Genius 21

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Chapter 21. Anger

With a terrifyingly cold gaze directed at him, Asta confronts Hermes head-on.

In the heat of the moment, as if about to stir up something—his finely shaped eyebrows furrow in doubt.

"...? That face? Those hair and eye colors? Could it be?"

Muttering suspiciously, he approaches closer, then stops in front of Hermes and asks, "Hey, what's your name?"

"...I'm Hermes."

"Hermes...? Hmph! I had a hunch, but you're Hermes from the former Frembleed family!"

Oh? That was unexpected.

Indeed, Aster was the final catalyst for Hermes' expulsion from his original family, but they had never met directly.

For Aster, Hermes was someone not worth remembering. He's merely someone who got swept away as trash from the family that took him in.

"...Haha..."

Contrary to his expectations, Aster remembered Hermes.

"Hahaha! This is brilliant! The defective lady picking up a failure! I see, that explains your resentful gaze towards me!"

"..."

"And with this, there's no doubt. Noble ones!"

Turning his back to Hermes, Aster addresses the nobles who had been watching the situation unfold.

"This silver-haired man, Hermes, born into the prestigious Frenbreed family but lacking the bloodline magic inheritance, is a failure!"

"Hermes!? I've heard of him, called a prodigy possessing great magical power but was unsuitable..."

"He became a servant... That's logical, as trash without bloodline magic can't be noble."

Many nobles seemed to remember him, causing a stir immediately.

"The defective lady Katia suddenly handling bloodline magic? Impossible! Therefore, these people are dabbling in some sort of heresy!"

"H-"

"Once expelled from the marquis's house by my judgment, Hermes, and Katia, whose engagement got broken by me! They resented my fair judgment and conspired to sell their souls to demons to gain power! There's no mistake!"

Twisting the facts once again, Aster thoroughly denigrates Hermes and Katia.

"Could it be that this attack by monsters today also got orchestrated by them? Defeating monsters in public to gain more fame!"

"Huh!? That was your doing, Your Highness! Otherwise, why so early—"

"Hah! Why should I mimic such behavior!"

Even regarding the monster incident, Aster tries to completely twist the truth.

Naturally, Katia, who also noticed the setup like Hermes, points it out, but Aster responds with a somewhat skillful retort.

"Envying others' achievements and fabricating lies to sabotage them. The typical behavior of an ugly fool."

"Yes! How dare they challenge His Highness!"

"Prince Aster is different from the likes of you!"

The nobles, who had praised Katia just moments ago, now others joined the side condemning them.

This contradiction in the country birthed this situation.

With no allies, Aster triumphantly delivers his final words.

"Now, you all understand! Soldiers, seize them—"

"Wait, Your Highness."

At that moment, a calm voice resounded from another direction.

"...Who is it?"

"Jurgen von Trakia. Head of the ducal family. Have we met?"

Ignoring Aster's displeasure, Jurgen, Katia's father, responds.

"Your Highness Aster. As I mentioned, regardless of your status, refrain from arresting people without just cause."

"Hmph. Using the power of the Minister of Justice again to cover up your daughter's sins?"

"Take it as you wish. However, arresting without cause is prohibited by law, a rule endorsed by our king. It would cause chaos if even the royal family casually disregarded it."

The king.

The only person in the country with a higher position than Aster.

Seemingly, his name had some influence, as Aster's momentum halted.

"The Marquis Hartein whom Your Highness arrested earlier was also released under our authority. We're not treating only my daughter specially. Therefore, please—"

"...Hmph, enough. I've lost interest."

Waving his hand in annoyance, Aster turns his back.

"Today, I've realized Katia's achievements are merely a facade. There's no need to rush; sooner or later, the truth will come out. Waiting is also part of a king's grace, a divine decree."

As Aster speaks and walks away, he suddenly turns to face Jurgen.

"...You've dodged a bullet today, but beware old fox. I'll expose all your misdeeds to the light one day!"

"That's terrifying. I can only pray that day never comes."

With a nonchalant response, Jurgen's cool demeanor unsettles Aster further.

◆

"I apologize, Father..."

"It's alright. When things sour that much, it's my turn to step in. Authority exists for times like these."

Ultimately, the party disbanded soon after that.

The three returned to the ducal residence, now met with cold stares, contrasting their arrival.

In the study, after Katia's apology, Jurgen casually inquires of Hermes, who is not one for many words.

"What did you think of His Highness, Aster?"

Raising Katia's head, Jurgen asks the quiet Hermes.

He remained silent for a few seconds but then murmured, "It's pointless, I thought. I somewhat understand my master's feelings."

Rose detested the capital greatly. She never wanted Hermes to go there.

Now, Hermes could empathize with those sentiments.

"Hmm. Weren't you scared?"

"His magic power was indeed formidable. But, it was also a reliance on raw power. In terms of technique, it's not much different from Count Eldridge's magic from the other day."

At present, Hermes doubted there was magic that could surpass his own.

But that's only for now.

His magic, the [Emerald Tablet], reproduces magic, analyzing and incorporating bloodline magic to become infinitely stronger each time.

Using it, he plans to surpass Aster magically.

"...His Highness Aster's behavior needs correcting. And I want to prove that."

Then he'll follow that path if magic governs everything in this nation.

I'll do it by surpassing their values and denying that prince.

"Will you then mold this country as you wish?"

"Never."

Without hesitation, he answers Jurgen's suggestive question.

He doesn't want to become like them after witnessing such scenes.

"I just want them to know... magic isn't just a god's gift, unchangeable. With effort, anyone can achieve potential. It's about being more free, more beautiful..."

"Herm..."

"Yeah."

Satisfied with his answer, Jurgen nods.

"I've always believed this country relies too much on bloodline magic. If you can break that norm, I won't spare any support. So for now..."

He spreads out some documents on the desk.

"First, we need to restore the reputation tarnished at today's party. Prioritize tasks related to monster subjugation requests from other houses and unclaimed dungeons. I want you and Katia to handle these for a while."

"I understand."

At today's party, Aster called Katia's power a counterfeit. It won't take long for the flaws to show.

Then, I should strive to excel enough not to be seen as a counterfeit. I need to avoid any flaws.

There will likely be numerous requests to prove that.

"If so, even His Highness's words should raise doubts in some."

Even if they claim to surpass Aster with magic, we can't storm the palace immediately.

What they want to change is their values. It makes sense to start by refuting that.

"Is that alright with you, Katia?"

"Yes, Father."

Lastly, Jurgen confirmed with Katia, who had been silent until now, and she nodded as well.

"I also thought His Highness Aster went too far today. His continued behavior like that surely isn't good for this country. Besides..."

"Besides?"

"He called the magical lineage my Herm's strengthened a counterfeit. He should retract it, shouldn't he?"

With a cute pout, and in a very small voice for the "my", she spoke those words. Hermes returned a slightly puzzled expression, while Jurgen responded with a vague smile. In any case, like this.

They learned all too well in just one day, the presence that would inevitably hinder them. The battle with the second prince, Aster, had begun.