Genius 42

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Chapter 42. Realm Of Salvation

Confirming Sara's loss of fighting spirit, Hermes dispelled the magic.

Honestly, it exceeded my expectations.

I thought I understood the potency of her Bloodline Magic in battle. But what surprised me most was Hermes' outstanding insight and adaptability, accurately discerning her tactics and promptly devising countermeasures.

Considering she likely lacks combat experience, it's probably innate. Discovering unexpected talent in unexpected places.

But Hermes surpassed her. Overcoming the flaws of lax control and monotonous movements within this battle.

By repeated trial and error, incremental progress. Slowly but surely—becoming stronger, infinitely.

He could have demonstrated his unique magic style.

Even Sara, facing him head-on, wore a somewhat convinced expression.

Thus, Hermes relaxed his shoulders.

"...I've been... defeated..."

With a terrifyingly stiff delivery, he collapsed onto the ground.

"Eh...? Wha—?"

While Sara stared wide-eyed at the sudden and theatrical performance, she rushed over to me, leaning in.

"Um, Hermes-san, what on earth...?"

"I've been defeated. Let's say, I was brought down alongside you and your soldiers' efforts. Please go along with that."

Of course, despite being somewhat diminished, Hermes still had plenty of strength left.

But for now, he wanted to pretend he couldn't move. Because—

"If His Highness were to witness this situation, he would surely come after me along with you."

He was engaging in a one-on-one duel at Katia's provocation, but if the soldiers got defeated and he understood that Hermes was free, he would likely turn his attention to him as well.

To avoid that, feigning defeat was necessary.

But then again.

"S-So... does that mean you leave His Highness Aster to Katia-sama?"

"Yes."

Sara was surprised by his answer.

She had heard that Katia had become strong. There was no trace of her former 'Defective Lady'.

But Sara knew Aster's strength well. It seemed inconceivable that anyone could defeat him in single combat.

"It'll be fine. She's strong. I understand your doubts. But please, watch."

Addressing her like this, Hermes pointed in the direction where Katia was fighting.

"I'll watch, where she intends to go. And—her magic."

As he said this, he recalled this morning's events.

◆

"...The true value of my magic?"

"Yes. Your magic isn't just about summoning undead and converting them into powerful magical bombardments."

Katia widened her eyes.

After all, he had just denied what she was taught first, and foremost when she received it as a child.

"I-It's different?"

"More accurately, it's 'only the most basic part of its usage'. Indeed—before discussing its effects, let me explain the philosophy behind this magic."

Every magic carries within it the wishes imbued upon its creation.

It's one of the fundamental aspects of his philosophy of magic. Accordingly, Hermes began his explanation.

"Its philosophy and the wishes it carries. That is—'communication with the dead.'"

"Communication... with the dead...?"

"Yes. It's about conversing with those who once lived in this world, existed in past times—but now remain as souls. Summoning those unseen beings that straddle the boundary between this world and the underworld to converse. That is the essence of this magic—thus, 'summoning' is merely a premise for it."

In a sense, what had been done so far—'summoning and then converting it into a mass of magic power'—was contrary to the philosophy.

But, conversely.

It had been so powerful despite only displaying effects contrary to its philosophy.

If its true value got unleashed, the magic's power would be incomparable. It might even surpass the strongest within the Ducal household's Bloodline Magic—perhaps transforming into a magic that exceeds even that.

Understanding this fact, Katia asked with astonishment and a faint sense of excitement.

"So... what should I do?"

"As I said. Talk to the summoned spirits. Not as subjects to be controlled by your power, but talk to them well. You need to understand each other's feelings, and take each other's hands as equals."

Of course, there might be souls that Katia couldn't understand at times. And even fewer might lend their power if treated as entities aiding her.

It must be emphasized that she was only temporarily acquiring a spirit through her magic, and even if it were to be turned into magical power or destroyed, the soul itself would not disappear. They might not like being treated as conscious beings.

But.

"Still, if there were those who would follow you, understand your feelings, get to know you as a person, and like your soul. Then surely that person—compared to before, will give you unimaginable strength."

And that was precisely the correct way to use this magic.

Exchange words with the dead, and understand their thoughts. In return, they lend their strength—a magic that connects the underworld and the present world.

"Surely the person who created this magic was very kind."

He spoke calmly.

"Originally, 'Soteira' is a word from a distant country. It means a place where all living things are saved."

Touching upon emotions through magic. Admiring its beauty, savoring it.

"But... I think the person who created this must have thought upon hearing that, 'Then, is there no place where all the dead can be saved?'"

"!"

"That's why. I believe that person created this magic. To communicate with the departed. To provide peace, to become the Soteira for the residents of the underworld. They engraved their beautiful thoughts into words first."

Thus, he concluded with genuine respect toward the magic inscribed on the emerald dial.

"That's why it was named—"

◆

"──[Soteira Trivia]!"

And now.

The spiritual masses were released by Katia. No, this is not appropriate.

The spiritual masses released by the spirits summoned by Katia assaulted Aster one after another.

"Incompetent!"

Each of them boasted power equivalent to Mistle Teinn wielded by Chris.

However, Aster, no less, unleashed flames with a swing of his arm, burning them all without hesitation with his overwhelming firepower.

The onslaught continued unabated. As if to dazzle the attacks, the spirits surged around him, surrounded by the energy they had just released as bullets.

Assault from all directions. There is no escape, just a literal crush by numbers.

But still, Aster.

"Don't underestimate me too much!!"

With a single sweep of his sleeve.

Like embodying those words, a vortex of flames erupted around him with all his might.

The spirits around him turned into a scorching hell in an instant and were all burned to ashes without a trace.

A faint silence spread around him for a moment.

Aster's Bloodline Magic, [Ahura Mazda].

Indeed, it was overwhelming firepower no matter how many times you see it.

Having demonstrated it without reservation, Aster, while breathing slightly roughly, looked ahead.

"What... are these things!!"

──Still, seeing dozens of spirits deployed around Katia and the swarm of spirits still increasing, a faint sense of cowardice crept into his face as he wondered how many more he had to defeat.

The true value of [Soteira Trivia]. Rather than just converting souls into magical power. It's to consider the spirits as individual entities and request their cooperation through dialogue.

In other words, treating the spirits not as tools but as soldiers.

What was born as a result was something like a semi-transparent humanoid figure with purple light swirling around her. Although its appearance was relatively simple, its performance──easily surpassed even Aster's and Katia's expectations.

First, long-range attacks with spiritual masses similar to those Katia has been handling. All of them could handle it, and they even demonstrated applications for close combat like earlier, perhaps even better than Katia.

And above all, their endurance was extraordinarily high.

It was only natural that physical attacks wouldn't work, and perhaps the spirits inherently had high resistance to magic.

Aster burned them all with full force, but conversely, even Aster-class firepower couldn't defeat them without giving it his all.

Resilient ghost soldiers, so tough that even Aster struggled to defeat them with his Bloodline Magic, and Katia could practically produce them endlessly.

As mentioned by Hermes earlier, there is a drawback that approval from the other side is necessary. However, once they have cooperated, even if they are defeated as they were just now, as long as there is magic power, they can be resurrected. All the spirits that were burned to ashes have just been resurrected.

An army of the dead that easily surpasses ordinary monsters, led by the Underworld Queen.

──This figure is the true wielder of [Soteira Trivia].

"Woahhhh!!"

With a roar, Aster charges towards Katia.

There is a way to win; all he needs to do is defeat the spellcaster herself. Aster aimed for that and took action to close the distance with Katia.

However.

"Not allowed."

Following her calm command, the spirit soldiers blocked and hindered Aster's path.

Their blocking was quite skillful. While maintaining intervals to avoid being all burned at once, they continuously attacked without giving him a chance to rest. Dealing with them, Aster's feet got halted again, and in the midst of it, the distance between them widened once more.

Katia's clever instructions played a part, but more than that, the presence of the spirit soldiers, perfectly executing her will by understanding her intentions, was significant. That was also because she had exchanged thoughts and feelings with the spirits.

They were back to the initial situation. Exhaustion was clearly greater on Aster's side, and the disadvantage was accelerating.

In anger, Aster shouted.

"You... coward! You keep asking for a one-on-one with me, yet all you do is run away! You coward who lacks the courage to stand up against me head-on!"

"...Taking advantage of the favorable distance does not equate to fleeing. It seems more like disclosing your own disadvantage by saying, 'I can't win at this distance, so play along with me in close combat where I have the advantage.'."

"Wha──Damn it!!"

A rare retort from her──perhaps influenced by someone, she responded ironically.

Sensing that atmosphere and unable to come up with a retort due to his anger, Aster launches another assault.

However, what unfolded was a replay of earlier. Katia didn't allow Aster to approach, skillfully maneuvering the spirit soldiers to attack. Surrounding him when his feet stopped, attacking, burning them, and then regenerating.

Both his physical strength and magical power were being consumed unilaterally. Katia hadn't been attacked once. Aster's movements deteriorated as he was grazed by the spirit soldiers' shots in several places.

"Are we... seeing things...? His Highness Aster being so one-sidedly..."

"N-No! That's just an extralegal gift! Surely, some terrible price will get paid in exchange for temporary power..."

"...B-But... even if that's the case, such power... that His Highness can't match..."

Soldiers who were unable to move due to being overwhelmed by Hermes muttered in despair.

...In reality, the difference in strength between the two wasn't as great as it seemed from the outside.

In pure magical performance, Aster would have the upper hand. If Aster managed to sneak into Katia's bosom, she would probably get defeated in seconds.

What made the situation so one-sided was Katia's skillful positioning, her way of attacking Aster without letting him get close, and the arrangement of her troops. In short, it was how she used magic.

She had seen it. The boy who came back with the strongest magic without being born with magic. The strength of his true value is infinite diligence and trial and error. She was now fully utilizing it in this battle.

On the other hand, Aster was a human who had solved everything so far with his gifted talent and the power of the strongest Bloodline Magic he received. In other words, he had never fought against someone with magic skills close to his own.

So he didn't know how to devise. He didn't know how to improve.

Once someone who had won since birth was put at a disadvantage, they became so fragile.

(Am I... going to lose!?)

Finally, the word "defeat" began to flash through Aster's mind.

Aster didn't feel any closer, and he couldn't think of any means to get closer. Most of his vast magical power had been depleted in the battle, and his body was gradually becoming heavier.

At this rate, he would soon be defeated.

Crawling on the ground in disgrace, with a motionless body, he would accept the condescending gaze──

(Don't mess with me!!)

The moment he realized it, a strong sense of rejection surged within Aster.

The arrogance of being a winner since birth. The belief that there was nothing better than himself, twisting all the inconvenient truths.

(That's right. This must be──a trial. I can definitely overcome it; it must be a trial given by God. That's right, it's decided──!!)

──It was fortunate for Aster.

That his Bloodline Magic was so compatible with his mentality.

Thump.

The magic within him sounded a loud beat.

From that magic, something new flowed into him.