Isabel asked them whether they were all right, but the group was still too shaken to answer. Oscar called out to her, and then he passed out. Everyone rushed toward him while Isabel noticed the dragon's corpse lying in the clearing. She realized at once that her star student must have done something unbelievable again, and she made up her mind to drill the whole story out of them once they were back at the academy.
While the group worried over Oscar, Levin dreaded the humiliation he was about to face when they returned. As the sun touched the horizon, the group prepared to go back to the academy.
After his recovery, Oscar met with Headmaster Balsamus to tell him what had happened out there. Balsamus could not believe that Oscar had been attacked on academy grounds. He realized that the academy had been compromised by the dark mages who targeted commoners.
He commended Oscar for coming out of the attack alive, and Oscar let him know that he had survived because he had decided to become stronger. He excitedly told Balsamus that he had comprehended the first step toward getting stronger. Balsamus, however, advised Oscar to leave the academy. He explained that the school was no longer safe now that these extremists had infiltrated it.
Balsamus advised him to live a quiet life outside the academy, without magic. He stressed that it was the only way for Oscar to survive. Hearing this, Oscar thought about his previous life, and about how unhappy he had been despite all his achievements. Balsamus told him that a great many people lived happily without magic, and that he could still find happiness without it, and he urged him not to waste his life at such a young age.
While he listened to the headmaster's advice, Oscar remembered how happy he had been practising magic in this life with Isabel. Unwilling to give that up, he confidently turned the advice down. He firmly refused to quit after everything he had struggled through to reach this point. Balsamus was stunned by the refusal, but since Oscar had no intention of changing his mind, he thanked the headmaster for his concern and left it there.
Since the person targeting him was inside the academy, Oscar told Balsamus that he had an idea for drawing them out. That piqued the headmaster's interest, and he asked Oscar to tell him about the plan. Oscar boldly declared that he would simply be the bait and drag them out of the shadows. Balsamus was stunned to hear it, and he asked Oscar whether he was not afraid to die.
Oscar told him plainly that he had no plans to join his ancestors any time soon. The answer made Balsamus laugh out loud, as though Oscar had told him a marvellous joke. Oscar was surprised, and he wondered what he had said to make the old man laugh like that. Seeing the puzzled look on his face, Balsamus quickly apologized. Since Oscar was determined to fight back, Balsamus decided to support him.
The two of them shook hands to seal their new partnership. Afterwards, Balsamus told Oscar to get himself a new magic wand. Oscar was confused, but when he checked his wand, he found that it was completely ruined.
Later, Oscar went to Isabel, and she gave him a temporary wand. Since he was planning to buy a new one anyway, she handed him another beginner's model. Oscar asked her whether a wand was absolutely necessary for a mage. Isabel let him know that it was difficult to write with only one's fingers. To show him what she meant, she dipped her finger in ink and explained that the wand was like a writing instrument, and mana was like the ink. Magic formulas could be drawn without a writing instrument, but they would come out wobbly.
She further explained that to create perfect and beautiful magic, a mage had to invest in proper writing tools.
After his meeting with Isabel, Oscar headed out to buy a wand. While he waited at the academy gate, he stared at his old wand, unable to believe that it had broken after a single battle. He wondered whether the tool simply could not withstand the mana he had refined during the dragon fight.
Before he could finish processing the thought, Lily's voice interrupted him. She apologized for keeping him waiting, and Oscar apologized for making her escort him on her day off. Lily assured him that she did not mind, since she had been planning to buy something as well. With that, the two of them happily set off to find Oscar a wand.
A few moments later they arrived at the first store, and Oscar was amazed to see so many different wands in one place. The shopkeeper proudly boasted about his collection. He brought out one of the most expensive pieces, dazzling with precious gems, and assured Oscar that this particular wand would make people respect him. Oscar wondered whether the gems had some special effect on a spell. Lily, however, quietly reminded him to check the price before he asked any questions.
Oscar's jaw dropped when he saw what the wand cost. Lily suggested they try other stores, since this one was far above their budget. Unfortunately, the next store was even more expensive than the last, and they fled from it. After running away from several more, Oscar and Lily finally gave up. After a whole day of running around, Oscar had to accept that magic wands were expensive, and that he was far too broke to afford anything decent.
Lily explained that they were so expensive because a great many mages came from noble households, and nobles mostly cared about keeping up their proud appearance. Oscar apologized for taking up her time and let her know that he would keep looking on his own, but Lily refused to leave and enthusiastically promised to stay until he found a wand.
They continued the search, and Oscar stumbled upon another magic wand store. Just then another shopkeeper warned them not to go in. When Oscar asked why, the man explained that the owner was crazy and forced customers to buy things they did not want. Oscar stared at the shop for a while and, despite the warning, decided to have a look. Lily tried to stop him, letting him know that they might not be allowed to leave until they bought something.
Oscar refused to listen to her advice and happily opened the door. He pointed out that the shop was still in business after all this time, so it had to be a legitimate place.
Inside, they were met with a dark, eerie space that made Lily's skin crawl. They soon noticed a wandmaker named Rod carving something nearby, and without looking up at them, he asked whether they were browsing or buying.
Oscar told him that he wanted to buy a new wand. Rod put down his tools and asked why they had chosen his shop out of all the proper shops in the city. Then he turned to glare at them, his carving knife still in his hand. Despite the man's hard look, Oscar remained calm. After a brief stare-down, Rod suddenly turned hostile.
He threw the knife at Oscar, yelling at him for making fun of his business. Oscar swiftly dodged it while Lily was left completely speechless. Oscar then let Rod know that he had not come there to play games, but that only infuriated the man further, and he declared that he did not sell wands to swordsmen. Oscar was surprised to hear it, and Lily, now convinced this man was dangerous, tried to make Oscar leave the shop.