Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#64 Golden Scenery*

I stole your money.

Enoch’s candid confession echoed in the room.

Obviously, not everyone grasped its full import.

The magic tower heads, outsiders to the matter, tilted their heads in puzzlement, visibly confused.

“Stole? Stole what?”

“Something about a slush fund… What exactly does that mean?”

Jane and Bergo asked, perplexed.

Nordilla, too, subtly glanced over, as if needing clarification.

Enoch, without even turning to acknowledge them, casually explained.

“It’s simple. That fellow Orban’s hidden slush fund. I… appropriated a portion of it.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“That’s a secret.”

Enoch shook his head. Explaining it was impossible. Even he didn’t quite understand how he’d done it.

Besides, that wasn’t the important part now. What mattered was disrupting Orban’s focus. Enoch concentrated solely on his objective.

“…I see. So, you were the culprit.”

“Yes. It was me.”

“Raiding my vault and playing innocent, instigating the guild. All of it was you.”

Orban chuckled, a dry, rattling sound. He listed Enoch’s transgressions one by one, counting them off on his fingers.

Enoch nodded, acknowledging each and every one.

It was I who robbed the vault. It was I who reported him to the Guild. It was I who orchestrated this very situation.

The culprit in all of it was me.

Every single moment, it was I.

“…Yo, yo-“

“What was that?”

“You goddamn son of a b*tch!!!”

Finally, the shout erupted. Orban, unable to hold back any longer, roared and reached out a hand.

“You sons of b*tches! All of you sons of b*tches!!”

“? Why’s he yelling at us too?”

Jane wrinkled her brow and retorted.

He should just be cursing at Enoch, who’s actually involved. Why is he coming at *us*?

“Don’t play dumb! You’re all in on it anyway!”

“Why are you talking such nonsense all of a sudden?”

“Cut the pathetic act! In the end, *you* were also tricked by that b*stard, coming to capture me!”

“Isn’t it *you* who was tricked, though?”

“Shut your mouth!”

Orban, hopping mad, pointed a finger at Enoch.

“If you’re not, arrest that b*stard right this instant!”

“…?”

“Don’t look at me like that! I already reported the vault robbery to the Guild! As you’re both members of the same organization, you bear at least some responsibility!”

Enoch belonged to the Guild.

The Guild’s mistakes should be handled by the Guild.

The Master of the Magic Tower, also a Guild member, had the right to punish Enoch.

That was Orban’s argument.

A hastily constructed syllogism, perhaps, but surprisingly, it wasn’t entirely without merit.

“He’s got a point, wouldn’t you say? What are your thoughts?”

“Hmm. The logic seems sound enough.”

“You planning on pulling something like this again?”

“No.”

“Good. Let’s try to be good from now on.”

Jane gave Enoch a light shove on the shoulder, as if to say, *give it your best.* Then, turning to Orban, she inquired, “All set then?”

“I’ll bury you lot, every last one of you!”

Orban roared, unleashing his magic.

As he stretched both hands towards the heavens, the treasures piled high like a mountain melted in unison, transforming into a river of gold.

“Prepare to die! You hicks from the Magic Tower!”

“Madman! Finally revealing his twisted true colors.”

“Daring to challenge us when you’re barely clinging to Essence? What misplaced confidence is this?”

Vergo clicked his tongue, while Jane tilted her head, regarding Orban with a gaze as if he were some strange and wondrous creature.

Only Nordilla remained composed. He glanced subtly at Enoch, as if inquiring what his next move would be. “Seems Orban has quite a bit to say to you.”

“So it appears.”

“What will you do then? Will you step forward as you did before?” Nordilla subtly displayed his hand, hinting at his willingness to assist if needed.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Are you?”

“Yes. This is my matter. I’ll see it through myself.”

“Your opponent is of the Essence class. Nearing its border, even. Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

Nordilla had never truly witnessed Enoch’s fighting prowess. During the Pankratos incident, Jane hadn’t shown her true abilities, and when they breached the entrance earlier, they only faced mages of the Dominion level.

But now, things were different. They were facing a top-tier high mage bordering Essence, no less.

And the key now was not just winning, but subjugation.

He needed to be stopped before he fully reached the Boundary level, but was it truly possible to suppress him in one fell swoop?

That was a feat they themselves would find difficult. Nordilla’s concern stemmed from that very thought.

“Seeing is faster than explaining, wouldn’t you say?”

“Enoch?”

“I’ll see you shortly.”

Enoch waved a reassuring hand and stepped forward.

Already, Orban was engulfed in the golden tide, wearing it as if it were a grand, gilded raiment.

“Enoch!”

“What is it?”

“You little b*stard! I haven’t liked you since the very first time I saw you!”

“Mutual sentiments-“

“The grudge of blowing the roof off my car! I’ll have my revenge! Die!”

Orban, eyes gone wild, unleashed his magic.

Golden Spears. The golden river that circled him transformed in an instant into a massive cone shape.

Dozens. Each one bigger than a decent-sized truck, possessing the power to pierce through buildings and burrow into the bedrock.

But Enoch’s reaction was a touch faster.

Golden Fusion. The End Dragon reassembled itself in an instant, rising up from behind its master.

Dozens of golden spears, launched by Orban, slammed into the back of the dragon.

-Kuoohhh!!!

-Kwaang! Kwaang!

-Kung!!! Kwaaang!!!

@

Smoke billowed with the explosions.

The Master Mages immediately retreated from the battlefield.

In the instant before the half-split building teetered-

-Papat! Pat!

Enoch and Orban burst from the smoke.

“Where do you think you’re running?!”

Orban waved his hand. The golden spears that had cleaved the building in two instantly reassembled themselves.

“Even if it’s shattered to pieces! The value of gold doesn’t disappear! I just have to remake it as many times as it takes!”

He clenched his hand into the shape of a gun, aiming it at Enoch. At that moment, the risen spears snapped to attention, fixing their aim on their prey.

“You should move your hands instead of talking.”

“What?!”

“You shouldn’t have aimed for me in the first place.”

Enoch simply retorted, drawing a hand across his chest.

The escort command had already been issued.

The End Dragon, which was on standby, immediately opened its mouth and unleashed a three-stage barrage.

-Zhiiiiing…!

-Kwang!!

“Khhk…!”

Three beams of laser pierced through the golden spears, blasting straight through the wall and soaring towards the very edge of the heavens.

Before he knew it, the clouds above had split in two. A violent explosion followed close behind.

The building shuddered once more. The entire wall of glass windows, from top to bottom, shattered in a wave-like cascade.

-Kugugu…

Cracks were already devouring the building’s foundations.

Swept off his feet by the gale, Orban grit his teeth and forced himself upright.

“Those pathetic summons…!”

He gasped for breath, extending a hand. The Golden Eye, the estimated worth of the Ender Dragon, flashed before Orban’s eyes.

“How much! What’s the price!”

Weeeeiiing…

[9.2 Billion Crones]

“Ha! Cheap trash!”

Orban tapped the floor with the tip of his boot. The shattered golden spears instantly melted. A lake-sized surge of gold, churning and writhing, erupted from beneath the Ender Dragon.

“9.2 Billion Crones, eh…!”

A wicked grin twisted his lips.

“I’ll put you to use for my grand design as well! Consider it an honor to walk the Silk Road!”

Kuoooh!!

A tidal wave of gold rose up, swallowing the Ender Dragon whole.

The magic-devoured dragon thrashed wildly, but it was nothing more than a futile struggle.

-Kuoong! Kung!

Orban pulled the golden wave that had consumed the dragon closer to himself.

The swirling golden torrent flowed towards his back. The gold, which had surged like a tide, gradually formed a magnificent pillar, reaching up towards the sky.

But in that brief moment –

-Pat!

Inventories opened across the battlefield.

“…?”

Orban’s eyes narrowed.

Dimensional rifts unfurled one after another. Within them, colossal silhouettes began to materialize.

Treasures, indeed. Countless treasures, slumbering within Enoch’s vault, rained down from the sub-space.

-Swaaa… (sound of rushing water/wind)

“…So, these are all things I know.”

*Kradeuk.* Orban ground his teeth, gazing at the treasures. Every single one of them was familiar. Things he himself had placed within the vault.

Regardless, Enoch employed his skill once more.

Golden Fusion.

The treasures that had been spewing forth now stirred to life, one after another.

Four Ender Dragons. Five Over Dragons.

And that was not all. Metallic serpent machines of every kind flooded the battlefield.

Each opened wide its massive maw. Precisely targeting Orban.

-Jiiiiiing… ! (sound of whirring/charging)

“Hmph, is that all?”

Orban chuckled derisively. He moved his hand, transforming the golden tide swirling around him into a golden rampart.

-Kwaaang!! (sound of a massive explosion)

-Kwang! Kwagagagagang! (sound of multiple explosions)

In the next instant, the entire building burst apart.

A barrage of relentless shelling shook the night sky.

Windowpanes were swept away like a storm, the core of the building began to collapse.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor, and the steel framework screamed in agony.

Then, throughout the city, a cacophony of alarms erupted.

Emergency situation.

The city’s guard mobilized as one, and the citizens of Novaris, jolted awake, began to flee in pandemonium.

However—

Orban remained unharmed.

He nonchalantly revealed himself from behind the golden rampart.

“At this rate, not even a scratch will mar my gold.”

Orban scoffed. From the start, he had not worried about the shelling in the slightest.

His magic judged the value of its target.

Each of the minions Enoch created was individually worth less than 14 billion Crowe. Meanwhile, the golden tide Orban commanded totalled 20 trillion.

What he wielded was not merely gold.

Gems, luxury goods, high-grade magical artifacts, priceless antiques. Even intangible assets, such as copyrights.

This, then, was the culmination of all worth.

“Money subdues all. The golden worth built of wealth and power. Humanity’s fixation on greed far surpasses any quest for magic. And yet, you believed a cheap construct such as this could topple me?”

Orban scoffed, and opened his subspace vault.

*Click.*

The portable safe burst open, unleashing yet another torrential downpour of treasure.

Diamonds, rare gems, gold bars, ancient coins.

A wave of gold devoured all.

This was no mere wave any longer.

A golden tsunami.

The entire building was consumed. Soon, it began to spread to all of Novaris.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, they say? Trite drivel. Investment, in the end, is about one decisive strike. Superior resources must be gathered together.”

Orban muttered, reaching out a hand.

Enoch’s summoned minions began to be subsumed by the gold once more.

-*Shhwaak!*

One Ender Dragon was impaled by a golden spear, plummeting to the earth.

-*Kwajik!*

An Overdragon was swallowed by a lake of gold.

The mechanical serpents, restrained by Orban’s magic, were torn asunder, one by one, in a pathetic display.

The tide of battle was overwhelmingly in his favor.

Orban roared with laughter.

“I am the Gold Magician.”

He declared, extending a hand into the empty air.

“The worth of everything on the continent is determined through me. To me, your minions are nothing but cheap fodder.”

Orban gazed down at Enoch with ecstatic eyes.

“For something called an Extra-Grade, you’re quite unremarkable.”

“……”

“I had hoped for more, but is this all you can muster?”

Orban snorted derisively.

Enoch listened silently to the torrent of taunts.

Finally, as the golden tsunami engulfed every last minion, a path of gold spread outwards, consuming the entire city.

Chwaaa…!

The gold that had coursed through buildings, streets, and roads was transforming, becoming a colossal network of veins.

Now, it sought to spread beyond the city, across the entire continent.

This was the golden path Orban had pursued.

A vision beyond the very essence of value. A Silk Road leading to the Transcendent Threshold itself. This *was* it.

“It is done…!”

Orban felt the golden tide flowing out into the continent.

A grotesque smile stretched across his lips.

“There’s no stopping it now. I am the only one. I am the King of Gold!”

-Hahahahahahaha!!!!

Orban, certain of his victory, unleashed a great roar of laughter.

Nothing could stand in his way now.

In just a few hours. Only a few more hours, and the golden path would be complete, spanning the entire continent.

All currency, all financial rights, everything would flow only through him.

A being overseeing an entire domain. A mere gesture would command and control – it could only be described as Transcendent.

However.

“No, Orban. It is *your* defeat.”

“…What?”

“The moment you opened that vault, your loss was sealed.”

Enoch, who had been silent, spoke with placid certainty.

Orban frowned, his brow furrowed.

“What drivel is this?”

In that instant, an anomaly was detected.

-Wheeeeeeeeeee…!

“……!”

Orban’s expression froze. The golden veins, which had been reaching throughout the city, were now contracting in a frantic retreat.

“…What is happening?”

He hastily sought to understand this sudden change.

The gold was rapidly receding, drawn towards something.

Its epicenter was none other than the top floor of the Dimaira headquarters.

It was right here, where Orban now stood, that it happened.

“What… what in the world is going on?! Why is my magic contracting against my will?!” Orban cried out, his voice laced with desperation. He simply couldn’t understand the situation.

Gold was flowing, yet he couldn’t even discern where it was heading. The title of ‘Golden Magician’ was starting to feel like a cruel jest.

Just then, Enoch spoke once more. “You and I share quite a few similarities in our magic.”

“…What?”

“Made things easier, actually. I’m already interfering with your very gold itself.” Enoch rubbed his eyes wearily, a gesture of exhaustion.

Linked Harmony.

His eyes glowed a stark, uncanny blue.

“My magic… you’re interfering with it?”

“Indeed.”

“But… how…”

“I found a way. Once I understood the core principle, all that remained was application.”

Normally, different kinds of magic couldn’t interfere with one another. Just as a Water Magician couldn’t affect flame, every magician possessed their own inviolable domain.

But Enoch didn’t use magic.

He used skills, instead.

A different principle entirely from conventional magic. Even amidst magic utterly incapable of interacting, skills alone were the exception.

“In other words, this is what it means.”

Enoch waved his hand through the air. A golden wave swept around him, enveloping the space.

The same method Orban had employed. He was already forcibly drawing the golden tide towards him, manipulating it according to his will.

Its scale exceeded sixty percent of what Orban had been controlling. In effect, it was akin to losing more than sixty percent of his liquid assets.

“Th-this…”

“Sixty percent total. The proportion of gold I’ve taken.”

“What?”

“Don’t feel too aggrieved. One shouldn’t put all their eggs in one basket, after all. This is what happens when you make it so easy to fleece you.” Enoch chuckled softly, then snapped his fingers with a *click*!

Beyond the jaunty snap of fingers, the golden tide that had engulfed the entire building coalesced, compressed into a single point.

And then, in the void left behind, materialized a knight, a devilish figure clad in bizarrely-shaped golden armor.

A new summon, conjured through a skill that summoned knights.

Whether strength or cost, in either regard, it was top-tier.

“You said it just now, didn’t you? That you were the Golden King.”

-Thud!

“This was made with the gift you contributed.”

The golden knight inclined its head toward Enoch.

Despite its fearsome countenance, its bearing was remarkably restrained, like that of a true knight.

Enoch, with a mocking air, addressed the frozen Orban.

“Make your acquaintance. This is Lord Gold. Since your stake is in it, I couldn’t quite call him King… so I’ve lowered the title by a step, named him Lord.”