Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 775

‘Oh, dear.’

Lee Han saw something move in his sleeve. It was the Basilisk’s tail, and it was shaking. Only then did Lee Han remember: the Basilisk was inside his sleeve.

He had forgotten because it was always coiled around his arm like a bracelet.

‘I made a mistake. I should have been more careful with my words.’

Wizards have a rule: always be careful what you say, especially around monsters.

Even in the old tales of the Empire, there was a story of a wizard who commanded yellow and black devils. He made the mistake of muttering, ‘The yellow devil does a better job!’ and was attacked by the enraged black devil. Powerful monsters were also highly intelligent.

Lee Han thought, ‘To learn Basilisk language, which is for a very smart monster, I should learn easier monster languages first.’

There’s no need to worry about that.

Oriphielas, the demon who had been working for 132 years due to a deceitful contract, appeared and advised, as ever the Imperial Legal Officer.

Basilisk language is certainly one of the most difficult, but it’s an isolated language, so learning other monster languages first won’t make it any easier. If you need to, it’s better to just practice Basilisk language.

“……”

Lee Han looked around.

His friends were naturally trying to learn the relatively easy and useful monster languages from the list.

“Moradi, it would be easier to learn a wolf-related language, right?”

“It probably would be. The languages of those monsters are quite similar.”

“Priest Tizling, would nightjar-related languages be better, or cuckoo-related languages?”

“The bird-type monsters found near Einroguard seem to have more cuckoo blood, so that would be better, I think…”

Once you learned the wolf language, it was useful when dealing with wolf-type monsters, and although there were many types of birds, learning just a few of the most common ones was very useful.

“I want to do something difficult.”

“!”

Lee Han was delighted by Shiles’ words.

As expected of the second seat of the Black Turtle Tower, he had excellent intellect and a spirit of challenge.

“Shiles, how about Basilisk language?”

“That’s a bit…”

Shiles shook his head, his face serious. “That’s a bit much,” he muttered.

He said he wanted to do something a bit difficult, but he didn’t want to throw himself into the hellish fire pit like Wodanaz to gain knowledge.

“Hmm. I should try Wyvern language. It will be helpful when I graduate later.”

“Good thinking, Richmond.”

“Isn’t Basilisk language better? It’s rare.”

Lee Han persisted, but Shiles ignored him as if he hadn’t heard.

As he was from the Imperial Carriage Guild family, it was necessary to handle monsters like Wyverns, which were often used in the transportation industry.

Moreover, Wyvern language was also helpful when learning other snake-type monster languages or similar dragon-type monster languages.

There was no need to learn Basilisk language when he had this.

When even Shiles coldly refused, Lee Han became slightly dejected and read the Basilisk language description again.

‘Hmm. Does Basilisk language have no advantages?’

“Even though it’s an isolated language, there must be some monsters among the snake-type monsters that use something similar to Basilisk language…”

“No, there aren’t, Wodanaz.”

Siana explained with a confident voice, as expected of a snake beastkin.

Tracing back the blood of the Basilisk, it was so mixed with various animals that it was very different from the language used by snake-type monsters.

“…Thank you, Priest Siana.”

“Hehe. You’re welcome.”

Siana turned her head, feeling proud that she had helped her friend.

Of course, Siana herself was planning to learn cuckoo language, not Basilisk language.

Lee Han sighed lightly and read the list of recommended languages he had received once more.

Basilisk Language
Griffin Language
Frost Giant Language
Demon Language (Domain of Pride) – Especially recommended by Oriphielas!

The list of recommended languages that Yoner next to him received was as follows.

Owl Language, Nightjar Language, Waterbird Language
Flame Spirit Language (Domain of Concrete Spirits)
Cat Language
Pegasus Language – High Difficulty. Caution!

‘…Isn’t this bullying?’

Lee Han felt a new sense of difference and shuddered.

When he looked at the professor and the legal officer, they didn’t notice anything strange and looked puzzled as if asking why.

“Why is student Lee Han acting like that?”

I think I know the reason. He must be struggling between Basilisk language and the language of demons. I guaranteed it. He’ll definitely like it.

“Kuh. I have no choice but to admit it.”

Professor Rogine was upset, but she had no choice but to admit that the demon was right.

To think he would really be struggling because he wanted to learn demon language!

“Grrrk grrrk. Grrrr grrrk!” Lee Han tried, his throat feeling strange.

From across the room, Yoner chirped, “Kiek! Kieeek! Kieeek!” sounding like a bird caught in a drainpipe.

Even Shiles, usually so calm, made a noise that was like a small, irritated animal: “Kkit-kkit?”

The lecture hall turned into a chaotic zoo. Growls, chirps, and hisses bounced off the stone walls, making Professor Rogine smile. Oriphielas, beside her, nodded in satisfaction.

A groan came from the back. “Ugh,” someone sighed loudly. “I wish there was a spell for this!”

“Me too,” another voice mumbled, and soon, tired whispers of agreement spread through the room.

This was also within expectations, so they still watched with pleased expressions.

Young wizards always said such things when faced with difficulties.

-Ugh. Why do I have to learn geometry? Why… why do I have to learn these laws? Can’t I just use magic to solve it?

-Ugh. Why do I have to learn this ancient script? Can’t I just use magic to solve it?

In Einroguard, if an older student said something like that and the headmaster heard them, they would be in big trouble! They’d be sent to detention for ‘talking silly nonsense.’

Magic was not a convenient discipline that allowed one to learn what they didn’t know or master what they couldn’t do with just one spell.

“Sss, sss, sss, sss?”

The baby Basilisk was waiting for Lee Han’s learning with a tail wagging full of anticipation.

‘Damn it. It’s terribly difficult.’

He thought he wasn’t that bad in terms of intelligence in Einroguard, but Basilisk language was more difficult than he thought.

When Lee Han groaned and struggled, Oriphielas approached.

Don’t worry too much.

“Oriphielas.”

If it doesn’t work out, practicing demon language might be a good way.

“Oriphielas…”

I’m just kidding. In fact, speaking a monster’s language is close to primitive and simple magic. There’s a very subtle amount of magic power in it. Have you learned incantation magic?

“…Yes?”

I think Gonadaltez said you would learn it soon… or not?

“Haha. The headmaster originally enjoys talking nonsense.”

Lee Han suppressed his anger and laughed it off. The Imperial Legal Officer seemed to think that was the case and moved on.

If you think about the structure of incantation magic, it’s much easier to understand. It’s about speaking with will so that it directly resonates with the other person’s soul. Of course, it’s so simple and low-level that it can’t be called magic, so you have to pronounce the language much more accurately.

Oriphielas thought that wizards like Lee Han didn’t need to struggle unnecessarily.

Oriphielas knew Lee Han had learned about incantation magic from the headmaster. So, with a Basilisk right there, learning the language should be easier for him.

Monster language was basically a very academic field, but fundamentally, it fell into the realm of magic.

‘That’s definitely true.’

Lee Han thought to himself.

It was close to nonsense about incantation magic, but it was somewhat relevant since he was learning music magic.

Where did music magic start from in the first place?

It started from imbuing magic power into phrases.

Of course, monster language was a simple and primitive magic that couldn’t be compared to incantation or even music magic, but the basic principles definitely had something in common.

‘Then it’s advantageous to me.’

Instead of learning alone, I’ll learn by talking directly.

At first, I’ll be very clumsy and rely heavily on magic power, but the more I repeat it, the faster I’ll become proficient, and magic power will become unnecessary.

“Are you awake? Can you help me?”

The Basilisk was excited by Lee Han’s call and tried to stick its head out.

Then Professor Rogine and Oriphielas said coldly.

“Wait, just a moment!”

You should go practice in the next lecture hall. Don’t forget to lock the door.

Even if it was a baby, it would be troublesome to deal with if toxic breath came out while talking or if someone accidentally met its gaze.

“……”

The baby Serpent King and the wizard moved to the next lecture hall, slightly dejected.

“Hello? Hello- Hello? Me, greeting?”

After about 30 minutes of hissing at each other…

“Hello?”

The Basilisk was delighted as if it understood Lee Han’s words for the first time.

At that moment, Lee Han felt like they had communicated for the first time.

‘So this is what it’s like!’

-Master, Master?

“Yes. Nice to meet you.”

-Waaah… What did I do wrong that you hate me?

“……”

Lee Han, who had been speaking in easy words, was taken aback by the sudden words.

Huh?

“I think there’s a slight misunderstanding. I don’t hate you.”

-You said you were going to learn other monster languages earlier…

Lee Han felt his skills improving rapidly.

He could even understand the other party whining and crying in a childish voice.

“…Basilisk language difficult. I not understand.”

-Other monster, language, learn! Basilisk, not like!

The baby Basilisk protested, hitting the desk with its tail.

It wanted to convey its feelings to its master somehow.

“I very like Basilisk. There misunderstanding. Basilisk language difficult.”

The baby Basilisk’s anger subsided slightly as its master repeated the words.

As if unable to win, the Basilisk confidently stated its demands.

-…Then punish the Griffin.

“Griffin?”

At Lee Han’s question, the baby Basilisk nodded and told him what had happened.

This had happened when he was wandering around with Ponryg in the past.

The baby Basilisk, bored of being only in his sleeve, took out one of Ponryg’s feathers and decorated his tail with it, but Ponryg grabbed it with his beak and shook it violently from side to side.

At that time, the baby Basilisk thought he was really going to be eaten.

‘So that’s what happened.’

No wonder Ponryg seemed unusually angry during the camping trip. I had no idea this had happened.

“You not worry. I punish Griffin.”

The baby Basilisk was very happy at Lee Han’s words.

Of course, Lee Han was planning to do nothing after saying this.

In the first place, he didn’t even know Griffin language…

-Then give me a name, too.

“Name?”

-A cool name. Only I don’t have a name.

“Ah.”

Lee Han realized that the other party was talking about Ponryg’s name.

“That’s not a name I gave, and is that name good… name?”

-Master speaks well?

The baby Basilisk tilted its head.

At some point, natural hissing, not stiff and forceful words, was coming out.

“Want snack?”

-Wow, yes!

Lee Han bought time while the baby Basilisk munched on snacks and fell into thought.

‘Was there a name that Basilisks liked in the book?’

If he gave it the wrong name here, it might sulk properly. It was a more important issue than he thought.

‘>Professor Volardy’s Assassination Attempt>, hmm. It’s too long and not good. Something like >King of Snakes> might seem personally arrogant when applying for grants later. Should I just name it like Ponryg?’

The baby Basilisk, who had finished snacking, said in an innocent voice.

-Oh, I don’t like names like Ksursilva.

‘As expected of a powerful monster. High intelligence.’

Lee Han shuddered at the other party’s intelligence.