Genius 15

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Chapter 15. Extraordinary Magic

"I'm sorry, but it's impossible!"

Freezing the movements of the Tortoise Dragon for five seconds.

In response to Katia's instructions, the hot-blooded knight replied honestly.

"Just protecting you two is already pushing our limits! It's frustrating but with our current strength..."

"Then, I don't need protection."

However, Hermes immediately proposed a new idea without delay.

"You don't need to defend against attacks coming at me. Just focus on stopping their movements."

"B-But Hermes-dono, with that..."

"Don't worry, I didn't just wander through dungeons with Master for nothing."

Typically, the role of a mage in combat is like that of a cannon. They protect the knights and deliver high-powered blows from the rear to the enemy. Since magic use requires actions like chanting or activation, mages become vulnerable in close combat. For Rose and Hermes, though, it's different.

Since they couldn't afford knights to protect them, they learned how to handle enemies in close combat. Quick-activating enhancement magic without chanting is part of that.

Rose had her own way of overcoming that weakness, but that's irrelevant now.

Anyway, Hermes doesn't need excessive protection. It's better to have it, but at this point, they can afford to discard it.

"That monster is quite intelligent. If it understands our strategy, it will focus its attacks on me. If we exploit that..."

"I-I understand, I'll trust you!"

It also means diverting attention from Katia, who needs protection the most. As the knights followed Hermes, he increased his own magical power.

As expected, the Tortoise Dragon noticed and charged at Hermes. Its hard upper arm swung like a siege hammer, but...

"Haah!"

Hermes gracefully evaded it.

He continued to dodge, parry, and occasionally block with enhancement magic, all amidst the raging storm of attacks from the enraged Armored Turtle.

"What...!"

"Your agility, and precision in magical body strengthening, rival even professional knights!"

His precision in magic manipulation was top-notch; with some training from Rose in martial arts, such movements were easy.

Don't forget, he's a genius who lacks only bloodline magic.

"Grrrr!"

The Tortoise Dragon was frustrated by its missed attacks, roared in anger, and swung its arms wildly.

While a hit would be devastating, its predictable movements made it easier to anticipate.

There was no time to counterattack, but if Hermes kept dodging, exhaustion would eventually make him vulnerable, except...

"Here we go!"

Attacks from the knights came from the sides. Katia's magic also joined in, forcing Hermes to divert his focus.

He managed to deploy a barrier just in time to block the magic but was left open to a sword strike aimed at his hind leg.

Thunk! The Tortoise Dragon knelt down. The knights pressed on.

While their attacks weren't fatal, they would recover soon. However,

"Excellent. That's enough."

If they kept this up, five seconds would pass in no time.

He activated the [Emerald Tablet]. Drawing wisdom from its magic, he weaved a spell.

What was the purpose of Hermes and Rose traversing many dungeons together?

It was solely to master magic.

The [Emerald Tablet] theoretically reproduced all magic.

Generic magics, Bloodline Magic—it could replicate them all.

Even the magic wielded by creatures like this beast was no exception.

"[Schleien Feld]!"

Magic controlled by high-level monsters sometimes surpassed bloodline magic.

This reproduction was discovered by Rose, who couldn't handle non-inherent Bloodline Magic, and elevated by Hermes—a new potential. The third magic, reproduced by the [Emerald Tablet], took form.

She named it [Alternate]."

"Spell Reenactment—[Dragon's Breath Alternate]!"

In response, a swirling, scorching breath appeared.

It ravaged the entire cave, yet condensed into a tiny inferno in his palm.

It was the trump card of a Flame Dragon that once resided deep in one of the dungeons they visited with their mentor.

Hermes unleashed the strongest extra-mana magic after a fierce battle and successful replication.

"Gahh!"

Perhaps sensing danger instinctively, the Tortoise Dragon took unprecedented full-defense measures.

It withdrew its head, and limbs, and curled up like a turtle in its unscathed shell. Additionally, it deployed numerous barrier magics around its shell.

It's a complete defense stance, sacrificing everything but protection. But against this magic, it was a misstep.

The moment Hermes's magic hit the barrier, it burned it away instantly, piercing through the shell effortlessly.

And inside the shell, the magic exploded.

"Aaaahhh!"

An unheard scream echoed from within. Ironically, the hard shell trapped heat, worsening its internal agony.

No matter how impenetrable the Tortoise Dragon's defenses, continuous internal burning was insurmountable.

Eventually, the screams ceased.

A complete silence engulfed the areas as smoke rose from the shell's gaps.

"We did it... right?"

"What kind of magic was that..."

"It's not getting back up, we did it!"

And the knights, led by the passionate knight, raise cheers of joy.

Having fought at the front lines and faced the brink of death, their joy must be unparalleled.

Without their valiant efforts, victory would not have been possible. With gratitude, Hermes attempts to cast healing magic on them, but...

"Katia-sama?"

In the midst of it, Katia, still looking down, catches their attention.

"What's wrong? Are you injured or...?"

"...No. I'm not injured. And I'm genuinely happy that everyone made it alive. Thanks to your magic, Herm. You've truly become an amazing mage."

Raising her face, she shows a relieved expression as she looks at the unharmed knights, but her expression darkens again as her body trembles.

"...But compared to that, I... I couldn't do anything again!"

A sob, uncontrollable, echoes.

"...Saying you couldn't do anything is an exaggeration. You undoubtedly contributed significantly to breaking through the final enemy."

"But I decided to charge in beforehand. That was clearly a mistake. Compared to that blunder, my contribution means nothing, it doesn't make up for it."

"That's..."

Irrefutable. This time, winning without casualties was pure luck. Especially the frontline knights, any of them could have died at any moment.

Before the charge, it was clear from their appearance alone that the enemy was formidable. If they had been cautious, retreating would have been the right call.

"Herm, do you know I've been called the incompetent heiress who can't use magic?"

"...Yes. I mean, I just heard it for the first time earlier."

"That's the reason. Did you see, in the battle just now, my magic?"

Her Bloodline Magic. Which couldn't even scratch the defensive magic of the Tortoise Dragon, [Steria Tryvia].

"[Steria Tryvia] is one of the strongest bloodline magics passed down in the Ducal House of Tralkia. It should be powerful enough to defeat dragonkind... Yet, for some reason, I can only produce that kind of power!"

Katia glares resentfully at her own palms.

"Because of that, I've been ridiculed endlessly. 'Everything else is perfect except for magic', they say. I can't count how many disadvantages I've faced, and to top it off, even His Highness Aster has abandoned me!"

"..."

"You worked so hard even after being abandoned and came back with amazing magic just as promised. On the other hand, I've been labeled a disgrace to the ducal house! The fact that I hid it from you, resulted in today's disgrace. I'm such a fool, thinking I could keep it hidden."

That's why she didn't want to talk about herself since their reunion.

"...Are you disappointed?"

With sorrowful eyes, Katia asks Hermes.

Having been abandoned by many before, starting with Prince Aster II, she must have felt disappointed.

Now, even Hermes might abandon her, and it would be understandable. With a face dominated by such tragic thoughts.

There wasn't much time until his response.

"...When I was found to be incompatible, and the treatment from those around me changed drastically."

"Huh?"

"Did you become disappointed in me?"

"!"

That was her answer.

"B-But, that's because I couldn't believe you weren't a great mage..."

"That's the same thing. Someone as straightforwardly idealistic as you can't not be a great mage."

This can be asserted.

Hermes knows a little more about magic than others.

That's why he knows how useful someone like Katia, with her idealism, can be in handling magic.

But as a practical matter, something is wrong with Katia's magic.

So, Hermes knows what he has to do.

"Katia-sama."

To repay the debt of being kept from falling into despair,

To repay how magic once saved him from the depths of despair caused by magic,

Now, it's his turn to use magic to save this girl broken by magic.

Therefore, for his own goals.

To help people with magic and to advance his magic,

That's why he made this proposal.

"Could I replicate your magic... [Steria Tryvia]. With my magic?"