Adam looked hopeless. Tomorrow was the day they would leave for the capital.
Dinner was supposed to be special—but he wasn't sure he could handle it.
"Baked sweet potatoes, fried sweet potatoes, boiled sweet potatoes, sweet potato soup, sweet potato pudding…"
For the remote village of Hage, this was a true feast.
"Asta, eat slowly!" Adam warned as he took a spoonful of pudding himself.
"It's good… it'd be amazing if it weren't made of sweet potatoes," he muttered.
"Adam! Apologize to Sister Lily!" Asta yelled, lunging like a rabid wolf.
"Asta, are you insane?" Adam jumped up, heat rising to his cheeks. He was ready to show that short loudmouth who was boss.
"Stop it!"
A massive fist of water crashed down from above, slamming both of them into the wall.
Asta took the brunt of it, with Adam pinned against him by the current.
"Adam! Asta's so funny, haha!" the younger kids cheered.
The room burst into laughter. Adam rubbed his sore back, grimacing. This Sister Lily is terrifying… Too fast—he didn't even have time to dodge.
"Family…" he murmured with a small smile. Hearing the children's laughter, his expression softened.
"Asta, don't eat it all! Leave me some!" he yelled, diving into the food fight.
.....
"Adam! Asta! Yuno! Take care of yourselves and be careful on the road!"
"Yeah!"
After bidding farewell to everyone at the church, the three boys began their journey toward the royal capital.
"Why do I have to run with these two maniacs?" Adam groaned, gasping for breath. Asta and Yuno seemed tireless—endless stamina, endless energy. Damn it, they're both monsters!
"Slow down, you two!" he shouted, teeth gritted as he chased after them.
If only he could awaken the Rabbit's Talisman power—then he might keep up!
Later, Adam spotted a bizarre-looking chicken: purple feathers, oversized comb, razor claws, and an aura that pulsed faintly with magic.
"This chicken's definitely not normal," he said, intrigued.
That night, the three feasted like kings. It was the best meal they'd had in years.
They even joked about bringing some home to Hage Village—where food this good was a dream.
But what Adam didn't notice was that as he devoured the "magic chicken," a faint glow appeared on the tenth page of his golden grimoire—on the image of the Rooster Talisman.
"Fog, valleys, deserts… what is this place?" Adam muttered as they hiked. "No wonder there's nothing to hunt here."
He glanced at Asta and Yuno, then at himself.
"You two are ridiculous," he grumbled.
"What's wrong, Adam?" Asta asked, blinking in confusion.
"Nothing," Adam sighed, scratching his head. He looked like a rugged wild man compared to them, yet they were fine.
Totally unfair.
"Let's go! We're almost at the capital!" Yuno called.
High above the plains, the royal capital of the Clover Kingdom gleamed like a jewel on the mountainside.
"I'll definitely become the Wizard King!" Asta shouted proudly, sprinting ahead. Yuno followed close behind.
"I just wanna buy some clothes first…" Adam muttered, trailing behind.
I can't afford this. It's daylight robbery.
Adam stared at the prices in the clothing store, jaw twitching.
"Forget it, I'll just go like this," he said, stepping out to follow the others toward the Magic Knights' exam grounds.
"You're number 162," the clerk said, eyeing his thin grimoire. "But your book's awfully small, isn't it?"
"None of your damn business," Adam shot back. Even after two lifetimes, moments like this still made him twitch.
Then came another annoyance. "Why's this stupid bird flying toward me again?"
The anti-birds fluttering around the exam site hovered near Adam—but not too near. It was as if they sensed danger, as if getting too close might burn them to ashes.
"Hah…" Adam exhaled—and a wisp of flame escaped his mouth.
The birds panicked and scattered immediately, seeking refuge elsewhere.
"Why'd that guy's anti-birds run away?" someone whispered.
"Even the birds avoid him… just like that four-leaf grimoire boy."
"But look at his rags—he's clearly from some backwater village."
Adam heard every word.
"Superior bastards…" he muttered, his golden eyes narrowing.
The semicircle dragon mark in his grimoire began to rotate, slow and ominous.
Anger fuels the Dragon's Desire.
"When will this annoying noise finally disappear?" he murmured, glancing toward Asta—the loudest of them all. The Emperor of Noise, he thought bitterly.
Then smirked. "Never mind. I've got better things to focus on."
"The Magic Knight Captains are here!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as nine captains appeared—the pride of the Clover Kingdom.
Adam's jaw dropped. "Damn… that blonde beauty with the twin braids—she's gorgeous."
He straightened up immediately. "No, I have to join the Blue Rose Knights. Sorry, Black Bulls."
Then he glanced at another. "The Crimson Lions look good too. Fierce and hot-blooded… kinda my style."
He caught himself mid-thought. "Wait—what's wrong with me? Have I been holding it in too long?"
That's not it! he told himself. It must be the Dragon's power messing with my head.
He nodded solemnly. "Damn dragon. You're making me think weird things."
"Dear candidates, apologies for the wait," said William Vangeance, captain of the Golden Dawn.
He opened his grimoire, mana swirling. "World Tree Magic: The Magic Tree has arrived!"
Dark clouds filled the sky. A colossal tree descended, its branches transforming into brooms that floated to each examinee.
"Oh, great. How am I supposed to fly without mana?" Adam muttered. He tossed his broom to the ground, using it as a pillow, and promptly lay down.
"Huff… huff…"
Within seconds, he was asleep.
First test: failed.
"First stage—broom-riding test, begin!" William announced. "Those who can feel their mana should easily make the broom move. It's the most basic form of magic control. If you can't even do this—you're hopeless!"
All around, brooms rose into the air.
Unlike Adam—who was snoring—Asta was still struggling, face red with effort.
"What's wrong with that guy? He can't even fly!"
"That commoner kid's mana control is better than some nobles."
"And that other one—he's asleep during the exam?!"
Murmurs of irritation spread.
"Kick him out!" roared the hot-headed Crimson Lion captain. His attendants rushed forward.
"Wait."
William raised a hand. "Even if he refuses to participate, he'll still take part in the final test."
"The last event—combat examination!"
Adam slowly opened his eyes, a sly smile tugging at his lips.
"The show's about to begin."