Vangeance's World Tree!

At that moment, Yami was a little incoherent from drinking, but the surprise and admiration in his eyes as he looked at Carl remained impossible to hide.

"Feels kind of familiar!"

"You've got something, kid."

Carl waved a hand and said indifferently,

"Who knows? But I think you're even more special, powerful sir."

Yami flashed a toothy grin at Carl's words, then took a deep drag on his cigarette.

"I can't really say about that, but as you wish, maybe we'll meet again tomorrow."

Yami Sukehiro glanced around and realized that Charlotte Roselei and Sol Marron of the Blue Rose Knights had completely vanished.

As if he had blacked out from drinking, Yami Sukehiro scratched his head, then sensed that something was off. "Where's Charlotte?"

Yuno gave Carl a long look and remained silent.

But when he looked at Yami Sukehiro again, his gaze became strange and complicated.

No, they'd stolen your girl right in front of you. Couldn't you see it?

That powerful woman named Charlotte, as well as the short-haired woman beside her, Sol Marron, clearly both had feelings for Carl.

Hey, you scruffy uncle, Yuno had clearly noticed Charlotte's evasive gaze whenever she looked at Yami from the very beginning.

There was definitely something going on between them. Charlotte might even have secretly developed feelings for him.

Yet after one round of drinking, Charlotte and Sol Marron's eyes had practically contained nothing but Carl. When they left, they did not even spare a glance for Yami, who was sprawled on the ground.

This powerful man named Yami was truly pitiful. He had only drunk a little, yet he had practically lost his right to choose a partner.

Regret and curiosity filled Yuno's eyes.

He casually asked, "Senior Yami, I wonder, between you and Senior Charlotte..."

Yami Sukehiro immediately waved a hand and said,

"She's just a stupid woman. I saved her once before, but a strong woman who looks as tough as she does isn't exactly popular in the end."

Yuno immediately shut his mouth.

Fine. You brought this on yourself.

You deserved to stay single for the rest of your life.

Yuno remained silent. Seeing that Yami was about to leave again while Asta was still clinging to his leg with both hands, he felt rather awkward.

"Senior Yami, please don't mind him. Asta is always so improper."

Yami looked at Asta, then smiled. "This kid can actually drink about as much as I can. He's quite something."

"Finral, come out."

At Yami Sukehiro's call, Finral, with his short brownish-yellow hair, stepped out as though he had opened a door in the air.

On the other side was an unfathomably deep space.

Yami took another deep drag from his cigarette and flashed a charming, middle-aged smile at Yuno, Carl, and the others.

"See you tomorrow, then. I need to take a leak now. This hotel has everything except a damn toilet."

"Hey, Finral, where the hell did you run off to just now? I was already pissing at the entrance of the beer shop, and you still didn't come get me?"

Finral froze on the spot. He greeted the people around them with an apologetic expression, then vanished in a flash while dragging Yami away.

Having lost Yami's leg, Asta was still groping around wildly with his hands.

"Uncle, come on, keep drinking! Keep drinking! I don't believe you can outdrink me!"

"Sister said that when it comes to physical fitness, I'm one of the best in all of Hage Village! Even when hauling grain, I can carry several more loads than anyone else!"

Yuno was embarrassed beyond words.

However, when he walked up to Asta and prepared to pull him up, Asta instantly hugged Yuno and puckered his lips.

"Sister, hehehe, marry me! Let me give you a kiss."

Yuno finally snapped.

This idiot, this bastard! Leaving him here was utterly humiliating!

The four-leaf grimoire in his hand immediately shone with green light, followed by the appearance of a fierce tornado.

Asta was sent flying backward in an instant, crashing through the wall outside with a series of booms.

Carl immediately burst out laughing. "Yuno, save your strength."

Atop the high walls of the Royal Capital's dueling arena.

Nine terrifying auras erupted at once, while special banners and emblems fluttered in the air.

Asta and Yuno stared at each other.

Asta scratched his head, which still hurt a little. "Wasn't I drinking with that scruffy uncle up there? How did I end up at the selection trials in the blink of an eye?"

Yuno immediately shot Asta a fierce glare. "You got drunk yesterday and made quite a fool of yourself."

Yuno looked up at the scruffy man atop the wall, astonishment and wariness in his eyes.

So that scruffy uncle named Yami was actually a powerful Magic Knight Captain.

No wonder even the slightest release of his aura had been so terrifying.

What surprised them even more, however, was Charlotte Roselei beneath another banner.

She stood there proudly, elegant and cold, like a queen.

Damn, running into two captains at once—their luck was really something else.

Carl surveyed the scene beside them and raised his gaze. Seeing Yami Sukehiro and Charlotte Roselei occasionally glance in their direction, a playful expression appeared on his face.

It seemed this kingdom's Magic Knight selection was indeed rather interesting.

Only then did they learn that there were a total of nine Magic Knight squads in the entire Clover Kingdom.

The Black Bulls, known as the "rogue knight squad," were led by that scruffy uncle from before—Yami Sukehiro.

Opposite them stood the Golden Dawn, the nobles among nobles and known as the dawn of the Clover Kingdom. Their captain was William Vangeance. It was said that this masked man was exceedingly terrifying.

The man beside him with braided hair styled like a giant eagle was the captain of the Silver Eagles—Nozel Silva.

Moreover, nearly everyone in the Silva family was a noble.

As for the red-haired man nearby, one could tell at a glance that he was not someone to be trifled with.

His name was Fuegoleon Vermillion, captain of the Crimson Lion Kings, and he looked like the very embodiment of old noble elegance.

Further to the side stood the most comical-looking fellow.

A fat man with a white metal plate over his eyes, with two holes cut into it.

He was said to be Gueldre Poizot, captain of the Purple Orcas, and his reputation was reportedly rather poor.

The person beside him, who looked like he had murder in his eyes, was Jack the Ripper, captain of the Green Praying Mantises.

It was said that most members of his squad came from commoner backgrounds, but judging from that battle-hungry expression, the squad likely suffered no small number of casualties in ordinary times.

The captains farther over were Rill Boismortier of the Aqua Deer, who was said to love painting.

The last was Dorothy Unsworth, captain of the Coral Peacock, who possessed the ability to manipulate dreams.

Watching the powerful Magic Knight captains openly release their magical power, Carl finally took a deep breath.

They really were all powerful.

Any one of them could easily sweep aside all of the people participating in the selection.

A faint smile appeared in Carl's eyes.

Only a place where powerful people gathered like this was suitable for improving his abilities.

Only in this way could he get one step closer to his dream of becoming the Wizard King.

Then, land, beauties, money, and status would all be within easy reach.

Excitement flickered in Carl's eyes.

William Vangeance stepped forward and addressed the crowd.

"Next, we will begin the first stage of the Magic Knight selection."

"First, we will test your control over magic—in other words, your ability to control a magic broom in flight."

"There is a five-thousand-meter circular track before you. You need only control your magic broom and complete a round trip at the fastest speed possible to meet the standard."

"Do any of you have objections?"

Vangeance raised his right hand.

Then boundless magic power erupted.

A magical plant resembling a World Tree seed instantly grew and sprouted above the entire dueling arena, eventually transforming into a massive tree that covered the whole venue.