Chapter 22: How Unsightly (1)

Chapter 22: How Unsightly (1)

"We will now begin the War Merits Conferment Ceremony for these eight individuals!" Conrad's voice boomed through the hall as he stood with his back to the five distinguished spectators, facing the eight lined up neatly before him. They were here to receive their promotions.

Watching impassively were Damnatio, Julius, Kaiser, Ignatius, and Sebastian. Julius and Kaiser allowed the faintest hints of a smile to creep onto their faces, subtly pleased by the proceedings.

The room was far from empty; a few senior members from each squad had gathered to witness the ceremony, standing by to support their juniors, perhaps to escort them afterward or simply offer congratulations. But Sebastian couldn't help but notice the absence of anyone from the White Serpent or Blue Rose. Guess those two squads are really low on talent these days, he thought. Though Charlotte will be joining the Blue Rose in three months, maybe even sooner. With her high-ranking noble lineage, she might even skip the Magic Knights entrance exam altogether.

As for the White Serpent, he mused, things really aren't looking great.

Conrad cleared his throat, calling out the first name. "First off, Nozel Silva from the Silver Eagles, please step forward."

Nozel moved with precision, stepping dead center before Conrad and giving the three-finger salute.

Conrad acknowledged him with a nod. "For numerous accomplishments in your first year as a Silver Eagle, most notably defending the village of Fallu from the rampage of a sound mage, you are hereby promoted to Intermediate Magic Knight 1st Class!" [1]

Nozel nodded in return, then stepped back into line. Sebastian stifled the urge to clap or throw Nozel a thumbs-up, remembering it was poor etiquette to celebrate before all honorees were recognized. Just wait, he reminded himself. There'll be time for that soon enough.

Conrad wasted no time moving on. "Fuegoleon Vermillion of the Crimson Lions, please step forward."

Fuegoleon followed suit, saluting Conrad with equal decorum. Conrad nodded and continued, "For your defense of Kiten against Diamond Kingdom forces, maintaining our control on the strategic stronghold, you are promoted to Senior Magic Knight 3rd Class!"

Quiet murmurs filled the room. Sebastian caught a glimpse of approval softening Ignatius's usually stern expression. Becoming a Senior Magic Knight at seventeen was no small feat. Although, Sebastian thought, it pales next to what Rill or Yuno achieved later on. But we're in relatively peaceful times here, and it's not easy to earn promotions—especially with Conrad presiding. The Vermillions would never accept unearned praise; it would be an eternal stain on their honor.

Ah, Fuegoleon, Sebastian held back a sigh. You had so much promise. How did you become Black Clover's biggest disappointment? With Salamander by your side, you could have been the strongest captain—and yet you ended up with zero feats by the end. Sure, you managed to defeat Elf-Kaiser after waking from your coma, but... that's about it.

Tabata did you dirty. Sebastian smirked inwardly. But don't worry. With the plans I've got, you'll get your moment, even if it may be without Salamander. This time, you'll reach your true potential.

Fuegoleon stepped back, casting a challenging glance at Nozel, expecting his rival to respond with a familiar "hmph" or some snide look. But instead, Nozel's gaze remained fixed forward, blank and seemingly lost in thought. Not even a flicker of recognition. Fuegoleon cleared his throat, caught slightly off-guard. Resigned, he fell back in line beside Nozel, determined not to let his curiosity turn into a spectacle. But he had to fight the urge to shake Nozel by the shoulders and demand to know what could possibly be on his mind at a moment like this.

Not wasting a moment, Conrad called out the next name. "William Vangeance of the Grey Deer. Please step forward!" [4]

Sebastian narrowed his eyes, studying the much shorter boy in the lineup, unmistakable with that elaborate peacock mask obscuring his face. His gaze flicked to Julius, standing proudly by. No wonder this kid betrayed the kingdom, Sebastian thought wryly. I'd have probably snapped too if my mentor made me wear that.

"For uncovering a slave ring in Riven and apprehending Diamond spies in Toku, I award you the rank of Senior Magic Knight 4th Class!" Conrad announced. [5]

Sebastian stifled a low whistle. Youngest one here, and nearly the top rank. It made sense why Vangeance was the favorite to succeed Julius one day. William's strength is a bit complicated, though. Killing him feels extreme, and... I get why Patri's cause influenced him. They're soul brothers, after all. Despite everything, Sebastian knew William's loyalty to the kingdom was real; he just loved Patri more.

He left it all to fate, in a way. Letting the people he cared about settle things on their own. Kind of lame, kind of weak, but maybe it was inevitable. If I shared a soul with someone who'd seen their people massacred, maybe I'd sympathize too. Elven prejudice wasn't conjured up by that devil alone. It was fueled by royal and noble malice—by the greed and insecurity toward the elves and their powerful mana.

So what to do about you, William? Patri?

Sebastian mulled over a radical idea. I could gather the magic stones and just... drop them into William's lap, let Patri cast the reincarnation spell early, even let him summon Zagred. Zagred wouldn't be much of a threat with both Julius and a Conrad armed with the Imperial Sword in the kingdom. Licht and Lemiel would be there too; no Asta or Yuno needed to deal with that nightmare.

It could even be the cleanest solution, sparing everyone from all the Eye of the Midnight Sun and Golden Dawn debacles. If it all came to a head now, the kingdom would learn about devils years earlier, and the need to strengthen themselves would be crystal clear. Not to mention Asta wouldn't have to shoulder the blame—he's still just a baby. Zagred's schemes have nothing to do with him.

Of course, that would raise another issue. In fourteen years, Asta could show up with a five-leaf grimoire and find himself with a massive target on his back. If people feared devils enough by then, they might just try to kill him on sight. Though... maybe I could change that.

Fourteen years would be plenty of time to shift people's perception of devils. With the Faust family's help, they could demonstrate that devils weren't just monsters to be feared but could be harnessed, used to boost power. In a society so obsessed with magic and mana, the promise of controlled, weaponized devils could be persuasive.

As for devil rights? Sebastian shrugged internally. Please. Malicious entities don't need rights. Liebe's an exception, not the norm. The real key would be strict regulation of devil-binding rituals—keeping them out of unworthy hands.

The risks were obvious: greedy nobles, overconfident royals, the morally unhinged—plenty of idiots would try to summon devils far beyond their capabilities, and the worst of them might actually succeed. The kingdom could suddenly find itself overrun with unstable, sentient weapons of mass destruction.

Sigh. Decisions, decisions.

As William stepped back, Conrad's smile softened as he looked to the next two candidates standing near the center. You two are basically a duo, he thought, so let's treat you as such. "Yami Sukehiro and Morgen Faust of the Grey Deer, step forward."

Yami and Morgen moved forward together, though Morgen had to give Yami a nudge to remind him to salute, which he did, a beat later.

Conrad nodded in acknowledgment before speaking. "For retrieving several artifacts from a natural dungeon near our border with the Heart Kingdom, you both are promoted to Intermediate Magic Knight 1st Class!"

"Thank you, Sir!" they shouted in unison before stepping back. Morgen was grinning wide, while Yami scratched the back of his head, looking less fazed.

Conrad continued seamlessly. "Jack the Ripper of the Purple Orcas, step forward. For holding off one of the Eight Shining Generals, you are promoted to Intermediate Magic Knight 1st Class!"

"Ke ke ke", Jack's grin twisted as he stepped up. A magic scythe materialized from his arm, which he promptly licked with his tongue. "Next time, I'll cut that guy up!" he rasped.

Conrad didn't so much as blink, calmly moving on. "Gueldre Poizot of the Purple Orcas, step forward. For rooting out traitors within our ranks, you are promoted to Senior Magic Knight 5th Class."

Sebastian's eyebrow rose slightly as he observed Gueldre. Damn, this muttonhead actually did something useful. The guy didn't betray the Clover Kingdom for any ideological reason, just a lust for money. In other words, with the right...incentive, Sebastian thought, suppressing a smirk, this guy's loyalty would be easy to buy.

He could see the convenience of it already. A mage with transparency magic, he mused, would make things so much smoother down the line.

Gueldre gave a slight smile and stepped back.

"Now, last but not least, Zara Ideale of the Purple Orcas, step forward!"

Conrad couldn't hold back his smile, and neither could Julius. Zara clenched his fist, stepping up to give the salute.

"For upholding the honor of the Magic Knights, for protecting the peasants and commoners of our Kingdom at the expense of your own safety, I promote you to Intermediate Magic Knight, 5th Class!"

Finally, I did it! I'm no longer a Junior Magic Knight! Zara couldn't hide his grin as he bowed deeply to Conrad. "Thank you, sir!"

I can't wait to tell Zora. Zara was excited it took him many years to join the Magic Knights, and even more, to finally rise in the ranks. He stepped back into line, his chest swelling with pride.

Watching the two of them, Sebastian sighed. They're both thirty, both driven by the same will to protect the kingdom. But the truth was stark: one was a peasant with barely any magic, and that difference alone created a chasm in their power and rank. A gap that might never close.

Sebastian paused, his body still, but his eyes slid to the side, narrowing as he honed in on a pair of spectators in the crowd.

At the end of the line stood two men in Purple Orca robes. One was tall and slender, with an angular face, pale skin, light blond hair, and sharp blue eyes. The other was more rugged and broad-shouldered, with messy brown hair and pale green eyes.

They stood calmly among the spectators, but Sebastian's gaze lingered on them. Why? Because he could've sworn he'd caught a flash of disdain—a sneer flickering across their faces.

Nothing surprising, he thought. It's typical for nobles to react like that when a peasant is praised, especially in front of them. But still, who would dare show that kind of contempt here, with their captain and Conrad, their two highest superiors watching? Especially since these two nobles had a reputation for despising class-based discrimination.

No one would, unless they truly hated him. Sebastian studied them closer, a thought surfacing. In the original story, it was said Zara was killed by a couple of guys from his squad. Is it them? Or am I overthinking this?

The Purple Orcas were an old squad, composed entirely of nobles till Zara's admission. A commoner would be one thing, but a peasant showing up out of nowhere and joining them? Resentment was inevitable; to some of these elitists, he'd "tainted" the squad.

They wouldn't dare start a fight with Jack, who's a commoner, due to his strong magic, and very 'unstable' personality. However a 'pushover', like Zara, was easy pickings.

But how can I be sure? An idea struck him—he subtly shifted his gaze to Yami. If anyone can pick up on hidden motives, it's him, he mused. Well, as long as it doesn't involve love.

Watching Yami, Sebastian's eyes widened imperceptibly as he saw a faint frown forming on the captain's face.

Does it have to do with those two? Or something else? Then again, for all he knew, Yami could just be feeling another "date" with the toilet coming on.

But he didn't have to wait long; Yami's gaze rose, locking onto him.

He sensed me, huh? Not surprising. Trying to stalk a ki user was nearly impossible, unless you were a shadow mage or had a separate dimension to hide in.

Sebastian didn't break the stare. Looking away would only make him look guilty. Instead, he gave a slight tilt of his head in the direction of the two nobles, hoping Yami would pick up on the message.

Moments like these reminded Yami of how fortunate he was not to have a family anymore. Even if he ticked off powerful people, they'd have no one to go after but him. No one can be used against me, he thought with a wry chuckle.

Friends? Well, he had Julius as his guardian—one of the Clover Kingdom's strongest—and Morgen, a noble with a bright future. Messing with him or his circle would be more trouble than it was worth.

Heh, Jack thought from across the room, licking his arm with a glint in his eye as he watched the scene, hoping things would escalate. Should I slice up these two insects? He paused, eyeing Zara with mild approval. Nah. I don't mind an insect that knows its place.

But unfortunately for Zara, Lionel and Marcellus weren't content to let things go today. Marcellus sneered down at the bowing Zara. "I still can't believe Captain Kaiser allowed peasant trash like you to stain the Magic Knights' ranks, let alone ours."

Of course, Marcellus wouldn't dare say this about commoners outright—not with Jack in the room. That guy didn't care about picking fights, even going as far as sneaking up on Nozel Silva once, facing zero consequences for it. The fact that Jack had no family to be threatened only made him even more unpredictable.

Lionel smirked and joined in, emboldened now that Conrad was gone. "There is one squad where this trash would fit right in, though."

"Oh, right—the Sewer Serpents!" Marcellus chuckled, full of disdain for the squad, even though they were ranked number one.

Tsk, Lionel thought with contempt. For all we know, Conrad just embellished their achievements for his wife's sake.

The two exchanged a quick glance toward the Silva patriarch, who sat nearby, sipping tea with his eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to their behavior. To Lionel and Marcellus, this was as good as permission. No one despised "traitorous trash" like Julius and Conrad more than Lord Silva. Marcellus felt a spark of ambition rise as he shared a look with Lionel.

Lionel's smile turned sly, nodding with a glint in his eye. If we put this trash in his place, we might actually earn the approval of House Silva—and perhaps forge a connection with them too.

Marcellus felt the same. This could mean high praise and rewards for us both, he thought with barely-contained excitement. For Marcellus, it was even more personal. Unlike Lionel, the heir to House Vesbar, Marcellus was not first in line for House Sera. He had an older brother, and without a major achievement, he'd remain second in succession. But forming a connection to a royal house? That could change everything.

The moment he'd seen Sebastian walk into the room and take charge, Marcellus had known he couldn't miss this chance. If I can just cozy up to him, he thought, Father might even consider me for the family's heir.

The words stung, and though Zara kept his head bowed, his hands clenched tightly, knuckles whitening as he tried to suppress the urge to respond. The smug, disdainful gazes from Lionel and Marcellus only intensified, as if they were reveling in the authority they thought they held over him. The spectators began whispering amongst themselves, many giving Zara disapproving glances, clearly swayed by the two nobles' taunts.

"Well, it looks like he has no pride left," Lionel sneered, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Not surprising, considering he failed the magic knight exams three times. Even the other lowborn didn't want him."

"Pathetic," Marcellus added, his tone dripping with contempt. "I bet Captain Kaiser only took pity on him after seeing him make a spectacle of himself year after year. Couldn't bear to watch any longer, so he threw the poor wretch an offer."

"Only to end up with this—two years to become an intermediate magic knight!" Lionel shook his head in mock disappointment. "Anyone else with a shred of effort could've done it in a few months. Just goes to show the depths of his incompetence."

A louder murmur spread through the crowd, people nodding along, their faces reflecting everything from disappointment to disgust. Marcellus took it further, stepping close to Zara, looking down on him with loathing before spitting on the ground at his feet. "You're an embarrassment," he sneered. "Just roll over and die. I'm making a request for a squad transfer. I can't bear being associated with you any longer."

Zara gritted his teeth, fighting the wave of shame and anger rising within him. He'd endured years of scorn to reach this position, yet hearing such things in front of so many was harder than he'd expected. But for Zora's sake, he held his ground. It's just words, he reminded himself. I've faced worse to get here; I can handle this.

But Yami, watching the whole exchange, was barely restraining himself. He muttered to Morgen, his voice low but filled with irritation. "Just a little longer, and I'm going to shut those two up myself." He could feel his grip on his sword tightening. While he understood Zara's reasoning for staying silent, the urge to put Marcellus and Lionel in their place was almost too strong to ignore.

Their roles switching, Morgen sighed, catching the tension in Yami's stance. "Sometimes, there's more strength in holding back," he murmured, knowing Yami's temper well. But even he was struggling to watch this. The world is never kind to those at the bottom, he thought with frustration. Zara's only trying to protect his family.

But, as if in response to Yami's barely-contained anger, a new figure stepped forward from the back of the room, drawing the attention of the entire hall. It was none other than Sebastian, who had been silently observing everything with a stony expression. His gaze fixed on Lionel and Marcellus, who suddenly lost some of their bravado.

With a voice calm yet filled with authority, Sebastian spoke. "I'd think twice about questioning Captain Kaiser's choices," he said, his tone cool and cutting. "He is the captain for a reason, and if he saw potential in Sir Ideale, it would be wise to trust his judgment."

The sneers vanished from Lionel and Marcellus's faces as they shifted uncomfortably under Sebastian's gaze, realizing they might have pushed things too far. The room fell silent, everyone waiting to see what Sebastian would say next.

"Or perhaps," Sebastian continued, his voice laced with subtle menace, "those who feel the need to flaunt their so-called superiority over others are simply compensating for their own shortcomings." His eyes flickered over the two nobles with disdain. "If you truly wish to question the ranks, you may want to examine your own conduct first."

Marcellus and Lionel stood frozen, their previous confidence shattered. They exchanged nervous glances, no longer so sure of their position.

Giving Marcellus and Lionel one last look, Sebastian glanced at the bowing Zara and pinched his nose in barely disguised disgust. "How unsightly."

Zara stiffened and looked up, only to catch a glimpse of Sebastian's retreating back as the Silva patriarch walked away, leaving only a few words. "This gathering is over in an hour. Make sure to clear yourselves from here by then, so the servants can clean up. This isn't a place you should be loitering around; this is the Magic Knight headquarters."

Watching Sebastian leave, Fuegoleon and Morgen frowned, and here I thought he was about to stand up for Zara.

Marcellus and Lionel exchanged a glance, their tension leaving them as their sly smiles returned. They were under the impression that Sebastian was putting on a show of authority, lecturing them, so if Conrad questioned him, the Silva patriarch could respond and say he did his job.

But that last jab at Zara only reinforced their sense of righteousness. Lionel grinned as he grabbed Zara by the collar, pulling him along. "Come on, peasant trash. We'll give you the honor of going on a mission with us before we transfer squads."

Marcellus trailed behind them and let out a dark chuckle as he studied Zara's back. We'll do the world a favor, by ridding it of this trash, and then transfer to the Silver Eagles.

Watching them leave, Yami narrowed his eyes and whispered. "I don't think that's what Pony Tail meant."

Morgen raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of concern and confusion.

Omake:

Later, as the formalities wrapped up, the group broke off to enjoy food and drink. Nozel, lost in thought as he absently poked at the food on his plate, barely registered Fuegoleon approaching.

"Nozel." Fuegoleon's voice cut through the din, as stern as ever.

"...Yes?" Nozel looked up, meeting his rival's intense gaze.

"What's up with you?" Fuegoleon demanded. "It's like you're in your own world. That's not the focused Nozel I know!"

Nozel stared back, unreadable, then sighed. "Fuegoleon, Fuegoleon, oh, Fuegoleon," he muttered, shaking his head slightly. "You'd never understand."

Fuegoleon's eyebrow twitched, sparks of flame flickering from his fingertips in irritation. "What's that supposed to mean, Nozel?!"

But instead of meeting Fuegoleon's frustration head-on, Nozel simply looked at him—pityingly. Fuegoleon froze, his irritation simmering into confusion as Nozel turned away without another word, leaving Fuegoleon to stew. Fuegoleon clenched his fists and shouted after him, "What are you thinking about, Nozel?!"

Nozel, already walking away, barely registered Fuegoleon's frustration, his thoughts a million miles away. Ah, dear cousin, how could you possibly understand the woes of married men like me? He knew he had a duty to return home soon. It would be improper to keep my missus waiting.

But even as he walked, Nozel's thoughts grew heavier. How am I going to tell Dorothy about this promotion without sounding arrogant? He frowned, thinking back to his mother's advice. If I recall, Mother said excessive boasting is a turnoff...

Author's Notes:

[1] There are five ranks in the Magic Knight System: Junior Magic Knight → Intermediate Magic Knight → Senior Magic Knight → Grand Magic Knight → Wizard King.

The leader of the Magic Knights, the Wizard King, is the highest rank in the organization. Below the Wizard King status, members of the Magic Knights are divided into four other ranks, each of which (with the notable exception of Grand Magic Knight) is further divided into five classes, with the 1st class as the highest and the 5th class as the lowest.

All Magic Knights start at the lowest rank of 5th Class Junior upon joining the organization.

A promotion to a higher rank is possible for every Magic Knight based on their performance, which is represented by the number of stars they have collected. Knights who are aiming to get a promotion need to collect a certain number of stars before the annual War Merits Conferment Ceremony to be considered for a promotion.

[2] Fallu is a village made up by me.

[3] Kiten is a real place in the Black Clover verse. It was the border town that the Golden Dawn was defending, where Yami was interrogating William, and revealed his face for the first time, also where Langris made his first appearance.

[4] Fucking hell, another mistake. Vangeance is supposed to be a year younger than Yami, making him part of Charlotte's and Dorothy's age group. Well, it's too late to retcon this.

[5] More original villages

[6] Something I should probably clarify. At this point in time there were 6 squads in the Clover Kingdom. The Grey Deer (later renamed to the Aqua Deer when Rill takes over), The White Serpent (who were originally about to be wiped out right about now), the Blue Rose (which is an old squad dating back to even Princia Funnybunny's time), The Purple Orcas, and the two royal squads, the Silver Eagles, and the Crimson Lions.

The Black Bull, Green Praying Mantis, Golden Dawn, and Coral Peacock, don't exist yet because they were founded by Yami, Jack, William, and Dorothy when they became captains. Naturally, there won't be a Coral Peacock anymore as Dorothy is going to lead the Silver Eagles alongside Nozel in the future.

Something you guys should be prepared for, are squads looking different in the future, with shuffling of members, here and there. And don't quote me on this, but you may or may not see the whole Magic Knight order be reformed. I'll give you a hint, what do most magical anime have that Black Clover lacked?

[7] Lionel Vesbar, and Marcellus Sera, will be OC's and their houses as well. If any of you had read the manga, and read the part where Zora overheard that his father was killed by his squadmates, there were two dark silhouettes speaking. I tried to design these characters on those silhouettes.