The Royal Capital of the Clover Kingdom was unlike anything Asta had ever seen.
The massive stone walls stretched high into the sky, surrounding a city far larger than any town he had imagined. Towering buildings, bustling streets, and grand castles filled the horizon.
Asta's jaw dropped.
"WHOOOOAAAAAA!!!"
His voice echoed loudly as he stared at the city.
"It's HUGE!"
People walking nearby glanced at him with mild irritation, but Asta didn't notice.
Yuno simply walked forward calmly.
Lyra followed beside them, her eyes quietly observing the towering structures around them.
"It really is impressive," she said softly.
After several days of travel, the three had finally reached Kikka, the location where the Magic Knights Entrance Exam was held.
A crowd of young mages had already gathered outside the large exam arena.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of teenagers stood in groups, each holding their grimoires and waiting nervously for the exam to begin.
Asta clenched his fists.
"This is it!"
He marched toward the registration table with full confidence.
"I'm gonna become a Magic Knight!"
The clerk looked up briefly.
"…Name?"
"Asta!"
"Age?"
"Fifteen!"
The clerk wrote his name down.
Next came Yuno.
Then Lyra.
The moment she handed over her registration slip, the clerk paused slightly.
Her grimoire.
The mana within it felt… unusual.
Not overwhelming.
But deep.
Like a quiet ocean beneath a calm surface.
Still, he said nothing and finished writing her name.
"Proceed to the waiting area."
Soon, the three of them stood among the other examinees.
The atmosphere was tense.
Everyone was sizing each other up.
Whispers passed through the crowd.
Then suddenly—
A loud fluttering sound filled the air.
"Hey… what are those?" Asta asked.
A flock of strange birds had appeared overhead.
They were small, black-feathered creatures with sharp eyes.
Lyra recognised them immediately.
"Anti-birds."
Asta blinked.
"Anti-what?"
"They sense mana," she explained.
"They gather around people with little magic."
Yuno stood calmly nearby.
Not a single bird approached him.
Lyra also remained untouched.
But then—
The birds suddenly swarmed downward.
Straight toward Asta.
"WHAAAAT?!" Asta yelled.
Within seconds, he was surrounded.
Birds clung to his shoulders, arms, and even his head.
"GET OFF!"
He ran wildly through the crowd, trying to shake them off.
"WHY ARE THERE SO MANY?!"
Nearby candidates burst into laughter.
"Look at that guy!"
"He must have no magic!"
Asta stumbled forward—
And slammed directly into someone.
"OOF!"
He looked up.
The man standing before him was enormous.
Muscular.
Intimidating.
A thick cigarette hung from his mouth.
Asta blinked.
"Whoa… you're big."
The man stared down at him silently.
Asta scratched his head.
"You're another candidate, right?"
The man's eyebrow twitched.
"…Candidate?"
Yuno's eyes widened slightly.
Lyra immediately recognised the symbol on the man's robe.
"Asta…" she whispered.
But Asta continued talking.
"You look kinda scary, but I bet you're strong!"
The man slowly exhaled smoke.
"Kid…"
A terrifying pressure filled the air.
"I'll kill you."
Asta froze.
"WAIT WHAT?!"
Before anything could happen, two other figures approached.
A tall man with blond hair smiled lazily.
"Captain Yami, the exam's about to start."
This was Finral Roulacase.
Behind him stood another man muttering quietly to himself.
"Gordon Agrippa."
Yami clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
He glared down at Asta one last time.
"Try not to die."
Then he turned and walked away with his squad members.
Asta collapsed onto the ground in relief.
"I thought I was dead…"
Lyra sighed softly.
"That was Captain Yami Sukehiro."
Asta blinked.
"…CAPTAIN?!"
After Yami left, a flashy voice suddenly spoke nearby.
"Greetings, peasants!"
A man with unusual mushroom-shaped hair stepped forward.
"My name is Sekke Bronzazza!"
He puffed out his chest proudly.
"Soon-to-be Magic Knight!"
Asta tilted his head.
"Who are you?"
Sekke ignored the question and pointed dramatically toward the arena entrance.
"The captains are arriving!"
One by one, powerful figures stepped forward.
Sekke began enthusiastically introducing them.
"That's Nozel Silva, captain of the Silver Eagles!"
A proud noble with silver hair.
"And Fuegoleon Vermillion, captain of the Crimson Lion Kings!"
A powerful red-haired man with a commanding presence.
"Jack the Ripper, captain of the Green Mantises!"
A wild-looking man is grinning dangerously.
"Charlotte Roselei, captain of the Blue Roses!"
A composed noblewoman surrounded by an all-female squad.
"Gueldre Poizot, captain of the Purple Orcas!"
A shady-looking man with a sly smile.
"Dorothy Unsworth, captain of the Coral Peacocks!"
A mysterious woman who appeared half-asleep.
"Rill Boismortier, captain of the Aqua Deer!"
A cheerful young boy with paint splattered everywhere.
"And finally—"
Sekke's voice grew dramatic.
"William Vangeance, captain of the Golden Dawn!"
The crowd gasped.
The Golden Dawn.
The strongest Magic Knight squad in the kingdom.
Asta's eyes sparkled.
"I'm joining them!"
Yuno simply stared calmly at William.
Lyra quietly observed the captains.
Some were studying the candidates carefully.
Others looked bored.
But several of them—
Had already noticed her unusual mana.
Soon, the exam began.
The first test:
Broom Flight
Each candidate received a broom.
Mages commonly used brooms as their standard method of transportation.
"Mount your brooms and fly!" the instructor ordered.
Candidates quickly lifted into the air.
Yuno rose effortlessly, hovering with perfect balance.
Sekke also flew smoothly.
Lyra stepped onto her broom.
Mana flowed gently beneath her feet.
The broom lifted.
Graceful.
Steady.
She flew forward with calm control.
Meanwhile—
Asta stood on his broom.
Nothing happened.
He stared at it.
The broom stared back.
"…Fly."
Nothing.
"…PLEASE fly."
Still nothing.
Everyone stared.
Asta fell flat on his face.
Magical Power Blast
Candidates fired blasts of mana at a stone wall.
Explosions echoed through the arena.
Yuno's wind magic shattered part of the wall.
Lyra raised her hand.
A concentrated burst of magic struck the target cleanly.
Not explosive—
But precise.
Meanwhile Asta…
Could not fire anything.
Target Practice
Moving targets flew through the air.
Yuno hit everyone.
Lyra struck each target with carefully aimed spells.
Sekke used flashy bronze magic attacks.
Asta threw a rock.
It missed.
Creation Magic
Candidates created objects using magic.
Swords.
Spears.
Animals.
Sekke proudly formed a bronze golem.
Yuno created sharp wind blades.
Lyra formed a delicate constellation-shaped construct of mana that floated in the air.
Several captains leaned forward slightly.
Interesting.
Asta held out his hand.
Nothing appeared.
Magic Development
Seeds were handed out.
Candidates had to grow them using mana.
Plants quickly sprouted around the arena.
Lyra knelt beside her seed.
Mana flowed gently into the soil.
Within moments—
A beautiful flower bloomed.
Even Fuegoleon raised an eyebrow.
Asta stared at his seed.
"…Grow?"
Nothing happened.
As the final test approached, the instructor spoke.
"Find a partner."
"You will demonstrate your combat ability."
Asta's eyes lit up.
"This is my chance!"
Sekke suddenly approached him.
"I'll fight you!"
Asta grinned.
"Alright!"
When the match began, Sekke laughed loudly.
"You idiot."
Asta blinked.
"Huh?"
"I only chose you because you're weak!"
"If I defeat you easily, the captains will pick me!"
Sekke unleashed his spell.
"Bronze Magic: Bronze Creation!"
A massive bronze construct appeared.
Asta grabbed his sword.
"Here I go!"
One swing.
The bronze construct shattered instantly.
Sekke's eyes bulged.
"WHAT?!"
Asta knocked him out with a single strike.
Then he raised his sword proudly.
"I'm going to become the Wizard King!"
The crowd gasped.
Soon after, Lyra stepped forward for her own match.
Her opponent approached angrily.
A noblewoman.
"How dare a peasant outperform me?"
Lyra tilted her head slightly.
"I wasn't trying to insult you."
"Silence!"
The noblewoman attacked immediately.
But Lyra moved calmly.
Her magic flowed with precise control.
She analysed every movement.
Countered every attack.
Mana constructs appeared like starlight around her.
Within moments—
The noblewoman was disarmed and defeated.
The arena fell silent.
Several captains exchanged glances.
This girl…
Was extraordinary.
And high above the arena, the captains began considering their choices carefully.
The exam was only just beginning.
But the future of the Clover Kingdom was already taking shape.