After watching Arlan's training for a while, the children also hurriedly continued their own training.
At this time, the Father and others returned from shopping in the town.
"This group of children really knows how to burn with youth; it makes my old arms and legs itch!"
The Father sighed.
"Asta is really much more sensible than before. Now he not only has his previous vitality but also possesses extraordinary leadership skills, only..."
Sister Lily's gaze dimmed as she said this. Because they had left early, they didn't know that Arlan had also awakened a grimoire, so they still thought Arlan was destined to live his whole life as an ordinary person without magic power in this lowest-class Hage Village.
"Giving up hope early might actually be a good thing for Asta."
The Father sighed. Born like duckweed, yet with such lofty ambitions. Now that even his last chance was gone, this kind of blow was something few adults could withstand, but it was now cruelly placed before a fifteen-year-old boy.
Sometimes, the cruelest thing in the world is not punishment, but the moment when dreams are shattered!
"Maybe Asta will never be able to cast magic in his life, but I believe he will definitely not remain mediocre. Father, I'm going to train too!"
Ever since he started training with Arlan, Yuno became increasingly convinced that Arlan's life would never be as hopeless as everyone saw. Even without magic, Arlan was far stronger than most people. Such a strong person would never be buried by fate!
"It's really good to be young."
The Father pounded his old arms and legs; they would ache after just walking two steps. However, the potion that Asta had him soak in a few days ago, which felt like chili peppers, was really effective. His body was now significantly better than before.
In the evening, when everyone was eating.
"What? Asta also awakened a grimoire?"
The Father and others looked in surprise at Yuno, who revealed this news. This was simply amazing; Asta had actually awakened a grimoire!
"What's so amazing about it? I think it's only natural."
Yuno pouted quietly. He had successfully advanced to become Arlan's little fanboy, admiring Might Guy's theory of youth to the point of complete submission. If it weren't for the different worlds, he would definitely be Might Guy's good disciple!
Yuno stopped eating his pork chop and lifted his eyes slightly. He agreed with Yuno's words very much. As the man who inspired his fighting spirit, how could Asta not be chosen by a grimoire!
"Asta, you have finally come to the end of your hardships. God has finally given you what a normal person should have, for the sake of my day and night prayers!"
The Father, with tears streaming down his face, snatched Arlan's pig trotter, sighing at the manifestation of a miracle while eating like a big pig trotter himself.
Arlan rolled his eyes and served himself a bowl of nutritious snake soup. This was a snake soup he had made in the forest using three types of snake meat and two types of herbs. The taste was extremely delicious; men who ate it would strengthen their bones, and women who ate it would nourish their beauty. As the church's menu became increasingly rich, the children in the church also grew very well.
Since participating in the grimoire award ceremony in March, Arlan had been concentrating on training in the Village. By the time the Magic Knight Squad exam was about to start half a year later, his body had reached the level of opening the "Gate of Rest". This was the second gate of the Eight Gates, belonging to a transitional stage.
Opening the first gate, the 'Gate of Opening', allows Arlan to perform the Front Lotus. However, because his body has just reached the condition to open the Eight Gates, he experiences a momentary pause after opening it due to the pain caused by the gate. This creates a situation where if he fails to defeat his opponent instantly after opening it, he will find himself in a predicament.
But once his body reached the physical standard to open the 'Gate of Rest', performing the Front Lotus while opening the Eight Gates became effortless, and he no longer had to worry about the consequence of getting himself into trouble if the first strike failed.
One day, the tower master of the grimoire tower came to discuss with the priest, saying that he wanted to send Arlan and Yuno to participate in the Magic Knight Squad exam in the Royal Capital. At first, the priest refused, because two children were leaving at once, and his heart ached!
The Royal Capital is far from Hage Village, not to mention the hardships of the journey, and even if they reach the Royal Capital, there is no guarantee they will pass.
Therefore, he protested slightly, "Yuno is fine, but even if Asta goes, I'm afraid he won't pass, right? How about..."
"Are you underestimating the children's abilities? Do you remember the two nobles I recommended earlier, one named Rake and one named Will? Ever since they participated in the grimoire awarding that day, they knelt and begged me not to let them participate in the Magic Knight Squad exam. And the reason they lost confidence like this is because they were defeated by Asta."
The tower master said meaningfully.
"But..."
The priest still wanted to make a last-ditch effort, but the tower master was an old, experienced person who didn't give the priest any chance to catch his breath.
"Are you reluctant to let Asta go?"
The tower master teased.
"How is that possible! That brat, although he has learned to be obedient recently, he was like a mud monkey before..."
The priest nagged and listed Asta's past faults.
"So, you are still reluctant to let Asta go?"
The tower master said affirmatively, having mastered the true essence of the Buddha's lesson, 'You were beaten by the monkey'.
"I said it's not that, how could I possibly be? Fine, fine, let them go together so they can look out for each other on the road!"
The priest waved his hand, and for the sake of face, he had to compromise.
After the spots were confirmed, Arlan and Yuno decided to set off in three days.
During this time, Arlan arranged many things.
For example, he specially built a warehouse next to the church and spent 500 points to exchange for 500 bottles of healing potion. He believed this was enough for Yuno and the others to use for a year.
He also took time to build individual rooms for the church, so that every child had an independent room, and before leaving, he even repaired the fence around Hage Village with Yuno and the others.
These actions made the priest complain, "Asta, why do I feel like you are very confident about this Magic Knight Squad exam? These days you are either arranging this or that, could it be..."
"Are you the illegitimate son of the Magic Emperor?"
The priest finally thought of a possibility and said with bright eyes.
...