Chapter 22: CHAPTER 22 BROOM TEST

I wake up at the cheering of the crowds, of the applicants. Besides me is Owen who was nursing me. Not so old, not so young Owen. Among the characters of the anime, Owen is the most recognizable character in my eyes despite the changes in age.

“Si-sir Owen, is it? What happened?” At my inquiry, Owen turns his head to me.

With an exasperated sigh, he explains. “You got knocked out by the Crimson Lion’s captain. I am only doing my duty as a healer. Now that you are fixed and good to go, I suggest you hurry up and join the cheering, the exam is about to start.”

I stand at once, and from the arena’s periphery, I rush forward. I look above from where the Magic Knight Captains are watching. There are seven of them in total which is understandable. Black Bull and Golden Dawn aren’t yet to be in this world.

I strain my eyes, trying to see if I recognize the captains. Except for the blue-robed, green-robed, and pink-robed, I can pretty much easily recognize the other squad captains.

Sitting at the centermost of the captains is Acier Silva, this must mean she will be the host of this exam and is possibly the squad captain who holds the most merits among them. Back when I was still watching the anime, I had the hunch of Acier Silva was an extremely strong character, and it looks like I wasn’t wrong.

I look at Julius who was sitting in a far corner, the same seat where the future Yami will be sitting. That sit indicates that he must have the lowest merit points among the squad captains, together with the green-robed mage who was seating in the other far-end corner.

Black Clover is really not simple, even the simple sitting arrangement that was once in the anime could be of great use to me right now. Speculations in my head start appearing one after another.

My conclusion is Julius must’ve been a relatively new captain for his squad to be lagging in points. This is logical as Julius is not even a native of the kingdom but an immigrant from the Spade Kingdom.

How do I know this even though it wasn’t in the anime? Well, it's thanks to my Ki-sensing amplifying my hearing that is helping me gather information. The gossips alone among the applicants are enough to allow me to compile it in a book.

I feel a sticky gaze landing on me. I don’t know why, but I dread that gaze. I look above, only to meet the gaze of Purple Orca’s Captain. Though she has a mask, I can still recognize the identity of that person with her captaincy and all.

“Sabrina,” I whisper to myself doubtfully. “Are you an ally or a foe?”

Acier Silva stands at once. “Good day everyone. I am Acier Silva, and I will be hosting this exam. Now, for our first test!” At the word ‘test’, enormous mana explosively reaches out from Acier.

The earth starts shaking. One by one, strangely shaped iron spears start worming themselves from the ground. Each of them appears at an applicant’s front. The spear suddenly starts boiling, and as if shedding its skin, its interior reveals itself to the applicants— it was a magic broom!

“Wow,” I utter in disbelief. “Seeing it is the real deal.”

Similarly, the exclamation of shock spreads to my fellow applicants like a disease.

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Acier claps her hand while spreading her mana to get the applicants’ attention. “Listen very well, flying on a magic broom is one of the most basic feats that mages can do. While it is not the deciding factor, this test can greatly help us captains to see how much potential you have. Now, let the Magic Broom Test commence!”

With her permission, the applicants start showing off their abilities. There are rare few who easily were able to get the hang of it. Nobles, genius peasants, really smart peasants, and even a foreigner…

Yami is having it easy as he stands on his broom like it is nothing. His control is impeccable. I see Jack flying like a crazed maniac doing crazy turns and loops in the air. What is that dude’s problem? If he continues on that trajectory, won’t he bump Yami?

Oh, he intends to, huh?

After the two crash at each other, they start quarreling… then racing. This two are so childish. My eyes land on Morgen, the most normal mage I can call an acquaintance.

Morgen is flying breezily and comfortably in his broom. Like a stroll in the park, he smoothly drives his scooter.

I look at my broom. Should I try flying? If I do, won’t that be just a waste of mana? If I do nothing, then wouldn’t that be just a waste of time? There should be something that I can do.

What I have is a magic broom, and its function is to fly. Now, if I remove the word ‘magic’, it becomes a ‘broom’, so its function becomes…

As if achieving the pinnacle of enlightenment, I show a relaxed look and a relieved smile. From then on, I start sweeping the stone-cold pavement.

“???” Other applicants and the captains immediately catch sight of this and become confused.

I ignore them, ridicule and pity, all I shall forget for I am one who will achieve Zen. Even I who was seriously doing the sweeping... is thinking how crazy I have become. Luckily, there are no asylums in this world.

To Nirvana, here I come.

Sweeping, and sweeping, and sweeping. After some time, some lads who can barely fly in their brooms are now joining my sweeping efforts. That’s the correct path, my fellow human beings. In order to clean the kingdom, we have to unite our efforts!

“???” The Magic Knight Captains are about to lose it. Why are you all sweeping the floor? Is it that really dirty? Are you sick?

Merleona stifles her laughter. Acier just laughs honestly. Julius wryly smiles. I observe the captains, each of them to the minutest detail. With this, I hope to see a glimpse of what kind of people they are.