NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24
The aftermath of the explosion settled down shortly after.
Enoch urged Lacrina to use magic to extinguish the flames.
After that, he called the guards through the communicator.
The soldiers who rushed to the scene took Enoch’s statement, cleared away all the debris left behind.
Among the wreckage was his car, which had been only in his possession for three months.
His pathetic vehicle, Ascuta, was now gone in a blink.
“…”
“Um… Teacher…?”
“……”
“Umm… cheer up. Should I sing a song for you?”
“…”
“Guess not…”
Enoch stared at his car being loaded onto a truck with dead eyes.
Lacrina tried to comfort him, but sadly, it didn’t help much.
In his heart, only one emotion blossomed.
Endless rage.
‘Whoever this is, they will pay the price.’
“Let’s go, Lacrina.”
“Ah, yes! Where are we going now?”
“To the commercial district. We need to get some new clothes first.”
Enoch said matter-of-factly.
Lacrina finally noticed her own appearance.
Gone was her initial neatness; she was now covered in rips and stains from who knows where.
If she showed up at the academy looking like this, it would certainly attract attention.
Especially given that she had only gotten in through questionable means.
Enoch didn’t want to draw attention and stir up trouble.
‘I guess it’s a good time to de-stress a bit.’
@
“Welcome back, Enoch. You’re here quite early.”
“Nice to see you, Master Belten.”
The two moved to the commercial district, seeking out tailor Belten.
As usual, Belten greeted them warmly and offered a handshake.
Enoch took his hand and said in a stern tone, “Belten, I need Lacrina’s outfit done.”
“Understood. Judging by your appearance, something must have happened.”
“I apologize for not explaining. And… let’s get mine done as well. I want Master yourself to handle it, not your staff or students.”
“!”
Belten’s eyes opened wide at the next statement.
Not just Magnus, but he was a renowned tailor across the continent.
Some of the outfits worn by the emperor were crafted by him.
To have him personally handle a request? That was a big deal, and not something one could afford easily.
“Enoch, are you serious?”
“I don’t care.”
Enoch replied nonchalantly.
Belten trembled as he took off his glasses.
“…Alright, I’ll do as you say. What are your requirements? Any specific hue or concept?”
“No, nothing like that. But, I do have a wish.”
“A wish?”
Belten tilted his head in confusion.
At that moment, Enoch shouted, addressing Belten and the shop owners who were glancing over.
“Listen everyone.”
-…?
“Here lies an everlasting fountain of wealth.”
Enoch connected his inventory to his coat pocket as usual.
Then, when he flared open his singed coat, bundles of cash spilled out like a waterfall.
-…!!!
“My outfit will be entrusted to Master Belten himself. However, everything else is still undecided.”
-……
“I’m feeling particularly greedy today. Watches, necklaces, rings, scarves, anything that catches my fancy is fair game.”
While speaking, Enoch raised a finger.
His index finger pointed at the ceiling as if to emphasize something.
The shop owners’ gazes followed the tip of his finger like a wave.
“I have one requirement.”
-……
“Surprise me. The compensation won’t be lackluster.”
@
Enoch’s sudden flexing remarks stirred ripples among the gathered crowd.
Belten sensed the commotion and hurried to get to work.
Next to move was the master of the watch shop beside them.
“Nice to meet you, Enoch. I’m Galta, the owner of Sandrion.”
“Pleasure’s mine, Master Galta. Do you have something prepared for me?”
“Of course. I had a feeling you’d only visit Belten’s shop, and I wasn’t too happy about it. I knew this day would come.”
Galta was a middle-aged man with wine-colored hair.
He gently stroked his Pringles-like mustache and nodded to his staff behind him.
A moment later, the staff appeared, wearing gloves and holding a golden case.
He handed the case to Galta.
Galta opened the case with a confident grin.
-Creak
“Look at this. It’s the Answer Philip Brown Knives Steel. The movement consists of 100 wheels, 48 bridges, 460 screws, 80 springs, 120 mechanism parts, 86 jewels, 2 dials, and 19 hands. The weight of the gold case itself is around 420 grams.”
“Whoa.”
“With this many complications packed into it, its weight is pretty substantial. What do you think? Isn’t it quite satisfactory?”
What Galta showed was a grandmaster-level watch crafted with painstaking attention to detail.
Not a single letter was hastily engraved.
In the center, it looked as if the universe itself was encapsulated, with black and blue waves constantly entwining in motion.
“It catches my eye. How much?”
“154 billion Kronils.”
“I’ll take it. No need for a separate packaging.”
Enoch paid in cash right there.
No installments, just cash in hand.
Galta’s face split into a grin of euphoria.
“Hahaha!! You’re not surprising me; I’m the one being astonished here!”
Galta burst into laughter as if he was impressed.
That was just the beginning.
Following Galta, one by one, the masters of the shops approached Enoch to speak.
-I’ve got a coat made of panda fur. You know, the ones that rolled around after eating apples, so they smell like apples just by passing by. Interested?
-How about a wallet? It’s not high-end, but you might find something you like.
-Are you considering purchasing a personal airship?
“Alright, everyone calm down; I can’t hear if you all speak at once.”
Enoch tried to steady the rushing shop owners.
Eventually, the atmosphere settled down once more.
Glancing around, Lacrina cautiously asked, “Um, Teacher. I know it’s a pointless question, but still, is this really alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“The money. What if it runs out later?”
“It’s fine. My money can replicate itself.”
“Huh?”
Lacrina furrowed her brows in confusion.
She looked like she needed further explanation.
However, Enoch chose not to elaborate.
After all, he couldn’t possibly explain that his money came from the Golden Mage, Orban’s vault.
‘Anyway, Orban is a guy who hoards wealth through monopolies and nefarious deeds. Instead of stacking money in a vault to hone his magic skills, it’s better to just sprinkle it back into the market like this.’
The Golden Mage Orban is a dual-sided and dangerous figure.
His magical prowess is undoubtedly exceptional.
His rank as an Essential-tier mage is not a facade.
However, all else about him is problematic.
He practically monopolizes the life-and-death medical market.
He’s a tricky adversary, and a shaky companion.
So, letting money linger in a guy like that’s not advisable.
Thus Enoch felt justified.
Whatever he did would still be better than what Orban would spend it on.
He was almost certain of it.
“Teacher?”
“Lacrina. I have just one thing to tell you. Don’t worry about money. My pockets aren’t light enough for you to stress over.”
Enoch said this and turned his back.
Lacrina wanted to say more but eventually shook her head.
‘He must have his plans.’
Lacrina believed wholeheartedly in that notion.
Why would he spend hundreds of billions just to relieve stress?
Even the noble emperor wouldn’t readily take such actions.
Lacrina had never seen the emperor in person, but she assumed it must be like that.
-2 billion for the calculation!
-4 billion for the calculation!
‘…Even so, this feels a bit rough on the heart.’
The audible amounts kept skyrocketing.
Lacrina debated blocking her ears but ultimately resorted to magic.
-Ziiing
‘…That’s better.’
Lacrina’s eyes turned cold.
Somehow, her eyes sparkled with a frosty luminescence.
She was now utilizing the magical side-effects inversely.
In other words, she tuned herself into the freezing magic.
Had she grown used to it through training, or was it simply talent?
Either way, she no longer got consumed by the magic as before.
On the contrary, it now felt like a perfected technique to her.
‘I’m no longer shaken like in the past. At this rate, I might even handle it seamlessly in practice.’
Lacrina’s icy expression surveyed her surroundings.
Even amid the chaotic ruckus, her consciousness remained steadfast.
She felt no tremors, not even the faintest shift.
Just like solid ice remains unshaken, her mind had become as steadfast as ice.
‘It’s noisy and chaotic. That’s all; my mind remains undisturbed. Am I getting used to my Teacher’s spending?’
-220 billion for the payment!!!
“……”
Lacrina quietly turned her gaze away.
The previous statement had been nullified.
@
The prestigious Imperial Academy, Artemia.
Currently, the chairperson Baltror Ulrigan was preparing to receive a guest alongside the academy’s principal, Anthony.
“…Chairperson?”
“What is it?”
“Wasn’t it said that the emperor would visit today?”
Principal Anthony, sweating bullets, asked.
Even he, a high-ranking tier mage and the principal, felt utterly perplexed by the current situation.
Why, you ask?
Because a massive airship had landed on the academy’s grounds without permission.
“The emperor? If he were coming, all the staff would be on standby.”
“Exactly. That’s what makes this so suspicious. Who is this so-called visitor today?”
“I don’t know. I’m heading out to find out right now.”
Chairperson Baltror clenched his jaw and moved away from the window.
After donning his coat and checking his attire, he swiftly made his way to the spot where the airship had landed.
‘Enoch… you’ve been the reason I’ve not gone home for two days.’
The current time was nearing the end of autumn.
Normally, students finishing their year would be preparing for the next semester.
However, a first-year student had been forced into the mix.
This was a far cry from the usual practice of denying requests from nobles if they lacked qualifications.
As a result, the academy had faced numerous complaints from the nobility.
With news of an unexpected new student, rumors would undoubtedly spread among the other students.
Their burdens fell entirely on the shoulders of the chairperson and the principal, responsible for guiding the academy’s direction and administration.
For both of them, this was an unavoidable situation.
It wouldn’t do to send regular teachers facing the nobles.
In any case, Baltror’s fury was both fitting and justified.
He genuinely yearned to see Enoch’s face.
‘This arrogant kid… Let me see what kind of face you possess.’