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 178. Revelation

That day, the sky was impossibly clear.

“……”

The Northern Alliance’s captured stronghold—taken just before Hermes and his allies arrived here—stood as a symbol of defeat for the soldiers of Harvist.

But today… the soldiers, along with Hermes, were here to reclaim their honor.

“They’re coming out.”

Katya murmured.

Just as she said, in front of the stronghold now stood the entirety of the Northern Alliance’s forces, a force many times larger than their own.

They had arrayed their troops behind the stronghold, ready to crush the Harvist soldiers who had dared to challenge them.

“Normally, they’d hole up in the stronghold and wait for reinforcements, wouldn’t they?”

“Yeah. That would’ve been better for us, but… well, they’re not foolish.”

Sara’s observation was met with Jurgen’s supplementary remark.

Indeed, under ordinary circumstances, when backed into a corner with reinforcements imminent, the logical choice would be to fortify the stronghold and wait to pincer the enemy.

But the Northern Alliance hadn’t done so. Or perhaps they had considered it, but ultimately abandoned the idea—likely due to the Archbishop’s foresight.

After all… Hermes was here.

It was a simple matter. With the destructive power of Hermes’ magic, a stronghold would be nothing more than a temporary obstacle.

If they holed up, it would merely provide a perfect target for Hermes’ spells. The Archbishop had foreseen this and made the decision to confront them outside the stronghold.

And perhaps, there was one more reason…

“They probably believe… they can’t lose.”

Albert observed as he watched the Coalition’s formation.

He was likely correct. The knights of the Northern Alliance, prepared with an overwhelming advantage and the option of retreating into the stronghold, wore expressions of undisguised superiority.

No… it wasn’t just their expressions.

“You Harvist remnants have finally resigned yourselves to fate!”

“Fools who cannot hear the voice of God, wretches who sold your souls to evil!”

“Today, we shall deliver divine judgment! May you become the foundation of the Archbishop’s Godly Kingdom!”

Such cries echoed across the field.

The soldiers of the Coalition were in a frenzy, their expressions devoid of doubt as they fervently believed in the Archbishop’s divine authority.

This blind devotion was undoubtedly due to the Archbishop’s mind-control.

Additionally, it stemmed from this nation’s culture—its rigid caste system dictated by Bloodline Magic and the church’s influence in cultivating absolute hierarchical obedience for generations.

This culture had created a society where questioning those in power was unthinkable, and under the guise of ‘divine authority,’ all manner of corruption was justified.

And now.

To destroy this system, they had come to this place.

“Oh, Your Eminence!”

At that moment, one of the Northern Alliance’s knights raised their voice.

The soldiers turned to the stronghold as Archbishop Johann emerged, drawing collective excitement from the Coalition’s forces.

“Your Eminence, we are ready at any time! Give the signal for battle!”

“The Harvist forces have walked right into your prediction, just as you said!”

“Let us annihilate them at once—or better yet, Your Eminence, why not deliver divine punishment yourself?”

The words “divine punishment” made the Harvist soldiers stiffen.

They couldn’t forget the destructive beam of light that had rained from the sky when they first encountered the Archbishop. The memory alone was enough to stir fear.

But Hermes… thought differently.

“…Alright.”

Perfect.

This is where it begins, he thought.

Standing in front of the tense Harvist soldiers, Hermes raised his arm, took a deep breath, and declared:

“──[Hlidskjalf].”

The spell’s name echoed.

Both the Harvist and Northern Alliance soldiers widened their eyes in shock.

Immediately, beams of light rained down from the sky.

But it was not an attack. With neither side within range, the beams struck the open ground between the two armies—seven distinct points where the forces would inevitably clash.

At first glance, these seven points seemed meaningless… but Hermes did nothing without reason.

It wasn’t a show of force. Even considering the Archbishop’s divine punishment as the pinnacle of Bloodline Magic, it was clear that if it clashed with Hermes’ [Hlidskjalf], the latter could hold its ground.

But Hermes knew better.

It wouldn’t come to that.

“──Rest assured, soldiers.”

He spoke, amplifying his voice with general magic so both the Northern Alliance and the Archbishop could hear.

“The Archbishop’s divine punishment… you have no reason to fear it. Because—”

He paused, changed his tone, and took a breath.

“──The seven spots I just struck. Divine punishment will never fall anywhere else.”

[──]

Time froze.

The Harvist soldiers, unaware of the details, and even more so the Northern Alliance soldiers, fell silent in stunned disbelief.

Breaking that silence, Hermes drove the final nail into the Archbishop’s facade.

“Divine punishment can only strike predetermined locations. That is its technical limitation in exchange for its immense power. Am I wrong, Archbishop Johann?”

From the moment he first witnessed it, Hermes had analyzed the structure of the Archbishop’s divine punishment.

It relied on prearranged magical tools and preparation. While capable of massive destruction, it lacked precision and could only target specific, predetermined points.

The Archbishop had not solved this limitation.

His tactic was clear: use foresight to predict where Hermes and his allies would be, set up the targeting points, and unleash his prearranged spell.

It was, in a sense, a sham.

He hadn’t aimed at them but had merely ensured they would be in the blast zone of his unsteerable attack.

However, if unleashed suddenly in a situation where the opponent’s full capabilities remain unseen at the outset… its apparent effectiveness becomes overwhelming. The unique power of “foresight” appears magnified many times over, emphasizing its terrifying and mysterious nature.

This is likely where Archbishop Johann’s brilliance lies.

In reality, he wields magic and techniques with severe limitations, yet he masterfully conceals those restrictions.

He deploys them at the most fearsome, effective moments, creating the illusion of invincibility.

As expected of the number two in a religious organization, he excels at showcasing miracles.

──However. Even so, the trick has been uncovered.

Once the mechanism is understood, it’s possible to detect the guiding formula and pinpoint where “Divine Punishment” will strike, as demonstrated earlier. Though initially cleverly concealed, once its existence was suspected, Hermes’ magic detection ability left no room for doubt.

If the spell only targets specific locations and those locations are known, the formula is no longer a threat. This is why Hermes confidently declared, “There is no need to fear it.”

And simultaneously──with the secret exposed, it is only fitting to retaliate.

Publicly revealing the trick will unsettle the Northern Alliance soldiers and boost our morale.

…Archbishop Johann is formidable.

Even with powers beyond reason, that alone wouldn’t suffice.

He wields his abilities, authority, and magical tools with unmatched efficiency.

In a way different from Hermes──he deeply understands “how to use magic.”

However, that doesn’t mean he should be feared more than necessary.

With calm analysis, expose his true form, strip away the facade, and bring the so-called voice of God down from his pedestal.

With that intent, Hermes declared his stance.

In response, Archbishop Johann also used a general-purpose voice amplification spell and stated:

“──Pathetic.”

With no signs of agitation, he spoke instead with a newfound note of disdain.

“Your intentions are transparent. You aim to manipulate our response with clever words to force us into using ‘Divine Punishment’. I don’t know what you plan afterward… but this magic isn’t so trivial that it can be used at the provocation of someone like you.”

Hermes was convinced by Johann’s seamless rebuttal, which sidestepped the issue entirely.

As expected, “this much was foreseen.”

“──And let me ask, servants of God. …Are you so incompetent that you cannot defeat such a pitiful rabble without borrowing the power of God?”

His heavy words, directed at the soldiers below, made the Northern Alliance troops instinctively straighten their backs.

One soldier, who had earlier suggested using “Divine Punishment,” caught Johann’s gaze and stammered nervously:

“N-no, sir! Rest assured, Your Eminence! Such vile rebels defying God are no match for the Northern Alliance! We will crush them all immediately!”

Despite his overly embellished response, Johann remained unmoved, replying curtly,

“Good, as long as you understand.”

He surveyed the Northern Knights once more and declared:

“──Knights, this is a righteous battle. It is a fight to eradicate the heretics and proclaim God’s glory across the land. Therefore, if you exert every ounce of strength and truly fight for victory, defeat is impossible.──This is God’s will.”

With perfect intonation, gestures, and tone, Johann’s calculated speech resonated with the soldiers.

It elevated the atmosphere of battle, bolstered by his Bloodline Magic, and served as the ultimate inspiration.

Satisfied with its effect, Johann twisted his lips into a smirk.

“Go forth. Rampage as you will, as you desire──Lucius!”

“Yes, sir!”

At the call of his name, a young man with dark blue hair emerged from the shadows.

He accepted Johann’s command and, taking a deep breath, shouted:

“──All troops, charge!!”

At that moment, it was as if a drawn bowstring had been released.

The entire Northern Knights, stationed at the fortress, moved out with a roar.

“…It seems they won’t falter so easily, will they?”

Observing the soldiers who would soon approach, Hermes spoke.

While his goal of shattering Johann’s facade and raising allied morale succeeded,

he had anticipated that Johann would remain unshaken and restore his soldiers’ spirit.

Because this was all within the scope of Hermes’ actions.

Every move directly involving Hermes was always anticipated, read, and countered.

──So now, he would entrust the rest.

“Please. Lily-sama.”

“Yes.”

At Hermes’ call, a young girl with beautiful red hair stepped forward. Her eyes glimmered with resolve.

She stood at the front lines of the Harvist troops, the exact opposite of Johann, who remained at the rear—a place far too dangerous for a leader.

…But this was as it should be.

Lilliana lacked everything: strength, presence, authority. She was only able to manage because of her brilliant surroundings and mentor.

She knew better than anyone that she was still halfway on her journey.

…Then, she thought, how could she face this without risking her life?

“──Everyone.”

Turning back, she addressed them.

Those present were her subordinates and Harvist soldiers.

Understanding her words were meant for the latter, their leader stepped forward.

“…Of course, Princess Lilliana.”

Captain Thor replied.

“You have shown us the future of this land. You have heard our desire to protect it with our own hands.──We of Harvist pledge our swords to you. We will make your vision of the future a reality.”

“!”

Countless eyes filled with loyalty turned toward her.

It was no longer just her close aides but an innumerable number of people whose lives and hopes rested on her shoulders.

…It was heavy. Overwhelmingly so.

But she had decided to bear it all, to move forward for her dream.

So, Lilliana asked, to steel herself once more:

“…Master. Will you hold my hand?”

The reliable figure beside her blinked in surprise but then smiled and obliged.

“Are you ready?”

“…Yes. Though, if I’m honest, I’d like a hug too.”

Feeling his warmth, she gained the courage she needed.

Overcoming her last hesitation, she released his hand, raised her face, and said:

“──I’ll save that as a reward for after we win.”

With a mischievous smile, reminiscent of her mentor, she wore a face so strikingly similar to someone from the past that even Hermes was taken aback for a moment.

Drawing a breath, she sang:

“──’Thus the world was created, and here is recorded the true truth of who created it, without distinction between heaven and earth, for the sake of one miracle.'”

And thus appeared a magic of creation.

As emerald runes materialized, the girl stood at the forefront, determined to show the nation its future.

To give form to her beliefs, the crystallization of her thoughts, crafted by her mentor.

And so began her true battle, as she boldly declared the words that embodied her resolve:

“──Spell Reenactment!”