Once a year, across the Clover Kingdom, all 15-year-olds are gathered for a special ceremony where they receive their grimoires—books that amplify their magical powers and mark the beginning of their journey as mages.
Asta:"Whoa! A-All these are grimoires? Which one's mine? Once I get mine, I'll finally be able to use magic too! Just watch, Yuno—I'll catch up to you in no time!"
Noble 1:"Heh. Looks like today's the day I become a true mage."
Noble 2:"Hey, check that out. Pathetic, isn't it? Why even bother handing grimoires to trash like that?"
Noble 1:"Right? Are they seriously thinking of taking the Magic Knights entrance exam?"
Noble 2:"Only nobles or royals with powerful magic ever make it in."
Noble 1:"I heard those two can't even use magic. Especially that short one."
Noble 2:"Guess we've got ourselves a national treasure—probably the only guy in the entire kingdom who's magicless."
Hans (cutting in):"Blah blah blah... Keep yapping, idiots. I don't care if I never get one—I've got all my faith in Yuno. I'd bet my life he'll get something way better than any of you. He's gonna make history."
Yuno:"Hans… you didn't have to say that so loud. They can hear you."
Noble 1 & 2 (laughing):"Hahaha! Keep dreaming, peasant."
Noble 2:"If he gets something better than us, we'll kneel before him!"
Hans (grinning):"You really mean it? Fine! Let's do this!"(He grabs Yuno's shoulder firmly)"I believe in you, Yuno. I know you'll get something that'll shut these clowns up."
Yuno:"Ouch! Okay, okay—ease up! I'm not a musclehead like you or Asta."
Hans:"Ah, my bad. Forgot you're built like paper."
Asta:"Hey Hans, do you believe in me too?"
Hans:"Of course I do. But not enough to bet my life. I mean... I don't know if your grimoire'll top theirs, sorry."
Asta:"Oh… well, thanks for at least believing a little."
Headmaster:"Welcome, young men and women. Today marks the start of your journey. May you be guided by faith, hope, and love. I am the master of this Grimoire Tower. While no one from this region has ever become the Wizard King—or even made a name in the Magic Knights—I hope that one of you will change that someday."(awkward pause as the crowd stays silent)"No really, I mean it! Ahem… Let us now begin the awarding of the grimoires!"
[Various teens react as they receive their grimoires]
Girl 1:"This is my grimoire?"
Boy 1:"Check mine out—it's huge!"
Boy 2:"Yeah? Mine's thicker."
Boy 3:"Finally! I'm getting outta this town."
Boy 4:"Time to take over the family business."
Boy 5:"This is it?"
Boy 6:"Mine's... kinda small."
Girl 2:"I'll worry about the future once I've filled in more pages."
Noble 1:"We'll be taking the Magic Knights' exam in six months."
Noble 2:"We're basically guaranteed to get in."
Headmaster:"Good, good. I look forward to it."
Asta:"Uh... My grimoire isn't coming."(everyone looks at him)
Headmaster:"Er… Try again next year?"
Asta:"What?!"
Boy 7:"No way!"
Boy 8:"That's actually impressive!"
Boy 9:"That's too funny!"
Nash:"Seriously?"
Sister Lily:"I can't believe it..."
Noble 1:"If we had a contest for who's the most pathetic, that guy would win hands down."
Hans (smirking):"Well then... Time to keep your promise, dumbass nobles."
Noble 2:"Wha—what did you say?! Didn't you just see that he—"
(Suddenly, a radiant light shines as Yuno's grimoire appears)
Headmaster:"A... four-leaf clover…"
Noble 1:"A four-leaf?! You mean the legendary—"
Noble 2:"H-Hey…!"
Orsi:"The same kind the first Wizard King had?"
Sister Lily:"Said to be filled with immense power and good fortune…"
Crowd:"Him? A peasant? Incredible!"
Yuno:"I'm going to become the Wizard King."
Crowd:"He's amazing!"
Orsi: "He's the star of Hage!"
Aruru:"Big Brother Yuno you so cool!"
Asta (grinning):"Yuno… Just wait. I'll catch up to you in no time. Because I'm your rival!"
Crowd:"Did he say rival?! He didn't even get a grimoire!""What's he thinking?!"
(Asta reaches out for a fist bump—Yuno ignores it and prepares to leave)
Hans (grabbing Yuno):"Hold up."
Yuno:"What is it?"
Hans (pointing to the nobles):"Those two made a promise. Your call."
Noble 1 & 2:"Hiiik!"
Yuno (sighs):"You're the one who made the bet, Hans. But fine... Just let them go."
Hans: "Lucky for you, Yuno just saved your sorry pride."
(The nobles stay quiet, seething with envy and frustration)
Orsi: "All right, kids! Let's head back and get ready for the feast! You each get three tatoes today!"
Aruru:"Yay!"
Recca:"I'd like to eat something else for once…"
Hans:"I'm heading out to hunt some boar—we're celebrating tonight. I'll bring back plenty!"
Yuno (smirking):"Just don't wipe them all out. Boars can go extinct, you know."(He turns and begins walking away.)
Hans (yelling after him with a grin):"Nah! Not a chance! There are so many boars out there, I'd lose count before I'm halfway done!"
(Yuno keeps walking, not even turning back. Clearly, he's not interested in continuing the banter.)
(Hans shakes his head with a chuckle, then turns to Asta, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.)
Hans (genuine and calm):"Keep fighting, Asta. Don't give up. I still believe in you. All that hard work—it's not gonna betray you."
(With that, Hans heads off toward the forest, ready to hunt.)
Asta (softly smiling):
"Thanks for the encouragement, Hans."
(A dark figure watches from afar…)
Revchi:"What an unexpected treasure to find in a backwater dump like this…"
After the awarding ceremony, everything unfolded much like in the original tale. The two arrogant nobles, humiliated by Yuno's grimoire, tried to destroy it out of spite. Their attack failed, but before anyone could react, Revchi emerged from the shadows. Seizing the moment, he subdued the two nobles and ensnared Yuno in his chains, binding Yuno tightly. His grimoire was ripped from his hands as Revchi sneered, stating how such a rare grimoire would fetch an enormous sum on the black market.
Before he could vanish with it, Asta arrived on the scene.
Without hesitation, Asta charged at Revchi, this time unlike the original Asta managed to land a solid punch to his gut because he move quickly with total concreation breathing—a blow strong enough to make the rogue mage stagger. But Revchi recovered quickly, his face contorting in rage. Furious that a "magicless brat" dared strike him, he retaliated with brutal force. A chain slammed Asta to the ground, and Revchi began stomping on him, over and over, trying to break not just his body, but his will.
Still, Asta refused to yield.
Revchi mocked him, calling him worthless and claiming that even Yuno had abandoned him. Yet, Yuno, still restrained, shouted out with firm conviction—that Asta was his rival, and no one should underestimate him.
That moment lit something within Asta.
He grabbed Revchi's leg mid-stomp, his grip so tight that the older mage faltered. As a dark aura surrounded him, a grimoire floated before Asta—tattered and ancient. Revchi's eyes widened in horror as he recognized it: a five-leaf clover grimoire, a book said to house a devil.
From it emerged a massive, black blade—a sword radiating anti-magic.
Revchi panicked, unleashing his chains in a desperate barrage. But Asta's new weapon sliced through the magic like it was paper. With a single, powerful swing, he shattered the chains binding Yuno and launched Revchi into a nearby wall, completely incapacitating him.
As the dust settled, Asta stood tall, gripping his sword with both hands. Yuno picked up his own grimoire, walked over with a calm expression, and offered a fist bump.
No words were needed.
Their bond, tempered through struggle and resolve, had been forged in fire. From that day on, they walked side by side—not just as friends, but as true rivals, each chasing the same distant dream: to become the Wizard King.
With their grimoires in hand and spirits blazing, the two returned home.
That night, the village held a feast in their honor—tables overflowing with food, laughter echoing through the air. The stars above Hage Village sparkled brightly, as if recognizing the beginning of a new legend.