His Breeding Obsession

 

Fireballs formed out of thin air and rained down on Mirania.

 

They were only the size of an adult’s fist, but she couldn’t look away.

 

‘The energy from the fireballs can be felt at…’

 

The fireballs hit the hem of Mirania’s dress, which she dodged with a quick flick of her broom.

 

The fire quickly grew into a blackish-red mass.

 

Mirania stiffened, snapped her fingers, and the fireball disappeared in a puff of smoke.

 

Before I had time to breathe, another attack followed.

 Thwack! 

Mirania flicked her fingers at the fireballs, which continued to rush at her without pause.

 

The wind from her began to blow wildly.

 

The wind-blocked fireballs skittered past her like ants on a leaf.

 

She was somewhat surprised by its power and persistence.

 

‘When did they invent this trick?’

 

The magic itself wasn’t the problem, but the substance that made up the little fireballs.

 

It was not a naturally formed fire, but a fire mixed with the flames of the Netherworld.

 

The fire of death. Mirania balked at the aura, which was at odds with her.

 

‘No matter how much fire you throw, if it doesn’t hit you, it’s not enough.’

 

The mage let out a harsh breath and stopped the spell, as the attack he’d worked so hard to create swerved and disappeared as soon as it met Mirania.

 “It’s working! Keep it up!” 

Mirania realized that they had finally made great progress with Adensha’s magic.

 

Hellfire, mixed with the flames of the Netherworld, was Adensha’s favorite method of attack.

 

The leader of the human army stepped forward. His eagle-like dark blue eyes glowed fiercely.

 “Arrogant bastard. You show up alone and without a plan.” 

Mirania wiggled her eyebrows. For a mere mortal, who was being honored by the Emperor, that was a bit arrogant.

 “Are you unaware of the pact humans have made with the other kin, you arrogant knight?” “I’m not trying to kill you.” 

It was a kind of if-you-want-to attitude. Mirania felt her temper rising, but she took the words calmly.

 “And if we do?” “We intend to take you prisoner, for he wants you to make a new pact, one that even a wicked high witch cannot break.” “Who would devise such a ridiculous plan? Certainly not the Emperor.” 

The man answered meekly, as if it were no secret.

 “The Emperor has already transferred most of his power to His Highness the Crown Prince, and now a new sun has risen over the Empire. Its great first step will be the conquest of a continent!” 

Mirania gazed down at the confident man. He had a mana-filled body, like a knight of the highest order.

 

But he was not strong enough to kill her or save himself from death.

 

Mirania shook her head sympathetically, like an ant faced with a small puddle of water and determined to conquer it.

 “Adensha will live, but not you.” 

She was a peace-loving adept, but not one to forgive rudeness.

 

The commander’s smug face crumpled at her harsh words.

 

He drew his sword, as if to boost the morale of the men watching him.

 

Before he could open his mouth, Mirania snapped her fingers up and down.

 “Your Excellency!” 

Shouted the top lord with the most developed psychic senses, but his voice was no faster than Mirania’s spell that didn’t require casting.

 Thud— 

An arm fell to the ground like a lie.

 Poof! 

A fountain of blood erupted from the severed section. The man’s face contorted in pain.

 

His skin paled, but he swallowed hard to keep from screaming.

 

His parted lips forced themselves shut, and a sickening gash formed in his throat.

 

Mirania looked down at the man, who stood sweating and stiff.

 “I am the head of the witches. I will speak to the new human leader about the pact, and you are not fit to speak to me.” “How… arrogant! The Crown Prince is not the one to listen to a mere half-breed!” 

Mirania spun her broom around under the Commander-in-Chief’s hate-burning gaze.

 

Alice was under attack.

 

Her defensive magic was holding them off, but not for long.

 “Mirania!” 

In the distance, she could see Leverianz flying toward her, a large group of bats following behind him.

 

I turn my head to see Malandor on the other side, surveying the situation.

 

‘You’re just in time. This shouldn’t be too hard to get out of here.’

 

It would be a little tricky to get Alice out, but not impossible. Mirania judged it so.

 

The wizards’ level seems to have increased a bit, but it won’t have much effect.

 

But even for a high witch, it was hard to keep everything to plan.

 

There’s no telling what variables might come into play.

 

First, the human army was stronger than Mirania expected.

 

Second, they were incommunicado.

 

‘I don’t know if the Emperor doesn’t get along with the Crown Prince, or if the Crown Prince is an idiot who won’t listen to his father.’ 

 

Right now, the Crown Prince was looking at these people as objects to be ruled over, not as people to be handled. It was an attitude an Emperor would never display.

 

The commander who’d had his arm chopped off might have been arrogant, but he certainly didn’t have the authority to run things this way.

 

‘Then it must be the Crown Prince’s intention.’ 

 

He means that not only are we not communicating, but that there seems to be animosity.

 

‘I’m not impressed, the crown prince is the problem.’ 

 

Third, the human world has changed considerably over the centuries.

 [The young witches won’t go to the Second Continent, they say it makes them feel bad, and there have been many occasions when they’ve been in danger because they’re not as excluded as they’ve been told, so I think we’ll have to wait and see for now.]

 

Chera’s concerns were validated.

 

Mirania had quite a few close human allies in the past, but they’re all skeletons in the grave now.

 

Hundreds of years had passed since then, and the High Witch’s name was faded and tarnished, not enough to command respect from humans.

 

‘They don’t just disrespect me, they hate me.’ 

 

Mirania didn’t know that, though the dangers of other races had become fashionable as an aftereffect of the High Witch’s hostile foreign affairs a millennium ago, especially since books describing the dangers of witches had become part of the academy’s texts.

 

The fourth and final surprise was her physical condition.

 

Mirania looked down at her hands as she flew toward the carriage.

 

She nearly fell off her broom, her heart pounding so hard it threatened to jump out of her chest.

 

‘No way…’

 

I didn’t think it could be that bad, but the tingling, and numbness in my fingers made it impossible to deny it.

 

Mirania’s face hardened frighteningly. Her icy gaze traveled to the tree that was supposed to be protecting Grecan.

 

‘I told him I’d be back soon.’

 

Grecan would have believed her that Mirania would return, and he would wait until she did.

 

Would he have wished her well in the future?

 

A bitter smile crossed Mirania’s face.

 

‘I never thought I’d want to postpone my much-anticipated eternal rest.’

 

Leverianz was the last to arrive at the plains of Razhl.

 

He had no more grasp of the current situation than Grecan, who had followed Mirania closely, or Malandor, who was well versed in human physiology, but things were moving in a direction he didn’t have to try to figure out.

 

Leverianz looked up at the man who spoke in front of the shouting army.

 “1st Infantry, 2nd Infantry, forward!” 

The voice of the man who had unexpectedly lost his arm, his pain replaced by rage, was underpinned by evil and sent chills down his spine.

 “Awoo!” 

As if in response to his will, another army of humans appeared from the east, west, and north.