Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#31, Guild Master Excluded.

Enoch was momentarily taken aback.

But he quickly grasped the situation.

[Title: Hyung… My Goo-choo feels weird…]

[Attached: a photo of a vaguely-shaped sweet potato.]

Contrary to the spine-chilling title, the content was mundane.

A post one would commonly call clickbait.

But the problem lay elsewhere.

Specifically, the square box hovering beside the post.

[Edit] [Delete]

The author was none other than Sebech himself.

The Master of the Wind Tower, possessed the utterly irrational hobby of posting garbage to online communities via his communicator.

“I’m going to die.”

Meanwhile, Sebek muttered,

“She looks…blank, somehow.”

Her eyes, unfocused, all life drained away.

-Thump, thump-

And then, she began to walk.

As if she might vanish with the wind.

“That won’t do.”

Enoch hurriedly reached out, stopping her.

-Thud-

“…Compose yourself. It’s not *that* serious.”

“Do you really think so?”

“…”

He couldn’t bring himself to say no.

“I’ll die.”

“I said, compose yourself.”

Enoch restrained Sebek, who was struggling.

A brief scuffle ensued.

Jane and Nordila, who had been watching, drew closer.

“What’s wrong? What’s all the commotion?”

“Is there some issue with the comms?”

“Well, you see—”

*Your colleague has been posting strange drivel on the community forum.*

Enoch had been about to say.

But he trailed off.

It was because, just as the social execution was about to begin, Sebek stared at him, like a ghoul.

“Hey.”

“What.”

Sebek swiftly whispered.

-Whisper-

“I know we’re not close yet.”

“…”

“But I believe we can reason. If you let this pass quietly, I’ll grant you a few favors in return. How does that sound?”

“……”

-A nod.

Enoch acquiesced.

Sebeck returned the nod in kind.

With the agreement reached, a result satisfactory to both parties had been found.

It was the greatest achievement of the day.

“What’s up with them?”

“Beats me. I really don’t know.”

@

The party boarded the airship once more.

Sebeck was with them too.

Due to Enoch’s proposition.

‘Regardless, it’s a prime opportunity to build rapport with her.’

An opportunity like this couldn’t simply be passed by.

And conveniently, he could also receive Guildmaster Rosita’s message in person.

Enoch thought as he checked his communicator.

The Guildmaster’s message appeared before him.

-It’s been a while, Enoch. I tried to contact you on your communicator, but you didn’t answer. So, like this…

The message’s contents were simple.

They had barely managed to receive clearance from the Emperor and officials.

A decision would be reached within a week.

After which, an official inauguration ceremony would be held.

‘Rather quick. Did the Guildmaster pull some strings? Or is the Emperor himself just that strapped for time?’

The Empire appears peaceful only on the surface.

But both externally and internally, countless problems have accumulated.

Whether it be the monsters constantly attacking, or the small but present faction of secessionists within the Empire’s high command.

In such a climate, a talent guaranteed by the Guildmaster has appeared.

A Boundary-Class mage, even.

If so, bitter or sweet, it mattered not.

The Emperor, instead of testing the waters with ambiguity, chose to swallow it whole in one gulp.

Enoch and the Empire.

Neither result was unwelcome.

‘He likely still holds no trust for me. Such things can be built up bit by bit, from now on.’

The genre of this world is defense.

Besides fostering units, one must cultivate their territory and develop towers.

In truth, Enoch’s abilities were essentially half-sealed, as of now.

‘To unlock it, I must inevitably cooperate with the Emperor, one day.’

Enoch, thinking no further than that, switched off the communicator.

He returned the device to Sebek, who stood beside him.

“Thank you for the use of it.”

“Aye. So, shall I be off, then?”

“Depart later. Opportunities for conversation such as this will not come often.”

Enoch subtly held him back.

Sebek considered it, then acquiesced.

“Aye. That is not untrue.”

“Thank you. However, there is something I wish to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Why on earth do you participate in the community?”

“……”

Sebek glared at Enoch.

His gaze asked, why bring up that story suddenly?

Enoch felt wronged.

He had truly asked out of simple curiosity.

“I am not being sarcastic. It is merely genuine curiosity.”

“…Alright.”

Sebek sighed.

Then, he continued.

“The reason is nothing special. It’s just… my position is too stifling.”

“Constricting? It’s not as if I’m actually locked away.”

“That’s not what I mean. It’s a problem of the spirit, not the flesh. Suffocating, I suppose you could say.”

“The spirit… so, a feeling of pressure, then.”

Sebeck nodded, as if that were the correct answer.

“Yes. Something like that. Everywhere I go, it’s ‘Oh, esteemed Archmage!’ this, and ‘Esteemed Archmage!’ that. Frankly, it’s too much. Rather burdensome, even. It makes going anywhere for fun a trial.”

“From their perspective, they must be terrified. They likely believe some terrible fate awaits them should they displease the Archmage.”

“That’s precisely what I dislike. They act as if I’m about to devour them whole.”

Sebeck grumbled, picking up his comm device.

“In that regard, the internet is a blessed thing. Everyone wears a mask. No matter what sort of shenanigans I get up to, they simply laugh it off.”

“There is undeniably some truth to that.”

Enoch, inwardly, understood perfectly.

He’d heard similar sentiments frequently enough in the modern world.

And he understood, in a general sense, Sebeck’s circumstances as well.

‘The elemental wind seeks ultimate freedom. It even detests being confined within buildings. He must have been weary all this time.’

*I go where I desire.*

*I do what I desire.*

This, ultimately, is the essence of wind.

Sebeck was a rare case where personality and attribute aligned perfectly.

“I understand. The crux of the matter is ultimately stress relief, then.”

“Precisely. It’s all for that reason.”

“Is that why you wrote such… content?”

“…Rookie. It seems your tongue is rather loose, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I’m not being sarcastic. I was simply asking.”

Enoch trailed off.

Then, he got to the point.

“In any case, I understand your situation, Archmage Sebeck. With that in mind, I have a proposal to make. Would you be willing to hear it?”

“A proposal? What is it?”

“Do you prefer to communicate via voice calls, or text messages, Archmage Sebeck?”

“?”

Sebeck tilted his head, puzzled.

Slightly disconcerted, I answered the question nonetheless.

“Me… truthfully, I prefer messages. Every modern communicator has the function, after all.”

“Yes. I somehow suspected you felt that way, Sebek-nim.”

“…There’s an oddly unpleasant-“

“In that vein, I have a proposition. This goes for the other Magus Lords as well.”

Enoch cut me off, proposing.

Immediately after, he rose from his seat and clapped his hands.

-Clap. Clap.

“…Hm? What is it?”

“Has it arrived already?”

“Not yet. First, might I have everyone’s attention?”

Jane and Nordilla rubbed the sleep from their eyes, rising.

They’d caught a nap during the journey.

Enoch waited for them to fully rouse.

“What’s this about, suddenly getting all serious?”

“Enoch, what is it?”

“Rookie, what are you trying to say?”

The gazes of the three converged.

Enoch met their eyes, speaking softly.

“Let’s, perhaps, create a group chat.”

“”…?””

@

Enoch’s proposition was somewhat out of the blue.

However, it wasn’t exactly a bad idea either.

They were, after all, in the midst of a monster incursion.

How pleasant it would be to keep in touch, to support one another in such times.

To ask after well-being, to share information.

There was no issue with it at all.

‘All that was lacking was a suitable trigger. Neither the Guild Master nor the Magus Lords are the type to bring up such things first.’

Enoch’s prediction hit the mark.

The Archmages weren’t reacting poorly.

Of course, they were taken aback when they first heard the tale.

But before long, the consensus was leaning towards, “What the heck, let’s give it a go?”

“I’ll fashion the chamber itself, then. Nordilla, are you familiar with the communicator?”

“Jane, you wound me. Just because I’m old doesn’t mean I’m behind on technology.”

“That wasn’t my intention. If I offended, I apologize. Regardless, I’ve just created a chatroom. I’ll send the access code via message.”

Jane manipulated the communicator, dispatching a message.

Nordilla and Sebek’s communicators chimed – *dring*.

“Enoch, you said you’d open a new communicator a bit later, yes?”

“Aye.”

“Then I’ll send it to you after you arrive in Magnusra. We’ll have to pierce a new direct code, as well.”

Jane spoke thus, tidying up the chatroom.

Enoch stood beside her, watching the screen.

The current headcount was five.

Each representing lightning, water, ice, earth, and wind.

[Vergo, Archmage of Lightning : What is this? A sudden invitation?]

[Jane Allura : Created a new room. Let’s handle urgent matters here from now on.]

[Wind Walker, Ruler of Gale Force Winds : The newbie made a cute suggestion, haha.]

[Vergo, Archmage of Lightning : I know Jane, but who are you? Could it be Sebek?]

-*Dring*

-*Notification : Wind Walker, Ruler of Gale Force Winds is changing their name.*

‘Already dizzy.’

Enoch felt a touch of vertigo.

Then, a question dawned on him.

“Jane.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t seem to see Guildmaster Rosita. Did you not invite him?”

“Nope. Didn’t.”

“Why?”

Enoch asked.

Truly, he hadn’t a clue.

Instead of answering, Jane opened her comms, displaying the chatroom with Rosita.

@

[Guildmaster Rosita Mantera: Greetings. Autumn has arrived, painting the clear skies with crimson maple leaves. My deepest gratitude to all Tower Masters, for your hard work and tireless efforts throughout the sweltering heat of August. September is when the Empire’s families gather to celebrate the harvest with a grand festival-]

@

“Do you still need an answer?”

“I spoke nonsense. My apologies.”

Enoch quickly conceded.

If that sort of rhetoric infiltrated the group chat, information pollution would occur in an instant.

Rosita was a truly terrifying person.

Jane grumbled, as if agreeing.

“I really don’t get it. Her way of speaking has been like this ever since she became Guildmaster, you know?”

“Indeed. She was like that when she came to the Wind Tower before, too. Why does she act like that, really?”

“She’s gotten old, they say.”

“……”

At Nordila’s words, the two Tower Masters fell silent.

Enoch simply shut his mouth as well.

There was nothing to say.

‘Ah, I don’t want to grow old.’

Anyway…

And so, a chatroom was created, one absent its Guildmaster, Rosita.

@

Enoch arrived in Magnusra a few hours later.

The first thing he did was activate a new comms device and enter the chatroom.

[Extra-Class Mage, Enoch: Greetings. Esteemed seniors. I look forward to working with you.]

[Earth Tower Master Raceline: Welcome, newbie.]

[Wind Tower Master Sebek: Sing us a little song, won’t you?]

Enoch turned off the chatroom.

Following that, Enoch contacted Lacrimas to check in on her well-being.

-Blee-leep…

-…Hello?

“Lacrimas. It’s Enoch.”

-…Ah! Teacher! You’ve finally opened a new comm line?!

“Yes, from now on, contact me through this code.”

Enoch said with a smile.

After that, they exchanged pleasantries.

After a few back and forths, they quickly ran out of things to say.

“Seems there’s nothing more to pull out.”

-Pardon? I still have plenty!

“It’s alright. I’ll hang up now. Take care. I’ll visit again sometime.”

-Ah… Yes. Understood. You must come, yes?

“Yes. As I said before, contact me anytime if there’s trouble.”

-Yes…… Don’t worry about me.

-Click.

The communication was severed.

Enoch felt a slight unease.

‘Her voice seemed a little listless. From the lessons, perhaps? Or maybe…’

Enoch recalled his last visit to the Academy.

Surely, that fellow Alain said he’d handle things properly.

Could there be some problem, perchance?

‘If it were truly something serious, Chairman Baltor would have contacted me.’

Enoch pondered quietly.

Before long, a decision formed.

‘I should pay a visit soon.’

Nothing is more important than Lacrimas.

Caring for her so that not a single problem arises is his duty.

Enoch thought so, then slipped the communicator into his pocket.

However, Enoch never did visit the Academy.

A few days thence.

The Golden Magician sought him out.