Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#12 What’s the Problem?

“Prepare yourself. We proceed to the next lesson.”

Enoch spoke, turning his back.

The figure of a man, his coat swirling, a monocle gleaming in his eye.

Behind him, the colossal mechanical serpent stirred like a guardian deity.

“Lesson Two is survival. I shall teach you how to survive against a being you cannot hope to overcome.”

“…You want me to fight *that*?”

“I do not. I want you to flee. With cunning.”

Enoch spoke those words and invoked his skills.

Golden Financial Fusion. And Chain Harmony.

Azure flames and golden radiance seeped into the lens of the man’s monocle.

[Lacrimosa]

[Value Immeasurable]

Again, the world approves of his actions.

Enoch chuckled softly.

“I know you can do more.”

“…”

“Let’s begin.”

Enoch lowered his fingers.

The two-headed mechanical serpent gazed down at Lacrina.

“…Ha ha.”

Lacrina gave a hollow laugh.

Two hours later, she fainted.

@

Enoch loaded the collapsed Lacrina into a vehicle and took her to the infirmary.

There weren’t any particularly major injuries.

He simply deemed it best to err on the side of caution.

The infirmary they arrived at was in the northeastern district of the city.

Located between the military sector and the aristocratic and bureaucratic district.

The infirmary’s name was rather unique; in this world, hospitals affiliated with universities, the military, or religious orders were commonly referred to as such.

The Doctor, upon seeing Lacrina, clicked his tongue unabashedly.

“Good heavens. The poor child is utterly wrecked. Just what did you put her through to get her in this state?”

“I was training her a bit to prepare her for the Academy. Is her condition truly that dire?”

Enoch asked, half-expecting the worst.

The Doctor smirked at that.

“A jest. Merely a faint brought on by exhaustion. If it were truly serious, I would have taken action already.”

The Doctor scribbled ‘Nutritional Deficiency’ and ‘Sleep Deprivation’ onto a medical chart clipped to a board and handed it to Enoch.

“How much?”

“Hmm. Seeing as it was just an IV drip, I’d say 80,000 Krones should suffice.”

“Here. Keep the change.”

Enoch produced a wad of 50,000 Krone notes and placed it on the desk.

The Doctor chuckled heartily, stuffing the bills into his pocket.

“Rather excessive change, isn’t it? Regardless, thank you. I shall put it to good use.”

“Don’t you fret. I owe you a debt or two myself, you know.”

“A debt… come to think of it, your way of speaking has become quite familiar, hasn’t it?”

Enoch chuckled softly at the old Doctor’s words.

Indeed, what he said was true.

“It’s been some time, after all. As you said, Doctor, that clumsy period passed relatively quickly.”

Enoch didn’t always speak this way.

The reason he adopted this heavy, rigid demeanor was, without a doubt, largely due to Doctor Felton’s advice.

His philosophy was simple.

A man of considerable means ought not to behave with levity.

Enoch found the sentiment quite plausible.

And so, he deliberately cultivated a weighty manner of speech.

Thanks to that, the stilted tone now came forth naturally, without conscious effort.

In many ways, Enoch considered the Doctor’s counsel invaluable.

“Anyway, I’ll be off then. Your student will awaken soon. It shouldn’t be long now.”

“Understood.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

The Doctor, about to leave, paused mid-step.

For some reason, he looked back at Enoch, then opened his mouth with a slight hesitation.

“Enoch, I hate to ask this, but do you perchance have some time to spare?”

“Time, you say? What is it that requires my time?”

“Well… there’s something I’d like to consult you about. If it wouldn’t trouble you, perhaps you could visit me later.”

The Doctor’s hesitation was palpable. Even as he spoke, there was an air of, “Is this the right thing to do…?”

“Very well. I’ll come by presently.”

“Thank you. I’ll be expecting you.”

With an apologetic air, the Doctor departed.

Enoch cocked his head, then settled back into his chair.

A short time passed.

Just as Enoch, still seated, finished his tea, Lacrimosa, lying still all this time, belatedly came to her senses.

“Huh? Where am I…”

“A hospital.”

Enoch rapped Lacrimosa on the head with his clipboard.

-Thwack!

“Ouch!”

Lacrimosa clutched at her forehead with both hands, making a face like she might cry.

He hadn’t even hit her that hard.

Could it be the training was a bit much after all?

It seemed a trauma, of sorts, had taken root.

“Ouch, ouch… more importantly, the hospital? Did I perhaps faint?”

“Indeed. You howled like a newborn, then sprawled out like a frog.”

“A, a frog…”

Lacrimosa trailed off, as if questioning whether that could truly be.

The nuance was heavy with unwillingness to concede.

Well.

Enoch paused, considering.

Because she *had*, in fact, been splayed out like a frog.

Perhaps she gleaned the truth from her teacher’s demeanor.

Lacrimosa sat blankly, muttering incomprehensible words.

“Frog… frog… I couldn’t help it… a snake appeared, you see… snakes eat frogs… and it even had two heads, three heads… eight…”

“In any case, today’s training wasn’t bad. Remember well what you learned. We’ll continue on next time.”

“Snake… snake…”

Lacrimosa’s eyes instantly grew distant.

To be like this after just one time.

Her theatrics were quite skilled.

“Rest well today. I’ll leave when the IV drip is finished, so be aware.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Is there anything you’d like to eat, perhaps?”

“Something I’d like to eat?”

Lacrimosa’s eyes sparkled for a fleeting moment.

Enoch found her so very easy to read.

“Yes. Since you toiled so hard, there should be some reward, after all.”

“Anything you want to eat… anything at all is okay?”

“Yes.”

“Huk…! Then, I heard there’s a delicious waffle place in Block 4 of the commercial district. I want to try going there.”

Enoch recognized the place Lacrina mentioned.

He had already been there once, after all.

For reference, the price was 3500 cro.

“And… I also want to try the tiramisu in Block 6. And the eclair they sell at the blue-roofed shop across from it… and also…”

Lacrina continued to name desserts.

The prices were 4000 cro and 3500 cro respectively.

A grand total of 11,000 cro for what she picked.

Did this child even realize it was extravagance?

He should have told her he’d take her to a good place he already knew.

Enoch inwardly regretted asking.

Of course, he didn’t show it outwardly.

“Understood. Let’s go take a look in a bit.”

“Yes!!!”

Lacrina smiled brightly.

The sweet treat banished the nightmare of the three-headed serpent far away.

@

Enoch abandoned Lacrina in the hospital room and moved locations.

The place he sought out next was the Director’s office.

Or rather, what they called the Physician’s Office.

-Knock knock.

Enoch knocked before entering.

Doctor Felton was waiting for him.

“Welcome. You’re here quite early. Is your disciple awake?”

“She started talking about desserts as soon as she woke up. Seems she has a craving for something sweet.”

“That’s how kids that age all are. If anything happens, let me know. I’ll even send some of the chocolate we have stocked in the hospital rooms.”

Hospital room chocolate.

The people of this world called it ‘cripple chocolate’.

The reasons were multifaceted.

Firstly, the taste was wanting.

To exaggerate only slightly, it was barely a step above boiled potatoes.

No sane person would seek this out on purpose.

Yet, the demand for ‘hospital chocolate’ never ceased.

When supplying nutrients to patients felled by grievous injuries, nothing was quite as fitting as melted hospital chocolate.

Not too sweet, moderately bitter, and containing ground vegetables or meat, it was tolerably nutritious.

This was the second reason.

Once one’s body became infirm, for a time, one would live on this alone, like it or not.

For that reason, it was a rather cynical nickname, imbued with a certain affection and respect.

‘Sounds quite alright, even.’

And yet, Enoch felt a strange pull toward it.

Was it not, perhaps, better than spending a trifling 11,000 kroons on a mere dessert?

Besides, wasn’t Lacrimosa lying in the hospital right now?

Not that the very perpetrator had any right to say it, but Enoch felt this was fate of sorts.

A Greek sort of fate, hurtling towards a preordained tragedy.

-Kyaaak!!!

‘No, that won’t do. Too cruel.’

Before he knew it, he pictured Lacrimosa, writhing and shrieking upon receiving the infirmary chocolate.

Enoch shook his head, banishing the stray thought.

What was important now was not chocolate of any kind.

How had the story strayed so far?

“The chocolate is fine. I would prefer to hear the main point directly.”

“Hmm… I understand. First, take a look at this.”

Doctor Felton handed Enoch several sheets of paper.

Enoch received the clipboard and immediately flipped through them, reviewing the contents.

‘Felton’s apprentice, Clareena, new drug clinical trials… results: failure. Insufficient experimental samples and failure to meet minimum test personnel standards. Furthermore-‘

An apprentice referred to a trainee or disciple, a student researcher, or an assistant. To offer a comparison, perhaps like a resident doctor without a medical license.

“This appears to be the results of a new drug clinical trial by someone named Clareena. What is the reason for showing me this?”

“As it says there, she is my student. A talented and brilliant child, in her own right. Yet, her family is of humble means, and she is much undervalued compared to her skills. Those city folk cling uselessly to such things as pedigree.”

Enoch listened quietly to the Doctor’s words.

He’d surmised that the main point would follow after the self-serving preamble.

His hunch proved correct.

Felton, after a moment of pained contemplation, finally parted his lips with difficulty.

“Seeing as things have come to this pass, I’ll be frank.”

In that instant, the Doctor bowed his head so deeply it was almost a kowtow.

“It’s a request. I need you to assist my disciple.”

“Please, rise. I fear it would tarnish your reputation, were someone to see this.”

“That matters not. What good is one’s honor, if a master cannot aid his own student?”

Felton’s resolve was unwavering. Enoch newly understood that one could be dignified, even while bowing one’s head.

“First, please finish explaining. Just what is it you require, that necessitates such a plea?”

“It is…”

As if the words were caught in his throat, Felton opened his mouth, once more with considerable effort.

“…Money.”

“Pardon?”

“Money is needed. Or, more accurately, funding. They must re-submit the new medicine for testing, but the budget has run dry and the process has stalled…”

Enoch paused momentarily.

He was briefly confused as to what the problem was.