A giant tree appeared in the air, its branches sprawling everywhere, and brooms materialized in front of everyone.
"Your first test is simple: use that broom and fly," the masked captain, the most cheered of all nine, said from his seat on the high stage.
"If you can't fly on a broom, you're not worth looking at."
Marcus grabbed the broom, but unlike the others, he was more intrigued by the magic the masked captain had used than by the grandeur of the captains sitting on their high stage.
Everyone else began flying on their brooms, and Marcus smirked before taking off.
Meanwhile, on the high stage, behind the Captain Yami seat, Finral observing the participants.
"This time, people seem more enthusiastic, right, Gordon?"
A murmur sounded from Gordon, who was trying to say something, but all that could be heard were indistinguishable mumbles.
"Heh." Finral glanced forward to continue observing the field.
"Oh, that kid isn't flying at all. He should at least lift a little, right?"
"Wow, that neat black-haired kid is flying with his legs on the broom. What a showoff. Damn, no wonder the four-leaf chose him."
Finral's eyes wandered across the field.
"Wait... is that kid flying on the broom in a sleep position, reading a book? Another showoff. He's got good control, too."
On the stage below, the flying test was over, and several other general tests were being held: magic shooting, mana balance, and so on. Marcus and Yuno performed phenomenally on the tests.
Meanwhile, Asta was still struggling.
Marcus tried to encourage him, but he knew there was no way a protagonist would fail such an important event in the story.
Just as he expected, in the next round—a pair-up combat round—Asta proved why he was the protagonist of this show.
No magic, but with his raw strength and speed, he destroyed a well-crafted magic spell—an advanced bronze-tier spell, at that.
"I'm not joining the Magic Knights to have a good time or avoid working hard," Asta declared sharply, his words a fierce slap to the faces of those who looked down on him. "I'm here to work hard and become the Wizard King!"
The declaration echoed through the arena.
Marcus even clapped for him, while the crowd around them booed. Asta turned to look at Marcus, but he, in return, ignored him.
Now that I think about it… he really does seem to be the protagonist.
Several fights took place as Marcus observed their moves, mentally taking notes. He watched how they moved when casting spells, how they retreated, and how they adjusted their strategies.
He also noted the raw instincts of the commoners compared to the disciplined fighting styles of the nobles.
Another fight he had anticipated was happening. A noble had picked a pair with Yuno, the other protagonist. The noble even showed off a grand magic spell.
The fight ended quickly—much sooner than anyone expected. Yuno took him down with a single spell.
Now, it seems to be my turn. Hmm... no one seems eager to fight me. Maybe it's because of my good performance of other tests.
"Well then," Marcus said with a smirk.
He pointed at a fat noble. "Hey, you!"
The noble turned his head to Marcus. "How dare you point your finger at a noble?" he screamed.
"Do not jump, you are causing earthquakes all over the kingdom"
"You—!!!"
Marcus quickly pointed at another noble. "Yo!your mama is so ugly, the ghost is scared of her"
The second noble glared.
Now two nobles were chasing Marcus.
But Marcus didn't stop there. He pointed at a lady noble. "You look more beautiful than in your barn... Lady Cow."
"You—!!!"
Now the three provoked nobles were charging toward Marcus in a fury.
"Fire Magic: Fire Blast!"
"Thunder Magic: Thunder Shock!"
"Wind Magic: Wind Slice!"
Three spells conjured in the air. A slicing wind tore its way toward Marcus, a shockwave of thunder quickly closing in, and a fireball hurtling toward him.
Marcus was not at all afraid. In fact, he wasn't even bothered. A smirk curled on his lips.
The spectators and the captains watched eagerly, wondering how he would handle it.
Asta and Yuno also watched him intently.
Marcus raised his hand. "Necro Magic: Frost—Blast!"
Three ice-shaped orbs quickly formed and collided with the incoming spells. A chilling wind exploded from the impact, cutting through the air.
Before the nobles could react, the icy wind swept behind them, condensing into a barrier-like wall.
The nobles and spectators were confused, unsure of what Marcus was doing. As for Marcus himself, he jumped high into the air.
His grimoire flipped its pages with a quick motion.
"Necro Magic: Death-Bolt!"
A black orb, radiating an otherworldly aura, blasted into the air.
As soon as it struck the ground, the terrifying energy it released sent shockwaves, blasting the nobles back into the barrier.
It was then they realized the barrier was there to contain the blast and prevent further destruction.
Marcus slowly landed on the ground. The nobles were unconscious. He dusted off his clothes and casually walked to the side.
The spectators were stunned, their jaws dropping. Even the captains were impressed, though uncertain thoughts crept into their minds after witnessing the star-covered grimoire and the bizarre spell.
The tests came to an end.
The participants stepped into the center, and the Magic Knight captains raised their hands to select them.
Most of the hopefuls weren't chosen. It was rare for someone to pass on their first try, though they could retake the test next year.
Still, it was hard for them, having hoped so much. Marcus silently prayed they'd all make it next time.
Then, Yuno, the cool and dashing protagonist, stepped forward, and all the captains raised their hands.
Yup, plot armor is definitely his friend.
He was selected by the Golden Dawn, which seemed to have a great reputation.
Next, the other main character, who Marcus was sure was the actual protagonist of the story, stepped onto the stage.
No one raised their hand. But he didn't back down. Instead, he fought back with a speech that reflected his unyielding will. It seemed like plot armor was his enemy and hard work his ally.
And in the end, his friend, hard work, didn't disappoint him.
The captain of the Black Bulls crudely chose him.
Slowly, everyone took their turn, and now it was my turn. "Number 185."
I walked onto the stage and waited. Time passed, but no one raised their hand.
As I thought, they were scared. They'd be willing to choose me if it weren't for this strange grimoire.
They were afraid that I might not be a citizen of Clover Kingdom. They feared what would happen if my bizarre magic was something they couldn't control.
They were more concerned about their own prestige than about encouraging a new knight.
Would I back down? No. Bullshit, I wouldn't back down unless there was absolutely no other option.
Marcus looked at the captains, with a smirk across his face. "Heh... heh...he..he… Magic Knight Captains? More like scared little pee-pants pretending to be captains."
"The noble pigs I defeated with a single spell got selected, but not me?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, did you receive money in backdoors, or are you all just too scared of the nobles to make a real choice?"
The air around him seemed to thicken, his words sharpening the tension. The captains' auras were visibly stirring, their anger palpable.
"Are you really Magic Knight Captains, or just a bunch of bed-wetting kids picked because of connections and money?"
"Mommmmy I am scared , Noble daddy pleeeease give some money"
"What, you are all scared of a magic you don't understand? and scared of unknown grimoire"
"But ready to attack me, a kid , Fine then"
Marcus raised his hand. His grimoire glowed, and a giant hand with middle finger showing made of ice suddenly formed in the air emerged from the earth, hovering before him.
He locked eyes with the captains, daring them. "If you've got the guts, show me your powers, you so-called Magic Knight Captains."
He climbed up on the hand which showing middle finger facing them.
"come on'"
"Pusies"
The captains stood up with angry faces, their grimoires ready to attack Marcus.
"Ha... ha... ha... ha... He called you scared pee-pants kids... ha... ha... ha…I like this kid"
Only one captain was laughing, and that was Captain Yami.
Yes, I got his attention now.
Marcus cast his eyes on the captains. Damn, what should I do now?