The narrative picks up with a large mercenary and militia force assembled by a local lord, preparing for a dangerous undertaking: hunting a witch. The protagonist, Zig Krain, a hardened mercenary in his mid-twenties with a scarred face and a formidable physique, expresses his surprise at the sheer number of people gathered. He learns that the expedition is a result of a succession dispute between the lord's twin sons, who are vying for power. The elder son, in his desperation, has resorted to hiring mercenaries and soldiers to hunt a legendary witch, believing this will secure his claim. Zig, motivated by the substantial reward, accepts the dangerous contract, though he harbors skepticism about magic and the existence of witches, viewing them as perhaps a collective or organization rather than individuals. He believes that with sufficient numbers, they can overcome any threat.
The expedition, comprising a hundred mercenaries and a hundred regular soldiers, marches into a dense forest. Their progress is halted when scouts discover a house in an unusual location. The commanding general, still somewhat dismissive of the witch legend, suspects an ambush. However, as they approach the house, a young woman, described as an ethereal beauty with striking black hair and blue eyes, appears. The soldiers, including the general, are overcome with an inexplicable sense of dread, realizing she is indeed the witch. As the witch raises her hand, the ground erupts, spewing massive, sharpened earth spikes that impale many soldiers instantly. Zig, reacting with incredible agility, leaps onto a tree branch just in time to avoid the deadly attack. The mercenary force descends into panic.
Zig, despite the chaos, decides to fight, driven by his mercenary code and the pre-paid reward. He observes the witch conjuring earth shields to block arrows and then summoning a large earth golem. Zig seizes an opportunity, using the golem as a springboard to launch a powerful aerial assault on the witch with his unique twin-bladed sword. He manages to damage her shields, forcing her to retreat and reassess. Zig notices a peculiar scent preceding the witch's magic, which he deduces is a warning sign of impending spells. He uses this to his advantage, dodging subsequent attacks, including a massive barrage of earth spikes that devastates the remaining soldiers and the golem. The witch, believing she has eliminated all threats, turns to leave, only to be surprised by Zig, who emerges from the dust and debris, battered but unyielding. He confronts her, and after a brief exchange where she admits to killing out of self-defense and a general indifference to human life, Zig chooses not to kill her. He explains that his motivation is payment, and with the lord's son, his client, dead, there is no reward.
The witch, named Shiarsha, then proposes a new contract: she hires Zig to escort her to a place where she will no longer be hunted. She reveals her weariness of being perpetually pursued and her desire to find a safe haven. Zig, initially hesitant, agrees, driven by his mercenary nature and the potential for significant payment. He learns that Shiarsha possesses three more large red gemstones, similar to the one she offers as an advance payment. Zig plans to use these to fund their journey to a new continent, a place rumored to be difficult to reach but potentially free from the persecution of witches. He explains that the current continent is rife with conflict and prejudice, making it impossible for Shiarsha to live peacefully.
They travel to the port city of Estina to join an expeditionary fleet heading to the new continent. After securing passage and dealing with the exorbitant cost of lodging, they visit a gem shop to exchange Shiarsha's gemstones. Shiarsha, despite her lack of experience, handles the transaction with surprising poise and secures a substantial sum, far exceeding Zig's expectations. This wealth allows them to prepare for their journey.
During their travels, Zig and Shiarsha discuss magic. Shiarsha explains that magic is fueled by "mana" and involves several stages: drawing mana, imbuing it with intent (attack or defense), and then shaping it into a spell. Zig realizes he can sense the "scent" of magic before it's cast, a phenomenon he attributes to the mana's reaction during the intent-imbuing stage. Shiarsha, having lived for centuries, has a different perspective on magic, noting that while witches like herself have specific elemental affinities, humans also possess mana and can use magic, albeit with varying degrees of power and skill.
Upon arriving at the new continent, they are immediately met with danger. The scouting party has vanished, and the land itself is hostile. They encounter grotesque, worm-like creatures emerging from the ground that consume their prey whole, leaving no trace. Zig and Shiarsha narrowly escape an attack, realizing the continent is teeming with dangerous "magic beasts." They witness the destruction of the main fleet by a colossal, horned whale-like creature and the subsequent invasion of the remaining ships by amphibious, humanoid monsters. Faced with overwhelming odds, Zig and Shiarsha decide to retreat to the shore and head inland.
They reach a village where they discover that magic is commonplace and accepted. Shiarsha, eager to integrate into human society and learn about its positive aspects, proposes they find work. They learn about "adventurers" and the existence of "magic beasts." While hunting a formidable armored boar, Shiarsha's earth magic proves effective, and Zig's combat skills, combined with her magic, allow them to defeat the creature. Shiarsha expresses her desire to learn more about the human world and its positive aspects, and Zig, despite his initial reservations, agrees to guide her.
