Episode 1187
Episode 1187
"Calm down. Nothing's been decided yet."
Lee Han soothed the baby basilisk.
Truthfully, even Lee Han hadn't yet decided what to transform into for this class.
That's why he'd gone to consult with Carnella, a senior from the same school of magic...
-Senior. I came to consult about something regarding the <Practical Self-Transformation> class...
-Junior, you're transforming!? Into what!?
-That's exactly what I haven't decided yet...
-Go for a unicorn! They're great for polo matches!
-You're not planning to use me as emergency transportation, are you?
-Why would I ever do that? Haha. Hahaha.
-......
He'd left them alone after saying he'd consult with Senior Zarun, but watching their conversation now, he couldn't help feeling slightly deceived.
'Is this person really recommending unicorns just for polo?'
Yet Zarun was also quite favorable toward unicorn transformation.
"A unicorn... That would be good if possible. There are many advantages. Most races welcome them."
-What does that shorty know about anything!
"Hey now."
Though the baby basilisk cried out indignantly, reality remained unchanged.
Transforming into a basilisk or a unicorn were similarly difficult, but the former made people scream and brought guards running whenever done in the city.
Given the choice, transforming into a beautiful, popular creature was more advantageous.
"But are you certain transforming into a unicorn is even possible? You don't even have gold yet—aren't you getting ahead of yourself?"
"Ah, what do you take Hormasi for... I have solid reasoning. This junior here saved a unicorn, remember? And that unicorn showed him favor. With that level of connection, transforming into a unicorn would be highly advantageous."
"Indeed. That certainly gives you an edge."
Saving a unicorn and earning its favor—neither were easy feats. Such deep connections were rare.
-From your sleeve! Every day! Drinking my magic! And this is how you repay me!
"I said calm down."
The baby basilisk roared, but the two seniors paid no heed.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed half-decided already that he'd become a unicorn.
Suddenly remembering something, Lee Han asked:
"What about creatures like griffins or Sharkan?"
"Why would you even ask about such rare monsters?"
Zarun asked incredulously. Carnella immediately scolded him:
"He's asking because he keeps them. You wouldn't know since you don't care about your juniors. Didn't you know he had pets?"
"What!? Why!?"
"Obviously for polo."
"No."
Lee Han firmly denied it. Carnella clicked his tongue in disappointment, having hoped to manipulate the records.
"Both would be as good as a basilisk if possible..."
The baby basilisk, whose mouth Lee Han had covered, struggled violently. Though unclear, its muffled sounds suspiciously resembled curses.
"...Wouldn't a unicorn be better?"
"Griffins are nice too, but unicorns offer more advantages."
It was truly fortunate Ponlig wasn't present.
Had he been here, he'd have suffered emotional wounds alongside the baby basilisk.
"Sharkan even more so. Griffins are threatening enough when transformed in the city—imagine a monster like Sharkan."
"So junior, shall we set our course for unicorn transformation?"
The baby basilisk drooped its tail in sullen disappointment.
Patting the basilisk in his sleeve, Lee Han posed another question:
"But ultimately, won't we only know by trying? What if I aim for unicorn but keep turning into a basilisk instead..."
"That could happen."
-!
"But the chances are slim, no?"
Unless one had lived exclusively with basilisks since birth or had ancestors who contracted with powerful basilisks, such an outcome was unlikely.
With existing connections to unicorns and griffins, there was no reason to forcibly manifest a basilisk.
-Do we really have to be friends with these mages?
"...Well, the seniors..."
While Lee Han was calming the baby basilisk, the seniors prepared a practice space.
Transmutation Magic, especially when it involved the mage's own transformation, brought far more danger to the surroundings than one might expect.
Failed transformations could cause shockwaves or explosions as a matter of course, and even successful ones could be hazardous.
Once a mage suddenly obtained the body of a ferocious beast, controlling the surging urges for destruction or competitive instincts was far harder than one might think.
With enough experience, a mage could learn to observe their own soul and manage the emotional turbulence caused by physical changes...
...but for a mage attempting it for the first time, controlling all of that was impossible. Naturally, precautions had to be taken by those around them.
"Senior, could you cast some elastic rubber magic on these walls?"
"Do you even know how much the reagents cost?!"
"Then just let the attic get destroyed, Senior."
Cursing at his juniors, Zarun began casting the spell.
He really shouldn't have told them about this place...
After setting up absorption magic on the surrounding floor and rock walls, and adding protective spells to the hideout Zarun had created, the preparations were roughly complete.
The two seniors gestured to Lee Han.
"Junior, give it a try."
"For your first time, it's best to do it naturally—just act on instinct without overthinking it."
'Maybe thinking of a basilisk would be fine.'
"......"
'...I'll be quiet...'
The baby basilisk, realizing its brainwashing attempt had been noticed, quietly shut its mouth.
Lee Han stood in the center of the space and entered a state of focus.
Unlike other forms of magic, Transformation Magic required relatively fewer complex elements like magic circles, incantations, or formulas—but that didn't make it any easier.
The mage's mental concentration was especially crucial. Acting carelessly or letting stray thoughts interfere could lead to bizarre results.
"By the way, what did he usually transform into during practice?"
Zarun, who had been waiting, tossed the question to Carnella.
No matter how much of a genius one was, Transformation Magic wasn't something one could just pick up.
At the very least, it required about a year of practice—starting with transforming small parts of the body and gradually expanding the scope of familiarity.
"What was it again? Hold on... Ah, right. During Professor Bendozol's lecture, he transformed his arm into a basilisk's head."
Carnella checked her notes before answering.
"......"
Zarun staggered for a moment.
Even the examples he'd used during practice were far from ordinary.
Shouldn't he have started with something familiar and easy, like the foreleg of a common animal?
"S-So... I guess he really is close with basilisks, huh?"
Unfortunately, their conversation was being held quietly enough that Lee Han couldn't hear it—meaning the baby basilisk didn't catch it either.
Had the baby basilisk heard, it would've whined, "See? Basilisks are the easiest, waaah," and been insufferable about it.
"Hmm. Still, a unicorn might be better..."
"Why?"
"They'd be great for polo matches."
"......"
Zarun stared at his junior with the look of someone witnessing utter garbage. Carnella, slightly flustered, replied,
"That was a joke."
"Who the hell would think that's a joke?! That's insane!"
"I was just genuinely recommending that transforming into a unicorn would be more useful! And why are you making such a fuss when you don't even care about our junior?"
"......"
Struck speechless, Zarun hesitated. Seeing this, Carnella's lips curled up.
"Huh? What's this? When did you two get so close? Weren't you the one who said you had no intention of getting close to him?"
"We're not close! What kind of nonsense is that?!"
"With your personality, worrying this much is practically on par with treating him like a little brother!"
"...I owe him, alright?!"
"What did he give you?"
"He stole one of Professor Verdus's artifacts for me to use after graduation and handed it over."
"......"
Even Carnella, who had been teasing him, froze in shock at this.
Wait...
"D-Does that mean... you'll do the same for me next year?"
"This guy is really... a dragon!"
"???"
Carnella was baffled by the senior's sudden remark.
"I appreciate the compliment, but isn't it a bit out of nowhere?"
"No, you crazy bastard! Look over there! There!"
Zarun stammered as he pointed at Wardanaz. Only then did Carnella realize and turn his head.
The junior was kneeling, breathing heavily. He looked quite exhausted, but he certainly wasn't a dragon.
"What is it?"
"It came back again. He was definitely a dragon just now!"
"......"
Carnella's gaze turned lukewarm with skepticism. Realizing the meaning behind that look, Zarun flew into a rage.
"What the hell!"
"Uh... Are you sure you didn't just missee it?"
"Hey, you gold-starved idiot who's probably never even laid eyes on real gold in your life! How could you missee a dragon?! It was just short-lived!"
Insulted for doubting his eyesight and judgment, Zarun was practically hopping mad.
"Misseeing is possible. At a glance, a basilisk could be mistaken for a dragon subspecies. Same with wyrms. And sometimes wyverns get reported as dragons too."
"■■■■■■!"
Furious, Zarun spat out a curse in ancient Dwarven. Regardless, Carnella, who had been indifferent until now, suddenly shouted in surprise.
"It's a dragon!"
"......"
"Did you see that just now?! It was definitely a dragon! No doubt!"
"......"
Zarun said nothing, merely glaring at the junior with bloodshot eyes.
Feeling slightly guilty, Carnella apologized.
"Sorry. I didn't believe you when you said a dragon appeared out of nowhere. It was just the preparation phase, after all."
For someone to transform into a dragon during the initial aptitude test for animal transformations was as absurd as awakening a Fire Element Small World during a basic lecture on fire affinity.
"Shouldn't we mages identify things with a calm and rational perspective? Come on, let's give the junior some proper advice."
"...Now I remember why I avoid associating with despicable bastards like you and prefer to stay alone."
"Ah, don't be like that. Junior! Did you realize you just transformed into a dragon?"
Lee Han raised a hand with a weary expression.
Separate from mana exhaustion, his physical fatigue was immense. Even if he could handle the mana required for dragon transformation, the physical toll still had to be endured by the mage himself.
The moment he reverted from his transformation, his body felt as heavy as if he had been engaged in an intense sword exchange without rest.
"Maybe try testing other options first, like a unicorn, basilisk, or griffon?"
"What?! It's a dragon, you crazy bastard! A dragon!"
Zarun shouted in disbelief.
A full-fledged dragon, no less.
How many mages in the entire Empire could even attempt a complete dragon transformation? And yet, they were telling him to just ignore that and try something else?
"Senior, look at the junior's face. This is his first time practicing full self-transformation, right? Starting with a dragon is way too difficult and dangerous. If other options are possible, let's try those first. It's not like his dragon transformation talent is going anywhere."
"......"
Zarun felt ashamed.
To be lectured like this by Carnella—someone he'd always dismissed as either polo-obsessed or just plain insane.
He was absolutely right.
He'd been so overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of a dragon that he'd forgotten basic common sense.
"...Sorry, Hormasi."
"??"
"I always thought of you as just some deranged, rude bastard..."
"...That's a pretty novel way of getting back at me for a senior, huh?"
Carnella was taken aback by this uncharacteristic side of Zarun.
Who knew the single-minded Senior Zarun could retaliate like this?
"That was a compliment."
"I can give those kinds of compliments too."
Poof!
While the two bickered, Lee Han attempted transformation again.
Just as he was about to take the form of a unicorn, he suddenly shifted back into a massive dragon before reverting.
"??"
"What's wrong? There's no need to stubbornly stick with the dragon right now."
The two seniors gave him puzzled advice.
Lee Han took a deep breath and shook his head.
"It keeps turning me into a dragon on its own."
"......"
"...Is magic jealous or something?"