Original subtitles

Humanity was on the verge of being destroyed by a demon.

It was but one lone mage who saved them.

He would become known as the Wizard King, and his story would become legend.

"Page 55: The Man Named Fanzell"

Asta has had an ancient Hex Magic cast on him by Vetto of the Third Eye.

His Black Bull compatriots have begun their search for a way to heal Asta's arms.

For their part, Noelle and Finral call upon a certain man, hoping to find a lead.

Excuse us!

Sure. I just got out of the bath--

The man they'd come to see was Fanzell Kruger.

Who was he, and what did he have to do with Asta?

Our story begins five months earlier...

"5 Months Earlier"

"The Far-Remote Village of Hage"

"The Far-Remote Village of Hage" ...just before Asta and Yuno, having received their grimoires,

"The Far-Remote Village of Hage"

"The Far-Remote Village of Hage" headed to the royal capital for the Magic Knight Entrance Exam.

headed to the royal capital for the Magic Knight Entrance Exam.

Asta was hard at work with his sword training, camping out in the woods near Hage Village.

Whoa-oh-oh...

So... like that? I don't really know.

I've never studied the sword before.

I don't even know how to hold it right!

Does this even count as training?

M-M-Move, kid! Danger's a-comin'!

Well, don't come by me!

Jump aside!

Hup!

Take that!

Whoopsie!

Wow, that was great!

Took him out with one blow!

I thought I'd do some river fishing--turns out I was in that boar's stomping grounds.

Okay...

Name's Fanzell. I'm a traveler.

"Fanzell Kruger" Name's Fanzell. I'm a traveler.

"Fanzell Kruger"

Fanzell?

Call me "Zell."

Oh, I'm Asta, from Hage Village.

Nice to meet you, Asta.

Say, uh... are those yours?

Yeah... what about 'em?

I mean...

This is a lifesaver!

I haven't eaten in two days!

Never did catch any fish, either.

Aha.

Awfully dense, aren't they? Kinda suck all the moisture out of your mouth.

Yeah, but why are you naked?

I didn't want to get wet fishing.

What are these?

You don't know and you ate 'em anyway?!

They're nomotatoes, the local specialty of Hage Village!

Huh! Nomotatoes!

You okay?

Here!

Thank... you...

The heck is this? It's so bitter!

Moguro-leaf juice. It's supposed to increase your magic power.

Well, I'm certainly feeling better.

I'd like to thank you. Come over to my house.

Your house?

I mean, I'm just kind of squatting there.

I never knew there were places like this in the woods!

You run across vacant houses like this.

Oh, hang on a sec. Lemme throw something on.

Huh?

A sword that can nullify magic? That's new to me.

This baby here is gonna get me through the Magic Knights Entrance Exam!

That's why I'm holed up in the mountains, training!

I see!

What brings you here, mister?

"Mister"?

I'm only 28, you know.

Twenty-eight?!

Dude, you look way older!

Leaving that aside...

I'm waiting for someone.

What, deep in the mountains?

It's complicated.

Hmm...

Hey, Asta--you're sleeping outside, aren't you?

Why not stay here while you train?

Really?! That'd be great, but...

You're not just after my nomotatoes, are you?

Treasure your encounters, your connections with the people you meet.

Maybe you can't see or touch them, but those experiences pile up in your heart.

As if. This guy is way sketchy.

Check out your partners better.

Okay! I'll take you up on that, Mister Zell!

Great! Then let's assign wood-chopping duty.

What?!

Whoa-oh-oh!

This doesn't seem to be working.

Maybe it's because your weight is all in your knees.

Huh?

You can't pull off a second blow once you swing your sword, right?

It throws off your balance.

Uh, right.

Keep your toes pointed in the same direction as your sword,

and take a half-step forward with your right foot.

Go on, try it.

I did it!

--Y-You did--and fast, too. --Man, am I good or what?

--Y-You did--and fast, too. --Yes! I did it!

--Well, good. --Yes! I did it!

That's amazing, mister! You use swords?

Well, ah, not swords, per se...

One sec.

Wind Creation Magic:

Emperor of Slashing Winds.

Whoa! Awesome!

See, the magic takes on the shape of a sword.

It's the Emperor of Slashing Winds-- "Slashy" for short.

You're awesome at names, too!

So that's how I picked up a little swordsmanship.

Then you can teach me! Please!

Huh?

Just a little is fine by me!

Please--teach me!

Yeah, sure.

Huh?

Sure.

R-Really?

Yeah.

Th-Thanks!

Yes...

Hooray!

Awesome! Woohoo!

Yes! Yes!

--But promise me one thing...

--Yay! --But promise me one thing...

Asta, why do you want to get stronger?

To become the Wizard King!

I see. That's good. Yep: Very good.

You're not laughing?

Why would I laugh?

Well, 'cause it's impossible, or whatever.

Impossible? You can't know that until you try.

Promise me that you'll only ever use what I teach you

to make that dream come true.

Sure. What should I do?

Just don't use my lessons for evil,

like hurting people unjustly or bullying the weak.

I wouldn't do that anyway!

Promise?

Yeah: I promise!

Good! We'll work hard!

Yeah! Thanks in advance!

"Some Days Later"

You're pulling in your left foot too late!

A rapid-fire attack means no pause between blows!

Right!

You really are fantastic, Asta.

Your defense and offense are both outstanding.

And your movements are gradually improving.

But if you're this strong, mister, you coulda taken care of that boar by yourself.

I didn't have a sword or my grimoire at hand.

Besides, my sword skills really are nothing special.

You're just especially good at using them.

Well, I think it's because you're good at teaching 'em.

I did do some teacher-y stuff once upon a time.

Aha!

My students sure didn't think much of me, though.

I've seen more than a hundred students,

but you really are good enough to be in the top three.

Top three?

Top two, maybe?

I mean, first place is, like, way out there, like not even handling your sword as a sword...

Anyway, even if you get into the Magic Knights,

I think you'll turn out to be a respectably skilled swordsman.

You mean it?!

Then what are we waiting for? Let's get back to training!

Whoa, now! We're still eating!

And so, several more days passed until she came along.

Sorry to keep you, Master Fanzell.

Whozat?

Mariella! What'd you find out?

Mariella?

One of my pupils.

"Mariella" One of my pupils.

"Mariella"

"Mariella" I've asked her to track down my fiancée.

I've asked her to track down my fiancée.

Oh, really?

Wouldn't you be better off not waiting-- just going to look for her yourself?

Well, for various reasons, I can't be too conspicuous in my movements.

Hmm...

I'm Asta, from Hage Village!

This old dude is teaching me the sword.

Nice to meetcha!

This is no ordinary "old dude."

This old dude--and he is an old dude-- is an amazing old dude.

--Old... dude? --I don't know who you are,

but just know that this is not the kind of old dude you can just casually call "old dude."

--I'm 28... --I told you: I'm Asta from Hage Village!

And what's wrong with calling an old dude "old dude"?

It's a matter of perception.

Knowing or not knowing that he's an amazing old dude changes the respect you show him.

And your "old dude" smacks of no respect at all.

--How'm I supposed to say the words "old dude" with respect?!

--Um, could you please stop? --How'm I supposed to say the words "old dude" with respect?!

--Um, could you please stop? --It's just "old dude"! "Old dude"!

--This argument is really hurting the party in question... --No, he's an old dude.

What about Dominante?

Where's Domina?!

Well, ah...

Domina may very well be...

She may have passed away.

Mister...

Fanzell shared his story with Asta.

Fanzell and his fiancée Dominante had been members of the Diamond Kingdom's army.

No longer able to go along with the army's extreme methods,

the two plotted desertion.

But with the kingdom's killer on their trail, they wound up apart.

Fanzell asked Mariella, his former pupil and successful deserter, to search for Dominante.

When Fanzell made a move, the killer would, too.

Not wanting to get Domina involved if she were in hiding nearby,

Fanzell was forced to hide out in this vacant house.

Wow, that's rough.

Here's Domina's wand.

It was found where the assassin was thought to have attacked her.

That, and... a great deal of blood.

I see.

I'm sorry. I need a moment alone.

Er...

Master?

Please hear me out.

Back when you helped me and the others escape...

Do you remember?

Yeah.

How is everyone?

I see that got a smile out of you.

Um, everyone else, except for me, is dead.

Huh?

Done in by the Diamond Kingdom's assassin.

All of them.

What the hell are you doing?

This is my job now:

Providing intel to the kingdom and disposing of its defectors.

If I weren't doing this, I'd be killed like the others.

Oh--but we won't kill you.

I was told to bring you back alive.

This building is completely surrounded. You'll never escape.

That Mage Knight has entered the finishing stage.

We'll need your advice for the final operational tweaks.

That's where you were stationed, I believe?

It's Mars.

Sorry?

The boy's name is Mars!

Stop talking about him like he's a weapon!

Oh. Sure. It hardly matters.

You okay, mister?

Hey, Mariella! What's your deal?

Aren't you grateful for what the old dude's done?!

I am.

I did survive thanks to the combat methods he taught me,

and he still has my respect.

Isn't that why I noted the way you said "old dude"?

Then why would you do something like this?

If I fretted over those details, I could never get my job done.

So would you kindly not interfere?

I doubt you want to die for an old dude you don't know.

This is an old dude I do know!

No, Asta--Mariella's right.

Get out of here.

You promised!

You'd only use my sword teachings to achieve your dream!

You'd be wrong to use them here-- and on some random old dude!

Now--run!

I told you... you're not some random old dude!

It's all right.

I can figure out these goons even without you around.

But you've been stabbed!

I promise you:

I will make it through all this!

That's a promise!

No dying until we meet again!

Right!

I'm sorry, Asta.

You have to run.

I...

Domina...

Asta.

I don't care...

...what happens to me.

There's no hope left to live for.

No reason to go on.

Just leave me be.

I'm so tired of all this.

The hell you say?!

Of course you have no hope, no reason to live!

That's only natural!

You gotta find that stuff for yourself!

Got that? Then stand up and help a guy out!

Wind Creation Magic:

Emperor of Slashing Winds...

...Winter Wind.

Wowee!

That spell sends out lots of Slashies at once.

I call it "That Flying One."

What a great name!

You saw me at a real ugly time.

I'm all right now.

Good!

Heads up!

My head was never down!

It nullifies magic?

What's wrong, old dude? This isn't enough to finish you off!

We each get to decide when to end things.

You taught me that this isn't my time.

And I'm not about to let this bunch end it for me!

We withdraw.

Eh?

I'll bring up the rear.

Don't forget to round up any casualties.

That was surprisingly, uh, fast.

Attack with at least three times as many troops as your target.

If your number is halved, change tactics.

If halved again, retreat.

Or so a certain someone once taught me.

Don't think this is over.

I'll spend my life hot on your heels.

Sounds good to me.

I'm done running-- both from you and from myself.

And I'm done being a coward.

Domina is out there somewhere--alive!

I know she is!

And I'll leave no stone unturned looking for her, so try to keep up!

You hear that, Mariella?

Prepare yourself for this old dude and his old-dude smell!

Please be quiet. I'm going to cry.

Do your best.

And... your pronunciation of "old dude" is much improved.

Don't forget.

Are you really leaving already?

Yeah. I'll look for Domina until I'm satisfied.

And I'd like to atone for the things I've done.

I haven't figured out exactly how I'll do that, but it'll probably take the rest of my life.

So I won't be dying that easily.

You helped me find that resolve.

Yeah?

Well, can't linger or it'll be too hard to say goodbye.

I'm off!

Hey, wait! Are you really just gonna leave?

Sure am.

Time flows differently for those who try to get things done and for those who don't.

You gotta save time wherever you can!

Save time?

You're a get-things-done kind of guy, aren't you?

Go, Asta.

You already have everything you need to do what needs to get done.

Sheesh... Now you get all teacher-y on me?

See ya, mister!

Go become the Wizard King!

Well, I guess I'll head back to the village.

Asta! It's your last lesson!

Take this guy down!

You do it!

And why are you naked this time?!

No time to explain!

Stay away from me!

Where are you, my Domina?

I know you're alive.

Excuse me, miss! Can I ask you something?

Oh, please--don't run away!

Black Clover, page 56:

"Page 56: The Man Named Fanzell, Continued" Black Clover, page 56:

"Page 56: The Man Named Fanzell, Continued"

"Page 56: The Man Named Fanzell, Continued" "The Man Named Fanzell, Continued."

"Page 56: The Man Named Fanzell, Continued"

"Page 56: The Man Named Fanzell, Continued" Don't pay my buck nakedness any mind!