After a week of traveling dusty roads and forest paths, David Banner finally arrived at the capital of the Clover Kingdom.
Massive stone walls surrounded the city like a fortress protecting a treasure. Guards stood at attention while crowds flowed through the open gates. Inside, the streets were alive with noise. Merchants shouted about their goods, taverns echoed with laughter, and travelers from across the kingdom walked with excitement.
The capital felt alive.
David walked through the streets quietly, observing everything around him. His worn boots scraped softly against the stone road while his simple commoner clothes made him blend easily into the crowd. At his side rested his five-leaf grimoire, safely secured in a holster.
Around him walked dozens of young men and women carrying grimoires.
Magic Knight candidates.
Some wore elegant clothing that clearly marked them as nobles or royals. Others looked nervous and out of place, commoners like himself who had traveled far for this opportunity.
David let his senses expand slightly.
Mana flowed through the city like invisible rivers. Some people carried faint sparks of magic, while others burned brightly.
A couple good potentials, David thought.
Most of the stronger mana signatures belonged to nobles and royals. That wasn't surprising. They were born with more mana and trained from childhood.
Still, a few commoners had surprisingly respectable mana.
As David continued walking toward the arena, a disturbance caught his attention.
A group of nobles had cornered a peasant near the side of the street. They shoved the boy around while laughing, occasionally knocking him down with small spells.
David watched for a few seconds.
His hazel eyes remained calm.
Julius really improved the capital, David thought. But the class problem is still here.
He turned away.
He wasn't here to start fights today.
The massive Coliseum soon appeared ahead of him. Its enormous stone structure towered above the surrounding buildings, banners of the Magic Knight squads hanging proudly along the walls.
Hundreds of candidates gathered outside, forming long lines that stretched down the street.
David joined one of the lines quietly.
People around him talked excitedly about the exam, bragging about their magic or nervously discussing the captains who would be watching them.
David mostly ignored them.
But suddenly he felt something move inside his bag.
He blinked.
Slowly, he opened it.
Two familiar eyes stared back at him.
The black anti-magic bird.
The same one that had been watching him during his training near the Demon Skull.
They stared at each other.
One second passed.
Then the bird launched itself at his face.
"HEY—!"
The bird slammed into him like a tiny missile, claws gripping tightly while its beak began pecking furiously.
"OW—HEY—GET OFF ME!"
David staggered backward while trying to pry the bird off his face. Candidates nearby immediately turned to watch the sudden scene.
"WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING ME?!"
After several painful seconds he managed to pull the bird away.
They glared at each other.
David's face now had several small red scratches.
The bird looked completely unapologetic.
A few seconds later she casually fluttered up and landed on top of his head.
David crossed his eyes upward.
The bird sat comfortably there.
"…Fine," David muttered.
Soon enough, the line moved forward.
Candidate Number 122.
David Banner entered the arena.
---
The coliseum was enormous. Hundreds of candidates gathered across the arena floor while the stands above waited silently.
David sensed the mana of the participants with quiet interest.
A couple good potentials.
Most were nobles or royals, just like he expected.
Surprisingly, a few commoners stood out as well.
Above them, anti-magic birds fluttered through the sky.
Many of them gathered around the commoners, chirping loudly and landing on shoulders.
The nobles burst into laughter.
"Look at them!" one royal sneered. "Even birds know their place!"
The commoners tried to ignore the mocking.
Then whispers suddenly spread through the arena.
"The captains…"
"They're here!"
Suddenly—
WHOOSH.
A wave of overwhelming mana pressure swept across the entire coliseum.
David's eyes sharpened instantly.
Eleven figures appeared above the arena stands.
The Magic Knight Captains.
Fuegoleon Vermillion of the Crimson Lion Kings stood proudly with blazing red hair.
Beside him was Nozel Silva of the Silver Eagles, watching the candidates with cold judgment.
Charlotte Roselei of the Blue Rose Knights stood gracefully.
Dorothy Unsworth of the Coral Peacocks leaned sleepily against the railing.
Jack the Ripper of the Green Mantis grinned with dangerous excitement.
William Vangeance of the Golden Dawn stood calmly with his elegant mask.
Yami Sukehiro of the Black Bulls leaned lazily on the railing while picking his teeth.
Rill Boismortier of the Aqua Deer stared at the arena like a kid seeing a painting.
Kaiser Granvorka of the Purple Orcas observed quietly.
Gueldre Poizot of the Azure Deer smiled slyly.
And finally Reve of the Grey Deer stood proudly among them.
Their combined mana blanketed the arena.
David studied them carefully.
His gaze lingered on two.
Yami Sukehiro.
Despite his lazy posture, the man felt like a walking monster.
That guy fought devils without a four-leaf grimoire, David thought with respect.
His eyes shifted to William Vangeance.
Behind the mask stood the man once connected to the elf Patry.
The exam began.
---
The first test was broom riding.
David simply lifted into the air and hovered calmly before landing.
No showing off.
Next came target practice.
David opened his grimoire.
Several glowing cosmic spheres formed beside him.
They shot forward at incredible speed.
BOOM.
The targets exploded in bright cosmic blasts.
Several captains leaned forward with interest.
Next came magic output testing.
David deliberately held back.
The captains noticed immediately.
Then came the sparring matches.
Secre flew away from his head before the fight began.
David chose a noble candidate.
"My name is Noah," the boy said politely.
David nodded.
The signal was given.
Noah reacted quickly.
Fire Magic: Blazing Cannon!
A powerful blast of fire shot toward David with impressive speed.
David moved instantly.
Cosmo Magic: Stellar Fist.
Cosmic energy wrapped around both of his fists.
He dashed forward.
The fire attack reached him—but David split it apart with both fists, tearing the flames in half as he rushed through the attack.
Noah's eyes widened.
Before he could react—
David's fist slammed into his gut.
The impact launched Noah backward across the arena.
He crashed into the coliseum wall.
The fight ended instantly.
From the stands, the captains began discussing.
William spoke quietly.
"This boy's mana… it reminds me of the Elf Leader… but he is not an elf."
Yami scratched his head.
"What weird magic… the way he fights kinda reminds me of Mereoleona."
The other captains continued watching with growing interest.
Meanwhile, David walked over to Noah and offered a hand.
"Sorry about that," David said.
Noah laughed slightly while accepting the help.
"No need to apologize… that was impressive."
They talked briefly after the match.
Noah explained he came from a high-ranking noble family. In the future he had even been expected to eventually lead the Clover Kingdom as its king.
David listened thoughtfully.
"You should join the Black Bulls," David suggested.
Noah blinked.
"You mean… the worst squad in the kingdom?"
David smiled slightly.
"Exactly."
---
After all the matches finished, the moment everyone waited for finally arrived.
Captain selection.
One by one candidates were called.
Hands raised as captains selected recruits.
Eventually—
"Candidate Number 88… Noah."
Several captains raised their hands.
Jack.
Yami.
Fuegoleon.
Dorothy.
Noah looked toward David.
Then he made his choice.
"The Black Bulls."
The arena went silent for a moment.
Yami raised an eyebrow.
The other captains looked surprised as well.
Very few people willingly chose the Black Bulls.
But Noah simply walked toward Yami's side with a calm expression.
Then—
"Candidate Number 122… David Banner."
This time something incredible happened.
Every captain raised their hand.
Even Charlotte of the all-female Blue Rose Knights.
There was no hesitation.
David looked up at the captains.
Then he smiled slightly.
"The Black Bulls."
For David, it was the perfect squad.
If he wanted freedom to grow stronger without restrictions…
There was no better place.