Genius 16

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Chapter 16. The True Value Of Magic

"Recreating [Steria Tryvia]...? What would that become...?"

Katia posed a genuine question in response to Hermes' suggestion.

It was a reasonable inquiry since she wasn't familiar with his magic. He began explaining patiently.

"As I've mentioned before, the effect of my [Emerald Tablet] is magic reproduction. It's not just a simple copy; it's more like a 'reconstruction' based on understanding the magic's structure, principles, and effects to a certain extent."

"Yes. So, although it takes time to reproduce, once the magic is replicated, it can be used repeatedly, right?"

Hearing this, the knights behind Katia, hearing of Hermes' magic for the first time, were astonished.

However, Hermes continued unabated.

"In simple terms, to reproduce magic, you need a deep understanding of the target magic... Even beyond what you, Katia-sama, naturally possess, deep into areas you might not have noticed."

"!"

That's one of the drawbacks of Bloodline Magic.

Just as humans can move their limbs without understanding the structure and breathe without grasping the principle, the holders of bloodline magic can use their magic without knowing anything about it.

It's a contradiction to turn the pinnacle of construction and accumulation, which is magic, into something innate.

Thus, the people remain unaware of their magic's hidden effects or misunderstandings.

"The reason Katia-sama struggles with magic is probably there."

However, Hermes understands.

Magic isn't a gift from gods but a crystallization of wisdom. Because he correctly perceives magic distorted by bloodline magic, he can guide her magic toward its intended function.

"In other words, by analyzing your magic with my magic, we can pinpoint why your magic is malfunctioning... It's probably not such a difficult issue, I think."

"...Can you really do that?"

Doubt and hope crossed Katia's face as she asked.

With a mixed expression of emotions, Hermes nodded in response.

"Actually, I already have a rough idea of the cause. ...Yes, let me tell you something simple we've figured out."

With that said, he whispered to Katia about the nature of a certain magic.

Katia was surprised by an unexpected cause, and in that instant, she decided to try it out.

"Oh! So, the rumors were true after all!"

Once again, a shrill and loud voice echoed, disrupting the conversation.

Looking towards the source of the voice, unsurprisingly, there stood Count Eldridge, a round-bodied man whose appearance made one wonder how he navigated the narrow maze.

"It's undeniable. This must be the ancient magic artifact!"

The count was looking at a small room beside the grand hall where they fought the tortoiseshell dragon, precisely behind where the dragon initially stood.

Inside was a staff emitting a silver glow.

The silver staff had intricately carved serpents winding around it, with a pair of luminous wings on top.

From its intricate and beautiful design to its surging magical power, it was undoubtedly an ancient magic artifact.

"Hahaha, it seems the heavens favor me! This is what I discovered first, my achievement, mine alone!"

Having confirmed his belief, Count Eldridge laughed loudly with joy and desire.

"If I present this to the royal family, I'll receive immense rewards! Whether it's treasures, territories, or even a promotion in title...!"

"...Hold on, Count Eldridge."

It was impossible to overlook such a situation, and Katia interjected.

Interrupting his joyful visions of the future seemed to put the Count in a bad mood as he turned towards her displeased.

But soon, his mouth twisted into a sadistic smile.

"Oh? Could it be the defective young lady? You're a step too late; I discovered this ancient magical artifact first!"

"Are you serious? Can't you see the monsters over there?"

Katia pointed to the still-smoking remains of the tortoiseshell dragon.

"In a place that's not even a hidden room, such a conspicuous magical tool. It's impossible that we, who arrived here first, wouldn't notice it. We prioritized defeating that creature, but we are the ones who found it."

"An excuse after the fact, quite suspicious."

"Even so, we're the ones who conquered this maze. Considering the rules of maze conquest, I believe the priority lies with us."

When multiple houses jointly conquer a maze, the distribution of what's obtained often gets decided beforehand.

This situation is irregular, but still, it was they who discovered the ancient magical artifact first. Hermes also noticed the room during the battle, so there's no doubt about it.

Furthermore, given that we are the ones who actually defeated the monsters, there's no doubt who has the priority.

However, perhaps the reward is particularly enticing, as the Count persists.

"Hmph, what does that mean? I could have defeated monsters of your caliber myself! Don't get cocky just because you got here first, you little brat!"

"Please don't deceive us. The fact remains that we were the ones who defeated the monsters. Analyzing the magical remains of that corpse would serve as evidence. It's only logical—"

"Enough! Stop your incessant babbling! A defective young lady like you has no right to talk back to me!!"

Finally, the Count becomes enraged and simultaneously enhances his own magic.

"'Gather, southern wind Notos; Tear, northern wind Boreas; Reach the godless wind's end.' Bloodline Magic—[Aiolos]!"

Activating his Bloodline Magic.

Instantly, a great storm rises around the Count. Indeed, Hermes surmised, it's a decently strong Bloodline Magic.

"Behold, this is true Bloodline Magic! The privilege of the chosen ones!"

The Count flaunts the storm, brimming with superiority with a triumphant voice.

"Listen, magic is everything in this country! Meaning worthless heiresses like you, who can't even properly use magic, are at the bottom. You have no right to say anything! No one will listen to you! Just daring to defy me is a sin in itself!!"

"..."

"Evidence from the corpse? Then I shall tear apart, crush, and scatter that corpse with my storm. This is a remote mountain labyrinth. There are no other witnesses here! Besides, the fact that you defeated monsters is suspicious in itself! Either you were too weak, or surely used some cowardly tactic!"

"Hmph, I withdraw. This monster was of dragon descent, and the one who dealt the final blow was unmistakably Herm, using the magic Herm himself has accumulated!"

"Hah, so it wasn't you after all! Relying on the power of your servant is pitiful!"

The Count, feeling victorious. But unable to refute the truth, now silences Katia with his arguments.

"If you're so regretful, then show me your magic too! You heard me? A magic that desecrates the corpses of the dead, and calls it Bloodline Magic is almost insulting! Feel crushed by the difference between my splendid magic and yours!"

"Urgh!"

"If your magic were even one in a million times better than mine, I would acknowledge your argument and withdraw! Well, it's impossible, though, hahaha!"

The Count laughs loudly as if proclaiming himself to be righteous.

However, unable to ignore such provocation, Katia, with more than half of her resignation, steps forward to activate her magic.

"Katia-sama."

There, Hermes calls out to her.

"...Herm, please don't stop me. I must do this myself—"

"Yes, I understand."

As she's getting provoked to show her own magic, she won't act rashly and step forward.

"I have just one thing to say. Please remember what I said earlier, Katia-sama."

"Ah..."

"It's alright. Your magic is wonderful. It shouldn't be inferior to such brute force. What are you thinking when you use that magic now?"

Hermes recalls the nature of the magic he told Katia about earlier. It's about,

"Magic often depends on the emotions of its caster."

"The caster's emotions...?"

"Yes. And Katia-sama's [Steria Tryvia] is especially prone to that. It might be one of the reasons you struggle with magic. Your emotions affecting how you handle magic are disturbed."

"B-but! I always activate my magic with sincerity!"

"Sincerity is important, but it's slightly different from putting emotions into it."

"...What do you mean?"

"What matters is the 'purity' of your feelings. Surprisingly, people often fail to grasp their own emotions properly. They get caught up in their facade, or too trapped by their ideals."

That's why he's asking such people once again.

Pure feelings. In other words, 'What do you think when you use that magic?' And then, Katia asks herself.

(For what reason am I using this magic right now?)

Probably, the past her would have answered immediately.

'Because I was provoked by Count Eldridge. To stop the count's tyranny.'

And then she'd smile bitterly.

(That's right. It's just a facade.)

Then, 'To not tolerate insults to my subordinates' or 'To be right as a noble.'.

None of them are lies. But, if asked if they're the emotions of this moment, they might feel different.

And then, more pure, more simply put.

(Ah, I see.)

Indeed, she might have been suppressing these feelings.

It's extremely personal, selfish ones.

But certainly pure, her current feelings. They are—

"It's infuriating."

The atmosphere shifted.

"You waltz in here and act as you please without knowing how much effort we put into defeating that creature." 

Katia's voice was quiet yet seething with intense magic from within.

"And on top of that, you try to snatch the credit without lifting a finger. Do you have no pride?" 

Her pressure was overwhelming, leaving the Count speechless despite his attempts to retaliate.

"—Don't you dare mock Herm and the rest of us! Learn some shame, Eldridge!!"

And she announced with a resolute declaration.

"'Sing peace on the eve of the apocalypse, where dawn shall never come again. The era of salvation hides behind the facade of reality'. Blood Magic—[Steria Tryvia]!"

She's manifesting a horde of spirits. But there was a significant difference from before.

"W-What kind of magic is that...?" 

The quality of the souls was different.

It wasn't the usual chaotic mass; every bit of it got directed towards the Count with the overwhelming force of 'anger'.

Her magic was about summoning undead spirits through attachments to this world—a manifestation of strong emotions. 

By giving a certain direction to those emotions, souls could resonate and get summoned more powerfully and abundantly.

A swarm of enraged spirits filled the hall. In their presence, the Count's storm seemed feeble.

With control over them, Katia exuded an aura akin to the Underworld Queen.

"And so, you said if my magic proved superior, you would acknowledge it and back down, right, Count?"

"Y-You're just bluffing! You're just putting on a facade and trying to deceive me! I won't get fooled by your tricks!"

Despite the Count's resistance, he faltered.

"Or, do you intend to attack me with that magic!? That would be a grave mistake! Your already low esteem will plummet, leading to excommunication! Are you prepared for that!?"

He even resorted to such arguments to prevent her from using her now obviously stronger magic.

He had used his superior magic to bully others, yet now that the tables had turned, he clung to rules.

And it was time to end this.

"If no one finds out, it's fine, right?"

Katia and the Count's confrontation got settled. Hermes intervened, confident there would be no issues even if he stepped in.

"W-What are you doing, you insolent brats—!?"

The Count cornered and called for help from his knights.

"Apologies to the Count's knights! We bear no grudge against you. But we are also angered by the disrespect towards our lord!"

All of the Count's knights had already been subdued by Katia's knights. The disparity in their skills was evident from the entrance to the labyrinth; this was the expected outcome.

Finally, with no allies left, the Count bowed his head, acknowledging his wrongdoing and conceding to the reward. He fled in haste.

"...Now, then."

Katia, releasing her magic, stared at her palm in disbelief.

"H-Herm, did you do something just now?"

"No, it was undoubtedly your power. Just as I saw before, it was beautiful magic."

Such instances were abundant in the capital now.

Those who couldn't grasp the true value of their magic or understand its worth.

Hermes could see that. And he could guide them in the right direction.

"It's so easy for magic to become stronger..."

"It's because you continued your training diligently. But let's not say 'It's nothing'. You understand that, don't you?"

"...Yes. Although it was powerful just now. As an heirloom of the ducal family, it's still lacking."

She looked up at Hermes.

"Can you bring that out too?"

"I'm confident I can. I'd love to try. It's a personal wish of mine to use your splendid magic as well."

In fact, that was his main goal. For him, analyzing magic was synonymous with acquiring it.

He was extremely greedy when it came to magic.

"...Alright. If that's the reward, it's a small price to pay, and there's no need to hold back."

With a wry smile, Katia agreed.

And thus, another magic was added to Hermes's repertoire since his arrival in the capital.

The tumultuous conquest of the labyrinth had finally come to an end.