Witch and Mercenary

Witch and Mercenary
First light novel volume cover
魔女と傭兵
(Majo to Yōhei)
Genre
Novel series
Written byKaeru Chōhōkiteki
Published byShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original runJune 9, 2021 – present
Light novel
Written byKaeru Chōhōkiteki
Illustrated byBench Kanase
Published byMicro Magazine
English publisher
ImprintGCN Bunko
Original runMay 19, 2023 – present
Volumes7[a]
Manga
Written byKaeru Chōhōkiteki
Illustrated byMakoto Miyagi
Published byKodansha
English publisher
  • NA: Seven Seas Entertainment
ImprintShōnen Magazine Comics
MagazineMagazine Pocket
Original runJanuary 28, 2024 – present
Volumes9
Anime television series
Directed byShinpei Ezaki
Written byTaishirou Tanimura
Music byRei Ishizuka
StudioEight Bit
Original networkNNS (Nippon TV)
Original run 2027 – scheduled

Witch and Mercenary (Japanese: 魔女と傭兵, Hepburn: Majo to Yōhei) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kaeru Chōhōkiteki and illustrated by Bench Kanase. It began serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in June 2021. It was later acquired by Micro Magazine, which began publishing it under their GCN Bunko imprint in May 2023. A manga adaptation illustrated by Makoto Miyagi began serialization on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket manga website in January 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by Eight Bit is set to premiere in 2027.

Synopsis

On the Old Continent, witches are regarded as magic-wielding symbols of fear and hunted. Mercenary Zig Crane agrees to join one of these witch hunts. However, after fighting said witch, Saoirse, to a stalemate, they end up bonding upon realizing that they are the same: people forced to become killers by their environment. Agreeing that they have no future in this land, Saoirse hires Zig to escort her to the New Continent, where magic is common. Unfortunately, upon arriving, they learn that this peaceful country ostracizes mercenaries rather than witches, as it does not need them. Will Zig and Saoirse be able to adapt to this new home where their dynamics are reversed?

Characters

Zig Crane (ジグ＝クレイン, Jigu Kurein)
Voiced by: Taito Ban[3]
Saoirse (シアーシャ, Siāsha)
Voiced by: Saori Hayami[3]

Media

Light novel

Written by Kaeru Chōhōkiteki, Witch and Mercenary began serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on June 9, 2021.[4] It was later acquired by Micro Magazine who began publishing it with illustrations by Bench Kanase under their GCN Bunko light novel imprint on May 19, 2023. Seven volumes have been released as of January 2026.[5][a] The series is licensed in English by Seven Seas Entertainment.[6]

No. Original release date Original ISBN North American release date North American ISBN
1May 19, 2023[7]978-4-86716-424-2September 12, 2024 (digital)
October 8, 2024 (print)[8]		979-8-89160-302-8
  1. Prologue
  2. Chapter 1: "Journey to the Unknown Continent"
  3. Chapter 2: "Adventurers"
  4. Chapter 3: "Princess of White Lightning"
  1. Chapter 4: "Monstrosity Swarm"
  2. Chapter 5: "Past and Present"
  • Bonus: "The Receptionist's Concerns"
2September 20, 2023[9]978-4-86716-471-6February 6, 2025 (digital)
March 4, 2025 (print)[10]		979-8-89160-897-9
  1. Chapter 1: "A New Conflict"
  2. Chapter 2: "Outsiders and Change"
  3. Chapter 3: "Guilty Until Proven Innocent"
  4. Chapter 4: "Consequences of a Chosen Path"
3March 19, 2024[11]978-4-86716-547-8May 22, 2025 (digital)
July 29, 2025 (print)[12]		979-8-89373-185-9
  1. Chapter 1: "A Familiar Conflict and Unfamiliar Days"
  2. Chapter 2: "Alien Elements, Strangers, and the Insolent"
  3. Chapter 3: "No Road Ahead"
  4. Chapter 4: "Traces of Weak Soldiers' Dreams"
  • Side story: "The Choice to Live"
  • Bonus: "Business Strategy and Techniques"
4July 20, 2024[13]978-4-86716-608-6August 28, 2025 (digital)
October 28, 2025 (print)[14]		979-8-89373-797-4
  1. Chapter 1: "Return to Normalcy and a Looming Threat"
  2. Chapter 2: "Men, Tools, and Their Uses"
  3. Chapter 3: "Boulder-Breaking Silver Strike"
  4. Chapter 4: "Birds of a Feather"
5November 20, 2024[15]978-4-86716-663-5January 29, 2026 (digital)
February 17, 2026 (print)[16]		979-8-89561-231-6
  1. Chapter 1: "Grinding Gears"
  2. Chapter 2: "Demonic Monkey Dogs"
  3. Chapter 3: "Claritist Doctrines"
  4. Chapter 4: "Remitter"
  5. Chapter 5: "Aftermath"
  • Side story: "Witch and Mercenaries"
  • Bonus: "Impatient Patient"
6.1June 20, 2025[17][18]978-4-86716-776-2
978-4-86716-777-9 (SE)		March 26, 2026 (digital)
April 28, 2026 (print)[19]		979-8-89765-402-4
  1. Chapter 1: "Attack of the Killer Bees"
  2. Chapter 2: "A Creeping Presence"
  3. Chapter 3: "Fishing and Other Activities: Ways to Deepen a Friendship"
  4. Chapter 4: "A Cornered Rat Bites Back"
6.2July 22, 2025[20][21]978-4-86716-793-9
978-4-86716-794-6 (SE)		June 11, 2026 (digital)
July 7, 2026 (print)[22]		979-8-89765-672-1
  1. Chapter 1: "The Golden Moon Hidden Behind a Purple Curtain"
  2. Chapter 2: "The Family That Is Thicker than Blood"
  3. Chapter 3: "The Great Spear Is Wrapped in Blood"
  4. Chapter 4: "Stellar Collision"
  • Side story: "Impossible Coexistence"
7January 20, 2026[5]978-4-86716-901-8November 24, 2026 (print)[23]979-8-89863-271-7
8September 24, 2026[24]978-4-82500-038-4——

Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Makoto Miyagi began serialization on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket manga website on January 28, 2024.[25] The manga's chapters have been compiled into nine tankōbon volumes as of August 2026.[26] The manga's chapters are simultaneously published in English on Kodansha's K Manga app under the title The Witch and the Mercenary.[6] During their panel at Anime NYC 2026, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they had also licensed the manga adaptation for English publication.[27]

No. Release date ISBN
1May 9, 2024[28]978-4-06-535542-8
2July 9, 2024[29]978-4-06-536134-4
3October 8, 2024[30]978-4-06-536765-0
4January 8, 2025[31]978-4-06-537761-1
5May 9, 2025[32]978-4-06-539453-3
6August 7, 2025[33]978-4-06-540354-9
7November 7, 2025[34]978-4-06-541547-4
8March 9, 2026[35]978-4-06-542970-9
9August 7, 2026[26]978-4-06-544623-2

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on April 15, 2026. The series will be produced by Eight Bit and directed by Shinpei Ezaki, with Taishirou Tanimura handling series composition, Keita Matsumoto designing the characters, and Rei Ishizuka composing the music. It is set to premiere in 2027 on Nippon TV and its affiliates.[3]

Reception

The series was ranked fifth in the bunkobon category at the 2023 Next Light Novel Awards.[36] The series was ranked second in the same category in the 2024 edition.[37]

The manga adaptation was nominated for the 11th Next Manga Awards in the print category in 2025, and was ranked thirteenth and won the U-Next Award.[38][39]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Eight volumes in total, including the second part of the sixth volume.

References

  1. ↑ "Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel)". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  2. ↑ 双刃の傭兵と厄災の魔女、生きる場所を求めて未知なる大陸を目指す「魔女と傭兵」1巻. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 9, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Cayanan, Joanna (April 14, 2026). "Kaeru Chōhōkiteki's Witch and Mercenary Novels Get TV Anime in 2027". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  4. ↑ 魔女と傭兵 (in Japanese). Shōsetsuka ni Narō. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  5. 1 2 魔女と傭兵 7 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 7, 2024). "Seven Seas Licenses Witch and Mercenary Light Novel, Hatsune Miku: Cantarella Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  7. ↑ 魔女と傭兵 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. May 19, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 1". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  9. ↑ 魔女と傭兵２ (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. September 20, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 2". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ 魔女と傭兵3 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. March 19, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 3". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  13. ↑ 魔女と傭兵4 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. July 20, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 4". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  15. ↑ 魔女と傭兵5 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. November 20, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 5". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  17. ↑ 魔女と傭兵6 上 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. June 20, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  18. ↑ 魔女と傭兵 6 上 書き下ろしＳＳ＋アクリルチャーム付限定版 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 6: Part 1". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  20. ↑ 魔女と傭兵 6 下 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. July 22, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  21. ↑ 魔女と傭兵 6 下 書き下ろしＳＳ＋アクリルチャーム付限定版 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. July 22, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 6: Part 2". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Witch and Mercenary (Light Novel) Vol. 7". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  24. ↑ 魔女と傭兵 8 (in Japanese). Micro Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  25. ↑ 5日連続！マガポケ新連載5連発開催中！ 各作家コメントあり. PR TIMES (in Japanese). January 26, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  26. 1 2 魔女と傭兵（９） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  27. ↑ Mateo, Alex (August 22, 2026). "Seven Seas Licenses My Lips are Being Targeted, Scarlet Thirst, Synchronicity Obsession, More Manga/Novels". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  28. ↑ 魔女と傭兵（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  29. ↑ 魔女と傭兵（２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  30. ↑ 魔女と傭兵（３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  31. ↑ 魔女と傭兵（４） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  32. ↑ 魔女と傭兵（５） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  33. ↑ 魔女と傭兵（６） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  34. ↑ 魔女と傭兵（７） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  35. ↑ 魔女と傭兵（８） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  36. ↑ 【次にくるライトノベル大賞2023】『クラスで2番目に可愛い女の子と友だちになった』（文庫部門）、『TS衛生兵さんの戦場日記』（単行本部門）が大賞受賞. Famitsu (in Japanese). February 26, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  37. ↑ 大賞決定！「次にくるライトノベル大賞2024」結果発表！　文庫部門『境界のメロディ』単行本部門『私の心はおじさんである』に決定！. PR Times (in Japanese). February 24, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  38. ↑ "Next Manga Award 2025 Reveals 100 Nominees: Full List Including War of the Adults". Oricon. Oricon. June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  39. ↑ Webマンガ部門 結果発表 - 次にくるマンガ大賞 2025. Tsugimanga (in Japanese). Retrieved September 18, 2025.

Further reading

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