Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#13 For Those Found Wanting

New drug clinical trials are broadly divided into four phases.

First, Phase 1, where safety is verified.

Phase 2 validates efficacy and side effects; Phase 3 is large-scale clinical validation.

Only after passing through all of these is approval and subsequent sale authorized.

‘If clinical trials are in progress, that means the new medicine actually exists.

But even so, a shortage of samples and a deficiency of test subjects is rather peculiar.’

The details didn’t quite add up.

Sensing the inconsistencies in the tale, Enoch inquired of Felton.

“I understand the situation. But something about the story is a bit odd. At which stage of the trials did the impasse occur?”

“Phase 3. We have been unable to secure the necessary quantity of the new medicine and testers to undergo the clinical trials.”

“Is this due to the funding issues you mentioned earlier?”

“For now, at least.”

Funds were short, halting further drug creation.

For the same reason, test subjects couldn’t be recruited.

There weren’t any inherent problems with the formula itself.

Clinical trials being choked off by cost overruns was, surprisingly, a rather common occurrence.

Yet, what felt amiss was why he’d been approached, a personal favor for Enoch, instead of petitioning a Imperial institution.

“Couldn’t you request support from a medical organization? Or even a loan, perhaps? Surely a few business support policies regarding new drugs are still in effect.”

“…You speak the truth. Under normal circumstances, I would have. But not this time. The banks, you see, aren’t exactly on our side.”

Not on our side.

Enoch’s intuition bristled at the phrase.

“The banks… meaning vested interests. A force that doesn’t want this new drug to see the light of day, I presume? Have you already stirred their ire?”

“You’re rather perceptive, aren’t you?”

“It’s a common tale. Money has no feelings; only people allow themselves to be swayed by it.”

A faction exists that disapproves of the new drug’s emergence.

And that faction is powerful, influential enough to pressure banks and government agencies.

“One thing I need to clarify. Precisely what effects does this new drug your protégé created possess?”

“It’s a cure to banish the demons of forgetting. It’s yet to be formally named, but I’ve given it the temporary moniker of Orpheus.”

The demons of forgetting were, of course, a metaphor.

The condition they alluded to was none other than that related to memory.

Dementia, specifically.

“Forgetfulness… In that case, the problem isn’t the Order, but another company that has seized control of the market. Perhaps… Dimaira?”

Felton tilted his head, astonished by Enoch’s query.

“Indeed. Issues have arisen with Dimaira. They demanded we relinquish a substantial share. But how did you come to know this?”

“Rumors have circulated, of course. Those people are quite infamous behind the scenes.”

Dimaira Corporation.

A renowned pharmaceutical company frequently mentioned even in the original Aeon story.

In fact, one could say that this company had the monopoly on almost half of the potions present in the game.

When a new drug was developed, they would deliberately stall work and then, surreptitiously, demand and coerce to seize a share of the profits.

Naturally, many unflattering stories abounded as a result.

One of the heroes featured in the game even appears with a festering arm due to being unable to afford the medication in time.

Furthermore, the NPC responsible for treatment was, due to Dimaira, driven from the market and now operated a field hospital on the front lines, or so it was set.

Meaning there would be many opportunities to get entangled.

Considering such a company had deliberately poured dirt on things, the sluggish progress of the new drug was somewhat understandable.

‘Judging by the way he speaks, it seems the dirt-pouring has been going on for quite a while. Wrong move, and I might get caught up in something bothersome.’

Enoch paused, contemplating.

Was he truly willing to antagonize a monstrous company that had devoured half the market, for the sake of a fleeting act of goodwill?

‘Honestly, it’s not a huge deal. And Felton’s a connection worth cultivating in the long run. Even if I can’t offer direct help, offering indirect favors…’

At that moment, a question bloomed in Enoch’s mind.

‘Wait, as far as I know, a cure related to memories didn’t appear in the original story. If it had actually existed, dealing with status ailments would have been far easier.’

Why had he never heard of an NPC of that caliber?

From the outset, Enoch knew nothing about Felton’s disciple, save for her name.

Who she was.

If, perchance, she was someone he knew.

Enoch addressed that point first.

“Doctor.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Could you tell me more about your disciple? Before any investment, I’d like to know what kind of person she is.”

“Ah, of course. My mistake. I should have informed you before even mentioning the matter.”

Felton apologized, handing Enoch a sheet of paper containing her profile.

Enoch took the profile and examined it.

And was taken aback.

‘Damn it, could it be her?’

The profile held the information of his disciple, Clarena.

However, it wasn’t the details that captured Enoch’s attention, but the photograph.

A brown, short bob cut.

Eyes that seemed tired, yet sharp.

She looked like she smoked an awful lot.

It was an exact match for the character in Enoch’s memory.

Clarena’s true identity was none other than the field hospital NPC he had just mentioned in the game.

‘In the game, she was simply listed as ‘Lena’. A common name, which I brushed aside lightly. Was it, perhaps, a pet name?’

Lena was one of the key NPCs, dedicated to healing the heroes until the late stages of the game.

Even as the Empire teetered in the endgame, as countless NPCs and allies fled, she remained a loyal character, standing with the player until the very end.

In truth, it was more of a systematic allowance.

But now, this place was a world where the game had become reality.

Whatever the original intention, securing Clarena’s favor significantly increased the chance of her assistance.

‘The clinical trial wasn’t the real issue from the start. I almost missed the forest for the trees.’

Enoch’s options had already vanished.

He had to help, unconditionally.

Beyond merely helping, he had to forge a solid bond of connection.

Thinking thus, his next actions flowed smoothly.

“Hmm…”

Enoch deliberately stalled, pretending to contemplate for a moment.

Just as Felton’s face began to waver with anxiety, he opened his mouth with a heavy sigh.

“Looking at the profile, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly concerning. Her school is even from that side.”

“Indeed. She was originally a student I taught.”

“I ask just in case, but how much investment is required?”

“W-Well… for now… about a billion won is needed.”

Felton managed to utter with difficulty.

A billion won.

Just a billion won, huh…

“Doctor.”

“W-Why, what is it?”

“I wish to assist you and your student, Doctor. This is sincere. So, please, do not hold back and tell me honestly.”

“……”

“Are you going to squander this precious opportunity with a paltry sum like that?”

This was his last chance.

Enoch subtly urged him, injecting that meaning into his words.

Felton wasn’t foolish enough to miss it.

“…120 billion. Phase 3 will need around that much.”

“Does that include the labor costs for your student and other colleagues?”

“…Thinking it over, it seems 121 billion would be the sum.”

He couldn’t shake his timid demeanor to the very end.

No, perhaps it should be viewed as conscience, rather.

Whatever it may be, the answer was already decided.

Enoch sighed, then spoke in a nonchalant tone, as if ordering a pretzel at a pub.

“200 billion. Paid in cash, all at once.”

“2, 200 billion??”

“Yes. In exchange, I’ll take 20 percent of the shares of the new drug, Orpheus. Then I’ll hand it over.”

“20?! Are you out of your mind?!”

Felton exclaimed in astonishment.

It wasn’t because he was taking too many shares.

Rather, it was because he was taking too few.

In truth, the development costs for a new drug also include the expenses incurred during clinical trials.

Phase 1 typically runs from 1 billion to 6 billion.

Phase 2, from 9 billion to 25 billion.

And Phase 3 averages 80 billion.

In effect, Phase 3 trials account for nearly half of the total development cost.

Therefore, the shares Enoch could demand were around that amount as well.

However, Enoch did not particularly do so.

That was because he was already overflowing with money.

In the first place, no matter how well a small-scale biotech company grows, its market capitalization barely reaches a few trillion, at best.

Even if he took 50 percent. That paltry sum wasn’t at a level that Enoch would covet.

“I won’t hear anything about the shares. In the first place, I asked for them half out of justification.”

“Justification? …Wait, are you perhaps?”

“Yes. Shouldn’t it be enough to make the hyenas wary?”

Here, the hyenas naturally referred to the Dimira Corporation.

More precisely, the “Golden” mage, the representative of Dimira.

That mage, the representative of the company and a being of essential class, had to turn his arrows toward Enoch himself, not Felton or Clarena.

‘This matter will be known as a personal investment, not an organizational one. If that’s the case, Dimira won’t have any particularly sharp options either. I considered listing the company and indirectly buying shares, but… it would take too long now.’

Enoch had no intention of letting Dimira off the hook in the first place.

I already knew how those monopolizing b*stards acted when ruin was nigh.

After all this and that, eventually, we’d clash regardless.

If those fellows took notice of Enoch because of this incident and stirred up some trouble, all the better.

That meant they were openly giving Enoch grounds to strike them.

‘I couldn’t reveal such a fact beforehand. I do feel sorry for the Doctor.’

Enoch composed his thoughts and waited for the Doctor’s reply.

For some reason, Felton was staring at Enoch with a somewhat blank expression.

“Doctor?”

“…Huh? Ah, apologies. I lost myself for a moment there.”

“You mustn’t do that already. Go ask your student for some new drug samples. If I, the investor, ask for it, even your student wouldn’t coldly refuse.”

Felton chuckled at the following words.

Perhaps it was because the daunting financial problem had been resolved.

His expression seemed lighter and relieved than before.

“You are… a truly unfathomable fellow in many ways.”

“Is that so? I don’t think much has changed.”

“Perhaps. You seem quite different from when I first met you. Back then, you were quite reckless. You came running in the early hours, covered in wounds, and abruptly asked me to heal you, didn’t you? And now, you’re the one saving me. Life truly is unpredictable.”

Felton added so, chuckling once more.

“I suppose I should start by saying thank you. Thank you, Enoch. I truly mean it. You have saved the heart of this old man and the future of my young student. I can’t even begin to fathom how to repay you.”

“Please dispense with the burdensome words. If it’s a problem that can be solved with money in the first place, then it’s not a particularly big deal for me.”

“Even if you say that, what I or my student feel is different. In any case, remember this. I will repay this debt without fail.”

Felton said so, fetching a bottle of liquor from the showroom.

There was no particular brand; it was a moderately priced, value-for-money product.

Only then did Enoch notice Felton’s attire and the room’s appearance.

Considering it was a clinic in a good location straddling the noble and commercial districts, the room contained surprisingly few valuables.

‘It seems Felton sponsored up to phase 2 himself. With Dimaira involved, other sponsors wouldn’t have appeared either. He overexerted himself in his old age.’

A new question arose in Enoch’s mind.

He had the backing of the world’s sponsorship and a mission to aid a hero and save the world.

But the old man before him did not. He had no mission, nor any reason to sacrifice himself.

Why was he able to go this far?

The question, truth be told, didn’t seem unique to Enoch alone.

“It’s got me curious now, this far along.”

“What is it, sir?”

“Why you helped us. Not that I ain’t grateful for the hand, but you could’ve just looked the other way, couldn’t you?”

Enoch fell silent at the query.

Honest words were clearly out of the question; he’d have to make do with something…suitable.

“Well, does there need to be a reason, sir? In the end, a kindness, it comes back around, doesn’t it?”

“Hmph. You truly believe that?”

“I have no choice. I owe my very being to such kindness. I can’t deny it, not like some others might. …Besides, isn’t it the same for you, Doctor?”

“Me? What do you mean?”

Enoch gestured with a finger towards a nearby showroom.

The very showroom from which he’d liberated the cheap brandy.

“The Sagaria brand’s fancy showroom. Worth millions of Crowe at least. And yet, filled with nothing but this cheap swill. Building a place like this suggests an important hobby, so why such meager contents?”

“Hmm…”

“That question from earlier, it applies to you, Doctor, not just me. Wouldn’t you say?”

Why did he help them?

Ironically, the question directed at Enoch could just as easily be turned back to Felton himself.

And the answer…that was something better left unsaid.

Some things only grow uglier when put into words, and this was just such a case.

“Hmph. Can’t argue with that, I suppose.”

“Then why even ask it, sir? We’ll only lose face trying to answer.”

Enoch said, placing the empty glasses side by side.

Felton chuckled, popping the cork from the bottle.

“Hearing you say that, I’m reminded anew, I’m the type to chase after trouble.”

“A coincidence. Me too.”

“You might want to take that back. I was just saying I’m dumb enough to always come out on the losing end.”

“I’m fine with that, Doctor. It’s not exactly a lie. So, shall we raise a glass, you and I, two fools together.”

Enoch grinned, offering his glass.

Felton roared with laughter, filling the glasses.

Then, in the empty air, the glasses chimed.

“A toast, for those to be healed in the future.”

Another, for my disciples and comrades who resisted injustice.

And finally, for the damned fools who live only to lose.

Cheers.

@

“…and that’s what happened.”

Enoch returned to Lacrima after the brief drinking session.

Arriving at the dessert cafe shortly after, he revealed, without embellishment, that he had just made a new investment of 200 billion.

“Khuh!”

Bread crumbs exploded from Lacrima’s mouth, startled by the explanation.

It was a 3500-cro worth of bread.