The Paladins are the natural enemies of Mages.
Queen was well aware of this fact, and for that reason, she frequently heard from her Father that she should avoid battles with the Paladins as much as possible.
Of course, although the power of the Paladins had significantly weakened and their numbers had decreased recently, it couldn’t be said that they were few in number. There was no need for foolish actions like intentionally confronting an enemy that was their natural foe.
However…
This seemingly obvious fact changed after she became a Witch.
And the beginning of this change came from a conversation with her mentor, Soul.
*
“What? Is that… actually possible?”
“Of course! If I can do it, then you can definitely do it too, provided you practice a little. To be precise, as long as we are active in the Dragona Empire, you have to be able to do it.”
Soul spoke with a light tone, but Queen still looked skeptical.
“But to use magic against a Paladin… I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Well, that may be true within your Sacred Empire. But this is a well-known fact that has been passed down since the founding of our Dragona Empire. You know a bit about the history of the Dragona Empire, right?”
“Yes… I don’t know the details well, but I heard that it was founded by Witches, Mages, and Demons who were persecuted by Paladins with the help of the Turk Empire…”
“That’s right! And among those details is the fact about the persecution by the Paladins. Do you know more about the incident known as Witch Hunting?”
“No… not really.”
Queen had a rough idea about the founding history of the Dragona Empire, but she didn’t know the detailed accounts. After all, it was the history of another nation, and to be honest, Queen wasn’t particularly interested in these matters.
In contrast, Soul spoke to Queen with a surprisingly serious tone, different from before.
“At this point, Witches and Mages are so powerful that no one can touch them. But back then, when we say Witches, we refer to those who distanced themselves from the Mages, secluding themselves in the mountains to conduct their research quietly. Although they had minor interactions with each other, they didn’t concern themselves with forming groups or preparing for war. Individual Witches were so strong that ordinary humans couldn’t dare to challenge them anyway.”
“Indeed, once they reach intermediate level and above, Mages and Witches become beings that ordinary people can’t deal with. They can easily dominate with just beginner-level spells.”
“Exactly! And because of this, Witches and Mages didn’t possess the strength to oppose great powers on a national scale. And…”
After saying that, Soul frowned slightly.
Although this event occurred long before her birth, just talking about it made Queen feel quite uncomfortable.
“As a result… it triggered the bloody incident known as Witch Hunting. The Paladins, concerned about their potential danger, exterminated countless Witches and Mages overnight. More than 99% of the Witches and Mages that existed at that time were wiped out. All the Witches and Mages, from the elderly to the young children, were completely annihilated.”
“Uhmm…”
Even if it was someone else’s story, it sounded quite brutal…
Moreover, now that Queen herself had become a Witch, it didn’t feel like it was merely someone else’s business.
“I hear the Dragona Empire has had no ties with the Church throughout its history, and now I see it was all for a reason…”
The Dragona Empire maintained a solid relationship with foreign nations, but they had never made any agreements with the church, which held a significant position in the continent. Beneath that surface lay a deep resentment related to the massacre of Witches and Mages, who could be seen as their roots.
“And that’s why… once Witches of our Dragona Empire reach a certain level, they learn magic to counter Paladins, specifically to oppose their Aura. You’re no exception to this now.”
“Ah.. Yes. I understand what you mean.”
Now, Dragona Empire was no longer just a minor force but a massive nation.
But within their hearts remained a deep-seated resentment towards the church, which they continued to carry.
As a specific form of magic…
As an expression of their intent to wipe them out whenever the opportunity arose.
“There are two types of magic related to this. Both have quite high utility, but for those like me who handle souls, this one is more useful, so you should learn it.”
With that statement, Soul cast a spell toward the summoned ghost soldier.
As she watched her mentor, a look of surprise and profound curiosity began to form on Queen’s face.
With a solemn smile on her lips, Soul said to her disciple,
“This is the legacy of the 1st generation Witch, Aila Sloth. Watch closely and learn. So that you can cut off those dirty Paladins’ heads anytime, anywhere.”
*
A masked Mage approached her.
Then, as she extended her arm forward, something translucent began to rise from the ground, as if summoned.
Unlike Aura, it emitted a thick, ominous energy, and there were about thirty of them.
Seeing this ghostly wave, Santana’s sister and soldiers from Bohemia standing behind flinched slightly.
However, Nune and Tine, who would have to confront them, looked at them with a rather lighthearted attitude.
They had no idea what the stranger was relying on to act so confidently.
Yet, Nune and Tine felt not a shred of concern.
“Hmph, I don’t know what it is, but no mere magic… even if you throw whatever spell at us, it’ll be useless before us.”
“We just blocked that huge explosion, right? No matter how hard you struggle, in front of the power of God, Aura…”
With a relaxed demeanor, as they watched the ghosts approach them, Nune and Tine immediately commanded their manifested beasts.
“Go! Finish them off!”
“Smash those Bohemia bastards to pieces!”
“Raaaaaah!!”
“Rooaaar!!”
Following Nune and Tine’s commands, manifestations of dogs and bears charged forth.
While their physical might was inferior to the Wizards’ attacks, these creatures were still stronger than ordinary animals.
In other words, they could easily bite the neck of an average human and blow their head off.
Additionally, due to their nature, they neutralized any magic, making them the worst enemies for Mages.
And the same held true for those ghostly figures made from magical power.
As the two Aura creatures lunged towards the seemingly lifeless ghost soldiers…
At that moment…
“Ignite…”
From the masked figure, a single word escaped.
At that moment, the translucent ghosts began to shimmer with a dark, bright energy.
“What!?”
“Wh… what is this?”
Nune and Tine started to feel a slight sense of confusion at the sudden change.
Even though they had boasted that there was nothing to worry about against any magic, they couldn’t help but feel surprised at this transformation from the enemy.
“But… it’s okay… After all, magic is useless against Aura…”
“It must be…??”
As they reassured themselves, picturing the ghosts and the Mage collapsing helplessly under their strikes…
Suddenly…
“Huh?”
“Wha… what?!”
In the next moment, an unforeseen scene began to unfold before their eyes.
Deep shock washed over Nune and Tine’s faces…
Meanwhile, a deep smile began to form on the lips of Queen, hidden behind her mask.
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