In the dense forest outside the castle, Asta had simply set up some training equipment, including wooden stakes for practicing punches and targets for training with Kunai. Although his current strength no longer required this kind of training, learning was like sailing against the current; if he didn't train for a long time, it was inevitable that all sorts of mistakes would occur.
For example, if a thrown Kunai failed to hit the target—even if it only missed once in a thousand times—that was enough to be fatal!
"Sharingan!" At this moment, it was still dark, but after Asta activated the Sharingan, his vision became exceptionally clear, and he could clearly see the tree trunk target thirty meters away.
Thwack! Asta flicked his right hand, and three Kunai accurately hit the bullseyes on three trees!
"The Kunai are fine. Next is to get familiar with the several types of Ninjutsu I redeemed from the store!"
Asta closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing. He had now exchanged for a total of four Ninjutsu from the mall: the Single Tomoe Sharingan, Shadow Shuriken, Clone Technique, and Transformation Technique!
"Clone Technique!"
After Asta used the Clone Technique, a cloud of white smoke quickly erupted to his right, and then a clone identical to him appeared. However, this clone's eyes were dull like a puppet's and could be easily seen through, but in a rush, it served as a good distraction.
"Transformation Technique!"
Asta immediately followed up with the Transformation Technique. Soon, a girl with silver ponytails and pink eyes transformed into view. She was the most beautiful girl he had seen at the exam venue, and he had unconsciously taken her form.
"I wonder where that girl went? Could she have been pre-selected by the Silver Eagles?"
Regret flashed in Asta's eyes before he transformed back. Although his current strength wasn't enough to fight the world's top Mages head-on, if it were a surprise assassination, with the disguise of the Transformation Technique, the delay of the Shadow Shuriken, and the terrifying power of opening the Eight Gates, insta-killing those powerful beings wasn't impossible!
So, even facing the nine Captains of the Magic Knight Squads, he wasn't afraid at all!
Asta then began a series of warm-ups. By the time the sky was just beginning to brighten, he had finished loosening up his muscles and bones, just waiting to start a new day of training after breakfast!
"Where on earth did that brat go? Could it be the toilet? No, that can't be right; I've already checked the toilet twice! Or maybe he couldn't find the toilet at all, so he snuck into the woods to relieve himself?"
Magna's eyes lit up as he thought of this, and he was about to rush out to find Asta, but before he could leave the castle, he saw Asta walking in, drenched in sweat.
"Morning, Magna. Do newcomers have to start cleaning this early in the morning?"
Asta greeted him.
"Brat, cleaning is cleaning, can you stop bringing it up all the time? And where did you go so early in the morning!"
Magna spoke irritably, as if he had been poked in a sore spot.
"I went to the woods for a bit of activity,"
Asta said.
"Training this early?"
Magna looked in shock at Asta's sweat-soaked clothes. How massive a training volume would it take to produce this much sweat? But looking at Asta, it seemed he was already long accustomed to this high-intensity training!
"No wonder you're so strong, kid..."
For some reason, a sense of awe suddenly rose in Magna's heart toward Asta. You have to understand, people in this world rely on talent; whoever has higher talent is more powerful. There had never been anyone like Asta, who clearly had no magic power but somehow trained himself to be even more powerful than an average Mage. This kind of effort that refused to accept fate was something he had never seen in his life!
"By the way, did you need something from me so early?"
Asta asked.
"Oh, I'm supposed to take you to get familiar with the environment today."
Magna said, recovering from his shock.
"Perfect, I was thinking of taking a shower. Where's our bathing area?"
Asta's eyes lit up; Magna had come at just the right time.
"Bastard, you can't just shower whenever you want! You have to follow my order. Step one: food is the most important thing, so first, we'll see our Black Bulls' dining hall!"
Magna trotted along and quickly brought Asta to the dining hall.
"This dining hall is so big it's almost a waste. Do we even have that many people in the squad?"
Asta couldn't help but complain as he looked at the dining hall, which occupied an area as large as an entire church.
"Never mind if there are that many people; only a dining hall this grand can match our status!"
Magna rolled his eyes and then started running with Asta again.
"This is our Black Bulls' grand bathhouse. I can't help but want to take a soak just looking at it!"
Magna stripped off his clothes in no time and then soaked into the fifty-degree bath with a look of enjoyment. "Asta, come in quickly after you rinse off! Why are you dawdling? Are you afraid of the water temperature?"
"Magna, I remember Vanessa saying you're still a virgin, right?"
Asta said from the nearby shower area.
"Do you want to mock this great me too? You fifteen-year-old little virgin!"
Magna's face turned red with anger.
"You've got it wrong. I'm just giving you a friendly reminder. If you're not married yet, it's best not to take hot baths, because if the water temperature is too high, it will kill your sperm. Then you won't be able to have children."
Asta said flatly.