The banquet took place in the great hall on the first floor of the Wizard Tower.

Ghostly magical servants floated one after another throughout the hall, delivering a variety of dishes and soups.

Having never seen such a scene before, the Wizard Apprentices each wore looks of surprise. They were like ordinary people who had just come into contact with the Wizard World, marveling at everything before their eyes.

Their amazement was not limited to the magical servants.

"This chandelier can change into different colors—it's actually a Demonized Item?"

"How extravagant!"

"Using Magic Materials that can restore spiritual power for cooking... this is too outrageous!"

"It's the meat of Magic Creatures..."

"My goodness!"

"..."

The three Official Wizards smiled as they watched the astonished Wizard Apprentices, each with their own thoughts.

"Oma," Wizard Bella said softly, having approached Oma at some point. "I hear you still don't have an official tutor? Would you be interested in studying witchcraft with me?"

Hmm?

Oma was taken aback and instinctively looked toward Marian. She had a tutor in the Black Swamp, although the tutor was merely a regular Intermediate Wizard Apprentice. This time in the Magic Forest, she intended to follow Marian to study.

However, Wizard Bella also seemed good.

Thinking to herself, she lowered her head and said, "Before coming here, I had already agreed to study under Senior Marian."

It was to study, not to formally become an apprentice, and certainly not an official tutor-student relationship.

Bella, of course, understood the meaning of these words. Oma was willing, but worried Marian might not agree.

"No worries," Wizard Bella said with a smile. "I'll handle this matter."

"Now! Let's first reassess the Wizard Talents."

The system of determining Wizard Talents in the Eastern Kingdom Continent was quite basic, still employing the five-grade system from thousands of years ago. On the Kaliem Continent, it had long been refined into fifteen grades.

Soon, a huge Crystal Ball was placed in the center, and the Wizard Apprentices lined up in sequence for evaluation.

"Nancy, Tier Two Lower-Grade Wizard Talent!"

"Not bad." A few Official Wizards nodded slightly. Tier Two was already confirmed; it was just a matter of subdividing it into Lower, Middle, or Upper Grade. There was a greater chance of it being Lower Grade. However, they were still hoping for Middle or Upper Grade, as such talents were more impressive.

Nancy, an ordinary-looking girl with a few freckles on her face, seemed slightly disheartened at this, but soon stepped aside.

"Oma, Tier Two Middle-Grade!"

"Good!" Before anyone else could speak, Bella could not contain her excitement and started clapping, while Marian slightly frowned.

What a loss! If only I had known, I would have taken Oma as an apprentice earlier, or asked Bella for more favors before it was too late.

Tier Two Middle-Grade; she could almost certainly become an Official Wizard.

"Gai Ban, Tier Three Middle-Grade!"

"Hodgson, Tier Three Lower-Grade!"

"..."

When it was Carl's turn to approach the Crystal Ball, he looked a bit excited. He took a deep breath to calm the ripple in his heart before placing his hand on the Crystal Ball.

"Carl, Fourth Grade Superior Wizard Talent!"

Superior Grade? Carl's face broke into a smile. Although a Fourth Grade Wizard Talent wasn't excellent, being Superior Grade meant he was among the best of the weaker students.

"Carl," Wizard Archie, who was responsible for assigning grades, asked, "do you know how to refine potions?"

"Yes." Carl's expression turned solemn. He bowed respectfully and replied, "My tutor Adolf is an excellent Pharmacist, and I have learned some knowledge of alchemy from him."

"Hm," Archie nodded. "Would you like to help out in my shop? Three Magic Stones a month, with an extra bonus at year's end."

"Three Magic Stones?" Carl's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Three Magic Stones a month equaled thirty-six a year, and with the bonus, it could reach forty Magic Stones. Forty Magic Stones! In the Black Swamp, many Intermediate Wizard Apprentices might work their whole lives and never see that many Magic Stones. Is the compensation here this high?

Not just Carl, but also those who had come with him from the Black Swamp held their breath, their eyes fervent.

"Of course," Wizard Archie said with a faint smile, seeing their reaction. "If you do well, it might even increase."

"I agree!" Carl nodded eagerly, repeating, "I agree!"

"Good," Archie chuckled. "Once you get familiar with the environment here, you can start working; someone will teach you then." Having said that, he waved his hand, indicating Carl should step aside for the person behind him.

Carl turned and melded back into the crowd, only then noticing that his back was covered in a cold sweat and his muscles were sore from tension. Just now, for a moment, he thought his disguise had been seen through. On the surface, his spiritual power fluctuations were only at the level of an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, but he was actually an Advanced Wizard Apprentice.

All things considered, Carl had only been in the Wizard World for six or seven years. Such a short time, especially on the resource-poor Eastern Kingdom Continent, and his Wizard Talent wasn't even good. Yet he had become an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, which would make anyone suspicious. Fortunately, the potion he had refined worked, masking his spiritual power fluctuations to the level of an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice. Even an Official Wizard couldn't detect the anomaly.

「Night.」

Carl walked out of the Wizard Tower and, facing the cold wind, came to the hillside.

A slender figure had already claimed a spot, the wind lifting her Wizard Robe, outlining graceful curves.

"Do you think," Oma spoke, her voice soft and lingering, "we'll ever go back?"

"Of course," Carl nodded. "Whenever you wish."

Unlike him, Oma had close relatives in the Gando Kingdom and a tutor in the Black Swamp whom she depended on. Her longing for her hometown ran deeper.

"Once I become an Official Wizard," Oma's expression was somber, "I'll definitely find an opportunity to go back."

"With your talent, that won't take long," Carl smiled, extending his hand forward to gesture.

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