Dungeon, Deep Interior____
Noelle was still unhappy about Luck going on ahead without them.
"I seriously can't believe him. Yami told him to properly look after the rookies, and he just leaves us behind like this?"
"Maybe he has his own reasons?"
"Don't worry! Whatever traps there are, I'll cut them down with this sword!"
"You two sure are relaxed."
"A dungeon like this is nothing! No matter what anyone says, I'm going to become the Wizard King!"
"You're way too fired up, Asta. And I'm the one becoming Wizard King, you know?"
"You are?"
"No, I am."
"Me! Me! It's me?!"
"There they go again..."
"I'll become Wizard King before Kadel and Yuno!"
"I know who Kadel is, but who's Yuno?"
"Huh? Haven't I mentioned him before?"
"Didn't you see him at the exam site? The other guy who was with us?"
"At the exam site..."
"Ah, sorry. It's fine if you don't want to talk about it."
"Yuno is my childhood friend from Hage Village. We took the Magic Knights entrance exam together, and he joined the Golden Dawn!"
"Isn't that amazing? He got into the Golden Dawn even though he's not a noble?"
"Yeah, he's amazing. Though Kadel here isn't too shabby either."
"Do you realize that you're the most incredible one for saying that?"
"I've still got a long way to go! But I'll be the fastest one to become Wizard King!"
With that, Asta slowly walked ahead.
Noelle's gaze as she watched him looked rather suspicious.
"Could it be that you like Asta...?"
"W-What are you talking about?!"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong! Nothing! Let's hurry up!"
"Still too soon, huh..."
Beeeeep!
As Noelle hurried forward, a trap spell on the floor activated, beginning to glow green.
"A trap? I messed up!"
"Noelle!"
"Run!!!"
Asta shouted as he swung his sword, but his arm was caught. Noelle, who had yet to properly master offensive magic, was caught as well.
"Tch! We should've been more careful! [Time Deceleration Magic: Chrono Sileres]!"
This should buy us some time...!
"Gah!!"
Something suddenly grabbed my right leg and hoisted me up in a single motion.
Was that plant-like monster... no, defensive magic? Either way, its roots even flung my Grimoire to the floor.
When is the Golden Dawn getting here?
At that moment, a sword made of wind Mana appeared with the roar of a fierce gale and pierced the monster.
"What was that?"
"Such precise and powerful magic... who was that?"
"Looks like they're finally here."
"Finally?"
"There's no way we'd be the only ones sent to a dungeon this close to the Diamond Kingdom. And that Mana...!"
"That pays back what I owed you, Asta."
As expected, it was Yuno.
"Yuno, why did you bother saving these people? Our mission is to conquer this dungeon. In other words, we must reach the treasure chamber at its deepest point as swiftly as possible. We have no time to waste on them."
"Hey, Yuno, who's this rude glasses guy all of a sudden?"
"Would calling a glasses guy a glasses guy really be rude?"
"But what else do you call a glasses guy?"
"That's awfully blunt..."
"Glasses... No, the rude ones are you! Don't think you can speak to me as equals just because I'm a glasses guy... I mean, a noble!"
"So you do accept that you're a glasses guy."
"You!!"
"Hahaha!"
That was how our side exchanged greetings. Over on their side...
"It's been a while, Noelle. Has it been since last year's royal family banquet?"
"You know each other?"
"Yeah, a little."
"I'm Noelle's cousin."
"So you came too..."
"I heard the Black Bulls are a barbaric squad. Are you all right?"
"Hmph. You should be worrying about yourself, Mimosa. Can someone as soft as you really manage in the Golden Dawn?"
"Yes! Everyone is so kind, so I've been able to use my magic without getting intimidated. Ah! Noelle, you couldn't control your Mana at all. How have you been doing since then?"
Mimosa was clearly concerned, but somehow she was still stabbing Noelle right in the heart.
"W-Well... I've been managing."
"What do you mean, managing? Your magic was amazing last time!"
"Huh? Your magic last time...?"
"You used an incredible defensive spell to protect everyone in that village, remember?"
"Oh my! Really? That's wonderful! As expected, Noelle, you're much more amazing than I am!"
"I-It was nothing special."
"Ah! The Wizard King awarded our group a star for the mission we handled together last time, you know?"
"Hehe. We got a star last time too!"
"Hmph."
"Don't lie. There's no way rookies from the Black Bulls would be awarded a star so easily."
"We did get one! We're at negative thirty now!"
"Well, I heard you got one too. But there's still a difference of one hundred and one stars between us~"
"The very fact that you were assigned this mission is more than you deserve."
"The Wizard King appointed us personally!"
"Hmph. Another obvious lie."
"Well... our captain isn't the sort of person who lies, so it's probably true."
"There's no way..."
"Come to think of it, I heard there were four of you. Where's the other one? Don't tell me he ran off and abandoned you? Or has he already become food for a trap spell?"
"He didn't run away, and he hasn't become food!"
"Then where is he?"
"Hmm... I have a rough idea where he went."
"You do?"
"You! If you know, then tell us already!"
"Sorry, I know, but it takes a little time... Anyway, it seems Luck headed toward where other people are?"
"Why are you making that a question?"
"Because there seem to be multiple people there, and they're fairly strong."
"Fairly strong people?"
"Hmm... they're too far away for me to sense them clearly. But one thing's certain: someone other than us is inside this dungeon."
"...Could it be the Diamond Kingdom...?"
"Either way, you're a bunch of trash who leave rookies behind. You disgrace the Magic Knights."
"All right, punk. We, the Black Bulls, will conquer this dungeon first!"
"Don't rise to his provocation so easily, Asta."
"Keep your eyes open and watch! You poop-colored... no, idiot... no, I mean... weird-mask squad!!"
"Pfft! Hah, are you insane?!"
"Idiot...? Poop-colored?! And weird masks?! You dare mock Captain Vangeance, whom we revere?! Besides, isn't your captain the weird one?! What is with all those muscles and that tank top?!"
"What'd you say, punk?! He's manly and super cool!"
"How dare you speak to a noble like that! And I'm your senior!"
"Ah! Sorry about that! My apologies~!"
"You!!"
"What a mess..."
A little while later, after everyone had calmed down...
"Fine, then! I'll show you the difference between the strongest and weakest Magic Knight squads! Mimosa!"
"Yes~ [Plant Creation Magic: Magic Flower Guidepost]! Let's see... hmm, hmm. I see. I have a rough grasp of this dungeon's layout now."
"Good. Yuno."
"Right."
Without even chanting an activation phrase, Yuno flew off carrying the other three.
"He's carrying three people so effortlessly..."
"Struggle as best you can."
"Yuno has always been overflowing with talent."
"That's Yuno for you! All right! Let's go, Noelle! Kadel!"
"Wait!"
After wandering around for quite some time, we managed to get out with Nero's small help.
After that...
"That's the treasure!"
"No, no, it's a mimic!"
"No, it definitely isn't!"
"Woooooah!"
"Wait, idiot Asta! No matter how you look at it, that's a trap!"
While we got lost for a second time, a great many things were happening elsewhere.
______Luck________
"My, my. This is troublesome. My subordinates were taken down in an instant. You're strong, aren't you?"
"Hahaha! They were only your subordinates, right? If their leader's strong, there's no problem!"
"You seem highly adaptable, your attack power is impressive, and you're fast too. Young talent is growing everywhere. Oh dear, this old man is scared. So scared."
"What kind of magic do you fight with, I wonder?"
"Hmm... you seem awfully eager, but the Clover Kingdom wants the treasure chamber too, right?"
"Come on, let's fight!"
"My, my... More importantly, don't we not have to fight? Let's compete without violence here! Let's do that! Well then, goodbye~"
Lotus genuinely tried to flee, and Luck blocked his path.
Then their Mana clashed.
________Golden Dawn______
"We'll be there soon. Once we leave this passageway..."
A massive door appeared before them.
"It really is incredible~"
"Hmph. So this is all a dungeon amounts to? It's nothing special."
"How do we get inside?"
"It appears the Black Bulls aren't here yet."
"Of course not. There's no way they could be faster than us."
"I suppose so."
Rumble, crack! Boom!!!
"Aah!!"
A mineral suddenly appeared behind Mimosa, wounding her back and knocking her down.
"Ghk! Mimosa!"
It pierced through her defensive magic tool cloak...! Mimosa specializes in sensing Mana, yet she didn't notice it at all?
"He's alive, right?"
It's not trap magic... What kind of magic is this?! Could this be the Mana those Black Bulls were wary of?!
Click, click...
"Who goes there?!"
"Whoever stands in my path, move aside."
Before them stood a gray-haired man holding a Grimoire marked with the symbol of the Diamond Kingdom.
For the Clover Kingdom...
Their ordeal was only beginning.
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