First Gate: Gate of Opening and the Magic Knight Squad Selection!

Almost everyone's gaze had already turned toward Yuno, who held the Four-leaf Grimoire.

At that moment, Yuno had completely become the center of attention. Magic power surged wildly around him, gathering continuously. Green mana whipped up a fierce gale around him, while the Four-leaf Grimoire floated within it.

Magic power shimmered brilliantly.

The Magic Tower master's hands were even trembling slightly.

Carl's appearance had already delighted him beyond measure. But the moment Yuno appeared, the Magic Tower master had nearly gone completely mad with excitement.

Although he did not know what flaw Carl's Four-leaf Grimoire possessed, it was still a four-leaf grimoire. That alone would have added a bold stroke to his record as tower master.

But who could have expected an even greater surprise to come afterward?

The phenomenon that accompanied Yuno's awakening was nearly on par with the legendary awakening of the first Wizard King's magic power.

A four-leaf grimoire!

Another four-leaf grimoire.

The Magic Tower master's grin was nearly splitting his face, while the envy, jealousy, and resentment in the eyes of everyone around them who had awakened grimoires could not be concealed at all.

However, while everyone's attention was focused on Yuno, Carl alone noticed something.

The blue thorny roses vanished in an instant, and the pale-blue magic power disappeared completely.

Charlotte, who had been floating in the air, suddenly staggered and fell like an ordinary woman.

A trace of fear flashed across her face.

A curse...

The Thorn Curse.

At that moment, Charlotte's entire body was nearly unable to move. The instant Yuno awakened his Grimoire, her magic power had also gone out of control for a moment. For someone like her, even a momentary loss of control was absolutely unacceptable.

But her fall could no longer be avoided.

Charlotte could only struggle to summon her magic power, trying to awaken it once more.

It was at that moment.

Carl, quick-eyed and quick-handed, had a glint flash through his eyes.

If he had still been hesitating over where to gain the favor of a powerful person before, then who could have been more suitable than Charlotte now?

Carl sprang into the air in a single leap.

Thanks to his previous adventures in the Infinite Forest, Carl's physical condition had long surpassed that of an ordinary person.

As he jumped, he caught Charlotte steadily.

As they turned, their eyes met.

Charlotte froze for a moment.

But just as she came back to her senses, feeling both shy and even angry, Carl's other hand steadily caught that terrifyingly thick Thorn Magic Grimoire.

A trace of concern appeared in Carl's eyes.

"Lady Charlotte, are you all right?"

Fortunately, nearly everyone's attention was on Yuno at that moment, so no one else noticed this scene.

Only when Charlotte felt the magic power within her gradually recover did she come back to her senses. Her face, as cold and beautiful as a snow lotus, regained its composure.

"Why haven't you put me down yet? Have you no sense of propriety?"

The coldness in her eyes seemed capable of freezing everything, even extinguishing flames.

However, the moment Carl helped Charlotte up, aside from feeling that astonishing softness and irresistible allure, a notification sounded in his mind.

"Congratulations, Host. You have gained +10 favorability from the powerful Charlotte."

"Would you like to activate the Eight Gates, First Gate: Gate of Opening?"

Carl revealed a faint smile and confirmed the activation in his mind.

As the 10 points of favorability were completely consumed.

In the next instant, Carl's physical condition began to improve wildly at a visible rate.

His bones continued to grow, and his muscles rapidly became denser.

Carl could even clearly feel eight distinct abdominal muscles appearing across his once-flat stomach.

Powerful core strength.

It gave him an illusion.

At that moment, he felt as though he could knock down a bull with one punch.

With his bones and joints creaking, his height increased by an entire head in an instant.

Attribute changes:

Host: Carl Rock

Luck Level: SSS (top-tier child of fortune)

Charm Level: SS (Yan Zu + Yu Yan)

Vitality Level: D (can tear apart a bull's head barehanded)

Magic Power Level: F (Anti-Bird's close friend)

Magic Attributes: Purple—All Attributes MAX, Gold—Not Activated

Eight Gates Progress: First Gate (Activated)

Current Skills: None

Bonded Close Friend: None (becoming bonded close friends can multiply favorability gains)

Long-term mission activated: ...

All of these changes were displayed before Charlotte without the slightest concealment.

Charlotte merely stole a glance at Carl before immediately looking away.

But when she realized that Carl had undergone such an enormous transformation in an instant, and that even that tattered Four-leaf Grimoire was glowing, she was completely stunned.

Then, she could not help but examine Carl seriously.

His black hair hung loose, and his body radiated a pure, ultimate sense of strength and aesthetic lines.

For a moment, she even seemed to see the shadow of a stubbled man.

Charlotte could not help covering her mouth.

"How is that possible?"

"Why... did such an enormous change happen in just an instant?"

The feeling even carried a hint of an upgraded Yami Sukehiro.

She only felt that her mind had become somewhat chaotic.

The aura Carl gave off now was as different from before as a harmless rabbit was from a vicious wolf.

The magical aura belonging solely to wind gradually subsided.

The Four-leaf Grimoire in Yuno's hands became increasingly dazzling.

Everyone was intimidated by Yuno at that moment.

In the distance, the tower master's mouth was nearly stretched up to the sky.

He turned back to glance at Charlotte, who was pretending to remain calm, then announced in a booming voice.

"Yuno—the chosen one, wielder of the Four-leaf Grimoire!"

Amid the crowd's cries of astonishment, a wave of wailing, howling commotion erupted.

However, a booming voice suddenly drowned out every other sound.

"Why?! Why didn't I get a Grimoire? Where's my book?!"

Everyone turned together and looked toward the white-haired boy in black standing in the corner.

Carl glanced over and could not help wanting to cover his forehead.

That was right, this guy was Asta.

And his voice was indeed as legendary as people said, so loud it made one's head ache.

Yuno accepted his Grimoire, watched Asta's helpless rage, then walked step by step toward Charlotte.

His eyes were resolute. He dropped to one knee and said elegantly.

"Lady Charlotte, I will definitely become the strongest Magic Knight."

"I will definitely become the Wizard King!"

As soon as his words fell, Asta roared from the distance.

"Yuno! I'm the one who'll become the Wizard King!"

After a moment of silence, the tower master still said to Asta.

"Well... young man, why not come back and try your luck next year? As for becoming the Wizard King, let's talk about that later."

As though someone had poured a basin of cold water over him, Asta collapsed straight onto the ground.

Yet Yuno's eyes remained full of determination.

Carl glanced at Yuno.

Yuno's gaze merely swept over Carl's Four-leaf Grimoire, which had only a cover, before shifting away and returning to Charlotte.

Charlotte nodded.

She swept her gaze over the young people present and spoke in a cold, commanding voice.

"This place has truly surprised me."

"This journey has indeed broadened my horizons."

"I originally did not intend to say anything, but seeing so many promising young talents..."

Her gaze passed over Yuno before finally landing on Carl.

The instant their eyes met, Charlotte looked away as if she had been shocked by electricity.

"Three days from now will be the Royal Capital's Magic Knight Squad Selection Trials."

"If you believe you are qualified to join one of the Clover Kingdom's Nine Magic Knight Squads, then come and try."

"It is a leap in status, as well as supreme glory."

Blue thorny roses bloomed.

In the next instant, Charlotte had vanished from everyone's sight.

"Congratulations, Host. Short-term Mission 5 has been activated: An Unconventional Magic Knight Squad Selection."

"During the selection process, achieve something unexpected to receive 3,000 vitality points."

Carl was delighted. Just when he was sleepy, someone had handed him a pillow. If he could complete it, he would be one step closer to summoning the overwhelmingly domineering, long-legged Wizard King Princia.

In the corner, a gloomy-faced man was staring fixedly at Yuno and Carl.

His gaze moved back and forth between the two of them.

Beneath his wide sleeves, chains writhed continuously.

Even more terrifyingly, those chains were covered in spikes as sharp as blade edges.