The next day...
A heavy atmosphere settled over the village square.
The usually bustling space was eerily quiet as a large crowd gathered around the raised wooden platform where the public execution was about to take place.
Every citizen—
Noble, merchant, and commoner alike—
Stood with tense anticipation.
The crimes were known now.
Whispered rumours had spread like wildfire over the past two days.
Theft of grimoires.
Tampering with sacred relics.
Endangering the very soul of the Clover Kingdom.
But one detail stood out to many:
King Ben did not appear.
Instead, a line of Royal Knights, clad in armour gleaming with polished runes and bearing the Kira royal insignia, stood tall.
At the centre of the platform was the execution stand.
Chains rattled as the criminals were brought forward one by one, their hands and feet bound with anti-magic cuffs.
These weren't just common thieves—
They were nobles and powerful merchants once seen dining at court and laughing at festivals.
Now, they looked broken.
A Royal Knight Commander stepped up to the podium with a scroll in hand, his voice echoing magically across the courtyard.
"By decree of His Majesty, King Benjamin Salvador Kira, and per the laws of the Clover Kingdom… the following individuals stand convicted of high treason:"
"The theft and illegal distribution of sacred grimoires, endangering citizens by empowering dark underground channels, and consorting with entities threatening national security."
Gasps ran through the crowd as names were read—
Names of families who once stood proudly among the kingdom's elite.
The knight continued.
"Let this serve as a warning to all: the grimoires are sacred extensions of one's soul, and anyone who dares desecrate them will be judged with no mercy."
With no further words, the first condemned was led forward.
The execution was swift—
Clean, silent, and merciless.
A magical guillotine powered by binding seals and purification runes flashed with white light, and one by one, the guilty were executed before the people.
Some in the crowd turned away.
Others watched in grim silence.
"____"
"____"
"____"
A few cried, not for the dead—
But for the betrayal, the disgrace.
In the distance, unseen by most, Royal Knight Captain Darius watched from a tower balcony, his gaze steady as he ensured the orders of his king were fulfilled.
Meanwhile,
Royal Palace...
Ben sat across a polished round table surrounded by a select group of cloaked figures.
Ritual specialists, some of the finest the Clover Kingdom had to offer.
Scrolls, inked diagrams, and glowing magical blueprints hovered midair around them, enchanted to rotate slowly for ease of viewing.
At the head of the group sat Lady Cremelle,
A seasoned noblewoman, draped in elegant robes.
Her long silver hair flowed like silk, and a circlet of sapphire rested on her brow—
A mark of her status as High Ritualist of the Ancient Seal Society.
She leaned forward, fingers steepled thoughtfully.
"Your Majesty, the idea of making grimoires bound exclusively to their chosen wielder through ritual enchantment is... ambitious,"
She said, her voice rich and measured.
"It's not impossible—but we are delving into deep, into its territory. Ritual magic on that scale must account for thousands of variables: soul resonance, magical affinity, curse immunity..."
Ben listened patiently, nodding as he swirled the tea in his porcelain cup.
Nod~
"But it can be done?"
Lady Cremelle gave a slight, amused smile.
"With enough time and enough gold, most things can be done. Give me a team, resources, and a secure research facility... and I believe we can produce preliminary results in a few weeks."
Ben placed his teacup down gently and leaned back in his chair.
"Approved. You'll have what you need—funds, manpower, and security. I want this treated as a top-priority research under the Royal Innovation Program. The risk of stolen grimoires must be eliminated for good."
Cremelle's eyes sparkled with intrigue, her mind already racing with magical theories.
"As you wish, Your Majesty. History will remember this as the day grimoires were made truly sacred."
Ben gave a small, knowing smile.
"Let's hope they remember it for the right reasons."
As Ben walked through the marble hallway, the stained-glass windows casting colored patterns on the polished floor, he suddenly halted.
[DING...]
[Mission Completed.]
[Objective: Return all 250+ stolen grimoires to their rightful owners.
Condition: Locate the registered original owner for each grimoire and return it personally or through trusted agents, along with monetary compensation.
Reward: +200 FP, Enhanced Grimoire Insight (Passive), Prestige boost in public perception.]
[Reward Granted — +200 FP]
[ Ding... ]
[ FP Bar: 262/500 ] --> [ New Alien: ??? ]
[ Ding... ]
A subtle shimmer pulsed in his vision, only visible to him.
Ben exhaled softly, realising the executions had been carried out.
The traitors were dealt with.
Behind him, Lady Cremelle was still enthusiastically discussing budget allocations with her team, delighted at the generous funding.
But Ben's thoughts had already moved forward.
He gave her a nod before turning and striding purposefully toward the throne room.
Nod~
"____"
Throne Room...
The towering doors creaked open, and Ben entered with a composed expression, his steps steady and regal.
The guards saluted him as he passed.
Standing casually near the base of the throne platform was Captain Yami Sukehiro, leaning back with his sword stuck in the floor beside him, puffing lazily on a cigarette.
Finral Roulacase stood nearby, visibly nervous just being in the presence of the king.
Ben ascended his throne, resting into it like a lion reclaiming his seat of power.
He looked down and gave a small nod before motioning to a nearby attendant, who handed him two enchanted portraits.
Nod~
Ben held them out toward Yami.
"I want you to take these two in."
He said firmly.
Yami raised an eyebrow and plucked the pictures from Ben's gloved fingers.
One showed a black-haired boy with cold, determined eyes—Yuno.
The other depicted a grinning, spiky-haired boy holding an oversized wooden sword—Asta.
Yami looked back at the king, puffing slowly.
"____"
"Why are you handing me these kids' photos like they're part of some trading card game?"
Ben leaned forward slightly, his voice low but clear.
"That loud one—Asta—he's a rare one. No magic. But the grimoire he holds grants him anti-magic. Doesn't matter how powerful a mage you are… his blade will erase it. That's what he cuts—magic itself."
Yami's eyes narrowed.
"____"
Even Finral stopped fidgeting.
"Anti-magic? That's... not something you hear every day,"
Yami muttered, eyes now studying Asta's photo with new interest.
Ben continued.
"As for Yuno, he's been chosen by a four-leaf clover grimoire. That alone speaks volumes about his potential. You don't have to take both, Yami. But I'm asking you to at least consider them. Especially Asta. He's rough, wild—but he'll surprise you."
Yami flicked ashes onto the marble floor, then smirked.
"Tch. A kid who can cut through magic, huh? Sounds like someone I'd rather not end up fighting later. I'll think about it."
Ben leaned back in his throne, eyes calm.
"That's all I ask."
With a final puff of his cigarette, Yami gave Ben a nod, then turned on his heel.
Nod~
"Tch. I'll keep an eye on the brats."
Beside him, Finral quickly opened a spatial portal.
Swirls of spatial magic coiled like mist before the shimmering gateway snapped into existence.
Without another word, the Black Bulls' captain stepped through, followed by his reluctant Finral.
The portal vanished with a gentle hum.
Silence returned to the grand throne room.
"____"
Ben leaned back in his throne, fingers drumming softly on the ornate armrest.
His expression was calm—
But beneath the surface, his thoughts churned like a storm.
'It's started…'
He closed his eyes for a moment.
The larger narrative—
The one history had already scripted—
It was beginning to unfold.
The Elf Resurrection Plot, the long-dormant threat, was awakening.
'Which means... the hunt for the Magic Stones has already begun.'
Ben's gaze shifted toward the high-arched window.
In the distance, the spires of the capital stood beneath a cloud-streaked sky.
Currently, two Magic Stones rested safely within his vault—
Delivered personally by Nero, the enigmatic anti-magic bird who had stayed close by his side since the day he became king.
But now… she was gone.
Vanished days ago.
Though locked in her anti-bird form, she had grown increasingly restless—
Flitting through ancient archives, hovering near ruins, obsessively scanning magical sites.
'She's searching for magic stones.'
Ben let out a quiet sigh, a rare vulnerability surfacing in his eyes.
Sigh~
"____"
He missed her.
Even though she never spoke, her presence had always been a constant—
Silent, observant, loyal.
Her absence now left a quiet emptiness in the corners of his life.
"Come back soon, Nero."
Ben murmured softly to himself.
"I have a feeling I'll need you more than ever."
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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