Magic Knights Entrance Exam Arc | Dungeon Exploration Arc | Royal Capital Assault Arc | Eye of the Midnight Sun Encounter Arc | Underwater Temple Arc | Forest of Witches Arc | Royal Knights Arc | Elf Reincarnation Arc | Heart Kingdom Joint Struggle Arc | Spade Kingdom Raid Arc
The Boy's Vow
Asta is a young man who dreams of becoming the kingdom's Wizard King, despite being unable to use any magic. Luckily, he receives a rare five-leaf clover grimoire that gives him swords with the power of Anti Magic. Now, he must use his new power to join a Magic Knights squad at the annual Magic Knights Entrace Exam to achieve his dream.
Tropes:
- Arc Villain: Heath Grice, who's trying to steal a magic stone from a village for the Eye of the Midnight Sun.
- The Call Put Me on Hold: The story's introduction. Asta wants to become the Wizard King but is the only person in the setting who can't use magic, not gaining a grimoire at the ceremony. When a thief confirms that he doesn't have any magic, Asta almost gives up until Yuno acknowledges him as his rival. Asta's regained determination manifests his own grimoire that gives him an anti-magic sword to defeat the thief, with him and Yuno reaffirming their rivalry afterwards.
- Curb-Stomp Battle:
- During the Magic Knights Entrace Exam, Asta delivers one to his opponent Sekke with one swing of his sword after the latter said not to hold back.
- Yuno defeats Salim in one page after Salim gave a quick speech that he would win because Yuno is a street rat.
- Cyanide Pill: Instead of being interrogated by Magna after his defeat and losing the chance to complete his mission, Heath freezes himself and then shatters the ice to protect his unknown leader.
- Fantastic Racism: Heath looks down on Saussy's villagers as little more than "filthy beasts", due to them being from the Forsaken Realm of Clover Kingdom.
- Kill the Poor: Asta, Magna and Noelle happen upon Heath Grice and his associates covering the village of Saussy in an impenetrable (except for Asta's Anti-Magic sword) dome of mist, just saving the entire village from being crushed by his ice. When questioned why he tried killing them, Heath explains how he considers anyone who lives in the Foresaken Realm are nothing more than "filthy beasts" inferior to those of the higher classes and that they deserved extermination.
- Mysterious Mist: Heath's team of mages creates a mist that covers all of Saussy.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: After being told that he doesn't have a shred of magic power in him and can never use it, for the first time in his life, Asta actually gives up. It doesn't last, though, because Yuno gives Asta words of encouragement to spur him on, which provokes the manifestation of his dark Grimoire.
- Spell Book: Young magic users gain grimoires in the yearly ceremony. Although Asta does not receive one then due to not having any mana, he gets his later when he fights against Revchi.
- Starter Villain: Revchi is a thief who tries to steal Yuno's four-leaf grimoire, which provokes Asta to manifest his five-leaf grimoire.
