The Clover Kingdom's royal capital was far larger than Yuuki had imagined. The city was divided into three main sections: the central area, where the king, the Wizard King, and other members of royalty resided; the middle district, home to the nobles; and finally, the vast outer district—the commoners' quarters, also called the Lower Town.
The clattering of horse-drawn carts and the jingle of bells echoed through the air as merchants transported goods along the broad stone-paved streets. Crowds bustled up and down the roads, filling the Lower Town with liveliness and color. Stores lined both sides of the streets, and everywhere people used magic in their daily lives—shopkeepers wielding fire spells to cook, vendors levitating wares, and so on.
For Asta and Yuno, who had never left Hage Village before, this level of prosperity was unimaginable. Even Yuuki, who had seen the brilliance of cities in his previous life, couldn't help but be awed by the majestic, foreign beauty of the Clover Kingdom's royal capital.
So this is the capital... It really feels like stepping into another world.
"Wow! It's so lively!"
"There's so much new stuff everywhere!"
Asta's teal eyes sparkled as he looked around in wonder.
"This place is so different from our village," Yuno murmured, uncharacteristically moved.
"I know, right? Amazing! No wonder it's called the royal capital!" Asta nodded eagerly, then turned to Yuuki. "What do you think, Yuuki?"
"It's a bit more than I expected," Yuuki replied, nodding. His gaze lifted toward the colossal castle rising in the city's heart. For a moment, he imagined a man in a crimson cloak seated upon a golden throne, chin resting on one hand, smiling down over the entire Clover Kingdom.
"What's wrong, Yuuki?" Yuno asked, noticing his momentary daze.
"It's nothing." Yuuki smiled faintly and shook his head.
Just then—
"Waaah—!"
A child's cry rang out from a nearby street.
The trio turned to see a young girl—seventeen or eighteen at most—with reddish-brown hair, carrying a heavy sack of groceries in both hands. On her back, a toddler of two or three clung to her shoulders, crying softly. Two smaller children trailed behind her, all looking rather worn out.
The girl glanced briefly at Yuuki and the others before continuing on, her expression calm but weary.
"She's got it tough," Asta said softly. "Seeing her makes me think of everyone back at the church. I bet Sister Lily and the kids miss us already."
"Don't flatter yourself," Yuno said flatly, his tone dry as ever.
"You—!" Asta's eyebrow twitched.
"Alright, you two, that's enough," Yuuki interrupted, stepping between them before another shouting match could break out. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the girl and her siblings disappear into the crowd.
Rebecca Scarlet.
He remembered her name from the anime—a minor but recurring character, one of the few girls who developed feelings for Asta.
Yuuki couldn't help glancing back at Asta, his expression curious. Seriously, how does this guy do it? Short, loud, always shouting—and yet women keep falling for him.
"Yuuki? Why are you looking at me like that?" Asta asked nervously.
"Nothing," Yuuki coughed lightly. "Let's get to the registration site before it gets crowded."
Asta and Yuno exchanged glances and nodded, their earlier argument forgotten.
The three quickened their pace through the streets, following the clear signs pointing to the Magic Knights' Entrance Exam. As they walked, Yuuki's thoughts drifted to what lay ahead.
The Clover Kingdom will only grow more dangerous from here on out. Before chaos descends, I need to become strong enough to protect myself.
The closer they got to the exam grounds, the denser the crowd became. Young mages from every region of the Clover Kingdom filled the plaza, each one bearing a grimoire.
Some looked relaxed, others tense—but every single face showed determination. Even before the test began, the air was heavy with competition.
Yuuki noticed how some participants were already sizing each other up, trying to gauge potential rivals.
"So many people…" Asta muttered, his voice trembling slightly.
Even he, normally full of energy, was starting to feel the pressure. Yuno's face remained calm, but his sharp, watchful eyes betrayed his tension.
"We've been preparing for this all along, haven't we?" Yuuki said easily, flashing a confident smile.
As long as nothing unexpected happened, both Asta and Yuno would pass—of that, he was sure. And Yuuki himself? Knowing the content of the upcoming tests in advance, it would be hard not to pass.
He hadn't told Asta or Yuno about the exam's specifics—not out of secrecy, but because it wouldn't make a difference.
Asta had no mana; no amount of preparation would change that. And Yuno? With his overwhelming talent and his four-leaf grimoire, even if he failed every test, the Magic Knight captains would still fight to recruit him.
(End of Chapter)
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