'How dare she? How dare these mages act like this? Did learning magic truly turn them into demons?'
The thought hammered in Kristin's skull as he tried to maintain composure, his hands tightening into fists beneath the table.
In front of him, Aura lounged carelessly in her chair—back straight, chin raised, her expression the very definition of contemptuous amusement. Sunlight from the tall windows behind her framed her silhouette in a faint golden glow, as if she were some divine tyrant presiding over a mortal court.
Except she was neither divine nor human.
She was Aura.
And she was infuriating.
"Minister Aura, do you understand what your words imply? Can you shoulder the consequences of breaking ties between the Empire and the Magic Association? Without the Empire's support, the Association, which survives only by relying on human kingdoms will vanish."
"Relying? What made you think that?" Her voice was as smooth as velvet, yet colder than steel. She tapped the table with her finger, each tap echoing in the tense atmosphere.
"Magic is a supreme existence. It has never relied on anything. The so-called Empire, the so-called humanity… survives only because magic exists. I don't know what the Association would become without the Empire." She leaned forward slightly, a smile tugging at her lips.
"But we both know what would happen to the Empire without the Association. You wouldn't want the Empire's borders—facing the longest frontline against demons—to be without mages overnight, would you?"
The room fell silent.
Kristin felt his jaw twitch.
"You… don't push your arrogance too far!!"
His voice finally cracked with fury.
This negotiation was supposed to be simple—a formal exchange, a symbolic reprimand, nothing more. He had promised himself he wouldn't lose his temper.
But now he understood just how absurdly optimistic that thought had been.
Kristin inhaled sharply, forcing himself to speak through the suffocating tension in his throat.
"…The Empire… I will report your words truthfully… and the Empire will notify the other kingdoms as well. I hope Minister Aura can take responsibility for the consequences." In the end, Kristin swallowed his anger. The circumstances left him no choice. Even if he lost his composure, what could he do?
Kristin was rational. He knew the woman standing before him possessed strength comparable to a Great Mage. The guards waiting outside the Education Ministry could not help him here. He, a mere warrior of modest skill, would only be humiliating himself if he fought a Great Mage.
Aura slowly stood, dusting off her coat as if rising from a tedious afternoon nap.
"Are you merely reporting? Is the Empire merely relaying a message?"
She exhaled softly and shaking her head, genuinely disappointed.
When Kristin glared at her with eyes blazing with fury, Aura simply grinned and returned his gaze:
"If you do not resist, you can only be slaughtered at others' convenience. Enduring once is fine. But enduring for a lifetime? Has the Empire truly fallen so far? Hahahaha!"
Her laughter echoed through the room. Kristin finally shot to his feet, fists clenched.
'How could she be so brazen? Did she truly believe she was invincible? Did she think the Empire had no one capable of killing her?'
"Minister Aura, how dare you spew such arrogance? Aren't you afraid—"
"There is no one in this world I fear." Aura interrupted him immediately. She spread her arms open.
Mana surged upward like a pillar reaching the sky. Even though Kristin was not a mage and could not see mana directly, the tangible pressure crushed down on him like a storm.
"Except myself," Aura said calmly.
FWIP!
Suddenly, a thick ledger—one that had been on the table's edge—launched itself at Aura, propelled by Kristin's instinctive reflex.
It hit her mana field and exploded into dust.
Aura blinked.
Then she smiled, genuinely entertained.
"Oh? You actually threw that?" She tilted her head playfully. "How adorable. The little Fürst bites."
Kristin's body trembled violently. His knees wanted to buckle. His throat felt tight. He understood her level of power. He understood she could erase him with a thought.
He knew she was right to be arrogant.
But that was no excuse.
That was never an excuse.
As the seventh Fürst of the Unified Empire, Kristin had always believed the courage of their ancestors—who carved out their lands in demon-ridden wilderness—was inherited only by his elder brothers. He thought he had inherited only his father's artistic temperament.
But now, he realized—
That same blood of their pioneers flowed in him.
Kristin twisted his arm, bracing himself. Charging Aura and punching her would feel incredibly satisfying.
But if he throws that punch, he'll die, he'll definitely die!
And it would accomplish nothing.
A mage of Aura's caliber could not be reached by sacrificing one's life.
"If you can land a hit on me… I will be very pleased~" Aura's mocking voice echoed.
That was the last push.
Whether he lived or died—no longer mattered.
Whether it was meaningful—no longer mattered.
He wanted one thing:
To throw a single punch. A punch that would leave his bones and blood shattered against her defensive magic, proving the courage of an Imperial son.
"AAAAHHHH!!! For the Empire, I offer my life! I swear the Magic Association will pay a price!!"
Kristin stepped forward with resolute fury—
crushing Aura's desk beneath his foot—
and swung his fist at her face.
THUD.
Kristin punch missed, but Aura was sent flying into the air, her face and cheeks caved in. The immense force caused Aura's petite body to spin 360 degrees in the air before crashing heavily to the ground.
Then she suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood, fell to the ground with her hands behind her back, and lay motionless, clearly on the verge of death.
"…Huh?"
Kristin froze.
He actually… defeated the rumored Education Minister capable of instantly killing a Second-Class Mage?
Where was her defensive magic? Wasn't high class mages' defense supposed to trigger automatically?
And that punch… Was it truly that strong? He wasn't even a notable warrior—he would need another ten years of training before he could ever kill someone with a single blow.
Cough… cough cough—
Aura spit blood continuously. She lifted her head, glared weakly at Kristin…
then scooped up a handful of blood and smeared it on her face.
She spat out a couple of teeth, shattered the remaining furniture with magic, and then lay down with great satisfaction—rolling her eyes back, blood trickling from the corner of her lips.
"…Wait—WAIT!! You did that on purpose! Why?! Why would you do that?!"
Kristin finally understood—horrified.
This was a Great Mage.
Why would she deliberately make herself look defeated by a mere ordinary warrior?
Was she not concerned about her reputation?
A Great Mage struck down by a single punch—how could that not damage her status?
No powerful mage would ignore their reputation!
A terrible feeling crawled up Kristin's spine.
And just as that fear fully blossomed—
The door opened.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Sheila, rushed in.
The moment she saw Aura's blood-soaked body, she broke into a panic. She threw herself to the floor, cradling Aura's limp form.
"Minister Aura! Minister Aura, why are you so badly wounded?! Who did this to you?!"
"Wait!! It's not what you think—she did it on purpose! She—she—"
"Kristin! Do not bully our Association too far!!"
The "unconscious" Aura suddenly jerked upright, clutching Sheila's hand, blood pouring from her mouth as she wailed.