Genius 4.1

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Chapter 4.1. The Witch

What Hermes was given upon his expulsion wasn't the usual tattered rags, but decent clothing and a small amount of gold coins.

Though they were expelling him, they were once his family. 

Perhaps they showed some mercy to prevent him from perishing immediately—

—That was a mistake.

"Hahahaha! Luck's on my side today!"

"I thought it was going to be a dull day's work but to get such a good catch!"

"This outfit is ridiculously high-quality. It's like it's begging to be captured, seeing a nobleman's son wandering around in a place like that!"

From the start, the Frembleed family had no intention of keeping Hermes alive properly.

Hermes got thrown out into a poor district far from the capital.

He was walking alone in such a place, wearing ridiculously high-quality clothing from the commoner's perspective, and holding an amount of money that would blind a commoner, a visibly frail boy.

To the kidnappers, he probably looked like he was begging to get targeted.

They refrained from taking action to avoid the scandal of killing their own kin.

So, they provided him with bait, pretending to show mercy, to have some random person in the town take care of him.

And as expected—just as Xenos predicted, Hermes was quickly captured by rough men, stripped of everything, and left in a deserted outskirts.

"So, what do we do with this kid? Demand ransom, or sell him to a slave trader?"

"Neither's worth it. Sometimes, you get these noble brats cast aside. Of course, they won't pay, and a puny brat like this won't sell well either."

"In that case—"

"Yeah, just kill him without further ado."

And just like that.

They casually decided on the worst treatment, as if they were having a casual conversation, and one of the men approached with a knife in hand.

"H—"

I don't want to die.

Driven by sheer terror, Hermes tried to crawl away, but—

"Hey, don't make me waste my time! Hold still!"

"Ugh!"

Before such a pathetic escape could be allowed, he was pinned down and immobilized by having his back stepped on.

Then Hermes was kicked and slammed against a nearby wall.

"I heard you were a noble's brat abandoned here."

With a sneer, a man approached with several others in tow.

"Since the kid seems clueless, let me enlighten you. We bottom-feeders—hate nobles, you know?"

"Even if you got abandoned, you've lived well until now, right?"

"So, at least play along with us pitiful commoners' venting before you go. That's the duty of a noble, isn't it?"

One after another, they assaulted him mercilessly. Gradually, his will to resist faded away.

What was my life even for?

Finally, as resignation took over, the events of his life flashed through his mind like a movie.

His shining childhood and the turn it took in his adolescence. The efforts he believed would eventually be rewarded were in vain, dying here unnoticed in such a place.

If this was his life—then everything was futile. Life meant nothing.

That was the only conclusion he could draw.

(No, I don't want this.)

Even if he felt repulsed, there was nothing he could do anymore.

A man, tired of his lack of resistance, raised a knife carelessly.

With vacant eyes, he couldn't even watch it fall towards his own neck—

"Watch out!"

However, just before that, some magic exploded beside the man's face.

With a bizarre scream, the man was blown away right before him.

"Hey, spare me, will ya?"

A voice, like that of a young boy, responded in a beautiful female voice.

"You know, I was just about to have some fun and go home in a good mood today."

Surprised, Hermes turned his eyes to see a beautiful woman bathed in the sunset.

"What are you guys doing on my way home? It's absolutely disgusting to see grown men ganging up on a defenseless boy. You've ruined my good mood."

Her luxurious red hair, burning even in the sunset, contrasts with her intelligent blue eyes glaring disapprovingly at the men.

"So, that's why."

With elegant lips, words filled with hostility were uttered.

"I'm going to beat you bastards to relieve some stress. Don't complain, got it?"

The battle that began from there was an unbelievable sight.

The men, provoked by her blatant challenge, attacked the woman.

"Don't act like you're some kind of hero, you damn brat!"

"You're getting cocky! We'll show you what happens when you mess with us!"

Men shouted with anger, shame, or desires mixed in their voices as they faced the beautiful woman.

But contrary to their voices, their maneuvers were refined.

Some seemed to know magic, using quick movements with enhanced magic and powerful long-range spells.

In addition to their numerical advantage. Even if they were users of Bloodline Magic, they would likely be overwhelmed with half-hearted skills.

But.

"Oh, scary, scary."

She effortlessly dealt with all of them, exuding an elegant smile that showed her composure.

Men charging at her in close combat were dispatched without even a touch from her. Through a combination of enhanced magic and martial arts, while long-range magic was countered with walls of light, blocking any breeze from reaching her.

And in return, she unleashed a series of magic spells that made the men's magic seem like child's play.

Fireballs, wind blades, ice chunks. She displayed a variety of magic, demonstrating her prowess while flying around and unleashing them.

Her power and movement were overwhelming. 

It was an overwhelmingly one-sided massacre.

"This can't be..."