“You read people… really well!” The words had barely left his mouth before the big beetle darted aside, his face instantly plastered with professional, enthusiastic smiles.
“Come, come, sir, this way please!” “You can pick any bone material in the shop.
If you have special requirements, we also accept custom orders.” “We have stable channels for leg bones, shoulder blades, ribs… all kinds of magical creatures.
Quality guaranteed!” Thorne listened, then shook his head slightly.
“No need.” He raised a hand and pointed straight at the most prominent spot in the shop.
“I want that one.” The big beetle followed his finger and froze.
“That’s…” His smile stiffened visibly, a trace of difficulty appearing on his face.
“That’s a fang from a Ukrainian Ironbelly.” “One of the largest known fire dragons.” “However… this particular fang is not for sale—” He didn’t get to finish.
“Sir, what are you doing?!” The beetle’s voice shot up in alarm.
Because while he was still talking, Thorne had already reached out and casually lifted the enormous dragon fang off its display.
He did it as easily as picking up a wooden stick.
He even gave it a couple of casual swings in the air.
The moment Thorne’s hand closed around the fang, his eyebrows lifted slightly.
That familiar sensation returned.
Cold.
Hard.
Yet carrying a strange, responsive feeling.
It was as if the bone was forming a connection with him.
Like his own limbs had gained an extra segment.
Thorne instinctively gripped the tip of the fang, leaned his body forward slightly, and began gathering power.
Meanwhile.
Inside Jim’s Bone Shop, the big beetle watched with wide eyes.
Wisps of white light had started gathering around the man’s body.
The dragon fang trembled lightly in his hands, as if it had been awakened.
Thorne’s lips moved.
He muttered under his breath: “Charged Slash—” But in the very next second.
He suddenly opened his eyes wide, his whole body going still.
“…Oh.” “Sorry.” Thorne looked around blankly for a moment before realizing where he was.
He quickly reined in his aura.
“I forgot I was inside a shop.” He looked down at the big beetle.
“You alright?” The beetle had already scrambled under a nearby table, only half his head visible.
His wings were still trembling uncontrollably.
Thorne immediately put on an awkward smile and stepped forward.
“Sorry, sorry.
Reflex.” He reached down and helped pull the other man out from under the table.
“Didn’t scare you too badly, did I?” “I… I’m fine, sir.” The big beetle swallowed hard, trying to make his voice sound normal.
“It’s just… about the price—” “No problem.” Thorne waved a hand casually.
“I know I definitely can’t afford something like this.” The beetle blinked, then showed an expression that clearly said as expected.
But the next moment, Thorne changed direction.
“But I know someone who can definitely handle it.” The beetle blinked again and asked without thinking, “Who?” Thorne smiled, the expression carrying a hint of natural confidence.
“Put it on Dumbledore’s tab.” The air went quiet for a second.
Thorne continued, his tone perfectly serious.
“And there’ll be a steady stream of orders after this.” “Every single student at Hogwarts is going to need bone products like this.” “These—” He patted the heavy coin pouch at his waist.
“—can count as a deposit.” The beetle opened his mouth, clearly wanting to say something.
But Thorne had already reached out first and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t thank me yet.” “Just give me a ninety-nine percent discount… or wait, a ninety-nine percent rebate would be fine.” He laughed at his own joke.
“I’m not greedy, haha.
Just kidding.” “But seriously, I don’t think Hogwarts can’t afford this much.” “Can you get in touch with Headmaster Dumbledore?” The big beetle was clearly a little dazed.
He answered hesitantly.
“Uh… my teacher should know him.” “That’s perfect, then.” Thorne nodded with satisfaction.
“Have your teacher pass the message to Headmaster Dumbledore.” “The payment can come from Professor McGonagall’s new project.” As soon as he finished speaking, he moved with clean efficiency.
He set the bag of gold down on the counter, then bent down, hoisted the enormous dragon fang onto his shoulder like it was nothing more than a slightly heavy log, and walked straight out the door without looking back.
He left Danny standing alone in the middle of the shop, completely stunned.
Several seconds passed.
Danny suddenly came back to himself.
He dropped into his chair, grabbed a quill, and spread out a piece of parchment.
No.
He had to write to his teacher immediately.
A robber had come to the shop!!
But the moment the quill tip touched the paper, his hand stopped.
Danny frowned, hesitating.
That man… had actually seemed serious.
And just now, he had clearly seen something.
Some kind of energy gathering toward that dragon fang.
More importantly, his teacher really did seem to know Professor Dumbledore.
Danny was silent for a moment before finally letting out a sigh.
“…I should confirm first.” He raised his head and looked out the window.
The man was walking across the street toward Ollivander’s, casually carrying the giant dragon fang on his shoulder like it weighed nothing.
— Thorne walked toward the wand shop with the enormous dragon fang resting on his shoulder.
Having the fang in hand put him in a good mood.
He even started humming a tuneless little song without realizing it.
The moment the dragon fang had lit up in his grip, it had basically become a bone nail.
From now on, he could start practicing bone nail techniques again.
Though… a whole dragon fang this size obviously couldn’t be used as-is.
He’d need to process it first.
Thorne had picked up some of the basic techniques for making bone nails back in the day.
It would be best to shape it into the kind of bone nail he’d been used to in his previous life.
That would feel more natural.
Advanced bone nail weapon crafting was still outside his knowledge, though.
And whether this world even had things like Pale Ore or Pale Oil for upgrades was another question.
While turning these thoughts over in his head, Thorne pushed open the door to Ollivander’s.
A soft chime rang.
The next second, he was met by a flushed, excited face.
Harry had been spinning around happily with a brand-new wand in hand.
“Professor Thorne!
Look, my new—” He cut off mid-sentence.
Harry’s gaze went past Thorne’s shoulder and landed on the massive dragon fang that was almost scraping the ceiling.
He froze completely.
“You… what is that?” He looked back and forth between Thorne and the vicious-looking fang before finally managing, “Did you… go rob a place?” Thorne rolled his eyes.
“Of course not.” He was about to explain when— “A wand!” A light, trembling voice filled with barely contained excitement came from the back of the shop.
Thorne and Harry both turned toward the sound.
An old man came rushing out from the depths of the store, moving far too quickly for someone his age.
His face was flushed, his breathing slightly quick.
Those extremely pale eyes shone brightly in the dim shop, like two moons hanging in the night sky.
Ollivander.
His gaze was locked onto the dragon fang on Thorne’s shoulder.
His voice was shaking.
“Merlin’s belt!” He nearly shouted.
“This is simply… a masterpiece!
I have never seen a wand like this before!” Thorne and Harry exchanged a glance.
The shop fell into a brief, awkward silence.
Then Thorne spoke, sounding uncertain.
“Uh… to be honest, I’ve never seen a wand shaped like this either.” “Aren’t your wands all supposed to be like chopsticks?” “This thing is basically the size of a meteor hammer… How did you even figure out it was a wand?”