"Two people with four-leaf clovers..."
"Yeah, who do you think is stronger?"
"Isn't it obvious? The one with two books, of course..."
As the candidates awaited the commencement of the exam, murmurs filled the air. The appearance of not one but three four-leaf clover grimoires—a mythical rarity—had ignited a wildfire of gossip among the participants.
"Just wait, Ethan Hayes, Yuno! The one who will become the Wizard King is definitely me!"
Unwilling to stay unnoticed, Asta's passionate roar drew everyone's attention. However, both Ethan Hayes and Yuno instinctively stepped to the side, murmuring, "I don't know him... I don't know him..."
In his typical boisterous manner, Asta collided into Yami Sukehiro, the captain of the Black Bull squad, one of the nine Magic Knight squads. Known more for their chaotic reputation than for any public accolades, the Black Bull squad had nevertheless earned their place as fierce warriors.
As the ceremonial fireworks lit up the sky, the captains of the nine squads began to make their grand entrances.
"Tch, his hairstyle looks like... something else entirely," Ethan Hayes muttered, his eye twitching at the sight of Nozel Silva, the captain of the Silver Eagles. The tightly braided "spearhead" hanging from Nozel's forehead was certainly an acquired taste.
Among the nine squads, the Golden Dawn shone as the crown jewel, boasting the best records and being led by William Vangeance, widely regarded as the strongest among the captains. Naturally, every candidate's ambition aligned with joining this prestigious squad.
Yet the reality was harsh—most of the elite squads, like the Golden Dawn and the Silver Eagles, only accepted nobility or royalty. For commoners, they were practically out of reach.
"Thank you for waiting. I will oversee this exam myself! Tree of Magic Descent!"
William Vangeance's calm voice resonated through the arena as he opened his grimoire. Green light burst forth, accompanied by an overwhelming surge of mana. Dark clouds gathered above, and with a vortex-like motion, massive roots descended from the sky, each one elegantly forming into a broomstick before one candidate.
"So, this is his strength?" Ethan Hayes's pupils contracted slightly as he observed the spectacle.
Though unsure whether Vangeance was using his full power, Ethan Hayes estimated that the magic's intensity was at least at a Domain 4 level. If those roots had been used to attack rather than deliver brooms, few here—himself included—would stand a chance.
"An acting demon king... quite the hurdle," Ethan Hayes thought, his gaze lingering on Vangeance
, whose imposing figure stood tall on the high platform.
Vangeance's hidden identity as the leader of the Eye of the Midnight Sun made him a future threat to the Clover Kingdom. Ethan Hayes pondered the implications. Could he expose him? Convince the Wizard King or the knights? The answer was clear—no one would believe him.
Ultimately, Ethan Hayes's path forward was strength. He resolved that all plots and schemes crumble in the face of overwhelming power.
"Now, the first phase of the exam is simple," Vangeance continued. "Demonstrate your ability to control mana by flying on your broomstick. Steady flight will suffice to pass."
The test, while seemingly straightforward, proved challenging for many candidates.
"C'mon... Move...!"
"Keep steady... Don't fall off..."
"Ahhh!—Thud!"
The scene resembled a slapstick comedy, with many struggling to maintain balance, some flailing wildly and tumbling off their brooms. Of the 500 or so candidates, only about two-thirds managed to get airborne. Among those, only a handful displayed any semblance of control.
"Wow... so amazing!"
In contrast to the chaos, Yuno stood effortlessly atop his broom, soaring gracefully through the air like a bird. His natural talent, amplified by his four-leaf clover grimoire, drew admiration from both the audience and the squad captains.
"The talent chosen by the four-leaf clover..."
"Impressive, indeed."
All eyes were on Yuno—except for those of a few captains, who searched for someone else: the mysterious candidate with two four-leaf clover grimoires.
"There he is!"
Eventually, their gaze landed on Ethan Hayes. Unlike Yuno, however, Ethan Hayes stood motionless, his broom resting on the ground beside him.
"Don't tell me he can't even make it fly?"
"Yeah, look at the other guy! He's practically a star already!"
"I knew it! This guy must've gotten those grimoires through some underhanded means..."
Ridicule filled the air. Jealous of Ethan Hayes's fortune, many found comfort in mocking his apparent lack of skill.
With a calm expression, Ethan Hayes picked up the broom—then tossed it aside.
The crowd erupted in laughter.
"See? He's all show, no substance!"
"He doesn't deserve those grimoires!"
Suddenly, a sharp whoosh silenced the jeers. Ethan Hayes extended his hand, summoning a blade of compressed wind. The green, razor-sharp edges of the wind blade shimmered under the sunlight, and the faint hum it emitted was chilling.
"Such... precision!"
"To compress a wind spell to this level..."
"And without even using his grimoire!"
The captains were taken aback. Unlike flying a broomstick, which required only basic mana control, compressing and stabilizing a spell to this degree was an advanced skill. It was a feat many Magic Knights couldn't replicate.
In that moment, Ethan Hayes stood as the undeniable center of attention—a stark contrast to the laughter mere seconds ago.
He gripped the wind blade firmly, its edges gleaming like polished steel. This was no ordinary show of skill. It was a declaration: I am not here to compete. I am here to conquer.