King A. Kira Globa XIII pounded his chest and performed a knight's salute: "My Royal Knights Squad shall annihilate the Midnight Sun! Magic Knights Squad members! Offer your grimoires to our nation!"
"Oh, oh~ How amazing!"
"The Royal Knights Squad!"
The people below the castle cheered.
The man looked at the resounding cheers that filled the sky, a smile involuntarily curving his lips: 'Heh heh... I won! Although Julius investigated and drafted this, it's mine now!'
"Why is His Majesty the King making the selection?"
Nearby, an untimely voice of doubt rang out.
"We think the truly amazing ones are the Wizard King and the Magic Knights Squad Captains, not His Majesty the King."
King A. Kira Globa XIII's pupils suddenly widened. He looked at the short Asta beside him who had voiced the doubt. "Wha... what? This fellow... this fellow dares to openly question me?!"
Before he could say more... discussions broke out.
"I've never heard any rumors about His Majesty the King being amazing... Yuno, have you?"
"No."
Someone nearby echoed: "He has such powerful magic, yet he's never done anything beneficial for the people, has he?"
Yuno replied expressionlessly: "...That's true."
Asta stroked his chin and continued: "I don't have magic, so I don't really understand... but I just feel that His Majesty the King... how should I put it, is completely useless, or perhaps petty."
"..."
"Hey, Asta, read the room. This isn't the time to speak the truth!" Yuno "kindly" reminded Asta.
King A. Kira Globa XIII pointed at them with his hand, his voice filled with anger: "Execute them!"
"No matter how strong you are, you're still just a commoner!"
He commanded the surrounding Imperial Knights: "Execute these two filthy fellows immediately! Kill them quickly!"
Julius appeared silently at some point, standing in front of Asta and Yuno: "Your Majesty the King, please quell your anger and, for my sake, pardon these two."
"These two will one day become a shield to protect the King... Moreover, if you excessively wield power over such a small matter, it will diminish the King's authority."
"..."
The farce on the castle didn't last long. Due to the Wizard King's protection, Yuno and Asta were spared from the King's execution, and the normal Star Festival speech also concluded under Julius's influence.
Brilliant fireworks once again bloomed in the sky, golden like autumn chrysanthemums, blue like periwinkles... Many colorful flowers intertwined, grand and magnificent.
The crowd that had lingered began to disperse, continuing their enjoyment of the Star Festival. As time passed, the bright starlight in the sky grew clearer, and the flow of people slowly receded like a tide.
——————
The Order of Knights Squad tavern in the Royal Capital.
At the Wizard King's invitation, the Magic Knights Squad Captains gathered here for a meeting, but for some unknown reason, Julius, the host, did not appear.
Yami lit a cigarette and pushed open the tavern door. The empty establishment didn't have many people. He exhaled a puff of smoke and said indifferently: "What? That old man didn't come? Only you guys are here?"
Jack glanced at the newcomer, his eyes igniting with fire, "Hehehe... I wondered who it was, it's you, Yami. I really want to cut you down."
"Huh? Long-limbed freak, what the hell are you talking about?"
Yami picked his ear, walked to the bar to order a drink, and looked at the aloof man drinking beside him, "Yo yo~ Isn't this Nozel, the Silver Eagles Captain, who ranks below the Black Bulls Squad?"
"Are you drinking alone here? Are you thinking about why you lost to us?"
"Haha~" Yami laughed heartily, patting Nozel's shoulder, "Don't worry~ Even if you only lost once, I'll still mock you relentlessly, after all, you guys are such an arrogant bunch..."
"Haha~"
Yami laughed joyfully.
"Don't push your luck, foreigner. Even if you are a Magic Knights Squad Captain recognized by the Wizard King, I will kill you for insulting royalty!" Nozel turned to Yami, his icy magic rising, making the wine glasses on the bar squeak.
Yami showed no fear, his face still holding that mischievous grin: "What? Are you planning to cut me down?"
"Then come and try it, Your Royal Highness..."
The katana at his waist was gripped tightly, and a corresponding dark purple magic also surged in the tavern.
"To our two guests, fighting is prohibited in the tavern!"
"Your drink is ready."
"Oh, oh!" Yami responded, loosened his grip on the katana, and took the drink from the bartender's hand. The light blue liquid emitted a rich fruity aroma, with lemon slices garnishing the rim of the glass.
Taking the glass, he let out a soft "Hm?", giving the white-haired bartender a strange look. 'This aura... how is it exactly like Boss Julius? Could it be...'
"Long-limbed freak, I'm in a good mood today, how about I buy you a drink?"
"Huh? You, of all people, being so kind?"
Yami put out his cigarette, "Since Boss Julius called us here, it shouldn't be too much to put it on his tab, right?"
The bartender's motion of wiping the glass paused slightly.
"Besides, there's nothing wrong with buying a drink for a loser."
"Don't get carried away, Yami, you jerk. The perennial last place only got second once. You'll probably be back to your old self next time."
"..."
Amidst their argument, Nozel left yul on the table, stood up, and prepared to leave.
"What's wrong? Is Your Royal Highness leaving already? Not having another drink? Are you afraid of being mocked by me?" Yami said, watching the departing figure.
"Hmph..."
Nozel snorted coldly, ignoring him, and walked straight out of the tavern.
"Still as arrogant as ever."
Kaiser, the new Captain of The Azure Orcas, a tall, corpulent old man with wing-like hair Warp on both sides, smoothed things over. He maintained a friendly smile: "Sir Yami, allow me to have a drink with you?"
——————
Night had already deepened, and the full moon in the sky cast a bright, clear light.
Nozel, having left the tavern, quietly watched the moon for a while, then set off towards the Silver Eagles' base in the Royal Capital.
The Star Festival was over. The flag-lined streets were sparsely populated and empty. A cold wind blew scattered trash across the ground, and the road looked somewhat desolate.
Nozel stopped, his face a cold expression. He pondered for a moment, then walked a short distance further, before suddenly turning into a narrow alley.
"Stop following me. Come out." Nozel's voice was chilling.
As his words fell, a shadowy figure emerged on the rooftop. It was a person wearing a red-striped fox mask and cloaked in a wide, black robe, looking down from above under the cold moonlight.
"Who are you? Playing tricks!"
The person in the fox mask did not answer him, only slightly raised a hand, and a crimson beam of light shot from their fingertip, causing the silent air to tremble.
The voice, modified by magic, was somewhat old. Nozel didn't hear it clearly, but he still got a slight impression.
It seemed to be a single word.
"Heh."