Chapter 25: Juliet Protects Her Romeo
Upon learning that the Wizard King had finally arrived, a sense of seriousness filled the air, prompting everyone to gather with their respective squads. Asher found himself alongside Fuegoleon and Leopold.
As the door swung open, a wave of shock rippled through the crowd as they laid eyes on three unexpected guests. The sight of these visitors prompted various reactions, with some individuals expressing hostility and disgust towards them.
"I understand that all of you are driven to reach the top, but can you surpass even these individuals?" Julius inquired, glancing over his shoulder with a smile on his face, referring to the unexpected guests.
Asta's eyes widened in awe as he caught sight of the Magic Knights captains and the members who were about to receive awards. His blood surged with excitement, and he couldn't contain his thrill. Making a silent vow to himself, Asta promised that one day he would reach their level or even surpass them.
"Now, let us commence the war merit ceremony," Julius declared, proceeding towards behind the table, fully prepared to initiate the ceremony.
Julius began to announce the names of the individuals being awarded, presenting them with medals that symbolized their elevated ranks. Alongside the awards, he provided each recipient with valuable suggestions and guidance on how they could further enhance themselves. The magic knights who received the accolades accepted the medals and Julius' teachings with utmost respect and gratitude.
"And last but certainly not least... Asher Vermillion!" Julius declared, filled with immense pride for his accomplished student. He acknowledged Asher's remarkable achievements, recognizing the rapid progress he had made within a relatively short span of time.
Asher, hearing his name, walks towards the front of the table to receive his award.
"Take great pride in your remarkable achievement, Asher; you have attained the highest earned star! Your unwavering dedication and kindness have touched the lives of numerous individuals in the Clover Kingdom, even beyond the confines of formal missions," Julius expressed with genuine admiration and appreciation.
"Through your unwavering diligence and relentless efforts, you have earned an impressive total of twenty-seven stars. As the Wizard King, it is my honor to officially proclaim your rank as a first-class senior magic knight!" Julius declared with a sense of pride and authority, acknowledging Asher's exceptional accomplishments.
Upon hearing Julius' announcement, the members of the Magic Knight squad who had received awards couldn't help but be taken aback, their eyes widening in astonishment. The realization struck them that Asher, who was still considered a rookie, had already attained the rank of a first-class magic knight and had earned an impressive tally of twenty-seven stars within a relatively brief period. It was an achievement that surpassed all expectations and left them in awe of Asher's remarkable progress.
Asta and Yuno, upon hearing the news, couldn't contain their excitement. A smirk formed on their faces as they cast proud glances at Asher's back. They acknowledged him as their rival and were determined not to fall behind. This revelation only fueled their motivation to work diligently and strive to catch up to Asher's level of achievement.
Among them all, Leopold exuded the greatest sense of pride. He tightly clenched his fist, and his eyes filled with an intense fire as he gazed at Asher. If it were not for the formal setting of the ceremony, Leopold would have eagerly shouted out his immense pride and admiration for his nephew.
Suddenly, the previously joyous atmosphere was shattered when a member of the Golden Dawn raised their hand, causing a momentary pause and a sense of tension to fill the air.
"What is it, Alecdora?" Julius said, looking at the member of the Golden Dawn.
"Julius-sama, I apologize for the disrespect, but isn't he too young to hold the rank of a first-class senior magic knight?" Alecdora spoke up with a serious tone, expressing their concern regarding Asher's age and rank.
A momentary hush fell upon the area as everyone directed their gaze towards Alecdora, their expressions a mix of confusion and surprise. It was unusual for someone to openly question the judgment of the esteemed Wizard King!
"What is wrong with you?" Hamon whispered to his squadmate.
"Well, Asher's rank right now is based on his achievements and good deeds that he does in the Clover Kingdom. Can you voice your opinions, Alecdora?" Julius said, smiling despite what Alecdora said.
"Sir, he's still a rookie, and it's too early for him to become a senior magic knight. Additionally, he's not strong enough to be worthy of such rank," Alecdora said, looking directly into Julius eyes.
"Golden brat," Charlotte muttered under her breath, her words filled with subtle disdain. This is why she hates men! Well, Asher is an exception.
"You're not wrong about what you said, Alecdora; he's young and inexperienced, but how can you be so sure if he's weak or not? I gave him the rank of a senior magic knight because he deserves that rank, Alecdora. I hope you understand."
"I apologize for my insolence, Julius-sama." Alecdora bowed and didn't pursue the matter anymore.
Asher cast a casual glance at Alecdora, displaying a lack of interest in the comment made about his rank. He had never been overly concerned about his own rank or status, as it held little significance to him in comparison to his personal growth and the well-being of those around him.
"Now that everyone is in good spirits, I organized a small celebration for all of you. However, I regretfully won't be able to attend myself as I have other pressing matters to attend to," Julius explained with a smile of apology, his hand scratching the back of his head in a gesture of sincerity.
..................
As everyone gathered in the room where Julius hosted the banquet, groups formed and expressions of gratitude were exchanged amidst the shared meal. However, a few individuals cast disdainful glances towards Asta's group, their eyes filled with disgust. In their opinion, Asta's group was unworthy of sharing the same space and company as them.
On the contrary, Asher found solace in Charlotte's presence; together with Charlotte, he sought the tranquility and silence they both liked.
"Such repugnant peasants. What on earth was the Wizard King thinking, inviting them here?" Alecdora sneered, expressing their disdain towards Asta's group.
"His way of eating really disgusts me," Hamon said.
"I heard they successfully completed a dungeon mission; I bet they just got lucky," Nebra said with a smirk.
"Well, it must be. It's impossible for the likes of them to complete it anyway"," Solid said.
Upon hearing the insults and dismissive remarks, Noelle's anger surged, causing her to tightly clench her fist. The audacity of their claims infuriated her. She couldn't believe that they would undermine the immense effort and near-death experiences they had faced in conquering the dungeon. Their encounters with formidable mages from the Diamond Kingdom were not mere strokes of luck, but the result of their determination, skill, and unwavering teamwork.
"Damn, they didn't try to lower their voice at all! Well, I'm used to it anyway," Asta said and continued eating. Klaus and Mimosa gasped at what Asta said. They admired his courage even more.
Following the heated exchange, Leopold stepped forward, asserting that he would have undoubtedly achieved even greater success had he been the one to conquer the dungeon. He didn't shy away from criticizing Yuno, pointing out that possessing a four-leaf grimoire didn't give him the right to become excessively arrogant or complacent.
Noelle's eyes became shrouded in shadows as she absorbed the insults hurled their way. In that moment, she truly grasped the significance of Asher's earlier words. These individuals, who resorted to demeaning and belittling others, were indeed not deserving of her attention. She resolved to no longer let their opinions affect her and to focus on those who truly mattered in her life.
"What are you all blabbering about? It's abundantly clear who the useless one here is," Solid remarked, holding a glass of water as he made his way towards Noelle.
Solid paused mid-action, his intention to pour the water on top of Noelle's head momentarily halted, as he caught wind of her murmuring something under her breath.
Noelle's voice turned cold and unwavering as she locked eyes with Solid. "If you dare pour that on me, rest assured that you will regret it," she warned with a firm resolve in her tone.
"You! Since when did you have the audacity to talk back, huh? You're starting to resemble a peasant yourself!" Solid shouted, his anger escalating. He raised his hand, ready to strike Noelle, but before he could make contact, someone tightly grasped his hand, preventing him from carrying out the action.
"Don't you dare lay a hand on Noelle!" Asta's voice rang out angrily as he forcefully pulled Solid away.
"How dare you lay a hand on someone from the royal family!" Nebra retorted, her gaze filled with intense animosity as she directed her wrath towards Asta.
"Shut your mouth!" Asta shouted, leaping onto the top of the table, commanding attention and demanding silence.
"When I first heard of your achievements, I believed you were individuals worthy of admiration. But now, it's clear that you are the opposite," Asta declared boldly, his words echoing through the room, causing many to gasp. "Listen well, for I will surpass all of you in acquiring merits, and one day I will become the Wizard King!"
"Wizard King? Don't make me laugh, you insignificant peasant! I've had enough of your worthless fantasies!" Alecdora retorted, his grimoire opening as he prepared to confront Asta.
With a sweeping motion of his hand, Alecdora summoned a whirlwind of sand that swiftly enveloped Asta, effectively restraining him within its confines.
"I won't be defeated so easily!" Asta roared defiantly, drawing out his demon-dweller sword and slashing through the sand, obliterating it completely.
As Alecdora witnessed Asta effortlessly slice through his sand with ease, a mixture of shock and anger flashed across his face. Gritting his teeth, he glared at Asta with intense hostility, his animosity growing even stronger.
Nebra and Solid, fueled by their anger, attempted to launch their respective magic spells at Asta. However, their attacks proved futile as Asta swiftly countered, slashing through their spells and effectively obliterating them.
"You wretched peasant!" Solid exclaimed with disdain, conjuring multiple water bullets and launching them relentlessly towards Asta, seeking to overwhelm him.
"Don't you dare hurt Asta!" Noelle's voice rang out as she finally sprang into action, opening her grimoire.
Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Nest!
Noelle skillfully intercepted and neutralized Solid's attacks, leaving the Silva siblings and even Nozel in a state of disbelief.
Amidst the chaos, Noelle's gaze shifted towards Asher, a genuine smile gracing her face. She will not cower in fear anymore.. She will protect those who are dear to her.
Noelle, with a determined expression, deactivated her magic spell and extended her palms open towards Solid. Focusing her mana, she began to channel it into a concentrated form, causing a medium-sized sphere of water to materialize within the palm of her hand.
"You will pay for trying to hurt Asta."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
SALTANDPEPPER_1
SALTANDPEPPER_1 If there are grammar mistakes, I'll edit it tomorrow. Goodnight; oh, it's morning already. Good morning.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone