A Genius Boy Who Was Exiled From His Family Home for “Not Being Able To Use Magic” Becomes a Witch’s Apprentice and Masters All Magic in the Right Way. This Is How You Use Your Magic, You Know?

Chapter 193. Affirmation Of Feelings

“…Is it really okay for you to be walking around?”

“Hm? Ah, well, it’s true that I’m a key person of interest in this case. But I’m not really being restrained or anything, and they’ve assured me that I’m not seen as a threat. We’ll talk more about it later, I guess.”

“Is that so… What about Lucius-sama?”

“I made up with my brother. Or rather, he prostrated himself so deeply and refused to get up that it was more of a hassle to calm him down… Yeah. Even while I was brainwashed, he protected me, so I’m actually the one who should be thanking him. So, that’s all good.”

“…That’s a relief.”

…There was so much to talk about between us.

We started with small talk, but that quickly ran its course.

At the same time, Nina sat down by the bed with a determined expression, sitting up straight and facing me directly.

“…Thank you, Herm-kun.”

Then, quietly—but with a voice full of deep emotion—she said what she needed to say.

“For ending the northern rebellion. For defeating the Archbishop. And… for coming to save me, just as you promised.”

“No… If anything, I’m sorry I could only offer such meager support.”

“No, no. That was definitely the most you could do in that situation, and it saved me… It’s fine, really. That was enough.”

First, she expressed her gratitude for the decisive act that ended the northern rebellion—Hermes’s magic. We exchanged words of joy over the fulfilled promise and our reunion…

“——Hey.”

After a pause, Nina spoke up again, facing me directly.

“Herm-kun, you said it before, right? That all magic carries the wishes of those who cast it. That’s why magic is beautiful.”

“…Yes.”

“Then, in that case… about my bloodline magic, [Il Ferlina].”

“!”

What she had been carrying all this time. The root of the guilt she had felt from the very beginning.

“I think you already know this, Herm-kun. But in that sense… the wish behind this magic probably isn’t something beautiful.”

“…That is…”

“Purely, as its effect suggests. ‘To make the person I love mine, even if it means ignoring their feelings’—such a terrible, terrible wish. A magic born of jealousy and greed.”

“……”

“Can you still call that kind of magic beautiful, Herm-kun? Can you… affirm someone like me, who carries such a magic?”

Her heavy question, born from a painful past.

Hermes took in everything she had said, without missing a single word…

And then, he answered her directly.

“——But. Thanks to this magic, I was able to protect you.”

“…Ah.”

First, he stated an undeniable fact.

“I’m sure what you’re saying isn’t wrong. There are probably many magics in this world that weren’t born from beautiful wishes.”

Then, he began to speak of the truth he had started to realize during his journey. After accepting it within himself… he continued.

“Even so. Even if it’s such a magic, even if it’s a magic born from what others might call ugly feelings… that doesn’t mean it can’t be used for something radiant. Even if a magic is born twisted, it can still be made beautiful. I believe that any magic can be beautiful.”

He spoke, holding onto the admiration he once felt for magic.

Then, finally, he looked straight at Nina once more.

“That’s why——I think it’s beautiful. Your magic, and… you yourself.”

“——”

His straightforward words.

Nina, hearing them… for a moment, showed a face so happy it looked like she might cry, before blushing and looking down.

“Ah, geez. What should I say… I love you.”

“!”

In a lovely whisper, she said it. Hermes, hearing it, was stunned.

Seeing his reaction, Nina… then smiled her usual mischievous smile.

“…Yeah, that’s right. It’s you, Herm-kun, so I should say it properly.”

The main reason he had been so nervous about meeting her—the ‘main topic’.

With an utterly adorable smile, she told him.

“I love you, Herm-kun.”

“——”

“Not just as a friend or out of affection—no, I mean it as a girl. I’m in love with you.”

Not the words of someone trying to charm him at school. Not the result of some spell.

Both of them, in a clear state of mind. A confession with no excuses, no escape. Faced with this, Hermes…

“Uh, well…”

Unconsciously, he covered his mouth. For him, it was extremely rare—his cheeks clearly reddened. He showed a mix of embarrassment, discomfort… and a faint hint of happiness, averting his eyes.

“…Thank you…”

Still, he managed to squeeze out an honest response, speaking in a barely audible voice.

And then.

Seeing Hermes’s unusually flustered state, Nina…

“——Wow. So cute…”

She too was struck, her body trembling as she muttered.

But——immediately. She curved her lips into a charming, bewitching smile.

With an even stronger teasing tone, she leaned in closer, whispering like a true ‘little devil.’

“…Heeh, you react so cutely. Could it be that you’re weak to direct approaches, Herm-kun?”

“…Uh.”

“Heeh~ I see, I see. Hehe, that’s good to know. Should I say more?”

She leaned in even closer, tilting her head and looking up at him with a sweet voice.

Hermes, while being drawn into her atmosphere, knew he had to respond somehow after receiving her confession…

“——Ah, just so you know.”

Then, as if seeing through him, Nina raised a finger in front of his lips.

“I don’t need an answer right here, right now.”

“Huh?”

“Well, honestly, I’d like one… but I know now’s not the time for that. I don’t want to get in your way just to hear your answer.”

“……”

“So, I’ll wait. You’re not the type to brush things off or drag them out unnecessarily, right?”

That… was true, he nodded firmly, with that intention.

Feeling guilty for taking advantage of her kindness… but in front of Hermes, who was overwhelmed with guilt, Nina…

“…But, be prepared.”

She smiled even deeper and said this.

“From now on, I won’t hold back. I’ve already confessed, and I plan to make full use of the fact that I’m ‘the one who confessed.'”

“Eh——”

“So, if you dawdle too much, I’ll make it impossible for you to resist. I’ll use everything I have——”

Finally, she pointed at him directly, as if declaring war.

“This time, I’ll really——properly charm you.”

With a straight, fearless smile… but the most captivating expression she had ever shown.

Even without her magic being activated, Hermes was entranced, drawn in.

And then.

“…Hehe, well then, as a start——”

Creak.

She leaned over him, pinning him down on the bed through the blanket, bringing her beauty closer to Hermes than ever before. Even Hermes was flustered by her sudden action.

“!? Wha, ah, um——”

“Hehe, you’re so cute… Hey. Since you’re making a girl wait for your answer, don’t you think it’s fair to give a little ‘advance payment’…?”

As Hermes lay there, unable to move, she exuded a charm unlike anything before.

She placed her hand on his cheek, staring at him with her beautiful golden eyes from up close——

And then.

“——What are you doing?”

A voice colder than ice echoed through the infirmary.

“Ah!”

“Oops.”

Hermes quickly pulled his face away, and Nina looked disappointed. At the same time, they turned to the entrance… where, as expected, stood a purple-haired girl with a very unpleasant aura.

“Hey. Care to explain… what’s going on here…?”

The girl——Katia——with an expression and tone eerily similar to when she was in the middle of a confrontation, spoke in a voice as calm as the eye of a storm.

Hermes, sensing that one more push would lead to disaster, searched for words——but then.

“——I just confessed to Herm-kun and was making a move on him.”

“…Huh?”

“!?”

To everyone’s surprise, Nina explained the situation in the most straightforward way possible.

Hermes was shocked, and even Katia, who hadn’t expected such a direct response, was stunned before anger could take over.

Facing Katia, Nina maintained her little devilish attitude.

“Hehe, hey, Katia-sama. If I may, could I ask you something?”

Then… quietly. While still friendly, she spoke with a fearless tone.

“——You shouldn’t think that everyone will back off just because you act like that.”

“!”

It was, in a way, a rather harsh criticism.

But in Nina’s voice… there was also a genuine concern for Katia.

While Katia was still more confused than jealous, Nina approached her with light steps, continuing.

“Of course, even that side of you is super cute… but if you keep acting like that, I think it’ll cause problems.”

Ignoring Katia’s confusion, she approached her with a friendly gait, took her hand, and continued in a sincere tone.

“So, let’s talk about love——or rather, girl talk. …Well, to be honest, I don’t want to rub salt in the wound… but I really do love you too, Katia-sama.”

“Eh, ah, um——”

The dark atmosphere from earlier had completely vanished.

Oddly enough, Katia let out a voice of confusion similar to Hermes’s, as Nina hugged her and took her hand, pulling her away without resistance.

And then, finally.

“…Honestly, I’m glad you stopped me… in a way.”

“Huh?”

Nina, with a slightly less confident voice, tilted her head.

While Katia was still puzzled… Nina turned to look at Hermes.

“Um…”

The face she turned to him was… unusually, her ears were bright red. Clearly, she too was feeling embarrassed… or rather, it seemed like the embarrassment had caught up to her.

“…Sorry. I got carried away earlier… I’m reflecting on it…”

Her earlier aggressive attitude had completely shifted, replaced by a weak voice.

While tormented by embarrassment, she still conveyed her unwavering feelings… and said this.

“——But my feelings are real. …I’d be happy if you didn’t come to hate me.”

After saying that, she quickly turned away, taking Katia with her, and closed the door.

“………………”

Left behind, Hermes thought.

To be honest, he was incredibly confused by everything that had happened.

Nina’s feelings, her attitude afterward. His own confusion.

Her aggressive approach, and then her sudden shift to a shy, yet still utterly charming demeanor—honestly, that had been the most devastating.

And above all——

“…I didn’t know there was someone who could calm down ‘that Katia-sama’ so easily…”

That might have been the most shocking thing of all.

…But it wasn’t something he could just leave at that.

The fact that she had confessed her feelings to him was undeniable. She said she’d wait for his answer, and as pathetic as it was, he was incredibly grateful for that.

(——But that doesn’t mean I can just not think about it.)

He should keep thinking.

About the things he hadn’t noticed before. About the thoughts and feelings of the important people around him, which he had been too focused on moving forward to see.

Thinking that, this time.

Finally, using the alone time he had been given——Hermes continued to ponder deeply.