Asta woke up early as the first faint traces of light filtered through his narrow room.
Sitting up, he closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing, checking his inner progress.
He had tried messing around with a few more advanced jutsu from his memories, but every attempt had fizzled out into absolute failure.
“Well,” Asta muttered to himself, letting out a dry sigh, “this body is completely disconnected from that kind of chakra flow anyway.
Not like it changes anything—I never bothered to memorize any real combat jutsus other than the three basic academy techniques.”
Stepping into the secluded forest clearing behind the hideout, he decided to test out what actually worked.
“Clone Technique!” Asta muttered, weaving a quick hand seal.
A puff of smoke appeared, but as it cleared, there was nothing there.
He tried again, focusing harder, but the technique sputtered and died out completely.
“Transformation Technique!”
He tried the second of the basic jutsus, forming the sign and forcing his chakra outward.
Once more, the transformation refused to hold, the chakra dispersing into thin air before any shape could form.
Figures, Asta thought, scratching the back of his head with a wry grin.
Even the three basic academy techniques are completely out of reach for this body.
A brief hint of frustration flashed across his face, but he quickly regained his composure, shaking off the failed jutsu attempts and turning his mind back to his true foundation—his physical training and overall strength compared to the top mages of this world.
A brief hint of regret flashed across his face, but he quickly regained his composure, turning his mind back to his overall strength compared to the top mages of this world.
Even with opening the first five gates, I can barely contend with Captains like Fuegoleon and Nozel…
I would still be defeated.
But still…
then there are Yami and Vangeance.
Against them, I would be destroyed even with opening the first six gates.
So yeah, I’m still nowhere near enough—and I can’t even hold the Third Gate open for very long anyway.
Well, time for training.
Settling his mind, Asta began a series of intense physical exercises.
By the time the first rays of dawn broke fully through the forest canopy, he had thoroughly loosened his muscles and finished his morning regimen, ready to head back inside for breakfast.
Meanwhile, near the castle entrance, Magna was pacing back and forth impatiently.
“Where did that brat run off to?
Is he in the bathroom?
No, I checked the toilet twice!
Did he lose his way and decide to relieve himself out in the woods?” Magna muttered to himself, getting ready to search the tree line.
Before he could step through the shattered doorway, Asta walked in, drenching his shirt in sweat.
“Good morning, Magna,” Asta greeted casually.
“Do rookies usually start with cleaning duties first thing in the morning?”
“You brat!
If you’re going to clean, just do it without complaining!” Magna yelled, popping a vein.
“And what were you doing out there so early?!”
“Just a quick walk in the woods,” Asta replied cleanly.
“Training so early in the morning?” Magna stared in disbelief at Asta’s sweat-soaked clothing.
To sweat that much required an absurd level of intensity, yet Asta looked completely used to it.
No wonder he’s that ridiculously strong…
A brief sense of genuine awe washed over Magna.
In this world, people relied entirely on innate mana talent; whoever was born with high magic reserves naturally stood at the top.
But Asta had zero magic power, yet through sheer, brutal training, he had forged himself into something stronger than most ordinary mages.
That refusal to yield to fate was unlike anything Magna had ever seen in his life.
“Anyway, what are you doing up so early?” Asta asked, breaking Magna’s train of thought.
“Oh—right!
I’m giving you the official tour today!” Magna barked, recovering his composure.
“Great.
I’d like to wash up first,” Asta said, wiping his brow.
“Where’s the bathhouse?”
“Damn it, you don’t call the shots here!
You follow my lead!” Magna snapped, jogging ahead.
“First rule: food comes first!
Let’s check out the Black Bulls’ canteen!”
Magna brought him to a massive dining hall.
“This place is huge,” Asta remarked, deadpanning as he surveyed the room.
“Are there really enough members to fill a hall the size of a cathedral?”
“Doesn’t matter if there are or aren’t!
Only a hall this grand fits our squad’s status!” Magna huffed, turning around to run toward the next wing.
“Next up: the Black Bulls’ bathhouse!
Just looking at it makes me want to jump in!”
Magna stripped off his vest and slid into a steaming bath filled with 50°C water, letting out a satisfied sigh.
“Asta!
Hurry up and get in!
Are you hesitating because of the heat?”
“Magna,” Asta called out from the rinse station nearby, “didn’t Vanessa mention yesterday that you’re still a virgin?”
Magna’s face instantly flushed red.
“You mocking me, brat?!
You’re just a fifteen-year-old virgin yourself!”
“You misunderstand.
I’m just offering a friendly piece of medical advice,” Asta said calmly.
“If you’re not married yet, taking extremely hot baths frequently isn’t a great idea.
Heat suppresses sperm activity, which can lead to fertility issues down the road.”
“WHAT?!”
Magna practically leaped out of the water like a scalded cat, splashing water everywhere.
“You…
you’re messing with me, right?!”
“Feel free to keep soaking if you want,” Asta replied, offering a sly, fox-like smile that sent an uncomfortable chill down Magna’s spine.
“Tch!
Let’s just move on to the next spot!” Magna grumbled, completely losing his desire to relax in the bath.
“Lead the way,” Asta chuckled quietly.
Magna quickly threw his clothes back on and marched down the corridor with a secretive look.
“Next, I’ll show you the most sacred location in the entire base—the women’s quarters!”
Asta raised an eyebrow at the heavy wooden door before them.
“Sacred or not, what’s with all the dense spiderwebs, tripwires, and poison darts loaded into the doorframe?”
“Traps and defensive spells,” Magna explained in a hushed tone.
“If a guy tries to trespass…” He looked at Asta grimly.
“With our skills, we’d get wiped out in a second.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
“Speak for yourself,” Asta deadpanned.
“With mechanisms like that, I could practically dance a cha-cha through there and come out without a scratch.”
“Moving on!
The absolute most important place: the men’s restroom!” Magna declared, stopping outside another heavy door.
“Remember this spot.
This isn’t Hage Village where you can relieve yourself wherever you want!”
Magna pulled the door open while still talking toward Asta—only to instantly freeze.
A dark, terrifying pressure mixed with a heavy stench wafted straight out of the stall.
“I’m going to kill you, Magna…” Yami growled from within, his face shadowed in dark magic.
“I didn’t expect to get spied on by two rookies while taking a dump.
Does a Captain have no right to privacy around here?!”
“I’M SO SORRY, CAPTAIN!”
Magna’s hair stood on end as he slammed the door shut and bolted down the hall at top speed.
“Ahem!
Moving on!” Magna panted as they ran.
“Unexpected run-in aside, now that you know where the toilet is, next is the beast room!”
“We have wild beasts inside the castle?” Asta asked, keeping pace easily.
“Yeah, it’s the Captain’s hobby,” Magna explained.
“He keeps a room full of exotic magical beasts.
Look at them through the bars—aren’t those glowing, colorful eyes cute?”
Magna glanced at Asta with a mischievous grin.
“By the way, feeding the beasts is a sacred privilege usually reserved for senior members.
We normally fight over who gets to do it.
Right now, it’s my responsibility…
Want me to pass the honor to you?”
Asta peered through the iron bars at the snarling, monstrous creatures staring back at him.
They’re nowhere near tailed beasts, but calling those things ‘cute’ is a stretch.
“Suit yourself!” Magna scoffed.
“Next up: the library!”
Magna led him to a tiny room roughly one-fiftieth the size of the dining hall.
“Classic Black Bulls…” Asta mumbled, shaking his head.
“A cafeteria bigger than a training ground, and a library smaller than a bathroom.”
“And finally,” Magna announced with enthusiasm, “the Black Bulls’ game room!”
“A game room?” Asta’s interest piqued.
“Now that sounds promising.”
“Pretty awesome, right?” Magna gestured proudly into the room.
Asta stared at the iron benches, spiked gears, and heavy chains lining the walls.
“…Are you sure this isn’t an interrogation chamber?”
Before Magna could respond, he slowed his pace as they reached the end of the main corridor.
A girl with silver hair gathered into pigtails and sharp pink eyes was walking toward them.
Asta paused, a sudden wave of realization hitting him.
He hadn’t expected the girl he caught a glimpse of at the exam hall to be assigned to the exact same squad.
What a coincidence, Asta thought, a light smirk touching his lips.
However, judging by her rigid posture and icy expression, her attitude seemed far from friendly.
“Asta, she’s your fellow new recruit,” Magna whispered, stepping back.
As she passed them, the girl didn’t even slow down, looking down her nose at Asta.
“Don’t stare at me like that, you magicless bug.”
Asta touched his nose, chuckling softly.
“Looks like you aren’t big on making friends?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” She crossed her arms, her head held high.
“I am Noelle Silva, a royal of this kingdom!”
“Is that so?” Asta replied, his grin widening into the same fox-like smile he had used on Magna earlier.
“So what happens if you suddenly end up throwing yourself into my arms?”
Magna recognized that smirk instantly and internally winced.
Should I warn her?
…Nah, let her get taken down a notch.
“Throw myself into your arms?!” Noelle scoffed, flustered by his absurdity.
“As if a royal like me would ever do something so ridiculous—!”
Mid-sentence, Noelle suddenly felt a strange, light crawling sensation on her left neck.
She glanced down out of the corner of her eye—and froze.
A massive, hairy black spider was slowly creeping up onto her silk shoulder cape.
“KYAAAAAAAH!”
An ear-splitting shriek echoed down the corridor.
Completely losing her royal composure, Noelle panicked and instinctively unleashed her magic.
“GET OFF ME!” she shrieked, firing two erratic, pressurized water bullets in sheer terror.
BOOM!
The first water bullet flew wildly off-target, smashing straight into the stone wall beside them and shattering plaster everywhere.
The second stray bullet shot completely out of control—blasting Magna square in the chest and knocking him backward into the corridor wall with a heavy splash.
“Gah!
What the hell?!” Magna yelled, completely drenched and coughing up water.
In the midst of the chaos, Noelle’s foot slipped on the wet stone tiles, sending her tumbling forward in sheer panic.
Asta didn’t even flinch.
Moving with effortless speed, he stepped forward and opened his arms.
Catch.
Noelle crashed right into his chest.
Asta caught her securely, taking her full weight in his arms as if she weighed nothing at all, while the remaining spider fell harmlessly into the puddle on the floor.
“See?” Asta smiled innocently down at her flushed face.
“I told you you’d throw yourself into my arms.”
“Y-YOU SCOUNDREL!” Noelle gasped, her face turning as red as a ripe tomato as she realized she was being carried bridal-style by the magicless commoner while Magna groaned in the background.
She violently pushed against his chest to scramble down.
“How dare you take advantage of a royal?!”
“Me?” Asta chuckled, letting his feet touch the ground while keeping his sly smirk intact.
“You’re the one who lost her cool over a bug.”