Castle Town Kikka.
"Whoa! Amazing! That looks delicious! Ah, wow! There are so many different wands and tools! But they’re expensive!"
"It’s completely different from our village."
"Hmm... There’s so much variety, and there are people everywhere. I can’t get used to it."
"Is that where the Wizard King is?"
"The King is probably there too."
"Then someday, that’ll be my castle!"
"My castle."
"Does the Wizard King usually get that castle?"
"When that happens, I’ll let Kadel and Yuno live there too!"
"That’s my line."
"Pfft. You’d better get ready to mooch off me, Asta!"
"What did you say?!"
"There, there. Don’t cry. Let’s hurry back and get the shop ready."
She looks familiar somehow...
Just as I was lost in thought, Asta spoke first.
"I’m starting to miss everyone at the church. Sister and the others must be really lonely without me!"
"No way."
"Hey, Yuno!"
"Hey, wait! Come with us!"
"Hey!"
Yuno suddenly took off, and Asta and I hurried after him.
"So where’s the entrance exam being held?"
"What in the world did you buy while we weren’t looking? Is that some kind of snake? You’re really eating that...?"
"Oh, this? It’s roasted purple snake. Try some, Kadel."
"No, I’m good."
"The entrance exam should be over there."
"It’s packed with nutrition, so it’ll really get you fired up!"
"No way."
As we kept talking, we eventually arrived at the entrance to the exam site.
There are a ridiculous number of people here. As long as I don’t get nervous, I should manage somehow.
After steadying myself a few times, I walked up behind Yuno.
"You’re number 163. Next."
"Yuno, from Hage Village."
"Yuno from Hage Village... your Grimoire... A four-leaf?!"
The moment Yuno showed his Grimoire, I could clearly hear whispers breaking out all around us.
"Number 164. Next."
"Kadel, also from Hage Village."
"Kadel from Hage Village... your Grimoire..."
I thought he might say something when he saw it, but taking the exam without showing my Grimoire was impossible, so I revealed it.
"This Grimoire... I never thought I’d see a strange Grimoire like this twice."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, it’s nothing. You’re number 165. Next."
Judging by what he said, has he seen Julius’s Grimoire before? Well, Julius has the public image of a wise ruler with widespread support, so it makes sense. Maybe it’s better that he doesn’t suspect me.
"I’m Asta from Hage Village too! This is my Grimoire!"
"Hmm... It’s rather dirty. Are you sure that’s really a Grimoire?"
"W-wait, I’m telling you, it’s real! Look closely! See? See?"
"All right, all right. Number 166."
"Yes! All right!"
It seemed the official had accepted it only reluctantly.
I wondered what it felt like for that examiner to see a four-leaf Grimoire, a coverless Grimoire, and a five-leaf Grimoire all in one sitting.
Inside the exam site.
"I’m starting to get nervous."
"Ow, ow! What are these birds?"
"They’re the exam site’s famous [Anti-Birds]."
"These things?"
"They say the lower your Mana is, the more of them gather around you."
"How annoying."
Thanks for the explanation, random extras. Come to think of it, not a single bird is coming near Yuno or me. Somehow, that makes me feel pretty good.
While people nearby whispered about Yuno, Asta walked over and spoke.
"One of us is going to become the Wizard King. This is the beginning of our legend, Yuno, Kadel!"
"I’ll show you what six months of training has done for me!"
"Hey, Asta... are you okay?"
Asta was speaking with remarkable composure, but not only was he surrounded by countless Anti-Birds, some of them were even pecking at him. Naturally, Nero was perched atop his head as well.
"W-w-wait, ow, ow! What are these birds?! Aaargh!"
Tormented by the Anti-Birds, Asta began running wildly around the exam site... Would he be all right?
"You birds! Stop swarming me! Uoooh!"
Thud!
With a dull impact, Asta crashed straight into the person in front of him.
"Ah, that man!"
"Do you know him, Kadel?"
Yuno asked me with a genuinely puzzled expression.
How could I not? He was one of the most prominent main characters in the original, always delivering incredible entrances and cool scenes—not to mention the funniest ones. He was one of the best characters, period.
"Ah... that’s Yami Sukehiro."
"That’s an unusual name."
"That’s because he isn’t from the Clover Kingdom."
"Then where is he from?"
"They say he came from a country across the distant sea called the Hino Country."
"I see."
While we were talking, Yami had already grabbed Asta by the head.
"Ah, there you are. What are you doing down here?"
"I was just about to crush this brat’s windpipe."
"Aaaaargh!"
"More importantly, no, you can’t do that. A Magic Knight Captain can’t kill an examinee! More importantly, why did you come down to the exam site?"
"I got lost on my way to take a dump."
Was that really a joke? There’s at least an eighty percent chance he meant it...
"You got lucky, brat. You barely saved your life, so cherish it. Or I’ll kill you!"
"Whaaaat?!"
"Later."
Whisper, whisper, whisper.
What are they saying? It sounded like they said something in the middle of all that, but I couldn’t make out a single word.
"That’s a relief, Asta! At least your life isn’t in danger!"
"Ugh... My head still hurts..."
After that, just like in the original, Sekke thankfully began explaining the captains to Asta.
"Examinees. I apologize for keeping you waiting. I shall oversee this examination. [Magic Beast Descent]."
The instant he finished speaking, dark clouds formed in the sky, and enormous tree roots began descending from above. Before each examinee, the roots transformed into a broom.
This is the man closest to becoming the next Wizard King!
Yuno and I were probably thinking the same thing.
"Now, we will begin the Magic Knights entrance exam."
"You will undergo several tests. We nine Magic Knight Captains will evaluate you, and afterward, each squad will recruit the talent it desires."
"If you are chosen, you may join that squad. If multiple squads choose you, you may select the one you wish to enter."
"Conversely, those not selected by anyone are unqualified to join the Magic Knights. That is all."
"For the first test, you will fly using those brooms."
The murmuring around us felt as though it never stopped.
"Any mage capable of controlling Mana should be able to do this by instinct. It is the most basic means of transportation for a mage."
"There is no point discussing anyone who cannot fly a broom."
"Begin."
I grabbed my broom and flew as high as I could.
Asta is down there, and Yuno is... Ah, he’s right beside me?
"Yuno! This is more fun than I expected, isn’t it? It feels like riding a board!"
"A board? What’s that?"
"Ah, it’s nothing."
It had been so long since I’d felt the sensation of riding a board that the words slipped out naturally. I need to be careful.
After that, the [Mana Test], [Mana Control Test], [Creation Magic Test], and [Transformation Magic Test] all ended. Creation Magic was not my specialty, so it was somewhat difficult, but it wasn’t a major problem. Naturally, every one of those tests had been a major problem for Asta.
"Now for the final test. We’ll conduct it in a practical format."
Fuegoleon Vermillion, captain of the Crimson Lion Kings, rose from his seat and shouted.
"Combat! Form teams of two and face your opponent! You may use your Grimoires and attack! We make our living through battle."
"Show us your power without reservation!"
"The test ends when either side surrenders or becomes unable to fight."
"Mages capable of using Recovery Magic are standing by."
"Fight to your heart’s content!!"
Hmm... Who should I fight? I’d like to fight Asta or Yuno at least once, but that might throw the story completely off course.
As I was considering it, I sensed someone approaching from behind.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Theodore Iceberg. I happen to be the second son of the Iceberg Family."
And who are you? Have you ever even appeared in this manga?
"Hmm... All right, but why did you come looking for me?"
"You appeared to be alone. So I, the second son of the Iceberg Family, have graciously decided to face you myself."
Even from the way he spoke, he seemed like the sort of hopeless idiot who would get along perfectly with Salim.
Still, there was no reason to refuse when he was volunteering to fight me.
"Fine. I look forward to it."
"You mean, ‘I look forward to facing you, sir.’"
Oh, for crying out loud.
When I reached the arena, Asta and the one going “fuh-ha-ha”... no, Sekke, whispered something in the center before stepping back.
"Begin!!"
"No holding back, Asta! Fuh-ha! [Bronze Creation Magic: Bronze Defensive Magic Orb: Sekke Magnum Cannonball]!"
Watching from above, Finral spoke to Yami.
"That’s some impressive magic for an examinee, isn’t it?"
"Doesn’t he look like one of those rare pointy beetles from Mimo Amazon?"
Ignoring Finral’s serious comment, Yami bluntly voiced whatever was on his mind.
"All right, here I go."
An ominous aura surged out of Asta’s black Grimoire. He drew a black sword from it, reached Sekke in an instant, cleaved Sekke’s magic in half with his massive blade, and cheerfully smacked him on the head.
"Hyaaah! I’m not joining the Magic Knights just to work moderately hard and make some good memories. I’m going to give everything I have to become the Wizard King!"
"Asta really is straightforward. That’s what I respect most about him."
Murmur, murmur.
"Did that guy just say Wizard King...?"
"You’re all so noisy! I said I’m going to become the Wizard King! Got a problem with that, losers?!"
After exchanging a few more heated words with the others, Asta stepped aside.
"Are you ready?"
"There’s no need to prepare for a lowborn commoner. I’ll make you understand, down to your bones, just how exalted nobles are."
"Begin!!"
"[Ice Creation Magic: Ice Lance: Theodore Icicle]!!"
Ice-attributed Mana gathered in one place, forming a long, spear-shaped mass of ice.
"That would definitely hurt if it hit."
"Fuhuhu! This is the magic of a noble, utterly incomparable to that of lowborn trash! Now, become the first stepping stone in my career as a Magic Knight! Fuhahaha!"
Of course it would hurt if it hit.
That was only if it could hit me.
"[Time Acceleration Magic: Chrono Sileras]."
Bang!!
Movement magic really was nice. It was convenient, and excellent for evasion too.
"Y-you... When did you get over there?!"
"Didn’t I say it would hurt ‘if it hit’?"
"You dare humiliate me without even opening your Grimoire? I’ll tear you apart right now! [Ice Creation Magic: Freezing Missile: Frozen Shot]!!"
"Sigh... Let’s get this over with."
"[Time Restraint Magic: Chrono Stasis]."
The noble boy, who had been shouting and casting magic at me, was trapped inside a transparent sphere wrapped in a circular band marked with Roman numerals from I to XII. Inside that sphere, time itself had been slowed beyond measure. He probably could not even move.
Ah, what had he said about my Grimoire again?
"This is my Grimoire. Make sure you get a good look at it."
I raised my Grimoire into the air so everyone could see it.
"I’ll be going now."
"Is that really a Grimoire?"
"Wasn’t that guy a commoner?"
"The Iceberg Family has really fallen low."
"Are all the commoners this year freaks like that?"
I could hear people around me talking about me and making all manner of unpleasant remarks.
"Time Magic... That’s incredibly unusual, Yami."
"That Grimoire too. Could that old man have a hidden son or something?"
"Pardon?"
"Ah, it’s nothing."
"This year’s newcomers are all unusual. A boy with no Mana, an examinee whose Grimoire might not even be a Grimoire, and a four-leaf..."
Unfortunately, I failed to notice the intense gazes of Yami and the other captains directed at me from above. Instead, I chatted with Asta, whose test had ended, while waiting for Yuno.
Of course, I honestly enjoyed watching Yuno crush Salim Hapshass.
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