33- This Job Sometimes Sucks

After wrapping the whole thing up, the Black Bulls had a great send off. Captain Yami wanted to leave right away, but when he heard that the temple will arrange a feast for them, with wine and food. Charmy and Venessa were on their knees begging to stay for the feast. The captain didn't need much convincing since he also wanted to stay for the feast.

The temple and the people of the underwater city had arranged a huge feast, long tables with a verity of different foods and drinks was arranged. Everyone was happily eating, except for two. Noelle was struggling to understand the weird feeling she had. Asta on the other hand was a little gloomy, since he lost the battle with Vetto, even with the help of of so many people. He wanted to be the Wizard King. He was supposed to help people, not get help from them.

Noah, who was sitting nearby, had noticed their mood.

"You two did great" - Noah's voice caused the two to flinch.

As Noelle and Asta raised their heads up, they saw Noah causally eating but not looking to them.

"Acknowledging that your weak is the first step. Understanding what exactly that makes you weak is the second step. Knowing how to fix that is step three. Today was and eye opener for the two of you, use that to better yourselves. You should build upon this experience and get better" - Noah moved his eyes to look at them during the last part.

The two went back to looking down at the table. Asta was so angry and frustrated. He was clenching his fist as hard as he can, to the point that his fingernails had dug into his palm causing some blood to trickle down.

Noelle's eyes was getting watery, she almost cried. There was a heavy feeling on her chest. She didn't understand that feeling. It was suffocating.

Noah was looking at them from his peripheral vision. He knew that it will take a little bit of time for them to get over this. But knowing that they have potential, being able to adapt in the middle of a battle, and then acknowledging their short comings was the best thing for them right now.

[I think that you showed off too much] - Draco

[If they have no goal then they will get stagnant. Noelle with her mana reserves and that two new spells she had acquired recently, she would be high intermediate to low senior level magic knight. Asta with his crazy anti-magic swords and his powerful physique, he would rank around the same level of combat power. But if they don't keep trying, they will waste their potential] - Noah

[I see. So now what?] - Draco

[We wait for them to pull themselves together. They might ask me to train them. Honestly I wouldn't mind giving them some pointers. I had always helped Noelle, adding one more person to help won't really hurt] - Noah

*BOOM*

An explosion drew Noah's attention. Looking down the table he saw Magna and Luck fighting about something. Venessa was drowning in liquor, and Charmy had a mountain of food in front of her. Gauche was cursing the head priest, since he couldn't get in touch with his sister. Finral was flirting with one of the ladies serving food. Grey was just there. Yami's face was getting more and more pissed off as seconds passed.

'Yep, he's about to snap' - Noah braced himself

Yami raised his hand, "SHUT UP!"

*BOOM*

-----------------

*Two Hours Later*

The entries squad was done with eating and drinking it was time for them to go back to the surface. As good as it was to hang out here, they were still on a mission.

Noelle had cast her sea dragon cradle one more time. The head priest used his magic to make a temporary gate out of the protection bubble for them to pass through.

The head priest had told them about a rout to take. This would help them avoid the dangerous areas filled with violent underwater currents.

Noelle had done a good job getting the whole squad to the surface. They were rowdy, but Noelle was just quietly stearing the cradle to the shore.

After they landed, Finral opened a portal back to their hideout. He tried to complain but captain Yami had his way of convincing him. Yami was quite gentle, compared to other times.

After the squad made it to the hideout, they were greeted with a sad Gordon.

"I was wondering where you were" - Captain Yami

Gordon went on to say something that was inaudible to the others.

Charmy just gave him a cake and told him that it was ok.

Noah had no idea if she can hear what he said, or if she was just doing whatever.

After some more fighting and a few destroyed walls, the squad finally went to sleep.

———————

Waking up the next morning, Noah went downstairs for breakfast. As Noah was making his way to the dining area, he can hear all kinds of shouts and stuff getting broken.

[Do they ever stop. I get it that they're good friends and all. But do they ever get tired. Especially that fire magic user. He can fight the lightning magic user for hours, but once we get into a real battle he goes out of commission in minutes. What's that about?] - Draco

[Ouch! No friendly fire please] Noah said as he was laughing

Noah took a seat next to Noelle. Asta was setting right across from them.

Noah started eating breakfast, while keeping an eye on Yami. He was waiting for him to snap, so that he can dodge.

Surprisingly, Yami didn't snap. "Listen up you bunch of idiots. Since the star awards festival is coming up soon. The mage HQ likes to send the current ranking to all captains to motivate them to get in some more missions before the festival. Anyway, we are finally not last on the ranking! Hahaha. We have 72 stars, we are ranked fifth out of nine. Hahaha, I can't wait for the next captains meeting. I can't wait to see the looks on the prickly princess and that lanky mantis. I bet they will be the most pissed off out of all of them. Hahahahaha!"

"We're fifth? What does the ranking look like right now?" - Noah

"First place like always, the golden bastards with 99 stars. Then second is your dear old brother with 92 stars. Then the Crimson lion kings. Honestly they fell off after Feugoleon's injury, they have 81 stars. I can't believe it but that fat hammy and his purple shits are in fourth place with 77 stars. Then us with our awesome 72 stars. Behind us are the blue rose knights with 63 stars. The lanky mantis and his bugs have 62 stars, he's very close behind the prickly princess. Aqua deers have 57 stars, and close behind them are the coral peacocks with 55 stars" - Captain Yami explained.

Everyone cheered for the good news.

"Shut up idiots! We still have some work to do. Finral open a portal to the capital. Make it as close to the magic knight HQ as possible. Noah you're coming with me" - Yami shouted at them, but they still celebrated. The captain didn't mind and ignored them.

Noah and captain Yami left a cheerful and rowdy hideout as they stepped into the portal. They found themselves about 10 meters away from the mage HQ entrance.

The two walked into the HQ and went to the highest floor, to the wizard king's office.

*Knock Knock Knock*

"Come in"

Noah pulled the door opened and allowed Yami to step in.

"Yami. I see you're here to deliver the magic stone yourself. Oh and Noah is here too" - Julius

"Yes. My squad and I had to fight pretty hard for it. Also last night we dropped off some prisoners we captured during the mission" - Yami was bragging. Noah had to hold back from facepalming himself. Except for Gordon, who wasn't even on the mission with them, Yami was the only one who didn't fight. Even Grey fought at some point.

But Noah knew better than to say that out loud. After dropping off the stone, and Yami complaining about not getting 100 stars instead of 25 stars. But this mission had put them on 97 stars exactly. Which put them in second place. Noah was actually surprised that they got all of those stars. But he then remembered that they captured one of the midnight sun's leaders and one of their strongest fighters. They will be second place unless other squads have missions to submit, which can cause some changes in the ranking. But that was something they won't have to worry about for now.

"Now that we have that out of the way. I have a mission for your squad, Yami" - Julius looked at some of the papers he had in front of him.

"Nope I have a bar to go to and brag. Give it to him" - Yami tapped Noah's shoulder and then left the office right away.

"Did he know that you're giving out missions. Is that why he brought me here?" - Noah looked at Julius as he asked

"No idea. He sometimes acts like a muscle head and sometimes he gets crafty. Anyway, here's the mission" - Julius handed a file to Noah

Noah looked at the smiling wizard king.

'*sigh* this job sometimes sucks'