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 97.2. Looking Ahead

“──He bowed his head. That guy, to me.”

Since he transferred, Albert’s treatment of him was something that no one could see as anything but contempt.

It was such that he would be justified in holding a grudge or retaliating. Yet, he never did──he simply looked at Albert with sincere eyes.

Even when Albert changed his attitude, he never acted superior. He always treated him as an equal, praised his strengths, and advised him on his mistakes.

Without expecting any favors or holding any grudges, when he asked for something, he did so straightforwardly, without any lingering bitterness.

──How many nobles in this country could act that way?

For that respect. For that attitude. For that trust.

Albert knew that if he didn’t respond, he would truly lose something precious this time. He sensed that deeply.

Therefore.

“For my own pride──I must defeat you by myself!!”

If not, he felt he would never overcome his past.

And he wouldn’t be able to face that man proudly.

Albert’s declaration was filled with determination. For the first time, Neste’s face showed a look of irritation.

“……What is this nonsense? I told you, that no matter what you do, nothing will change. Besides.”

With that irritation, Neste raised his magic power, as usual.

“In the end, no matter what you do, you can’t beat me! The results so far have made that clear!!”

To toy with the overwhelmed, defensive Albert. With a twisted smile, Neste unleashed blue flames──

──But.

“It was so until now.”

Gracefully, effortlessly.

Albert dodged the flames with an unusually light movement.

“……What?”

“Did you think I was enduring your attacks without any plan? I’ve been enduring not because I couldn’t do anything.”

He continued to dodge the following blue flames with precise evasion, as if he knew exactly where they were coming.

Sensing this, Albert stated his conclusion.

“──I’ve been analyzing them. Until I could incorporate your attacks, which even Hermes couldn’t read, into a sure victory.”

Perhaps consciously, perhaps not.

His manner of speaking closely resembled that of the person who changed his magical awareness.

And Albert, to signal his counterattack. With words carrying his magic power, he unleashed the fruits of his secret training.

“……[Aiolos]──[Zephyr]”

According to Hermes.

[Aiolos], as its name suggests, collectively refers to four types of wind magic.

The first is [Notos]. Mainly a magic that shoots wind bullets──so far, Albert had only used this.

Because it’s the easiest to handle.

“Wind magic inherently requires extremely delicate control. Wind……meaning the flow of air is incredibly complex, and to control it perfectly, you need very high magical control ability.”

However, on the flip side.

If you can overcome that drawback, your magic transforms. Hermes explained that it has become highly versatile and applicable.

“So what you’ll be doing from now on is just relentless magic control training. That’s it. Ultimately──I want you to reach a level close to mine. Telling you to do that in two weeks, well, be prepared for hell.”

But if you can do that.

“You’ll become a mage comparable to Class A students……even surpassing the Marquis Langheim’s son.”

That statement was enough to maximize his motivation.

Thus, Albert activated the second of the [Aiolos] magics, [Zephyr].

Its effect is simply the control of strong winds, profound in its simplicity. And its true potential──is in controlling the caster’s own movement.

“What──!?”

Neste showed astonishment.

Albert, who had been stationary and on the defensive, suddenly started flying around the battlefield.

“I’ve found one weakness in your magic.”

Ignoring the bewildered Neste, Albert spoke calmly.

“Your magic. Its power is strong, but──it’s not fast, is it?”

“!!”

The current situation clearly demonstrates this.

Because he couldn’t hit him. The flames could no longer catch the rapidly moving Albert.

……Of course, Albert wasn’t entirely at ease either.

What Hermes did in [Mistle Teinn] was the same. Applying attack magic to the caster’s movement requires tremendous control ability. Albert himself couldn’t yet master this high-speed movement.

That’s why he waited. Enduring while analyzing Neste’s magic, predicting its nature, and compensating for his lack of control to achieve perfect evasion.

That bore fruit, quickly turning the tables. Neste could no longer catch Albert.

“You, coward──! Just running around, you call yourself a noble!? Would you show such disgrace with the people you should protect at your back, you unworthy scoundrel!!”

……Perhaps it’s a trait of this country’s nobility to spout plausible complaints when cornered.

However, Albert remained unfazed and calmly responded, accepting those words.

“……I won’t deny that I once aspired to such an ideal. That’s why I insisted on the stationary fight style. But──”

He realized that wouldn’t work.

The turning point was that day. When he was shown the extraordinary magic by that person who took him along.

Witnessing magic like his, yet far superior, burned into his eyes.

Recalling that scene, Albert spoke.

“I found someone I want to catch up to.──For that, I can’t afford to care about appearances!!”

And naturally, Albert had no intention of just running away. Calmly, he waited for the right moment.

It came soon. Neste’s magical control wavered, revealing a gap in the sea of blue flames.

In that instant, Albert poured all his strength into his shout.

“[Aiolos]──[Valtur]!”

It was magic to create a tornado. A third method was made possible by his enhanced control ability.

Accompanied by the tornado, becoming one with it. He surged straight towards the gap.

Neste, flustered, turned his blue flames to defense. At the last moment, he barely held off, creating a stalemate between the two.

Neste, with a distorted face of panic, shouted from close range.

“……Damn it! This can’t be happening, you of all people surpassing me!! Just crawl and grovel, you failure!!”

In contrast, Albert spoke quietly.

“That’s all you’ve got, to stop me. Then let me say this──nonsense.”

……Logically speaking.

In terms of power, [Saint Elmo]’s far surpassed it. In this stalemate, Albert should have no chance.

But.

“──Step aside. As I’ve said, I don’t have time to stop here!”

Neste wielded his magic to drag someone down, while Albert pushed forward with a vision far ahead.

The magic, technique, and──passion they put into that moment’s magic were vastly different.

Thus, the balance tipped.

“……Why?”

The tornado pierced the flames, fiercely striking Neste.

A blow strong enough to knock him unconscious. Falling without understanding──not even comprehending why he was defeated.

Albert, having realized his long-awaited goal of defeating his despairing opponent, allowed himself a brief moment of emotion…… but that was all. He didn’t look back at Neste, no longer giving him any attention.

Because, as he said──his goal lay far beyond.

“……Let’s go.”

Gazing at that distant goal, even if it seemed blindingly far.

He wouldn’t look away anymore. To aid his classmates, Albert started running.