"Hooah", Noelle patted her mouth, yawning sleepily as she stepped out of her room, still drowsy from a restful night. Her morning bed hair was frizzy, hanging down freely since she hadn't yet bothered to tidy up or tie it back. She planned to head downstairs, brush her teeth, and take a quick bath before joining the rest of the Black Bulls for breakfast.
As she navigated the women's quarters with practiced ease, expertly dodging booby traps meant to keep any male intruders at bay, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and paused, squinting. Am I still dreaming? She rubbed her eyes again to double-check—only to freeze as the truth sank in. She was most definitely awake, and standing right across from her, equally frozen, was Asta, mouth slightly open and eyes wide.
"Eeeh!" Noelle squeaked, immediately crossing her arms over her nightgown to hide her unkempt appearance, her face flushing a deep red. She turned her head, cheeks burning, while Asta, equally red-faced, clapped his hands over his eyes.
An awkward silence stretched between them until Noelle broke it with a stuttering, "B-Bakasta, w-what a-are you d-doing here?" She couldn't understand it. Asta was always the first one up, rising with the morning sun to work out before cleaning up and heading to breakfast. If he weren't so predictable, I'd never have walked out like this, she thought, feeling mortified that he'd seen her so disheveled.
Asta's mouth opened, but only an unintelligible, "Uhhhhhhh…" came out as he tried to gather his scattered thoughts. Although it was just a moment, he'd seen Noelle with her hair down, her legs bare, and a hint of… something… in the chest area. His face flamed as red as a tomato. He'd seen plenty of scantily-clad women back in Hage, and Vanessa practically lived in her underwear here. But he'd never, ever, seen a modest girl like Noelle looking so… exposed. And he couldn't unsee it now, nor did he want to. That image was burned into his mind, like it or not.
Realizing he was leaving her hanging, Asta bit his lip and, with his arms still covering his eyes, managed a blunt answer. "I… I slept in today. Sorry about that!"
For once, even Asta felt a bit embarrassed admitting it. He'd slept unusually soundly after his talk with Sebastian last night, the older man's words lingering with a warmth that made him feel strangely… peaceful. His dreams had been particularly pleasant, too. Maybe too pleasant, he thought, feeling the urge to slap himself as he remembered just how many times Noelle had popped up in them. He couldn't recall having dreams quite this… intense even about Sister Lily, and he'd spent years crushing on her.
That was part of the reason he couldn't bring himself to look at Noelle. He was afraid he might say—or do—something stupid, and with her standing there in her current appearance, he had absolutely zero confidence in controlling himself. His heart raced erratically in his chest, an unfamiliar jittery feeling washing over him. I've never felt nervous like this before…
And then, like a ghostly echo, Sebastian's words from the night before replayed in his mind: From her reaction, it's clear that Noelle hasn't given you a straight answer, but it's safe to say her answer would eventually be yes. Asta gulped, his internal struggles intensifying. For the first time in his life, he had a real chance with a girl—a girl he actually liked—and he didn't want to mess it up by acting, well… like himself.
If his past self from just 24 hours ago could see him now, he'd probably mistake this flustered mess for an imposter, maybe even accuse Gray of disguising themself as him. I barely even recognize myself right now, he thought, clutching his chest as his heart hammered wildly.
"I see…" Noelle mumbled, glancing over her shoulder just enough to see Asta shielding his own eyes. Her heartbeat slowed a little, relieved that he wasn't peeking. But as her gaze shifted, she caught sight of Asta clutching his chest, his hand trembling slightly, his face red as a beet.
Her hand reflexively pressed against her own chest, and she froze. Thump! Thump! Thump! The familiar, rapid pounding made her cheeks bloom pink. No way. Is Bakasta really feeling the same way right now?
She couldn't wrap her head around it. Asta, who she'd written off as a reckless, dense dunce, oblivious to any normal feeling of self-consciousness, was flustered? She'd always assumed that he was just too clueless to feel embarrassed by anything, considering he could propose so shamelessly without missing a beat. But here he was, blushing—for her!
Her gaze dropped to Asta's arms, then swept over his broad shoulders and solid chest, visible through the loose A-shirt he wore, looking similar to Captain Yami's. His toned muscles were undeniable. Not bad, not bad at all. Me likey.
Her blush deepened as Vanessa's teasing words from yesterday replayed in her mind, the words sounding even more suggestive now. She shifted on her feet, her legs feeling a bit wobbly, her chest heaving as she took a shaky breath. Get a grip, Noelle! she thought, biting her lip. I'll think about it!
Realizing she hadn't even given Asta a proper answer to his question yet, Noelle forced herself to push down her nerves. If I say yes… he'll probably see me in way more embarrassing states than this. Why am I losing my mind over something so simple?
She took a deep breath, composing herself as best as she could, then cleared her throat with a deliberate cough, making Asta stiffen. With a quick, nervous swallow, she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "It's fine, Bakasta. You can look now."
One second passed. Then two, then three. But Asta kept his eyes covered, squeezing them shut even tighter. Noelle blinked, a vein practically pulsing in her forehead as irritation bubbled up. He's acting like a total coward! Half indignant and half mortified, she stomped over to him, stopping inches away before grabbing his arm with surprising force.
"You proposed to me, not the other way around, Bakasta! Where do you get off acting so awkward now?" she growled, her grip tightening as she yanked his hand away from his face.
Their eyes met—her unamused, steely lavender gaze locked onto his wide, dilated green eyes. Both of them turned bright red, Noelle in mounting frustration, Asta in deep embarrassment.
Her jaw clenched, her frustration only growing as she stared him down, seeing him squirm under her glare.
Thwap!
Before Noelle could say a word, Asta slapped himself across the face, leaving a red handprint on his right cheek. She blinked in shock, then gawked, "W-what are you doing, Bakasta?!" Her hand reached out instinctively to rub his cheek, and Asta froze, his eyes widening slightly before he shook his head and let out a weak chuckle.
"Sorry about that, Noelle. I was being an idiot again."
Noelle's eyebrow shot up, but she stayed silent, waiting for him to continue. Asta hesitated, then placed his hand over hers where it rested on his cheek. Noelle blushed, but didn't pull away. His face dropped slightly as he gritted his teeth, struggling to find the words.
"I… I went ahead and tried to force my dream on you. And I don't even have the decency to look you in the eye." Asta clenched his jaw, his hand drifting to scratch the back of his neck. "I guess… I guess I'm just sorry for being so lame—ow!"
Asta winced, rubbing his forehead where Noelle had flicked it with full force. It almost hurt as much as when Secre pecked him. Noelle gave him a dull, unamused look. "Want another one?"
He shook his head rapidly. Definitely not.
Noelle paused, seeming to choose her words carefully as she scratched her cheek. "I like the usual Asta."
Asta froze, barely daring to breathe as she continued, "I like the Asta who isn't afraid to say what's on his mind. The Asta who's 100% confident in what he's doing, even if he has no clue what he's doing. The Asta who acts first, thinks second, and still finds a way to get things done. The brave Asta. The reckless Asta. The determined Asta. I like that Asta."
Thump! Thump! Thump! His heart was hammering even louder now as Noelle carried on, "As for the Asta who's hesitant, unsure, who freezes up, gets embarrassed, and panics, well…"
Asta hung his head, bracing for impact, until he felt Noelle's hand gently raise his chin, forcing him to look at her. Her expression had softened, and he swallowed, cringing slightly. Here it comes…
"…Well, I don't particularly hate that Asta either."
"Huh?" Asta blinked, dumbfounded, as Noelle's serious expression melted into a broad, teasing grin. She pinched his nose, making him jump a little.
"It's like an entirely new side of you, one I've never seen before. A side you're showing only to me. How could I hate that?" Noelle's smile was warm, almost fond.
Asta's breath caught. Thump! Thump! Thump! His cheeks turned redder than ever as his heart picked up an impossible pace.
"Well, as long as you don't avoid me, that is." Her gaze grew darker, and Asta felt the hairs on his neck rise instinctively. She kept smiling, but this time, it was an unsettling smile—a possessive, almost predatory smile, like someone guarding a prized possession they refused to share.
"Never avoid me, Bakasta. Are we clear?" Her voice was sweet as honey, but her tone dripped with something else entirely. She licked her lips subtly, still holding his face in her hands.
Asta's brain screamed at him to back up, to run, but his heart and body betrayed him completely. He had no idea why he found her intensity so… attractive, so… thrilling. With a nervous gulp, he nodded. "I won't ever avoid you, Noelle!"
"Ever?" Her grin widened, looking almost feral, more fitting for a Vermillion than a Silva.
He nodded enthusiastically, sealing his fate before he could think better of it. "Ever!"
"Good!" Her tone softened, and her smile shifted back to its usual brightness, gentle and beautiful.
With her hands tied behind her back, Noelle glanced past Asta down the hallway he'd come from. "Is my father up yet?"
Asta looked over his shoulder, scratching his head. "I don't know. No one answered when I knocked, so he's either out and about, or still asleep." He turned back to her, fixing his gaze on her face and resisting the urge to let his eyes drift down. "Um… is Mister Silva the type to sleep in?"
Noelle blinked. As much as she wanted to say no—because men of nobility and royalty shouldn't do such a thing, and beauty sleep is called beauty sleep for a reason, a perk reserved solely for the ladies—she couldn't.
Truth was, Noelle didn't know much about her father's habits. Just a few weeks ago, she'd pegged him as being exactly like her eldest brother: cold, strict, a stickler for propriety. But the man she'd come to know was entirely different—soft-spoken and affectionate, nothing like her initial impression. It wouldn't be strange if someone like that enjoyed a little extra sleep.
Maybe he really is the type to sleep in, Noelle thought, recalling the dark circles under his eyes. Or maybe he's just… tired.
She gave Asta a nervous look, then pointed toward the staircase. "Well, we'll know when we head downstairs—"
"I WANT YOU TO DIE!!!!"
Both of them froze, snapping their heads toward the sound from downstairs, tension shooting through their bodies at the sudden, furious declaration.
This mana?! Noelle felt her entire frame lock up.
That voice?! Asta's jaw dropped.
They whipped their heads toward each other, shouting at the same time.
"Charmy?!"
"Miz Charmy?!"
In a flash, Asta and Noelle bolted down the stairs, half-stumbling in their hurry, then skidded to a stop at the entrance to the living room to avoid being crushed by a massive ball of cotton barreling past.
Breathing hard, they exchanged looks, a cold sweat breaking over both of them. Asta took a cautious peek into the living room, Noelle peeking over his shoulder.
What they saw left them gaping.
Sweet, tiny Charmy—the Charmy who'd been one of the most pleasant companions they'd known since joining the Black Bulls, always making sure their bellies were full with delicious food, bringing snacks unasked, taking on all the kitchen work and dishes without a word of complaint… the very picture of kindness and adorable consideration—seemed to have transformed into something completely different.
A suffocating, menacing mana radiated from her small frame, which somehow seemed just a little taller than usual. She hovered in the air on a cloud of cotton, an enormous, intimidating sheep—no, more like a ram—looming behind her, its cottony bulk radiating the same dangerous energy.
W-what is this presence?! Asta swallowed, his heart pounding. It's like Captain Yami's mana from the Magic Knight Exams!
She's this strong?! Noelle blinked, unable to believe her eyes as she watched the rest of their squad members get trapped in balls of cotton one by one.
Luck, Finral, Magna, Grey, Gauche, Gordon… even Vanessa, who seemed to get special treatment. While the others were simply caught, Vanessa was held in the monstrous sheep's grip, its giant arms squeezing the life out of her.
Vanessa wheezed weakly, struggling against the sheep's relentless grip. "...C-Charmy… I-I'm s-sorry, please let me go…"
"...Let you go?" Charmy's eyes gleamed with a dark, unhinged intensity, her pupils swirling like miniature black holes. "LET YOU GO?!" She repeated it as if the mere suggestion was the most absurd thing in existence.
"BECAUSE OF YOU, YOU SLUTTY WITCH, I LOST MY DEALER! I'LL NEVER TASTE MY SEASONED YUM YUMS AGAIN!"
Vanessa wanted to scream at Charmy to shut up, to stop giving everyone the wrong idea—especially Captain Yami. Sure, she might act bold and free-spirited, flaunting her sex appeal and teasing Magna for being a "Virgin Delinquent," but deep down… well, she was still a virgin herself. Vanessa was aware that people sometimes assumed otherwise, and now she had Charmy reinforcing those misunderstandings in the most outrageous way possible.
Noelle blinked, while Asta's mouth dropped open in shock. They exchanged a glance as they processed Charmy's outburst.
Ohhhhh. So that's why she's so mad.
The two put it together quickly. C.P.—Charmy Pappittson. Who else could have been the mysterious major customer of a black market supplier smuggling in rare leavening agents and spices? Charmy, of course.
Vanessa tried to reason with her. "But don't you grow your own spices and have your own garden? You don't really need it that b—aughhh!"
"THEY'RE NOT THE SAME QUALITY, YOU HUSSY!"
Vanessa cried out in pain as the giant sheep tightened its hold, and Asta and Noelle winced at the sound of what they swore was a rib cracking.
Under any other circumstances, they would've jumped in to help Vanessa without hesitation. But right now? They were terrified.
They couldn't shake the words Captain Yami had drilled into them shortly after they joined the Black Bulls, when he'd taken them aside to lay down a few "ground rules." For a squad as chaotic as the Black Bulls, rules seemed nearly pointless. But apparently, even outcasts and troublemakers had their boundaries:
1. Don't be an idiot.
2. Don't break anything.
3. Don't cause me trouble.
4. Don't bother me when I'm surpassing my limits.
Those first few rules seemed like basic common sense, so Asta and Noelle hadn't paid them much attention. But the fifth and final rule? It had stuck with them, mostly because of the rare seriousness with which Captain Yami had delivered it:
5. Never, and I mean never, mess with Charmy when it comes to food. I won't be saving your asses.
Neither Asta nor Noelle had truly understood what Yami was talking about… until today. They could never have imagined that so much raw power and fury could be contained within Charmy's tiny frame.
Asta and Noelle were seriously considering making a stealthy exit, especially Noelle, who was now regretting every decision that had led her here. But before they could even take a step back…
"W-wait, Charmy, it wasn't j-just… me—" Vanessa stammered, trying to deflect some of Charmy's wrath.
"I KNOW!" Charmy cut her off with an icy glare. "I WILL SETTLE THE SCORE WITH MY AUDACIOUS JUNIORS soon enough!"
Asta and Noelle stiffened, exchanging a dry look of betrayal toward Vanessa. You sold us out!
Meanwhile, the six captured Black Bulls each had their own unique reaction to the chaos:
The usually quiet and unassuming Grey was blowing smoke from their mouth, showing no visible reaction to their predicament.
In another cotton ball, Gordon mumbled something about "bonding time," his soft voice barely audible.
Finral, separated from his grimoire, was desperately reaching out, hoping to summon his magic to warp himself out, but without his grimoire, his spatial magic was too weak to escape Charmy's bindings.
Luck was grinning, eyes alight with excitement, electricity crackling along his body. He was practically begging for Charmy to let him out so they could fight.
Magna, trapped in the same cotton ball as Luck, was growing increasingly furious as Luck's magic kept shocking him, without a care for his discomfort.
And then there was Gauche, who was busy shielding his carefully sculpted life-size figure of his sister Marie, guarding it as if his life depended on it.
Let's not dwell on Gauche's… family obsession.
Vanessa, however, was the most terrified of all. She was starting to realize that this might be more than just a funny moment; Charmy looked like she genuinely wanted blood. Vanessa winced in pain, her voice weak and pleading. "Captain… save me!"
"Save us!" Finral corrected, also looking towards the same corner in desperation.
Asta and Noelle followed their gaze, and what they saw left them speechless. Sitting calmly in a pair of armchairs in the corner, Yami and Sebastian were completely unbothered by the mayhem. Yami was casually flipping through his newspaper, taking occasional sips from a coffee mug, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as if the pandemonium surrounding him didn't even exist. Meanwhile, Sebastian looked slightly more alert, his own coffee cup in hand, with his grimoire floating beside him. He'd even created a water dome around their little corner, warding off any rogue cotton.
Yami didn't even bother to look up from his paper, speaking with the same calm indifference as always, as if the whole mess was entirely unrelated to him. "Huh? Sorry, no can do. You guys broke Rule 5, and Charmy gets to enforce the punishment. My hands are tied."
Finral let out a snotty sob, desperate and defeated. "But Captain Yami, Sir, this has nothing to do with me!"
Yami gave a slow shrug. "Then surpass your limits or something, and escape." He paused, finally glancing up at Charmy, his gaze calm but with a faint edge. "Oi, Charmy, I don't care what happens to the others, but if you break my ride, I'll step in."
Charmy shot Yami a dark side-eye but complied, moving the trapped Finral to a corner far from the rest of the chaos.
Finral wasn't sure whether to feel touched by Yami's intervention… or thoroughly depressed by the reasoning behind it.
Noelle sighed in relief, seeing her father safe, just as she was about to tell Asta to act, she heard her father clear his throat from the corner.
Sebastian looked at the trapped Black Bulls with some guilt—this was partly his fault, after all—so he coughed into his fist. "Charmy."
"What?" Charmy snapped, shooting a glare his way.
Sebastian scratched his cheek. "I haven't touched my stash yet. You can have it if you like," he offered in an attempt to calm her down.
Charmy sneered. "That wouldn't even last me a meal!"
Sebastian blinked. I couldn't even finish that in a week if I tried. He didn't say it out loud, just shook his head. "You don't need to be so upset. I'll use my resources to track down that geezer and his channels for you."
Charmy didn't look convinced. "And how long will that take?! I'll be eating slop in the meantime—I'll die!"
Sebastian opened his mouth to retort, but the enormous sheep struck the top of his water dome with a powerful hook. The dome didn't break, only rippled, but the impact was enough to make Sebastian and Yami jump.
Yami pointed his katana at Charmy, growling lowly, "Oi, kid, what the hell do you think you're doing—"
Charmy didn't even look at him. "I haven't settled the score with you yet!" She aimed a fierce glare straight at Sebastian. "I thought we were kindred spirits and connoisseurs of cooking, which is why I set you up with my plug. But… but… you were careless, and you got tailed! Now my goods are gone! When I'm done with this hussy, I'm coming for you, Ponytail!"
I have a name, Sebastian thought miserably, and it's not Ponytail! But further aggravating Charmy didn't seem wise, so he just sighed and slumped back in his chair.
At the doorway, Noelle tensed, worried for her father's safety, while Asta's mind was racing with questions.
How does Mister Silva even know Miz Charmy?
Shaking himself free of curiosity, Asta turned around abruptly, grabbing Noelle by the shoulders and pinning her against the hallway wall. Noelle's face went beet red as she processed what just happened.
"W-what are you doing, Bakasta?" she stammered.
"Shush." Asta put a finger on her lips, his gaze steady and serious, causing Noelle to stiffen and nod.
Asta leaned close to her ear, his warm breath tickling her. "Everyone else is trapped. We have to do something."
Noelle clenched her fists, whispering back, "What can we possibly do?!"
Asta grinned. "Easy—I'll knock out Miz Charmy with my sword. That should break the spell."
"Don't be an idiot, Bakasta!" Noelle whispered fiercely, shaking her head. "You won't even get close! Even if you dodge the cotton, that sheep will crush you!"
"No, it won't," Asta retorted confidently.
"And why's that?!" Noelle shot him a confused look. Asta may have anti-magic, but he couldn't swing in all directions at once; he'd get caught eventually.
Asta tilted his head, meeting her eyes. "Because I have you to protect me."
Noelle's eyes went wide, her mind blanking as Asta continued. "You'll cover me and clear a path to Miz Charmy."
"What are you talking about, Bakasta? I can't cast moving spells yet—"
"Noelle." Asta held her shoulders to steady her.
"W-what?" she murmured, a nervous edge in her voice.
Asta's voice softened. "Last night, you sent me flying with your magic."
Noelle's pupils dilated. She'd actually hit the target she'd aimed for! But she quickly bit her lip, shaking her head. "That was just luck. I still can't control my magic, and I don't even have my wand—"
"Noelle!" Asta's voice grew more forceful, cutting off her doubts.
Noelle froze as Asta continued, "You didn't use your wand last night, and you didn't in Saussy Village, either."
Her breath caught, leaving her speechless.
Hesitantly, Asta cupped her cheek, gently rubbing it. "If you've done it before, you can do it again, right?"
Noelle bit her lip, and then nodded, determination flickering in her eyes.
Asta smiled. "Good. We're partners. I trust you to watch my back, so trust yourself to have it too."
Noelle's face flushed, her eyes growing misty as she gritted her teeth. "But… but what if I mess up? What if you get hurt because of me?" She hated the thought of being the reason anyone got hurt—especially Asta.
Asta paused, blushing slightly. Her concern for his safety warmed his heart in an unexpected way. He gently wiped away the forming tears in her eyes, smiling reassuringly. "I might get hurt even if you try. But without you helping me, I'll definitely get hurt."
"So… can I count on you?"
Thump! Thump! Thump! Noelle's heart raced, but she reached out, summoning her grimoire from her room. It flew down and landed in her hand.
With a wordless nod, Noelle gave her answer. Asta grinned and summoned his own grimoire, his broad anti-magic sword flying into his hand.
With one last look of determination, he charged into the fray.
"Hey, Miz Charmy, over here!" Asta yelled, drawing Charmy's attention to the living room entrance.
Charmy turned, smirking as she saw Asta with his weapon ready and Noelle standing just behind him. "Oh, would you look at that," she said darkly. "How filial of you both, saving me the trouble of hunting you down."
The duo gulped, but Asta raised his sword one-handed, pointing it at Charmy. "Let them all go, Miz Charmy!"
Charmy crossed her arms, glaring down from her floating cotton cloud. "Or what?"
Asta took a deep breath, then charged forward without another word. "You leave us no choice. We're taking you down!"
Charmy raised an eyebrow, her grimoire glowing as she snapped her fingers. "Cotton Creation Magic: Sheep Bondage!"
Ropes of cotton sprang into existence, shooting toward Asta in an attempt to tie him down. But Asta kept running, slicing through the ropes effortlessly with his anti-magic sword, which made Charmy click her tongue in irritation.
Anti-magic, huh? Charmy thought. "Let's see you handle this!" She spread both arms wide, casting the same spell again, but with more ropes, attacking Asta from all directions.
"Noelle!" Asta called.
"I got it!" Noelle's grimoire flipped pages as she cast, "Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Nest!" A dome of swirling water, complete with whirlpools, appeared around Asta, repelling the cotton ropes with ease.
Charmy, unfazed, cast the spell again—this time aiming at Noelle.
Noelle's eyes widened slightly before she smirked. "You think I didn't expect that?" It was basic strategy to target support in battle.
She extended one arm toward Asta and the other toward herself, forming a similar water dome around herself just in time to deflect the cotton ropes. Both domes shrank slightly to cover only one person each, maintaining their concentrated, swirling defenses thanks to Noelle's abundant mana.
Watching from the sidelines, Sebastian and Yami gave small nods of approval. They both knew, however, that the real test was still to come.
Charmy sneered, her eyes glinting with mischief. "What's the plan now, kids?" She pointed mockingly at the domes. "Those shells may protect you, but they're stationary—you can't move with them, so you can't reach me."
Before Asta or Noelle could respond, Charmy's expression grew darker. "You could wait out there until my mana runs dry, but I wouldn't recommend it."
She gestured toward the kitchen, where multiple cotton sheep were busy cooking a feast. She cackled. "My food replenishes my magic. The mana I'm using here is far less than I'll get back! I won't run out until I'm out of ingredients—and my stash can last a whole month!"
Charmy's grin turned sinister. "Even if that weren't the case… if you hide in your little shells, there might be no one left to save by the time you come out."
"Aghhh!" Everyone's attention snapped to Vanessa, who coughed up blood and saliva as the giant sheep squeezed her even tighter. The sheep's free hand slammed down on Sebastian's water barrier again, and this time, a faint crack appeared at the top.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed as he quickly patched the crack, but he knew it wasn't a good sign. His control over his magic was precise, but his mana reserves were nowhere near Noelle's. He couldn't keep this up indefinitely.
Glancing at Yami, Sebastian noticed a subtle narrowing of the captain's gaze and felt a small sense of relief. Yami may act unfazed, but he cares deeply for his squad, Sebastian thought. Vanessa, one of his first members, must hold a special place in his heart.
It was clear that even someone as laid-back as Yami was beginning to lose patience with Charmy. He was just giving Charmy a chance to vent, acting unbothered, yet in actuality prepared to step in any moment, should she take things too far.
It was relieving in a way, but not entirely necessary. As Sebastian looked back at Noelle, he smiled softly. I don't think they'll need his help.
Since entering the room, neither Asta nor Noelle had shown a single sign of panic. For Asta, that was typical. But for Noelle… it was something remarkable.
Asta glanced over his shoulder, shouting to his partner, "Noelle, I'm charging in!"
Noelle gave a firm nod. "Go for it! I've got your back!"
Grinning wide, Asta bent his knees, digging his feet into the floor with his immense strength, and launched himself through the water dome in a near 45-degree angle toward the floating Charmy.
Charmy smirked and snapped her fingers. "Well, if you've got a death wish, I'll grant it."
"Cotton Creation Magic: Sleeping Sheep Strike!"
The massive sheep behind Charmy reared back and threw a heavy left hook toward Asta, aiming to send him flying through several stone walls—or worse.
Asta, however, didn't waver, keeping his gaze fixed on Charmy and ignoring the incoming attack. He was about two meters from her, but the sheep's punch was closing in faster. Time seemed to slow down as Noelle took a deep breath behind him, her determination steeling.
Her grimoire flipped to a blank page that quickly filled with new text. Asta put his trust in me. His life is in my hands. I won't let him down. I won't miss!
Noelle extended her arm, pointing it toward the oncoming attack. Water gathered in her palm, forming a giant sphere, then fired with force like a hydro cannon at the sheep's arm.
"Water Magic: Sea Dragon's Waterball!" Noelle yelled, drawing everyone's attention—except Asta, who never doubted her.
The water blast tore through the sheep's arm, causing Charmy's eyes to widen in horror as she realized Asta was now just above her, his sword raised to strike.
"Ahhh!" Charmy flinched in fear, but just as Asta was about to bring his sword down, he halted it with inhuman precision, stopping right before it could make contact. Instead, he gave her a light bonk on the head.
"Oof." Charmy slumped unconscious from the tap. Despite her large mana reserves, her physical endurance was no match for Asta's strength; even a light bonk from him felt like a full blow to the average person.
As Charmy's grimoire shut and dropped to the platform, all her spells flickered out. The giant sheep, the cotton bonds around the others, and the floating cloud holding her and Asta disappeared.
Asta jumped down just in time, catching Charmy in one hand and Vanessa, who had fallen, in the other. He landed gently, then set them down side by side—the unconscious Charmy and the battered but safe Vanessa.
"Are you alright, Miss Vanessa?" Asta asked, looking down at her in concern.
Vanessa managed a weak smile. "I might need to visit a doctor, but a few days of rest should do the trick. Trust me, it looked and sounded worse than it was."
She cast a wry glance at the unconscious Charmy and chuckled softly. "If she really wanted to kill me, I'd be dead."
Asta nodded a bit awkwardly. Vanessa then gave him a teasing look. "Saving me like a princess, huh? Not bad at all, kid. Maybe when I'm feeling better, you can stop by my room so I can show you some gratitude—"
"NO!" Asta interrupted, his serious tone catching her off guard. He leaned in and whispered, "I only have eyes for Noelle."
Vanessa blinked, speechless; she'd only been joking, but the intensity of Asta's response left her gaping.
Meanwhile, the water dome around Yami and Sebastian faded, allowing Sebastian to step toward Noelle with a proud smile.
"Noelle, you did it—"
"I did it!" Noelle interrupted, beaming. "I actually controlled my magic! And I even learned a new spell!"
In her excitement, she dashed forward with arms outstretched, causing Sebastian to open his arms to hug her—only for Noelle to race right past him and into Asta's arms.
"Bakasta, I did it!" she exclaimed, leaping onto him.
Asta quickly steadied himself and caught her, nearly stumbling backward but holding her close. He hugged her tightly as her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs around his waist.
Realizing how close their faces were, both blushed, but neither pulled away. They rested their foreheads together, sharing a quiet, joyful moment.
Finral stood frozen, then burst into tears of envy. "So unfair! I want a royal beauty too!"
Vanessa, still on the ground, cringed in disbelief. This is moving way too fast!
Luck bounced around Charmy, trying to shock her awake to no effect. "Come on, let's fight!"
Magna, seeing this, readied a flaming fireball to hurl at Luck. Gordon mumbled something inaudibly, happy for his friends, while Gray let out a puff of smoke beside him. Gauche simply picked up his beloved statue and left.
Yami blinked, moving his gaze from the frozen Sebastian, to the duo with a small smile. Not a bad way to start my day.
Taking a drag of his cigarette, Yami stepped forward. "Oi, Luck, Asta, and Noelle, gather round. I've got a mission for you."
Sebastian snapped back to attention at that, narrowing his eyes slightly. Time to return to the capital and start preparing for the invasion.