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Bai En, whose number was called, stepped out from the crowd. The tranquil twilight shone upon him, casting a long shadow on the bluestone plaza.
Perhaps due to the still scorching September weather, or perhaps due to nervousness, Bai En, standing quietly, felt a bit overheated.
Asta and Yuno, who had already secured their spots in the Magic Knights, watched Bai En from the crowd behind him. Given his assessment results, there was no doubt he'd join a Magic Knights, but they wondered which one... If only he could be in the same squad as them...
"Captain Yami, please raise your hands to indicate your intentions!"
As the words echoed, Bai En looked up at the various Captains on the viewing platform. In the quiet evening breeze, a few hands were sparsely raised.
It wasn't like Yuno, the chosen one, where all Captains raised their hands the moment he appeared, nor was it like Asta, who was individually selected by the Black Bulls after a long silence.
Four Captains raised their hands: the 'Green Mantis', The Azure Orcas, the Aqua Deer, and the Coral Peacock.
The three major squads that recruit royalty and nobles, the Blue Rose Knights composed of female members, and the Black Bulls did not raise their hands.
"Huh?" Finral, standing behind Captain Yami of the Black Bulls, questioned, "This guy didn't get a unanimous vote? From his assessment results, he shouldn't be worse than the guy who got the four-leaf grimoire, right?"
"His magic perception, magic control... and even his combat skills are all excellent."
"Captain Yami, aren't you going to try to recruit him?"
Gordon Agrippa, a poison magic Mage and one of the two guardians standing behind Captain Yami, mumbled softly, "Captain Yami... should try to recruit him, but... but I will also respect Captain Yami's opinion."
Hearing Finral's question, Yami leaned back in his chair: "No, one troublesome guy is enough, and that guy's compatibility with me is quite poor~"
"Compatibility? What's that?"
Finral pondered. Based on his long time with Captain Yami, he recalled Bai En's fight with Grace: "Captain Yami, are you talking about fighting style? Strange but similar weapons, similar fighting methods... Looking at it that way, they really are very similar."
"You wouldn't want to see a guy with a similar fighting style, but younger and better-looking than you, all day, would you?" Yami exhaled smoke, the mist swirling around him.
"That... that's true."
Finral scratched his head and sighed, then softly murmured, "But, that's also a bit willful."
Hearing the comment about him, Yami turned to Finral, his brow furrowed with dark lines: "Chauffeur boy, what are you muttering about? Be careful or I'll chop you up!"
"Eh... ha... ha, I didn't say anything, Captain Yami. I was just wondering why other squads didn't choose this young man. It can't be that all Captains are like you and feel the compatibility is poor."
Yami flicked the ash from his cigarette, the mist subtly swirling: "What other reason could there be? Besides that self-righteous 'nobles above all' theory, they probably don't think much of his potential, right?"
"Potential?" Finral was puzzled.
"Such a thin grimoire, he probably can't use many spells. Muscle strength, technique—these can all be compensated for later. Compared to the guy who got the four-leaf grimoire, his innate talent is too poor."
"Lacking enough magic to adapt to various environments, he always gives people a feeling that he'll easily reach his limit."
Finral frowned: "With so many flaws, yet he can still perform so excellently in the assessment through hard work. Can't that change their perception?"
"Hard work is also a kind of talent. When everyone is working hard, it doesn't amount to much. Those nobles and royals probably think that way."
Yami felt he had said too much: "Chauffeur boy, what's wrong with you today? You're endless. That guy doesn't have to join the Black Bulls, does he? Aren't other squads still vying for him?"
"Besides, even if I raised my hand, would he come to me? We Black Bulls are described as the worst and most terrible of all Magic Knights."
"Uh... Captain Yami, what you're saying... seems right."
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"The Green Mantis, The Azure Orcas, the Aqua Deer, the Coral Peacock—four squad Captains have raised their hands. Number 167, please make your choice!"
Bai En scanned the four Captains on the viewing platform. After a moment of thought, he quickly made his decision: "I choose the Aqua Deer!"
"Next, Number 168!"
With his decision made, and at the Magic Knight's affirmation, Bai En returned to the crowd of examinees behind him. Two faint gazes came from not far away, belonging to Yuno and Asta, who had also been selected for the Magic Knights.
The three exchanged glances, their eyes meeting, sparks subtly flying. At this point, the three of them had almost simultaneously taken the first step towards their dreams.
The sunset gradually faded, leaving only a stretch of purple twilight in the slightly dim sky, hanging over the magnificent arena. A little later, night would fall.
After tidying his belongings, Bai En planned to use the restroom before heading to the meeting point. Besides him, there seemed to be one other person joining the Aqua Deer Squad.
Just as he entered the restroom, a figure heavily crashed into Bai En. Bai En snorted coldly, but the person fell directly inwards, landing on the ground.
The golden-haired youth was Sacke, who had previously been knocked down by Asta's sword.
Sacke looked at Bai En, then glanced back, quickly got up, and rushed out. Bai En saw Yuno behind him, a white hawk made of wind magic flying in the air.
The sound of a door opening. Asta walked out and happened to see Bai En and Yuno.
"(⊙o⊙) Oh? Bai En, Yuno, you're both here!"
Even in the restroom, he didn't forget to boast about his glorious deeds, "Haha~ Did you see? I successfully joined the Magic Knights! From now on, I'm a member of the Magic Knights!"
Asta was as happy as swaying seaweed, his figure swaying between Yuno and Asta: "See, see? I told you I could do it! Just like now, the one who becomes the Wizard King in the future will definitely be me, and I'll be the strongest fighter too~"
Yuno glanced at Asta, then calmly said to Bai En, "I don't know if Asta has been with you for too long, but I always feel he's become quite annoying."
"How could that be?"
"Am I that kind of person?"
Bai En, of course, wouldn't accept this baseless blame. He turned to signal Yuno, and in the next moment, both of them tacitly rolled up their sleeves.
Asta, unaware of the impending trouble, was still immersed in his self-adulation. Suddenly, a fist the size of a sandbag came flying. Asta was stunned. He looked at the two figures approaching him and instinctively recoiled.
"Hey, hey, hey? What are you two doing?"
In the restroom, a two-on-one battle ensued. Asta, unable to fight four hands with two fists, was beaten black and blue.
Yuno, sensing they were done, glanced back at the two and walked out. Reaching the door, as if remembering something, he turned to look at Asta and Bai En, a rare smile gracing his lips: "Bai En, Asta!"
"I joined the number one Golden Dawn! Don't get left too far behind!" After saying that, he left the "miserable scene" without looking back.
Asta, with his swollen face, coldly snorted: "He's so full of himself! 'Don't get left behind' indeed! I'm the one who's going to become the Wizard King!"
Asta patted Bai En's shoulder, and after leaving a quick "Don't get left behind by me and Yuno," he hurried out.
Only Bai En was left in the restroom, watching the two who had made their threats and then slipped away. He said fiercely, "Damn it, you two are really fast! That's what I should have said!"
'Don't fail to keep up with my progress, Asta, Yuno!'
'Forget it, I'll save it for next time we meet.'
At the entrance of the arena, the agreed meeting place, the evening breeze carried a coolness that dispelled the daytime heat. In the gentle wind, the scenery beneath the magnificent architecture was beautiful.
Bai En, having used the restroom, arrived and found the other squad member already waiting there. A slightly tall figure, a blue shirt, and light-looking silver-white armor.
The armor had red vine patterns. She seemed to be a girl, with familiar crimson hair. She carried a box and stood quietly, like an orchid.
Bai En hesitated whether to go say hello, but he was not good at dealing with social interactions. After some deliberation, he did not disturb the other person...