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 63. Morning Affairs

The next morning.

Just like the previous night, Hermes was having breakfast with the other three.

“…………”

Something seemed off with Katia.

She kept glancing over at him during the meal. Her expression was—somewhat discontented.

Her cheeks puffed out slightly, making her look more cute than scary, but it was clear she was a bit displeased.

Occasionally, her cheeks would redden with embarrassment, and she would mutter,

“……To think you went that far……”

Honestly, he was very curious about what had happened.

He had a few ideas. Most likely, his master had told her various things last night.

The question was, what exactly had she been told?

“……Um, Katiasama. This is getting a bit uncomfortable, so……”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I know it’s not your fault, but……”

When he pointed it out gently, Katia looked down apologetically.

“You’re right. It happened when you were ten, so it’s understandable…… but still, ten years old is kind of borderline……”

She continued to murmur.

This made him even more curious about what she had been told, but he was also a bit scared to ask.

He glanced over at his master, who was watching him with a very amused expression. Yes, this was exactly like him.

“──Alright. I know the atmosphere is a bit awkward, but could you listen to me for a moment?”

In the midst of this, Jurgen came to his rescue. He clapped his hands once to gather everyone’s attention and began to speak.

“Let’s talk about today. ……Rose, you’re free today, right?”

“Hm? No, I have an important plan to laze around with Herm today.”

“……Well, if that’s what you consider a plan.”

Jurgen sighed at Rose’s straightforward declaration of her laziness.

“Unfortunately, I don’t see it that way. So, I have a request.”

He said this with the demeanor of the head of the ducal family.

“──Rose. I’m sorry, but could you take Hermes and Katia to the labyrinth?”

“…What?”

He wanted them to go to the labyrinth.

Rose tilted her head at this request.

“Are you serious? Asking a guest to tackle a labyrinth? I never thought you’d do such a thing.”

“I didn’t intend to at first, but…”

Jurgen replied to Rose’s question, lightly touching his forehead with his palm.

“……You’ve been too reckless……”

He said in a rare, genuinely serious tone.

“You treat the servants like pets, use the duke’s daughter as a body pillow. These are unconventional actions, but I can deal with them within the household. However…”

“……”

“Yesterday, you suddenly decided to fight Hermes. You called out for a random open space, brought out ancient magical artifacts like they were everyday items, and said, ‘It’s okay, it won’t affect the surroundings,’ but it did! Why did you use magic strong enough to break the barrier I set up!”

“Well, it’s just that I was happy to see how much Herm had grown……”

“Could you please refrain from environmental destruction for such light-hearted reasons!? The neighboring nobles, sensing unusual magic, are starting to investigate. I spent a night thinking of excuses! Imagine my feelings!”

“Oh… Father is raising his voice…”

Katia, showing an expression of both surprise and awe, was watching from the side.

Jurgen, perhaps calmed by his daughter’s reaction, took a deep breath.

“…Anyway, this has gone too far. I need you to make up for it in some way. So, I’m asking you to tackle the labyrinth. With you there, there’s no risk of failure.”

“Ugh.”

“Ugh nothing. Do it. Consider it a small price to pay.”

Jurgen’s firm tone made Rose look disgruntled.

“What’s this? Jurgen, you know I hate being ordered around.”

“That’s why I’m saying this.”

“Then you know I won’t follow orders easily. Or are you going to force me?”

Rose smiled defiantly, releasing a bit of her magic.

The intensity was enough to make the dishes tremble and even make Katia break into a cold sweat.

She was indirectly saying that force would not make her comply, and it was true.

However, even facing her intimidation, Jurgen remained calm.

“Indeed. If you don’t comply──”

He smiled thinly and spoke calmly.

“I’ll reveal your embarrassing childhood stories to Hermes.”

“Stop──────── it!!”

Rose screamed with intense emotion.

“How could you think of such a horrible thing, you demon! Monster! Devil in glasses!!”

“Naturally, you’d hate that. Plus, by working once, you can clear all the damage you’ve caused. It’s a small price, don’t you think?”

“Damn it, I forgot you’re like this…”

“How about you, Hermes? Are you interested in Rose’s childhood stories?”

Rose, glaring at Jurgen with a frustrated look, still showed signs of resistance. Jurgen, aiming for the final blow, asked Hermes.

He thought for a moment and decided to answer honestly.

“…Honestly, I’m quite curious.”

“Don’t do this to me, Herm! I have things I don’t want known too! Fine, I’ll do it!”

“Great. Katia and Hermes, are you okay with this too?”

“…Yes, it’s something we should do.”

“I have no objections.”

In the end, Rose gave in, and Hermes and Katia agreed as well.

Understanding a bit more about their relationship, they prepared to head to the labyrinth.

◆

“…Remember this, you glasses-wearing bastard…”

Thus, the three of them headed to the labyrinth.

At the entrance of the labyrinth near the Thrakia territory, Rose immediately started grumbling about earlier.

“Watch out, you two. Jurgen may look kind, but he’s black-hearted. Don’t let him trick you into doing anything weird.”

“…Well, I’ve mostly figured that out from everything since we came to the duke’s house.”

There’s no doubt that Jurgen was the type to harbor various schemes.

But such tactics were necessary to survive in a noble society. Hermes, having left the capital, needed to be better versed in this, and Katia wasn’t suited for it by nature. Thanks to him, they were able to stay at the ducal house.

Still, Hermes hadn’t expected even his master to be manipulated. He wondered if even someone like Rose had things from her childhood she’d rather not have known. It made him even more curious—but it was better not to pry.

“…Um, Rose-sama. I have a question that’s a bit late, but……”

As he was thinking, Katia spoke to Rose.

Rose tilted her head in response, and Katia hesitantly asked,

“Is there really any point in us coming along?”

“…Ah.”

The point was clear.

If the goal was labyrinth exploration, Rose alone should suffice.

Indeed, it was a reasonable question for someone unfamiliar with her magic.

“Katia-sama. This is likely the only weakness in Master’s magic……”

“──I’m terribly unsuited for labyrinth exploration. My magic, or rather, my Bloodline Magic is.”

Hermes’s explanation was taken over by Rose.

“…What?”

“Think about it. My Bloodline Magic is ‘flying in the sky,’ ‘rain of light,’ and ‘some kind of amazing attack’. The first two are useless in a cave, and the third is so powerful it’s hard to control.”

“Master, that’s a terrible way to describe it.”

“I tried using it once, but I messed up──and blew up the entire labyrinth.”

“Really…”

Putting aside that incredible episode, the explanation made sense.

“But, with me here, you’ll never lose to the labyrinth’s monsters. Think of me as insurance. You two handle the main exploration, and if things go south, I’ll step in. I think that’s Jurgen’s plan.”

“I see…”

With Rose, they could take risks and proceed boldly. She was a highly reliable presence.

With that, any dissatisfaction from being sent here by Jurgen seemed to dissipate.

Seeing Katia’s understanding, Rose spoke in her usual, thoughtful tone.

“…Since we’re here, I won’t interfere as much as possible. You two handle the exploration.”

“What!?”

“Not even with general support magic?”

“Yeah. This is also training. I want to see your labyrinth exploration skills and Katia’s magic. …Show me your ‘teamwork’, okay?”

“!”

With those words, Rose glanced at Katia.

Katia understood the implicit challenge in Rose’s gaze and emphasis on ‘teamwork.’

──Show me how your bond with Hermes compares to mine with him.

Yesterday’s events are the tales of their master-student bond from last night.

And now, this suggestion.

──It was more than enough to provoke her.

“…Alright.”

“Hm?”

“We’ll show you. That we can conquer the labyrinth without your help, just us!”

Fired up by her pent-up defiance towards Rose, Katia declared energetically.

“Come on, Herm, let’s go!”

“Uh, okay.”

“Haha. Jurgen, your daughter is adorable despite not resembling you.”

With Katia boldly marching in, Hermes following in confusion, and Rose watching amusedly from behind, they entered the labyrinth.

Thus began their exploration, filled with various intrigues.