Asta's Adventure

At this time, David was searching for an unknown creature that often appeared in the area. Unfortunately, despite his efforts over the past few days, he hadn't been able to succeed. When he returned to the spot where he and Asta had set up camp, he suddenly heard a noise — specifically, someone shouting.

Looking in that direction, he saw Asta running toward him at full speed.

— Get ready and grab your broom! — Asta shouted.

Hearing this, the creature let out a distant roar. David, with stars practically shining in his eyes, shouted back:

— Where?!

In that very moment, Asta reached him. Without hesitation, he threw David over his shoulder, perched the ever-distant Secre onto his head, grabbed everything essential, and bolted toward the exit of the Grand Magic Zone.

— What the hell, Asta?! You know why I'm here! — David yelled indignantly.

— I know! — Asta interrupted. — I found that creature, and we need to get the hell out of here before She catches us. It's dangerous!

Hearing Asta use such language for the first time, David was shocked. But Secre, surprisingly, seemed stunned for an entirely different reason. She...

After three hours of non-stop running, Asta finally managed to escape the Grand Magic Zone. Once David regained stable control over his magic, they continued their journey using a broom. During the ride, Asta passed out right there on David's shoulder.

— Damn it, he covered me in sweat! Now I'll have to wash up, — David muttered irritably and headed toward the city of Kikka.

By the next morning, they had reached the city. Asta had woken up by then, and David decided to tell him more about the place they had arrived at.

— Asta, listen up. This is the city of Kikka — one of the castle towns of the Clover Kingdom. Because of its proximity to the Noble Kingdom, the city offers an incredible view of the Kingdom's palace. It's well-developed, with paved roads, large stone houses, and a sizable population.

— Wow, you sure know a lot, David! — Asta said, clearly impressed.

— Of course! — David declared proudly. — Who do you think you're talking to?

David continued:

— One of Kikka's highlights is its bustling trade center. Merchants from all over the kingdom come here, selling everything from food to weapons. Kikka's market is one of the liveliest in the Kingdom. Even Magic Knights often visit the city on official business.

— That's amazing! — Asta said enthusiastically.

— The main attraction, though, is the Magic Knights' Coliseum, — David added. — It's a huge stone stadium where the Magic Knights hold their entrance exams.

— So I'll take my exam there next year? — Asta asked, wide-eyed.

— That's right, — David said. — If you're lucky, you'll get to choose which squad to join. But keep this in mind: don't pick squads dominated by nobles, like Silver Eagle, Golden Dawn, or Purple Orca. Also, stay away from Blue Rose. Even though it's an all-female squad, they occasionally accept men, but those guys face harsh discrimination. Basically, it's full of sexists.

— Got it! — Asta replied firmly.

— Good. Now, there's one more place of interest — the Black Market, — David said.

— The Black Market?! — Asta repeated in surprise.

— That's right, — David explained. — It's a secret part of the city that most people know about but avoid visiting. The merchants there sell goods that are banned on the regular market. There's also a casino where you can play various games.

— Are we going there? — Asta asked, his curiosity piqued.

— Yes, but first, let's find an inn, get some rooms, and take a bath, — David said in a tired voice.