Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#4 The Master of the Magic Tower

The shopping took about two hours.

Most of their purchases were clothing and accessories.

The total cost came to a staggering 7 billion.

As he’d said before, it was impossible to use up the entire credit limit.

Even so, it was practically tearing money to shreds.

Perhaps that was why.

Lacrina couldn’t hide her unease.

She acted as if something terrible would happen if someone stole something.

Maybe Lacrina herself considered herself a thief.

A poor disciple robbing her master’s purse.

In the worst possible sense of the phrase.

“Calm down. Anyone would think you were stealing.”

“B-but… the clothes I’m wearing right now cost 4… 400 million…? Someone like me, wearing clothes like this is a little…”

“Just accept it. You’ll be working on the front lines eventually anyway. The price of the shield accessories you’ll use then will be about the same.”

Enoch lied nonchalantly.

It was true that the equipment costs for those working on the front lines were around that price.

But that was only for the upper echelon, not the average soldier.

The Empire’s Finance Minister wasn’t a fool; there was no reason to supply every single soldier with equipment like that.

He hadn’t the leeway for it, not to begin with.

But Lacrina wasn’t privy to that truth.

And Enoch, he relished manipulating others to his whim, exploiting his informational advantage.

In essence, do as he bid, no questions asked.

His master could dip into his coffers, couldn’t he? Where did she find the gall to tremble and offer unsolicited advice?

“Lacrina.”

“Yes?”

“You haven’t the time to tremble. There’s something you should have said to me before now, wouldn’t you agree?”

Lacrina, belatedly, collected herself.

She offered a short, “Ah.” Then smoothed down her attire and bowed her head with composed decorum.

“I… I am grateful for your grace, Master. I shall not forget the gift you bestowed upon me today, and I will surely repay it.”

“Good. That will suffice.”

Enoch stroked Lacrina’s head.

Then, without a word, he turned her to face the direction where the carriage awaited.

The hour was, by now, three in the afternoon.

“Let’s be going. The more you tremble, the more it delays my well-deserved rest.”

“…Yes.”

Enoch’s city of residence, ‘Magnusra,’ was divided into four grand districts.

The western commercial district, the eastern district for nobles and officials, the northern military district, and the southern district for mages.

This wasn’t unique to Magnusra, no; most of the Empire’s cities shared the same arrangement.

For reference, Enoch’s dwelling, the Crooked Fish Pub, lay in the eastern outskirts.

The outskirts mostly housed common folk and the middle class.

One had to be at least a commoner to live there, for those less fortunate formed shantytowns outside the commercial district or beyond the city walls, clinging to life by a thread.

‘Shantytowns… could be quite useful, if put to good use.’

Enoch drove the carriage from west to south.

Following the well-maintained road, it took less than an hour to arrive without incident.

“We’re here. Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir…”

Lacrina exited the carriage with a visible tremor of anxiety.

Clothed in finery, laden with expensive luxuries, even adorned with artful makeup.

And yet, she remained frozen, failing to grasp the situation.

‘Well, it would be difficult to adapt so quickly.’

Enoch didn’t bother to scold Lacrina.

While her courage had grown considerably now, Enoch himself had felt similarly at first.

In the end, time would solve it all.

Enoch gently nudged Lacrina forward by her back, stiff with tension.

Taking her along, they headed towards the Magnus branch of the Icebound Mage Tower, erected in the mages’ district.

Soon, a massive tower of azure ivory greeted them.

Roughly seventeen stories high, perhaps.

Tall for a building, but unremarkable for a mage tower.

Likely due to it being merely a small branch in a single city.

‘The main tower within Eoin was definitely over seventy stories. Maybe not now, but I’ll have plenty of reason to visit later.’

Enoch gazed at the tower, imagining the distant future.

Perhaps, eventually, the tower would be the first to reach out.

Those who worshipped talent wouldn’t simply leave Lacrina be.

Meanwhile, the reception at the entrance was swiftly completed.

Her waiting number was 3.

The two entered the designated waiting room and bided their time.

As they sat in the reception area, being served tea and refreshments, a mage apprentice approached and called out Lacrina’s name.

“Waiting number 3. Miss Lacrina.”

“Ah, yes.”

“You have your waiting ticket, correct? Please take it with you as you proceed. Guardian as well.”

The apprentice led them to another room.

After a short while, they were met with a sight of enormous magical devices and mages in azure robes.

They silently observed Enoch and Lacrina as they entered, then bowed their heads slightly in polite greeting.

“Welcome. We appreciate your patience in waiting.”

The mages’ demeanor was remarkably courteous.

A far cry from the image of knowledge-obsessed madmen commonly associated with mages.

Perhaps such images were merely rumors after all?

Lacryma, suddenly struck by curiosity, whispered to Enoch beside her.

“Teacher. Why are they being so polite?”

“Probably because of your attire. Just look at the fabric, so obviously expensive. They likely assumed you have some connection to nobility.”

“But I’m an orphan without a lineage?”

“Lacryma, nurture your imagination. There are surprisingly many born with the noble stamp who hide their lineage for various reasons. They must have guessed you were one of them.”

Enoch said that and gently nudged Lacryma’s back.

“Go on. Go and receive the treatment befitting a noble. Being treated as blue-blooded is quite an interesting experience.”

“D-don’t push me…”

Lacryma muttered and stepped forward toward the mages.

The mages offered Lacryma a small smile, carefully extending a hand as if beckoning her forward.

“Now, first, drink this. It’s a potion for mana awakening. After that, step onto the device. The magical tool will take care of the rest.”

“Ah, yes.”

Lacryma quietly followed their instructions.

After ascending the device, she quietly closed her eyes. Soon after, the door closed, accompanied by a whirring sound.

-Zzzzzzzzzz

The aptitude test took about five minutes.

After a short while, the entrance opened again.

Lacryma emerged from the white mist.

“Thank you for your efforts. The results will be out soon. Please wait in the reception room, and we will come to inform you as soon as it’s complete.”

“Ah… Th-thank you.”

“It’s nothing. It’s our job, after all.”

The mage smiled faintly and turned away.

Lacryma belatedly came to her senses and hurried towards Enoch.

“You worked hard. Tired, being your first time?”

“No… Honestly, I’m more bothered by the treatment than the test. I’ve never received such hospitality before…”

Lacryma murmured, twirling a strand of her silver hair between her fingers.

Why did she have to touch the hair that had just been styled?

Enoch gently nudged her wrist with his finger, stopping her from touching her hair.

“We’re done here, let’s leave. Stop touching your hair, you’ll mess up the styling.”

“Yes…”

Lakrina carefully lowered her head.

A hint of dejection clung to her.

Enoch, about to depart, noticed her hands fidgeting incessantly.

‘Fingers… Come to think of it, they say those who are psychologically anxious prefer to hold onto something tightly.’

Enoch conjured up books he’d read back in modern times.

They said those suffering from psychological unrest could alleviate their anxiety, even slightly, by possessing a cherished object.

A security blanket, a beloved pillow.

Things of that nature.

Likely, what Lakrina was seeking was something along those lines.

But even so, he couldn’t exactly buy her a doll out of the blue.

Enoch paused, considering, then sighed and reached out his hand.

Intercepting Lakrina’s wrist midway, he firmly grasped her empty hand.

“…?”

“Now then, is that better? Let’s be on our way.”

“Oh… Ah.”

Warmth coursed through her fingers. It was surprisingly effective.

“Yes!”

Lakrina, holding Enoch’s hand, smiled brightly with obvious relief.

@

The two spent some time in the drawing room.

Enoch slowly sipped a warm cup of tea, and by the time Lakrina had finished her cookie, her tension had eased considerably. It was then that the mage finally reappeared, opening the door belatedly.

“I apologize for the wait. Compiling the results took a bit longer than anticipated.”

“Not at all. We’re grateful for your thoroughness.”

A mage he hadn’t met before had appeared.

Enoch offered a polite compliment first.

Enoch’s words, coupled with his expensive coat, had a better effect than he expected.

The mage, looking more at ease, addressed them both with even greater courtesy.

“Actually, Ms. Lakrina’s examination concluded with somewhat unexpected results.”

“Unexpected, you say. What exactly do you mean?”

“There’s no need for worry. It’s not a bad sign, you see. It’s merely… the instruments here are incapable of precise measurement.”

The mage spoke thusly, then added an explanation.

First the conclusion, then a natural bolstering with opinion – a rather sophisticated bit of oratory, that.

“As I’m sure you already know, Miss Lacrina’s aptitude is substantial. What *is* unexpected is the *size* of that aptitude. The testing apparatuses at our branch aren’t particularly inadequate, but alas, it seems they aren’t up to providing an accurate measurement.”

“I see. Where, then, should we go now?”

“I would recommend the headquarters of the Glacial Magetower, near the capital. This isn’t about affiliation, mind you, it’s simply that I sense the attribute of ice within Miss Lacrina.”

The mage explained with a politeness meant to convey a lack of ulterior motive.

Enoch, well aware of Lacrina’s talents, didn’t feel the need to point it out.

“Understood. We will arrange a visit to headquarters when the opportunity arises. But… as I understand it, each Magetower requires certain qualifications for a visit to its headquarters, specific to its affiliation. Is that not correct?”

“Remarkable. Such matters concerning headquarters are usually unknown to those not affiliated.”

“It’s nothing much. I merely… possess rather sharp ears. Haha.”

Enoch smiled nonchalantly.

“Ears…”

The young mage cleared his throat and continued.

“To answer your question, that is indeed the case. Magetowers have a rather strong reputation for being closed off. Sadly, it’s true in practice as well. Outsiders, unaffiliated, cannot simply waltz into headquarters.”

“I see. What, then, are we to do? Please, offer us your esteemed guidance.”

Enoch asked respectfully, with due courtesy.

Even if the other party was merely a mage, there was no need to create enemies by flaunting wealth or authority.

However, the mage’s reaction differed greatly from what one might expect.

He studied Enoch’s demeanor intently, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha! Ahahahahaha!!”

“…? Is something the matter? Have we committed some mistake?”

Enoch asked cautiously, a hint of bewilderment in his tone.

The man wiped tears from the corners of his eyes, then spoke again with a gentle demeanor.

“Ah, pardon me. This particular oddball finds pleasure when expectations are subverted.”

“…?”

“Talented mages are plentiful, and polite mages are also not rare. But mages who possess *both* are exceedingly rare. The young lady’s conduct was so impressive that I simply couldn’t contain my laughter.”

The mage said, chuckling.

All traces of youthfulness had vanished.

He adjusted his robes, then bowed formally to Enoch once more.

“Now that I’ve been caught out, I suppose I should reintroduce myself. My name is Nordila. I am a Boundary-class mage, responsible for ice among the eight elements, and at the same time, the owner of the Frozen Spire.”