Asher Is Angry

"Asher Sama, it's nice to meet you," Salim said with a smile on his face. He wants to leave a good impression on Asher.

Asher just took a quick glance at Salim, and then his gaze shifted to Yuno. He changed his mind. He doesn't want to fight Yuno anymore. He wants to fight him when he is already strong enough.

"You should fight him. Don't mind me." With that, Asher just leaves without even saying anything to Salim.

Salim, on the other hand, hides his anger. He clenched his fist secretly as he looked at Asher hatefully. He wanted to form a relationship and make friends, but Asher, who was very famous because he was the new Vermillion, didn't even acknowledge his Existence.

"Asher. Wait. You're the one I wanted to fight."

Said Yuno while facing Asher's direction.

Asher stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Fight that eyesore.

Then he continues walking. Yuno was stunned at Asher's reply. He can feel that Asher is very upset, but what is he upset about? Is it because Salim interrupted him? He shook his head and answered Salim's challenge.

"I accept your challenge."

The match between Salim and Yuno earned a lot of attention. Salim, who was a noble, and Yuno, who has a rare grimoire, are really interesting to watch.

On the other hand, no one wants to challenge Asher, so he just goes to where the Magic Knight captains are to watch with Charlotte.

"Why are you here Asher?" Charlotte said curiously.

"Yeah, have you found your opponent?" Fuegeleon looked at Asher.

"No one wants to fight me," Asher said.

While he is ascending the stairs, Asher noticed a subtle unease radiating from the examinees around him, their gazes avoiding his own. Their apprehension was palpable, a reflection of their reluctance to cross paths with a member of the royal family. The presence of his illustrious four-leaf clover only amplified their fear, casting a shadow of doubt upon their own chances of victory.

Fuegoleon sighs and says, "Don't worry, you can just stay here. You're already qualified to be a magic knight."

"Yeah, they are not worthy of fighting you, so stay here," Charlotte said.

"Okay"

....….....................

The match between Salim and Yuno was finally over. It's just a one-sided fight, but it still astonished most of the spectators because they would get to see the four-leaf clover grimoire in action. It's a rare chance for them to see it. Salim was completely knocked out after being sucked in by a tornado that Yuno cast.

As anticipation thickens the air, the moment of truth arrives, determining the fate of each aspiring magic knight. The atmosphere crackles with nervous energy, fraught with a palpable tension that permeates the surroundings. Every candidate, their hearts pounding in their chests, awaits the verdict that will shape their future. The weight of their aspirations hangs in the balance, as the realization dawns upon them that this is the decisive juncture where dreams either ascend to fruition or crumble into dust. It is a pivotal moment, where the culmination of their efforts and dedication converges, and the boundaries between success and failure blur.

Yuno and Asta, of course, couldn't wait anymore. They were both excited and nervous at the same time. This is just the first step toward becoming the wizard king. If they fail this, it only means that their strengths and capabilities are not good enough. They still have a long way to go.

"#1..."

"No offers! "

...

"#36..."

"Green Mantis!"

"#49..."

"No offers!"

"#51..."

"Coral Peacock!"

....

"#164..."

As Yuno steps forward, the collective gaze of the room fixes on him, captivated by the enigmatic allure of his grimoire and the undeniable brilliance of his talent. Anticipation hangs in the air like a charged current, for all eyes are trained on him, awaiting a display of greatness. Whispers ripple through the crowd, their curiosity piqued. They want to know what magic knight squad Yuno will choose.

"All who wish to offer, please raise your hand."

A collective gasp echoes through the room as an unprecedented occurrence unfolds before their eyes. Astonishingly, every magic knight captain raises their hand in a unanimous show of interest, including the steadfast Charlotte, who is known for exclusively accepting women into her squad. The sight leaves the onlookers dumbfounded, yet deep down, they harbor no surprise. After all, such a response is only befitting of the wielder of a prestigious four-leaf grimoire. Yuno's remarkable talent and unwavering strength have garnered the unwavering recognition and respect of the magic knight captains. It is a testament to his remarkable abilities, an acknowledgment of his immense potential, and an affirmation that his future as a formidable magic knight is all but assured.

'I will choose the best path that can make me the wizard king,'

"I will choose golden dawn!"

"Woah!"

The crowd couldn't help but feel in awe when Yuno picked Golden Dawn. Everyone knows that this squad is the strongest Magic Knight squad right now and only picks nobles and royals. Now Yuno, a peasant who has a four-leaf grimoire, can enter the Golden Dawn!

"Next #165..."

As Asta's turn approached, an undeniable sense of unease began to creep within him. With only a single test successfully completed, he couldn't help but question whether it would suffice to secure a place in any of the prestigious Magic Knight squads. However, succumbing to doubt was not an option for him. The burning determination within his core refused to be extinguished. Asta couldn't afford to falter now; he couldn't afford to lag behind his lifelong rival, Yuno.

Asta slowly goes forward as he looks at the captains.

"All who wish to offer, please raise your hand."

'I don't care which squad it is; just please raise your hand! ' Asta thought to himself. He clenched his fist, hoping a captain would raise their hands.

"No offer."

Asta's heart sank when he heard the instructor. He has come this far; he doesn't want to waste the opportunity. He has to be a magic knight!

"Not yet... I'm not done yet!"

"Hey, get out of there! There are still examinees who haven't been called yet!"

"You're a loser; get out of here!"

"Such disgrace doesn't belong here!"

'Now, Asta, how are you going to overcome this? ' Asher was staring at Asta with his cold, dull eyes.

Asta's shoulder was shaking, and he is very reluctant to leave. The instructor was about to take him out of there, but then suddenly one of the Magic Knight captains, Yami, spoke up.

"Well, that's to be expected. If your source of power is unknown, no one wants anything to do with it. In the end, the only thing desired by a magic knight is... their magical powers."

With a decisive gesture, he unleashed a surge of mana, exerting a formidable influence over his surroundings. In the face of this overwhelming force, the feeble-hearted Backed away in terror, unable to withstand the immense pressure. Yami's figure became cloaked in an ominous purple aura, amplifying his intimidating presence to new heights. His icy gaze bore down upon Asta, penetrating through the depths of his being, akin to a towering giant observing a mere ant.

While Asta remained oblivious to the tangible manifestation of mana surrounding Yami, he couldn't escape the palpable pressure that bore down upon him from the captain. Each passing moment only intensified his nervousness, yet he steadfastly maintained his position, refusing to yield an inch. His gaze remained fixed on Yami, as if gazing upon a formidable entity forever beyond his grasp.

Yami jumped down and walked towards Asta slowly. Every time he took a step, the ground was cracking and the surrounding area was shaking. Yami's towering figure stops in front of Asta.

"You want to be a wizard king, right? So you will have to surpass all of the nine captains here. Now that I'm right in front of you, do you have the guts to say that again?!"

Asta clenched his fist and looked at Yami with full determination.

"Even if I can't be a magic knight right now, I will still work hard to become the wizard king!"

Yami removed the pressure and laughed. He looked at Asta with great interest.

"Kid! You're interesting. Join my squad!"

"Eh?"

"Declining isn't an option, though," Yami said with a dark look on his face.

"I'm going to make your life a living hell while you're at my squad, then you can be the Wizard King!"

Asta looked at Yami with admiration. Someone other than the people he knows finally acknowledged his dream. He really feels happy.

"Yes, sir!"

.................

The instructor was about to end the selection, but then someone suddenly spoke.

"Sir, you forgot one number. Examinee #50 didn't get called, and he also didn't fight in the 1vs1 match."

The instructor was told that Asher wouldn't take the exam anymore and would join Crimson Lion; that's why he didn't mention Asher's number earlier.

"Oh, he didn't want to partake in the exam anymore, and he already joined a squad.

Those who didn't pass the test were shocked when they heard what the instructor said. It's totally unfair. They worked so hard on this test, and someone passed it without even completing the exam! It's unfair to them!

"What? Someone passed even though he didn't complete the test?"

"It's so unfair! He must have come from a noble or Royal family!"

"Yeah! That must be it! Otherwise, how would he get special privileges?"

Those who didn't pass the exams shouted and demanded explanation. The test should be fair, and royals and nobles who partake in the exam shouldn't get some special treatment!

"Asher..." Charlotte looked at Asher worriedly.

"Hey guys, it must be Asher Vermillion; I didn't see him fight earlier!

"I noticed it too! Why didn't he fight earlier? Could it be that he is weak?!"

"That must be it. They want to protect his reputation!"

Nozel felt his annoyance rise, ready to intervene and silence the commotion, but before he could act, Asher gently laid a hand on his shoulder. As Nozel turned to face Asher, he was taken aback by the sight that greeted him. In all the times they had crossed paths, Nozel had known Asher to be an embodiment of composure, and he seldom revealed any emotion. However, today was different. The moment he caught a glimpse of Asher's countenance, Nozel couldn't help but be shocked. The usually serene façade had given way to an unmistakable expression of simmering anger. The intensity of emotion on Asher's face was a stark departure from his customary demeanor.

"Weak ants are so noisy."