Surviving As A Mage In A Magic Academy [EN]: Chapter 776

Ethan felt a little embarrassed that the baby basilisk knew what he was thinking. He quickly started suggesting names, like he was testing them on the little creature.

From grand names like Jormungandr, Ouroboros, and Caduceus, to more common names like Gureongdeong, Gainando, and Siana.

-Hing. I don’t think I like any of them.

“Hmm. Can I just call you Basil until a good name comes to mind?”

Ethan was trying to trick the baby basilisk.

He thought that once he called it Basil, he could keep using the name until it stuck.

-Yes, I like it!

The baby basilisk was intelligent, but no match for Ethan, who was good at tricking people, something he had learned at his school.

Basil, unaware of Ethan’s plan, wagged its tail excitedly.

-When will I see that wicked wizard again?

“?”

Ethan was puzzled by the baby basilisk’s innocent question.

‘Who on earth is it talking about?’

Ethan thought of many people who could have made the baby basilisk scared.

“Who?”

The baby basilisk replied as if wondering why Ethan didn’t know.

-The person who hits Master.

“…So, who?”

Basil made a sad ‘kack kack’ sound, choking on its snack. Ethan felt a little sorry for the small creature. He poured some fresh milk into a small, white bowl.

“You should eat more slowly, Basil,” Ethan said gently.

-Yes? Milk gone? Someone take milk? What if take milk? Basil asked, its big, innocent eyes looking up at Ethan.

Ethan blinked. *’Maybe Basil is smarter than I thought,’* he considered. He had thought Basil was just focused on food, but now it seemed worried about losing it.

Unaware that its master had downgraded its intelligence by several levels, the baby basilisk eagerly lapped up the milk in the bowl, its tiny pink tongue flashing in and out.

“So, who were you talking about?”

Instead of answering, the baby basilisk continued to lick the bowl, even though Ethan could see it had been empty for quite some time.

Ethan took the bowl away. The baby basilisk looked up at Ethan with eyes as if the sky had fallen.

‘I should have eaten faster!’

“You finished it…”

-Left! More milk! Was milk left!

“There wasn’t.”

Even when Ethan showed the bottom of the bowl, the baby basilisk wouldn’t relent.

Only after its eyes welled up with tears and it thumped the desk with its short, green tail several times did the baby basilisk accept that the bowl was empty.

-That scary wizard.

“…Basil, you need to develop the habit of being specific. Let’s start with the species.”

-Vampire.

“Ah. Professor Begreck, then.”

Ethan understood immediately.

Indeed, it was only natural for the baby basilisk to be afraid of Professor Voladi.

After all, he had tried to force its growth to make it fight Ethan…

“You won’t see him today.”

-What about tomorrow?

“Would you like some more milk?”

Ethan subtly dodged the question and refilled the bowl with milk. The baby basilisk cheered and plunged its head back into the bowl.

-Glug, glug… That other scary wizard…

“Eat first, then talk.”

The baby basilisk eagerly lapped away, emptying the bowl once more. Staring intently at the bowl as if regretful, the baby basilisk spoke.

-When will the other scary wizard disappear?

“Who? Wait, when will they disappear? Was it someone who was with us?”

Ethan wondered if it was referring to Professor Rogine.

-The snake beastkin.

“…Oh, why? Priestess Siana isn’t a bad person.”

-N-No! She tried to forcibly extract my venom!

The baby basilisk flailed its body in protest.

It was still scared just thinking about it.

‘Ah, that’s right.’

Come to think of it, Siana had approached the newborn baby basilisk with a large, sharply pointed brass syringe.

It was an alchemist’s tool used to extract liquids by inserting it into plants or animals, but to the newborn basilisk, it must have looked like a torture device.

And indeed, it could be used as a torture device…

“She’s not a bad person. She’s just an alchemist.”

-Are alchemists all scary people?

“Well, in some ways, perhaps a little.”

Ethan, who was giving the baby basilisk a lesson in common sense, suddenly became curious.

Now that he thought about it, there were a few things he hadn’t been able to ask because they couldn’t communicate properly before.

“Basil, do you happen to have any abilities you can use right now?”

-I can swing my tail!

The baby basilisk swung its tail around. Ethan clapped half-heartedly.

“Anything else besides that?”

-Drinking milk?

“…What about the Evil Eye?”

The basilisk’s famous bloodline ability was a magical eye imbued with the curse of petrification.

The deadly poison that drained life with its breath was also well-known, but that unique Evil Eye would be useful in many ways.

-I can use it!

“!”

Ethan looked at the baby basilisk with admiration.

He had thought it was just sucking up mana from his sleeve every day, but it had been developing its abilities in its own way.

“Really?”

-I, I don’t want to use it. I don’t want to use it. It’s hard when I use it…

“I’m not saying you have to use it. Haha. I was just asking. It must be difficult since you haven’t grown up yet.”

Even to Ethan, it didn’t seem like the still-growing baby basilisk would be able to use the Evil Eye often.

It would definitely put a strain on its body.

“What about poison?”

-Just a moment. Eet… Eek.

The baby basilisk groaned and produced a very small amount of poison.

Then, it started crying because it was hungry.

-Waaah. I’m so hungry…

“…Here, have some more snacks.”

Ethan quickly collected a drop of venom in a reagent vial and offered snacks.

Watching the baby basilisk happily wrap the snacks around its body, Ethan asked.

“Come to think of it, is it better to feed you like this? Than mana?”

-I like both!

‘Hmm. I should add >Strong appetite> too.’

Ethan thought that if he were to write the basilisk’s profile when applying for subsidies later, he should add >Strong appetite>.

“Oh, when will you grow up?”

-Eubeubeub?

The baby basilisk, who had been gobbling down food, blinked its eyes.

“You know, getting bigger.”

Glug!

-I think…

“You need to get bigger so you don’t have to cling to my arm and can walk around on your own.”

“I, I don’t get bigger,” a small voice hissed. “I’m a special basilisk that doesn’t grow.”

As Shyles left the lecture hall, he saw Leehan and felt bad.

‘Hmm… should I have learned Basilisk tongue?’

Shyles thought about how Wodanaas had helped him with his magic lessons. He felt ungrateful for not learning any Basilisk words.

Wyvern tongue was useful, but maybe Basilisk tongue would be too.

‘But what would it be useful for?’

“Wodanaas!”

“Oh, Shyles? Just a moment,” Leehan said, hissing into his sleeve.

Shyles looked confused.

“What was that?”

“I told you, I’m not an alchemist. I was talking to the basilisk.”

“You told the basilisk!?” Shyles couldn’t believe it.

Leehan sighed. “Shyles, Basil isn’t dangerous.”

“It’s not that there’s a basilisk that I’m surprised about!”

Leehan’s friends knew he was raising a basilisk. At first, they laughed, “A basilisk? Really, Leehan?” But then they saw the snake and started to wonder. Soon, everyone knew Leehan had a basilisk. They joked, “Next, he’ll have a dragon!”

“Wait. Why did you say you weren’t an alchemist?”

“It’s a long story. Why are you here? I have to go to my next class.”

Shyles felt bad seeing his friend rushing to class without a break.

‘Wait, that’s not what I was going to talk about.’ Shyles asked, “So, you speak Basilisk tongue?”

“Oh. I talk to the basilisk often, and I’ve been practicing music magic, so it’s easier.”

“…So you speak it?”

“Yes, that’s why I spoke.”

“Indeed,” Shyles nodded. His guilty feeling disappeared.

“Hey, Shyles, are you interested in Basilisk tongue? Good. You can learn with Basil…”

“I’m going to learn Wyvern tongue. Goodbye!” Leehan grumbled that Shyles had no manners as his friend walked away.

“Student Wodanaas! I heard you were kidnapped! I’m glad you’re okay!” Professor Zorzic greeted him with his usual energetic voice. His seagull-shaped mustache seemed to be flapping more than usual.

“Hello, Professor Benmalfa. I’m glad you were worried.”

“Yes! I was very worried.”

“Oh, Professor, did you… participate?” Leehan wondered if Professor Zorzic was one of the professors who rescued him. He couldn’t see him, but Professors Garcia and Volardi were a bit crazy, so they might have kidnapped Professor Zorzic too.

“What are you talking about?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“I don’t know what you mean, but I was busy! Student Wodanaas, I wrote a petition to His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Pardon?” Leehan was surprised. Who wrote what to whom?

“I wrote a letter asking that I, Zorzic of the Benmalfa family, become the next headmaster because of your kidnapping.”

Leehan looked annoyed. Using his student’s tragedy to get ahead!

‘I don’t like this professor anymore.’

Professor Zorzic, too focused on his ambition, didn’t realize his student felt the same way about him as he did about Professor Verdus. He muttered, “But the Death Knights took it… that’s too bad. How can I send a petition while they’re watching?”

“Please tell me if you find a way, Professor.”

“Haha! Don’t worry. As headmaster – and I will be! – I must help the future professors! Shall we start the lecture? Come in, Student Wodanaas!”

“Yes.” Leehan followed the professor into the Elemental Room, a large room filled with the power of magic. Then, he felt something was wrong and stopped.

“What did you just say…”

Rumble!

“Aargh! The water element is going crazy!”

“Get out of the way!”

Water roared out from the waterfalls, spraying everywhere and sounding like thunder. Leehan quickly waved his wand, shouting a spell to control the water. Blue light flashed from his wand.

Water magic is easiest for me, so I’m confident even if another student made a mistake.

“Excellent! Wodanaas!”

“The lightning barrier has broken! Everyone be careful!”

‘Why is it like this today?’ The Elemental Room was a place where elemental energy flowed strongly, so students often made mistakes, but today was too unlucky.

Leehan ran around with his seniors, trying to fix the lightning element.

“Huff… huff. Thank you, Senior Wodanaas.”

“Yes?”

“Oh, right. You’re a sophomore. Haha.”

Leehan had forgotten what Professor Zorzic said earlier because he had been running around so much.

Professor Zorzic, watching the students fix things, waved his wand to clean up and told them to practice again.

“Now, Student Wodanaas! How did you do that fire magic on yourself last time?”

“I don’t know, I was kidnapped after that.”

“Indeed! That’s okay. It can be done again!” Professor Zorzic shouted. Teaching an excellent student was a small thing.

Ardenarte looked terrified at the thought of setting fire again.

“But first, cast fire magic a few times. I want to see the difference!”

“Yes.” Leehan cast the fire shield he had practiced while being attacked by a crazy fifth-year senior.

Professor Zorzic was puzzled by the smooth and controlled magic.

“No? It’s much better!”

“That’s because I only practiced this.”

“Then try other spells!”

Leehan cast a few low-level fire spells. He paused, seeing the fire magic was more stable than usual.

‘…Huh?’

“It seems like you’ve solved the problem?”

“…I think so.”

“Hmm! Interesting. I wonder why…” Professor Zorzic wrote down ‘Always on fire?’ ‘Kidnapped by the avatar of an ancient wizard?’ and became interested.

Which of these was the cause?