The distance between Hage Village and the Royal Capital was quite long. As we continued walking, Asta said enthusiastically, "The Royal Capital! I wonder what it's like. I wonder if we'll get to meet the Wizard King!"
Yuno poured cold water over him, saying, "But we have to pass the Magic Knights entrance exams first. Then we'll talk."
Asta, undeterred, continued, "I'm so excited!"
Yuno was surprised. "Excited? Aren't you scared?"
Asta replied confidently, "Why should I be scared?"
I joined in, "Indeed, why should we be scared?"
Yuno sighed, shaking his head. "You both never change."
Asta was already running ahead. "Come on, let's hurry! The Royal Capital is super far away!"
He kept running, shouting, "I have to hurry up and become the Wizard King!"
Yuno, still calm, said, "Just because you get there quickly doesn't mean you'll become the Wizard King any faster."
Asta continued to run, ignoring us, while daydreaming, "I'll become the Wizard King and—"
He picked up a branch from the ground and pretended to ride it like a broomstick.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Yuno, with his usual dry humor, broke the illusion. "Can you even ride a broom when you don't have any magic?"
Asta stopped, stunned, as the broom fell from between his legs. He rushed to Yuno with a bright smile, still full of optimism. "I'll make it work."
Yuno, a bit skeptical, raised an eyebrow. "Will you?"
Asta nodded, unwavering. "I will. I've got my grimoire, remember? I can do anything as long as I don't give up!"
He took off running again, calling back, "Come on, hurry up, Yuno, Ryo! Or I'll leave you both behind!"
Yuno sighed, but followed after Asta, with me strolling leisurely behind them. Luna had already shifted into her human form and was walking beside me, hand in hand.
We eventually caught up with them, their exhaustion evident. Asta collapsed onto the ground dramatically, gasping, "Not yet... Not done yet..." between labored breaths.
Despite his fatigue, he scrambled to his feet and forced himself to run again, with Yuno silently following. After a while, I caught up once more and found Asta sprawled on the ground, utterly drained, while Yuno sat on a nearby rock, taking deep, steadying breaths.
Smirking at the sight, I teased, "So, are you two finally calm now?"
They both glanced up at me briefly before returning to their desperate attempts to recover. After giving them a short break, we resumed our journey once more.
Through rain and fog, resting by campfires at night, hunting wild animals for food, crossing deserts, and enduring landslides, we continued forward. Each challenge only strengthened our resolve.
Finally, we reached the last stretch of the journey. Climbing a hill, I stopped, looking ahead at the towering mountain that awaited us. Yuno and Asta caught up, and Asta asked, "What happened, Ryo?"
I pointed toward the horizon. On top of the mountain, a massive city wall stood tall, and beyond it, the silhouette of a grand palace could be seen. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over everything. It was the beginning of a new leg of our journey—our new dawn.
Asta's eyes widened in awe. "Woah, it's huge! So that's the Royal Capital. That's where the Wizard King lives!"
With renewed excitement, Asta pumped his fist and shouted, "All right! I'm gonna do this! I'm gonna be there, just you wait! I'm gonna be the Wizard King!"
Seeing Asta rush ahead, Yuno and I quickly followed. Soon, we reached the towering gates of Clover Capital. Up close, the walls were even more imposing than they appeared from a distance, leaving all of us momentarily awestruck. Passing through the gates, we entered Castle Town Kikka, a vibrant town situated on the outer ring of the capital. It was bustling with activity, and the lively atmosphere immediately captured our attention. This town was also the location for the Magic Knights entrance exam, so the excitement in the air seemed fitting.
The streets were lined with colorful stalls, each offering a variety of goods and magical items. The sheer liveliness of the place was contagious. Asta, as expected, was brimming with energy. "Woah, this is awesome!" he exclaimed, his eyes darting between the shopkeepers using magic to create their products. It was a reminder of how deeply this world revolved around magic.
As we continued down the street, we passed a shop displaying an assortment of magic tools—brooms, swords, grimoire scabbards, and more. Asta rushed to the display window, pressing his face against the glass like an excited child. "Woah! They have so many different types of items!" he marveled. However, the excitement quickly faded when he caught sight of the price tags. His eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "So expensive!?"
Yuno, ever calm, looked around and commented, "It's so different from our village."
I nodded and added matter-of-factly, "It's to be expected. This town prospers because it's close to the actual capital." Then, patting Asta on the shoulder, I teased, "Maybe once you or Yuno becomes the Wizard King, our village might become lively like this too."
Asta looked genuinely surprised for a moment, then clenched his fists with determination. "Then I'll definitely become the Wizard King!" he declared.
Not one to back down, Yuno smirked and said, "Not a chance, Asta. I'll become the Wizard King."
Before their usual banter could escalate, I stepped in. "All right, Wizard Kings, we have places to be," I said, waving them forward. Both of them quieted down, and we continued walking.
As we moved through the streets, Asta glanced up at the grand palace visible in the distance. "Is that where the Wizard King lives?" he asked, awe in his voice.
Yuno nodded thoughtfully. "Probably even the King too."
Asta grinned, his imagination running wild. "That means it'll be my castle someday."
Yuno, ever competitive, replied, "You mean mine."
Asta turned back to us with a confident smile. "Don't worry, I'll let both of you live there too."
Hearing this, Yuno and I couldn't help but smile. Despite their rivalry, Asta's optimism was infectious.
As we continued, a faint sound of crying reached our ears. Turning toward it, we saw a red-haired woman carrying a small child on her back, followed by two other children—a boy and a girl. They walked past us, their pace slow but steady. Asta watched them and murmured, "They remind me of everyone back at the church. I bet Sister and the others are lonely now that I'm gone."
Without breaking stride, Yuno replied, "Not a chance," leaving Asta stunned for a moment. Then, snapping back, Asta called after him, "Hey, Yuno!" and rushed to catch up.
A short while later, Asta wandered off to explore something that caught his eye, leaving Yuno and me walking ahead. Eventually, he rejoined us, chewing on something with a grin plastered across his face. "So, where do they hold the entrance exam, anyway?" he asked between bites.
I gestured toward a massive colosseum visible in the distance. "Probably at that colosseum up ahead. There are a lot of people gathered there."
Yuno, noticing what Asta was holding, asked, "What is that?"
With his usual enthusiasm, Asta held it up. "Grilled purple snake! It was super cheap. Want some?"
Yuno recoiled instantly. "No."
I couldn't help but smile as I watched them. Little did Asta know, the person who sold him that snake might have been someone far more important than he realized. The thought made me chuckle to myself.
Taking the lead, I guided us toward the colosseum, the first step in a journey that would change all of our lives.
It was packed with people, the energy buzzing in the air. Luckily, a clear path had been left in the middle for participants, letting us walk through the cheering crowd without getting stuck. Asta, ever the ball of excitement, started waving to everyone like he was already a celebrity. "I'll do my best!" he shouted, grinning ear to ear.
Yuno and I exchanged a look, silently agreeing that we wanted no part of this scene. Without a word, we both moved a few steps away from him, pretending we didn't know the overly enthusiastic idiot. "We've been here five minutes, and he's already embarrassing us," I muttered under my breath. Yuno gave a faint smile agreeing with me, but his pace didn't falter.
Soon, we entered the colosseum. Inside, three counters were set up with long queues of participants at each. Behind the counters, mages were busy appraising grimoires and recording names. The air was thick with anticipation, and the low hum of chatter echoed in the massive space.
Our turn came quickly, with Yuno leading the way. He stepped forward, his usual calm and collected aura making him stand out. "Yuno, from Hage Village," he introduced himself.
The appraiser, a middle-aged man with a weary expression, nodded. "Yuno, from Hage... Could you show me your grimoire?"
Yuno casually pulled out his grimoire and held it up. The moment the appraiser saw the four-leaf clover on its cover, his eyes widened like he'd just seen a ghost. "A f-four-leaf clover!" he stammered, loud enough to turn heads.
The reaction spread like wildfire. "Is that the rumored prodigy from the boonies?" someone whispered nearby.
"So that's the guy everyone's been talking about," another staff member remarked, leaning forward to get a better look.
The appraiser, now looking far more alert, eagerly appraised Yuno's grimoire with his magic. After nodding in satisfaction, he announced, "You're #164. All right. Next."
Yuno nodded wordlessly and walked off toward the arena, calm as ever.
Asta was next. With his usual boundless energy, he marched up to the counter. "Asta, also from Hage Village! Here's my grimoire!" he declared, holding it up like a trophy.
The appraiser squinted at the worn, tattered grimoire. "This looks… pretty dirty. Are you sure this is even a grimoire?" he asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.
Asta flinched, clearly offended. "Huh?! Of course it's a grimoire! Take a good look!" He practically shoved the thing in the man's face, earning a startled yelp.
"All right, all right!" the appraiser said, waving his hands defensively. Using his magic, he quickly appraised the grimoire, nodded, and announced, "You're #165. Next."
"Yes!" Asta cheered, fist-pumping the air before sprinting off toward the arena.
Now it was my turn. As I stepped forward, I overheard the guy behind me muttering, "Bah-ha, he must be a real go-getter if he came all the way from the boonies." I ignored the comment, keeping my focus on the counter ahead. I didn't want to waste my time or energy acknowledging him. Still, a part of me simmered, knowing what he would do to Asta after he lost. If push came to shove, I wouldn't hesitate to ensure he regretted it—whether that meant leaving him completely helpless or ensuring he wouldn't bother anyone ever again.
(A/N: What do you think? Kill him or Cripple him. I'll let you guys decide the fate of Sekke.)
"Ryo, also from Hage Village," I introduced myself.
The appraiser nodded, his expression still neutral. "Ryo, from Hage... Could you show me your grimoire?"
I reached into my pouch and pulled out my grimoire. The moment his eyes landed on the six-leaf clover on its cover, his jaw dropped. "S-six… six-leaf clover!" he blurted out, his voice cracking with shock.
The room fell silent for a moment before the murmurs exploded around me.
"Six-leaf?! That was just a rumor, wasn't it?" someone behind me exclaimed.
"Yeah, I heard whispers about it once… but I thought it was just a wild story," another muttered.
"Maybe it's real after all," one more voice chimed in, the tone filled with awe and disbelief.
I sighed internally, feeling the weight of all the eyes on me. 'Well, so much for keeping a low profile.'
Luna chimed in, her voice ringing in my mind with a playful tone. 'Looks like you're making quite the entrance, Master. You really know how to draw attention, don't you?'
'I didn't ask for this,' I replied back, irritation creeping into my tone.
'Oh, I know,' she teased, the amusement in her voice clear. 'But seeing their faces is priceless.'
The appraiser, still stunned, seemed frozen. I cleared my throat to snap him out of it. "Can you appraise it now?" I asked impatiently.
He jolted, clearly embarrassed. "Oh, yes, of course!" He quickly placed his hand over my grimoire, his magic flowing into it. After a moment, he nodded and announced, "You're #166. Head to the arena."
"Thanks," I replied curtly, tucking my grimoire away and heading toward the arena.
As I walked, the whispers followed me like an annoying shadow. 'Great. This is exactly what I didn't want—being high-key right out of the gate. Since I can't be low-key, then I'll just embrace being high-key.'
Luna's soft laugh echoed in my mind. 'Don't pretend you're not used to standing out, Master.'
I rolled my eyes, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of my lips despite myself. "Standing out, huh?" I muttered under my breath.
Soon, I stepped into the arena, I couldn't help but notice how full it was already. Most of the participants were around our age, but there were a few older ones sprinkled in as well. My eyes quickly scanned the crowd, and I spotted Yuno, walking toward him with ease. But, of course, I drew attention—again—thanks to my handsomeness and the commotion still echoing from the entrance. Being the first 6-Leaf Clover owner didn't exactly help with staying under the radar. Even Yuno, with his 4-Leaf Clover, was attracting his fair share of stares. Naturally, the two of us became the center of attention.
I shot Yuno a grin. "Guess we really are the attention gatherers," I said.
Yuno simply nodded, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
Then, out of nowhere, a large flock of anti-birds swooped down into the arena. One contestant, who had a few anti-birds circling around him, swatted at them. "Ow! What the heck is going on with these birds?" he exclaimed.
Another participant, watching the chaos unfold, explained, "Those are the famous anti-magic birds of the exam venue. The less magic you have, the more they peck you."
The others around them muttered in irritation, "These pests..."
One of them caught sight of me and Yuno and pointed. "Hey, look at those two. Not a single anti-magic bird around them."
His friend glanced at us and widened his eyes. "Oh, it's those two from earlier."
"Earlier?" The first guy asked, confused.
"Yeah. Both of them are from some remote village called Hage. But get this—one's got a four-leaf clover, and the other has a six-leaf clover."
Someone in the crowd gasped. "What? A four-leaf? And what the hell is a 6-leaf?"
I caught some nympho girls whispering nearby, "They both look so handsome..."
Luna, hearing the whispers, glared at them, but since no one could see her, she sighed in exasperation and said aloud, "Master, really..."
I smiled and lightly pinched her face, unable to resist. "My Luna-chan looks so cute when she gets mad."
Luna rubbed her face with a playful pout, her voice soft but teasing. "Master, you bully..."
Soon, we heard a familiar laugh, "Heh, Heh, Heh!" Turning toward the source, I saw Asta trudging toward us, completely covered in anti-birds. Trying to avoid the embarrassment, I casually stepped aside and let Yuno handle him.
Asta continued, grinning ear to ear as he approached Yuno. "One of us is going to become the Wizard King, and our legend starts here, Yuno!"
The crowd erupted with murmurs. "Wha...!? Become the Wizard King?"
Undeterred, Asta puffed out his chest. "I'm going to show you the results of my six months of training!" But before he could finish his declaration, an anti-bird pinched his cheek with its beak. "Owww!" Asta yelped, flailing his arms before breaking into a run, screaming, "What the heck are these birds?!"
The entire arena burst into laughter as Asta darted around in panic. His antics finally ended when he crashed headfirst into what looked like a mountain... or rather, a man built like one. The birds scattered instantly, fleeing in fear as they sensed the overwhelming aura of the man.
Asta wiped the sweat from his brow, oblivious to the tension in the air. "Finally, they flew off. Hey, sorry for bumping into you," he said casually, looking up at the man he'd crashed into.
The man glared down at Asta, his voice deep and intimidating. "I'll kill you, brat."
Asta took one look at him and screamed in fear, "What the hell is his problem?!"
After calming himself, Asta tilted his head thoughtfully, then placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "Man, you look old. Must've had a hard life."
The entire arena fell silent, save for the chirping of birds. The man's brow twitched. Without a word, he grabbed Asta by the head, lifted him effortlessly, and growled, "It seems you're ready to die."
Before things could escalate, two more individuals approached, both wearing black cloaks with golden trims, adorned with a black bull skull logo outlined in gold. The Black Bulls.
One of them, a young man with light brown hair, called out, "Ah, there you are! What are you doing down here, Captain?"
The towering man, now identified as Yami Sukehiro, the captain of the Black Bulls, replied nonchalantly, "I'm about to end this brat's life."
A participant in the crowd whispered, "Hey, is that...?"
Another girl finished, "The great Finral Roulacase! The user of rare spatial magic!"
As Finral began flirting with that girl, another participant muttered, "He's so girl-crazy it actually hinders his duties."
Someone else pointed at the silent figure beside him. "And that's Gordon Agrippa. The incantation magic expert. Creepy, though. Impossible to talk to."
Meanwhile, Asta flailed as Yami tightened his grip. "Hey! Cut it out!" Finral protested, finally pulling himself away from the girl he was flirting with. "A Magic Knight captain shouldn't kill an exam candidate! Why are you even here?"
Yami grunted, "Came to take a dump. Got lost."
The crowd buzzed in shock. "Wait, did he say captain?! That means he's the Captain of the Black Bulls—the Lord of Destruction, Yami Sukehiro!"
Yami ignored the whispers, casually lighting a cigarette as he began counting down. "Ten... nine... eight..."
Asta, panicking, shouted, "Hey! What are you counting down to?!"
Yami blew out a puff of smoke. "The end of your life."
The murmurs around the arena grew louder as some contestants started talking about the Black Bulls. "Aren't they the worst Magic Knight squad? Their collateral damage costs more than their actual achievements! That's one squad you don't want to be in."
Meanwhile, Yami's countdown continued. "Five... four... three..."
Finally, Asta stopped screaming and started pushing back with all his strength, planting his feet firmly as he tried to pry Yami's hand off his head. "One..."
Before Yami could finish, fireworks erupted in the sky, signaling the start of the exam. Yami let go with a click of his tongue. "Tsk."
Asta collapsed to the ground, clutching his head in pain as Yami walked off with Finral and Gordon in tow. "Guess you get to live a little longer, brat," Yami said over his shoulder. "Better take care of that life, or I'll kill you."
Asta, still on the ground, exclaimed, "What?!"
Finral waved goodbye to the girls, while Gordon muttered softly, "I wish the captain would kill me too."
I blinked, realizing I was probably the only one who heard him.
As the Black Bulls disappeared into the distance, Asta sat up, rubbing his head. "Man, that hurt..."
The guy who had been behind me in the queue earlier walked up to Asta with a wide grin plastered on his face. "Bah-ha! You okay?" he asked, his laugh obnoxiously loud.
Asta turned to him and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine!"
The guy chuckled again. "Must've been rough having Captain Yami of the Black Bulls all up in your face like that. Anyway, I'm Sekke. Sekke Bronzazza. Nice to meet you. Bah-ha!"
Asta returned his energy with a smile. "I'm Asta. Nice to meet you!"
Just as their introductions wrapped up, the atmosphere shifted. On the high platform overlooking the arena, the Magic Knight Captains began to make their entrance one by one. With each arrival, the remaining anti-birds flapped away, unable to handle the sheer mana radiating from the captains.
Sekke's eyes lit up as he nudged Asta and started pointing out the captains. "Bah-ha! That's Nozel Silva, Captain of the Silver Eagles. He's from the royal family. Pretty intense guy."
Next, he pointed to another tall figure with fiery red hair and a commanding presence. "And that's Fuegoleon Vermillion, Captain of the Crimson Lions. Another noble. He's all about discipline and strength."
The introductions continued. "That one with the creepy smile? That's Jack the Ripper, Captain of the Green Praying Mantises. Watch out for him—he's crazy strong but just plain crazy too. Its said that he can even split the ground in two. And over there is Charlotte Roselei, Captain of the Blue Rose. She only cares about women and barely tolerates men. So beautiful!"
Sekke gestured toward a man with shifty eyes and an unsettling grin. "That's Gueldre Poizot, Captain of the Purple Orcas." His tone brightened as he pointed to a cheerful woman who seemed to be sleeping. "And that's Dorothy Unsworth, Captain of the Coral Peacocks. She's... uh, sleeping most of the time. But don't underestimate her power."
Next, Sekke motioned to a young man with an artistic air. "That's Rill Boismortier, Captain of the Aqua Deer. Youngest captain ever. Super talented but acts like a total kid."
When the next captain entered, the entire arena erupted into cheers. It was clear this was the most popular one. Sekke leaned closer to Asta and Yuno. "That's William Vangeance, Captain of the Golden Dawn. The strongest squad of them all. He's also the top contender to become the next Wizard King."
Both Asta and Yuno stared at Vangeance with awe, their expressions filled with determination and respect.
Finally, Sekke's voice dropped slightly. "And last but not least... well, you already know him. That's Yami Sukehiro, Captain of the Black Bulls. The 'Lord of Destruction,' Bah-ha!"
As the captains sat in their imposing chairs on the platform, their sheer presence radiated authority, making the atmosphere heavy with tension. Asta, unable to contain his boundless curiosity, glanced around and blurted out, "Where's the Wizard King? Shouldn't he be here for something this important?"
Sekke snorted and waved his hand dismissively. "Bah-ha! The Wizard King doesn't bother with exams like these. It's a miracle all the captains showed up in one place! You should count yourself lucky just to see them."
William stood up and stepped forward, his voice calm yet commanding as it resonated across the arena. "Candidates, sorry to keep you all waiting. I will be the one conducting this exam."
He reached for his grimoire, its cover glinting faintly in the sunlight, and opened it with a practiced motion. "Magic Tree, descend!" he declared.
At his words, a vibrant green light erupted from his grimoire, illuminating the entire arena. The previously sunny sky darkened as clouds quickly gathered overhead. A powerful gust of wind swept through, forcing some contestants to shield their eyes as the air swirled around them. Then, from above, an enormous tree root began descending gracefully toward the ground, glowing with life.
As the root neared the arena, it stopped mid-air, and smaller roots sprouted from it, weaving their way toward each contestant. Each root twisted and shifted, transforming into a broom as it approached its designated candidate.
I reached out and grabbed the broom that had grown toward me. The moment my fingers closed around it, the root detached and retracted back toward the larger tree. One by one, the roots returned to the main trunk, which ascended back into the sky. As the last trace of the tree disappeared, William calmly closed his grimoire, and the clouds dissipated, restoring the clear blue sky.
With the spectacle complete, William turned his gaze to the gathered participants, his tone steady yet filled with anticipation. "We will now begin the Magic Knights Entrance Exam."
A/N: There, I'll leave you all with a small cliffhanger. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. See you all in the next one.