Chapter 8

In the middle of a quiet forest, an explorer stands before a ruined castle that has merged with the forest, where trees and plants have grown over it. The explorer, panicked, exclaims, "What is this?!" then screams, "Is this hell?!"

After a while, inside the entrance of the castle, Asta and his companions are naming the bird.

Asta suggests, "How about Tritaro?"

Noelle responds, "No, it should be Sylphantos Schneizer."

Asta insists, "Tritaro."

Noelle counters, "Sylphantos Schneizer."

The bird attacks Asta, pecking his skull hard.

Asta screams, "Oooooh! What did I do this time, Tritaro?"

Noelle, admiringly, says, "See, it prefers Sylphantos Schneizer."

Luck, while humming, suggests, "How about Nero?" Nero shows approval by raising its wing in agreement.

A few hours earlier, at the Black Bulls headquarters.

Yami says, "Listen up, a report has come in that a new fortified tower has been discovered."

Everyone stops what they are doing and looks at Yami with interest. Then they shout in unison, "A fortified tower?!!!!!"

Magna exclaims, "Really!!!!"

Asta excitedly yells, "Wooooooow!!!" then with a serious face asks, "So, what is a fortified tower?"

Magna shouts at him, "What? Do you really not know about the fortified tower? Then why were you acting surprised?"

Asta defends himself, "I was just playing."

Magna explains, "A fortified tower is a structure where the ancient people left their artifacts like ancient relics. It's a magnificent place that contains clues on how to use ancient magic and all sorts of important magical elements."

Asta's eyes sparkle, "Oooooooooooooooooh!!!"

Luck adds, "Those same people set up magical traps so that no one but themselves could access the magical elements. They feared they would be used for evil, and that's what makes the fortified towers so exciting."

Asta, imagining the traps, exclaims, "Whaaaaaaat!!!!? That's not exciting at all."

Vanessa explains, "To ensure these artifacts wouldn't be used for evil, the task of exploring them was given to the Magic Knights."

Yami continues, "And this time, the fortified tower is located near the enemy kingdom. To make sure they don't get their hands on it, we need to complete this mission quickly and correctly." Then Yami tells stories about the fortified towers.

Asta, excited with Nero perched on his head, pleads, "Please let me go!!!!"

Yami, holding up a paper with Asta's picture on it, says, "It's all yours, kid. In fact, the Wizard King himself chose you for this mission."

Asta, surprised with a dumbfounded face, says, "What?"

Then he screams in panic, "Whaaaaaaaaat? The Wizard King himself?!"

Magna, excited, says, "That's amazing, Asta, how did you get a direct order from the Wizard King when you're a newbie?"

Asta screams, "I have no idea!"

Tearing up, Asta says, "I, Asta, humbly accept this mission of great importance."

After the exploration team departs.

Vanessa speaks to Yami, "How can the Wizard King know about Asta?"

Yami replies, "That man is eccentric; he has eyes that see things we ordinary people can't see."

Vanessa, concerned, asks, "I wonder if Noelle will be okay?"

Yami responds, "Since this is a tough and important mission, the inexperienced ones should mature well (I hope)." He continues, "Luck is with them, everything should be fine. Sensory mages are really amazing and he is better than any noble. If it weren't for his twisted personality, most missions would be directed to him."

Vanessa says, "Because his personality is dirty, I feel worried."

Yami smiles, "Don't worry, I've sent additional support to ensure the success of this very important mission." Then he laughs, imagining William defeated and lying on all fours, Yami laughing heartily at his victory.

Currently, inside the fortified tower, Satoru walks, humming in a different path from his companions.

Satoru happily hums, "La la la..." He stops humming, removes his eye patch, and looks at the surrounding walls as if he can see through them to see Asta's team messing around, the Golden Dawn team, and the enemy forces. He smiles and says, "Which one will I reach first?"

Satoru stands before a massive place inside the fortified tower with many doors, windows, and water flowing against gravity everywhere, with ruins and waterways surrounded by trees and moss.

Satoru whistles, "This place is beautiful."

Meanwhile, with Asta's team, they have split into two groups: Asta and Noelle together, and Luck alone.

Yuno and the Golden Dawn team find Asta trapped in a high-level plant magic trap, and Yuno rescues him.

Yuno coolly says after saving Asta, "With this, I've repaid my debt to you."

To be continued in the next chapters...