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 187. Enchantment Magic

Nina takes off running.

To bring this to an end. To exploit the one and only fatal flaw of the powerful enemy who has tormented her for so long—Archbishop Johann—and to put an end to the northern rebellion.

Her condition, to be honest, is far from ideal.

Days of relentless mental anguish have worn on her body, and back-to-back missions have left her utterly exhausted. If she were to judge purely by her physical state, she’d say she was at her worst.

──But.

Her body felt so light that it hardly seemed to matter. So light, in fact, that it felt like she could do anything.

The reason for that was…

“…………”

Nina places a hand on her chest.

Deep within, in the depths of her heart, was his magic. The magic he cast to protect her—[Il Felrina]. She can feel it now, still warm, still enveloping her heart. With that realization, she murmurs,

“…This is really unfair.”

Her chest tightens with a sweet ache. She feels the heat rise to her cheeks.

She can’t contain the joy, the happiness.

Because [Il Felrina] grows stronger in direct proportion to the feelings of affection its target holds.

And so, the very reason why the magic inside her had repelled even the Archbishop’s influence so effortlessly—the overwhelming force that shielded her heart—was a truth only she could fully comprehend.

Yes, it meant…

“──Herm-kun, you really do love me.”

That fact alone was more than enough to put Nina in peak condition.

…Of course, she understood.

It was most likely a love of friendship or familial affection—

Not exactly the kind of love she most wished for from him.

But for now…

Even after all her failures, after opposing him, after doing so many terrible things—

Even so, he never gave up on her.

And knowing that, just that alone, was enough to give her the strength to keep moving forward.

Now, let’s go. This time, for real.

To return to him.

With that resolve, she takes another step forward.

“Don’t──screw with me!!”

Archbishop Johann, his face contorted with rage, pulls another magical artifact from his robes.

Immediately, the battle resumes—an onslaught of diverse magical attacks erupts toward Nina, forming a dense barrage aimed to overwhelm her.

…As expected of the Church’s second-in-command.

Even cornered like this, he still had this many tricks up his sleeve.

Years of maneuvering the country from the shadows, countless magical artifacts gathered from across the land—the title of Archbishop wasn’t just for show.

Though he hadn’t foreseen this exact situation, he had prepared backup measures in case Nina turned against him or if the barrier’s ancient artifact were to be destroyed.

That barrage would have been more than enough to corner her—if she were still the girl from before, one without offensive magic.

Even if she had gained newfound resolve, determination alone wouldn’t be enough to overcome everything.

──However.

“What…!? Why—why aren’t my attacks hitting!?”

The Archbishop’s miscalculation was this:

He had assumed Nina’s physical and magical abilities were the same as they were ‘before she met Hermes.’

Why weren’t his attacks landing?

Why could she dodge them?

Why—was she so fast?

Reading the unspoken questions in his expression, Nina smirks and answers.

“──Because he praised me. Herm-kun told me I was amazing. That my swordsmanship was.”

Yes.

It wasn’t just about feelings. She had continued to refine herself, too.

Even though her family’s relentless ridicule could have easily made her hate wielding a sword—she never stopped.

That day, at the academy, she met him.

He praised her, and that gave her the courage to try again. She resumed her training in earnest, elevating her abilities to a whole new level.

Because she had held back during the Archbishop’s missions, he had never realized it.

Archbishop Johann had forgotten something crucial.

That she, too, once possessed an extraordinary talent for the sword—

A genius, on a different vector from Hermes.

And now, as Nina closed in—

The Archbishop felt something he should never have allowed himself to feel. Fear.

Desperate to suppress it, he shouted,

“Don’t be ridiculous! Impossible—there’s no way! Not in this country!”

His face twisted with urgency as he continued, his voice carrying an unshakable conviction.

“If you look at history, it’s obvious! This country has always been ruled by blissfully ignorant hypocrites and the most depraved villains! In a place like this—there’s no way people like you should be able to stand tall! Submit to God!”

…His words were disjointed in places.

But surely, they were spoken from the perspective of someone who had seen things she had not.

Perhaps, up until now, what he was saying had always been true.

And yet—that was only until now.

…Even so.

Understanding that, Nina still answers him.

“──I don’t care.”

Maybe these were things they would have to confront in the future.

Perhaps they were challenges she and her allies would have to face and think about, someday.

But for now—this was all she had to say.

“The past of this country doesn’t matter. And I don’t care about the future you envision, either.”

Because for Nina von Frodte that was never her battlefield.

That was never what she was fighting for.

“I just… move for the sake of the one I love.”

With her heart defined, her determination unwavering—

She dodges the final spell.

Just a few steps more, and she’ll be within striking range.

At this distance, victory is assured.

If Nina has closed in this far, even Hermes himself would have no way to resist.

With absolute confidence, she takes a decisive step forward—

(──Now!)

And in that moment, Archbishop Johann smirks internally.

The key to victory is to never reveal your trump card too soon. And Nina is overconfident in close combat—

She likely assumes that his combat ability is negligible.

But—

(As if I’d let that be true, fool!)

A man in his position should always prepare for assassinations and surprise attacks.

And to counter them, the best insurance was personal combat prowess.

Johann had never neglected that training.

He can dodge one strike. If he catches her off guard, he can resist just enough—

And then—

(Now, it’s this artifact’s turn!)

The key she never expected.

The last resort he holds in his palm—

The supposedly ‘destroyed’ ancient artifact for activating the barrier.

Of course, it wasn’t unscathed.

Its power was significantly diminished—but not entirely lost.

It could still activate the barrier one more time.

One last use.

He’ll dodge her attack, activate the barrier, and trap her inside.

Without offensive magic, she won’t be able to escape.

And once she’s contained—the threat will be eliminated.

Even if she realized his plan now, it would be too late.

She had walked into his trap, rather than the other way around.

Mocking her in his mind, Johann moves to activate the artifact—

──And stops.

“You really think I’d let my guard down?”

Nina speaks.

But Johann’s mind is already drowning in sheer disbelief.

(Why…? Why can’t I move!? My hands—my whole body—!)

Paralysis.

It strikes suddenly.

And soon, he understands.

(…No way.)

[Il Felrina].

A magic that enchants and paralyzes its target.

It had activated. On him.

(But that’s… impossible!)

He stares in horror as Nina smiles at him sweetly.

“You know, I really hate you. But… I can be pretty pragmatic.”

With a dazzling, mesmerizing smile—

She seals his fate.

“One last thing—take this as a ‘thank you’.”

And so, Johann realizes.

The man who had scorned and dismantled every act of goodwill—

Lost, because of it.

“Stop…”

“Nope♪”

With a brilliant, captivating grin, Nina whispers,

“──Thanks for letting me meet Herm-kun, Archbishop.”

“You damn brat──!!”

His scream is futile.

Nina’s blade strikes true—

And with that, the twisted foundation of the Northern Alliance crumbles for good.