Clover Kingdom – Medal Ceremony Hall
Following the Wizard King to the medal ceremony, Asta was visibly brimming with excitement.
For someone born in the borderlands, his greatest dream—apart from becoming the Wizard King—was to gain the recognition of others.
And now, the Wizard King personally inviting him to this event was the ultimate acknowledgment!
However, not everyone shared the Wizard King's open-mindedness, where achievements outweighed origins.
As the group entered the grand ceremonial hall, disdainful gazes followed them from every direction.
"Yuno, Ethan, why is everyone looking at us like that?"
Asta, while often oblivious, wasn't entirely naive. The stares made him uneasy.
Ethan smirked and scoffed, "Isn't it obvious? They're looking down on us."
There wasn't much Ethan could do about it. This prejudice wasn't formed in a day or two but had been ingrained over centuries—a deep-rooted exploitation of the lower class by the upper class.
No matter how exceptional or talented someone from the lower class was, they would always be considered inferior in the eyes of the nobles.
It was akin to a self-made billionaire still being seen as a commoner by old-money elites.
The Wizard King's Observations
Seated on the central throne, the Wizard King observed the scene with an indifferent expression.
He had invited Ethan and the others here to see how the noble knights would react to their presence.
To his disappointment, little had changed.
He had hoped that their recent achievements would earn them some respect, but it seemed the divide between nobles and commoners remained as unyielding as ever.
"Let the medal ceremony begin!"
The Wizard King's voice echoed through the hall. The nobles and knights bowed respectfully, temporarily concealing their disdainful expressions.
In the Clover Kingdom, Magic Knights were divided into eight ranks, with each rank further subdivided into lower, middle, and upper tiers.
Ranks 4 to 1: Lower Magic Knights.
Rank 5: Middle Magic Knights.
Ranks 6 and 7: Upper Magic Knights.
Rank 8: Grand Magic Knights, typically held by squad captains.
Above Rank 8: The Wizard King.
Rank was a symbol of honor, strength, and privilege within the Clover Kingdom. Advancing in rank required earning stars, which the Wizard King awarded based on merit.
This moment of recognition was what every Magic Knight dreamed of.
"Seven stars earned. Crimson Lion Kings, Leopold Vermillion, awarded the title of Second-Class Middle Magic Knight."
"Six stars earned. Blue Rose, Sol Marron, awarded the title of Third-Class Middle Magic Knight."
"Six stars earned. Silver Eagles, Solid Silva, awarded the title of Third-Class Middle Magic Knight."
One after another, knights stepped forward to receive their medals and titles.
Asta, however, fidgeted nervously as the ceremony went on.
"What's wrong with you? Can't you sit still?" Ethan frowned, glancing at Asta.
"I'm just calculating... What rank will I get? Oh no... I only have three stars!"
Ethan sighed. "Only you would be this concerned. Look at Yuno—he's calm as a rock."
Yuno muttered under his breath, counting his stars. "One, two... nine... eleven. Perfect."
Ethan raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The Prejudice Persists
As time passed, most knights had received their medals and titles, leaving Ethan and his group seemingly forgotten.
The whispers around them grew louder.
"Hah, commoners should be grateful just to stand here."
"Do they really expect to be knighted?"
"A mutt can't join a feast."
The Wizard King ignored the murmurs and continued the announcements.
"Three stars earned. Black Bulls, Asta, awarded the title of Third-Class Lower Magic Knight!"
Asta froze, then realized he had been called.
"Wait, really? Three stars, and I still got a title?"
Not wanting to risk the Wizard King changing his mind, Asta bolted forward to receive his medal. "Thank you! I'll work even harder from now on!"
"Next, eleven stars earned. Golden Dawn, Yuno, awarded the title of Fourth-Class Upper Magic Knight!"
The hall erupted in shock.
While Asta's rank had been tolerated, Yuno's promotion was harder to accept. A Fourth-Class Upper Magic Knight was typically the fourth-ranking officer in a squad, capable of leading an entire battalion.
How could a commoner achieve such an honor?
The murmurs grew louder until the Wizard King raised his hand. "Quiet!"
He spoke firmly. "Yuno may come from a humble background, but he wields a four-leaf clover grimoire and has proven his capabilities. Magic Knighthood is about merit, and Yuno has earned this rank. Do you disagree?"
Though some knights wanted to protest, their captains stopped them. No one dared openly challenge the Wizard King.
Finally, the Wizard King turned to Ethan Hayes.
"Ethan Hayes, step forward."
Ethan hesitated, puzzled. As a Wizard King's protégé, he had no official stars or merits recorded. How could he receive a rank?
The Wizard King deliberated for a moment before smiling.
"Ethan Hayes, by my authority as Wizard King, I award you the title of Grand Magic Knight!"
The hall fell silent.
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