Yuno seemed to have a lot on his mind about Asta... while I was thinking about my own Grimoire.
'Even in the original, I only ever saw a Grimoire like this once: a magic book with countless pages spinning endlessly to the right, without a cover.'
As far as I knew, only one person possessed such a Grimoire.
Julius Novachrono, the twenty-eighth Wizard King and the current Wizard King.
He was someone everyone admired—not only because of the overwhelming presence he displayed in battle, but because he possessed an equally outstanding character.
'Though later on, whether it was the aftermath of battle or something else, he loses most of his power. It's questionable whether he can even fight properly anymore...'
"Well, I guess it'll work out somehow. More importantly, both Yuno and Asta looked terribly disappointed... though I really don't need to worry about them."
'Asta and Yuno are the heroes who will save this world, the protagonists of this long story. They're the kind of guys who save everyone through their unbreakable wills and strength. Besides, I've known them since they were crawling around as babies. There's no way they'd be crushed by something like this. So I'll believe in you, Asta. And you too, Yuno.'
Outside the Grimoire Tower.
"What are you doing here, Yuno?"
"Kadel..."
"You still believe in Asta, don't you?"
"..."
"You don't have to try so hard to act grown-up. How long do you think I've known you guys? The day Asta recklessly stepped forward to protect you, I could only stand beside you and tremble... but I saw everything. You saw it too, didn't you? Asta protecting us. The warmth of his dream. It was a snowy day, yet that feeling was hotter than anything...! There's no way he'd break. Unless he somehow starts chasing after us even more stubbornly, that is."
"There's no way he won't receive a Grimoire."
"Haha, you're as resolute as ever. All right! Then maybe I'll wait here until Asta's Grimoire answers him too."
"The stars of today's ceremony shouldn't stay behind forever."
'This is where that chain-wielding guy showed up.'
"[Chain Creation Magic: Magic Binding Iron Chain Formation]. It seals the Mana and movements of anyone it captures."
"Who are you?"
"At a time like this, shouldn't some kind of bandit be the one showing up...?"
"Heh heh heh... Until recently, I had quite the reputation among the Magic Knights as Revchi of the Chains. Now, though, I'm just an ordinary bandit. Only the owner can use a Grimoire... but how much do you think a collector would pay for one...?"
"Oh, and while I'm at it, I suppose I'll take your Grimoire too."
"Let go of this! Do you seriously think it's okay to steal someone else's Grimoire?!"
"...What's this? Is this a Grimoire? A Grimoire without a cover... This ought to fetch a pretty price too."
'Should I have done something sooner? My body is bound—I can't move either my Mana or my body at all.'
"Whether it's an unusual Grimoire or a four-leaf one, you're just greenhorns who've only just received them. What a shame. By chance, I happened to be here..."
"Your legends are over before they've even begun...!"
"Wait!!!!"
"Aaaaaaagh!"
Every time I saw Asta in person, his movements were incredible.
"What are you doing, you thief?!"
"Asta...!"
"I knew you'd come!"
"Huh? You're the..."
"That's right, the pathetic brat who couldn't even receive a Grimoire. Heh heh heh."
"You know me well! That's riiiiight, I'm a pathetic boy!"
"A Grimoire is something precious that only its owner gets to have! Give Yuno and Kadel's back, you bastard!"
"Heh heh heh. This is the outside world, where this kind of injustice happens openly. Do you want to die before you even get out there, brat?!"
"Run, Asta!"
"..."
'No matter how quiet he usually is, Yuno gets honest when it involves us.'
"Like hell I'd run from a piece of trash like you!!"
"I was once a Magic Knight, even if things turned out this way... Brats like you are no challenge at all!!"
In an instant, chains shot out from Revchi's side and bound Asta's body.
"Not yet!!"
"No, it's already over. [Dance of the Chain Snakes]."
"Good work wasting your effort. Since you tried so hard, shall I tell you something nice as a reward?"
"I can sense the Mana of anyone these chains touch, and you have no Mana at all. That must be why you can't use magic—you were born that way."
"To think someone like you existed. When I think of how things have been for you and how they'll be from now on, I can't help but pity you."
"Heh heh heh. Those friends of yours over there are probably laughing at you too. You can't do a single thing in this world. You're a born loser, destined to give up on everything...!"
"Hey... who are you calling a loser...?"
"A loser? Don't make me laugh."
"That guy is—"
"That idiot over there is—!"
Yuno and I spoke at the same time.
"He's not a loser! Asta is our rival...!"
"W-what...?"
"Not yet...! I've made a pathetic spectacle of myself, Yuno, Kadel. Just wait a little longer."
"I'm going to defeat this guy right now...!"
At that moment, a battered Grimoire descended from the sky. It looked as tattered as a rag and as though it held blackness itself within its pages—the very Grimoire I had only seen in manga and anime. The five-leaf Grimoire said to house a devil appeared before Asta.
"A Grimoire...?"
"I knew it. There's no way Asta wouldn't be chosen...!"
"It would have been unfair from the beginning if you hadn't received one, Asta...!"
Vwooom!Thud! From the Grimoire before Asta, an incredibly ancient-looking sword emerged: the [Demon-Slayer Sword].
At that moment, a certain line flashed through my mind.
"...The fourth leaf holds good luck... and in the fifth leaf dwells a devil."
"W-what the hell is that?! You piece of trash with no Mana!"
Before Revchi had even finished speaking, countless chains flew toward Asta once more.
"It's so heavy! To think my muscles would come in handy at a time like this... Aaaaaaagh!!!"
Bang!!!
'The chains are vanishing as if they're melting into particles of light... Is this Anti-Magic...?!'
"He nullified my magic...?!"
The instant Revchi recoiled backward—
"Even without Mana, I will become the Wizard King!!!!!!!!"
Revchi was struck in the stomach by Asta's massive sword as though he had been hit with a club, and was sent flying straight into the wall.
"...You're seriously unbelievable, Asta!"
'Is this what it means to be the protagonist? He's overflowing with the power of passion.'
"................I did it!!! I don't know what's going on, but I got a Grimoire!!!"
"It's super tattered, but I'll treasure it!"
"That makes twice now that I owe you. Damn it~"
"Asta, you helped me again. I'll definitely repay this debt...!"
"Kadel, Asta, do you remember the promise we made that day?"
"You're the ones saying that, but you remembered it too, didn't you?"
"Let's see who becomes the Wizard King first!"
That day, the three of us smiled, placed our hands together, and promised to compete. We would each become the Wizard King first.
I was worried about setting out on a journey with them when I had once been nothing but a reader. But if we moved forward together, I felt as though we could go anywhere.
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