It was now unleashed. Confirming that it had hit Cerberus directly as a perfect surprise attack.

And then.

“…Honestly, it’s the most powerful magic I have in my arsenal right now.”

As the dust cleared, Cerberus’s figure was revealed.

“Falling without even a fight. I admit defeat.”

Though he was bleeding slightly, it seemed like he had suffered only superficial wounds.

Seeing this, Hermes muttered with a slight sweat.

But even causing some damage was fortunate. Probably the reason Aster’s great sword hadn’t even scratched Cerberus was because Aster himself was exhausted to his limit, and he hadn’t even come close to mastering the magic he had forcibly released.

So, there was a chance of victory.

If attacks could land, if they kept repeating them, eventually it would fall. He couldn’t imagine how long it would take, but right now, there was no other option but to bet on that slim thread.

And when Hermes thought that, the shadows of two girls standing beside him caught his eye.

One of them, Katia, spoke with a determined expression.

“…Hermes, can we win?”

“Yes, we can… If we shoot a few hundred more like that.”

“It’s an insane story. But we have no choice but to do it, right?”

She spoke straight out without hesitation, and with a hint of fear in her eyes.

Thinking about it carefully, Hermes asked the other girl standing beside him.

“We need someone to hold it down. Katia-sama, who excels in defense and endurance. And Sara-sama, I would like your cooperation as well. Is that alright with you?”

“…Of course.”

It wasn’t a question but a confirmation, and Sara nodded without hesitation.

“To protect everyone in times like this, that’s why we’re here. That’s what I learned from Katia-sama. And I want to help you both. I want to be like you two…”

“!”

A faint, but definite, manifestation of her will.

Feeling a sense of radiance, Hermes smiled faintly after the initial surprise and turned to the other girl.

“Then, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

“…Yeah!”

With the battle cry, they all ran forward to defeat the formidable monster.