Chapter 353
Chapter 353
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 353
>Chapter Title: Rules of Conversation
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There’s a common misconception people have when conversing with those who speak different languages.
They think communication fails because of the language barrier.
But that was clearly a mistake.
‘Even speaking the same language doesn’t guarantee communication.’
If it’s like that between people, how much harder must it be with monsters?
Probably impossible.
Even if they used the same language, differences in upbringing and experiences would alter the meanings infused into words. And between monsters and humans, the gaps weren’t just in environment and experience—they differed in everything.
So, what was needed for smooth conversation?
The answer was surprisingly simple.
Rules. Establishing the rules of dialogue.
“Are you sure…… this is okay?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
Aster, who had been organizing his thoughts ahead of his conversation with the black wyvern, tilted his head at Ahnar’s question.
Ahnar took in Aster and his surroundings with a face laced with worry.
“For starters, you’ve bound it like we discussed.”
“Yes, I can see that.”
Aster gazed at the massive block of ice that had swallowed the black wyvern. A gigantic rectangular prism, dozens of meters in width, length, and height.
The black wyvern’s head protruded awkwardly from that ice mass—a binding even it couldn’t easily escape.
But Ahnar couldn’t relax.
‘Just in case…….’
What if that monster broke free?
What catastrophe would unfold then?
Of course, it was an absurd hypothetical.
He would be watching with both eyes wide open, and a transcendent mage was present here as well.
Yet all disasters stemmed from complacency, and Ahnar had witnessed several born from it.
That was why he couldn’t let his guard down.
Ahnar explained these concerns to Aster, who nodded in full agreement.
“It is pretty dangerous, yeah.”
Honestly, the risks of letting the black wyvern live far outweighed any uncertain benefits.
The gains from sparing it were speculative, while the dangers of release were all too real.
But.
‘……Something still feels off.’
Truth be told, Aster wasn’t attempting this out of greed.
He had something to confirm.
If the black wyvern was a naturally occurring species…… how many more like it lurked in the Arapurkin Mountains? Was there some core like the ancient species-infested heart of the Hamern Great Forest hidden here too?
If it wasn’t natural……
‘Then someone created it artificially.’
Either way, he needed confirmation to settle his unease.
The former could derail the Arapurkin Mountains development project; the latter would not only derail it but likely entangle them with the Jinma Temple.
Still, he fully empathized with Ahnar’s worries.
That’s why they’d set the ‘rules of conversation.’
Even if the black wyvern somehow escaped, these would prevent fallout.
You never know, though.
“If it seems dangerous, Senior, feel free to handle it. Anytime during the talk.”
“Hmm, got it. If you’re that insistent.”
With insurance in place, Aster turned his eyes to the black wyvern, which had its eyes closed.
Well then……
Time to begin the conversation.
Thwack!
Kieeeek……!
Aster slammed his fist into the black wyvern’s snout, then stared at the dazed creature blinking groggily.
“‘Humans are great.’ Do you acknowledge that?”
The first rule of conversation.
Mutual respect.
Even if the black wyvern tried to flee, mutual respect would prevent disaster.
That was the idea.
[Wh-what…….]
But those feral eyes suggested it wouldn’t be easy.
Try again.
Smack!
Kieeeek!
Aster struck its snout once more and asked again.
“‘Humans are great.’ Do you acknowledge that?”
No conversation without mutual respect.
Here and now, it had to concede.
That humans were great and deserving of respect.
* * *
Beyond mutual respect, there were a few more rules.
From Aster’s perspective, these were utterly basic, but from the ‘King’s’ view, they were pure torment.
Take the second rule, for example.
The second rule.
Truthfulness.
“King? Your name is King? How can a wyvern be named King?”
Kieek!
Every answer earned a fist to the face.
Each time, King could only let out a pathetic screech like an immature wyvern, and it was then that King first grasped the emotion of ‘injustice.’
He was telling nothing but the truth—why the beatings?
Answer and get hit, stay silent and get hit.
Rebellion?
Futile.
Its sturdy body was locked in frigid ice, and for some reason, the surrounding mana wouldn’t budge.
Screeching might create an opening……
Kieek!
But a fist flew every time.
In this helpless situation, King’s only option was to ‘answer.’
Even the fiercest monster would be cowed.
But the real madness came with the third rule.
The third rule.
Trust.
“Trust means firm belief and reliance. And ‘relying’ implies a state where one can sometimes receive aid based on that mindset. But…… you don’t look trustworthy at all. Can I trust you? No?”
What was trust? What was reliance?
King hailed from a world of survival of the fittest.
Eat or be eaten.
For a ‘King’ who had even viewed kin as food rivals, these were incomprehensible concepts—and honestly, its understanding didn’t matter.
Why?
Because to Aster, ‘understanding’ came not from the head, but the body.
Thud! Thwack!
The beatings continued, as expected.
Kieek!
King’s mind reeled.
Was this what humans called ‘conversation’?
Respect meant valuing and cherishing the other— was this how humans showed respect!
Was truthfulness verifiable only through violence!
As the dialogue dragged on, King discovered new emotions one by one.
Humiliation, shame, disgrace, embarrassment, and more……
But regardless of King’s anguish, Aster derived no small satisfaction from the exchange.
Despite its uncooperative attitude, he was extracting needed info bit by bit.
So, what had he learned?
First.
‘No one taught it magic?’
Born an ordinary wyvern, ‘King’ had one day obtained a red gem and been reborn special.
Its abnormally massive, tough body and high intelligence all stemmed from that gem’s power—as did its magic, awakened by the gem.
This resolved one question naturally.
‘There’s only this one of its kind.’
No ties to the Jinma Temple, either.
Second.
‘……The mechanism for its magic is similar to Dragon Tongue.’
Dragon Tongue was the power to infuse intent into mana via will alone, manifesting spells without need for proficiency or image construction. ‘King’s’ magic activation matched this exactly.
But that didn’t make ‘King’ a dragon……
‘……No, not quite.’
How to put it?
Dragon Tongue defined dragons most crucially, yet ‘King’ fell just short somehow.
But more vital than those two was the third……
[…]
Aster took in ‘King,’ who gazed at him with head limply bowed, utterly spent.
Despite the brutal beating, those eyes burned fierce.
“No respect?”
[Respect…… doesn’t mean submission or obedience.]
“Where’d you hear about submission and obedience?”
[…]
King glared silently instead of answering.
The third piece of info Aster gleaned was this.
‘……Won’t be easy to manipulate.’
He’d thought breaking its spirit a bit would make it pliable, but ‘King’s’ defiance remained unbroken.
Of course, a ‘deeper conversation’ might……
‘……Hm.’
Truth be told, he couldn’t be so sure.
Aster prided himself on cracking anyone with enough ‘deep conversation,’ but there were always exceptions.
And ‘King’s’ gaze was that rare ‘exception’ variety.
[I acknowledge.]
Aster snapped from his thoughts and looked at King.
“Acknowledge what?”
[Humans are great. Worthy of respect. ‘King’ saw humans as food. But I acknowledge that’s wrong.]
“Hm. Keep going.”
[You told ‘King’ to show respect. And ‘King’ respects humans. So you respect ‘King’ too.]
“That means…….”
[Freedom. If you respect ‘King,’ return my freedom.]
“……Hah.”
Aster burst out laughing in disbelief.
And why not? Everything ‘King’ said was spot-on.
What’s more?
Despite its clumsy speech, ‘King’ even possessed negotiation skills.
[If you free ‘King,’ I’ll help you. ‘King’ knows. Humans struggle to climb mountains. But ‘King’ can protect you. If you trust ‘King,’ accept this aid.]
It knew what humans near the Arapurkin Mountains wanted and inferred Aster’s desires to offer them.
Even weaving in Aster’s own words to bolster its case.
“Hmm.”
Ahnar could only swallow a groan at the sight.
A non-human speaking human tongue was eerie enough, but surpassing most humans in intellect to negotiate?
Logic aside, it instinctively repulsed any human.
Moreover……
‘……Dangerous. Way too dangerous.’
A pure impression, untainted by revulsion.
Perhaps that’s why?
Killing intent bubbled up naturally.
“Senior.”
“……Speak.”
Ahnar suppressed his bloodlust at Aster’s call and shifted his gaze.
You’re really keeping that alive? his eyes seemed to ask.
Aster shook his head at the look and eyed King.
One last thing to check.
……Respect, trust.
Fine.
But was it sincere?
Confirmation was simple.
“Just one question.”
[Fine.]
Aster fixed ‘King’ with clear eyes.
One doubt had deepened with every exchange.
“What were you after earlier?”
[……Earlier?]
“A smart guy like you—what were you aiming for with those mad eyes? Doesn’t look like plain hunger.”
If it were just somewhat clever, he’d buy ‘Ah, must’ve been starving and targeted the camp.’ But ‘King’ was beyond that.
It had grasped its own presence clearly, concealed its aura, and shown calculated patience in reading the flow.
Yet such a creature had charged the development site recklessly?
Absurd.
“Now, answer.”
Time to test the truth.