Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#44 Don’t Misunderstand

“You were just about to call me a junkie-!”

“I tell you, it’s a misunderstanding.”

Enoch lied with unflappable ease.

This entire mess was Orban’s fault, for assigning such a distinct nickname.

He had simply voiced what he felt.

It wasn’t truly his fault, not really.

“You’re too much. And after I spent all night making things, no less.”

“Please, calm yourself. It truly is a misunderstanding.”

“Alright, Clarena. Sit down for now. Stop making such a racket.”

Felton stepped in with his rebuke.

Only then did Clarena cease her furious huffing and settle into a chair.

Though, she was still plainly consumed by anger.

‘She looks just like a puffed-up pufferfish.’

He suppressed the rising feelings with effort.

Belatedly, he got to the point.

“Miss Klarena?”

“Yes?”

“You mentioned burning the midnight oil to create something. Which is it? Dementia? Or stimulants?”

“Ah, that? The latter, of course. It’s for the investor’s personal commission. I put everything else on hold to make this.”

Klarena said this, producing a bottle and offering it.

“Here. A Viagra sample.”

“Viagra?”

Felton, who was listening, tilted his head in confusion.

It was a drug he hadn’t heard of before.

Just as Enoch was about to say something, Klarena quickly added,

“Stimul—”

“It’s based on Star Tassel, with a few other ingredients added.”

“Ah, an aphrodisiac, is it? Understood. So that’s why you were inhaling Angel Dust?”

“Delicate adjustments are required for this kind of work. I don’t do things like that without a reason, you know.”

The conversation moved swiftly.

Felton nodded as if understanding.

Star Tassel, excluding narcotics, was mostly used for that sort of thing.

He then asked Enoch,

“But Enoch, why would you need an aphrodisiac in the first place?”

“…Couldn’t you just call it a stimulant? That’s the official name, I believe.”

“Merely a matter of formality. Ultimately, the name changes with its use.”

A simple rebuttal returned.

To the point where correcting him was pointless.

Enoch simply gave up and accepted it.

“…Understood. Let’s skip that part. To answer your question, the reason I needed the aphrodisiac is simple. For consumption.”

“Consumption? Who? You?”

“Yes. Both Lacrima and I, who are here.”

“……”

“……”

For some reason, silence had returned.

A heavy, leaden silence.

Enoch, puzzled, inquired,

“Why such a reaction?”

“…Sharing stimulants with your student? Are you quite in your right mind?”

“Enoch, sir. I did not create those samples with *that* intention in mind.”

“What utter nonsense is this? Are you both mad?”

Enoch grew serious.

What did these people take him for?

What on earth were they thinking normally?

“From the start, the awakening potion made with stardust-“

“Stimulant.”

“Damn it, wasn’t it you, Clareena, who said the stimulant improved magical efficiency? You can’t have such misunderstandings now.”

Enoch spoke without hesitation.

An unreserved attitude, with nothing to hide.

For misunderstandings, one should always counter with the truth.

And as expected. Felton’s expression belatedly softened somewhat.

“Ah, so that’s what it was? My apologies. I misunderstood.”

“Must it be this sort of misunderstanding, of all things?”

“Well, magical efficiency enhancers are mainly consumed by those who haven’t awakened their magic. You aside, your student has already entered the Academy, hasn’t she? I thought there was no need to drink it now.”

Felton explained, looking abashed.

Clareena shared a similar reaction.

‘So it is. The disconnect between game and reality, is it?’

Awakening potions were primarily used as buff items back in the game.

But reality was different. After hearing the explanation, it was treated much like a nutritional supplement of sorts.

It was like an adult constantly consuming Ttenten or I-kicker.

Enoch accepted the situation.

It couldn’t be helped that they misunderstood.

“Forgive me, I apologize.”

“Forgive me. There was a…strange misunderstanding.”

“It is nothing. Rather, tell me of the sample’s effects.”

He swiftly changed the subject.

Clarena pointed at the sample, explaining.

“Firstly, Viagra’s efficacy itself is much the same as existing stimulants. The difference is that it enhances the effect slightly, just slightly, beyond the norm.”

“Slightly, you say. How much precisely would that be?”

“Well…calculation suggests around 1.5 times? If their constitution suits it, up to double is possible.”

“Double… A matter to be adjusted gradually, I see. Are there no side effects?”

“None of that sort. Ah, there is one point of caution, however.”

“And what is that?”

“It’s nothing much. While it improves magical power efficiency, inducing a state of arousal remains unchanged, more or less?”

“…”

Enoch kept his silence.

Instead, he framed a different question.

“Arousal, you say. What exactly does that entail? A heightened sense of…emotion, perhaps?”

“Heightened emotion is fundamental. Added to that, increased bodily sensitivity, to a degree.”

“…Was it not possible to simply remove the arousal effect?”

“But that is the core of the efficiency enhancement! The body must become sensitive to increase not only the five senses, but the sixth as well. To exclude the latter is impossible.”

“My student speaks true. It was initially used for the latter purpose, you see. The magical power efficiency enhancement effect was discovered only later, by happenstance. They are inextricably linked.”

Clarena spoke, and Felton added his confirmation.

Enoch did not reply.

He quietly closed his eyes and rubbed his face.

To summarize her words, it was simple.

Magical Power Enhancement Efficiency Agent.

It boosts the magic efficiency of the user.

However, upon ingestion, emotions are heightened, and bodily sensitivity increases by up to double.

‘It’s just a high-performance aphrodisiac.’

Enoch rubbed his face.

He felt truly wretched.

Viagra, Viagra, they said. And they really did create a high-performance Viagra.

“I have to wear this? This thing that, when ingested, heightens sensitivity and amplifies emotions?”

Should I just not use it?

Enoch briefly entertained the notion.

But he quickly dismissed it.

In the original work, the stimulant Clarena created had a truly tremendous effect.

To exaggerate only a little, it was a potion that buffed every stat.

It even reduced mana consumption and increased the chance of evasion.

Of course, the sample he had now couldn’t possibly possess that level of potency.

But someday, it would be possible.

As long as Enoch didn’t give up on Clarena.

He couldn’t let slip such a grand prize simply because he felt… uneasy.

‘…I should at least check the side effects first.’

Enoch vowed inwardly.

At that very moment, Lacrina, who had been unconscious, opened her eyes.

“Ugh, uhmm…”

Lacrina rubbed her eyes and sat up.

Her hazy consciousness gradually cleared.

‘Where… where am I? A bed?’

Why was she in a place like this?

Had she perhaps fainted in the meantime?

Lacrina sat there, blankly pondering.

Eventually, she noticed three pairs of eyes staring down at her.

“Oh… Oh?! Te, Teacher?”

“You’re awake.”

“Where is this… Ah, Teacher Felton? And who’s beside you…”

Lacrina stammered and blubbered.

Enoch scanned her condition with his eyes.

Clarena waved her hand as a greeting, seemingly delighted.

Instead, Felton stepped forward, wearing a grandfatherly, benevolent smile.

“It’s been a while, Lacrina.”

“Ah, yes, yep.”

“Good. You look healthy, which is all that matters. Not that it’s my place to say, but try to be a bit more careful when practicing your magic.”

“Ah…”

“Isn’t this the second time already? You mustn’t be so overconfident, child.”

“Yes…”

Lacrimosa agreed, a blush creeping up her neck.

Belatedly, the situation began to dawn on her.

She’d collapsed while using magic, and Enoch had brought her here.

“I, I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize to me. If you must, apologize to the teacher next to me.”

“I, I’m sorry, Teacher…”

“It’s quite alright. Sooner or later, I was going to be coming here with you anyway.”

“Yes… Yes? What does that mean?”

Lacrimosa tilted her head, perplexed.

Instead of explaining, Enoch cut to the chase.

“Doctor Felton, and Apprentice Clarena.”

“What is it?”

“Why the suddenness?”

The two of them queried.

Enoch shook a vial containing a sample.

“This sample I just received. I’d like to test it here and now. Please, assist me.”

“Ah, that? Very well. I was curious, as it happens. All the better, really.”

“It’s always best to ingest these things in front of an expert, after all. You’ve thought it through. We can do a taste-reaction test at the same time.”

Felton nodded sagely.

Clarena even clapped her hands in delight.

“Wh, what are you talking about?”

Lacrimosa was the only one who wasn’t smiling.

She stammered, thoroughly flustered.

Enoch, belatedly, explained the situation.

“Calm yourself. You’re just going to take some medicine.”

“Potion… you say?”

“Indeed. Something good for the body.”

“It’ll make you feel oh-so-nice, too. Just you wait.”

“Clarena, do not speak unnecessarily.”

Enoch retorted, firm.

Clarena chuckled, retreating as if apologetic.

“Hey, a potion? Make you feel good…?”

“Calm yourself, Lacrima. It’s nothing untoward.”

“I-Is that so? But, precisely what kind of potion is it…?”

“Not a potion, precisely. More like a stimulant.”

“A stimulant?”

“Yes, made from ground star-millet.”

“Star-millet… wait?! Isn’t that an aphrodisiac?!”

Lacrima recoiled, aghast.

She even hopped a little.

Why she would know about aphrodisiacs…

He did not dwell on the thought.

Enoch already knew the details of her background.

‘Damn slum.’

“Calm yourself. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

“It’s no good. It’s too soon for-… Oh, a misunderstanding?”

“Yes. Only the ingredients are similar. The effects are entirely different in practice.”

Lacrima seemed to settle, belatedly.

For some reason, she seemed a touch deflated.

“Ah… Oh, I see. I misunderstood… But, precisely what’s the difference?”

“Worry not. It merely improves magical efficiency. Other than that-“

“It simply heightens your emotions, and doubles your physical sensitivity.”

“That is an aphrodisiac, isn’t it?!”

Lacrima hopped again.

Enoch cast a resentful glare toward Clarena, who had butted in.

“Clarena. Why such unnecessary words…”

“Goodness. Believe it or not, I *am* a pharmacist, you know? I must inform you of the precise effects *before* administering the medicine. Otherwise, it’s a violation of protocol.”

“Hmm…”

Enoch fell silent.

Faced with such factual retort, he had no reply.

*’A truly devious woman.’*

Normally, she seemed to choose only those actions unbecoming of a doctor, yet why, only before him, did she become so stern and earnest?

It was inexplicable.

“M-master…?”

“…Lacrina. I apologize, but it cannot be helped. This is for your own good, so simply accept it.”

“Master?!”

Lacrina trembled violently.

She painstakingly approached Enoch and grasped him.

But Enoch averted his gaze from her.

This was all for the future.

At that moment, Enoch resolved to do as he wished.

In that instant, Felton, who had vanished a moment before, reappeared.

“Preparations are complete. We can begin immediately.”

“Thank you.”

“Bah, for such a trifle.”

Felton waved his hand dismissively.

Clarena swiftly approached.

She rubbed her hands together, chortling, “Eheheh-“

“Now, shall we decide on the method of administration? I suppose the standard method is best, yes?”

“Standard? Isn’t it simply ingested?”

Enoch inquired.

Clarena tutted-tutted, wagging a finger.

“That is far too pedestrian. For a rapid effect, another method is far more efficacious.”

“Another method? For example?”

“Precisely this! A syringe!”

Clarena ripped open the packaged syringe with brisk efficiency.

Dabbing the needle tip with an alcohol swab, she gestured towards Lacrina’s arm with the hand holding the tourniquet.

“We tie off the arm tight with this, then inject directly into the vein. That way, the effect is really-“

“We’ll do it another way.”

“Aww… you don’t know any better. This is the only way to-“

“Doctor Felton. Is there no other method?”

Enoch asked, ignoring Clarena.

Felton paused, considering, then spoke.

“Another method… besides drinking it… ah, we could crystallize the liquid and then inhale it through the nose.”

“……”

“Don’t make that face. I can see exactly what you’re thinking.”

“And what might that be?”

“Well, it’s not a joke, you know. The human nose is, surprisingly, one of the most sensitive parts of the bo-“

“Let’s just go with drinking it.”

Enoch said firmly.

Lacrina taking the stimulant was a separate matter entirely.

One couldn’t always live doing only what one desired.