"If you don't mind fighting with a child, I don't mind fighting you either."
Asta stood tall, speaking to Captain Yami Sukehiro as if chatting with an old neighbor. His arms were crossed, and he wore that usual confident smirk despite being just a new recruit.
"Hah! You've got guts, brat. But do you know what kind of Magic Knight squad you just joined?"
Captain Yami grinned, the cigarette still tucked in the corner of his mouth, already imagining the chaos this kid would bring. Around them, murmurs from the other captains spread like wildfire—especially from Golden Dawn's William Vangeance and Silver Eagle's Nozel Silva, who looked particularly miffed.
"Oh, I heard it already," Asta shrugged casually. "The Black Bulls, right? The so-called worst squad in all of Clover Kingdom. Sounds like fun."
Yami let out a deep, hearty laugh. "Hah! You're either real brave or real stupid. Either way, I like you, kid."
The other captains looked on with mixed expressions—some amused, others visibly annoyed.
"Sure enough, the weirdo captain recruited another weirdo…"
Charlotte Roselei muttered under her breath, while Fuegoleon Vermillion watched with a raised eyebrow.
"Welcome to the Black Bulls," Yami said, clapping Asta on the shoulder with enough force to nearly knock him over. "Let's see if you survive your first week."
As the captains returned to their seats and the Magic Knight Entrance Exam concluded, the chosen recruits were escorted away. Each would now be brought to their new squads. Before leaving, Asta made one last stop.
He approached Sekke Bronzazza—arrogant, loud, and freshly humiliated.
"H-Hey man, what do you want now?" Sekke stammered, trying to recover his cool.
"Just to settle something," Asta said, his voice lower now, serious.
"Hah! Come on, I was just trying to make an impression! Nothing personal, right?"
"Except you tried to hurt me with that magic back there. You meant to do more than just impress."
Sekke had tried to hurt Hao Fan during the test.
Sekke paled slightly. "You—you read that?"
"I may not have magic, but I know how to read people."
Asta turned and walked off without another word, his footsteps echoing behind him.
Sekke was left shaken. He tried to laugh it off. "Whatever. He's all talk. What can a guy with no magic really do?"
But moments later, as Sekke walked toward his new squad—the Green Mantis—he suddenly staggered, clutching his chest. His vision blurred, and he collapsed. The room grew quiet.
"Did… someone just die?"
"It was Sekke Bronzazza," a recruit whispered. "They said it was a sudden blockage… maybe stress from the exam."
Yami exhaled slowly, releasing a ring of smoke. "Better to drop here than in real combat. This job ain't for the weak."
The crowd quickly moved on. The wheel of fate never paused for long in the Clover Kingdom.
Before leaving, Yuno walked up to Asta, the tension clear between them.
"This is it," Yuno said, eyes glinting with ambition and something deeper—reluctance.
"Yeah. Go be amazing, Yuno."
"No. We will." Yuno turned to leave, his cloak fluttering as he walked toward Golden Dawn.
"We're both gonna be Magic Emperor."
Asta grinned. "Damn right."
The teleportation spell cast by Finral Roulacase delivered Asta and the others to the Black Bulls' base.
He stared at the building.
"Wait… this is the headquarters?"
It looked more like a haunted mansion crossed with a junkyard.
"Pretty cool, right?" Yami smirked, proud as ever.
Asta blinked. "Is it too late to switch squads?"
Finral chuckled nervously. "It grows on you."
Inside, chaos reigned.
Asta stepped through the doors just in time to dodge a fireball flying across the room. He instinctively drew the Demon-Slayer Sword and cleaved it in two.
The culprits? Magna Swing—bandana-wearing fire mage with a biker's energy—and Luck Voltia, the lightning-crazed maniac laughing maniacally as he zipped around the room in electric boots.
"YEEEAAAH! More explosions!"
"Heck yeah, Luck! But stop aiming at me, idiot!"
And then Asta noticed the others…
Sitting on the table devouring desserts was a tiny girl with silver hair—Charmy Pappitson. Her cheeks were puffed out like a squirrel, her eyes dreamy.
"Mmm… food… more food…"
And in the corner, practically bathing in booze, was Vanessa Enoteca—the scantily clad, constantly tipsy enchantress of the group.
"Hey, cutie," she slurred, winking at Asta. "Welcome to the madhouse."
The rest of the crew didn't exactly scream "normal" either. Gordon muttered things under his breath like a cursed puppet. Grey was so shy, she practically vaporized into mist at the sight of Asta. And then there was Gauche… lovingly gazing at pictures of his sister, Marie.
"This squad is… a freak show," Asta muttered, wide-eyed.
He turned to Finral. "You weren't kidding. This really is a hodgepodge of problems."
Yami smirked. "Get used to it, rookie. You're one of us now."
"They're still fighting…"
Finral Roulacase sighed, watching the chaos unfold in the Black Bulls' hideout. Magna Swing was hurling fireballs across the room, while Luck Voltia dashed around with wild lightning dancing at his feet, giggling maniacally.
"They've been going at it since we left for the exam," Finral muttered, dodging a stray explosion. Furniture lay shattered, scorch marks stained the walls, and one of the windows was completely gone.
"This is why I get a headache every time I come back here," Captain Yami Sukehiro grumbled. His eyes narrowed, a black aura of dark magic seeping from his body, muscles tightening in warning. "Public property… getting wrecked again…"
"C-Captain, please! Calm down!" Finral begged, waving his arms in a panic. "They only broke a couple walls and doors this time! If you punch something again, the whole building's going down!"
Yami ignored him.
"HEY, YOU IDIOTS! CUT IT OUT!"
His voice boomed like thunder as he casually cocked back a fist and punched the wall next to Finral. The wall—and Finral—exploded outward in a cloud of dust and debris.
Asta winced at the impact. "Is… is Finral okay?"
Yami cracked his neck and grunted. "He'll live."
Hearing their captain's voice, the once-wild members of the Black Bulls froze mid-battle. In seconds, they rushed to Yami with dramatically different demeanors—like puppies eager to please.
"Yo, Captain! If someone disrespected you, just say the word and I'll roast 'em!" Magna grinned, spinning his flaming bat.
"Captain~ let's drink together tonight!" Vanessa Enoteca, half-drunk already, wrapped her arm around Yami, her wine glass sloshing dangerously.
"Would you… like some cake?" Charmy Pappitson offered shyly, holding out half a dessert with puffed cheeks full of the rest.
"Hahaha! Man, you guys really love me, huh?" Yami smirked—then suddenly scowled. "But DAMN, you're annoying!"
The shift in tone was instant. Every member dropped to the floor in submission, sitting upright and quiet like scolded children. Asta stared, mouth agape.
These are my new teammates? Are they seriously all like this?
Yami sighed, rubbing his temples. "Anyway, let's get to the point. I brought a new recruit. Introduce yourself, kid."
Asta stepped forward with a confident grin. "I'm Hao-Asta from Hage Village! I don't have any magic, but I wield anti-magic with this sword. I'm gonna become the Wizard King!"
The room went silent for a beat. Then—
"That's it?" Charmy blinked.
"Well, it was short… but clear," Vanessa chuckled, eyeing the silver-haired boy with interest. "And cute, too."
"Tch. What a weird kid." Magna crossed his arms, unimpressed. "You better not slow us down."
Asta's grin widened. "Don't worry—I'll surpass every single one of you!"
The Black Bulls stared at him. Then, one by one, they grinned.
"Oh? Looks like we've got ourselves a loudmouth."
Yami took a long drag from his cigarette. "Hmph. Let's see if you've got what it takes to survive this madhouse."
Asta looked around at his chaotic new team—the fire-obsessed Magna, the thunder-happy Luck, the constantly-drunk Vanessa, the ever-hungry Charmy, and the Captain who punches holes in walls for fun—and laughed.
What a crazy place… but maybe this is exactly where I belong.