What Asta and Naruto had seen since the moment they arrived in this world was not something that could be easily accepted. Everything they had relied on in their previous lives—strength, combat, determination—no longer held any meaning here.
This world acknowledged only one thing: intelligence.
With it, you live.With it, you eat.With it, you survive.
And any deficiency in it… could be a final sentence of death.
So, they had no choice but to search for a way out—or at least understand the rules before this strange place swallowed them whole.
In one of the wide streets of the city, Naruto stood staring at the faces of passersby, trying to hide his tension behind his usual expression.
This world was unlike any village or city he had ever been to.
Everything felt suspiciously organized, and the people moved as if they knew exactly what they were supposed to do… without hesitation.
He approached one of them and asked, trying to sound natural:
"Excuse me… where is the passage that leads outside this city?"
The man stopped and looked at him strangely, as if analyzing his question more than necessary, then said:
"Are you from the city… and you don't know where the gate is?"
Naruto scratched his head lightly and laughed.
"Don't mind me, I'm new here… the city is really big, I got a little lost."
The man stared at him for a few seconds, then finally answered:
"The main gate is to the east."
Naruto didn't wait any longer.
Before the man could finish speaking, he had already dashed off, running through the streets lightly, as if something inside him was pushing him to escape as fast as possible.
"The eastern side… that means the exit… that means I can go back!"
A wide smile spread across his face as he sped up.
"Ah… how I've missed my world… Kakashi-sensei… and ramen!"
He paused briefly, placing a hand on his stomach.
"I'm really hungry…"
But that lightness didn't last long.
When he reached the gate, his steps slowed down gradually… until he stopped completely.
The gate was enormous.
Golden.
Shining under a strange light, as if it did not belong to this world.
In front of it stood guards in uniform, their expressions rigid, each holding a small device in his hand.
It wasn't a weapon…
But it looked more dangerous than any weapon.
Naruto stepped aside, observing silently.
Every person who approached the gate was stopped.
A guard would place the device on their head…
Then a light would appear.
Green.
Or… red.
If it was green, they were allowed to pass.
But when it turned red…
Everything changed instantly.
He saw with his own eyes a young man who tried to resist—he shouted, struggled… but within seconds, the guards grabbed him and dragged him away mercilessly.
He disappeared.
As if the ground had swallowed him.
Naruto froze in place, a cold sensation running through his body.
"What is this…?"
This was not just a gate…
It was a judgment.
He lowered his gaze slightly, his mind racing.
"If I try to leave… I might get arrested. And if I stay… I don't know what's waiting for me."
He clenched his fist tightly.
"First… I need to understand that device."
He raised his eyes again, but this time he wasn't just looking… he was observing carefully.
Elsewhere in the city, far from the gate and its silent tension, Asta was walking beside the girl he had met earlier.
Despite the time that had passed, he still didn't even know her name, which made him feel slightly awkward.
He glanced at her, then said hesitantly:
"Um… can I know your name? We've been together for a while… and I still don't know who you are."
She turned to him and gave a small but warm smile.
"My name is Rivana."
Asta paused for a moment, then his face lit up with genuine enthusiasm.
"Wow! That's a really nice name! I'm Asta… from the Clover Kingdom!"
Her expression shifted slightly, confusion appearing on her face.
"The Clover Kingdom…? I've never heard of it."
Asta blinked in surprise.
"Really? Then… where are you from?"
She answered calmly:
"The United States."
His confusion deepened.
"And what is that place?"
She took a small breath, as if she was used to this question.
"A large country… on planet Earth."
Then she looked directly at him and added:
"It seems you're not from this planet… or at least, not from this world."
Asta fell silent for a moment, trying to process what she had said.
"Planet…? World…?"
Then he spoke slowly:
"We're… from different worlds?"
She nodded.
"Yes… and this world brought us together. But the problem… is that there is no way out of it."
Asta froze.
"No… way out?"
The weight of those words hit hard.
"How do you know that?"
She smiled slightly—but it wasn't a happy smile.
"It's a long story… I'll tell you later. But for now… there's something more important."
She stepped closer, her voice becoming more serious.
"If you don't learn the rules of this world… you might die within a week."
Asta's eyes widened, as if the ground had shaken beneath him.
"W-what?!"
Then he clenched his fist.
"Alright… tell me everything."
Rivana led him to a nearby café.
It looked different from anything Asta had ever seen before.
Golden decorations covered the walls, and the smell of coffee and food filled the air in an inviting way—yet it couldn't hide the strange atmosphere surrounding the place.
They sat in a quiet corner.
Rivana didn't waste any time.
"As I told you… this world doesn't rely on money."
Asta looked at her attentively.
"It relies on intelligence. Everything—food, shelter, even staying alive—is paid with your intelligence."
Asta frowned.
"But… how? Is it consumed?"
She answered directly:
"Yes. Every day… it decreases."
Asta felt something tighten in his chest.
"And that means…"
"If you don't work… and if you don't balance it… your intelligence will run out."
She paused briefly… then said calmly:
"And you will die."
She didn't need to raise her voice. The word alone was enough.
Asta held his head, as if thoughts were clashing inside his mind.
"But… I was a magic knight… now… what do I do?"
Rivana looked at him with understanding.
"The first step… is to know your level."
"How?"
"Through the devices the guards carry."
Asta asked with excitement:
"And that determines… everything?"
"Yes. If it's green… you live and work. If it's red…"
She stopped.
"You get arrested."
"And then?"
She lowered her gaze.
"No one knows for sure… but no one comes back."
Silence filled the space.
Asta raised his head, his eyes filled with determination despite the fear.
"Is there a way to escape?"
She slowly shook her head.
"No."
Then she looked at him seriously.
"The only way to survive… is to adapt."
Asta remained silent for a few moments… then said:
"Then… I'll adapt."
For the first time, Rivana smiled a genuine smile.
"Good."
Then she added:
"But before that… you need to know your level without taking a risk."
"How?"
"I have a device."
Asta froze.
"Really?!"
"Yes. I'm a doctor here."
Then she looked at him with slight seriousness.
"My job… is to check the intelligence level of those who are close to execution."
Asta felt a chill run through his body.
"Execution…"
But despite that, he took a deep breath… then smiled.
"Alright! Let's see my level then!"
Rivana stood up.
"Come with me… to my house."
Asta stood as well and followed her.
But deep inside…
He knew.
What awaited him…
Might determine his fate completely.