The Decoration Ceremony [1]

This chapter might be boring.

It has no fights after all.

As Asta and Noelle made their way through the capital, Noelle noticed how Asta seemed... different in her eyes.

Just as they approached the Magic Knights' headquarters, they spotted Yuno, Klaus, and Mimosa walking toward them.

Mimosa's eyes lit up when she saw Asta, and she gave a shy smile, her cheeks turning pink as she offered a small wave.

"Asta, Noelle! Are you heading to headquarters too?" Mimosa greeted them softly, glancing at Asta with that admiring look that seemed to appear whenever she was around him.

"Yeah, we've got our report to deliver," Asta replied, nodding to her with an easy smile, seemingly unaware of Mimosa's fluttering gaze.

He turned to Yuno and Klaus with a polite nod. "How about you guys? Everything going well?"

Yuno gave a nod, his usual calm expression barely shifting. "We're here for the same reason. It's good to see you both."

Klaus chuckled as he observed the group's dynamic, noticing Mimosa's flustered glances toward Asta. "Seems like everyone's been working hard," he commented, giving Noelle a respectful nod.

Noelle, meanwhile, felt herself growing just a little annoyed as she noticed Mimosa's lingering glances.

What's with that look? she thought, eyes narrowing as she watched the two of them.

She folded her arms, trying to ignore the unexpected irritation bubbling up.

It's not like I care if she's looking at him like that. It's not like… I like him or anything!

When Asta noticed her expression, he leaned in a little closer, his voice low and kind. "You alright, Noelle? You seem a bit distracted."

Startled, Noelle quickly shook her head, feeling her cheeks warm. "Oh, no, I'm fine," she said quickly, managing a small, flustered smile.

There was something about the way Asta's calm gaze softened when he looked at her, and it was… actually kind of nice.

With his steady, composed presence, she found herself feeling a strange feeling she hadn't really felt ever.

---

As Asta, Noelle, Yuno, Mimosa, and Klaus approached the gates of the Magic Knights' headquarters, they found themselves face-to-face with none other than the Wizard King, Julius Novachrono.

His imposing figure, exuding authority and wisdom, stood under the sunlight as he watched them approach.

Instinctively, the group dropped to one knee in greeting.

"Rise," Julius said kindly, accepting their greeting with a smile. "Come, follow me. I'd like to hear about what you've discovered."

The group followed Julius through the headquarters, ascending the winding staircases of a grand cavalry tower.

When they reached the top, a breathtaking view of the kingdom stretched out before them.

But it wasn't the sight that made the young mages pause—it was the aura of the Wizard King himself, the sheer presence of someone who had mastered his magic so completely.

However, as soon as they settled at the top, Julius's grand aura suddenly faded, and he took on the boyish, eager expression of a magic enthusiast.

"Alright!" he said, his voice full of excitement with stars in hi eyes. "So, what treasures and spells did you find in the dungeon?"

Yuno stepped forward, presenting his grimoire to Julius with a respectful nod. "I gained a new spell from the dungeon," he said, holding the grimoire open for the Wizard King to examine.

Julius's eyes widened with fascination as he studied the intricate details of the spell within the pages. "Remarkable," he murmured, fingers tracing the runes and symbols on the page

So she has chosen him in this era.

"Well done, Yuno. This will serve you well." Once he finished examining Yuno's spell, Julius turned to Asta with anticipation his eyes as starry as always.

"And you, Asta? If I'm right" he asked, almost bouncing on his heels. "I heard you found something unusual as well."

Grinning, Asta held up his Demon-Slayer Sword.

Julius's eyes went wide, barely able to contain his excitement. "A-Anti-Magic... c-can I touch it?"

Asta nodded, and with both hands, Julius carefully grasped the sword's hilt.

But the moment he did, his expression shifted as he felt the tremendous weight of the blade, which was made even heavier by the anti-magic draining his mana.

"Thank you... but… SO HEAVY!" Julius stammered, his hands shaking slightly as he tried to hold on.

For a brief moment, he could feel his own magic weakening, the sword sapping away at his mana in a way he'd never felt before.

Finally, he handed it back to Asta, chuckling in amazement. "Thank you, Asta... but this is beyond even my abilities. Anti-magic is really astounding as well as interesting."

The group exchanged glances, realizing just how rare and remarkable Asta's sword truly was.

And as Julius looked back at them, he seemed more inspired than ever.

"Haha well anyway, you all did splendidly. Good work."

---

Some Time later.

As the decoration ceremony neared its end, Wizard King Julius stood before the gathered knights, his expression radiating pride.

"Today, we celebrate all of you," Julius began, his voice carrying through the hall.

"For your unwavering dedication, resilience, and the incredible contributions you've made to our kingdom. Each promotion and decoration granted here today reflects not just your personal achievements, but the strength you bring to the Clover Kingdom."

The room stirred with murmurs of excitement and congratulations as knights exchanged proud glances.

Among the honorees, the Soul Knights, renowned for their recent surge in activity and commitment, stood out.

Out of their 21 members, 11 had now been promoted to Senior Magic Knights rest intermediate magic knights, their skills and accomplishments recognized at the highest levels.

This happened because most of them were already intermediate level and fter the recent achievements senior mqgic knight was the only viable promotion.

"And to one knight in particular," Julius continued, his gaze shifting to Nelliel.

"We bestow an honor rarely achieved. Nel, for your unmatched strength, your success in dismantling enemy spy networks within our borders, and your exceptional leadership, I am pleased to grant you the title of Grand Magic Knight."

[A/N Its the rank of Captains]

A quiet ripple of awe spread through the hall.

Julius gave Nel a respectful nod, acknowledging her not only as a powerful mage but as someone who now stood qualified to lead her own squad if she so chose.

"Thank you all, once again, for your service," he concluded, his tone warm.

"There's a reception prepared for you—take this time to relax, celebrate, and enjoy the company of your comrades."

Turning to Asta, Yuno, and the newer knights, Julius offered a final nod. "Make sure to know each other well. You'll be walking this path together."

With that, he excused himself, leaving the knights to bask in the joy of their hard-earned promotions and honors.

While many knights were genuinely pleased for the newly decorated members, there was an undercurrent of tension.

Among the Soul Knights, Nelliel Tu—stood out, now honored with the title of Grand Magic Knight.

However, not everyone viewed her rise to this position favorably.

Nelliel's background was well-known throughout the kingdom; originally from the Diamond Kingdom, she had been brought into the Clover Kingdom under Nero's guidance.

To the more traditional nobles, her promotion felt like a stain on the kingdom's honor, a symbol of an outsider climbing ranks they felt should belong to Clover mages.

Nel, however, was unfazed and uncaring.

Standing proudly in her new title, she met the stares and whispers with indifference, her focus solely on her squad and her accomplishments.

She neither sought approval from those insects nor did she have a requirement for it, it was entirely optional to even acknowledge their existence.

Julius caught her eye as he left, giving her a subtle, encouraging nod.

He knew she had faced prejudice but saw only her strength and dedication. And Nel, in turn, gave him a slight nod back—a quiet acknowledgment that, despite the whispers.

Nel's eyes drifted to the empty space where Nero should have been.

He'd told her he'd arrive late—he was working on armor for Asta, a gift he'd been laboring over with great intensity.

She felt a soft pang, knowing how much Asta meant to Nero, perhaps more than anything else in the world.

Asta was the son of her beloved captain—the most precious person to jer in existence.

That boy seemed to be the light Nero clung to in his otherwise hardened existence.

Nel would do anything to protect Asta, partly for Nero's sake, but also because she understood that Nero, complex and often distant, had found in Asta a connection she herself had quietly hoped for.

It pained her a bit to admit, but Nero's kindness toward her back in the Diamond Kingdom had been something she could never forget, and she saw him as the father she'd never had.

She didn't dare voice it; she knew that wasn't who he was or what he'd want to hear.

Yet, each time he trusted her, each time he offered even a slight nod of approval, it felt like enough.

In the end, she would follow Nero wherever he led, content to guard his light and the things he treasured, even if it meant standing just a little in the shadows with her head down.

---

Asta sat at a table, enjoying his meal, chatting away with Mimosa and Noelle, who was blushing slightly, her eyes glancing at him whenever he spoke.

Despite the lighthearted conversation, the atmosphere around him was not entirely welcoming.

There were whispers from the sidelines—Solid and Nebra Silva were eyeing him with open disdain.

The two were well-known among the nobility, their haughty attitudes radiating superiority.

"Who invited a peasant like him to an event like this?" Solid muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he watched Asta eat, seemingly oblivious to the glances being cast his way.

Nebra snorted. "It's embarrassing. He has no magic. Just some commoner with a sword. I can't believe he even made it this far."

The whispers carried on, their words laced with a mixture of disbelief and contempt.

Asta, however, remained silent at the harsh judgment surrounding him.

Alecdora Sandler's voice cut through the air like a knife.

Loud, mocking, and dripping with disdain, he sneered at Asta across the room. "Why did the Wizard King invite such lowborn scum? I can't sense an ounce of magic from him.How can he perform his duties as a magic knight."

His words stung the air, drawing the attention of many in the room, the nobles and mages alike.

It was a deliberate insult, an attack on Asta's worth, aimed at diminishing him in front of everyone present.

The insult wasn't just towards Asta—it was an attack on everything he represented, and it hit Nel like a slap in the face.

Her body stiffened, and without thinking, her hands curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms.

She didn't have to think; her body acted on pure instinct.

Her steps were quick and deliberate, headed straight toward Solid, Nebra, and Alecdora.

She was going to erase some silvas today.

No hesitation, no second thoughts.

Just raw, violent reaction to the disrespect shown to Nero's som.

Her entire focus was on them, her eyes locked onto the three of them, ready to deliver the punishment they deserved.

The air around her seemed to grow heavy, but it wasn't her magic that did it—just the sheer killing intent in her movements.

There would be no escape for them.

And then, just as she was within striking distance, she froze.

Asta's gaze met hers.

And then she saw it.

Cold. Emotionless. Dead.

He wasn't angry.

He wasn't afraid.

The same piercing, unwavering stare Nero gave.

He didn't need her to fight for him.

Not like this.

Not now.

That look stopped her.

Her chest tightened, the fury still hot within her, but it faltered as Asta's silent message rang through her mind.

No need to intervene in dealing with these insects.

Unaware of the death lurking nearby Solid, drew the conversation elsewhere. "Now, now the most useless one here is you, wouldn't you agree, Noelle?" he said with a smirk, before lifting his hand and letting a stream of water pour down over her head.

Noelle stood there, stunned as the cold water dripped from her hair, pooling around her feet.

She clenched her fists, her face turning red from a mixture of anger and embarrassment but unable to act due to sheer trauma.

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