Chapter 17 The Magic Knight's exam awaits

In the forests near Hage Village, Asta, Yuno, and Light were diligently training for the upcoming Magic Knight's exam, which was scheduled for six months later.

Yuno's wind magic had significantly improved, and he had gained a better understanding of his grimoire. He learned valuable lessons from his encounter with Chain Magic Revchi and the sense of helplessness it had brought.

This feeling of helplessness stemmed from the realization that possessing a powerful four-leaf clover grimoire wouldn't guarantee strength unless one fully understood and trained with it. This realization extended to the ambition of becoming a Wizard King.

Asta shared this sentiment, especially haunted by the fact that they had let the criminal go, a thought that occasionally plagued his dreams, wondering if Chain Magic Revchi would find another victim.

Light also devoted himself to grimoire training alongside his companions. Despite his magic appearing strange and eerie from an outsider's perspective, Asta, Yuno, and others paid it little mind.

After all, in this world, there were many cases of peculiar and unique magic, and every day, different regions harbored individuals with extraordinary and unusual magical abilities. Asta himself was a prime example, possessing the extraordinary ability of nullifying magic, known as Anti-Magic.

To be honest, from the perspective of others, Asta was the most unconventional and peculiar of them all. He lacked magic of his own yet possessed a grimoire, albeit a unique and ancient-looking one, with a distinctive and worn appearance.

Asta's complete lack of magic or even a trace of mana was the most mysterious and peculiar anomaly in a world teeming with individuals possessing magic or mana. While most people might have minimal magic, they would still possess some mana within their bodies, unlike Asta, who had none whatsoever.

This peculiarity made Light less cautious about whether others sensed or saw his magic. He openly displayed his ordinary and slightly above-average spells, as well as some of his more potent True Death magic spells. However, Light kept certain secrets, such as the Death Flame capable of absorbing souls and bending the minds and bodies of its targets to his will.

Similar discretion applied to his other formidable spells, which he will only employed when necessary. Given it's power, Light couldn't dismiss the possibility of other forces perceiving them as a threat.

That's why Light was in the process of organizing a dedicated force to protect himself, minimizing his vulnerabilities.

...

Time passed swiftly, and six months arrived in the blink of an eye.

In the Grimoire Tower, Father Orsi with Sister Lily m engaged in a conversation with Wizard Doruo.

"I understand that Yuno and Light are participating in the Magic Knight's exam, but I'm puzzled about Asta's participating. Are you certain it's appropriate?" Father Orsi inquired.

"That grimoire Asta and Light possess... Is it genuinely a grimoire?" Father Orsi asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

Wizard Doruo empathized with Father Orsi's bewilderment, shaking his head before replying, "I have no idea."

"What!?" Father Orsi exclaimed in surprise. It seemed there was something that the elderly man from the Hage Grimoire Tower didn't know.

"Since I'm uncertain, I've requested a Magic Knight to examine Asta and Light's grimoires," Wizard Doruo added.

'Could it be...?' Wizard Doruo pondered, recalling Asta's grimoire bearing the symbol of a five-leaf clover. However, when it came to Light's grimoire, he remained entirely in the dark, even with his extensive knowledge. The mere presence of Light's grimoire had frightened him, and the memory remained fresh in his mind.

"Well... I suppose Asta might fail and return home... Besides, Yuno and Light are with him, so he should be fine," Father Orsi reassured himself.

'Asta...' Sister Lily worriedly thought.

...

Asta, Yuno, and Light embarked on a journey together towards the royal capital.

On their way, Light and Yuno harnessed their magic to aid them, while Asta relied on his sword for every need.

When rain began to fall, Asta used his thick sword to shield his head, while Yuno cleverly employed his wind magic to create a protective canopy above him, preventing raindrops from touching him.

Light, on the other hand, utilized a sub-magic of his True Death Magic, known as Dark Magic, to ward off the rain in a manner similar to Yuno's technique. Additionally, he enveloped his entire body with a faint layer of dark magic to stay dry.

When it came to procuring food, Asta and Yuno managed to hunt down a boar, while Light prepared the firewood and used his magic to create a tent. Using Creation Magic, with a sub-type of his True Death Magic, Dark Magic, Light fashioned a small house from cut tree branches. This shelter would keep them warm during the night and spare them from the rain without depleting their magical reserves.

Upon returning with a boar to cook, Asta and Yuno were astonished to find that Light had already prepared a tent that was, in their opinion, as spacious as their room in the church.

"Wow!!! Did you do this, Light!? This is incredible!!!" Asta exclaimed in excitement, relieved to be shielded from both cold and rain.

"As expected of you, Light," Yuno smiled, presenting the boar. "This will be our meal, by the way."

Light accepted the boar and used his magic to suspend it in mid-air right above the fire he had set up.

Yuno, not overly surprised by Light's mastery of magic, believed that he would soon catch up to Light, especially given his possession of a four-leaf clover grimoire.

After the boar was cooked, Asta, Yuno, and Light savored their meal with pleasure.

Asta, enjoying the taste of the boar, couldn't help but express a hint of sadness, saying, "I wish the people at the church could taste this."

Yuno nodded in agreement, and Light, noticing their sentiment, said, "That's why we're going to become Magic Knights. And once we earn our salaries, we'll contribute to the church."

Asta and Yuno both nodded, concurring, "That's the plan," Yuno added.

A few days later, they finally reached the outskirts of the royal capital, and Asta, filled with admiration and joy, gazed upon the grand city.