Cachi Village, at the entrance.
A group of villagers stood at the outskirts of the village, waving goodbye to Ethan Hayes as he departed.
Ethan's heart was heavy with reluctance. He didn't have a fixed guardian growing up. Instead, he had been raised by the collective kindness of Cachi Village, eating meals in different households each day. To him, every villager was family.
"But calling them all mom and dad? That's overkill," Ethan thought with a wry smile. "I'll just repay them properly when I make it big."
He waved one last time before turning to leave, his bag slung over his shoulder.
"Should I catch up with Asta and Yuno and travel with them?" he mused while walking the road toward the royal capital. The thought crossed his mind briefly, but he quickly dismissed it.
Asta and Yuno—two protagonists shining with main character halos in the Black Clover world.
But Ethan was his own person. He wasn't Asta or Yuno; he was Ethan Hayes.
If he were weak or talentless, he might consider clinging to their light for warmth and guidance. But he wasn't. He was Ethan Hayes, a wielder of not one but two Four-Leaf Grimoires.
"I want to see who'll come out on top," Ethan thought. "Them or me? Who will truly stand as the strongest?"
Joining the Magic Knights was just the first step in this competition.
Near the Gates of the Royal Capital
"Finally made it!" Ethan exclaimed, descending gracefully from the air.
During the journey, he hadn't wasted time. He continued practicing his magic control, refining his skills with both grimoires.
In his understanding, a Four-Leaf Grimoire symbolized immense magical potential and unique abilities. But to claim it was leagues beyond a Three-Leaf Grimoire was an exaggeration.
After all, if that were the case, the wielder of a Four-Leaf Grimoire, like Licht, would've easily crushed opponents like Yami Sukehiro in their first encounter. Instead, Licht had barely escaped with his life.
This proved that having a Four-Leaf Grimoire didn't guarantee invincibility. Without effort and discipline, even someone with a Two-Leaf Grimoire could surpass you one day.
"Yo, Ethan!"
A loud, boisterous voice snapped Ethan out of his thoughts. He instantly recognized it.
It was Asta, the self-proclaimed "Roaring King," whose passion and enthusiasm practically bled through his voice. By contrast, Yuno, who stood beside him, was as composed and silent as ever.
Ethan smiled faintly and approached. "Asta, Yuno. You just got here too?"
His gaze flicked subtly toward Asta's bag, noticing the corner of a peculiar black grimoire peeking out.
"So he still got the Five-Leaf Grimoire, even without Leibitch's interference," Ethan thought.
This was fate—proof that the world's plotlines had a way of repairing themselves. Even if Asta and Yuno had skipped the grimoire ceremony, they'd probably still receive their grimoires through some other means.
"Am I really competing against them, or am I challenging the heavens themselves?" Ethan chuckled bitterly to himself.
But whether it was against people or fate, Ethan welcomed the challenge. He firmly believed his destiny was in his own hands.
"Let's go," Yuno said coolly. "The exam is about to begin. If we're late, we'll be disqualified."
Yuno's eyes lingered on Ethan, burning with quiet determination. After all, Ethan was no ordinary competitor—he wielded two Four-Leaf Grimoires.
At the Magic Knight Entrance Exam Registration
"Next! Please step forward to receive your number."
Seven lines stretched before the registration booths, packed with candidates eager to prove themselves.
"You're number 123..."
"You're number 146..."
When Ethan stepped forward, the clerk glanced at him casually—until he saw the Four-Leaf Grimoire in Ethan's hands.
"F-Four-Leaf?!"
The clerk froze, staring at the grimoire before looking up at Ethan. His sharp black hair, confident smile, and calm demeanor instantly drew attention. Whispers erupted around them.
"Is that him? The one from the rumors?"
"A Four-Leaf Grimoire… It's incredible!"
"He's amazing…"
The crowd buzzed with envy and admiration. Four-Leaf Grimoires hadn't appeared in centuries, not since the days of the First Wizard King.
Just as the commotion was dying down, Ethan reached into his bag and pulled out his second grimoire—a fiery red Four-Leaf Grimoire.
The crowd fell silent, stunned.
"Two... two Grimoires?"
"And both are Four-Leaf?!"
Ignoring the stares, Ethan maintained a calm expression. He understood the danger of standing out—"A tall tree catches the wind," as the saying goes.
But he also believed in seizing opportunities. If he wanted to rise above the rest, he needed to show his worth. Hiding his potential wouldn't benefit him; it would only hold him back.
If Yuno could join the Golden Dawn, Ethan was determined to do no less.