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 167. The Spread Of Mistrust

Thus, by Katia’s barely successful hand, Hermes was stopped, and the Third Princess’ camp prevented the loss of the one person who held the key to every path to victory…—but even so.

As if to say, that alone would not be forgiven. As if it had all been foreseen.

With an almost too perfect timing. Exactly as Katia went searching for Hermes.

Another fatal incident struck the fortress.

“—!”

Sensing the presence, Thor, Knight Commander of the northern Harvest territory, noticed it.

The faint difference in the air. A strange feeling discernible only because he’d spent years here.

In other words… the presence of an intruder.

He immediately shifted his focus to combat mode. Sensing the presence nearby, preparing himself to strike down whoever appeared—

but.

“…How ironic.”

He couldn’t move.

Every action was sealed the moment the intruder appeared before him.

“Knight Commander Thor. A proud guardian of the north, to whom all in this land owe respect, for having protected it from the threat of monsters over many long years.”

Because that’s just how the magic worked.

A troublesome magic, but one that delivered great results in return for its strict conditions.

“It doesn’t work on the soldiers of the Alliance. It doesn’t work on my brother right now. It’s useless against that archbishop, no matter what I do. My ‘enemies’ today, it’s all ineffective against them—”

Thor, however, fulfilled its conditions perfectly, simply because he was someone respected by all.

“—But it works on you, Thor-san.”

The intruder revealed herself, silver hair swaying gently—so delicate, so beautiful.

“…I’m sorry. But this is the only way.”

“You—Frodite’s—!”

Without mercy, she swung down the sword in her hand toward the paralyzed knight.

◆

After a brief nap lasting several dozen minutes, Hermes awoke.

Though the fatigue still lingered heavily, he had recovered just enough to move for the day.

Feeling embarrassed for falling asleep so easily but grateful, he returned to the fortress with Katia—only to immediately sense something was wrong.

Because in the great hall of the fortress,

Hermes and Katia entered the central area, and to the right stood the soldiers of the Harvest territory. To the left… were Sara, Jurgen, and Albert. A short distance away stood Knight Commander Thor.

The wide, empty space in the center seemed to symbolize the psychological distance between both sides.

“…What is this?”

In clear bewilderment, Katia, standing beside Hermes, spoke.

At the same time, her words were noticed—

and the soldiers’ gazes turned toward them in unison.

“—”

What those gazes held… was far beyond the unease, dissatisfaction, and mistrust of the previous day.

Katia froze under the weight of their stares, unable to comprehend. And then—

“Don’t screw with us.”

Sara’s group and Hermes’ group fell within his field of view simultaneously.

One of the soldiers’ captains—the same captain who had objected on the first day—raised his voice.

“Because of your negligence! Three captains and several of our soldiers were nearly killed! By the hands of—Frodite’s sister!”

Hermes and Katia quickly asked for details.

It seemed that from the area Albert was patrolling—Nina had infiltrated and attacked the soldiers, just as they said.

After that, she fought with Knight Commander Thor. Though the magic didn’t affect him as strongly, he barely managed to repel her, but not without injury. More importantly… several soldiers and three captains were gravely wounded.

“…I’m sorry.”

Albert apologized with a somber expression—but honestly, it was hard to blame him.

The fortress was complex in structure, and with their numbers stretched thin, gaps in surveillance were inevitable. It couldn’t be pinned solely on Albert.

The real question was: how did the enemy infiltrate so perfectly?

If the fortress’ complexity was an issue, it should have been a challenge for the intruder as well. That former count might understand the fortress’ layout, but still—it didn’t explain how she pinpointed and exploited every gap flawlessly.

Such precision would only be possible if she knew their surveillance network perfectly. Yet she had done exactly that. It was impossible not to feel the presence of some unknown factor on the enemy’s side.

…but pondering that would have to wait. Because—

“Say something, damn it!”

The soldiers, furious at their comrades’ one-sided suffering, confronted Hermes with anger and suspicion in their eyes.

Hermes stepped forward, letting go of Katia’s shoulder.

Despite his calm and imposing demeanor, the captain continued to speak, his voice laced with anger.

“You told us, didn’t you? That you’d prove you could protect this place.”

“…Yes.”

“You didn’t protect anything!”

It was a fair accusation.

On that matter, Hermes also felt regret. But—he knew that voicing it now would only make things worse.

“You let the count infiltrate. While you’re holding off the northern alliance, you haven’t launched any effective counterattacks. And now, Frodite’s sister not only infiltrated but also attacked, injuring our comrades! —And!”

The captain continued, revealing another source of mistrust.

“—Why didn’t you suffer any harm?”

“…What?”

“We heard about it. Frodite’s sister is supposed to be your mortal enemy too. So why didn’t she target you? Why were only we attacked, and not the stronger force that you represent?”

“That’s…”

“And you know what? The three captains who were attacked—they were the ones who opposed allying with you to the end!”

“!”

The truth he revealed.

Added to that, they already knew that Nina and Hermes’ group had prior connections.

When pieced together… it led them to the worst possible conclusion.

“Hey. That story the count told us—that you betrayed the church and are hiding here… maybe it’s true, isn’t it?”

“…Why do you think that?”

“Because it explains everything! That’s why you used Frodite’s sister as a spy, didn’t you?! This time, you made it look like she was our enemy to—‘eliminate those who opposed you.’ If you did it directly, we wouldn’t trust you!”

A far-fetched theory.

And yet, somehow, it made an uncomfortable kind of sense, leading the soldiers to doubt them.

Why Nina had acted that way—they had a general idea.

But they couldn’t say it now. To do so would only sow further distrust.

And so, unable to say anything…

this overly convenient, almost orchestrated reasoning chipped away at their trust.

“You just get rid of anyone who’s inconvenient for you and manipulate everything to go your way—that’s how you people operate, isn’t it?! You’re no different from that count!”

“Hey, that’s too much—”

“Commander, stay out of this!”

Thor’s attempt to calm them fell on deaf ears.

“You don’t get it, do you? You bloodline mages—you’ll never understand! You don’t know what it’s like for those of us without magic… who’ve seen our comrades crushed and discarded like trash!”

“—”

…The seeds of mistrust.

Perhaps they hadn’t sprouted just now.

In a country where magic decided everything, bloodline mages were the privileged class, their abilities affirming their superiority—and so, those without were not treated as human, nor did anyone deny it.

It was the cry of those who had been oppressed.

The rift now lying before Hermes was the result of hundreds of years of this country’s systemic flaws.

“You’re just like the nobles! You don’t care about us, or the people of this land, or anything!”

“Yeah, how can we trust you?!”

“You’re worse—they say you’ve got powers that make you even more dangerous!”

Even without Nina’s actions, this resentment would have surfaced eventually.

Every soldier now looked at Hermes and his group with accusing eyes. Even the captain who had been most grateful to Hermes at first now bore mistrust in his gaze.

“…Please.”

Struggling under the weight of their accusations, Hermes and his group fell silent. The captain spat his words at them—bitterly, yet with a hint of pleading.

“You have that kind of power, don’t you? Those incredible magic abilities. Then fulfill your duty. Protect everything, completely and thoroughly! Otherwise, no one can trust you, no one can feel safe!”

“…”

“Unless you can do that—then maybe you’re no better than the church!”

And then.

Just as the captain was about to say the words that would make the divide irreparable—

“Please stop!”

A beautiful, yet pained voice echoed through the hall.

It was a sharp, high-pitched cry, distinct to a small child.

Everyone froze, turning their attention to the source.

There, running toward them, was a small girl with flowing crimson hair.

Her delicate face twisted in sorrow, she rushed forward, standing between Hermes and the soldiers. Spreading her slender arms wide—

“…Please, stop. If you need someone to listen, I will hear you out.”

It was like a mirror image of that time when Hermes saved her, surrounded by soldiers during the escape from the royal capital.

Now, the one he saved had extended her hand to save him.

In her sapphire eyes shone fear—but also a resolute light.

Standing before Hermes, was Liliana Joseph von Eustia.