Chapter 13: Strange Choice of Magic Squad

[Third Person's PoV] 

After the miscellaneous tests, it was time for the final test of the Magic Knight Entrance Exams: the one-on-one battles.

"You!" An arrogant noble with blue hair pointed at Stephen. "You've been acting all high and mighty ever since you got here, you commoner! I believe it's time someone put you in your place. I challenge you!"

Stephen didn't care; he simply floated up, his cloak billowing behind him as he took the center of the stage.

"Begin!" William announced.

The noble opened his grimoire, surrounded by a fiery aura, and smiled arrogantly.

Stephen put his right hand under his left elbow, made devil horns with his fingers, and aimed at his opponent.

"[Arcane Magic: Bolt of Balthakk]"

His hand, formed into devil horns, grew a ball of blue energy and shot out like a lightning bolt, tearing through the air. It hit his opponent square in the chest, sending him flying backward and smashing into the stadium walls, causing them to crumble.

Stephen rotated his hands back in front of him and floated back down, his cloak whipping behind him as he walked toward the wall where Yuno and Asta stood.

Stephen then sat in the air between them, pulled out his grimoire, and ignored the looks he was receiving as he read.

Yuno shook his head. "They never stood a chance..." he said as he walked to the center and stood in front of his opponent. As the signal to start was given, Yuno flicked two fingers toward his opponent. The wind picked up, and his opponent was sent flying back, smashing into the wall next to Stephen's opponent.

"Ba-ha! Ba-ha!" An arrogant guy with dirty blonde hair leaned down toward Asta and spoke a few... interesting words before walking to the front.

"Asta... kick his ass," Stephen scoffed.

Asta huffed as he took the center and smirked smugly. "You don't need to tell me that! That's what I was already going to do!"

"Begin!"

"[Bronze Creation Magic: Bronze Shell Blaster]"

Asta didn't wait for him to finish his spell and pulled out his buster sword from his grimoire. The ground beneath Asta cracked, surprising most of the Magic Knight captains, especially Yami.

'That was all pure strength...'

Asta instantly appeared beside the blue magic shell and smashed right through it, hitting his opponent with the flat side of his blade.

"Eh?"

His opponent was also sent flying back, smashing into the wall and knocked unconscious. All three opponents were now unconscious against the wall.

Asta slammed his sword down. "I'm not here to just join the Magic Knights and have fun without putting in any effort! I'm here to work my butt off and become the Wizard King!!"

Stephen and Yuno looked at each other for a moment before smiling, while some of the Magic captains grinned in amusement.

…

After everyone showed off their magic and fought their opponents...

"And that marks the end of the Magic Knight examinations. When we call your number, please come forward. The squad captains will raise their hands if they want you in their squad. If more than one captain raises their hand, it's up to the examinee to decide. However, if none raise their hand, it means you weren't eligible and will have to try again next year," William explained.

"Now then… Number 1?"

"Number 15?"

"Number 37?"

"Number 79?"

"Number 121?"

"Number 163?"

Stephen floated to the front and landed in the middle, looking up at the captains.

Soon, every single Magic Knight Captain raised their hands and chose him. Everyone's eyes widened in shock, including Asta's, while Yuno simply smiled as he rested by the wall.

"Unbelievable..."

"All of them?"

"But isn't he just a commoner?"

"He's actually kinda cute... That patch of white hair increases his charm..."

William Vangeance looked down at Stephen with a smile. "It appears to be a unanimous decision. The choice is yours. Which squad do you think suits you best?"

Stephen looked at all the captains from right to left before stopping at the Golden Dawn and smiling.

The rest of the Magic Knight Captains sighed in disappointment, while William smiled back at Stephen.

"I choose the Black Bulls."

"Eh?" William's smile faltered, along with everyone else's expression.

"What?" Yami asked, equally surprised, before laughing loudly and pointing at William. "HAHAHAHA! You should see the look on your face! You thought it was going to be you!"

"If you don't mind, may I ask your reason?" William asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Yami stopped laughing and looked at Stephen in confusion. "Yeah, gramps, why the hell would you choose our squad? What's the matter with you?"

"Captain Yami, you're our captain. Please try not to talk bad about us..." Finral said awkwardly.

Stephen shook his head and sighed. "I'm kinda regretting choosing you because of your attitude and name-calling, but it's whatever..."

Stephen then turned to William. "You see... I absolutely love and adore magic. I think it's the greatest thing ever."

Everyone was mostly taken aback by the earnestness in his voice and the look in his eyes.

"And one of the things I love most about magic is freedom—a freedom I don't think I would have with any other magic squad. The Black Bulls are always said to be scoundrels, the lowest of the low—"

"Hey! Watch it, grandpa," Yami warned.

Stephen sighed. "That they possess no tact and that every mission ends up with something being destroyed. But I see it differently... I see it as them just having fun and being free. And that's what magic is about. That's why I chose the Black Bulls."

"The old man is gonna make me blush," Yami said, rubbing the back of his head, a bit embarrassed.

"Like I said... Already regretting it..." Stephen grumbled.

"NO TAKE-BACKSIES!" Yami yelled, leaning over his seat and pointing at Stephen.

"WHAT ARE YOU, A CHILD!?" Stephen yelled back in annoyance.

"OF COURSE TO YOU, I'M A CHILD, GRANDPA!"

William sighed and shook his head. "So he chose the Black Bulls because he loves magic... What kind of reason is that..." he muttered.

"Very well," William nodded.

"Get up here, gramps!" Yami motioned with a happy smile.

Stephen sighed and shook his head. "I already hate it..."

Stephen, using a sling ring, opened a portal and appeared next to Finral and another squad member.

Finral looked at him in surprise, along with nearly everyone else. "You're a spatial mage!?"

"My magic is versatile enough to dabble in a bit of everything," Stephen shrugged, while the others looked at Yami with envy for having two spatial mages.

"Hahaha! Look all you want; he chose me!" Yami bragged to the other captains.

Another member of the Black Bulls, who appeared to be like a mime, turned towards Stephen and muttered a few words. 

Stephen nodded and bowed his head slightly, "It's nice to meet you too Gordon, I'm Stephen, and I hope we can get along and be friends as well" 

"You heard him?" Finral asked in surprise. 

"Yeah?" Stephen said looking at Finral in confusion. 

While Gordon put his hands together and smiled, happy to be able to communicate with someone. 

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