บท 4: Resolve

Satoru and Yuno were walking back toward Hage Village under the glow of the evening sky, their conversation light and filled with occasional jabs about the events at the Grimoire Tower. The faint crunch of gravel under their feet was the only sound accompanying their journey, but the peaceful atmosphere shattered when a creepy-looking man emerged from the shadows, blocking their path.

"Are you sure you want to linger outside so long after getting your hands on something like that?" the man muttered, his voice laced with malice. Without waiting for a response, chains imbued with magical energy shot toward the pair with incredible speed.

Yuno reacted immediately, summoning wind magic to defend himself, but he wasn't fast enough. The chains wrapped around him, binding his arms and lifting him into the air. Meanwhile, the chains heading toward Satoru abruptly stopped a few centimeters from him, as if hitting an invisible wall. They trembled and strained, but no matter how much force the man applied, they couldn't move forward.

"What the...?" the man muttered in disbelief. He turned his gaze toward Satoru, his expression darkening. "How did you do that? How did you stop my chains? You just got your grimoire! You shouldn't even know how to use magic yet!"

Satoru stood there with his hands casually in his pockets, an amused smile spreading across his face. "Hahaha… It's simple, really." He leaned forward slightly, extending a finger as if lecturing a student. His expression turned mocking as he said, "It's because…" He paused for dramatic effect before finishing, his tone dripping with disdain, "You're weak."

The man's face twisted in rage. "Don't mess with me, brat! You just got your grimoire, and you dare call me weak?!" He raised his grimoire, his voice echoing with anger. "Let's see how smug you are after this! Creation Magic: Magic-Binding Iron Chain!"

A fresh barrage of chains shot toward Satoru, their speed even greater this time. They aimed to encircle and crush him, but just as they reached him, they exploded into fragments, scattering harmlessly in all directions.

Satoru stood there, untouched, his fingers crossed in front of him as if bored by the display. His gaze was cold, piercing through the man like an arrow. "Who said anything about dodging?" he asked, his tone oozing with arrogance.

The man took a step back, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as fear began to creep into his heart. "W-what are you…?"

Satoru tilted his head, the mocking smile never leaving his face. "You talk big, but all I see is a mediocre mage clinging to cheap tricks. Let me show you what real power looks like."

The air around Satoru began to hum with energy, a faint blue aura enveloping him. The oppressive force of his magic made the man stumble backward, his chains trembling in response. Yuno, still bound in mid-air, could only stare at Satoru in awe.

"Satoru…" Yuno muttered, struggling against the chains holding him.

The man roared again, attempting to summon an even larger wave of chains. "You think you're special? Let's see you handle this! Creation Magic: Absolute Binding Prison!"

A massive storm of chains erupted from the man's grimoire, filling the air with the sharp sound of metal clashing against metal. They formed a dense, impenetrable dome, designed to crush anyone caught within. The crowd of chains closed in on Satoru, their sharp edges glowing ominously.

But Satoru didn't flinch. He raised one hand lazily, and with a mere flick of his wrist, a surge of magic erupted outward, obliterating the chains in an instant. The fragments disintegrated into glowing specks of light, fading into nothingness.

The man stood frozen, his mouth agape as he realized the gap between their power. "I-it's not possible…" he stammered, falling to his knees.

Satoru stepped forward, his aura radiating overwhelming confidence. "Do yourself a favor and don't waste my time again." He glanced at Yuno, snapping his fingers. The chains binding him disintegrated instantly, and Yuno landed gracefully on his feet.

Yuno brushed himself off, his usual stoic demeanor intact, though his voice carried a hint of respect as he said, "Show-off."

Satoru shrugged, flashing a playful grin. "What can I say? I live to impress," he said as he tilted his chin upward, striking a pose as if basking in the imaginary applause of an audience.

Yuno sighed, rubbing his temples. "You're insufferable," he muttered, walking a few steps ahead.

Suddenly, Satoru froze mid-pose, his grin fading as a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "Wait a second," he muttered, eyes darting to the ground in realization. "Oh no, no, no. Wasn't this the part where Asta awakens his grimoire? Crap, crap, crap!" He started pacing back and forth, his hands pressed together like he was in deep thought.

Yuno turned back, raising an eyebrow at his antics. "What are you mumbling about now?"

Satoru ignored him, muttering under his breath. "I got too excited. I fought for the first time, and yeah, fighting is freaking awesome, but now I've completely derailed the story! Ugh!" He stopped pacing abruptly, a lightbulb seemingly going off in his head. "I've got it! I can fix this!"

Yuno crossed his arms, deadpan. "Oh, this ought to be good."

Satoru spun toward the defeated grimoire thief, who was still trembling on his knees. "Hey, you! Capture Yuno again!" he commanded, pointing dramatically.

The thief blinked, his face a mix of fear and confusion. "W-what?" he stammered, unable to believe what he'd just heard.

Yuno's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Did you just—?"

"I said capture him again!" Satoru repeated, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

The thief scrambled to his feet, shaking his head vigorously. "No way! Please, I'll never hurt anyone again! I'm done!" He bolted without another word, running as if the devil himself were chasing him.

Satoru groaned, his hand flying to his face. "No, wait! Come back! You're ruining everything!" He sighed heavily, lowering his hand as he turned to Yuno, who now wore a murderous expression.

"Are you trying to piss me off?" Yuno asked, his tone cold and clipped.

Satoru raised both hands defensively. "Okay, hear me out. You getting captured again is very important—"

Yuno didn't even let him finish, shaking his head in exasperation. "You're an idiot," he said, walking away.

Watching him go, Satoru sighed again. "Guess it's up to me to play the bad guy."

Satoru muttered as he followed Yuno dejectedly.

Hage Village: The Church

As they arrived at the church, Satoru and Yuno were greeted by a lively scene. Father Orsi, Sister Lily, and the children were waiting outside. The moment the kids spotted them, they rushed forward with gleaming eyes.

"Wow, Satoru-nii! Yuno-nii! You were so awesome back there!" one of the boys exclaimed, nearly tripping in his excitement. "Especially you, Satoru-nii! What you did was so cool! Can you do that again?"

"Yeah! Show us your grimoire!" another chimed in, tugging on Satoru's sleeve, while a smaller girl peeked shyly at Yuno.

The two young mages were quickly surrounded, their personal space invaded by a flood of admiration and endless questions.

Satoru laughed, ruffling the nearest kid's hair. "Whoa, whoa, one at a time! I didn't know I had such a fan club!"

"Now, now, kids," Father Orsi said, approaching with a warm but firm smile. "Don't pester our stars too much. Give them some space, alright?" He gently herded the children back a step, his eyes brimming with pride as he turned to Yuno and Satoru.

"Congratulations, you two," he said, his voice tinged with emotion. "I always knew you were special, but I see now I truly underestimated you."

"Thank you, Father," Yuno replied softly, his expression calm but grateful.

Sister Lily approached next, her hands clasped together. "Congratulations, Yuno, Satoru, on receiving your grimoires and beginning your journey as mages," she said. But her expression betrayed a hint of worry as she glanced around. "But… did Asta not come back with you? He ran off somewhere after you left," she said, her voice tinged with concern.

Satoru knelt down and patted the head of a little girl who had been clinging to his leg. Standing up, he addressed Sister Lily with a reassuring grin. "Don't worry, Sister. You know Asta. A little setback like this won't break him. I think I know where he might be."

He turned toward the distant silhouette of the massive demon's skull on the hill. His gaze lingered as though he could see Asta through the distance. "I'll bring him back before dinner," Satoru said confidently, waving over his shoulder as he started walking in that direction.

"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Yuno called, stepping forward.

But Satoru didn't stop or turn back. "No, Yuno," he said, his tone unusually firm. "There's something I need to do, and you might not be able to help with this."

Yuno hesitated, watching Satoru's back. It wasn't like him to refuse help, especially from Yuno. Despite his usual carefree and unreliable attitude, Satoru had always been their unwavering shield. He'd carried them through their struggles, his strength inspiring confidence in everyone around him. But there was a loneliness about him, a barrier he never let anyone cross.

Yuno clenched his fists, a pang of frustration and helplessness surging through him. "Satoru…" he muttered under his breath.

Father Orsi placed a hand on Yuno's shoulder, drawing his attention. The older man's face was calm, his smile full of faith. "You can trust Satoru. He's always handled things in his own way," he said.

Yuno glanced back at Satoru's retreating figure, then nodded reluctantly.

Suddenly, Father Orsi's demeanor brightened, and he clapped his hands together. "Alright, kids! To celebrate the fact that two of our family have become mages, we'll have a feast tonight!"

The announcement was met with an eruption of cheers from the children.

"YAAAAAAH!"

Their joy was infectious, and Yuno couldn't help but smile as he watched the scene unfold. It was moments like these that reminded him why he wanted to be strong—not just to protect, but to ensure that this family, this home, always had reasons to celebrate.

"Two hundred... two hundred and one... two hundred and two..."

Inside the massive demon's skull, Asta grunted with determination, his arms trembling slightly as he powered through another set of pushups. His face was set in a frustrated scowl, sweat dripping onto the ground.

"Ugh, those jerks," he muttered through gritted teeth. "Acting all cool just because they can use magic! I'll show them one day!"

As he finished his last pushup, he leapt to his feet and yelled at the top of his lungs, "I'LL SHOW THEM!"

"Oh? What exactly are you going to show me?"

The unexpected voice made Asta jump, his body instinctively spinning around to face the source. There, leaning casually against a massive rock, was Satoru. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, his glasses reflecting the dim moonlight that filtered through the cracks in the demon's skull.

"S-Satoru?" Asta stammered, still startled.

Satoru straightened, his usual playful smile curving his lips. "What are you doing, Asta? Do you really think a few pushups and training your body can help you awaken a grimoire?" His tone was laced with mockery, his gaze cold as he slowly approached.

"Hey! Don't act like you're better than me!" Asta shot back, pointing an accusing finger. "You were the one who said that magic or no magic, willpower is enough to achieve your dreams!"

Satoru paused mid-step, his confident facade faltering for a moment as his lips twitched in amusement. He barely managed to hold back a snicker. "Yeah, that was before I realized just how weak you really are," he said, his voice sharp and dismissive.

Asta's eyes widened in shock and anger. "What the heck is wrong with you, Satoru? Are you turning into cold Yuno now?" he barked, his voice echoing through the hollow space.

Satoru ignored the jab, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Asta's. "Asta, you've always said your magic is never giving up, right?"

Asta blinked, his body tensing under the intensity of Satoru's gaze. "Y-Yeah… so what?"

"Then prove it to me," Satoru said, his voice low and commanding. He took off his glasses and stared straight into Asta's eyes, his magical energy radiating a crushing pressure. "If you can land a single hit on me, I'll support your resolve. But if you can't..." Satoru's voice darkened, his eyes narrowing. "You'll give up on becoming the Wizard King. You'll give up on that ridiculous dream of yours. And I'll make sure of it."

The weight of Satoru's words hit Asta like a punch to the gut. For a moment, doubt flickered in his heart, but it was quickly extinguished by a fiery grin.

"Alright, you asked for it!" Asta yelled, dropping into a low fighting stance. "I'll show you my resolve right here, right now!"

"Come," Satoru said, his tone almost bored as he extended a hand in a taunting gesture.

Asta didn't need any more encouragement. With every muscle in his body coiled and ready, he surged forward, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he launched himself at Satoru. His legs pumped with explosive power, veins bulging with the effort. His right arm drew back, preparing a punch fueled by years of relentless training.

Satoru remained perfectly still, his hands tucked back into his pockets, watching with a calm expression as Asta closed the distance. There wasn't a flicker of concern on his face, only a faint smirk that made Asta's blood boil.

"This is it!" Asta roared, throwing his fist forward with all his might.

But just as his fist neared Satoru's face, it came to an abrupt stop—a mere few centimeters from its target. Asta's eyes widened in shock. It was as if his punch had slammed into an invisible barrier.

Satoru chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "See? That's the difference between us, Asta. You can't even reach me, let alone land a punch. You should forget about becoming the Wizard King."

Before Asta could process what had happened, Satoru raised a single finger and lightly tapped his forehead.

The impact was anything but light.

Asta was hurled backward with incredible force, crashing into a large boulder with a deafening boom. The stone cracked under the impact, dust and debris filling the air.

As the dust began to settle, Satoru walked forward, his footsteps echoing ominously. "Get up, Asta," he said, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of challenge. "If you really have what it takes, then prove it. Show me the strength of your resolve."

Asta groaned, his body aching from the crash. But his spirit burned brighter than ever. Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet, his fiery grin returning despite the pain.

"I'll show you, Satoru. I'll show everyone," Asta said, his voice resolute. "I'm going to become the Wizard King, no matter what it takes!"