Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#23 Who is the Culprit?

Raceline’s outburst subsided after a time.

Enoch, having staved off Raceline’s constant lunges towards his back, settled down on a nearby bench.

“So, what is all this about, so abruptly? Calling on me without so much as a word.”

“Insolent junior. Must I seek your permission to appear?”

“A simple message beforehand wouldn’t have been amiss, would it? Had I known, I might have prepared myself. At the very least, we wouldn’t be reduced to nursing canned coffee in this sorry state while we talked.”

Enoch shook the 1200-Crow can of coffee, voicing his displeasure.

Unable to offer a retort, Raceline merely nodded.

“Well, that much is true. Forgive me, junior. This senior was lacking in tact. When I was so pointedly left out of the loop, I should have had the sense to simply absent myself. I should have just remained secluded in my tower, headbutting the walls.”

“Enough. Cease your needling and get to the point. Surely you didn’t seek me out for *that* reason.”

“…You are quick on the uptake. I was hoping to tease you a bit more. Truly a dull fellow. You ought to spend your time with Vergo.”

Raceline pouted and grumbled.

The newly arrived junior was far too perceptive to be any fun to toy with.

“The truth is, I came to find you because I have something to tell you.”

“Something to tell me?”

“Yes. There have been quite a few individuals discussing you of late. You’ve been causing a great deal of trouble here and there, haven’t you?”

Raceline smirked as she took a sip of her coffee.

Her words implied she had been eavesdropping.

The method, as mentioned earlier, was likely thanks to her magic.

The Master of the Earth Tower can lend an ear to anywhere where the ground lies, should she so desire.

Presumably, it was through such means that the Magician’s Guild became aware of Enoch’s combat.

Enoch shifted in his seat, focusing on the tale.

“Who are they? These voices whispering behind my back.”

“Well, let’s exclude the Imperial Family for now. You, didn’t you have a run-in with the Separatists last time? They were talking about you. Seems they plan on paying you another visit soon.”

“What were they saying?”

“That I don’t know exactly. I just happened to overhear it while wandering about.”

Raseline shrugged.

Enoch considered this, tilting his head.

“Understood. But even then, aren’t they just a flashy, superficial rebellion? I don’t think I need to be particularly wary of them.”

“Just in case. Those guys are out of their minds to begin with. Even if you’re safe, your surroundings could become dangerous, you know?”

Raseline’s words were not wrong.

The Separatists were a force trying to cleave the nation in two, even as monstrous creatures invaded.

No sane person would even conceive of such a notion.

In other words, one couldn’t operate within the bounds of common sense.

“Understood. I’ll be wary in my own way. But, were they the only ones talking about me?”

“No. There’s more. The other one is the D’Imayra Corporation.”

“D’Imayra? They were talking about me?”

“Aye. Specifically, the company owner, the Golden Magician, Orban Barkus. He’s investigating you. I heard you rubbed him the wrong way.”

The Golden Magician. 『Orban Barkus』.

He was the CEO and founder of D’Imayra, which practically monopolized the medical market, and a magician to boot.

Enoch knew his grade was Essence-class.

However, the original work subtly implied that he might have reached Catastrophe-class.

‘The Golden Magician, huh. This I can understand. It’s likely because of Clarena, Doctor Felton’s disciple.’

Enoch had decided to make a substantial investment in Clarena, Felton’s disciple.

Of course, no money had actually changed hands yet.

But Clarena’s attitude toward D’Imayra must have shifted.

Now that Enoch had appeared, she no longer had to be dragged around according to their whims.

Presumably, that was where it started, eventually leading to the acquisition of information about Enoch himself.

“The Separatists and D’Imayra. Already some impressive names. Surely there’s more?”

“There is more, of course. But you can skip the rest for now. At most, they only hold suspicions. Nothing is certain yet.”

“I see. Thank you for now. I’ll keep in mind what you’ve told me today.”

“Save your thanks. I just happened to overhear it and thought I’d pass it along.”

With that, Raceline dusted off his knees and stood.

His business concluded, he was about to take his leave.

“Are you leaving already? Now that you’re here, why not stay for a meal?”

“No need. Your cooking doesn’t quite agree with me. Come visit the Great Magic Tower sometime. I’ll take you to a good place.”

It seemed futile to try and detain him.

Enoch conceded without much reluctance.

“Understood. Please, have a safe journey back. And a pleasant day.”

“Don’t you go ordering me about.”

“…”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Just as he was about to depart, Raceline seemed to recall something and turned back to look at Enoch.

“Hey, junior.”

“Yes?”

“Did you perhaps happen to pilfer some gold from that Golden fellow’s vault?”

“Pardon?”

Enoch tilted his head.

Rifling through the vault of Orban, the Golden Magician?

It was an absurd suggestion.

“Vault? I’m afraid I don’t quite understand.”

“Really? Because that Golden fellow seems to suspect you. Says you suddenly appeared and started throwing money around like it was nothing. Even spouting nonsense about spending some trillion Crona.”

“…Perhaps, has the Golden Magician recently encountered some issue regarding his finances?”

“Indeed. I heard two of his vaults were emptied. Even one vault would be worth at least the entire imperial defense budget, they say. Obvious rubbish, isn’t it?”

Raceline chuckled softly.

Enoch, on the other hand, flinched upon hearing this.

He had a slight inkling of what might be happening.

‘Could it be, all the money the status window has been providing…’

Enoch hadn’t robbed any vault belonging to Orban.

All the wealth he possessed had been provided by the status window.

But then, where on earth does the status window even *get* this money?

And where, for that matter, did the money in Orban’s vault disappear to?

‘A truly thorny conundrum. This matter is best left buried, I think.’

Enoch forcefully halted the train of thought.

There are times when keeping one’s mouth shut is wiser than opening it, and this was precisely one such time.

“Anyway, you’ve got to hand it to Orban for his bluster. The idea of a single vault holding that much money is just preposterous, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. I suspected as much when it was given such a grandiose name as ‘Golden’. 100 trillion Croar. Someone with lies practically woven into their being is bound to be different.”

“Hm? Did I happen to mention 100 trillion Croar?”

“I must be going now. Until next time, perhaps.”

Enoch spun around with surprising speed.

He needed to flee.

From all the truths in this world.

“What’s with him?”

Rascelin, who remained behind, tilted his head in puzzlement.

He seemed about to delve into contemplation, but then, deciding it was of no real concern to him, he departed.

The case of the robbed vault faded into oblivion.

Far off in the distance, the Golden Magician wept mournfully.

@

For several days, a peaceful routine unfolded.

Enoch trained Lacrima, occasionally strolled through the city, and sometimes took leisurely drives, enjoying the unhurried rhythm of his days.

Some time later, as winter approached.

An official letter arrived from the Academy.

‘Seems the time has finally come, does it?’

The sender of the letter was Baltro Ulrigan, the Academy’s Chairman.

Inside, written in a respectful hand, it stated that preparations for Lacrima’s enrollment were complete.

‘This works out nicely. I was wasting time without purpose anyway.’

Enoch quickly skimmed the letter, then folded it.

He had, after all, taught her almost everything he could.

Since contact had been made, Enoch decided to depart immediately.

“Nothing forgotten, I hope?”

“Yes!”

Lacrimosa declared, slinging her bag over her shoulder with a newfound confidence.

Laughter came to her more readily these days.

One could say she had become more honest with her own feelings, for better or worse.

Unintentional though it may have been, the experience of being temporarily consumed by ice magic seemed to have done her some good.

“Then let’s go.”

Enoch led Lacrimosa to the car and helped her inside.

He then inserted the key and turned the ignition.

The engine sputtered and whined, the sound echoing in the quiet air.

At that instant –

-Tick

“…Hm?”

The car they were in exploded without warning.

-KWA-THOOM!!!

-Thud!

-Cough! Cough, cough, cough!

“…S-Sir! Sir, are you alright?!”

Lacrimosa called out to Enoch, hacking with each word.

The moment the flames erupted, she had swiftly cast an ice barrier to protect their immediate surroundings.

But even that was not perfect.

Her skills, after all, were still somewhat raw.

Despite Lacrimosa’s efforts, the force of the explosion radiated outwards.

“Sir!”

Lacrimosa struggled to rise amidst the fire.

Her appearance was already a mess.

The meticulously styled hair, the neat outfit she had prepared for this very day.

Now, they were all singed and covered in soot.

Even so, Lacrimosa gathered herself and pushed towards the heart of the blaze, searching for her mentor.

Such trifling matters as clothing were meaningless; it was Enoch she needed to find.

-Whoosh

“…”

From atop the wrecked car, a searing inferno ceaselessly roared.

Lacrima faced the flames, holding her breath.

“…Alright.”

The hesitation lasted but a moment.

Lacrima prepared to leap, covering her entire body in a freezing enchantment.

But then, from within the blaze, someone slowly walked towards her.

-Thud. Thud.

“…S-Sensei?”

It was Enoch, no less.

He was, for some unfathomable reason, completely unscathed.

Not even a smudge, let alone a wound.

He was walking right through the raging fire, perfectly fine.

“Sensei? A-Are you alright?”

“…”

No answer came.

Instead of a reply, Enoch turned his head, glaring into the blaze.

More precisely, he was staring at his own car, sprawled beneath the flames.

-Crunch.

“…Those b*stards. Dare to target my car?”

“…Sensei?”

“Something I waited a whole three months to receive…”

-Crrruck.

Enoch gritted his teeth.

Lacrima, witnessing this, involuntarily held her breath.

A frightening face she’d never seen before.

It was the first time Lacrima had ever witnessed Enoch’s fury.