The merit award ceremony was held in a place that looked, surprisingly enough, like a church.
"I wonder what a merit award ceremony is like?"
"Weren't you listening when they explained it?"
Julius said as we arrived at our destination.
"Then do you think you can achieve more than they have?"
Standing before us were Nozel, captain of the Silver Eagles, along with Nebra and Solid.
There was Fuegoleon, captain of the Crimson Lion Kings, and Leopold.
The three Golden Dawn members whose names I couldn't remember.
Charlotte, captain of the Blue Rose Knights, and that blonde, tan woman...
Even Marx was there.
It looked like everyone who was meant to attend had gathered.
"Then let us begin the merit award ceremony.
"Leopold Vermillion of the Crimson Lion Kings.
"I hereby grant you the title of Intermediate Magic Knight, 2nd Class.
"Like your older brother, the captain of the Crimson Lion Kings, the power of your Flame Magic is truly overwhelming.
"Be careful not to let it go too far."
"Evil deserves no forgiveness."
At least I remembered Leo clearly.
His mindset, his actions, even the way he spoke... The three Vermillion siblings were all such likable characters that I couldn't help feeling more fond of them.
Julius called them up one at a time, granting titles and offering advice perfectly suited to each of them.
"Six stars earned. Sol Marron of the Blue Rose Knights.
"I hereby grant you the title of Intermediate Magic Knight, 3rd Class.
"Your initiative and Earth Magic, which are no less impressive than any man's, are remarkable. Still, you do seem a little too uninhibited at times."
"The only person who can restrain me is Captain Charlotte..."
"Six stars earned. Solid Silver of the Silver Eagles.
"I hereby grant you the title of Intermediate Magic Knight, 3rd Class.
"Your fine control of Mana is impressive, but I would like to see you show off your strength less and cooperate more with those around you."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Keep it in mind, my ass.
That guy wouldn't even listen to the end before acting cocky, getting beaten senseless by Noelle, and spending his time recovering.
Even just comparing Mana reserves, Noelle was overwhelmingly superior to him now.
Honestly, even Solid and Nebra combined had far less Mana than Noelle.
"Nine stars earned. Nebra Silver of the Silver Eagles.
"I hereby grant you the title of Senior Magic Knight, 5th Class.
"The intricate illusions you create with your Mist Magic are exceptional.
"However, try not to toy with your enemies excessively or lead them around with those illusions."
"Thank you for your advice."
"Seven stars earned. Hamon Caseus of the Golden Dawn."
So that chubby guy's name was Hamon Caseus...
I didn't think he was a bad person, though.
In the first place, it seemed William hadn't come with them because he had something going on with Patry.
"I hereby grant you the title of Intermediate Magic Knight, 2nd Class.
"Your Glass Magic, so unexpected from your appearance, must have caused your enemies no small amount of trouble."
"You have my gratitude."
"Eight stars earned. Shiren Tium of the Golden Dawn.
"I hereby grant you the title of Intermediate Magic Knight, 1st Class.
"In contrast to your eloquent magic, you yourself are rather quiet. I would like you to express your opinions a little more."
"Understood."
"Eleven stars earned. Alecdora Sandler of the Golden Dawn.
"I hereby grant you the title of Senior Magic Knight, 4th Class.
"Your diligence and versatile magic have impressed me.
"You should relax your shoulders once in a while."
"Thank you for your kind words."
"The Golden Dawn earned seventy-one stars.
"They stand out above all others.
"The other squads should work hard not to fall behind.
"You have all worked very hard. Now, we have prepared a modest gathering, so please enjoy yourselves.
"Oh, that's right. We have also invited a special guest today, so I hope you'll mingle with one another."
Enjoy ourselves, my ass. This was the start of a disaster waiting to happen, Wizard King...
___Banquet Hall___
"The stares around us are painful. I don't think I can enjoy this at all. Why would the Wizard King treat us like this...? And the important person himself has gone off somewhere."
Klaus quietly muttered his feelings as he nervously watched everyone around us and merely sipped at his drink. But Asta...
"What is this?! I've never had anything like it! It's so good!!"
Asta loudly proclaimed it as he ate without a shred of hesitation.
"How can he be so confident...? You really are amazing, Asta."
"That's not amazing. He just has no sense of tact, Four-Eyes."
"Um... Kadel? Would it be all right if I joined you...?"
Mimosa appeared behind us at some point and spoke up.
"If you're okay with it, sure... But are you really fine sitting with us in this atmosphere?"
"Yes! It's fine. I've been in situations like this before..."
Then—
"Why would the Wizard King invite such vulgar lowborn trash?"
"I can't sense any Mana from him. His dungeon conquest must have been nothing more than dumb luck."
"Look at how disgustingly he stuffs his face."
"It's unnatural for him to be here at all. He's a rat that wandered into the wrong place."
A bunch of nobodies sneered at Asta and egged each other on.
Honestly, if those idiots had gone to conquer that dungeon themselves, Lotus and Mars would have torn them apart.
"Mm, those words are pretty harsh~ Though I'm used to it by now."
"W-What an incredibly broad-minded man!"
"Even I'm impressed by his mental fortitude..."
"I hear there's a lowborn in your squad as well. That lowborn who got full of himself after receiving a four-leaf Grimoire."
Then Leo appeared out of nowhere and jumped into the argument.
"I would have handled the previous dungeon conquest mission better."
"Such confidence from a Crimson Lion brat.
"We have no expectations of lowborn trash like him.
"We are the ones who embody the ideals of Lord Vangeance's Golden Dawn."
"I-I'm sorry, but..."
"You too, Klaus.
"A person with skills as mediocre as yours isn't ashamed to stand here? And Mimosa! I heard you were injured immediately in the dungeon and withdrew from the front lines. What a joke that you carry the name of the royal Vermillion family."
"I'm... truly sorry."
"N-No! Mimosa..."
"No, no. The most useless person here, the one who truly came to the wrong place, is you, isn't it? Noelle?"
Splaaash.
Solid dumped his drink straight over Noelle's head.
"You unprecedented disgrace who cannot even control her Mana properly."
"You're practically an exile from the Silver family, yet you've got some nerve showing your face among royalty again."
"Nebra..."
"Did one measly success go to your head? Did you come here just to deliberately disgrace the Silver family name?"
"N-Nozel..."
"This place does not suit you.
"Disappear, you half-finished failure who killed our mother."
Just as I was about to start swearing at them—
"You don't have to run away from scum like them!"
"Asta..."
Asta climbed onto a table and continued speaking.
"I thought you guys were amazing because you'd been invited to a place like this...! But you're no different from everyone else!!!!!
"Lowborn, rats, disgrace, half-finished failure... So what?!
"Watch closely, because I'm going to—!!"
Boom!!
Before Asta could finish, earth surged up from the ground.
"That's enough. Insolent fool. Someone like you is not even permitted to speak. Shut your mouth!"
"Hngh!!"
Asta easily cut through the magic with his sword and emerged.
"Like hell I will?!
"Listen up, you bastards! I'll earn merit after merit, become the Wizard King, and make every last one of you shut up!!"
"The Wizard King? Don't make me laugh!"
"Water Binding Magic: Sea Serpent's Coil!"
Bang!!!
But it was shredded to pieces by Asta's Demon-Slayer Sword.
"Mist Binding Magic: Mist Spider's Binding Thread!"
Thwip, thwip, thwip!
"Tseyaaaah!!"
Asta cut through that attack as well and broke free.
"But with an attack range like that, there's nothing to fear.
"Sand Creation Magic: Sand Armor Guardian!"
"Y-You should stop this now..."
"Be quiet. Such behavior at a gathering meant to celebrate the merit awards will not escape punishment."
"Hey, hey, why are you being so soft, Golden Dawn boy? Someone who doesn't know his place needs to have the lesson beaten into him."
Solid spouted nonsense as he prepared to fire another spell.
"Holy Water's F—"
"[Time Restraint Magic: Chrono Stasis].
"That's far enough, you bastard."
"That magic belongs to the Wizard King..."
"But the Wizard King said he had business to attend to...!"
"Kadel! You helped us! Thanks for helping, but...! You... apologize to Noelle!!"
Crash!!!!
Asta drove his fist into Solid's shoulder with enough force to seemingly shatter it.
Thanks to that, my magic was dispelled as well.
"H-How dare lowborn trash like you...! Do that to me...!"
Just as the atmosphere had progressed from introduction, to development, to crisis, to climax, Nozel's Mana began bearing down heavily on everyone.
"N-Nozel..."
"Solid, don't casually use magic on mere lowborn."
"B-But!"
"Shut up. Do you intend to disgrace the Silver family name?"
At least here, Nozel remained obsessed with the family name he had already dragged through the mud.
It was no wonder people like Rades went berserk over it.
"You lowborn who defy royalty, how should I deal with you?"
Then I felt the weight on my body disappear again.
No, more precisely, it felt as though something else had pushed away that oppressive Mana.
"That is enough."
As expected, the only person who could step in here, someone with character, dignity, and ability no less impressive than Julius's, was Fuegoleon.
"Are you not ashamed, Silver family, to behave this way toward mere children?"
"Hahahahaha! Just as Mimosa told me, you lot are rather interesting!"
"Huh?"
"What?"
Leopold startled us so badly that an embarrassing squeak escaped our mouths.
"Good! Rejoice! I, Leopold Vermillion, shall take you as my rivals!"
"Huh?"
"I didn't think there'd be anyone else like Asta."
I did know, actually.
"Your names were Kasta and Adel, weren't they?"
Leo mixed up our names from the very first meeting.
"Leopold, it's Asta and Kadel!"
Mimosa whispered to him from beside us.
"Hahahahaha! Asta and Kadel! Fine names, my rivals!!"
"Rivals?"
"Come now, rejoice!
"Rejoice!"
Why did I suddenly get chills again...?
"W-Wow~"
"I'm. So. Happy."
"Um... thank you for saying that, but my rivals are Kadel here and Yuno over there..."
"Hahahahaha! Don't worry about it! There's no problem with having several rivals!"
"What is this guy..."
"Why? He's exactly like you."
"Oh, Asta! You have quite the physique! You truly are fit to be my rival!
"And Kadel, your Mana reserves are extraordinary! They rival those of royalty! Would you care to compete with me in Mana?"
"What is this even..."
Then Nozel, the eldest Silver brother and a master at ruining the mood, began speaking again.
"A royal acknowledges lowborn as rivals?"
"Those boys were permitted to attend by Lord Julius, the Wizard King. Even if they are lowborn, could you not acknowledge them at least somewhat?"
"To think such words would come from a royal. The Vermillion family has grown soft. You are an embarrassment to our relatives."
"What did you say?!"
"How can an eagle soaring through the sky be expected to acknowledge worms crawling upon the ground?"
Crack, crack, crack!
As their Mana swelled ever greater, the banquet hall descended into chaos.
"A-Amazing...!"
"It's not amazing, it's dangerous?!"
"You can tell?"
"Even if I can't sense Mana, I can tell! This is amazing!"
In the end, just as Fuegoleon's enormous flame lion and Nozel's silver-winged eagle were about to clash...
It was about time for the Royal Capital to come under attack, so there was no need to stop them.
More importantly, I needed to get ready...
Bang!!!!
"E-Emergency!! Urgh!!"
"What is it?"
"The... the Royal Capital!
"The Royal Capital is under attack!!"
Because now, the real beginning was about to start.
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