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 163.2. Knights

It was unbelievable.

If the enemies were only soldiers, it might still be understandable. Bloodline Magicians of significant power could often rival hundreds of soldiers alone.

But this time, the enemy also had Bloodline Magician. They had gathered both the numbers and individual prowess crucial for battle.

Even so, challenging them with just three people was… from his perspective, utterly reckless.

Faced with the knight commander, who was seriously debating whether to dismiss this as childish nonsense, Hermes smiled.

“I hesitate to find joy in your peril, but for us, this is a unique opportunity. ──Please, grant us the chance to earn your trust.”

That attitude, so composed and confident, paired with a presence forged through unimaginable hardship, left the commander unable to respond.

He watched the young trio march toward the battlefield with dignity.

And then.

“…No way.”

One soldier stood in stunned disbelief.

It was the same soldier who had first confronted Hermes and the others. As they had suspected, he was a man fed up with the repeated injustices of the nobility, determined never to trust them.

To him, nobles were a source of ridicule.

True, they wielded powerful Bloodline Magic. But most were drunk on their abilities, unworthy of any real respect.

If fought head-on, their brute-force magic might win the day, but honestly─ even if it came to opposing a lord, they could manage.

In other words, they were strong, yes, but ultimately not a problem. Undependable, and worthy of contempt.

And yet, look at this.

From the fortress’s summit, he watched the scene unfold. Three mages stood against the overwhelming enemy forces─ soldiers and Bloodline Magicians alike.

They annihilated them.

With utter indifference.

Without allowing even the smallest resistance.

The most shocking part was this─ they were treated the same.

The enemy soldiers and Bloodline Magicians alike.

To those three, all were equally insignificant─ mere obstacles to be swept aside. And sweep them aside, they did, with results that defied belief.

The violet-haired girl summoned legions of underworld soldiers, single-handedly holding an entire army at bay.

The wind-wielding boy soared across the battlefield, disrupting enemy movements and guarding the fortress.

And that silver-haired boy.

With magic that clearly exceeded the realm of ordinary Bloodline Magician─ no, surpassed it in places─ he unleashed spells that incapacitated scores of soldiers with every strike.

──Victory was unimaginable.

Against those three, especially the silver-haired boy. Even if their entire knight order attacked, no scenario came to mind where they could prevail.

At this point, he had no choice but to admit it.

Those mages were unlike any Bloodline Magician he had seen before. Unlike any nobles, he had known.

“…You must have endured so much at the hands of the nobility.”

The voice came from behind.

Turning, he saw a beautiful blonde girl standing there. She was the same one who, throughout the battle, had tirelessly tended to the soldiers with astonishing healing magic.

Her face showed compassion, tinged with sorrow, as she spoke again.

“On that, there’s little we can do. …As another noble, I’d like to apologize, but… I know it would only be self-serving. It wouldn’t ease your suffering.”

She paused, then met his eyes with determined resolve.

“So… as Hermes said, we’ll show you through our actions. Please… watch us. See the difference, the meaning behind what we do. ──We will not betray your trust.”

The light of conviction in her blue eyes made the soldier avert his gaze.

…Because, deep down, he realized he was beginning to hope.

He had thought the battle was hopeless.

The enemy’s numbers, their quality, and their mages all outmatched theirs. He saw no future where they wouldn’t be crushed under the incompetent lord’s rule.

But with them here─

With that boy, whose strength was almost terrifying─ perhaps there was a glimmer of hope.

──Not wanting his expectations to show,

the soldier avoided looking at Sara again.

Yet he kept his eyes on the battlefield, watching until the three returned in triumph.

Thus, Hermes and the others repelled the northern attack with only three people.

It seemed the perfect opportunity to prove their strength and character─ or so they thought.

Until one final incident occurred.

One that might be called significant, depending on how one judged it.

“──I-It’s terrible!”

As Hermes and his team returned to the knight commander after defeating the northern vanguard,

a breathless soldier burst in, much like before, and made this announcement:

“W-We found traces of an intruder in the lord’s chambers! The Count that Hermes and the others had captured──!”

At the same time.

“Ha, haha, hahahaha!”

Led by masked soldiers of the Northern Alliance and the Church,

a triumphant laugh echoed─ Count Harvest.

“Fools! Those brats let their guard down! They may be strong, but they lack real experience. The soldiers? Mere decoys. The real goal was my rescue! Such idiots!”

Fueled by rage at being restrained, a thirst for revenge, and his own ambitions,

Aslak von Harvest roared.

“For daring to oppose me just because they didn’t like me─ those criminals! Get ready, you scum! With the Church behind me, I’ll bury you and those insolent soldiers who dared defy me!”

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