Drake pushed open the door to the Bck Bulls headquarters, sighing, "It's changed again!"

  The Bck Bulls' headquarters was a peculiar pce; its structure changed daily. One day, there were pilrs by the entrance to Drake's room; the next morning, it was an empty corridor.

  This was the work of Henry Legont, another Bck Bull member. Henry was cursed and could only survive by absorbing others' magic power within the headquarters. He couldn't control his ability and would absorb excessive magic if he got too close, so he remained isoted, a legendary "ghost" within the Bck Bulls. Henry's magic allowed him to manipute magically imbued objects, freely assembling and transforming them. The entire Bck Bulls headquarters was under his control, expining the shifting structure.

  Outside, Drake found an excited Asta. The boy had likely just realized he wasn't dreaming; he'd truly joined the Magic Knights! Drake admired his boundless energy.

  Drake's own room was dipidated and dirty; he'd spent a long time cleaning it st night. He'd also written letters to the church, so he'd slept te. Asta likely had too, yet showed no signs of fatigue.

  "Good morning, Drake! It's our first day as Bck Bulls! Let's do our best!"

  Drake waved. "You're still so energetic."

  Asta said, "Hey, Drake, there's a pilr outside my room this morning. So weird."

  "Just a pilr, don't make a fuss!" Magna Swing said, approaching. "The headquarters changes constantly. Get used to it."

  Drake nodded. "Magna-senpai, you're giving us a tour, right?"

  Magna boomed, "That's right! I'll give you a tour! Follow me!"

  Watching Magna and Asta run off, Drake sighed and followed quickly.

  "This is the dining hall!"

  Only Charmy Pappitson was eating, the hall mostly empty.

  "Pointless size," Magna commented.

  …

  "This is the bathhouse!"

  Soaking in the hot spring, Drake wondered how they'd ended up bathing during the tour.

  "Perfect temperature," Drake murmured contentedly.

  Asta said, "Drake, you're amazing! I'll endure it too! But it's so hot!"

  Magna decred, "This is what Bck Bulls men are made of!"

  "...," Gordon Agrippa, who'd appeared silently in the bath, mumbled something inaudible.

  …

  "This is the women's quarters. It's full of traps; you'll be killed if you get close!"

  Drake recognized the deadly traps connected by silk threads. He looked at Magna and Asta, cd only in towels. He understood the traps' necessity.

  Drake had only managed to put on his pants; his upper body, except for his dragon-scale scarf, was still in his hands.

  …

  "This is the restroom!"

  Magna froze; Yami was sitting inside, deep in thought.

  "I'll kill you!" A dark aura emanated from Yami.

  "My apologies!"

  …

  "This is the game room, for rexation!"

  Drake looked at the "torture devices" and doubted Magna's definition of "games."

  …

  "This is the beast enclosure!"

  Only glowing eyes were visible in the cages; these weren't friendly animals!

  "Why is this here?" Asta trembled.

  "Captain Yami's hobby," Magna expined.

  "You'll be feeding them," Magna instructed. "Want to try now?"

  Drake, having lived with Igneel, was interested. Compared to Igneel, these beasts were small.

  With a piece of meat, Drake confidently approached a cage.

  A rge mouth snapped at his arm.

  Drake didn't get angry but smiled, petting the beast.

  "Good boy, you were hungry! But…"

  Drake's eyes changed; fmes enveloped his arm.

  "That hurts, you bastard!"

  He punched the beast on the head.

  "Whimper!" The beast's eyes swirled, and it colpsed.

  Drake shook his hand, surveying the cages. The other beasts quieted, sitting obediently.

  Drake nodded. "Good children!"

  He gave Magna a thumbs-up. "Leave them to me."

  Magna mirrored the gesture. "You're amazing, Drake! I trust you!"

  …

  Magna quickly showed them the headquarters. On the lowest level, they encountered a girl in a Bck Bulls cloak.

  She had silver hair in twintails, seemingly Drake's age. She seemed like a proud peacock.

  It was Noelle Silva, the third Bck Bull recruit that year.

  Drake realized this world had many tsunderes: Yuno, Noelle, Charlotte… They were all masters of saying the opposite of what they felt.

  Noelle was a textbook tsundere, as was her brother, Nozel Silva, captain of the Silver Eagles. He was clearly overprotective of his sister but acted cold and dismissive. Tsundere behavior seemed to be a Silva family trait.

  Magna introduced Noelle. Asta, wanting to befriend his fellow recruits, approached.

  "I'm Asta, a new recruit. Pleased to meet you!"

  "Snap!"

  Noelle spped away Asta's hand.

  "Don't talk to me, you magicless commoner insect!"

  There it was—Noelle's signature tsundere behavior. This sharp-tongued girl was unusually unconcerned with css differences. Her harsh words likely masked insecurity about her low magic control, a habit she'd developed over time.

  Drake watched Noelle unleash magic, intending to hit Asta but accidentally hitting Magna instead, and came to this conclusion.

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