Episode 392
Episode 392
"Professor. No matter how I think about it, taking care of a basilisk egg in the dormitory is too risky. If it accidentally hatches..."
"Accidentally?"
"...Anyway, if it ends up hatching, it could cause a major incident."
Lee Han wanted to step on Professor Verdus's foot, but the distance was a bit too far. He sighed in frustration.
"But I received advice that it would be better for you to handle it than an expert."
"What kind of insane expert...? No, my apologies. May I ask who it was?"
Lee Han wondered if the Skeleton Principal had spouted such nonsense.
"Professor Lightning Step."
"......"
Lee Han tried his best to remain calm as he listened carefully to Professor Voladi's explanation.
According to the explanation, Professor Lightning Step had answered Professor Voladi's question with utmost sincerity.
However, no matter how diligently one takes notes, raising and nurturing something requires attention and intuition that go beyond mere theory.
Concerned, Professor Lightning Step had said:
-Wouldn't it be better to just leave it to your student?
-Indeed.
Professor Voladi decided to respect the expert's opinion.
"Indeed... But Professor, Professor Lightning Step didn't mean for me to take it to the dormitory and raise it there."
"Is that so?"
"Let's compromise and raise it in a third location. There must be a lot of preparations needed to care for a basilisk anyway..."
Lee Han pondered where would be best.
Professor Thunder Step's cabin was also a fairly good option.
It was located away from others and would be easy to modify as needed...
'Hmm. There's no benefit in angering our food supplier.'
But given Professor Thunder Step's temperament, he would likely sulk if Lee Han used his beloved cabin to raise a basilisk egg.
Lee Han gave up and spoke.
"I'll pick the location, and the two of you can build it."
"Huh? Me?"
"...Didn't you say you'd take the materials?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Professor Verdus asked, genuinely unable to comprehend.
Lee Han smiled at the sight of a genius trying to transcend the very concept of a transaction.
Then he turned to Professor Voladi.
"Professor, could you persuade him, please?"
"Understood."
One minute later, Professor Verdus was persuaded.
"Hot during the day, cold at night... We'll need not just a fireplace but also a space reinforced with cold magic."
"Heat enhancement, cold enhancement. Neither of those spells is even remotely interesting."
Ignoring Professor Verdus's remark, Lee Han moved forward.
'We'll need a lot of water, so near a stream would be ideal. And since it's a basilisk, we should probably go somewhere remote... As for materials, Professor Verdus will handle that.'
This was the advantage of having a mage—especially a skilled Enchantment Mage—help with construction.
After thoroughly searching the forest at the foot of the northern mountain range from the main building, Lee Han made his decision.
"Build it here, please."
"Got it."
Without another word, Professor Verdus swung his staff. In an instant, the ground solidified and sank deeply, logs stacked up neatly, and the structure of a house began to take shape.
Though not spacious, a fairly cozy log cabin was quickly completed. Professor Verdus cast a Flame Enhancement Spell near the fireplace and a Cold Enhancement Spell on the opposite side.
'After raising the basilisk, maybe I can store food supplies here?'
It would be a shame to just abandon such a well-built structure afterward.
Lee Han carefully placed the basilisk egg in the center of the log cabin. He could feel the faint pulse of life energy stirring within.
"Oh right. Shouldn't we prevent intruders from coming in?"
"P-Professor...!"
"What?"
"I'm surprised. I didn't expect you to think of that."
Lee Han was genuinely surprised.
Naturally, he had planned to ask Professor Verdus to cast detection-blocking or direction-confusing magic around the cabin to prevent other students from approaching, since it was a place for raising a basilisk.
But for Professor Verdus to suggest it himself...
Puffing up with pride, Professor Verdus replied,
"Of course. What if some bastard steals the basilisk?"
"...Ah, right."
Lee Han immediately retracted his earlier surprise. Unconcerned, Professor Verdus began casting the spell.
"Unless they follow the red-marked trees to enter, they won't be able to find their way."
"Impressive."
"What are you doing now?"
"Preparing the basilisk's meal."
Lee Han poured the basilisk feed prepared by Professor Lightning Steps into a pot and boiled it with water. A foul stench quickly filled the log cabin.
Hatching a basilisk required a substantial amount of nutrients. Ancient texts stated, 'You must feed the egg seven chickens, four sheep, five pigs, two bulls, and sixteen fish daily.' However, if properly formulated feed was provided, such extreme measures weren't strictly necessary...
Lee Han felt deeply grateful to Professor Lightning Steps.
Otherwise, he would have had to hunt all those creatures himself.
"The smell is awful. Do you really have to make this?"
"Well, I could always hunt seven chickens, four sheep, five pigs, two bulls, and sixteen fish to feed it instead..."
"Right. Keep at it."
"...I won't. I'll just give it this."
"Why?!"
Ignoring Professor Verdus, Lee Han began feeding the egg.
The basilisk egg absorbed the boiled feed like a sponge soaking up water.
'Does it like it?'
He could sense a faint tremor from the egg, accompanied by a ripple of mana. Though uncertain, it seemed satisfied with the meal.
As Lee Han meticulously fed the egg, he called Professor Verdus over to prepare for the next task.
"Professor. Could you feed it for a moment?"
Grumbling about the smell, Professor Verdus picked up the ladle.
Immediately, the egg trembled again, emitting a distinctly negative reaction.
"...Professor. I'll just do it myself."
Suspicious, Lee Han snatched the ladle back. The egg's negative response lessened.
'To be disliked by a basilisk that hasn't even hatched yet...'
Honestly, it was impressive.
If that counted as a talent, it certainly was one.
"Why are you staring like that?"
"It's nothing, Professor. Next up... mana infusion."
The task of periodically channeling mana into the egg.
For most mages, it would be an annoying chore—wasting precious mana at regular intervals each day...
But for Lee Han, it was the easiest part.
Fwoosh!
The egg seemed even happier than before. Maybe it was just relieved Professor Verdus had stepped away.
'Maybe I should keep Professor Verdus at a distance.'
If the basilisk ended up with behavioral issues from unnecessary stress, Lee Han would be the one suffering for it.
Knock knock knock—
"Are you here?"
Lee Han opened the cabin door to find Professor Voladi standing there, arms laden with provisions.
"What did you bring... canned food? But we still have basilisk feed left."
"These are for you."
"!"
While Lee Han was moved, Professor Voladi stepped inside.
She dragged Professor Verdus off the cozy armchair, piled the provisions in his place, and arranged them neatly.
Various canned meats, fish, pickled fruits, and even coffee and sugar were stacked in orderly layers.
"Professor...!"
"If you're staying here to care for the basilisk, you'll need supplies."
"...Professor. I'll be returning to the dormitory in the evening."
Lee Han answered with a solemn expression.
Evening.
Just like last time, Lee Han gathered the White Tiger Tower students and began cleaning up the storage.
The only difference was that the White Tiger Tower students let out a sigh with every task they completed.
"Huu..."
"......"
"If only we had golems..."
"......"
"Ah, right... We don't have golems anymore..."
"...We can fix them tomorrow. We were busy today."
Even with Lee Han's words, the White Tiger Tower students didn't stop grumbling.
"What were you so busy with? Studying, I bet?"
"You don't understand what's truly important, do you? Magic isn't everything. You Wardanaz folks don't get human emotions."
"...I was following the professor's orders, preparing for the basilisk egg hatching. Satisfied?"
"......"
"......"
The White Tiger Tower students suddenly grew solemn.
'I told you the Wardanaz guy must have his reasons.'
"By the way, Lord Wardanaz."
"What is it, Priest Siana?"
When Siana, the snake beastkin priest of the Flemeng Order, approached him, Lee Han turned his head.
"Since you worked last time, you don't have to help today."
"Ah. But I arrived late, and others came from different towers too, so I thought I'd do more."
If it had been the Blue Dragon Tower, they would never have shown such kindness, but the priests of the Phoenix Tower deserved it.
However, Priest Siana shook her head firmly.
"There's a problem."
"What is it?"
"This is supposed to be your prayer time, but you're missing it because of this work."
"Oh... I see."
"Now it's my turn... Did the White Tiger Tower students force you to come out and work with them?"
"Wh-what...!"
"No way!"
The White Tiger Tower students were indignant at the absurd misunderstanding.
If anything, Lee Han had dragged them out—not the other way around.
They were so wronged they could barely speak.
"But there aren't many reasons to keep coming out for unnecessary work... And earlier, it seemed like you were pressuring him about fixing the golems..."
"It wasn't pressure, it was a request!"
"Yes... Many people say that."
Priest Siana spoke as if she didn't believe a word of it.
The White Tiger Tower students couldn't fathom why they were being suspected like this.
If you had to guess who bullied whom between a Wardanaz and White Tiger Tower students, who would it be?
A hundred times out of a hundred, the Wardanaz would be the culprit.
"You know exactly how strong Wardanaz is!"
"But I've heard mages are usually slow at casting, so they often lose to knights."
"...That may be true, but a disadvantage like that means nothing to Wardanaz! If he wanted, he could ambush you first!"
"Lord Wardanaz would never do that. He's far too polite."
"......"
"......"
Not only the White Tiger Tower students, but even Lee Han felt a little awkward.
Who knew the compliments he gave them regularly would come back like this?
The surprising part was that the other priests seemed to agree.
"That's right. Lord Wardanaz would never resort to ambushes."
"No... I do, actually."
"Ah, you're just lying out of consideration for the White Tiger Tower students' feelings, aren't you?"
"No, I really do—"
Lee Han tried his best to explain kindly.
"Seriously, they didn't coerce me—I came out to help. The golem thing was their request."
"Yes. Well. If you say so..."
Lee Han realized explaining further wouldn't help.
He could hear the murmurs of other priests working nearby.
—Did the White Tiger Tower students forcibly drag out Lord Wardanaz's Lee Han?
—Hmm... I don't want to jump to conclusions, but judging by their attitude...
"...Hey. Wardanaz. Go take a break."
"But I was the one who called you all here. It'd be unfair if only I rested."
"Now's not the time for that nonsense!"
The White Tiger Tower students learned one thing.
Being accused of bullying a Wardanaz was bad—but being accused of bullying by a Wardanaz was even more unjust!