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 156. Preemptive Strike

……For the soldiers of the Northern Union, it must have been incomprehensible.

A mysterious boy suddenly appeared, likely when they were about to corner the fleeing enemy soldiers. Moreover, with a single spell, the vanguard soldiers were all rendered incapable of fighting.

It was a situation they could hardly accept, one where confusion was only natural.

However, even so, their response was swift.

“Everyone, on guard! The opponent is alone──likely a noble bloodline magician of ducal class!”

A figure who seemed to be commanding the soldiers raised their voice immediately. They continued…

“It’s fine. Even if it’s a ducal-class magician, they’re alone. With this numerical advantage, we can overwhelm them! Offensive mages, prepare for a barrage. The enemy’s magic is also ranged; keep a sufficient distance and turn this into a shooting battle!”

“Yeah, we’ve made it this far with great momentum. No way we’re letting it be ruined at the last minute!”

“We have the blessing of the Star God! Do not fear—fire, fire!”

With those words of encouragement, the soldiers began their preparations promptly.

……Their response was probably appropriate.

The confusion caused by the sudden ambush was kept to a minimum. They analyzed the enemy’s magic and quickly shifted to a firepower-based strategy, taking advantage of their numbers. Their training, situational awareness, and speed of execution were exemplary.

However, the only miscalculation was:

Hermes was not a magician who could be contained within the realm of a mere ‘ducal class.’

Thus, as the multicolored spells rained down upon him, he calmly observed and chanted.

“Spell Reenactment──[Aiolus]. Spell Combination──[St. Elmo].”

Combined Bloodline Magic. A storm of flames with mass manifested. What appeared in front of Hermes was an overwhelming barrier that didn’t budge in the slightest even against the magic unleashed by the Northern Union soldiers.

Instead, it became a wall of despair, swallowing their spells and extinguishing them.

“What the──”

An astonished voice came from one of the soldiers as they saw Hermes unharmed.

On the other hand, Hermes did not allow any time for them to recover. Before the next spell could be cast, he completed preparations for a counterattack with his bloodline magic.

“Spell Reenactment──[Mistle Teinn]──Enchant: Flamea.”

A blazing magic bullet. Stronger than the previous spell, its power easily pierced through the barrier magic the soldiers had deployed.

In fact, the explosion’s force wouldn’t just affect the soldiers directly in front but incapacitate all those in the surrounding area as well.

The Northern Union soldiers had no means to stop it.

This was Hermes, fully demonstrating his capabilities. And this was the nature of battles between mages.

The number of soldiers does not equate to an absolute advantage. A small group, or as in this case, even a lone individual.

There are times when such pieces can overturn the entire tide of battle──

──And, the same holds true for the other side as well.

“Whoa! This is bad.”

Just before the blazing magic bullet was about to hit the opposing group, a voice, somewhat out of place yet filled with vigor, rang out.

What happened next was beyond belief.

“…………Huh?”

Hermes let out an unintentional, dumbfounded sound upon witnessing the sight.

In the wake of the ‘unbelievable’, someone landed gracefully in front of the unharmed soldiers, and turned his gaze toward Hermes──a young man.

He appeared to be in his early twenties.

With wavy dark blue hair and golden eyes, his face could be described as refined, almost too handsome, yet his expression and gaze carried an unmistakable sharpness and brilliance.

His outfit was functional combat attire, distinctly warrior-like. Though his build seemed slender, it was evident at a glance that his body was thoroughly trained.

However, above all else, what immediately captured Hermes’ attention was──

“…………”

──The sword.

In the young man’s right hand, he held a massive sword. Its ruggedness exuded strength, yet its craftsmanship spoke of nobility.

Notably, it was a ‘two-handed sword.’

A weapon clearly designed to be wielded with both hands due to its sheer weight and size. The ease with which the young man handled it single-handedly betrayed a strength and skill far beyond what his slender frame suggested.

……At the same time, Hermes recalled the incredible scene he had just witnessed.

He barely managed to follow it with his eyes, and precisely because he could, he couldn’t believe it.

What had occurred was simple: The blazing magic bullet unleashed by Hermes was about to strike the soldiers when this young man leaped in front of it.

Lowering his stance into a ready position, he then──

Cut it.

The magic bullet, something that should not possess a physical form, was sliced with a sword.

Moreover, he cleaved through over twenty bullets, almost simultaneously, leaving none untouched.

How could he cut them? How did he slice them all at once? How was such a movement even possible?──

None of it made sense, even to Hermes, with his keen observational skills.

However, what happened was undeniably real.

The magic bullets exploded far in front of their intended targets, dispersing without causing any damage.

And then,

“──Oh! It’s Lucius-sama!”

“Lord Lucius has arrived! Victory is assured now!”

The soldiers, who moments earlier were drowning in despair, lit up with renewed hope at the young man’s arrival.

As they cheered, the one called Lucius began to speak.

“……I see, I see!”

With his golden eyes sharply fixed on Hermes, showing no trace of carelessness.

“That appearance, that position, and the terrifying magic just now! I deduce──you must be the hero of the academy scandal I’ve heard rumors about.”

“──!”

At the same time, Lucius exuded overwhelming magical power, combined with an intense fighting spirit that could be described as ‘sword energy’.

Hermes involuntarily braced himself against it.

……Hermes was certain now.

The story he had heard from Jurgen about the Northern Union.

Supposedly, the Union’s six houses had extraordinarily high morale──and, there was said to be one truly monstrous individual among them.

No doubt about it. The unmatched swordsmanship, the soldiers’ trust in him, and the overwhelming magical power, coupled with the unmistakable air of a strongman.

This man was undoubtedly that ‘monster.’

“Perhaps I should thank the gods! I’ve long wanted to face you.”

“……Much obliged.”

For Hermes, his response was uncharacteristically terse.

It wasn’t out of contempt but rather the utmost respect and caution.

After all…

(This person……is probably stronger than me.)

The presence he felt was equal to that of Laplace when he had faced him. While Laplace exuded the abyssal depths of an unfathomable sea, Lucius carried the towering presence of an unconquerable mountain.

Different though they were, the sense of overwhelming threat was the same.

……To think this nation still held someone this formidable.

Hermes’ skin prickled.

And thus, precisely because of that──

“──Well then, let’s begin.”

Both sides understood the inevitability of a clash.

Taking a deep breath, they simultaneously prepared their respective magics.