Genius 30

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Chapter 30. Serious

Almost simultaneously, in a guest room within the prison facility.

"Hahaha!"

The loud laughter of a silver-haired man echoed in the room.

"At last! At last, I've dealt with the fools who dared to obstruct my rise to power!"

The face of the man, Zenos von Frembleed, contorted with satisfaction to the point of being unpleasant to look at, and his laughter only accelerated.

"Katia von Trakia! A foolish woman who dared to defy His Highness despite being a defective lady! Despite her futile resistance and Chris's incompetence causing me trouble, I've finally gotten rid of her interference. It's over!"

With her and Hermes's actions, this man had suffered the most recent setbacks. It all started with his son Chris failing to capture her, then unexpectedly Hermes's rise. He was blamed by Aster for Katia's incident and criticized by others for being incompetent in expelling Hermes.

Finally released from such a situation. His mind was filled with joy and calculations.

"The credit for capturing Katia belongs to me! As a loyal servant who supported His Highness's decision more than anyone, I shall receive rewards, and perhaps, when His Highness becomes king, even more... Hahaha!"

In his mind, there was only a rosy future. People of his kind often let themselves get dominated by a cheap sense of omnipotence at such times.

"...Indeed. However, that woman, Katia has caused me quite a bit of trouble. She should still be in her cell. Hmph, it wouldn't be bad to see her face distorted in humiliation to ease my frustration."

And he couldn't help but think of unnecessary things.

"That woman, though childish, is beautiful. Tormenting such a woman is also amusing! After all, I am the greatest contributor to capturing Katia. This much should be permissible!"

With his own arbitrary reasoning, he convinced himself, unaware that he had incurred the wrath of those on the other side, and opened the door.

"Now, only Hermes remains... I'm not afraid of someone who has lost Trakia's protection! I'll strip off his disguise immediately..."

"What's wrong?"

Right in front of the door.

A calm smile, but one that conveyed the certainty that he had heard every word earlier.

He was standing there.

"Eh, Hermes?! Why are you here?"

"Long time no see, Father."

To Zenos's surprise, Hermes disregarded him and offered a formal greeting.

"...Father. You owe me, too."

He continued speaking unilaterally without a care.

"Regardless of your intentions, you raised me well. Until I turned seven, you treated me very kindly... But."

Displaying the intense anger he had shown at parties before.

"Upon hearing your recent words, it's a bit much. Perfect timing, I'll break out from your place."

"...Ha."

Meanwhile, Zenos, between Hermes's speech, observed his demeanor and the girl he was with, understanding the situation.

It was unclear how he did it, but he helped Katia escape from her cell. And now, they were attempting to escape from this building.

That was the extent of his correct understanding.

"Hahaha! I see, I see. It's a beautiful master-servant relationship! And... I'm grateful, Hermes!"

With a loud laugh, Zenos released his magic.

Without realizing his emotions, the depth of the magic he released, or the difference in their strengths.

"I'll offer not only Katia but also you as a tribute to my capture! I truly have a filial son!!"

Boosting his magic and his absolute confidence in his own magic, inherited just like Chris's, he chanted the inherited magic.

"'Six are the holy bows, one is the magic bullet, their strings are the weapons of false gods!'"

"...Huh?"

Then, he noticed something amiss.

The incantation he loudly recited. Why did it sound like it was echoing now?

"Oh, you haven't heard it from your brother?"

Hermes, looking at Zenos with a cold gaze. As if he knew all of his words earlier, raised his right hand.

"Spell reenactment... [Mistle Teinn]."

It materialized.

Countless magical bullets, overwhelmingly more than Zenos'. The magical bullet is overwhelmingly larger and overwhelmingly stronger.

"...Father. Thank you."

Hermes is releasing them.

Though Zenos panicked and fired his magic bullets a beat later, Hermes' bullet overwhelmed Zenos' instantly.

"Guaaaaahhhh!!!"

Zenos, along with everything else, broke through the prison walls.

◆

As expected, outside, soldiers who heard the commotion were swarming.

"It's over there! There was a loud noise!"

"This is... Could it be? They broke the wall!?"

"How forceful...!"

Soldiers who gathered at the source of the roar immediately surrounded Hermes and his group, intending to capture them.

Without defeating them, there would be no way to break through. Hermes, quickly assessing the situation, fired the already-chanted [Mistle Teinn].

"Guuh!?"

"It seems they're users of long-range Bloodline Magic! Bloodline Magic users with barrier abilities, step forward! Protect us from the barrage!"

The opponents, being in charge of the capital's prison, instantly saw through our hands and changed tactics.

They would likely defend the front with powerful barriers and chip away at us with long-range attacks from the rear. It's simple, but if executed, there would be no way out.

Except Hermes's magic was not just for shooting.

"'Return to the heavens, announce the end, and let the voiceless voice manifest.'"

What he chanted was an unfamiliar incantation. Looking at Katia's widened eyes in his arms, he muttered briefly.

"Katia-sama, please hold on tight."

"Eh?"

"A bit of sudden acceleration. Spell reenactment... [Lunad Saraka]."

"...!"

In an instant, as declared.

Hermes, carrying Katia with terrifying acceleration, slipped through the defense of the magic user acting as a shield and reached the magician who was about to attack them.

"Wha—!"

Then, he delivered a swift kick to the side of the head. Instantly cutting off the magician's consciousness, he accelerated again. He neutralized another magician in the exact same manner, repeating it several times.

"What... What kind of magic is that!?"

[Lunad Saraka].

It was magic from a certain count's family. Its effect was simple: enhancement of physical abilities.

However, because of its simplicity, the degree of enhancement was extremely powerful. Moreover, the incantation was relatively simple, a Bloodline Magic he had successfully reproduced after observing it several times.

And what he was showing now was the result of that. His strength was unleashed from the constraints imposed by Jurgen, the head of the Trakia Duke family.

Utilizing the [Emerald Tablet], he freely switched between numerous Bloodline Magics, a versatile magician, and a grandmaster who controlled countless Bloodline Magics.

"Spell reenactment... [Dragon Breath Alter]."

"Spell reenactment... [Soteira Trivia]."

"Spell reenactment... [Tortoise Shell Alter]."

"Amazing..."

In Hermes's arms, Katia muttered with flushed cheeks.

The current him was as he had described before.

Incredibly strong, incredibly pure—so free that it was admirable, a magician.

"W-What's with that guy!"

"He's like... That Sky Witch! No, isn't he even more than that!"

"A demon! He's a demon!!"

Already, the cries of the soldiers, broken by Hermes's magic, echoed.

"...A demon, you say. As the Duke said, even though you say magic is everything, you try to reject it."

Hearing that, Hermes muttered with a somewhat cold tone at that moment.

"What's going on here!"

A flowing, well-modulated voice and golden hair that shone even in the darkness.

Apparently, Aster had arrived. Although there was a distance from the palace to here, he must have been on his way to see Katia.

"Thank you for coming so soon, Your Highness."

"Hermes...!!"

Immediately recognizing us, Aster spoke, showing anger while simultaneously releasing the flames of magic.

It seemed he intended to start here, but.

"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of engaging with you, Your Highness. At least, at the moment."

His Bloodline Magic was incomparably powerful. Hermes didn't have an ounce of intention to underestimate that.

If they were to fight here, it would inevitably drag on regardless of the outcome. And in the meantime, if reinforcements were to arrive, it would become even more troublesome. Moreover, their current goal was simply to escape and buy time.

"Huh! Did you think you could escape from me!"

"...I'll return the question. Why do you think you can catch me in this situation?"

The soldiers surrounding them had already been neutralized. Naturally, Aster, despite being significantly more powerful than the surrounding soldiers, was just one person. His Bloodline Magic was purely firepower-oriented, and he didn't have the skill to be agile.

In short, if all they had to do was escape, there was no need for any tricks.

"Spell reenactment... [Aiolos]."

First, Hermes was activating the wind Bloodline Magic. He created a tornado between him and Aster, obstructing him and blocking their view with sand and dust.

"What—"

"Spell reenactment... [Lunad Saraka]."

Then, he enhanced his physical abilities. Now, all they had to do was run at full speed towards the limit of Aster's magic sense.

"Kuh... You—! Don't think you can escape! Fight me, you coward! You'll regret this, you coward!!!"

He wouldn't expect those who were hostile to him to listen to such complaints. Well, perhaps that prince might. In any case, there was no reason to listen.

Anyway, like this.

Successfully rescuing Katia from false charges, Hermes and Katia disappear into the night.