Episode 775
Episode 775
'Oops.'
Only when Lee Han saw the tail sticking out from his sleeve trembling sadly did he realize the basilisk had been inside.
He'd forgotten because it usually coiled around his wrist as naturally as a bracelet.
'Mistake. I should've been more careful with my words.'
After all, wizards were supposed to be careful with their words even in front of monsters.
Even in old Imperial fairy tales, there was a story about a wizard who carelessly muttered "The yellow demon works better!" while commanding both yellow and black demons, only to be attacked by the enraged black demon. Powerful monsters tended to have high intelligence too.
"...Um, I was just thinking that to understand the language of highly intelligent monsters like basilisks, wouldn't it be better to first learn relatively easier monster languages?"
No need to worry about that.
Oripulas, the demon who'd been tricked into a contract and was now in his 132nd year of service as an Imperial Legal Officer, suddenly appeared to offer advice.
Basilisk language was indeed notoriously difficult, but since it's an isolate language, learning other monster languages first wouldn't make it any easier. If needed, it's better to just practice Basilisk directly.
"......"
Lee Han looked around.
His friends were naturally trying to learn relatively easy and useful monster languages from the list.
"Moradi. Wouldn't learning wolf-type languages be more convenient?"
"Probably. The languages of monsters in that category are quite similar."
"Priestess Dijiling, should I learn cuckoo-type or nightingale-type?"
"Considering the bird-type monsters commonly found near Einrogard, the cuckoo lineage seems more prevalent, so that would be better..."
Wolf-type languages were useful against wolf-type monsters once learned, and while there were many bird varieties, mastering just a few common species was very practical.
"I want to try something more challenging."
"!"
Lee Han brightened at Shyles' words.
Truly befitting the second-ranked student of the Black Turtle Tower, he possessed outstanding intellect and a spirit of challenge.
"Shyles. How about Basilisk language?"
"That's a bit..."
Shyles turned serious and refused.
He wanted something challenging, but he didn't want to throw himself into the fiery pits of hell like Wardanaz to gain knowledge.
"Hmm. I think I'll try Wyvern language. It'll be helpful after graduation."
"Good idea, Richmond."
"Wouldn't Basilisk be better? It's rarer."
Though Lee Han clung stubbornly, Shyles pretended not to hear and ignored him.
Coming from an Imperial carriage guild family, it was necessary to handle transport monsters like wyverns well.
Moreover, Wyvern language was helpful when learning other serpent-type or pseudo-dragon-type monster languages.
There was no need to learn Basilisk when this existed.
Even Shyles coldly refused, making Lee Han slightly sulky as he reread the Basilisk language description.
'Hmm. Are there no advantages to Basilisk language?'
"Even if it's an isolate language, among serpent-type monsters, there must be at least some that use something similar to Basilisk..."
"There aren't, Lord Wardanaz."
True to her snake beastkin nature, Siana explained confidently.
Given how many different animals were mixed in basilisk ancestry, their language differed greatly from typical serpent-type monster speech.
"...Thank you, Priestess Siana."
"Hehe. No problem."
Siana turned her head, pleased to have helped her friend.
Of course, Siana herself planned to learn cuckoo language, not Basilisk.
Lee Han sighed lightly and reread his recommended language list once more.
Basilisk language
Griffin language
Frost Giant language
Demon language (Pride Duke's domain)
"-Oripulas especially recommends it!..."
The recommended language list Yoner received was as follows:
Owl Language, Cuckoo Language, Waterfowl Language
Flame Spirit Language (Domain of Concrete Spirits)
Cat Language
Pegasus Language
-High difficulty. Caution!...
'...Isn't this just bullying?' Lee Han shuddered as he suddenly recognized the disparity.
When he glanced at the professor and the legal officer, neither noticed anything amiss and instead looked puzzled, as if wondering why he was reacting that way.
"Why is Lee Han acting like that?"
"I think I know the reason. He must be agonizing over whether to choose Basilisk Language or the language of demons. Didn't I guarantee it? He'd clearly love it."
"Ugh. I have no choice but to admit it."
Though resentful, Professor Rosine had no choice but to concede that the demon was right.
Who would've thought he'd actually agonize over wanting to learn demonic language?!
* * *
"Krrrkrrk. Krrrrlrrrl."
"Keeek. Keeeeek. Keeeeek."
"Kik— —Kik?"
For a while, the classroom became as noisy as a beast's den.
Professor Rosine and Oripulas watched the scene with satisfied expressions.
"Ugh... I just want to learn it with a single spell..."
"M-me too."
Exhausted murmurs escaped from students here and there.
Since this was also within expectations, the two continued watching with the same pleased expressions.
Young mages always said things like that when faced with difficulties.
-Ugh. Why on earth do I have to learn geometry? W-why do I have to memorize these laws? Can't I just cover it up with magic?
-Ugh. Why do I have to learn this ancient script? Can't I just cover it up with magic?
For reference, if an upperclassman at Einrogard got caught saying such things in front of the Skeleton Principal, they'd be dragged to the Punishment Room for the 'crime of spouting low-level nonsense.' That's how foolish the question was.
Magic was not a convenient discipline where a single spell could teach you what you didn't know or master what you couldn't do.
"Shh, shiit, shiiit, shiit?"
—......
The baby basilisk waited eagerly, its tail wagging in anticipation of Lee Han's learning progress.
'Damn. It's ridiculously hard.'
He had thought his intelligence wasn't that far behind by Einrogard's standards, but Basilisk Language was trickier than expected.
As Lee Han groaned in frustration, Oripulas approached.
Don't overthink it.
"Lord Oripulas..."
If it's really not working, practicing demonic language could be a good alternative.
"Lord Oripulas..."
Just joking. In truth, speaking a monster's language is closer to a primitive, simple form of magic. There's a very faint but detectable mana emission. Have you studied Word Magic?
"...Huh?"
I believe Lord Gonadaltes mentioned you'd learn it soon... Or did I mishear?
"Haha. The Headmaster does love spouting nonsense, after all."
Lee Han suppressed his anger and forced a laugh. The Imperial Legal Officer let it slide, assuming it was just how things were.
If you consider the structure of Word Magic, it'll be much easier to understand. You're essentially imbuing your will into words to resonate directly with the target's soul. Of course, it's so simple and crude that it barely qualifies as magic, so you'll have to pronounce the language much more precisely.
Oripulas believed a mage like Lee Han didn't need to struggle pointlessly.
He had already heard about Word Magic from the Skeleton Principal, so he must have some understanding of it. And with a basilisk right in front of him...
Wouldn't it be much faster to learn by conversing directly with the basilisk?
While monster language was fundamentally a highly academic field, at its core, it still fell within the domain of magic.
'That's definitely true.'
Lee Han thought to himself.
Though what he'd heard about Word Magic was close to nonsense, having studied Music Magic gave him some context.
After all, where did Music Magic begin?
With imbuing mana into musical phrases.
Of course, monster language was a simple and primitive form of magic, incomparable to both verbal magic and music magic, but the fundamental principles certainly had some overlap.
'Then this works in my favor.'
Rather than learning alone, practicing through direct conversation would be better.
At first, he would rely heavily on magic due to his clumsiness, but with repetition, he would quickly become proficient, and the need for magic would fade.
"Are you awake? Can you help me?"
—!
The basilisk perked up at Lee Han's call, eagerly trying to poke its head out.
But Professor Rosine and Oripulas spoke up coldly.
"Wait, hold on a moment!"
You should go practice in the next classroom over. And don't forget to lock the door.
Even if it's just a baby, if it accidentally exhales toxic breath or misaligns its gaze while talking, it'll be a hassle to deal with.
"......"
—......
The young Snake King and the mage sulked slightly as they moved to the adjacent classroom.
"Hello? Hello?"
— "Hello? Me, greet?"
They spent about thirty minutes hissing back and forth.
"Hello?"
—!
At Lee Han's words, the basilisk finally seemed to understand and perked up happily.
For the first time, Lee Han felt the thrill of communication.
'So this is how it feels!'
— Master... Master?
"Yes. Nice to meet you."
— Eeeng... What did I do wrong for you to dislike me?
"......"
Lee Han, who had been using simple words, was taken aback by the sudden accusation.
Huh?
"There seems to be a slight misunderstanding. I don't dislike you."
— Earlier, you said you wanted to learn other monster languages too...
Lee Han could feel his skills improving rapidly.
He could even understand the whiny, tearful complaints in the creature's childish voice.
"...Basilisk language is hard. I didn't understand."
— Other monster, words, learn! Basilisk, not like!
The baby basilisk thumped its tail against the desk in protest.
It desperately wanted to get its point across to its master.
"I like basilisk very much. Misunderstanding. Basilisk words hard."
As the master repeated himself, the baby basilisk's anger subsided slightly.
Defeated, the basilisk proudly stated its demand.
—...
Then scold the griffin.
"The griffin?"
At Lee Han's question, the baby basilisk nodded and tattled about what had happened.
There had been an incident back when it was wandering around with Ponlig.
Bored from being stuck in the sleeve, the baby basilisk had come out and plucked one of Ponlig's feathers to decorate its tail. But then Ponlig snapped at it with its beak and shook it violently from side to side.
At the time, the baby basilisk had genuinely thought it was about to be eaten.
'So that's what happened.'
No wonder Ponlig had seemed unusually angry during the camping trip. He hadn't expected something like this.
"Don't worry. I'll scold the griffin."
The baby basilisk was overjoyed at Lee Han's words.
Of course, Lee Han had no intention of actually doing anything.
He didn't even know how to scold a griffin in the first place...
—Then give me a name too.
"A name?"
—A cool one. Only I don't have a name.
"Ah."
Lee Han realized the creature was referring to Ponlig's name.
"That wasn't a name I gave, and is that even a good... name?"
—Master speaks well now?
The baby basilisk tilted its head in confusion.
At some point, the stiff, forced speech had given way to natural hissing.
"Want a snack?"
—Wow, yes!
As the baby basilisk happily munched on the snack, Lee Han bought himself some time to think.
'Was there a name basilisks like in the books?'
If he messed this up, the creature might sulk for real. It was a more important issue than he'd thought.
'<Professor Voladi's Assassination Attempt>... Hmm. Too long and not great. Something like <King of Snakes> might come off as arrogant when applying for funding later. Should I just name it like Ponlig?'
The baby basilisk, having finished its snack, spoke up in an innocent voice.
—Oh, I don't like names like Xthrysilba.
'As expected of a powerful monster. Its intelligence is impressive.'
Lee Han shuddered at the creature's intellect.