Star Festival
"The Star Festival is the event that determines which Magic Knight Squad is the best based on the number of stars they've earned over the past year!"
Finral explained to Asta and Adam with an exaggerated hand gesture.
"Our squad's definitely at the bottom. We've caused more trouble than we've gained," Adam sighed helplessly.
"Who cares! Having fun is the most important thing. Let's go!"
Captain Yami waved his hand, clearly already impatient.
But the outfit he was wearing was… questionable.
Adam hesitated to even look at it. It was basically a "traditional island outfit" — some white hemp rope tied underneath — like a sumo wrestler.
"Festival! Girls!"
The Black Bulls F4 threw their arms around each other and started cheering.
At that moment, Asta turned to Finral with a serious face. "Senior, I'd like to ask you for a favor."
The Kingdom's Capital at Dusk
As night fell, the capital's most luxurious district came alive with rows of brightly lit stalls.
"Enjoy yourselves! Boys, we've got plenty of time before the rankings are announced!"
"I'm starving, let's eat first!"
"Wine! I want wine!"
"Delicious food! Delicious food!"
As soon as they arrived, Captain Yami gave the order to scatter.
Adam wasn't sure where to go, so he tagged along with Noelle and Asta to wander around.
Asta's excitement was off the charts.
"Here they come!" Asta pointed ahead. Kahono and Kiato were waving at them enthusiastically.
"Kahono, Kiato—why are you here?"
Noelle rushed forward. Kahono was her first real friend.
"I asked Senior Finral to bring them here," Asta said proudly.
"How could I refuse a request from my lovely junior?"
Finral flicked his hair like a gentleman. "Enjoy yourselves! There are many cute girls waiting for me!"
"Why can't you face reality? Even when Gray turned into Gordon, people flirted with him. But you? Never succeeded once," Adam said flatly.
"Please respect your seniors! Woohoo~"
Tears welled in Finral's eyes as he dramatically turned and ran away.
Adam had hit him right in the ego.
"Adam, that was too harsh. You could've at least lied a little," Asta sighed, patting Adam's shoulder like an elder.
"By the way, Kiato—did you bring your legs?"
Kiato took out the short legs preserved with Water Magic. Asta then opened a special bottle infused with the Witch Queen's healing magic.
Blood-red threads emerged and wrapped around Kahono and Kiato's injured legs.
"The Witch Queen… actually changed?" Adam muttered. He'd never heard of that. That old witch really had too many tricks up her sleeve.
"Ohhh~!"
"My leg is healed!" Kaito danced joyfully. Kiato hugged Asta and burst into tears.
"Noelle, you go shopping with Kahono and the others. I'm going to take a walk."
Adam touched the ring on his finger where he stored the golden clothes. He planned to buy materials to make a puppet.
"Adam, do you want me to go with you?" Noelle asked shyly.
"Next time. Right now, you should spend time with Kahono—she's your first friend."
Adam gently patted her head. Instantly, steam billowed from Noelle's face like a kettle.
"Asta, this is fun!"
"Yeah!"
Festival Streets
Adam strolled down the lively street. Even the usually reclusive nobles were out enjoying the festival.
Magna had asked him earlier to set off fireworks together, but he refused.
"Captain Yami… is actually selling things?"
Adam spotted Yami's stall and immediately quickened his pace. He wasn't about to get roped into unpaid labor.
"Phew, that was close. I'll let Asta deal with that stuff."
He patted his chest. This was a once-a-year festival — no way was he getting involved in boring work.
(Note to self: stay away from Asta and Captain Yami… they're walking disasters.)
Bang!
"You little bastard, watch where you're going! My young master is a noble. Are you trying to rebel?"
"It was clearly him who ran into me…"
Anyone could tell the blond, chubby, blue-eyed noble kid had deliberately shoulder-checked the plainly dressed boy.
His attendant, sharp-nosed and monkey-faced, slapped the boy hard and kept lecturing him.
"You filthy commoner! This isn't your place. How dare you show off with just a few coins? You're courting death!"
Smack! Another slap.
Crowds gathered, pity in their eyes, but none dared to step forward.
"Still picking them up?"
The boy, scrambled on the ground for the scattered coins — the money his family had saved for months to buy flour and improve their meals.
The village chief, returning from shopping, rushed over to shield the boy. "Sir, he's just a child. I apologize on his behalf!"
The lackey sneered, ready to hit again. But the fat noble behind him just yawned, "Enough. I'm hungry."
"Yes, young master."
After a few more kicks, the servant carried his spoiled master on his back and walked away with a forced smile.
Boy's little hands clenched tight around the few coins he managed to grab.
"Village Chief… I'm sorry."
"Silly child…"
Adam's eyes narrowed, cold and poisonous, like a serpent's. A dark smile spread across his face as he followed the two nobles silently.
"My good mood today has been ruined by these two bastards…"
Killing a noble openly would be a serious crime. He needed another way.
The Alley
Barton, the noble, rode on his servant Zako's back as they strolled down Food Street.
Whenever he saw food, he'd just grab it without paying.
"Zako, after this meal, I wanna grab a girl too."
"Hehe, I understand, young master. I'll make sure your bed's warm."
Both of them laughed. Pure scum.
Adam slipped into a nearby alley, pulled out his grimoire, and chanted:
"Clever Monkey, grant me the ability to transform all living things!"
A flash of golden light — Adam transformed into a golden-ringed wasp, one of the most dangerous species from the ancient world.
Its venom combined the deadliest poisons — blue-ringed octopus, stonefish, poison dart frog, black mamba…
No antidote existed.
Bzzz…
Adam flew straight toward them.
"Master, that girl over there looks nice."
Zako was good at spotting easy targets.
"Then what are you waiting for? Put me down and go get her."
"Got it."
Snap!
The moment Zako crouched, Adam stung his neck at lightning speed.
"Zako, what's taking so long—ah!"
Zako collapsed, eyes rolling white, foam at his mouth, skin turning purple-blue.
Snap!
"You bastard, what are y—ah!"
Before Barton could react, Adam's stinger struck again.
Barton's body burned from the inside, his mind blanked, and darkness swallowed his vision.
The two scumbags collapsed like purple sweet potatoes.
Bystanders froze. They assumed it was just some noble's weird prank and stayed away.
Bzzz…
"In your next life, don't be human trash."
Adam flew off without looking back. Even gods couldn't cure that venom.
Later That Night
A Golden Dawn patrol found the two bodies lying on the ground, purple and lifeless.
"Dead!" the patrolman shouted, eyes widening.
A whisper spread through the festival night. A storm was coming.