"Any Magic Knight Squad Captain who wishes for this examinee to join their squad will raise their hand. The examinee will then decide whether to join the selected Magic Knight Squad. If chosen by multiple squads, the examinee is free to choose."
"However, if no Magic Knight Squad Captain raises their hand, the examinee is not qualified to join a Magic Knight Squad."
The Captains reiterated the rules of the final selection.
As the Captains' voices faded, the tension in the entire arena instantly reached its peak.
Will they say goodbye to their past ordinary lives and become revered members of a Magic Knight Squad?
Or will they be sent back to their original state, continuing to struggle at the bottom?
All decision-making power rested in the hands of those nine Magic Knight Squad Captains.
"Examinee #1, step forward!"
A scrawny young man nervously walked up, his face covered in sweat. He held his breath, awaiting his "judgment."
One second.
Two seconds.
Ten seconds passed.
On the high platform, not a single hand was raised for him.
"Number 1, no one raised a hand!"
A cold voice pronounced his fate.
The young man's face turned pale, his body swayed, and he ultimately retreated, looking utterly dejected.
Cruel!
This was reality.
The subsequent selection process was swift and merciless.
Most examinees, like the first young man, quietly left the stage in deathly silence.
Occasionally, someone would receive a raised hand from one or two Magic Knight Squad Captains, drawing envious gasps from the crowd.
Class was vividly displayed at this moment.
Most examinees from noble backgrounds received favor from one or two Magic Knight Squads.
As for commoner examinees, unless their performance was exceptionally brilliant, they were almost completely ignored.
Ryoma watched all of this calmly, his heart unmoved. He knew very well that the so-called Magic Knight Squads were essentially controlled by the largest royal and noble families of this country.
The only truly commoner Magic Knight Squads were the Green Mantis and the Black Bull.
Jack, the Captain of the Green Mantis, was a battle maniac and also came from a commoner background.
As for the Black Bull... that was even more famously known as a "shelter for eccentrics."
What about the other Magic Knight Squads?
Squads like Golden Dawn and Silver Eagle basically only recruited royalty and top-tier nobles, they were nobles among nobles.
The remaining few Magic Knight Squads, while occasionally recruiting a very few outstanding commoners for appearances, often subjected commoners who joined to endless discrimination and ostracization. The most dangerous and least rewarding tasks would be thrown their way.
Wanting to rise above others? It was basically impossible.
Soon, number 164, Yuno, was called. Just like in the original story, he possessed a four-leaf grimoire, breaking many established rules and causing all nine Magic Knight Squad Captains to raise their hands.
Amidst gasps of admiration and envy, Yuno chose the strongest squad, the Golden Dawn.
"Next, number 165!"
Here he comes!
Everyone's hearts tightened once more.
If Yuno was the genius everyone expected, then Ryoma was a monster who appeared out of nowhere.
Ryoma slowly walked to the center of the arena, his expression calm. He looked up at the high platform.
One hand.
Jack, the Captain of Green Mantis, grinned, his eyes filled with excitement.
Another hand.
Yami, the Captain of Black Bull, still looked as lazy as ever, but he raised his hand.
Immediately after, Fuegoleon, the Captain of Crimson Lion, raised his hand with an appreciative look.
Dorothy, the Captain of Coral Peacock, was still asleep, but her hand was also raised high.
Rill, the Captain of Aqua Deer, looked at Ryoma with sparkling eyes.
Finally, Gueldre, the Captain of Purple Orca, that obese merchant, also slowly raised his hand, his eyes glinting with shrewdness and calculation.
Six!
A full six Magic Knight Squad Captains raised their hands for him.
Although not as shocking as Yuno's nine raised hands, it was the second-best result in this selection.
Another wave of exclamations erupted from the crowd.
"Six! That monster received recognition from six Captains."
"So strong! He's indeed on the same level as the four-leaf clover guy."
Ryoma looked at the six hands, sighing inwardly.
Indeed, without a four-leaf grimoire, a chosen one, it was still impossible for those arrogant noble captains to break the rules. However, six was enough.
He scanned the six Captains.
Purple Orca, first to be excluded.
This fellow was a thorough egoist and a traitor. Ryoma didn't want any association with him.
Crimson Lion, Aqua Deer, Coral Peacock... these Magic Knight Squads were good, but they had too many nobles.
Ryoma knew he wasn't a good-tempered person. He could tolerate others ignoring him, but he couldn't tolerate a bunch of flies buzzing in his ears all day, even trying to order him around.
Given the self-righteous nature of those nobles, this kind of thing was 100% bound to happen.
Ryoma was afraid.
Afraid that one day, when he was in a bad mood, he wouldn't be able to resist killing some jumping-around fellow. That would be too troublesome.
So, the remaining choices weren't many.
Green Mantis, or Black Bull.
Ryoma's gaze finally settled on the unruly man.
He bowed slightly, his voice not loud, but clear enough for everyone to hear.
"I choose..."
"Black Bull."
"..."
The entire arena fell into a deathly silence once more.
Everyone thought they had misheard.
What?
Black Bull?
That Magic Knight Squad with the highest destructive power, yet negative achievements, constantly at the bottom?
That Magic Knight Squad full of problem children and eccentrics?
Is he crazy?!
Passing up a top-tier Magic Knight Squad like Crimson Lion to go to the worst one?
Ryoma bowed again in the direction of the Captains, then quietly retreated to the side, leaving the center of the arena for the next person.
His gaze fell on the figure not far away who had been clenching his fists since earlier.
Asta.
Next, it's your turn.
"Next, number 166!"
Asta took a deep breath and walked with heavy steps to the center of attention. His palms were covered in sweat.
Although he had been cheering himself on, now that the moment arrived, nervousness was inevitable.
He looked up, trying his best to appear not so timid.
Please!
Anyone!
Choose me!
Time passed, second by second.
The atmosphere in the arena slowly shifted from anticipation to strangeness.
One second.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
On the high platform, from those nine noble positions, not a single hand was raised.
None.
Not one.
"Number 166, no one raised a hand!"
The voices that had mocked Asta earlier now started up again.
"What a waste of time, just get him out of here."
"It's my turn next."
Those voices were like sharp needles, pricking Asta.
His body trembled slightly. His fists clenched tighter and tighter, his fingernails even digging into his flesh.
Unwilling!
Truly... unwilling!
Just as Asta felt all his strength draining away, a lazy, yet incredibly oppressive voice suddenly echoed through the arena.
"This result was inevitable, wasn't it?"
It was Yami!
He stood up, his body radiating an extremely powerful pressure, causing all sounds in the arena to abruptly cease.
He looked at the figure in the arena who, under the dual blow of his pressure and reality, was still unwillingly shouting about becoming the Wizard King.
Yami's lips curved into a wild grin, and he pointed at Asta.
"You are interesting."
"Come join my squad."
...
"Number 514, no one raised a hand!"
"That concludes the Magic Knights entrance exam."
With the examiner's final cold announcement, the Magic Knights entrance exam finally drew to a close.
Immediately after, there were many uncontrollable sobs and desperate sighs.
The arena gates opened, and the failed examinees, like walking corpses, dragged their heavy feet out of the place.
Outside the arena, the crowds waiting for the results, seeing their dejected appearances, couldn't help but offer words of comfort and encouragement.
The successful were few.
The failures were countless.
This was reality, and reality was ultimately cruel.
(End of Chapter)
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