"So tired..."
Adam collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath. He felt utterly drained. Why were all the people he met so damn energetic?
My reward~
"Man, is that all?"
Mereoleona's contemptuous look made Adam feel deeply humiliated.
This crazy woman... if the dragon doesn't show its power, do you really think I'm a bug?
"Don't underestimate me. The second round begins now!"
With a sharp rip, the battle entered its second stage.
"The reward has been brought forward — so just give up," Mereoleona said teasingly.
"Impossible! I'm the main attacker here!"
And just like that, a very special battle began.
The Royal Knights Selection — Final Stage
The selection exam for the Royal Knights was finally reaching its end.
The duel between Asta and Langris had ended in a draw. Asta clearly wasn't satisfied — not making it to the finals stung deeply.
Meanwhile, the match between Rill, the captain of the Aqua Deer, and Luck's team turned into a spectacle.
The "artistic monster" Rill used a rebound spell to deflect the combined magic of Luck and the others right back at them.
When the magic crystal exploded, he claimed victory again.
Now it was down to the final match — Yuno vs. Rill.
The finals of the King's Chosen Knights had officially begun.
After the Battle — Mereoleona's Training Chamber
"Stinky man, are you satisfied now?"
In that "special" second match, Adam had gone all out — and won by the slightest margin.
Guess those supplements weren't wasted, he thought proudly.
"Not even close," he said stubbornly, still panting.
"Hehe..."
Mereoleona suddenly leaned in close and used her infamous pinching technique.
"Ahh—ouch! What the hell, you crazy woman!"
Adam was speechless. He'd just finished helping her with training, and now she turned around and grabbed his vitals — and way too hard!
"Adam," she said with a dangerous glint in her eyes, "pay attention next time. If I ever find out you're fooling around outside, I'll personally help myself to removing the root of the problem."
"Wh—what? Impossible! I'm pure love!" Adam stammered, face stiff.
"I hope so!"
Boom!
Mereoleona slammed her fist into the ground. The already ruined basement finally gave way completely, collapsing into a fiery mess.
Too brutal…
"Pack up. You're coming with me," she ordered.
Adam stood up trembling. If that last punch had hit an inch lower, his "happiness" would've ended permanently.
"Don't just stand there. I can't eat you," she said, tossing him a spare set of clothes — apparently prepared in advance.
"You sure about that?" Adam muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?"
Mereoleona turned, her face slightly flushed as she glared at him.
"Nothing…!"
"Then hurry up and move!"
Adam followed behind her, feeling oddly shy — like a newlywed wife being dragged outside for the first time.
The Vermillion Estate
"Lady Mereoleona. Master Adam."
Wherever they went, the Vermillion family servants bowed respectfully.
In a world ruled by feudal hierarchy and magical power, that much would never change.
"Alas, this world is still far from fair," Adam sighed. "Even peace feels distant here."
"What are you sighing for?" Mereoleona asked, glancing back.
"Nothing... I just want to eat first," Adam replied, rubbing his growling stomach. After two intense battles, he was starving.
"We'll eat later. We're already here."
About a hundred meters from the main castle stood a steel-built warehouse. Its heavy black door had no handle.
"Where is this place?" Adam asked, puzzled.
"My pet's room," Mereoleona said with a mischievous smile.
She raised her hand, pressing it against the door. A fiery magic circle lit up, and the massive door swung open with a metallic clang.
"Let's go."
Mereoleona stepped in first, and Adam followed — curious and cautious.
He thought only Captain Yami was eccentric enough to keep something like a "pet," but it seemed Mereoleona was even more unpredictable.
"ROAR!"
The moment he entered, the roars of various beasts filled his ears, loud enough to make his head ring.
"Shut up!" Mereoleona barked, and instantly, every creature fell silent.
"Hanging there is a spotted tiger I killed when I was thirteen."
She proudly pointed to the trophies displayed on the wall.
"I met that Flame Lion in the strong magic region east of the kingdom. As soon as it saw me, it stuck to me like glue and wouldn't leave."
Adam's mouth twitched. When that lion saw her, it was probably trembling in terror, not affection.
Then—
"Let me out, you savage!"
A strange voice echoed from the depths of the warehouse. Adam froze — did Mereoleona really keep a talking prisoner here?
"That's too much..." he muttered.
"You'll see," she said with a smirk.
In the corner hung a special cage — wooden, suspended midair, sealed by layered enchantments. Inside was... a humanoid puppet.
"Ahh~ you evil humans! Capturing me while I slept! Once I get out, I'll never forgive you!"
The little puppet shouted dramatically, flailing tiny arms against the bars.
"What a cute little thing," Adam said, unable to hide his grin.
"I knew you'd like it."
Mereoleona opened the cage, pulled the puppet out, and handed it to Adam.
"There was once a lingerie thief in the royal capital who targeted noble ladies. He had no magic at all — took me quite some effort to catch him."
Adam's eyes widened. "You turned a perverted thief into a puppet?!"
Mereoleona just smirked. "Poetic justice, don't you think?"
The puppet kept protesting. "I'm not a thief! I thought those clothes hanging outside were unwanted!"
Adam couldn't help but chuckle. This thing's shameless, but interesting.
Still, it was too weak to be of any use.
Click.
He crushed the puppet effortlessly. A golden light shot out and merged into his grimoire.
"Rat Talisman… nice," Adam murmured, watching the glowing rat symbol appear.
That made seven talismans in total. Just five more to complete the set — and when that happened, he'd be unstoppable.
"How is it?" Mereoleona asked knowingly. She was genuinely pleased to have helped him gain something new.
"Not bad," Adam said with a smile.
"Here's your reward."
Mereoleona leaned in, gave a quick teasing gesture, and wiped his cheek with a grin. Despite her disgusted expression, a small, satisfied smile crept across her face.
This woman — now clearly smitten — had opened a new door in her heart.
Once you've tasted the thrill, it's hard to go back...
"Let's go eat."
"Gladly!" Adam replied instantly.
Meanwhile — The End of the Royal Knights Exam
The King's Chosen Knights competition had come to an end.
Rill lost to Yuno — or rather, ended the match himself by letting his own magic crystal shatter under the sheer force of Yuno's power.
There was only one victor — the prince who had fused with an elf's soul.
Yuno.
Asta must have felt conflicted — proud of his friend, but frustrated to be left behind again.
Back at the Black Bulls' Headquarters
"I'm back!"
After a day and night of exhaustion and chaos, Adam finally returned to the Black Bulls' base.
"You still remember how to come back!"
...
Author's Note:
The full completed version of Black Clover: I Awakened the Power of the Twelve Zodiac Talismans is now on Patreon!
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you for your support! 💙