Diamond Kingdom Border.
This guy Lotus had really exceeded his limits.
You know, Lotus was "seriously injured" and still escaped with Mars — that dazed guy.
It was truly extraordinary.
Adam tried his best to chase after them, but he could only see their shadows disappearing into the distance.
His eyes were starting to ache from overusing his Fiery Eyes.
It was impossible to land a solid hit on these two.
"I'm so pissed off! You bastards just wait for me—Sixth Brother of the Diamond Kingdom!"
Reinforcements from the Diamond Kingdom soon arrived to support Lotus and Mars. Seeing the situation wasn't in his favor, Adam quickly retreated.
"Damn little devil, just you wait!" Lotus growled.
The soldiers rushed to treat him. Lotus had a ferocious look on his face, like he wanted to devour Adam alive.
Mars, however, was stunned. He stood there in a daze, lost in thought.
"Fana…"
Adam's relentless kicks had reminded Mars of his past.
The cold young man showed a flicker of humanity for the first time.
"Adam! You've left me without a son! Aaaah!"
Lotus's miserable howls echoed.
The soldiers exchanged awkward glances. Wait a second… the general doesn't even have a son. Could it be this Adam is his illegitimate child?
Black Bulls Headquarters.
"Asta, I didn't expect you to be able to sleep for so long!" Magna shouted.
"You didn't do anything weird, did you?"
Adam was confused. How could this idiot sleep for two whole days and nights?
Even he, the so-called "great hero," wasn't that tired.
"Asta was accidentally hit by a rock when leaving the Dungeon," Noelle explained.
Asta had suffered some backlash. He hadn't felt anything at first, but once he returned… he couldn't even get up.
"Everyone! Chef Sheep's meal is ready!"
Charmy and her sheep chef carried out a massive feast.
"Let's eat!"
Asta and Adam immediately rushed forward. One was starving, the other was just plain greedy.
"Tasty!" Asta shouted with his mouth full.
Bang!
The wooden door flew open with a kick. Yami walked in with a grin, looking way too satisfied — clearly, today's bathroom trip was enlightening.
"Good morning, Captain!"
"Yo, Asta. You alright?" Yami asked, sitting down at the table.
"No problem!" Asta bellowed enthusiastically.
Adam leaned closer to Noelle, making the princess's cheeks turn red.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm dodging Asta's saliva," Adam answered seriously.
Vanessa chuckled, swirling her wine. "What a man with zero sense of romance."
If only Adam knew what she was thinking…
"I was afraid you'd catch a cold," Adam muttered. "I was just using my fiery eyes to warm you up."
Yami leaned forward. "This next mission's a bit special. Adam, take Asta and Noelle to the capital to report."
"Okay~" Adam stretched the word out. A boring assignment in a stuck-up noble city? What a waste of time.
Not to mention, running into some loudmouthed nobles was inevitable.
…Well, might as well count it as recharging the Dragon Pattern.
"Captain, what about me?" Luck asked quickly.
"There's a combat mission for you and Magna," Yami replied, not trusting the walking thunderstorm to behave in the Royal Capital.
Huh. Since when did I start caring about the big picture? Adam thought.
"Great! Magna, let's team up!"
Magna stiffened. Here we go again with his weird bromance energy…
Royal Capital.
"Wow! From up close, it's really huge!" Asta shouted, his eyes sparkling.
"Yeah," Adam agreed, looking around like a wide-eyed villager.
The grandest structure they'd ever seen before was the Demon Skeleton in Hage Village.
"Keep your voices down, both of you," Noelle scolded.
The proud princess just couldn't understand how these two could be so easily impressed. After all, someone raised in privilege could never imagine what kind of poverty they came from.
"It's Yuno!" Asta yelled.
Yuno, Mimosa, and Klaus were walking ahead.
"Asta!" Klaus turned around, smiling.
"Senior Four Eyes!" Asta grinned. "You here to report too?"
As they talked, they walked forward together.
Suddenly, Klaus froze. Then—
"Wizard King Julius!" he gasped, dropping to one knee.
"Who's this uncle in colorful clothes?" Asta asked, confused.
"Idiot! This is His Highness Julius, the Wizard King!" Klaus hissed, pushing Asta down to kneel.
"Wizard King!" Asta and Yuno's eyes lit up with pure admiration.
Adam knelt as well, though his thoughts wandered. I only remember this guy's ridiculously thick grimoire from my past life. Not much else…
There was something about Julius's smile that always seemed just a little too calm.
An attic in the Royal Capital.
"This might be the most important thing found in the Dungeon," Julius said, eyes gleaming like a magic fanatic. He looked at Yuno eagerly. "Can you cast a spell?"
"Sorry, not right now," Yuno answered honestly.
"What a shame," Julius sighed.
Sylph… the Wind Spirit. So this is the boy chosen by this era, Julius thought with a smile, handing Yuno's grimoire back.
"Treasure it. It'll grow with you."
"Wizard King, words have appeared in my book too!" Asta yelled, holding out his grimoire. "I don't get it at all!"
Julius looked at the blank pages, scratching his head.
"My magic works though!" Asta pulled out his Demon-Slayer Sword, grinning at Yuno.
"May I?" Julius asked.
"Please!" Asta nodded.
The moment Julius held the sword, it began absorbing his magic.
"Fascinating," Julius said with a smile, handing it back. "A weapon made for a young man without magic power."
Riddler… Adam groaned internally. He hated cryptic people the most.
"You're Adam," Julius said suddenly.
"Yes, Wizard King."
"Can I see your grimoire?"
"Please."
Julius opened the thin book, flipping through slowly. His eyes widened.
What the…?
It was nothing but a pattern—no words. Yet the boy's magic power was overwhelming.
"Don't let anyone outside your squad read this book," Julius said seriously. "Or you'll be in deep trouble."
"I understand, Wizard King."
If you weren't this high up, I wouldn't have let you see it in the first place, Adam thought. Aliens like you give me the creeps.
"Wizard King, I have something to ask you," Asta suddenly said.
"Go ahead," Julius smiled.
"How do we become Wizard King?" Asta and Yuno asked in unison, dead serious.
"Through real results," Julius replied firmly. "Only the strongest can hold that title."
Adam sighed internally. Great. Is this foreshadowing or a headache? I don't wanna compete with my childhood bro for that crown… and definitely not because I'm lazy.
"Come with me," Julius said suddenly. "You're all Magic Knights now. Attend the military merit ceremony with me."
"A noble banquet?" Adam muttered.
Yep. He had a bad feeling about this.