Short Chapter
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"What just happened?!"
"That speed! That was incredible!"
"Isn't that the brat from the countryside, the one who was chasing a bird earlier?"
Who is this guy?!
"Didn't he just say something about the Wizard King?"
Some candidates whispered, others spoke loudly about the fight they had just witnessed — especially Asta's performance, which had shocked most of them.
"All this chatter is so annoying! I said I'm going to become the Wizard King! Does anyone have a problem with that?" Asta asked seriously, looking around, waiting for someone to speak up.
"Is he an idiot or what? Just because he won a fight against a weakling, he's already acting like he's the best."
"Commoners really do behave like the fools they are. He came all the way here just to say something that stupid."
"That guy doesn't even understand the reality he lives in... My stomach hurts from laughing. Haha!"
"Shut your mouth already, you stupid brat! Your win was just luck. I doubt any captain would want someone like you!"
"Who are you calling a stupid brat?!" Asta yelled angrily, searching for the person who said that.
---
With the Captains
"That technique he used... was that wind magic shaped like a sword!? What refined control!" Finral said, impressed as he observed Asta from afar. He'd definitely make a good recruit for his squad.
"Yes… But that speed he used to charge forward — that was pure physical effort..." Yami said, blowing smoke from his cigarette. "Becoming the Wizard King, huh? Looks like someone interesting just showed up."
---
Back on the battlefield
After Asta's fight ended, the rest of the matches continued as scheduled. Some were even more impressive. The fights that caught the most attention were usually the ones between nobles and other high-ranking candidates.
"Those nobles and the guys from the capital are seriously impressive! The captains are definitely going to pick them."
"Their mana capacity and control are on another level! They've already mastered full spells in such a short time."
"Yeah... After seeing all these fights, that brat didn't seem like such a big deal after all."
"True. His opponent only lost because he underestimated him. If he had taken it seriously, it would've been a different story."
While everyone was talking about the battles, off to the side stood Yuno, waiting for someone to challenge him. He wanted to fight Asta to show how much he had grown in six months with his grimoire, but now wasn't the right time.
Just as he was about to move and look for a match, he heard someone calling him from behind.
"You still haven't found a worthy opponent? Maybe I should fill that role for you," said a blonde man with long hair, approaching Yuno with a friendly smile.
"That's Salim, from the noble House Hapshas!" an impressed girl whispered nearby.
"Even with that so-called legendary four-leaf grimoire, you're still just a filthy commoner. I'll show you the real difference in power between us," Salim said arrogantly.
---
Both stood on the battlefield, facing each other seriously, waiting for the fight to begin. It didn't take long — the magic judge declared the start of the match.
With calm confidence, Yuno slowly grabbed his grimoire and cast the first spell that came to mind. He wasn't taking the fight too seriously; he just needed to show the captains how strong he had become.
"Wind Magic: Storm Tower!"
A small tornado formed in his hand and rushed toward Salim, who smirked at the sight of the weak-looking spell.
He thought it was pathetic — until the tornado came closer. Suddenly, it began to pull him in, growing larger and stronger until it completely swallowed him.
When the spell ended, Salim was lying on the ground, defeated — his expression filled with humiliation. Underestimating your opponent is never a good idea, especially if they wield a four-leaf grimoire.
All the candidates watching were stunned the moment Salim lost. That commoner had defeated a noble with ease — and he wasn't even tired.
"Young Salim lost in a single blow!?"
"This can't be real!" shouted one disbelieving boy, looking at Yuno in fear.
Just as expected, the captains were shocked by Yuno's victory. They knew the boy was strong — but not this strong.
This year's exam was full of surprises.
---
After the Battles
"The test has come to an end. I will now begin calling out numbers. If I call your number, step forward. Any captain who wishes to recruit you will raise their hand," William said, wrapping up the matches.
He continued, "If more than one captain raises their hand for you, you may choose which squad you want to join. However, if no one selects you… unfortunately, you'll have to return home and will not be joining the Magic Knights."
"Now then, contestant number 1, please step forward."
The young man stepped up and waited nervously — but no captain raised a hand for him.
One by one, various candidates were called. Some were chosen, some were not. The captains carefully selected their new recruits for the year.
Then it came time for one of our important characters.
"Next… Number 164. Please step forward."
Yuno was already standing in the right spot.
In an instant, all the captains raised their hands, signaling interest in the black-haired boy.
"Seriously?! All of them chose him?!" one candidate gasped.
"I have to choose the safest path to becoming the Wizard King…" Yuno thought calmly. Then, extending his arm, he pointed toward one of the captains.
"I want to join the Golden Dawn."
William heard this and smiled. One of the most promising young mages had just joined his squad.
"He picked a good one," Finral said to Yami, who hadn't picked anyone yet.
"Looks like the next one is that kid…" Yami muttered, watching as Asta's number was called.
"Please… Let someone choose me!" Asta thought anxiously, hoping at least one captain would raise their hand.
He stepped forward — and to everyone's surprise, most of the captains raised their hands. The only one who didn't was William, who stared at Asta with a mysterious expression.
Asta was stunned. And so were the other candidates who had mocked him earlier.
An overwhelming emotion filled his heart. He felt that, finally, all his hard work was paying off. He would use this chance to become a powerful Magic Knight.
Just before he could choose which captain to follow, a burly man stood up and spoke.
"Hey, brat!" Yami shouted, catching Asta's attention. "I heard that speech of yours — about becoming the Wizard King. Sounds like a load of crap. How do you expect to become the Wizard King when you're not even a Magic Knight yet?"
Asta had been waiting for someone to ask that. He already had the answer ready.
"Because I never needed anyone to believe in me to keep trying! Since I was a kid, everyone said I'd fail — that I was worthless without magic… but I never gave up! I trained every single day! I ran until my legs gave out, I fought until my hands bled!"
"I don't need magic to become the Wizard King… I just need to keep moving forward!!"
The field went silent. Then Asta slammed his sword into the ground with force, sealing his resolve.
Yami raised an eyebrow, scratching his chin.
"Hmph... that look in your eyes…" he muttered. "There's a fire in them that most of these pampered kids have never seen. You might be a lunatic… but you're the right kind of lunatic."
He turned to the other captains and declared:
"This brat's mine. If anyone tries to choose him now, they're getting a kick to the jaw."
Some captains chuckled. Others scoffed. But none dared to challenge him.
Yami looked back at Asta with a half-smile.
"You want a place where you can prove yourself without being judged for coming from the sticks? You want a squad where breaking the rules is just a regular Tuesday? Then come with me, brat. Welcome to the Black Bulls."
Asta's eyes widened. His chest swelled with pride, and with an excited shout, he answered:
"I accept! I'll become a Black Bull!"
And so, with a fiery speech, a determined glare, and a reality-defying mindset, Asta took his first step as a Magic Knight — under the insane, chaotic, and unpredictable command of Yami Sukehiro.
---
After It All Ended
Many were happy, having been selected by a captain. Others had to walk home in disappointment, with nothing but rejection.
That's when everyone heard the voice of a certain gray-haired boy.
"Uwah! I really need to poop now! Must've been that purple snake I ate!" Asta shouted, running to the nearest bathroom.
Some people laughed at the scene. Others ignored him and went on with their day. But among them was one boy with a twisted expression.
"You embarrassed me out there. Don't think I'll let it slide, Asta. Because of you, I ended up in some crappy squad," grumbled Sekke, the blond boy. He followed Asta toward the bathroom without him noticing.
"How the hell did a loser like you get so much attention from the captains?! This isn't fair!"
With a sinister grin, he opened his grimoire, looking for a spell that could ruin Asta's happiness.
"Bronze Magic: Sekke's Poison Lizard!"
A medium-sized lizard with spots (signs of poison) emerged from the grimoire and crept toward Asta's stall.
But before it could reach him, a gust of wind soared through the bathroom — destroying the lizard with a single strike.
Sekke turned in shock, only to see Yuno standing there — the boy who caught the attention of every captain.
"What do you think you're doing?" Yuno asked, serious.
"Huh!? I-I was just trying to scare him, y'know… A way to say goodbye before we part ways. Hahaha…" Sekke laughed nervously.
"As if I'd believe that. You'd better leave. But first — let me tell you something. You're no match for Asta."
Shaken, Sekke ran out of the bathroom with a terrified expression.
The moment he left, Asta also stepped out of the stall.
"Whew! That was a relief!" Asta said, rubbing his stomach. "Guess I'm pretty fast…"
He saw Yuno there. The two locked eyes — and exchanged a confident, rivalrous smile. Without saying anything else, they turned and walked off in opposite directions.
---
"You sure have some nerve making me wait! Damn brat, how long does it take you to crap!? Even I don't take that long!" Yami said, glaring deep into Asta's soul.
"I really had to go! It was like… this big!" Asta replied, using his hands to show the size of the "monster."
"Who the hell asked you, idiot?! Let's go, Finral," Yami said, turning to his personal taxi.
"Of course, Captain," Finral replied. His grimoire floated near his waist, and he began chanting a spell.
"Spatial Magic: Fallen Angel's Gate!"
He stretched out his hand, and a human-sized portal appeared.
📝 (This emoji means he's copying the spell.)
"Whoa! What is that? So cool!" Asta asked, amazed.
"It's the fastest way to get to our base. We could use brooms… but that'd be boring," Yami said.
Then he grabbed Asta by the head.
"Sorry, Captain, but it's hard to keep a portal that size open. Could you hurry up a bit?" Finral asked, sweat pouring down his forehead from exhaustion.
"You giving me orders now? Suck it up and push past your limits — right here, right now!" Yami shouted before throwing Asta through the portal.
As he came out the other side, Asta found himself in a strange new place. In front of him was a massive, weirdly shaped structure, with rooms sticking out in all directions.
"This is the Black Bulls' base?" he smiled — but was quickly startled by a loud explosion.
The front door suddenly blew off and flew through the air. Looking through the hole, he saw all kinds of people inside, each causing their own kind of chaos. It was complete madness.
But instead of feeling disappointed… Asta's excitement only grew. He knew that from here on, life would be way more interesting.
Behind him, Yami appeared and said:
"This is the worst squad in all of the Magic Knights."
Welcome to the Black Bulls.