"He's just a poor orphan with no known magic. The idea that he'd get a decent grimoire is laughable," added Lake, his voice laced with arrogance. Like Will, he was a minor noble—his family stationed far from the Clover Kingdom capital but still clinging to pride.
"I heard he can't even use magic. Maybe they'll give him a blank grimoire and charge admission to see it like a sideshow!"
The two laughed smugly, but the sound quickly died in their throats.
Hao Fan turned his gaze on them—calm, silent, and unbothered. He didn't shout. He didn't threaten. But something in his stare—cold and quiet, like a predator watching from the shadows—froze them in place.
A chill ran down their spines.
"Tch… Clown," Hao Fan muttered softly and looked away.
Will and Lake exchanged nervous glances, their faces pale. They had expected retaliation or rage—not this cold indifference. Somehow, it was worse.
But Hao Fan had no time to waste on petty nobles. He tilted his head, looking up at the towering Grimoire Tower.
He wondered what kind of grimoire he would receive. He had heard that the books chose their users—that they would fly to the rightful owner when the time came. Even if his was small or old, as long as he could use magic, he would work harder than anyone.
After all, he had already overcome what most never had to face.
"Welcome, young mages! May your path be filled with courage, hope, and the unyielding spirit of the Clover Kingdom!"
A booming voice echoed through the crowd as an elderly man in deep crimson robes descended from the sky atop a floating magic carpet. His voice, amplified by wind-type magic, silenced the crowd instantly.
It was the Tower Master—the keeper of the Grimoire Tower.
With his appearance, the ceremony had officially begun.
Excitement buzzed through the crowd.
"I hope I get a grimoire with fire magic like the Magic Emperor!" one girl clasped her hands with glittering eyes.
"If my boy gets a thick grimoire, I'll throw a feast for the whole village!" shouted a proud father nearby. "The thicker the book, the more powerful the magic, right?"
"Let's be realistic," muttered another elder. "We're in the Forsaken Region. It'd be a miracle if even one of these kids made it into the Magic Knights, let alone the Magic Emperor."
Still, hope never died in these parts.
Everyone looked to the sky, to the swirling winds gathering above the Grimoire Tower.
And Hao Fan, calm and determined, stood in the center—his eyes fixed not on the size of the book, but on the future it might unlock.
Even if he started with nothing, he would carve his own legend—no matter how long it took.
****
When the Tower Master spoke, he blew his beard and widened his eyes, spittle flying with each word, stunning everyone present.
"Then let the magic grimoires choose their masters!"
As soon as he finished speaking, hundreds of radiant grimoires burst out from the towering shelves of the Grimoire Tower. They hovered above the heads of the boys and girls like birds of prey searching for the perfect match—then one by one, they fluttered down into chosen hands.
"My God! My grimoire is huge!"
A boy nearly passed out from excitement.
"What's the big deal?" another scoffed. "Mine's twice as thick as yours!"
Joy was thick in the air—but where there's joy, there's also disappointment.
Especially for Hao Fan.
He stood there with his eyes closed, heart oddly calm.
"...So everyone else got one. And I didn't."
He opened his eyes, lips quirking in a bitter smile.
"Well, I guess it's not surprising."
After all, he had already been abandoned by the magical system once. Not getting a grimoire today was just par for the course.
Still, it stung.
But he had the system. 200 points now. He'd need 10,000 to unlock a single-tomoe Sharingan. Once it awakened, he'd show them all that even in a world of magic, there were other paths to power.
"The jungle it is," Hao Fan muttered, sighing. "No Royal Capital for me. Guess the mountains will raise another beast."
"Hah! I'm going to take the entrance exam for the Magic Knights in six months!" Will sneered arrogantly, practically glowing with pride.
"We're definitely getting in!" Lake chimed in smugly.
Then they turned to Hao Fan, whose hands remained empty.
"See that? The outcasts will always be mud. No grimoire, no future. What's the point of living? At least we'll be rising stars, while you'll be tilling fields for the rest of your life!"
Will's mocking grin deepened. "You don't even qualify to dream."
"Shut up!" Nash shouted, leaping to his feet. "I won't let you insult Asta like that!"
"Huh? Poor kids shouldn't bark," Will snorted.
But then, a voice cut through the air—cold, amused, and dangerous.
"Want to know the real difference between cloud and mud?"
Hao Fan stepped forward, placing a hand on both of their shoulders.
"What—what do you think you're doing?!"
"This is the Grimoire Tower—you can't hurt us here!"
But before either could run, Hao Fan had already lifted them like sacks of potatoes and vanished in a blur of motion. Chakra surged through his legs, and his speed skyrocketed. Within seconds, he was sprinting up walls, leaping with impossible grace.
"HELP—!"
Their screams echoed behind him.
As Hao Fan passed by Yuno, a golden radiance suddenly burst from Yuno's grimoire. All eyes snapped to it.
"A four-leaf grimoire!" gasped the Tower Master.
Everyone held their breath.
Clover grimoires with four leaves were rare—legendary, even. Said to bring luck, the fourth leaf was a symbol of destiny. The first Wizard King himself wielded such a grimoire.
Yuno… was chosen by the grimoire of legend.
"Seems like someone's star just rose," Hao Fan muttered, glancing at Yuno. "All the more reason to take out the trash first."
He landed lightly on a seven-meter-high rooftop, dumping Will and Lake at the edge.
"Scared of heights?" he asked, voice low and casual. "Isn't that strange? I thought you two were aiming for the skies?"
"We—we were wrong!" Will cried, trembling.
"I—I'm sorry!" Lake whimpered.
"Since you're so noble, why don't you jump down yourself?" Hao Fan said calmly, then hopped off the roof and disappeared back toward the Grimoire Tower.
"HELP US!!"
Their wailing echoed behind him.
Inside, Yuno was still clutching the four-leaf grimoire, surrounded by a swirl of envy, awe, and dark jealousy.
Hao Fan followed the most malicious gaze, and saw him—an unkempt man with greasy hair, splayed eyebrows, and a burn-like scar on his cheek.
"…Why does he look like Orochimaru?" Hao Fan muttered.
The grimoire ceremony soon ended, and the priest took Sister Lily and the kids to prepare a celebration.
Yuno left alone.
But behind him, the sinister figure from earlier followed like a shadow.
Hao Fan narrowed his eyes and followed too.
In a narrow alleyway, Yuno turned.
"Who are you?"
The man sneered. "You don't recognize me? When I was with the Magic Knights, they called me Revchi Salik—the Chain Mage."
Yuno frowned. "You're a criminal."
Chains erupted from the walls like venomous snakes, catching Yuno before he could react.
"Don't waste your breath. My Chain Magic: Magic Restraining Binding Formation seals your mana and movements. And that shiny four-leaf grimoire of yours? That's mine now."
Yuno struggled—but the chains tightened.
"Only those chosen can use grimoires," he gritted out.
Revchi sneered. "True. But collectors on the black market don't care. A four-leaf grimoire? That's worth a fortune."
He laughed darkly.
"Poor kid. A destined legend—snuffed out before his story begins."
But just then—
"You sure you deserve to end someone's legend?"
A voice echoed down the alley. Hao Fan stepped in, hands in his pockets, utterly relaxed.
Both turned in shock.
Revchi scowled. "You again? The brat with no magic or grimoire? This is rich!"
"You talk too much, 'Orochimaru Jr.'"
"…I don't know who you're talking about, but the descendant bit is really starting to piss me off!"
With a roar, Revchi's grimoire glowed, and a horde of black chains surged at Hao Fan.
"ASTA—RUN!" Yuno shouted instinctively.
But what happened next left him speechless.
Hao Fan didn't move from his spot. He simply shifted, and every chain missed—barely.
"Come on," Hao Fan yawned. "This all you got?"
More chains came.
This time, Hao Fan grabbed them mid-air.
"You—You dodged them?! No! Even Yuno couldn't do that!"
Revchi screamed and unleashed his full magic power. The alley filled with the hiss of chains.
Then—
Ding! Mysterious power detected. Load now?
"Yes," Hao Fan said under his breath.