Jet-black, lightning-like anti-magic coiled around half of Asta's body.
Even without Mana Skin, the oppressive heat saturated with mana was forcibly dispersed by that alien power.
It was a force utterly different from normal magic.
Even Mereoleona felt a flicker of surprise.
That said—
Only surprise.
Asta was fast—very fast—but in Mereoleona's eyes, still far too slow.
Whoosh!
The instant Asta, wrapped in black lightning, closed the distance, Mereoleona had already raised her fist and smashed it straight into his face.
"GYAAH!!"
Asta screamed as he was sent flying, his body slamming into the nearby cliff face. The previously rampant, unstable anti-magic instantly settled down.
"That punch had no mercy," Yuuki muttered, the corner of his eye twitching as he watched Asta get plastered into the rock wall.
"That power…"
Yuno had already landed beside Yuuki, his eyes flickering with surprise.
"Don't underestimate it," Yuuki said with a small smile, glancing at him.
"Even for me, dealing with that power is troublesome. If you let your guard down, you might actually lose to Asta."
"Lose?"
Yuno's surprise faded, replaced by his usual cool expression—though a trace of joy lingered at the corners of his lips.
"If Asta were weak, that would be troublesome."
He was clearly happy that his rival had grown stronger.
After all, a rival who couldn't keep up was nothing but a disappointment.
About half an hour later—
Everyone finally reached the summit, gasping for breath. Even Mariella and Neige were drenched in sweat, their expressions strained.
"You idiots finally made it!" Mereoleona roared mercilessly at the assembled crowd.
Among those who had entered the strong mana region, aside from the two captains, Yuuki, whose strength rivaled a captain's, and the top two rookies—Yuno and Asta—
The Crimson Lion Kings members had performed worse than even Yuuki's two subordinates who wielded dual magic.
No wonder they couldn't even make the top three at the merit ceremony.
Mereoleona's expression darkened as she thought of Fuegoleon, still unconscious in a hospital bed.
A suffocating pressure spread instantly, silencing the entire squad.
Soon after, she reined it in.
No matter how dissatisfied she was, she knew they were in no condition for further special training right after climbing the volcano.
"Ultime Volcano stops erupting completely at night!" she barked.
"Why couldn't you reach the summit before then?!"
"With this pathetic state, there's no chance you'll reclaim first place at the next merit ceremony. Anyone who didn't make it before sunset—come back another day!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!!"
"Yes!!!"
The Crimson Lion Kings shouted in unison.
Yuuki watched the fiery scene calmly.
Among the nine Magic Knight squads, the Crimson Lion Kings were the most faithful to the ideals of knighthood—and had the best atmosphere overall.
For nobles, joining them was ideal.
But for commoners… or peasants? Best not to hope for it.
"Good. Then I'll allow everyone to use the hot springs!"
Mereoleona nodded in satisfaction and pointed toward a massive crater at the center of the summit.
As the crowd stared in confusion, a deep rumbling rose from within.
The next moment—
A massive surge of water erupted upward, and within seconds, the crater filled with steaming hot spring water.
"This hot spring's restorative effects are among the best in the entire kingdom," Mereoleona said calmly, unfazed by the shocked expressions.
"Normally it's completely reserved—this is a hidden sanctuary among hidden sanctuaries."
Soon after, a wall of earth rose from beneath the spring, neatly dividing it into male and female sections.
Splash.
Yuuki jumped into the hot spring.
The perfectly balanced temperature, combined with its nourishing properties, spread a warm, soothing comfort through his entire body.
Bubbles rose continuously from below, massaging the body as if by design. Contented sighs echoed throughout the spring.
After the grueling climb, soaking in a hot spring while exhausted was pure bliss.
"No wonder it's called a top-tier sanctuary," Yuuki murmured sincerely, leaning against the edge with his eyes closed.
Splash.
He sensed someone approaching and opened his eyes.
Yami, cigarette in his mouth, had drifted over.
"Captain Yami," Yuuki greeted politely.
"This place makes you sleepy—in a good way," Yami said lazily, resting an arm on the rock behind him.
Yuuki nodded.
"Who would've thought a grand magic zone would hide a hot spring with special effects?"
Yami didn't respond immediately. He tilted his head back, inhaled, and exhaled smoke that mingled with the rising steam.
"Thinking back, I kind of get why you refused to join a Magic Knight squad before," he said casually.
"Sure, there was the Eye of the Midnight Sun… but magic itself played a role too, didn't it? If you'd been chosen back then, you probably wouldn't be this strong now."
Yuuki's gaze shifted slightly.
Testing my magic?
No—too straightforward for that.
"Maybe," Yuuki replied lightly.
"Hard to say, considering it never happened."
Yami didn't seem bothered by the vague answer.
"Plenty of people in the Magic Knights think you're a threat," he said bluntly.
"Huh?" Yuuki blinked, then shrugged helplessly.
"Nobles really are narrow-minded."
"Hahaha!"
Yami laughed heartily and slapped Yuuki's shoulder.
"Couldn't agree more."
"By the way—after you left the festival, the king announced something interesting."
"A Royal Knights squad is being formed."
Yuuki paused, then nodded calmly.
"To eliminate the Eye of the Midnight Sun?"
"Exactly."
"Do you need me to join?" Yuuki asked, slightly surprised.
"Of course… not."
Yami deliberately paused, enjoying Yuuki's brief look of confusion before continuing.
Yuuki sighed, then said evenly, "If it's about eliminating the Eye of the Midnight Sun, I'll help whenever needed."
Yami nodded in satisfaction.
"Once they're wiped out, your past involvement won't matter."
"So don't do anything unnecessary."
His tone grew serious at the end.
"Of course, Captain Yami," Yuuki replied with a calm smile.
"Oh! Captain Yami—what are you and Yuuki talking about? Training? Muscle workouts?"
Asta swam over excitedly.
"Don't bug me!"
"Is your brain nothing but muscle now?"
Yami grabbed Asta by the head and yanked him out of the water.
"But if you really want to train, there is a method."
"What?! What is it?!" Asta's eyes sparkled.
"Peeping—the women's bath!"
Yami declared solemnly.
Yuuki's eyelid twitched. He leaned back against the rocks and continued enjoying the spring.
Yami's words had been both a reminder—and a warning.
Royal Knights…
So the operation against the Eye of the Midnight Sun is finally starting.
I'd better speed things up on my end.
After the soak—
Under the guidance of the Crimson Lion Kings' spatial mage, everyone departed the grand magic zone and returned to the capital.
Soon, Ultime Volcano fell silent once more.
Only one figure remained at the summit.
Mereoleona stood at the cliff's edge, arms crossed, gazing calmly at the rivers of magma below.
The hiss of molten rock, bursts of steam, and the roars of magical beasts gradually filled the air again.
She waited.
Not long after—
A spatial gate opened, and Yuuki stepped out.
"I thought I'd have to smash your tavern again," Mereoleona said with a sharp grin.
"Please don't," Yuuki waved dismissively.
"My tavern can't survive that."
"Enough talk," Mereoleona said coldly.
"My brother Fuegoleon's grimoire—is it with the Eye of the Midnight Sun?"
So that's it, Yuuki thought.
He nodded calmly.
"It was, at least."
"Oh?" Mereoleona's eyes widened slightly.
"And now?"
Yuuki raised his hand and reached into the air. Space rippled as he pulled out a red grimoire.
"This is Lord Fuegoleon's grimoire," Yuuki said evenly.
"It's currently in my possession."
Mereoleona examined it closely—then laughed.
"Good."
"What do you want?" she asked, tilting her head with a dangerous smile.
Yuuki had clearly kept it for a reason.
"I just have a question for you—"
Before he could finish—
Mereoleona vanished.
In the next instant, her flame-wrapped fist slammed into Yuuki's chest.
Flame Magic — Scorching Arm!
BOOM!
The impact detonated.
Yuuki shot off the summit like a meteor, crashing straight into a pool of blazing magma below.
Molten waves erupted skyward.
At the same time, Mereoleona leapt down after him, landing beside the magma pool.
"You misunderstand something," she said dominantly.
"I hate trouble. If I want something, I take it myself."
BOOM!
Suddenly—
A crimson figure burst from the magma, trailing molten rock at over a thousand degrees.
Yuuki reappeared beside her, the flying magma forcing Mereoleona to narrow her eyes.
THUD!
Yuuki's muscular arm lashed out, smashing into her chest with raw, savage force.
BOOM!
Mereoleona was sent flying, crashing into another magma pool.
Yuuki shook his body, flinging off the molten rock sizzling against the ground.
"…Looks like I really did misunderstand."
Crimson mana wrapped his body.
The Salamander on his shoulder flicked its tail lazily.
As a Fire Spirit Host—
How could magma ever harm him?
(End of Chapter)
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