Chapter 2: Life at the Bottom

　My father’s attitude changed that day.

“I’m afraid to even keep a disappointing failure like you in the house!”

“-!”

　The location where Hermes grabbed by his neck and beaten into the ground was in the basement of a corner of the garden by his father Zenos, far away from the main residence of the Frembreid family.

　A dimly lit room with only a small candle as a light source.

　A thick iron grate stood between me and my father, who was looking down at me with cold eyes as I collapsed on the dirty floor.

　Yes, it was solitary confinement.

　It was a place where prisoners were supposed to be kept, but this was Hermes’ new home.

“Hmm. I feel nauseous just thinking about having lived in the same house and breathed the same air with this kind of person.”

“Fa- father!”

　After being told the results of the evaluation, Hermes felt a sense of unreality.

　However, after being thrown into solitary confinement by my father, I finally came back from the shock and started to recognize my current situation correctly.

　Will I spend the rest of my life in a place like this?

　When he imagines this future, Hermes feels an immense sense of rejection and pleads with his father in a heartbroken voice.

I’ll work even harder!　I’ll double my magic training, and I’ll do whatever you say!　I’ll definitely become a great wizard like your father wants me to be, so please—“

“Shut up, you defective piece of s**t!”

　But such a wish was brushed off with an unpleasant yell.

“‘Great Wizard’?　How can you be one without bloodline magic?”

“That’s—“

“Look, bloodline magic is a great natural gift given by the star gods. The fact that you did not receive it means that you have already been abandoned by the star gods. It is outrageous that you have no aptitude while inheriting blue blood. You are not a child prodigy, in fact, you are the equivalent of a demon!”

　I know.

　It’s no exaggeration to say that most of the people in this country, especially the nobility, depend on their ability to perform magic, and there is no end to the stories of people who were born with only a low title but rose to it with the power of high magic.

　…… Vice versa, as well as those who have fallen because they were not blessed with magic.

“You’ve got all the magic in the world. You’ve got a lot of magic power, and you’ve made me jump for joy with your useless expectations!”

　My father, who had been kind to me until yesterday, changed, and his voice was filled with hatred, which I had never heard since I was born.

　Hermes’ heart was slowly being overwhelmed by a dark despair.

“You should be grateful that I provide you with food and a place to sleep. You’re fit to spend the rest of your life cowering there like that!”

“Wait–“

　My last words were not even heard.

　The bars of the door closed with an excessively loud clang.

　My father looked as if he was going to leave, but then he suddenly turned around.

“Oh, yes. I’d be happy to get you out of there if …… you ever manifest any bloodline magic?”

　The sound of footsteps moved away this time with a final murmur of “Well, that would be impossible.”

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　From that day on, Hermes’ life changed completely.

　First, the food. Only twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, he was served hard, moldy bread and soup made from vegetable scraps.

　From the perspective of the Frembreed family’s meals, even if they made it from leftovers, it would not be like this. It was like treating a prisoner who had gone to a lot of trouble just to wear himself out.

　Then there was the bed. The floor was uneven and hard, and there was only a thin blanket. It was torture for Hermes, who was used to the best beds, and it took him several months to be able to sleep.

　There were very few visitors to the cell, and even when there were, most of them were not for any good reason.

　The most common was his father, Zenos.

“Oh, I’m so angry!　I’m being treated like crap at the party again today!　I’m so embarrassed every time!　And it’s all your fault!”

It seems that my father had been bragging about Hermes’ talent all over the place, and after the rumor spread that Hermes was unsuitable, it became a target for sarcasm.

“Your highness Astor, who is the same age as you, has awakened to the bloodline magic suitable for the royal family and is showing glimpses of being the next generation’s champion in both name and reality. You were supposed to be standing next to him, and the Frembloods would have regained their glory!　Hey, are you listening to me, b*****d!”

　Zenos dissipated his frustration by tormenting Hermes, and after lowering his sore throat a little, he left without saying a word. That was the only exchange between father and son after that day.

　The next most common person was Hermes’ older brother, Chris, who was five years older than him.

“Hello my dear Hermes!　Today, your brother, will give a magic lesson to my poor little brother!”

　The tone of his voice was deliberately full of sorrow. It is clear from the smile distorted by superiority and ridicule that the intentions are not as the words say.

“I’m not sure what’s wrong with you, Hermes. This is a unique chance to see the bloodline magic you’ve been looking for up close!　Come on, wake up!”

　Chris von Frembreed.

　As the heir to the Marquess family, he has a talent for magic that is perfect, and he was originally supposed to be the eldest son and heir to the Frembreed family.

　He was a boy whose entire future had been taken away by the existence of Hermes.

　From the time Hermes was born until he was seven years old, Chris was not looked upon by his father, Zenos.

　The frustration, inferiority complex, and hatred for his younger brother that had built up during that time erupted the moment Hermes was found to be unfit and returned as the next head of the family.

“Now, now, let me show you. This is the power of God’s chosen one, unlike you!

　Unlike Hermes, Chris had correctly inherited the magic passed down in the Frembreed family.

　He sang a chant to invoke it, followed by a declaration of the magic’s name in a high-pitched voice.

“[Six are holy bows, one is a magic bullet, and its trigger is the arm of a false god!] Bloodline Magic – |The Magic Bullet Archer|”

　In an instant, a swarm of light bullets appeared behind him, blindingly illuminating the entire area of the underground cell. I can guess how much energy they contain by the amount of light they emit.

　Chris used the light bullets without hesitation.

“This is how I use my magic, you know!!”

　He fired it at Hermes.

“!”

“Taste it for yourself, my magic!　If you do, the shock may awaken your bloodline magic.　So don’t avoid it, you have to hit it right!”

　It went through the gap in the bars and landed every single shot on me as he had announced. I was easily blown up and slammed against the wall.

　But it didn’t kill me. I didn’t even faint. It’s because they’ve been conditioned to do so, to suffer.

“It’s a miserable thing, Hermes, but it’s a deserved reward. You’ve gotten carried away by the fact that you weren’t chosen. I’m just carrying out the punishment for you. You think so too, don’t you?”

“…… Fa…ther…..”

Hermes thinks with a vague consciousness. ……

Regardless of my condition, he was certainly looking down on me

I knew that my brother was ignored in the house. But more than that, I was delighted by my father’s praise, and more than anything else, I enjoyed the touch of magic so much that I became absorbed in it.

　So, if my brother, who resented me for it, treats me the way I am now as retribution, it may be reasonable.

　I tried to say so, but I didn’t have enough energy left to speak anymore. ……

　Chris took a boring glance at Hermes’ figure and exhaled.

“…… Hmm, okay. You can stay here and watch as I am chosen to take your place as the head of the House of Frembreed and become the great wizard you’ve always wanted to be!　Hahahahahaha!”

　After Chris showed his magic to Hermes, as if he was releasing his anger, and left after hurting him.

　No one in the house stopped Chris’ outburst. No one had the right to stop him, since his father Zenos had not only tolerated it, but even encouraged it.

　Hermes’s spirit was slowly being worn down by a life that was completely different from before, worse than the bottom of the barrel.

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