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 61. Depths

(As expected of Master)

Handling the incoming barrage of enhanced general magic—magic far superior to that of Hermes—he murmured to himself.

The magic itself was the same, but the output was overwhelming. A complete loss in terms of power.

Then, could he at least win with technique? …The truth is, no.

Indeed, Hermes was using more refined techniques. However, it’s not as if Rose was casting magic thoughtlessly.

Always wary of Rose’s next move, Hermes kept a certain degree of mental flexibility. He carefully timed his attacks to minimize the risk of counterattacks, without ever easing the power of his magic.

Unlike the bloodline mages he had faced before, who could only use their abilities in predictable ways.

His was a direct, brute-force style, honed by stripping away the unnecessary and focusing purely on magical technique.

A strategy like a polished spear. Hence, no half-baked tricks could shake him. Hermes’ feints had no effect.

There was no opening.

Once again, he reaffirmed his master’s strength.

At the same time, he thought—just once, even for a moment. He wanted to reach this person with something.

He knew full well that he wasn’t in a position to think of winning.

With the awareness of being the challenger, out of respect for his master, he would give everything he had.

“!”

Rose’s eyes widened.

No wonder. At the moment Rose was about to cast his spell, Hermes charged forward instead of retreating for a counterattack.

Despite the confusion, he cast his spell mercilessly. Given the close distance, it was certain to hit.

The best he could do now was to quickly cast a defensive spell to minimize damage. But even that, Hermes didn’t do.

He twisted his body with all his might. Using every ounce of his physical ability to dodge the incoming magic.

Of course, it wasn’t easy enough to avoid completely. The lightning arrow Rose shot pierced his shoulder. Intense heat and numbness spread from the shoulder, but—

“—Still!”

That was all it was. It didn’t render him unable to fight or move.

The damage he took without using magic was actually light. And the benefit of that was now in front of him.

He was in the perfect position, Rose momentarily stiff from casting, and himself about to cast a spell. Just a few steps away.

At this moment—Hermes had the advantage.

Confident in this, Hermes launched a desperate charge. Creating a wind projectile in his right hand, he aimed to slam it into Rose—

“Good aim.”

“!”

At the last moment, a wall of light intercepted it.

It wasn’t a reflexive reaction. It was as if she had anticipated Hermes breaking through in some way.

…But.

This was also within his expectations.

Confirming the barrier, Hermes made the wind projectile in his right hand explode.

“?!”

A gust of wind blew in all directions. The force lifted Rose off her feet, and Hermes was also blown in the opposite direction.

Naturally, Rose took no damage. Hermes, who wasn’t defending, suffered minor injuries instead.

But that was fine. His goal was to create distance.

With distance—he could have time to chant.

“I see.”

Seeing Hermes’ magic power rise, Rose smiled, realizing his intent.

Alright, she said, facing him, her own magic power surging as well.

“”‘My eyes overlook all creation, my pupils are fountains, my head is an offering, know my rank as the pinnacle!'””

They chanted in perfect synchrony.

“Spell Reenactment—”

“Bloodline Magic—”

Raising their left hands to the sky as if in a mirror, they shouted the spell’s name.

“”—[Hlidskjalf]!””

Thus, light rained down from two directions.

They collided at their intersection, consuming each other, and then—

“…Well, of course.”

Amidst the settling dust and smoke, Hermes murmured.

Around him, the ground was riddled with countless holes. Even just looking at the number of holes made it clear who won the exchange.

He wasn’t hit directly, but he understood Rose had purposely avoided a direct hit.

However—

“Not bad.”

A voice called from the opposite side.

As the dust cleared, Rose stood unharmed, but with unmistakable praise on her face.

“As you declared, you made me use my Bloodline Magic. It was good magic, you’ve gotten stronger, Hermes. But—”

Then, she chuckled.

“—You still have something, don’t you?”

“!”

“I gather it’s an even bigger move. Something that requires so much preparation or chanting that you can’t create an opening for it. Am I wrong?”

“…You’re absolutely right.”

He was astonished. How did she see through him to such an extent?

“By matching our magic and seeing your face, I could tell. Especially with a beloved disciple.”

Rose’s expression turned calm yet elated.

“—Go ahead, cast it. I’m waiting.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve seen enough of our battle. Now, I want to see the magic you’ve acquired, what you’ve learned in this capital.”

…Honestly, he had been hesitant to show this.

It was indeed an achievement, but it was so incomplete and clumsy. He felt reluctant to show it to a master so well-versed in magic.

But, with such pure expectation and hope—

Wanting to see a magic unknown to herself, her eyes shining with anticipation.

There was no choice but to respond, as someone who shares the same passion.

“…Understood, then.”

Saying this, Hermes focused his mind on his magic. He recalled the magic he had once created.

Having made it once, the blueprint was already there, and he could activate it without Liberation.

…However, there was no incantation. The magic wasn’t refined enough to be condensed into a compact chant.

So, he carefully assembled the fragments of magic in his mind, recreating the magic he had created before.

It probably took a full minute of work.

In the end, he finished assembling it. The crystallization of his wish was created in the previous battle.

“Spell Reenactment—[Laevateinn].”

Thus appeared the sword of violet flames.

Rose’s eyes widened again. She must have sensed the enormous energy within the sword. And she likely understood how this magic came to be.

“That is… I see. You created it yourself.”

“Yes. …This clumsy thing is the best I could manage right now.”

“Hey, hey, what are you saying?”

Rose shook her head with a smile at Hermes, who spoke with a slight apology.

“Sure, it’s rough—but it’s good magic. It’s undeniably your own magic that I couldn’t create. And it’s strong, right?”

“Yes. I can guarantee that much.”

Hermes nodded, relieved by her affirmation.

Now, there was only one thing left to do. Confirming that, Hermes raised the sword.

But then, he realized something.

(Uh. Is it okay to attack?)

This magic was, in simple terms, highly specialized in firepower. Its power far surpassed the [Hlidskjalf] from earlier.

Even for Rose, facing it head-on might not be advisable—

—This thought was dispelled in the next moment.

“…I need to respond properly to this.”

Rose, accurately understanding the threat of the burning violet sword before her, muttered.

She raised her magical power even higher than before, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes, focusing solely on her magic.

She sang.

“‘──□□□□□　□□□□　□□□□　□□□□□'”

“…What?”

Hermes, for a moment, forgot she was in the middle of casting his magic.

It was a chant. The words Rose had just spoken were undoubtedly a magic chant.

Yet.

He couldn’t understand a word.

The sounds reached his ears, but he couldn’t grasp their meaning at all.

It didn’t seem like a language he didn’t know—it felt as if it was from another realm, or the meanings were so overlapping that they exceeded his understanding.

It was an otherworldly chant, making him feel he was entirely on another level.

But he couldn’t stop.

Following the flow—or perhaps guided by her chant—he swung down the sword of violet flames.

The approaching flames. But Rose didn’t move an inch, slowly opening her eyes.

She raised her hand before the violet flames that were about to consume her.

And spoke the name of her magic.

“Bloodline Magic—[Ars Nova].”

It was Rose’s 3rd Bloodline Magic, who possessed triple aptitude.

Rarely used compared to the other two, but its nature was distinctly different.

The trump card of Rose, the ‘Sky Witch.’

—Something incomprehensible, beyond the norm.

“…What…”

Hermes murmured in astonishment.

To describe what had happened before his eyes mechanically:

First, something transparent radiated from Rose’s palm.

It collided with Hermes’ flames—or rather, erased them upon contact.

Still unsatisfied, it traced back along the flames, erasing even the source, the violet sword.

The radiation continued, passing through Hermes without affecting him, consuming the orange barrier behind him.

It finally stopped after vertically cutting down nearby trees by half.

“…”

He understood nothing. Except for one thing.

That magic was—unbelievably strong, overwhelming, and beautiful.

“Didn’t understand, huh? Well, that’s understandable. To be honest, even I don’t fully understand this magic. What I just showed was the most basic use of it.”

Rose approached the dumbfounded Hermes with a wry smile.

“That’s why I usually seal it. …But I thought it was worth using against that magic.”

The hilt of the sword, the only part remaining in his hand, crumbled and dissolved into the air.

Even his greatest magic was easily surpassed by something else in this world.

Ah. That was—

“Hey, Hermes. Isn’t magic amazing?”

“…Yes.”

Very delightful.

And he felt admiration. He wanted to reach that level himself.

Satisfied with his response, Rose smiled innocently.

“Alright, that’s the end! It was so much fun, you’ve become really strong, Hermes! You’re amazing! Though I’m sorry, I know I hurt you quite a bit this time.”

“No, not at all. But why are you spinning me…?”

Just like when they first met, she quickly healed his wounds and lifted him, spinning him around joyfully.

Hermes, bewildered, let her do as she pleased—until he noticed something.

“M-Master, your face—”

There was a slight red mark on her cheek.

It looked like a burn, probably from the [Laevateinn].

His magic had reached her, albeit slightly. While it was a happy realization, it also meant he had hurt her, so he quickly healed the burn with enhanced general magic.

“Oh? You didn’t have to do that, I could’ve healed it later.”

“No, I insist. I know I hurt you, but please take care of your face. …It’s so beautiful, after all.”

“…Hahaha, if you think that’s going to make me happy, you’re absolutely right, my disciple!”

Rose hugged Hermes tightly again, either overwhelmed with emotion or trying to hide her embarrassment.

Seeing this, the inhabitants of the Trakia household judged the duel to be over and rushed to them.

Thus, the sudden master-student battle came to an end.